Wisconsin Deaf Golfers Association

CONSTITUTION and BY-LAWS

Revised Draft Copy - July 17, 2004

Article I - Name
The name of this Association shall be the WISCONSIN DEAF GOLFERS ASSOCIATION, hereinafter known as "WDGA".

Article II - Purpose
The purpose of this Association shall be to encourage participation in the sport of golf by providing an invitational golf tournament for deaf and hard of hearing golfers in the state of Wisconsin

Article III - Membership
Section 1. Individual membership in this Association shall be open to deaf and hard of hearing persons, 18 years of age and older.

Section 2. Any member of this Association may have his/her membership rights and privileges suspended or may be expelled from this Association if such action(s) is (are) proven to be a detriment to this Association and its members.
(a) A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of Directors is a sufficient cause for suspension or expulsion.
(b) (b) Such members shall have the right to appeal his/her suspension or expulsion to the General Membership at its meeting, and its two-thirds (2/3) vote shall override the decision of the Board of Directors.

Article IV - Dues
Section 1. The General Membership meeting shall determine the rate of annual membership dues.

Section 2. The membership dues shall be payable annually on or before the determined deadline when the entry fees must be paid.

Section 3. The President, Treasurer and Secretary shall form the Finance Committee of this Association.

Section 4. Election of officers shall be held annually on the day of the invitational golf tournament.
(a) Candidates for the above offices shall be present in order to be nominated from the floor at the General Membership meeting.
(b) The requirement for any of the above candidates is that he/she shall be a resident of Wisconsin.

Section 5. The election for the President and the Treasurer shall be held in odd-numbered years while the Secretary shall be elected in even-numbered years.

Section 6. All officers shall be elected for a term of one year by majority vote of the members present.

Section 7. A delegate to the Midwest Deaf Golfers Association shall be elected annually at the same time as soon as the election of the Board of Directors is completed. The newly elected President shall appoint an alternate delegate

Article VI - Duties of Officers
Section 1. The President shall:
(a) preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors, General Membership, Finance Committee, and other meetings of this Association,
(b) enforce the provisions of the Constitution and Bylaws of this Association
(c) appoint all committees and attend to such other duties that comes under his/her jurisdiction,
(d) approve all invoices and co-sign checks issued by this Association,
(e) appoint a trustee to examine and audit the Treasurer's report and also all receipts and disbursements, and
(f) sign the treasurer's report for approval.

Section 2. The Secretary shall:
(a) record the minutes of all official Board of Directors, General Membership, Finance Committee and other meetings of this Association,
(b) answer all mail within seven (7) days and keep the President fully informed on all official communications,
(c) maintain the WDGA Rules and Regulations,
(e) mail out announcements,
(f) approve entry forms,
(g) serve as Publicity Director by publishing the tournament flyers, and
(h) make the tournament flyers available to all due-paying members and non-members
(i) send the WDGA tournament flyers to the deaf organizations.

Section 3. The Secretary shall:
(a) pay all invoices and bills only upon warrants signed by the President or Secretary.
(b) keep an itemized account of all receipts and disbursements, and
(c) submit financial reports at the General Membership meeting.

Article VII - Remuneration
No member of this Association, officer or otherwise, shall receive any compensation for volunteer work done in the interest of the Association.

Article VIII - Meetings
Section 1. The Association shall hold its meetings on the same day as the tournament, either before it starts or after it ends.

Section 2. The President may call a special meeting at any time if he/she deems necessary before or after the tournament.

Article IX - Quorum
Fifteen (15) members of the Association present shall constitute a quorum for any General Membership meeting

Article X - Rules and Regulations of Golf
Section 1. The WDGA Rules and Regulations of Golf shall be enforced at all times.

Section 2. Amendments to the WDGA Rules and Regulations of Golf shall be approved by a majority vote of the General Membership present. It shall be within the rules of USGA.

Article XI - Annual Tournament and Host
Section 1. The annual golf tournament of this Association shall be held on either Saturday or Sunday. The date shall be on a second or third weekend of July.

Section 2. In order for the General Membership to consider a site one (1) year in advance, a person from the bidding area shall be present at the meeting when the bid is being made. The person making the bid shall be a member of the Association and shall be a resident of Wisconsin.

Section 3. The tournament site shall be located in Wisconsin and no more than 150 miles from Madison, Wisconsin.

Article XII - Amendments
Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws of this Association shall be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the General Membership present.

Article XIII - Dissolution
In the event of dissolution, all monies realized therefrom together with any other monies remaining shall be as follows:
1. Obtain official vote to dissolve WDGA.
2. Ensure all debts are paid prior to dissolving organization.
3. Distribute monies as according to voting members (quorum).