Club Bylaws and Operating Policies

This page is organized in two parts:

Bylaws - Identity, purpose, and structure of the club
Operating Policies - Rules and procedures (cf. Art III Sec 3.6)

Club Bylaws

MOUNT TABOR SOCCER CLUB BYLAWS

ARTICLE I GENERAL 
1. NAME

1.1. CORPORATE NAME. The name of the corporation is Mount Tabor Soccer
Club, Inc., organized pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Oregon
Revised Statutes.

1.2. BUSINESS NAME. The corporation will do business as Mount Tabor
Soccer Club.

2. PURPOSE

2.1. GENERAL. The corporation is organized exclusively for charitable and
education purposes and may engage in any such activities and exercise such
other powers as are permitted by non-profit corporations pursuant to the
applicable provisions of Oregon Revised Statutes and which are not
inconsistent with the following sections of these Bylaw or the
qualifications necessary to preserve the tax exempt status of this
corporation pursuant to the applicable provisions of United States
internal revenue law.

2.2. SPECIFIC. The corporation is organized to facilitate youth soccer,
in keeping with the following mission:

2.2.1. To develop, promote and regulate youth soccer in the Mount Tabor
community under the auspices and regulations of the Oregon Youth Soccer
Association (OYSA) and the Portland Youth Soccer Association (PYSA); and

2.2.2. To provide a well structured soccer program that will give the
maximum exposure to the game of soccer; that will allow each child the
opportunity to develop soccer skills and sound character to the child's
fullest potential; and that will involve the Mount Tabor community.

ARTICLE II CORPORATE OFFICES

1. MAILING ADDRESS. The mailing address of the registered office is Post
Office Box 18062, Portland, OR 97218.

ARTICLE III BOARD OF DIRECTORS

1. RESPONSIBILITIES. The Board of Directors shall manage all the business
affairs of the corporation and may exercise all such powers of the
corporation which are neither prohibited nor directed or required to be
performed by others under the laws of the State of Oregon, the Articles of
Incorporation or these Bylaws.

2. DIRECTORS. There shall be no fewer than four and no more than eleven
directors of the corporation, as determined by the Board of Directors. All
directors shall be officers or shall be assigned to one or more Board
functions as identified in the corporation's operating policies and
procedures.

2.1. ELECTION. All directors shall be elected by a majority vote of the
directors in attendance at the annual meeting. Vacancies on the Board of
Directors shall be filled by the Board of Directors as necessary. 

2.2. TERM. The term of a director shall be one year, beginning on the
first day of January following the annual meeting.

2.3. COMPENSATION. The directors of the corporation shall serve without
compensation.

2.4. REMOVAL. The president may recommend to the Board of Directors the
removal of any director who has three unexcused absences during the
director's term, or who has acted in violation of the corporation's
policies. Any director may be removed by a majority vote of all other
directors serving at the time of the vote.

3. OPERATING PROCEDURES. 

3.1. ANNUAL MEETINGS. An annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall
be held at the conclusion of the PYSA fall season. Notice of the date and
time of the annual meeting shall be delivered in person or by mail to each
director at least ten days prior to the meeting.

3.2. ADDITIONAL MEETINGS. Additional meetings of the Board of Directors
may be held when convened by the President or when requested in writing by
at least three directors. Notice of the date and time of such meetings
shall be delivered in person or by mail to each director at least two days
prior to the meeting. 

3.3. QUORUM. A majority of the directors then serving on the Board of
Directors shall constitute a quorum for transacting business at any meeting.

3.4. ACTION. A majority of the quorum present shall be required in order
to take action on any matter brought before the Board of Directors. The
Board of Directors may take any action by written consent. In order to
take action by written consent, a writing setting forth the action taken
shall be signed by all of the directors, and such written consent shall
have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of all directors.

3.5. COMMITTEES. The Board of Directors may designate committees of
directors to act on behalf of the Board of Directors on particular matters.


3.6. OPERATING POLICIES. Policies relating to operating matters
including, but not limited to, registration, team formation, eligibility,
player and coach conduct, equipment and uniforms and Board of Director
assignments shall be maintained and updated as needed by the Board of
Directors.

4. OFFICERS. The officers of the corporation shall be a president, a vice
president, a secretary and a treasurer and shall be elected by a majority
of directors at the annual meeting.


5. DUTIES OF OFFICERS. 

5.1. PRESIDENT. Convenes and runs meetings, oversees the work of other
directors, and is responsible for the overall operation of the corporation.

5.2. VICE PRESIDENT. Presides in the absence of the president and assists
the president as needed.

5.3. SECRETARY. Maintains minutes of all proceedings of the Board of
Directors. Provides notice of all meetings of the Board of Directors as
required by Oregon law, the Articles of Incorporation and these Bylaws.

5.4. TREASURER. Maintains the corporation's funds and accounts, prepares
monthly statements and develops the annual budget.


ARTICLE IV PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

1. Matters of parliamentary procedure not prescribed by Oregon law, the
Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws shall be governed by Robert's
Rules of Order (revised). Insofar as possible, the ordinary business of
the corporation shall be conducted by procedures designated to foster
consensus within the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE V AMENDMENTS

1. These Bylaws may be amended, in all or in part, at any meeting of the
Board of Directors by the majority vote of all directors serving at the
time of the vote.


Approved by the Board of Directors on the 15th day of July, 1997.

Club Operating Policies

MOUNT TABOR SOCCER CLUB
OPERATING POLICIES
Revised March, 2005


1. DIRECTOR POSITIONS

PRESIDENT: Convenes and runs meetings, oversees the work of other
directors, and is responsible for the overall operation of the Club.

VICE PRESIDENT:  Presides in the absence of the president and assists the
president as needed.

SECRETARY:  Maintains minutes of all proceedings of the Board of Directors.
 Provides notice of all meetings of the Board of Directors.

TREASURER:  Maintains the Club's funds and accounts, prepares monthly
statements and develops the annual budget.

REGISTRAR: Oversees all aspects of player and team registration.  Insures
compliance with PYSA and OYSA registration requirements.  Maintains records
of teams and players.  Provides information to prospective players.

COACH COORDINATOR: Assists teams in identifying, enlisting and retaining
competent and reliable coaches for all teams.  Works to improve the skill
levels of Club coaches by coordinating training and clinic opportunities,
and by maintaining information and resources available to all Club coaches.
 Reviews requests for financial support by coaches participating in
training activities. 

TEAM PARENT REPRESENTATIVE:   Assists teams in identifying, enlisting and
retaining team parents.  Communicates with team parents as necessary to
coordinate Club activities such as team pictures and fundraising events.
 
FIELDS REPRESENTATIVE: Maintains inventory of available fields.
Participates in PYSA field allocations.  Schedules and assigns practice
fields to all teams within the Club.

UNIFORMS REPRESENTATIVE: Purchases, inventories, distributes and recovers
all uniforms provided by the Club to the teams.

EQUIPMENT REPRESENTATIVE: Purchases, inventories and distributes all
equipment, other than uniforms, provided by the Club to teams. 

FUNDRAISING REPRESENTATIVE: Solicits sponsorships and coordinates other
fundraising activities by the Club.

PYSA REPRESENTATIVE: Represents the Club at Portland Youth Soccer
Association monthly meetings, and communicates between PYSA and the Club.

Positions on the board may be combined as necessary and desirable.


2. COACHES:

2.1 The Club has authority to establish requirements for, assign,
discipline and remove coaches.  No coach shall supervise players until the
coach has completed a background check as required by PYSA and/or OYSA. 

2.1 The Club strongly encourages all coaches to improve their coaching
skills by participation in Club approved clinics and by obtaining USSF
licenses and National Youth Module Training.  The Club will provide
financial support to coaches participating in Club approved training by
reimbursing coaches the first $25.00 plus 50% of the additional cost of
successfully completing a USSF national license (through the "D" level),
and/or a national youth module.  Requests for financial support should be
addressed to, and must be approved by the Coach Coordinator.   

2.2 Coaches are volunteers and serve without compensation.  This rule does
not prohibit a team from paying for specialized training performed in the
presence of, and under the supervision of the team coach.


3. REGISTRATION:

3.1 No player shall participate in any club sponsored activity,
including practice, until the player has completed registration with the Club.

3.2 Kick & Chase players are not divided by gender.  All teams U-7 and
older are designated as "Boys" or "Girls" teams.  Girls may play on Boys
teams.  Boys shall not play on Girls teams. 

3.3 Players shall be placed with teams according their ages or grades in
school in accordance with the rules of PYSA and OYSA.  Individuals may
"play up" with an older team only with the permission of the Club.  In
determining whether to allow a player to "play up", the Club may consider
the player's age, size, skills, and emotional level, and the level of play
and coaching of the team on which the player has requested to be placed.  

3.4 Partial or full registration scholarships may be available to players
upon written request to the Club.  

3.5 To assist in retaining existing volunteers, the Club may waive the
registration fee for one player/child of each coach or board member.


4. PLAYER SAFETY

4.1 At least two adults shall be present at all Club sponsored
activities including games, practices, meetings and social events.  This
requirement does not apply to travel to and from Club activities where
parents have made specific arrangements for transportation of their children.

4.2 Any coach, assistant coach, or board member who observes, suspects
or receives allegations of illegal or improper conduct
involving a player, or sexual or physical abuse of a player registered with
the Club, shall report the alleged conduct to the president of the Club.
Any questions involving such allegations from media or members of the
public shall be referred to the president, or the president's designee.
Upon receiving information of such conduct, the president shall notify the
president of PYSA, and shall take reasonable steps to investigate the
alleged or suspected conduct.  Investigation may include, but is not
limited to: temporary suspension of suspected individuals; interviewing
individuals involved and witnesses; and appointment of individuals from
within or outside of the Club to make factual determinations.  Any
investigation shall be conducted in confidence, with disclosure only to
those with a need to know.


5. TEAM FORMATION:

5.1 The Club shall form teams in a manner consistent with USYSA, OYSA, and
PYSA policies.

5.2 The Club has authority to establish, modify and dissolve teams.
The Registrar, Coach Coordinator, and President shall work together to form
teams.  The Registrar has full discretion in assigning players to teams,
consistent with club policies.

5.3 The Club tries to enable and encourage participation by as many youth
in our community as possible.

5.4 The Club tries to form as many teams as possible, consistent with
minimum roster size guidelines.

5.5 For the PYSA league:

(a) Roster sizes shall not exceed two times (2x) the maximum number of
players that can be playing at one time in a match situation.

(b) Players shall be grouped into teams based on locality of residence,
school attended, 
team history, or by lot. The club will consider forming teams based upon
personal preference as long as the club believes it is not an attempt at
player selection based on merit or on illegally discriminatory or unethical
criteria.

(c) In the event of two teams in the same division that differ markedly in
competitiveness, the club shall make an effort to equalize their
competitiveness. This may take the form of assigning new players with more
experience to the less competitive team, or other mechanisms.

(d) Notwithstanding section 8.5(c), the Club may permit an existing team
formed under recreational guidelines to stay together.

5.6 For participation in the MLS League:

(a) An MLS team may be an MTSC recreational team that has existed for a
year or more. The MLS roster shall contain only players rostered on the
MTSC team for the current PYSA season, the previous PYSA spring season, or
the previous PYSA or MLS fall season.

(b) An MLS team may be formed from all MTSC players currently registered
with MTSC teams within an age division. At the request of a coach, the Club
shall notify all registered players in that age division of the
availability of an MLS team. Players eligible in the division who "played
up" in the preceding fall or spring season shall also be notified. In the
case of a male division, notification to females shall be limited to
females who played in the male division in the last fall or spring season.
Additional teams shall not be formed if coaches are not available. If
sufficient players apply, a team or teams shall be formed. If too many
players apply, but an additional team cannot be formed, applicants are
accepted on a first-come first-served basis, or by lot in case of a tie, to
be determined by the club registrar. If more than one team can be formed,
players shall be grouped into teams based on the criteria set out in
section 8.5(b) above.

(c) The first priority of the Club is to support the PYSA recreational
program.  When considering the formation of teams for MLS, the club will
first consider the need to form PYSA teams in the same age division. In
particular, the club will work to avoid a situation where the formation of
an MLS team denies non-MLS players of the opportunity to play soccer.
Where an MLS team includes players also registered on a recreational team,
the players' first obligation is to participate with, and avoid forfeitures
by their recreational team(s); and MLS coaches shall ensure that their
players understand and fulfill that obligation.  In the absence of special
circumstances, no player shall participate in an MLS game if that player
has failed to participate in the player's recreational game scheduled on
the same day. 


6. PARTICIPATION:

Players and teams shall participate in all scheduled activities at the
scheduled time and place.  Inclement weather shall not be a basis for
failing to participate in scheduled activities unless the weather creates a
danger to the participants; e.g., lightning in the vicinity of the activity. 


7. UNIFORMS & EQUIPMENT:

7.1 The Club shall provide a jersey for use by each registered player.
Jerseys remain the           
property of the Club, and shall be returned to the Club promptly at the end
of each season. Players may wear Club jerseys only during participation in
Club sponsored activities, or when specifically authorized by the Club.
The Club may charge a player a fee, up to the cost of replacement, for any
jersey that is lost or that is damaged during use not authorized by the Club.
Teams wishing to use jerseys other than those designated by the Club may do so only
with the permission of the Club. In deciding whether to allow the use of jerseys other
than those designated by the Club, the Club shall consider: The reason(s) for the
request; the Club's goal of promoting public awareness and identification of the
Club; the possible impact of the decision on other players registered with the Club;
and other practical considerations.

7.2 The Club may authorize the use of the Club jerseys, for a fee, for
activities not sponsored or sanctioned by the Club.  Any team wishing to
use Club jerseys for activities not sponsored by the Club, shall apply to
the Uniform Representative and shall pay a fee of $20.00 or such other
amount as the Club may require.

7.3 Players shall provide their own approved shoes, socks, shorts, shin
guards and ball.  The Club may provide required equipment to individual
players on the basis of financial need upon written request.

7.4 The Club shall provide each team with necessary equipment including,
but not limited to, nets, cones or discs, practice pinnies and  game ball.
Equipment provided by the Club remains the property of the Club and shall
be used only in activities sponsored or specifically authorized by the Club.

7.5 The Club will reimburse up to $20.00 to a team for the purchase
of a goalkeeper jersey, and up to $10.00 for the purchase of goalkeeper
gloves.  Submit receipts to the Club for reimbursement.


8. FINANCES:

8.1 The Club shall maintain bank accounts necessary to conduct Club
business and preserve Club funds.  Club bank accounts shall have three
authorized signers: the treasurer, the president and one additional board
member.  Monthly account statements shall be reviewed by the treasurer and
one additional board member designated by the board, who shall initial each
statement.

8.2 Expenditures in excess of $200.00 shall be specifically authorized by
the board.  Checks for amounts in excess of $50.00 shall be signed by two
authorized signers.

8.3 In order to avoid the situation of teams competing with the Club for
available sponsorship
funds, individual teams are prohibited from obtaining sponsorships without
Board approval.  


9. SPORTING CONDUCT:

Players, coaches and parents shall conduct themselves at all times in a
manner which:
Demonstrates respect for referees, players and opposing teams and players;
Recognizes that the referee is the final authority in the game; and
Encourages players to respect the referee, their coaches, teammates,
opponents and the game of soccer.

Copyright © 2004 Mount Tabor Soccer Club. All Rights Reserved