BY-LAWS OF BETHEL PARK FOOTBALL BOOSTERS, INC.
A NON-PROFIT CORPORATION
Article I: Name
The name of the association will be “Bethel Park Football Booster Organization”
Article II: Purpose
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The Organization’s purpose is to aid and support for the Bethel Park School District Football Program. Grades 9-12 in all activities related to the duties of their sport.
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The Booster Organization will be an independent and self-governing organization that provides the necessary financial assistance required to maintain the football program at Bethel Park High School.
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The Organization will plan and support an annual banquet honoring all players in the program and their coaches at the conclusion of the season.
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The Organization will plan an annual recognition event honoring the senior players.
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The Organization will promote and encourage participation by its student-athletes in community service activities to enhance their community awareness and provide a positive life experience for its members.
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The Organization will provide food for the JV/Varsity team on Thursday nights before a home varsity game, the JV/Varsity team when they travel more than an hour from Bethel Park for an away varsity game and the Freshman team only if they travel more than an hour from Bethel Park. It is at the Head Varsity Coach’s discretion if they are fed at other times than previously mentioned.
Article III: Dues Paying Membership
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Membership is open to parents or guardians of Bethel Park High School students who intend to play for the Bethel Park High School Football team. Parents are encouraged to be dues-paying members of the organization.
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Only active members in good standing that have attended at least 50% of all booster meetings are eligible for voting privileges.
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Membership dues shall be established by the Executive Board for each fiscal year.
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All members must be interested in the objectives of the booster organization and willing to subscribe to its policies and principles.
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The booster organization shall provide in its records a separate accounting of the funds raised by each player and his family who are part of the organization. Any gifts provided to a player and the parents/guardians eligibility to attend the year end banquet are dependent upon a player’s and/or his parents’ significant participation in approved fundraising events.
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Any player voluntarily withdrawing or permanently removed for disciplinary or academic reasons from his assigned football team shall not be eligible for participation in the year-end banquet and will not be reimbursed for any fundraising revenues. Requests for special consideration may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Executive Board.
Article III-2: Non-Dues Paying Membership
1. The Board of Directors may, by majority vote, offer a free membership when appropriate. This can be, but not limited to, a member of the Media, such as a sports writer, or radio or TV personality. Free membership must be approved yearly and does not include voting privileges.
2. Honorary Memberships- can be approved by a majority vote of the membership present at a regular meeting. They do not include voting privileges and can be either yearly or life-term memberships, as circumstances dictate. Honorary memberships can be bestowed upon, but not limited to, such individuals as: a member of the Board of Education or other School official or employee of the Bethel Park School District: someone who has achieved a high achievement in football or someone who has been an active member of the Organization and now incapacitated and unable to actively participate.
Article IV: Meetings
1. Executive Board Meetings - the Executive Board should begin to meet in February to start to make plans for the upcoming football season. Thereafter, the Executive Board meetings should be held the week before the regular/mandatory booster membership meetings.
2. Regular booster meetings are held the first Monday of every month. Booster members will be notified of all meetings at the Mandatory meeting in May and location will be determined by the Executive Board. All members will be sent reminders of booster meeting by way of email the week before the meeting is scheduled.
3. Special meetings of the members may be called by the Executive Board or the President of the Organization.
4. Written or printed notice stating the place, date and time of the meetings for the year will be published and emailed to each player’s parents on record during the second quarter of the year. As new players are added to the Freshman, JV or Varsity rosters, this information will be forwarded to their email address. It is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to provide the Booster Organization with updated and accurate contact information and necessary information regarding their son or daughter.
5. Month meetings and /or special meetings, will be held as decided upon by the President or by the majority of the Board of Directors.
Article V: Executive Board
1. The Executive Board of Directors is that group of persons vested with the management of the business and affairs of this organization. The Executive board shall perform the duties as discussed in Article VI of these by-laws.
2. The officers of the Organization shall consist of President, (2) Vice President, (2) Treasurers and Secretary and shall be known as Executive Board.
3. Any Executive Board member who is found to be in violation of the organization’s purpose as stated in Article II of this document shall be subject to removal as a member by majority vote of the Booster Board.
4. Vacancies caused by resignation, transfer or lack of involvement shall be filled by a majority vote of the Booster Board.
5. The Executive Board shall, in general, supervise the business and affairs of the high school football booster organization.
6. Any topic or decision that is voted on by the Executive Board shall be determined by majority vote. If a vote ends in a tie, the President vote shall be the determining vote holding the weight of 2 votes. This action is only to break a tie vote.
Article V-A : Qualification of Directors
1. To qualify for election to the Executive Board of Directors, candidates for the offices of President, Vice President, Treasurers and Secretary must be a dues-paid member of the organization in good standing and either have a child at Bethel Park Senior High School during the following school year participating in the Football Program or be a parent of a graduating Senior Player. A proposed candidate is not in good standing if they have failed to meet any financial obligation to the Organization or in the determination of the Executive Board of Directors, have engaged in or are engaging in any activity seriously adverse to the goals and purposes of the organization.
Article V-B Election of Officers
1. Election of Officers is by majority vote and term of office shall be one (1) year. Each member
of the Board of Directors may be nominated and re-elected without limitation as to the number of terms served, subject to the qualification requirements of section V-A.
2. No member is eligible to hold more than one elected office in the Organization at any one time. Husband and wives may not hold an elected office at the same time.
3. Nominations for open board positions shall be accepted on or before the November booster
meeting by individuals who are interested in serving on the Executive Board. The slate of proposed candidates will them be presented to the President for presentation at the Booster Board Meeting in November.
4. All prospective Executive Board members shall be elected at the December booster meeting or the annual year-ending banquet. Executive Board members will be elected by a majority vote of the members in good standing present at the meeting/banquet provided all nominees meet the Executive Board requirements. The Executive Board members shall be elected by secret paper ballot only if there are two or more nominees for any office. Ballots shall be counted by two dues-paid members of the Organization who are not currently holding or running for office or have a spouse currently holding or running for office.
5. Any vacancy in an elected office shall be filled by appointments made by the Booster Board to fill the unexpired term.
6. The newly elected Executive Board will take over January 1st of each fiscal year and be installed at the first scheduled Board meeting of the new year.
Article VI: Duties of the Executive Board
President
The President shall preside at all meetings of the membership and Executive Board and Booster Board. In cooperation with the Head Varsity Coach, the President shall promote and direct the affairs of the organization while impartially overseeing the activities of the organization. The President may suggest items of new business. He/she shall call special sessions as necessary; appoint all committees created by the By-Laws or by majority vote of the Board of Directors; have general supervision over all matters pertaining to the Organization; see that harmony is preserved, and all rulings by the Organization are enforced and perform such other duties as may be required by the By-laws of this Organization, or otherwise necessary and prudent.
Vice- President
It shall be the duty of the Vice- President (Co-Vice President) to assist the President in the performance of his or her duties. The Vice-President shall officiate for the President in his or her absence and he or she shall be vested at such times with full powers of the President and subject to his/her duties. The Vice-President(s) shall oversee Sponsorship, fundraising and mandatory participation by all members.
Secretary
It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep full and accurate account of the proceedings of all membership and board meetings. He or she shall keep correct minutes of all sessions of the Board of Directors and general booster meetings. He or she shall attend to all correspondence, subject to the approval of the President, and he or she shall present all communication to the President to read at the following meeting of the Board of Directors or membership meeting. He or she shall present a written report of activities to the Organization in general at their first yearly meeting. The Secretary shall supply to the Organization at the Annual Meeting, a complete list of active/paid-up members in alphabetical order. He or she will distribute correspondence as may be requested by the President or Board via email submission to all addresses made available from the general membership. When he or she retires from office, all correspondence shall be turned over to the President or newly elected Secretary.
Treasurer
It shall be the duty of the Treasurer (Co-Treasurers) to receive all monies and pay all bills against the Organization as ordered by vote of the Board of Directors. He or she shall present a report at each session showing the condition of the Organization funds. He or she shall keep his or her accounts for audit by any of the Board of Directors or paid members and give an Annual Report at the last Organizations meeting of the year.
Board of Directors
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All activities of the Organization shall be governed by the Board of Directors.
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All expenditures must be paid for check or debit with approval of the majority vote of the Board of Directors.
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No Board or Booster Member shall collect money, solicit donations of any kind or cause any debts to be incurred against the Organization or make any statements to any media in the name of the Organization, nor cause to have anything pertaining to the Organization, unless authorized to do so by the majority of the Board of Directors.
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The Board of Directors shall develop a budget for the forthcoming year.
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The Board of Directors can add additional Advisors/Consultants/Committee members to the board to assist with board activity and with authority if approved by Executive Board by a majority vote. (Example: Director of Communications, Digital, Fundraising, Class Rep)
Article VII: Order of Business
1. At the Regular Membership Meetings of the Corporation, the order of business shall be ready
for the minutes of the previous meeting and include:
Treasurer’s Report;
Other Officers’ Report;
Reading of any communications;
Reports of Standing Committees;
Unfinished Business;
New Business;
Elections; and Remarks for the good of the Organization.
2.When Points of Parliamentary Law are not covered by the By-Laws, Roberts’ Rule of Order shall be the authority. https://www.boardeffect.com/blog/roberts-rules-of-order-cheat-sheet/
Article IX: Organization Seal
1. The Organization seal shall be an impression of which is hereby affixed, be adopted as the
Organization seal of this Organization.
Article X: Miscellaneous Rules, Policies and Regulations
1. Execution of Documents – Except as otherwise provided by law, checks, drafts, promissory notes, orders for the payment of money, and other evidence of indebtedness of this Organization will be signed by the Treasurer, or other signer as authorized by Board of Directors, and countersigned by the President if the amount exceeds $2500.00. Contracts, leases, or other instruments executed in the name of and on behalf of the Organization will be signed by the Secretary and co-signed by the President and will have attached copies of the resolutions of the Board of Directors certified by the Secretary authorizing their execution.
2. Books and Records – This Organization will keep correct and complete books and records of account, and will keep minutes of proceedings of its Members, Board of Directors and Executive Committees. This Organization will keep, it’s registered address, a membership register giving the names, addresses, classes and other details of the membership of each member, and the original or a copy of its Bylaws including amendments to date certified by the Secretary of the Corporation. Upon dissolution of the Organization, all records shall be turned over to the Director of Student Activities (Athletic Director) to become property of the Bethel Park School District and any remaining funds shall be dispersed to a primary charity of the Organizations choosing.
3. Inspection of Books and Records – All books and records of this Organization may be inspected by any Member, or the Member’s agent or attorney, for any proper purpose at any reasonable time on written demand under oath stating the purpose of inspection.
4. Non-Profit Operations – This Organization will not have or issue shares of stock. No dividend will be paid, and no part of the income if this Organization will be distributed back to its Members, Directors or Officers. However, the Organization may pay compensation in a reasonable amount to Members, Officers or Directors for services rendered.
5. Loans to Management - This Organization will make no loans to any of its Directors or Officers or to any of its key management or other personnel.
6. Amendment/Modification of Bylaws - The power to alter, amend or repel these Bylaws, or to adopt new Bylaws, to the extent allowed by law, is vested in the Board of Directors. A two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors after the proposed amendment/modification has been presented at two consecutive meetings.
7. Multiple Office Holders - In any election of Officers, a single person may not be appointed or elected to more than one office simultaneously.
8. Removal of Officers - Any officer elected or appointed to office may be removed by, and in the same manner as, the persons authorized under these Bylaws to elect or appoint Officers whenever in their judgement the best interests of this Organization will be served. However, any removal will be without prejudice to any contract rights of the Officer so removed.
9. The Calendar year for this organization shall extend from January 1 to December 31.
10. The Bethel Park Varsity Head Football Coach shall be an ex-officio member of the Board of Directors.
11. Adoption of Bylaws: Adopted by the Board of Directors by resolution and voted on February 7th, 2023 at Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.
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