Approved: November, 2015/Amended: September, 2024
1. NAME OF ORGANIZATION
1.1 The name of this organization is the Hopewell Soccer Club.
2. PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION
2.1 The purpose of the Hopewell Soccer Club (hereinafter HSC or the Club) shall be to develop, promote and administer the game of soccer for youth between the ages of 3 and 19 years of age; HSC will strive to elevate the standards of integrity, honor, loyalty, courage and honesty among the youth of our community and all others participating in the game of soccer.
2.2 The Hopewell Soccer Club is organized and operated exclusively for the above stated purpose, and no part of any earnings or income shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributed to its members, officers or other private parties, except that HSC shall be empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purpose defined herein.
3. AFFILIATION
3.1 The Hopewell Soccer Club shall be an affiliate of the Western Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association hereinafter known as PA West and has been constituted as a Youth Soccer Association as defined in the USYSA (United States Youth Soccer Association) Constitution. HSC shall be subject to the authority of PA West, the United States Youth Soccer Association, hereafter known as USYSA and the Federation Internationale Football Association (hereafter known as FIFA).
4. GOVERNMENT
4.1 Hopewell Soccer Club shall be governed by its constitution, By-Laws, and Rules and Regulations. HSC shall retain its own autonomy, but will adhere to the Constitution, By-Laws and Regulations of PA West in all matters pertaining to interstate, regional, national and international competition, or in other competitions sponsored by the PA West.
5. MEMBERSHIP
5.1 Membership in HSC shall be open primarily to residents within the boundaries of Hopewell Area School District. However, any applicant outside of the Hopewell Area School District, but within the boundaries of PA West, shall be eligible for application of membership. Acceptance for membership of those applications outside of the Hopewell Area School District is subject to the approval of the In-House or Travel Coordinator.
5.2 The coach of each team officially registered with HSC for a given season's play, shall represent that team as the voting club member at the annual general meeting and any other special meetings. Each team is granted one vote. If a coach cannot be present, the President may accept written, electronic or phone votes. Any individual who coaches more than one registered team has the right to cast one vote for each team he/she represents.
5.3 The acceptance of membership obligates the member to comply with the provisions of the Constitution, the By-Laws and the Rules and Regulations of HSC. Penalties for violation thereof shall be imposed as provided in the By-Laws.
5.4 All teams, clubs and associations within the territorial jurisdiction of PA West who are not members of PA West shall be deemed non-affiliated organizations. Members representing HSC shall not play soccer games against non-affiliated organizations without prior approval and authorization of the Board of Directors of PA West.
6. FEES
6.1 Members shall pay a registration fee per session as set forth in the By-Laws.
7. BUSINESS YEAR
7.1 The Business Year shall begin on July 1 and end on June 30. The Constitution, By-Laws and Rules and Regulations shall be in effect during the entire twelve (12) months of the Business Year.
8. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
8.1 The government of HSC with the authority set out herein and in the By-Laws, shall be vested in a governing body known hereafter as the Board of Directors.
8.2 The officers of the Board of Directors shall be elected at the annual coaches meeting held in June each year. The Board shall be comprised of elected and appointed officers. Elected Officers must be residents of the Hopewell Area School District and will comprise the Executive Committee. Board positions will become available as follows.... President, Treasurer and Secretary will be elected on odd numbered years, Vice President and Registrar will be elected on even numbered years.
Elected Officers: Executive Committee
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Registrar (Travel)
Secretary
The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors shall appoint officers to the following board positions according to the By-laws.
Appointed Officers:
Registrar (In House)
Referee Assignor (Travel)
Referee Assignor (In House)Field Maintenance Coordinator
Concession Stand Coordinator
Marketing/Fundraising Coordinator
Uniform Coordinator
8.3 Each elected and appointed officer, although acting individually in the best interest of HSC, is ultimately responsible to the Board of Directors for their actions.
8.4 All members of the Board of Directors, whether elected or appointed, are voting members for the purpose of conducting Club business or any issue set forth to the general membership for vote.
8.5 The Board shall meet as provided in the By-Laws.
8.6 All members of the Board of Directors, whether elected or appointed, shall serve 2 years from July 1 to June 30 (biennial) eg. 7/1/2015-6/30/2017.
8.7 The duties and responsibilities of the Board members both individually and collectively shall be as provided in the By-Laws.
8.8 Any vacancies occurring in the Board during the Business Year shall be filled by appointment of the Board of Directors and confirmed by a majority vote of the Board of Directors present. Such new Board members arising from vacancies shall continue in office until June 30 of the positions corresponding year.
8.9 Any member of the Board may be removed from office for cause, and relieved of all duties by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors present in accordance with the By-Laws. Notice of the proposed removal must be cited in the minutes of the previous meeting of the Board of Directors.
9. GENERAL MEETING OF THE MEMBERSHIP
9.1 Voting membership is defined as described in Sections 5.2 and 8.4.
9.2 There shall be at least one annual coaches meeting of the voting membership. All voting members shall be notified of the annual coaches meeting at least 30 days prior to that meeting and that notice may be in the form of a Club newsletter and/or posting at the Club fields.
9.3 The annual election meeting, which shall be held at the coaches meeting during second half of the Spring Season, will be designated for election of the Board of Directors. (May/June)
9.4 The order of business at any general/coaches meeting shall follow Robert's Rules of Order:
Call to order
Reading and acceptance of the Minutes of the previous general meeting
Treasurer's Reports
Open public discussion
New Business
Adjournment
9.5 Officers elected at the annual election during the coaches meeting shall take office on July 1.
9.6 Other general meetings of the voting membership, as may be required from time to time, may be called by the President.
10. AMENDMENTS
10.1 The Constitution may be amended or repealed, in whole or in part, by a two-thirds vote of the board of directors as set forth in Section 8.4 of this Constitution.
11. BY-LAWS
11.1 By-Laws will be hereafter adopted and may be amended or repealed, in whole or part, in the manner provided therein.
12. MISCELLANEOUS
12.1 The President, Vice President or the Treasurer must sign any check or draft disbursing funds of the Club.
12.2 In any instance in this Constitution, the By-Laws, and the Rules and Regulations, where a reference is made to gender in the paragraph, "he" shall be interpreted as "he or she.
13. DISSOLUTION
13.1 13.1 Upon the dissolution of the HSC, the Board of Directors shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all liabilities, dispose of all assets of the Club exclusively for the purpose, or purposes, stated in Section 2.2 of the Constitution. All remaining assets shall be equally divided between the Men's and Women's Hopewell Soccer Boosters organization(s) of the Hopewell Area School District for the express purpose of administering youth soccer programs.