USFA
ORANGE COAST DIVISION
BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I
NAME AND AFFILIATION

The name of the Division shall be the Orange Coast Division of the United States Fencing Association, Inc.

The Division shall hereinafter be referred to as “THE DIVISION,” and the United States Fencing Association, Inc. shall be referred to as “USFA, INC.”

THE DIVISION is an administrative unit of the USFA, INC. and is subject to general supervision and control under the provisions of the USFA, INC. By-Laws and Operations Manual. The fiscal year of THE DIVISION will be that of the USFA, INC.

THE DIVISION will exercise jurisdiction over the following geographic area located in the state of California: The county of Orange, and those portions of Los Angeles County south of a line formed by the northern border of Orange County in La Habra extended west to the I-710 freeway; then south along the I-710 to Hwy 91; and west along Hwy 91/Artesia Blvd. to the Pacific Ocean.

ARTICLE II
OBJECTIVES

The purpose and objectives of THE DIVISION are:

1. To support, enhance, and develop the sport of fencing.
2. To provide local competitions and tournaments.
3. To assist Divisional fencers to reach their full potential in fencing.
4. To aid and assist the USFA, INC., in all its objectives and purposes.

ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP – DUES – COMPETITIONS

Section 1. Any person residing within the boundaries of THE DIVISION, or representing a registered fencing club within THE DIVISION shall be eligible for membership in THE DIVISION. No member of this Division may be a member of any other Division of the USFA, INC.

Section 2. Classes of membership: Membership shall be the same as that designated from time to time by the USFA, INC.

Section 3. Membership may be transferred into THE DIVISION provided that the transferee has a current valid membership from the USFA, INC, and meets the requirements of Section 1 of this Article.

Section 4. Any member of THE DIVISION in good standing, 18 years or older at the time of a membership meeting, shall be qualified to vote.

Section 5. Annual Divisional dues shall be determined by the USFA, INC. with the concurrence of THE DIVISION. THE DIVISION may, upon majority vote of the membership present, add an additional fee or dues for the Divisional expenses.

Section 6. The Divisional Executive Committee shall prepare the fencing schedule and shall determine the conditions and restrictions governing the qualifications, entries, and conduct of all competitions under its jurisdiction. All events on the Division schedule will be posted a minimum of thirty days prior to the event, and no changes will be made to an event within thirty days of the scheduled date, barring unforeseen circumstances.

Section 7. All fencers must show proof of membership for the current season in the USFA, INC. or the F.I.E. to compete in any competition sanctioned by THE DIVISION.

• a) If it is determined during a competition that a fencer is not a current member of the USFA, INC. or F.I.E., they shall be required to immediately join the USFA, INC. or withdraw from the competition.
  
  
• b) If it is determined after the completion of a competition that a fencer is not a current member of the USFA, INC. or F.I.E., their participation and results in the competition will be invalidated.

Section 8. Entry fees for competitions sponsored by THE DIVISION may be paid in cash or by check. If a check is returned unpaid by THE DIVISION’s bank for any reason, the following will apply:

• a) The person who wrote the returned check will be required to provide replacement funds for the amount of the original check, plus any penalty fees charged to THE DIVISION by its bank.
  
  
• b) The fencer for whom the returned check was written shall not be allowed to participate in any competition sponsored by THE DIVISION, until the replacement funds have been received.
  
  
• c) Any fencer for whom THE DIVISION has had two or more checks returned unpaid for any reason, will be required to pay all future entry fees in cash only.

Section 9. The Executive Committee of THE DIVISION shall approve the conditions, qualifications, and restrictions of all privately sponsored competitions requesting to be sanctioned by THE DIVISION. At a minimum, the following items shall be required:

• a) The event shall be held within the geographic area of THE DIVISION.
  
  
• b) The event shall be posted in THE DIVISION’s schedule of events at least thirty days prior to the event.
  
  
• c) At least one member of the Executive Committee, other than the club representative of the host club, shall be present at such approved privately sponsored competitions.
  
  
• d) The event host shall complete and submit a Third Party Event Request to the USFA, INC. to obtain third party liability insurance for their event.
  
  
• e) The competition shall be held in compliance with all rules and regulations of the USFA, INC.

ARTICLE IV
DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND CLUB REPRESENTATIVES

The officers of THE DIVISION shall consist of a Chairperson, a Vice-Chair, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and a USFA Congress Representative. All officers, with the exception of the Congress Representative, shall take office the first day of August next following their election, and shall hold office for a period of one (1) year until July 31, or until their successors are elected and justified. The Congress Representative shall be elected annually and assume office immediately to represent THE DIVISION at the current year’s USFA Congress.

The duties of the officers shall be as follows:

Section 1. Chairperson: The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of THE DIVISION and its Executive Committee, and perform such other duties as usually pertain to that office and are not inconsistent with these By-Laws. The Chairperson has the responsibility for filing with the Secretary and the Treasurer of the USFA, INC. the annual reports called for under the Corporate By-Laws of the USFA, INC. The preparation of these reports may be delegated to the Secretary and Treasurer of THE DIVISION. The Chairperson may, from time to time, assign officers and members of the Executive Committee to chair standing or ad-hoc committees. The Chairperson shall be an ex-officio member of all committees. The Chairperson of THE DIVISION is responsible for the custody and maintenance of all Division equipment.

Section 2. Vice Chairperson: The Vice Chairperson, in the absence of the Chairperson, shall perform the duties of the Chairperson and any other duties assigned by the Chairperson and/or the Executive Committee.

Section 3. Secretary – The Secretary shall conduct all official correspondence, keep a record of the meetings of THE DIVISION, issue notices to member of all meetings, and perform such duties as may be assigned by the Chairperson of THE DIVISION or any other proper authority. The Secretary shall be the official custodian of the records of THE DIVISION.

Section 4. Treasurer - The Treasurer shall, with the assistance of the Executive Committee, present a budget for the following fiscal year (August 1 – July 31) at the Annual meeting. The Treasurer shall keep the accounts of THE DIVISION, receive all monies, fees, dues, pay all bills approved by the Executive Committee, and preserve all vouchers for such disbursements. The Treasurer shall, at the Annual meeting of THE DIVISION, submit a report of the financial transactions of the preceding period. All disbursements must be supported by receipts stating the nature of the transaction and the payee. All funds of THE DIVISION shall be maintained in an U.S. government-insured account under the name of THE DIVISION; either checking or savings. No amounts above $100 will be dispersed without Executive Committee approval, and no amounts over $1,000, not part of the budget presented at the annual meeting, will be dispersed without the approval of THE DIVISION’s membership meeting. The Treasurer will provide upon request of at least ten (10) members of THE DIVISION, current financial records within one (1) month of the request. The Treasurer shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Chairperson of THE DIVISION or other proper authority.

Section 5. The office and duties of the Treasurer may be combined with the office of another officer of THE DIVISION, for any year upon majority vote of the members of THE DIVISION voting, in person, at the Annual meeting.

Section 6. USFA Congress Representative – The primary duty of the USFA Congress Representative shall be to attend the annual meeting of the USFA Congress, with the purpose of vigorously promoting the interests of THE DIVISION. The Congress Representative shall be elected each year at the annual meeting of THE DIVISION.

Section 7. Club Representatives – The primary duties of the Club Representatives shall be:

• a) Assist in the operation of all scheduled competitions of THE DIVISION, as directed by the Chairperson or their designee.
  
  
• b) Attend and actively participate in the Executive Committee meetings of THE DIVISION, as scheduled by the Chairperson or their designee.

ARTICLE V
MANAGEMENT BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1. Composition: The management of the Division shall be vested in an Executive Committee consisting of the officers of THE DIVISION, including the USFA Congress Representative, the Division Armorer selected annually by a majority of the officers of THE DIVISION, and a Club Representative of each Division Club that is not already represented by one of the Division Officers. Division Clubs must be USFA, INC. recognized and registered at the time of the Annual Division Meeting to be eligible for membership on the Division Executive Committee.

Section 2. Quorum: A quorum shall consist of one half (1/2) of the members of the Executive Committee, or three (3) members, whichever is the greater.

Section 3. Meetings: Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held on a regular basis at such time and place as shall be designated by the Chairperson, and shall also be called upon the request of two (2) or more members of the Executive Committee. All Committee members shall be given not less than forty-eight (48) hours prior notice of all Executive Committee meetings. All meetings, except those in which disciplinary action is to be taken or contemplated against any Executive Committee member or Divisional member, shall be open to the Divisional membership.

Section 4. Any member of the Executive Committee who fails to perform his duties may be removed by the Executive Committee using the following procedures:

• a) Written notification of the causes for removal must be provided to the entire Executive Committee, including the member being considered for removal.
  
  
• b) At any meeting in which the removal of a member of the Executive Committee is contemplated, a quorum of the Executive Committee as defined in Section 2 of this article, other than the member being considered for removal, must be present.
  
  
• c) The member being considered for removal has the right to appear at the meeting and present any arguments against removal.
  
  
• d) The member who is being contemplated for removal has no vote at this meeting.
  
  
• e) Three quarters (3/4) of the Executive Committee members present at the hearing, other than the member being considered for removal, must vote for removal, before the member is removed.
  
  

Section 5. The Executive Committee may replace a member who has resigned or who has been removed by the Executive Committee by the following procedure:

• a) At any executive committee meeting where a new member is to be voted upon, a quorum of the Executive Committee as defined in Section 2 of this Article must be present.
  
  
• b) Three quarters (3/4) of the Executive Committee at this meeting must cast votes of approval before the new member of the Executive Committee is so approved.

ARTICLE VI
MEETINGS OF THE MEMBERS

Section 1. Annual Meeting: The Annual Meeting of THE DIVISION shall be held in May. The date, time and place for the Annual Meeting shall be designated by the Chairperson. All members of THE DIVISION must be given two weeks advance notice of the annual meeting.

Section 2. Special Meetings: Special Meetings may be called at any time and place by the Chairperson, and shall be called by the Chairperson upon the request of not less than ten (10) members of THE DIVISION. All members of THE DIVISION must be given two weeks advance notice of such special meetings.

Section 3. Quorum: A quorum shall consist of those members of THE DIVISION present in person, and a majority vote of those present shall control, except as herein otherwise provided.

ARTICLE VII
ELECTIONS

Section 1. Candidates for all offices established under these By-Laws shall be nominated from the floor at the annual meeting of THE DIVISION.

Section 2. If not more than one (1) nomination is made for any office, the Secretary of THE DIVISION shall cast a unanimous ballot at the annual meeting for the candidate nominated. If two (2) nominations are made for any office, voting for the candidates shall be in person by those members present, and the candidate receiving the majority of the votes cast shall be declared elected. Written ballots shall be used. In the event that three (3) or more candidates are nominated for any office, and no candidate receives a majority vote, a run-off election shall be conducted between the two candidates receiving the most votes on the first ballot, and the winner shall be declared elected. If the voting in either a regular or run-off election for any office results in a tie, a lot shall be cast and the winner declared elected.

Section 3. All voting for officers of THE DIVISION, and on matters of THE DIVISION business, shall be done in person or by proxy at the Annual Division Meeting, or other Special Meeting.

ARTICLE VIII
BY_LAWS, RULES, AND POLICIES OF THE USFA, INC.

All By-Laws, rules, regulations, and matters of policy concerning the conduct of competitions as set forth in the fencing rules and manual of the USFA, INC. are hereby incorporated as part of these By-Laws without additional action by the Executive Committee or members of THE DIVISION.

ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS

These Orange Coast Division By-Laws may be amended at any Annual meeting of the membership. An amendment receiving a majority of all votes cast by the members voting in person or by proxy shall be deemed as adopted, subject to the approval of the National Office of the USFA, INC.

Revision 3, May 20, 2007

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