Bylaws

ARTICLE I – NAME, PURPOSE

Section 1: The name of the organization is Great Lakes Wrestling. The registered and principal office of Great Lakes Wrestling is located in Saint Joseph, Michigan.

Section 2: Great Lakes Wrestling is organized for the purpose of developing wrestlers who are committed to and enjoy the sport of wrestling. This goal is achieved by promoting sportsmanship and inclusivity; developing a positive attitude, solid work ethic, and improved physical fitness; and developing fundamentally sound wrestlers in Folkstyle, Freestyle, and Greco-Roman styles of wrestling. Great Lakes Wrestling will aid the coaching staff through fundraising activities to provide appropriate support and stimulate interest in the general welfare of those engaged.

ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: General Membership. Members are individuals who desire to be affiliated with Great Lakes Wrestling, which include youth, middle school, and high school wrestlers and adult members at large. Members are entitled to the following:

(1) Attendance at open sessions of business meetings

(2) Seeking appointment to the Board of Directors

(3) Responsible to the policies and procedures of the organization

Section 2: Fees. Any membership fees prescribed by the Board of Directors shall be made payable to Great Lakes Wrestling.

Section 3: Non-Discriminatory Statement. Membership into Great Lakes Wrestling and participation in the activities of Great Lakes Wrestling shall take place without regard to race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

ARTICLE III – MEETINGS

Section 1: Quarterly Meetings. The date and location of quarterly meetings are set by the Board of Directors. Fiscal year runs January 1 through December 31.

Section 2: Special Meetings. Special meetings may be called at any time by request of any board member. Reasonable time shall be allowed before the special meeting date.

ARTICLE IV – BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1: The government of Great Lakes Wrestling shall be vested in a board of four (4) Directors.

Section 2: The officers of Great Lakes Wrestling shall consist of:

(1) President

(2) Vice-President

(3) Treasurer

(4) Secretary

Section 3: Board Elections. The Officers and Members at Large shall be nominated by members of Great Lakes Wrestling and elected/voted in by the current Board of Directors.

A nomination committee shall be appointed by the President not less than two weeks prior to the regularly scheduled meeting for the selection of members to the Board of Directors. If a current member of the Board of Directors is nominated for a board position, he or she may still participate in the vote, voting for himself, herself, or a new nominee. Primary qualification for a Board of Director position shall consist of nominee who is in good standing and conducts himself or herself in a manner that will bring honor to Great Lakes Wrestling.

Section 4: Terms. Term of office shall be two (2) years for the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary; and one (1) year for At-Large members. All board members are eligible for re-election. There are no term limit restrictions.

Section 5: Quorum. A quorum must be attended by at least 50 percent of the board members before business can be transacted or motions made or passed.

Section 6. Officers and Duties. There shall be four officers of the Board consisting of a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Their duties are as follows:

The President shall convene regularly scheduled board meetings, shall preside or arrange for other members of the executive committee to preside at each meeting in the following order: Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer.

The Vice President will chair committees on special subjects as designated by the Board.

The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping records of board actions, including overseeing the taking of minutes at all board meetings, sending out meeting announcements, distributing copies of minutes and the agenda to each board members, and assuring that appropriate records are maintained.

The Treasurer shall make a report at each board meeting. Treasurer shall chair the finance committee, assist in the preparation of the budget, help develop fundraising plans, and make financial information available to board members and the public.

Section 7. Committees. Great Lakes Wrestling may have several standing committees of which each shall have a committee chairperson appointed by the Board of Directors. The committees may consist of, but are not limited to, the following: Branding, Organization, Fundraising, and Competition. The Chairperson from each committee shall report to the Board of Directors.

Section 8: Vacancies. When a vacancy on the board exists, nominations for new members may be received from current Great Lakes Wrestling members. Nominations will be collected by the Secretary two weeks in advance of a board meeting. These nominations shall be sent out to board members with the regular board meeting announcement, to be voted upon at the next board meeting. These vacancies will be filled only to the end of the particular board member’s term.

Section 9: Resignation, Termination, and Absences. Resignation from the board must be in writing and received by the Secretary. A board member shall be dropped for excess absences from the board if he or she has three unexcused absences from board meetings in a year. A board member may be removed for other reasons by a three-fourths vote of the remaining directors.

ARTICLE V – CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

Whenever a director or officer has a financial or personal interest in any matter coming before the Board of Directors, the affected person shall fully disclose the nature of the interest and withdraw from discussion, lobbying, and voting on the matter. Any transaction or vote involving a potential conflict of interest shall be approved only when a majority of disinterested directors determine that it is in the best interest of Great Lakes Wrestling to do so. The minutes of meetings at which such votes are taken shall record such disclosure, abstention, and rationale for approval.

ARTICLE VI – USE OF FUNDS AND EQUIPMENT

Section 1: Contracts. Only the Board of Directors may authorize contracts on the part of the organization.

Section 2. Loans. No loans may be contracted on behalf of Great Lakes Wrestling and no evidence of indebtedness shall be issued in its name unless authorized by a resolution of the Board of Directors. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

Section 3. Checks. All checks may be signed by the Treasurer, President, or Vice President.

Section 4. Deposits. All funds of Great Lakes Wrestling not otherwise employed for its purpose shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of Great Lakes Wrestling in such banks or other depositories as the Board of Directors may select.

Section 5. Financial Audit. An annual internal financial audit of Great Lakes Wrestling will be conducted by designated members by the Board of Directors, not to include the Treasurer.

Section 6. Annual Budget. Great Lakes Wrestling Board of Directors will formulate an annual budget by December 1 of each year for the following year’s budget. This budget will provide a breakdown of expenditures that are anticipated for the upcoming fiscal year. This budget must be approved by Great Lakes Wrestling Board of Directors.

Section 7. Funds Raised. The funds raised by Great Lakes Wrestling, except such as may be designated for special purposes, shall be appropriated by the Board of Directors to pay the legitimate and necessary expenses of Great Lakes Wrestling in carrying out its primary purpose. Neither funds of Great Lakes Wrestling nor any procured by it shall be appropriated or used without the prior written approval of Great Lakes Wrestling Board of Directors.

Section 8. Expenditures. If expenditures are incurred without pre approval by the Board of Directors, then the Board of Directors will take a unanimous vote to approve such expenditures. Expenditures not unanimously approved by the Board will be the responsibility of the individual(s) incurring the expense(s).

Section 9. Checks. All checks will be signed by the Treasurer, President, or Vice-President.

Section 10. Equipment. No equipment of Great Lakes Wrestling shall be used by any individual or organization not affiliated with Great Lakes Wrestling without the prior written approval of the Board of Directors. No equipment of Great Lakes Wrestling will be used for any purpose other than what it was intended or designed for.

ARTICLE VII – SPONSORSHIPS/CONTRIBUTIONS

Great Lakes Wrestling will solicit sponsorships and contributions as needed. Sponsorship funds will be used to support Great Lakes Wrestling and help pay for the costs of Great Lakes Wrestling.

ARTICLE VIII – RULES AND AMENDMENTS

Section 1: Rules. Parliamentary procedures will be followed at all Great Lakes Wrestling meetings, and the Board of Directors shall act in accordance with established rules of order.

Section 2: Amendments. These Bylaws may be amended, repealed, or altered in whole or in part by a majority vote at any regular or special meeting of Great Lakes Wrestling members. Proposed amendments must be submitted to the Secretary to be sent out with regular board announcements.

Section 3: Dissolution Clause. In the event Great Lakes Wrestling ceases to exist, all assets, or funds obtained from the sale of assets at the time of the dissolution of Great Lakes Wrestling, shall revert to offset expenses if Great Lakes Wrestling is exempt under 501(c)3 at the time of the dissolution.