Constitution

Name and Purpose

1. The League shall be known as the “Royal City Men’s Slo-Pitch League“. The members and executive shall organize, promote and operate a competitive slo-pitch softball program in the city of Guelph.
2. Short Form: The League shall also be known under the form RCMSPL.

League Executive Committee

1. Elected Executive Officers:
   1. President
   2. Vice President
   3. Secretary
   4. Treasurer

   The officers of the League will be elected each year from among the League membership at the Annual General Meeting. The term of office for executive members shall be December 1 to November 30.
   Written nominations for League Executive positions shall be received by the President before the end of October. Presidential nominations must have been a member of the League Executive for at least one year prior to nomination.

2. Appointed Officials (appointed by Executive as needed):
   1. Statistician
   2. Umpire In Chief
   3. Audit Committee
   4. Director
3. League Council:
   Each team which has been accepted for play in the RCMSPL shall designate one primary representative to attend the regularly scheduled league meeting as called by the executive. As well, each team will be required to designate an alternate representative in the event the primary representative is unable to attend League functions. Collectively, the primary representatives shall form the League Council.
4. Other:
   The League Council may remove any elected officer prior to the end of his term upon motion duly made, seconded and carried by at least 3/4 of the team representatives.

Executive and League Council Functions

1. The League Executive and Council will organize and operate the administrative functions of the League. These functions include, but are not restricted to the following:
   • preparation of playing schedule
   • approval and payment of League expenses
   • overseeing disciplinary actions
   • organization of annual banquet and awards night
   • promotion of the development of slo-pitch in the city of Guelph
   • organization of season opening tournament
   • reservation of ball diamond facilities
   • determination of which organization the league will be insured with. (i.e. SPN, SPO, NSA or Privately)
2. Duties:
   1. President:
      The President will oversee all League functions and delegate his authority as necessary in the circumstances. He will be an ex-officio member of all League committees. The President will be responsible for League playing schedules and calling meetings as required.
   2. Vice President:
      The Vice President shall assist the President in any duties as required and shall act for the League in the absence of the President. The Vice President will be primarily responsible for organizing the annual season opening tournament.
   3. Secretary:
      The Secretary will record minutes of all regularly scheduled meetings and maintain the League Constitution and Playing Rules. The Secretary will also be responsible for maintaining official team rosters, and will assist the other Executive members with any office and administrative functions that are required from time to time.
   4. Treasurer:
      The Treasurer shall keep the accounts and be responsible for the funds of the League. Bills shall be paid by cheque where possible and cheques shall be co-signed by the Treasurer and one other Executive member. The Treasurer shall report on finances and the budget at each Council meeting and provide a written report of the year’s transactions at the Annual General Meeting.
   5. Statistician:
      The Statistician shall be responsible for all scheduling and rescheduling of games and will maintain the league website with up-to-date schedules and standings. The Statistician will also be responsible for advising the Umpire-in-Chief and the City of any changes made to the schedule to ensure the smooth operation of the schedule and minimize associated expenses.
   6. Past President:
      The Past President may serve in an advisory capacity to the League Executive for one term with no voting privileges.
   7. Team Reps:
      The Team Reps will be responsible to play within the rules, make sure their players are familiar with the rules and the intent behind them, and police their players to ensure the smooth operation of the league as a whole.

League Disciplinary Committee

1. The League Disciplinary Committee shall be composed of the League President and one representative from each of the divisions chosen randomly by the Executive.
2. It shall be the duty of the League Disciplinary Committee to decide upon the appropriate action to be taken against any RCMSPL player for abuse of officials or other players. Said abuses can be either verbal or physical abuse as reported by the umpire.
3. The Committee shall act on complaints, submitted in writing by the Umpire-In-Chief and the umpire of the game, who shall submit to the President or his designate said complaints within 24 hours of the alleged abuse.
4. The League Disciplinary Committee shall have the power to suspend a player who is ejected for any reason, for a minimum of one game to a maximum for life. A suspended player is required to sign the roster of his next game as a suspended player. The Committee shall then be able to suspend further if necessary. Any player ejected by an umpire shall receive an automatic one game suspension, subject to further disciplinary action if deemed necessary, with said suspension to be served for that player’s team’s next RCMSPL game played.
5. Any player suspended by the League Disciplinary Committee has the right to appeal. This appeal is to be accompanied by a fifty ($50.00) dollar deposit which will be refunded if the appeal is successful. The League President shall call a special League meeting as soon as possible to hear such appeals.
6. The player subject to disciplinary action may not play until the decision of the League Disciplinary Committee has been made or the result of his appeal hearing is known.
7. Any team wishing to protest a decision by an umpire must do so in writing within 24 hours of the completion of the game in question. The appeal must be accompanied by a cheque in the amount of one hundred ($100.00) dollars made payable to the RCMSPL. This amount will be refunded if the protest is upheld. Upon the receipt of a protest, the League President will organize a protest committee comprised of at least two (2) Executive members and two (2) team representatives to conduct a hearing within five (5) days. The decision of this protest committee will be binding.

Rules of Order

For the efficient operation of League meetings, Roberts’ Rules of Parliamentary Order shall be in effect.

1. Voting:
   Each primary representative shall have one vote at any League meeting. Each team has a maximum potential of two votes. This would include the primary representative and only one member of the Executive.
2. Quorum:
   A quorum shall be 50% plus 1 of the primary team representatives eligible to vote. Motions passed without a quorum may be overturned by a simple majority vote at the next meeting.
3. Motions:
   Motions shall be moved and seconded by primary representatives prior to discussion. A simple majority of votes is required to pass a motion. A vote of 2/3 majority must be achieved to reconsider a motion passed in the current year or to change any of the playing rules. A simple majority is required to pass or defeat the motion, if reconsidered.
4. Alternates:
   A primary representative may designate his alternate representative, or other team member, to attend council meetings in his place. Such alternate or other, shall have all rights and responsibilities of a primary representative for that meeting.
5. Chairman:
   The President or his designate shall act as Chairman of League Council meetings. The President or his designate shall vote only to break a tie.
6. Speaking Privileges:
   Each primary representative or alternate and executive member shall have speaking privileges at Council meetings, under the control of the chairman and in accordance with the recognized Rules of Order.

Constitutional and/or Playing Rule Changes

1. Suggested change to either the League Constitution or the Rules of Play must be made in writing and provided to the League President at least 14 days prior to the Annual General Meeting.
   Changes to the Constitution will only be considered at the Annual General Meeting. Changes to the playing rules will be considered at any regularly scheduled League meeting subject to the provision of Section 5C.
2. Any constitutional change or playing rule change that affects only those teams in the Masters’ Divisions will be decided by a vote of only Masters Team Representatives.

Penalties and Fines

1. A fine of $50.00 shall be levied against any team failing to have fees paid on time.
2. A fine of $25.00 shall be assigned to any team missing more than one (1) meeting, unless a reason has been given to an Executive member in advance.
3. A fine of $50.00 shall be levied against any team who submits an N.S.F. cheque.
4. A fine of $25.00 shall be assessed against any winning team which fails to report their game score to the statistician within 72 hours (first offence). A fine of $50 shall be assessed for each additional offence.
5. Home teams failing to turn off the lights after their game will be assessed a fine of the greater of $25 or any charges levied by the city.
6. Teams will be charged a $200.00 fine for failure to return the city light keys prior to the date of the Annual General Meeting.
7. Forfeit of any game for any reason by a team will result in a $100.00 fine. ($25.00 forfeit, $25.00 cost of umpire, $50.00 diamond costs)

League Meetings

1. The League Council shall meet on a regular basis throughout the year. The League President will be responsible for the scheduling of such meetings and notice will be provided to the primary representatives at least one (1) week prior to any meeting.
2. The President may call special meetings with three (3) days notice if the need should arise.
3. Any team missing more than two (2) meetings will lose their place in the League and will be required to re-apply as a new team the following year.
4. Each year, at the end of the season, and before November 30, an Annual Meeting will be conducted to finalize business from the just completed season, elect the Executive for the upcoming year and vote on any changes to the Constitution or Playing Rules.

League Fees

1. The League Statistician is a paid contract position with a 1-year term. The amount shall be based on $100.00 per team enrolled in the league that season.
2. The League will provide the Executive with an annual honorarium for their services. Honorariums are based on $100.00 per team entered in the league and shall be divided as follows: President 40%, Vice- President 20%, Treasurer 20%, Secretary 20%.
3. Balls and scorebooks are included as part of the league fees.
4. Annual League playing fees will be determined and approved at the first meeting held in the new year.
5. Playing fees are payable as follows:
   1. A performance bond is due at the first meeting held in the calendar year.
   2. League fees are collected as follows:
      • 50% deposit at the 2nd meeting
      • 50% deposit at the 3rd meeting
6. Member teams are expected to participate in the Annual Opening Tournament (if Annual Opening Tournament is to be held that year).
7. Each team in the RCMSPL will be required to pay a performance bond of $200.00 in addition to the regular league fees prior to the start of the playing season. The performance bond will be utilized by the league executive to pay any fines incurred by a participating team. Any team that depletes the performance bond will be restricted from league play until another $200.00 bond is paid to the league treasurer. The performance bond is refundable to the team representative at the Annual General Meeting in each year. If a team backs out of the league, the performance bond is non-refundable but is at the discretion of the league executive.