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THE ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION OF USA TRACK AND FIELD

BY-LAWS

PREAMBLE

The Illinois Association of USA Track and Field is organized for the betterment of the sport of track and field and to do every nature of activity necessary toward that end. These By-Laws are created to direct the operation of the Association with this goal in clear focus. Each discipline of the sport of track and field must consider the totality of the sport and acknowledge that gains for the sport result in benefits for the individual discipline as well. The Board of Directors is the center of the operational structure of the Association and represents all disciplines, cooperating to benefit track and field and every component of the sport of track and field; the Board of Directors also has the authority to act in the best interests of the Association as described in these By-Laws.

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of this corporation shall be The Illinois Association of USA Track and Field. The designation "USATF Illinois" may be used for the purpose of brevity or for the use in any logo.

ARTICLE II

DEFINITIONS

A. Track and field includes, in addition to track and field, long distance running (cross county running and road running), race walking, and any other sport discipline recognized by USATF Illinois.

B. All other words and terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall be used as defined in the By-Laws of USA Track and Field, Inc., the national governing body. (Hereinafter sometimes referred to as USATF)

ARTICLE III

PURPOSES

The purposes of The Illinois Association of USA Track and Field are to encourage, improve, and promote the sport of track and field in the State of Illinois and in the Illinois Association.

ARTICLE IV

AUTHORITY

USATF Illinois, as authorized by USA Track and Field, Inc., shall have the authority to administer the sport of track and field in the geographic area authorized by USA Track and Field, Inc. In the administration of the sport of track and field, USATF Illinois shall exercise independent supervision and control over the eligibility, sanctioning authority, scheduling and rules of competition for the sport of track and field in the geographic areas authorized by USA Track and Field, Inc.

ARTICLE V

MEMBERSHIP

Membership in USATF Illinois shall be by an organization/club member or individual member, whose applications for membership shall be approved by USATF Illinois.

A. USATF Illinois Organization/Club member: an organization/ club member shall be any bona fide sports organization organized within the geographical area authorized by USATF or which operates or competes in the described geographical area and is interested in the sport of track and field or which regularly sponsors or arranges programs, competitions, or competitive opportunities for its athlete members in the sport of track and field. Such organization/club member shall submit a membership application as directed by USATF Illinois and pay the required dues.

B. Individual voting member: an individual member is any individual who is eighteen (18) years or older residing within the geographical area authorized by USATF who is active in or interested in the sport of Track and field and who applies for membership, pays the required dues for membership, and meets all other membership obligations as directed by USATF Illinois. Accept for renewal memberships from the prior year, in order to be eligible to vote, an individual must be a member of the Association at least one (1) full month prior to the month in which the election occurs. (Example: if the election is April 25^th, the membership must be processed by February 28^th.)

C. USATF Illinois may categorize membership into subclasses based on activity or

interest of the member, and define the rights of such subclasses of membership.

D. The Board of Directors may name amateur sports organizations which have an

interest in the sport of track and field to become voting members of USATF Illinois. The Board of Directors shall determine the extent of the voting rights of the amateur sports organization

and on which committee such representation may participate.

ARTICLE VI

GENERAL MEETINGS

A. A General meeting is a meeting of the entire voting membership of USATF Illinois. General meetings of USATF Illinois shall be held at the direction and the notice of the Board of Directors. At least thirty (30) days notice shall be given to the entire voting membership prior to any general meeting. Such notice may be in any publication circulated to all voting members.

B. The Annual meeting of USATF Illinois shall be held in the spring of each calendar year, at such date, time and place as may be fixed by the Board of Directors, and announced to the voting membership not less than thirty (30) days prior to the date of the meeting as with all general meetings.

C. No minimum number of registered voters shall be required at General meetings, including Annual meetings. If fewer than twenty-five (25) voters are present at any Annual or General meeting, and conduct business at the meeting, the Board of Directors may conduct a separate binding vote on any business conducted at said meeting.

ARTICLE VII

ELECTIONS

A. Voting at USATF Illinois meetings, general or otherwise, shall be restricted to: 1) those delegates who represent USATF Illinois member organizations/clubs which are active in track and field within USATF Illinois, provided that the organization/club member is current in all fees and other requirements of USATF Illinois membership; and 2) those individual members of USATF Illinois who are active and who are current in all fees and other requirements of USATF Illinois membership.

1. For all meetings where elections occur, notice of such election shall be distributed by mail or by the Association or National office website. Information regarding elections is posted on the website, the website location shall be regularly announced in all Association publications.

2. Notice of elections shall be given so that information regarding the election is received either by mail or on the website at least thirty (30) days prior to election. Any notice of change of the meeting or the election process must be given at least fourteen (14) days in advance of the meeting.

3. The Illinois Association elections shall be at open meetings of the Association where all members of the Association are eligible to attend and vote. Provisions for such meetings include:

i. A secret ballot must be used for contested elections;

ii. Uncontested elections may be voted by acclamation;

iii. Credential disputes regarding eligibility to vote must resolved before the election process is started with nominations and/or the report of the nominating committee.

B. For an organization/club member to be considered active and eligible to vote, the organization/club must have: 1) had five or more athletes who held valid USATF Illinois card membership and voter registration concurrently within the past twelve (12) months; or 2) conducted a USATF Illinois sanctioned event within the past twelve months.

C. For an individual member to be considered active and eligible to vote at USATF Illinois meetings, the individual member must pay the required fees and meet all obligations of membership of USATF Illinois, as approved by the Board of Directors.

D. Member Organizations/Clubs are entitled to two (2) delegate votes and one (1) additional delegate vote for each fifty (50) USATF Illinois athlete members, up to a maximum of five (5) delegate votes. If a member organization/club is entitled to more than one vote, each ballot must be cast by a different representative, each of whom must be members of the Association. All individuals voting for a member organization/club shall be members of the Association.

E. All officers, directors, committee chairs, and members making nominations, and all others who hold positions or otherwise conduct any affairs of USATF Illinois must be voting members of USATF Illinois, and must be at least 18 years of age.

F. Nominations for all elected positions must be allowed from the floor at all

meetings where elections occur. A candidate for any position shall be nominated by one person and seconded by one person, both of whom shall be members of the Association.

G. All candidates for any position within the Association must be members of the

Association and must be at least 18 years of age at the beginning of the term of office for which the member is a candidate.

H. Individuals may only cast one ballot regardless of how many positions within the

Association the individual occupies. There shall be no proxy voting. All individuals casting ballots for any election must be at least 18 years of age on the day of the election, or in the case of mail balloting if approved by the Board of Directors, on the day the ballots are due.

I. Individuals who are appointed as committee chairs of board members shall not

vote in elections in their capacity as such appointee, but have the ability to vote if they otherwise qualify as eligible to vote such as being a member.

J. Ballots for elections shall be counted by a panel of at least three (3) individuals,

not less than one (1) of whom shall be an athlete. All members of the panel counting the ballots shall be of voting age, the panel shall not include any individual who is a candidate for a contested office, and all panel members shall sign the tally of votes.

K. If a candidate at a election does not receive a majority vote and a run-off election

is necessary, there shall be candidates on the ballot for the run-off election equal to two times the remaining positions to be filled for the election.

L. Current employees or those working within the ninety (90) days preceding the

election, shall not participate in any of the election process, including nominating or campaigning, but may, at the discretion of the Association, be permitted to vote if the employee or former employee is a member of the Association and otherwise eligible to vote.

ARTICLE VIII

OFFICERS

A. OFFICERS: The officers of the Association shall be President, Vice President of Administration and Vice President of Operations, Secretary and Treasurer.

B. DUTIES: The officers shall perform the following duties as well as any other prescribed by these By-Laws, USATF Illinois, or the Board of Directors:

1. PRESIDENT: The President shall preside at all meetings of this Association and, as Chairman, all meetings of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee.

2. VICE PRESIDENT OF ADMINISTRATION: In the case of disability of the President, the Vice President of Administration shall assume the duties of the President and shall perform the duties of that office. In

addition, the Vice President of Administration shall have the responsibility to oversee the operations of all sport and administrative committees.

3. VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS: In the case of disability of the President and the Vice President of Administration, the Vice President of Operations shall assume the duties of the President and shall perform the duties of that office. In addition, the Vice President of Operations shall have the responsibility to oversee the operation of all programs and events.

4. SECRETARY: The Secretary shall perform all duties pertaining to the office of Secretary for USATF Illinois as a whole and for the Board of Directors.

5. TREASURER: The Treasurer shall be the officer of USATF Illinois directly responsible for carrying out the fiscal obligations of the Association. The Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Directors, may delegate the day to day fiscal operations of the Association to the Executive Director and the local office of the Association.

C. ELECTIONS: The President and the two Vice Presidents shall be elected in odd numbered years at the Annual Meeting as prescribed in these By-Laws, by majority vote. The other officers shall be elected by the Board of Directors at the end of the Annual Meeting following the election of the President in odd numbered years. Election of all officers shall be by secret written ballot. All officers shall serve in their capacity from the date of their election until a new election is held for those offices as prescribed in these By-Laws.

1. ELECTION OF PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENTS: The election of the President and Vice Presidents shall be governed by the following rules: A candidate for President and Vice President may be elected at the Annual Meeting who has been nominated for the office at least thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Meeting. Such nomination shall consist of a petition signed by five (5) or more voting members of the Association, as defined by Article VII, no two (2) of whom may be from the same organization/club. A candidate for President and Vice President may also be nominated from the floor at the Annual Meeting if the members in attendance at the Annual Meeting equal one-third or more of the voting membership of USATF Illinois or fifty (50), whichever is fewer. If fewer than twenty-five (25) voters are present at any Annual meeting when an election for these officers is conducted, the Board of Directors may conduct a separate binding vote on the election of any or all of the elected officers.

2. SELECTION OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS: The Board of Directors shall consist of up to seventeen (17) members: the officers of the Association, the elected sport and administrative committee chairs, the administrative committee chairs appointed by the President or the Board of Directors, the requisite number of athlete members, and up to three at-large

members. Members of the Board of Directors must represent active USATF Illinois member organizations/clubs or be active, voting members in good standing as defined in these By-Laws and the Operating Regulations of USATF Illinois.

3. TERM OF OFFICE:

a. In the event any officer or member of the Board of Directors resigns or is unable to serve any remaining portion of a term of office, except the President, the Board of Directors shall name a successor for the unexpired portion of the term of the vacated position. An officer of USATF Illinois who is no longer a member of the Board of Directors may not continue to serve as such officer and a vacancy will automatically occur.

b. In the case of the resignation or inability of the President to complete the term of office, the Vice President of Administration shall fulfill the term of office, a new member of the Board of Directors shall be selected pursuant to these By-Laws, and a new Vice President of Administration shall be selected from the members of the new Board of Directors.

c. The Board of Directors may establish attendance requirements for meetings and rules for the replacement of Directors who do not abide the attendance requirements, which requirements and rules may be placed in the Operating Regulations of USATF Illinois.

4. REMOVAL FROM OFFICE: An Officer may be removed from office for cause and with the concurrence of two-thirds or more of the current constituency from which the office holder was chosen. The constituency for the President is the entire association, so the vote for removal of the President for cause shall be at any general meeting called with notice given to the entire voting membership that the issue of removal of the President will be considered.

ARTICLE IX

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A. The members of the Board of Directors shall perform the duties described in these By-Laws and as directed by the membership. The members of the Board of Directors selected from the Sport Committees shall, where applicable, represent the interests of the respective Sport Committees.

B. A majority of the Board of Directors may require the President to call special meetings or general meetings of USATF Illinois, where appropriate cause exists.

C. The Board of Directors shall choose the delegates from USATF Illinois who will represent USATF Illinois at the national USATF convention, with the advice of the Executive Committees of the standing sport and administrative committees.

D. The Board of Directors shall select an Executive Director of USATF Illinois who will be the chief executive of USATF Illinois and who will serve at the direction of the Board of Directors and who will carry out the policies of USATF Illinois in accordance with these By-Laws and in accordance with the directions and duties established by the Board of Directors.

E. The Board of Directors has the authority to undertake any action in the best interest of the Association, including actions to approve or disapprove committee business. This authority also permits the Board of Directors to act in the absence of performance or action of any committee.

F. The Board of Directors has the authority to establish Operating Rules to implement these By-Laws and to implement the policies of the Association. Pursuant to Article XVI (C), the Board of Directors may also amend the By-Laws with a two-thirds vote. In the event that the Board of Directors recognizes that an administrative committee has sufficient activity and organization in conducting its own affairs, the Board of Directors may determine that such an administrative committee may hold its own elections to establish the leadership of the administrative committee.

G. A quorum for the purpose of conducting meetings of the Board of Directors is fifty percent plus one, of the currently serving Board of Directors.

H. For the purpose of conducting meetings in the absence of a quorum, telephonic or computer assisted communication may be used to poll Directors and to record and count the vote of an absent Director.

ARTICLE X

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

A. The Board of Directors shall select an Executive Committee, made up of five, seven, or nine members of the Board of Directors, selected by the Board of Directors at the first meeting of the Board of Directors following the election of the Association officers. The Executive Committee shall be made up of the Officers of the Association, the requisite number of athlete representatives and any additional members as the Board may prescribe.

B. The members of the Executive Committee shall perform the duties described in these By-Laws and as directed by the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee shall operate in place of the Board of Directors be

tween meetings of the full Board of Directors and shall have the full authority to decide for the Board of Directors. All actions of the Executive Committee shall be reported to the full Board of Directors at meetings of the Board of Directors and such actions shall be approved or disapproved.

C. Consistent with the requirements described above, the Executive Committee has the authority to undertake any action in the best interest of the Association, including actions to approve or disapprove committee business. This authority also permits the Executive Committee to act in the absence of performance or action of any committee.

D. A quorum for the purpose of conducting meetings of the Executive Committee is fifty percent plus one, of the currently serving Executive Committee.

E. For the purpose of conducting meetings in the absence of a quorum, telephonic or computer assisted communication may be used to poll members of the Executive Committee and to record and count the vote of an absent Executive Committee member.

ARTICLE XI

SPORT COMMITTEES

A. There shall be five (5) Sport Committees: Youth Track and field, Master's Track & Field, Track & Field, Long Distance Running (road racing, cross country, and ultra distance), and Race Walking. The Committees will represent the areas as described by USATF.

B. Each of these five (5) Sport Committees shall have an Executive Committee comprised of five (5) to nine (9) members or voting representatives who are USATF Illinois voting members: the President of the Association (or a representative designated by the President) and four (4) to eight (8) other members of the Sport Committee, chosen by the whole Sport Committee at a site and time established by each Sport Committee.

1. The time of the meeting of the Sport Committee to elect the Sport Executive Committee must be in accordance with the Operating Regulations.

2. Voting at the Sport Committee meeting to elect the representatives of the Sport Executive Committee must follow the requirements of Section C, immediately below.

3. At least one (1) member of each sport Executive Committee of the Sport Committee, except Youth Track and field, must be an active athlete in the sport or sports governed by the Committee.

4. If a vacancy arises on the Sport Executive Committee, the remaining members of the Sport Executive Committee shall appoint a member from the Sport Committee to serve on the Sport Executive Committee until the next full Sport Committee meeting.

5. The Sport Executive Committee shall elect a chairperson for a specific term of office which term is determined prior to the voting for that position, from among the elected members of the Sport Executive Committee. The election of the Sport Executive Committee chair shall take place at a meeting held separately from the general elections, either by time or location, and shall be announced to all member organizations in the Association active in the discipline of the particular sport committee.

C. Voting in the Sport Committee General Meetings shall be restricted to USATF Illinois members, either club or individual, as described in these By-Laws and prescribed by USATF Illinois. USATF Illinois voting members, in order to be eligible to vote at any Sport Committee meeting, must meet the requirements of voting membership, either as a club/organization member or a voting member, as described in Article V. In addition, to make the voting member eligible to vote as a member of the Sport Committee, the voting member must be active, as defined in Article V, Membership and Article VII, Voting, in the particular discipline of the Sport Committee.

D. The Board of Directors shall determine the number of voting members required for attendance at general Sport Committee Meetings in order for the Sport Committee to conduct valid votes on business of the committee. In the event that insufficient voting members attend meetings, according to the attendance requirements established by the Board of Directors, the Sport Executive Committee shall be permitted to conduct the business and affairs of the committee with regard to any item of business previously listed on the agenda distributed with notice of the meeting to the membership for such meeting.

E. The Sport Executive Committee chair shall serve on the Board of Directors. If the Sport Executive Committee chair is unable to attend a meeting of the Board of Directors of USATF Illinois, then the Sport Committee chair shall designate another member of the Sport Executive Committee to attend the USATF Illinois Board of Directors meeting with full voting authority. If neither the Sport Committee chair nor the chair's designee attends the Board of Directors meeting with regularity, the Board of Directors may designate another member of the Sport Executive Committee to attend and vote at the meeting of the Board of Directors to represent the Sport Committee.

F. The duties of the Sport Executive Committees shall be to:

1. manage the affairs and activities of the Sport for which the Committee is authorized to govern;

2. advise the Board of Directors regarding the selection of delegate(s) to the USATF National Convention to represent the committee's interests.

3. recommend to the Board of Directors, sites and dates for Association championship events related to the Committee.

ARTICLE XII

ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEES

A. USATF Illinois shall have an Administrative Committee for each of the following areas:

Law and Legislation Sports Medicine and Sports Science

Marketing Special Projects

Media/Public Relations Rules and Records

Officials Budget and Finance

Member Services Volunteers

Athlete's Advisory

B. The Board of Directors may create new committees, as are necessary to serve USATF Illinois and the membership.

C. The President of USATF Illinois, with the advice and consent of the entire Board of Directors of USATF Illinois, shall appoint, from among the voting membership of the Association, a chairperson and the members of the Committees described within this Article. The President may remove a committee chair or committee member, with the advice and consent of the entire Board of Directors of USATF Illinois. The Committee shall then function at the request and at the direction of the Board of Directors of USATF Illinois.

ARTICLE XIII

INTERNAL GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

A. Any member of USATF Illinois, as defined in Article V of these By-Laws, may file a written grievance with the President of USATF Illinois, at the office of USATF Illinois, regarding any matter involving USATF Illinois, its operations, or these By-Laws.

B. Any grievance or complaint shall be signed under oath and shall allege with particularity the nature of the grievance and/or claimed violation of the procedures of USATF Illinois or these By-Laws and shall refer to specific procedures or By-Laws, stating in concise language, how, when,

and where the violation occurred. The factual allegations shall be set forth in numbered paragraphs, each paragraph containing a single factual allegation.

C. In the event that the member filing a grievance or complaint is not satisfied with the resolution of the grievance or complaint by informal methods, the member may request a hearing, whereupon the President shall call a meeting of the members of the Board of Directors to hear evidence, make findings of fact, and adjudicate the issues raised. The Board of Directors may appoint a special hearing panel of three (3) voting members of the Association to hear the grievance or complaint in place of the entire Board of Directors.

D. Fair notice and an opportunity for a hearing shall be accorded to any amateur athlete, coach, trainer, manager, administrator, or official before this Association declares such individual ineligible to participate in any amateur athletic competition.

E. At any hearing conducted pursuant to paragraph (D) of this Article, all information brought forward in opposition to the grievance or complaint, including documents, testimony, and any other evidence, shall be subject to cross examination by the party pursuing the grievance. A summarized record of the proceedings shall be made by the hearing panel. The rules of evidence that are generally accepted in administrative proceedings shall be applicable. The hearing panel shall expeditiously conduct the hearing and report its findings of fact and conclusions in writing to the Board and the parties concerned.

F. The grievance procedure of USATF may be adopted by the Board of Directors to be used in the case of the filing of any grievance. The policy of USATF Illinois is for a full and fair hearing utilizing all due process for all members of the Association. Any appeal of any administrative determination made by a body other than the Board of Directors, is to the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE XIV

SUSPENSION AND EXPULSION

A. USATF Illinois, or its Board of Directors as its representative, shall have the power: (1) to suspend for a definite or indefinite period; or (2) to expel a member, delegate, athlete, coach, manager, official or member of any committee who by conduct: (1) acts in a manner detrimental to the purpose of this Association and amateur sports; or (2) has violated any of the By-Laws or rules of USATF Illinois or USATF.

B. For the same reason stated in paragraph (A) of this Article, USATF Illinois shall have the power to recommend to USATF that a member of any committee be suspended or expelled provided that all the provisions of due process as stated in the USATF By-Laws have been met.

C. Before exercising its authority under this Article, USATF Illinois or the Board of Directors must notify, in writing, the person or organization involved in any alleged infringement of the rules or of good conduct in order to afford an opportunity to be heard in a swift and equitable manner. Any hearing held under this provision shall be held consistent with the provisions described in Article XIII(e).

ARTICLE XV

FISCAL AND LEGAL MATTERS

A. The fiscal year of USATF Illinois is January 1 to December 31.

B. Assets or property of this Association may be transferred from one depository to another by action of the Board of Directors.

C. The Treasurer of USATF Illinois shall be responsible for the appointment of a Financial Committee, of three or more persons, to supervise and audit expenditures of money allocated by USATF or otherwise raised by USATF Illinois, and to monitor and review similar committees established by the Board of Directors or any Sport Committee which has the authority to expend allocations from USATF Illinois or from USATF. Any audit or review of the financial matters shall be made available to all members at the Annual Meeting.

ARTICLE XVI

BY-LAW AMENDMENTS

A. These By-Laws may be amended at any Annual or general meeting of the membership of the Association, by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of those members present and voting, provided however that notice of the proposed amendment, consistent with the requirements of Article VI, has been submitted, in writing, to the members of the Association at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting.

B. All proposed amendments to these By-Laws must be submitted to the Office of USATF Illinois at least ninety (90) days prior to the meeting where the amendment will be considered, so that a proper review of the proposed By-Law can be made and so that the proposal can be submitted to the membership of the Association.

C. The authority of the Board of Directors, as described elsewhere in these By-Laws, to conduct the business of the Association due to lack of attendance at meetings or due to emergencies, also allows the Board of Directors the authority to amend the By-Laws of the Association, but only with a two-thirds (2/3) vote of all current members of the Board of Directors subsequent to the requirement described in Article IX, F, regarding subsequent approval by membership.

ARTICLE XVII

DISSOLUTION

A. Upon the dissolution of the corporation, the Board shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all the liabilities of the corporation, dispose of all the assets of the corporation exclusively for the purpose of the corporation in such a manner, or to such organization or organizations, organized and operated exclusively for charitable educational, religious, or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as exempt organization or organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), as the Board shall determine.

_______________________

Scott R. Erwin, Secretary

USATF-Illinois

Dated:_5/14/03________________