ARTICLE 1: THE ORGANIZATION
1.1 Name
The name of the organization shall be International Gay and Lesbian Football Association, hereinafter referred to as “the Association”. The term “football ” is synonymous with the term “soccer”.
1.2 Purpose
The primary purpose of the International Gay and Lesbian Football Association shall be to foster and augment the self respect of gay women and men throughout the world and engender respect and understanding from the non-gay world through the medium of organized, football. While particular emphasis is placed on these specific goals, all activities conducted under its auspices shall be inclusive in nature.
The further goals of the Association will be to establish an international network of football clubs and to promote physical and tactical understanding of the game of football. We will also nurture the comradery inherent in sport.
1.3 Organizational Structure
1.3.1 This Constitution together with the By-Laws, which both shall become effective with the approval of a majority vote by the general membership, shall be the sole rules for the organization, administration, and functioning of this Association.
1.3.2 The Association
The Association shall consist of Associate Members (non-voting groups), General Members (teams/clubs), Individual Members (players and referees), a House of Delegates, hereinafter known as “the House,” and an Executive Board of Directors, hereinafter known as “the Board.”
1.3.3 The House
The House of Delegates shall consist of two (2) representatives from each General Member team, referees and the Board of Directors.
1.3.4 The Board of Directors
A. the Board of Directors shall consist of a President, a Communications Director, a Business Development Director, a Financial Director, an Operations Director, a Membership Director, a Diversity Director a Referee Director and Regional Directors for all continents where the association is active. This board is elected by the House, and shall be referred to as the Members of the Board. For the purposes of this Association the Continents shall be Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America and Oceania.
1.4 Legal Status
This Constitution is subject to revision or amendment by the process enumerated herein.
The Association is organized exclusively for educational purposes as prescribed by the general not-for-profit corporation laws of the United States of America.
1.4.1 Remuneration
In conformance with the non-profit status law, no part of the net earnings of the Association shall inure to the benefit of, nor be distributed to, its members, officers, or other private persons; however the Association shall be allowed to provide reasonable compensation for services rendered in the furtherance of the purpose set forth herein.
1.4.2 Enjoinments
No substantial part of the activities of the Association shall be the carrying on of propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence national governments. The Association shall neither participate nor intervene in any political campaign (including the publishing or distributing of statements) on behalf of any candidate for public office. Members of the Association are especially enjoined from engaging in political activity under the name International Gay and Lesbian Football Association, or using any Association facilities or funds in the furtherance of any political cause. However, this may not be construed as to violate any individual’s rights as a private citizen.
Not withstanding any other provision of these By-Laws, the Association shall not carry on any activities prohibited to any Association (or corporation) qualified under either Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code allowing tax-deductible contributions to such qualified entity (or corresponding provisions of any future U.S. Internal Revenue Law).
1.4.3 Dissolution
The Association may be dissolved either voluntarily or involuntarily only in the manner prescribed by law in the State of Massachusetts which specifies the only legal manner in which a corporation chartered in Massachusetts under this law may be dissolved. Upon dissolution the Board of Directors shall pay all liabilities of the Association, in accordance with the law. It shall distribute any remaining assets under a plan adopted by the Officers of Board.
1.4.4 Protocol
For all matters not specifically covered in the articles of incorporation or the By-Laws, the Not-For-Profit Corporation Act applies as specifically stated within Massachusetts law. No Association member may act knowingly, at any time, in such manner as to violate the law.
ARTICLE 2: MEMBERSHIP
2.1 The members of this Association shall be teams, individuals, and organizations interested in the sport of football for the gay and lesbian community and who meet qualifications for membership as outlined within the By-Laws of this Association.
ARTICLE 3: THE OFFICERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
3.1 The affairs of this Association shall be under the control of the Officers of the Board of Directors. All Board Members shall be volunteers and neither paid personnel of the Association nor from any organization receiving financial support from the Association; all of whom shall be of full age (eighteen (18) years of age); at least one of whom shall be a citizen of the country in which the Association is incorporated; and that all members of the board must meet all qualifications for membership as outlined within the By-Laws of the Association.
ARTICLE 4: MEETINGS, QUORUM
4.1 The Board of Directors Meetings
The Board meetings should be held annually; thirty (30) days notice is required for each of these meetings. The meeting shall include all elected and appointed members of the Board. Special meetings may be called by any member of the Board, allowing at least a thirty (30) days advance notice, unless emergency situations prohibit such notice. Telephone conference meetings, Skype video meetings and Email meetings shall be permitted to address the geographic difficulties involved in a global organization.
4.2 House of Delegates Meetings
There shall be an Annual General Meeting of the combined House of Delegates and the Board of Directors; thirty (30) days advance notice is required for this meeting. This meeting may be held in conjunction with an annual international football tournament sanctioned by the Association. Elections to The Board of Directors shall be held at this time. Other House meetings may be called with thirty (30) days notice. Meetings shall be conducted in an organized manner, with the Board or a House member agreed upon by the House membership maintaining proper order.
4.3 Quorum
The House of Delegates shall consist of two (2) representatives from each General Member Team and the Board of Directors. For all House meetings, including the Annual General Meeting except as otherwise provided by law or by this Constitution, the presence in person of not less than one-half (1/2)of the General Member Teams are requisite and shall constitute a quorum. If such number of members shall not be present in person, those present shall not call the meeting to order until such time as the quorum shall be present.
Any action by the majority of members where a quorum is present shall be action of the membership of this Association.
ARTICLE V
Elections and Officers
5.1 Officers of the Association
The officers of this Association shall be the President, Communications Director, Vice President-Business Development, Treasurer, Chief Operations Director, Vice President Membership, Vice President Diversity and the ten (10) Regional Delegates
5.1.1 Appointed Members of the Board
The appointed members of the Board shall be appointed by the elected Officers and shall include the Referee Director, the Delegate to the Federation of Gay Games, and the Immediate Past President of the Association.
5.1.2 Removal of a board member
In order to maintain and protect the mission of the International Gay & Lesbian Football Association, the following procedure will detail the process of removing a Board Member who continually does not meet or follow the IGLFA Constitution and By Laws or has displayed behavior that is counter to the mission of the organization. For the avoidance of doubt – this includes the failure to meet the responsibilities of their nominated role. Board governance is a key factor in keeping the integrity of an organization and the following steps will be followed:
A Letter of Explanation is required from the Executive Board member making the recommendation for the removal of a Board Member. The letter will be provided to the next officer in line. This will allow members to also consider the President of the organization which will cover the entire Executive Board.
The Officer receiving the Letter of Explanation will hold a meeting with the Officer who submitted the letter and then schedule a meeting with the entire Executive Board.
The meeting will introduce the Letter of Explanation to the entire Board, then schedule a Special Meeting within 45 days to review the request, review all evidence, discuss the next steps and then vote on the Letter of Explanation.
The Vote to Accept the Letter of Explanation must be Motioned and Seconded and put to a Vote. All Votes will be sent to the Chief Operation Director Officer (unless the Letter of Explanation is for the COD) to keep the process private.
After the votes are calculated, the Communications Officer will announce the results “The Letter of Explanation has been Accepted or the Letter of Explanation has been Declined”.
the VOTE is Accepted, the Board Member will be removed from the IGLFA website and the email access removed, including all Social Media access. The Board Member will no longer represent IGLFA matters or the institution and any such behavior will be met by legal actions. The Board Member will be unable to hold office again on the Executive Board but will be able to participate in any IGLFA Tournament according to membership status.
If the VOTE is Declined, the Board Member will maintain their title and resume responsibilities as detailed in the IGLFA Constitution and By Laws.
5.2 Term of Office
The term of office for a Board Officer shall be two (2) years. The elected Officers of the Board may serve in the same office for two (2) consecutive terms, or until their successors qualify and are elected. These persons shall assume their respective positions upon election.Back to Top
ARTICLE VI
Amendments
6.1 The Constitution of this Association may be altered or repealed by the General Membership by the vote of two-thirds (2/3rds) majority of all qualified General Member representatives. The vote may occur at a House meeting or by way of written ballot and the postal service. Any amendments, alterations, changes, additions or deletions from this Constitution shall be consistent with the laws of the country, in which the Association is incorporated, which define, limit or regulate the powers of the Association or the directors/officers of the Association.Back to Top
ARTICLE VII
Nondiscrimination
7.1 The members, officers, committee members, employees and persons served by this Association shall be selected entirely on a nondiscriminatory basis with respect to, sexual orientation, race, religion, national origin, nationality and veteran status and to the maximum extent possible age, gender, and disabilities.