1:01   Pleasanton Girls Soccer Association

1:02   173 Spring Street, Suite 100, Pleasanton, CA 94566

1:03   The Corporation shall have perpetual operation.

1:04   Mission

Pleasanton RAGE is an all-girls soccer club that empowers its players to reach their full potential through soccer, service, and leadership programming for all ages and abilities.

2:01   Board of Directors

2:01:01 Annual Elections

In August, a Nominating Committee shall be established consisting of five (5) members.  Said Nominating Committee shall consist of three (3) Board members who are not running for re-election, and two (2) members from the membership at-large. The general membership shall be notified that said Nominating Committee is seeking candidates for the Board of Directors.

2:01:02

At the September Board of Directors meeting, the Nominating Committee Chair shall present the slate of candidates for the Board of Directors.  In order to qualify for the ballot, candidates for the Board of Directors must be vetted by the Nominating Committee, and, at a meeting of the entire Nominating Committee, receive a majority of votes. Nominating Committee members will evaluate candidates for the Board of Directors based on the following criteria:

  • Skills and experience: The candidate possesses professional skills or experience that would benefit the Board of Directors or the Club.
  • Time commitment: The candidate is able to attend, in person, Board of Directors meetings and Club functions.
  • Leadership: The candidate is willing to take on a leadership role such as chairing a committee on the Board of Directors, organizing Club events, or serving on the Executive Committee.
  • Networking: The candidate is willing to leverage their personal and business networks to benefit the Board of Directors and the Club.
  • Acting in good faith: The candidate will act in good faith and reasonable care for the benefit of the Board of Directors and the Club.
  • Must have previously contributed to the Club in a capacity above and beyond the minimum volunteer requirements of all members, or have a specific skill set unique to the needs of the current Board of Directors.

All candidates must be present to accept nomination or must have previously submitted her/his acceptance in writing to the Club Parliamentarian. The final slate of candidates and their statements shall then be officially presented at the AGM.

2:01:03

Annual elections shall be held within the week following the October Annual General Meeting. Notice of the election shall be made public at least twenty (20) days prior thereto. Voting shall be conducted via an online ballot. Each registered parent of a registered player, each Board member, each rostered coach, each rostered assistant coach, and each player over the age of eighteen (18) shall be entitled to one (1) ballot. No person shall cast more than one (1) ballot. Absentee, proxy, and write-in ballots will not be allowed. For a vote to be completed, at least 10% of membership must cast a ballot. Voting continues until the threshold is met.

2:01:04

The Parliamentarian (who is not running for re-election) and a Board member shall review the tallied votes. Subject to the vote meeting the threshold per Section 2:01:03, the candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected.  The results of the vote shall be made public at that time.

2:01:05

At the first Board meeting in January, the Board of Directors shall elect from its members the following officers for a one year term: President, Competitive Vice President, Recreational Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Only active voting Board members at the conclusion of the prior calendar year shall be eligible.

Nomination and voting procedure:

  • Nominations may be made by a Board appointed Election Officer (a Board member who is not running for office) who shall be named at the November Board meeting of the prior year.  Specifically, the Election Officer will check if the current officer wishes to stand for re-election to the position currently held.
  • Any Board member may nominate another Board member, but not himself or herself, to an officer position. Such nominations must be received by the Election Officer no later than ten (10) days prior to the January Board meeting. A Board member may be nominated for multiple officer roles.
  • The Election Officer will contact all nominees no later than seven (7) days prior to the January Board meeting to receive approval for placement on the ballot. The Election Officer shall require candidate statements to be submitted to the January Board meeting folder.
  • Only one office may be held by one member of the Board.
  • The Election Officer shall submit the ballot of all the nominees to the January Board packet folder no later than three (3) days before the meeting. Names shall be listed alphabetically for each office.
  • Voting for the five (5) officers will take place at the January Board meeting. Voting members of the Board, the Director of Coaching, and Staff (collectively as one vote) shall each be entitled to a vote if present. The nominees need not be present, but if not present, will not be entitled to vote.
  • Voting shall be done by secret ballot.
  • If the full slate is uncontested, the Board may vote by acclamation with a verbal yes by the plurality.
  • A voting member will have the option within the ballot to no-vote for an office. A no-vote is binding once a ballot is submitted.
  • The Election Officer and another Board member who is not nominated for executive office will count the votes.
  • A ballot including only the role of President will be distributed first if the role is contested.
  • The prior year President will vote with a ballot labeled for the President. The President’s vote will only be used in the event of a tie vote for the office. The vote counting members shall determine if the vote is needed and shall not disclose the President’s vote. In the event the prior year President has retired from the Board, the tie-breaking ballot and vote shall go to the prior year Competitive Vice President (then Recreational Vice President, then Treasurer, if needed.)
  • Subsequent votes may be cast in a single ballot, unless an individual is nominated for more than one office, in which case, ballots for an individual office shall proceed in an order as follows for the relevant offices: 1) Treasurer, 2) Competitive Vice President, 3) Recreational Vice President, 4) Secretary. If a duplicate nominee is elected to an office, she/he will be struck from the remaining ballot(s). The newly elected President will cast votes in these rounds with secret ballot(s) labeled for the New President. The President’s vote(s) will only be used in the event of a tie vote for an office. The vote counting members shall determine if the vote is needed and shall not disclose the President’s vote.
  • The Election Officer shall include this nomination and voting procedure (Bylaw 2:01:05) in the January Board meeting packet and review it with the Board prior to the vote.
  • Only in exceptional cases (e.g. pandemic) may an online ballot be used. In this scenario, the Election Officer shall determine the best method for executing the vote. The voting process shall proceed as above to the extent possible using the online method. Votes shall remain anonymous.
  • In the event of online voting, the process shall be reviewed by the then current Executive Committee and all nominees at least three (3) days prior to the January Board meeting. Any objections to the method/process to be used will be addressed by the Executive Committee (via vote if no consensus exists).  Any objections to the results of a vote based on a view of improper voting procedures must be raised within 48 hours of the vote results being communicated.

 

2:01:06

Any member of the Board of Directors may be removed from office for cause by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of Directors.  Some examples of causes for removal are:

  1. Unexcused absence from three (3) or more consecutive regular Board of Directors meetings.
  2. Failure to perform duties as defined in the Bylaws for which said member was either elected or appointed.
  3. Being found guilty of conduct deemed as detrimental to the operation of this Club.

2:01:07

In the event of resignation or removal of a Board member or vacancy of a Board position for any other reason, a successor shall be selected by majority vote of the remaining Board of Directors and serve for the remaining term of the office for which appointed.

 

2:02 Executive Committee

2:02:01 Responsibilities of the Executive Committee include:

  1. Shall enforce and interpret the Constitution, Bylaws, General Procedures, PIMs and all applicable rules and regulations of any affiliated association.
  2. Shall administer the property and management of the Club.
  3. Shall prepare a fiscal year budget for each Program of the Club for approval by the Board of Directors.
  4. Shall appoint Board Members-at-Large as needed to ensure the efficient administration of its affairs.
  5. Shall act on behalf of the Board between meetings of the Board. Shall make temporary procedures or policies for specific cases or occasions not provided for in the Constitution, Bylaws, General Procedures, or PIMs, but which are deemed necessary to carry out the objectives of this Club.  Shall report all such matters at the next Board of Directors meeting for ratification.
  6. Shall appoint such other officers as the affairs of the Club may require, each of whom shall hold office for such periods and have such authority and perform such duties as the Executive Committee may from time to time determine. Special Appointment positions shall be non-voting.
  7. In collaboration with the human resources company and the Director of Coaching, shall maintain, update, and edit the Employee Handbook.
  8. Shall be part of a hiring committee for all full-time employees.
  9. Shall have the authority to suspend, bar completely, or otherwise discipline any member of this Club as set forth in PIM 008 and PIM 013.
  10. Shall steward the brand of RAGE, including, but not limited to social media, the Club website, etc.

 

2:02:02 Responsibilities of the President:

-Shall preside over all meetings of the General Membership, Board of Directors, and Executive Committee.

-Shall cast a vote only in the case of a tie.

-As necessary, will act as the official representative of the Club.

-In collaboration with the Executive Committee, shall develop and maintain an annual plan of operation.

-In collaboration with the Executive Committee, shall facilitate an annual strategic planning meeting and maintain a strategic plan for the Club.

-Shall appoint committees and their chairperson in accordance with the provisions of Section 2:05 Committees and subject to the approval of the Executive Committee.

-Shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.

-Shall have management responsibility for the Director of Coaching.

-Shall provide oversight of all RAGE affiliations, sponsorships, and contracts.

 

2:02:03 Responsibilities of the Competitive Vice President

-In the absence of the President, shall preside at meetings of the Board of Directors, or the Executive Committee.

-Shall collaborate with the Director of Coaching on the goals and direction of the Competitive Program environment, including, but not limited to RAGE Tournaments, uniforms, RAGE National Letters of Intent Signing and Honors Night Event, RAGE College Advisory Program, Team Manager training and support.

-In collaboration with the Treasurer, Bookkeeper, and the Director of Coaching, shall be responsible for developing and administering an annual budget for the Competitive Program.

-Shall be a member of a hiring committee for all full-time employees.

-Shall collaborate with the Director of Coaching on all Competitive Program surveys.

-Alongside the Treasurer, shall be a member of the Financial Aid Review Committee.

-Shall be head of the committee responsible for selecting the recipients of the RAGE Scholarship Award for Excellence in Academic Achievement and Community Service.

 

2:02:04 Responsibilities of the Recreational Vice President

-In the absence of the President and the Competitive VP, shall preside at meetings of the Board of Directors, or the Executive Committee.

-Shall collaborate with the Director of Coaching, Director of Operations, and the Recreational Director on the goals and direction of the Recreational Program environment including uniforms.

-In collaboration with the Treasurer, Bookkeeper, and the Director of Coaching, shall be responsible for developing and administering an annual budget for the Recreational Program.

-Shall collaborate with the Director of Coaching on all Recreational Program surveys.

-Shall be head of the Recreational Program Committee.

-As needed, shall support the Recreational Program at various recreational events.

2:02:05 Responsibilities of the Secretary

-Shall record the minutes and proceedings of the Annual General Meeting, Board of Directors’ meetings, and Executive Committee meetings as a permanent record.

-Shall give notice of meetings to Board members.

-With input from the Board, shall prepare the Agenda document and post to the current Board Packet prior to each meeting.

-Shall ensure that the adopted minutes from each Board meeting are posted to the Club website

-Shall provide for the safekeeping of all Club legal documents.

-Shall be responsible for Secretary of State filings and any and all playing league filings.

2:02:06 Responsibilities of the Treasurer

-In collaboration with the Director of Coaching, the Competitive VP, and the Recreational VP, shall be responsible for developing an annual budget, including a detailed plan for both income and expenses.

-Shall present the annual proposed budget to the Board of Directors for approval.

-Shall provide budget updates at Board meetings.

-Shall have charge of all funds and handle them in accordance with Club regulations.

-Shall maintain an accurate and current record of all assets, liabilities, income and expenditures, and provide such records to officers at the Board of Directors’ meetings.

-Shall ensure that all accounts and payments adhere to the financial rules of the Club as outlined in PIM 018.

-Shall prepare all tax returns and other financial reports as required.

-Shall be responsible for setting, imposing, and collecting dues, assessments, and registration fees, which shall be posted on the Club website.

-Shall have financial management responsibility for the Team Treasurers.

-Shall oversee any financial review or audits.

-Shall oversee any employee payroll and financial human resource functions.

-Shall work with the Competitive VP in forming and implementing a Financial Aid Review Committee.

-Shall be involved in contract decisions and commitments as it relates to the budget.

-Shall have management responsibility for the Club Bookkeeper.

2:02:07 Responsibilities of the Director of Coaching

-Shall report to the Club President.

-Shall provide regular updates to the Board of Directors.

-Shall recruit, hire, assign or dismiss, and mentor all coaches.

-Shall be responsible for recruiting and hiring the Director of Goalkeeping.

-Shall lead all coaching development.

-Shall work with all Staff to create a culture that values, incentivizes, and prioritizes whole player development according to the Club’s Mission statement.

-Shall define and implement the coaching organizational structure for the Competitive Program, including full-time and part-time coaches.

-Shall assign and develop professional coaches so that they can support the volunteer coaches in the Recreational Program.

-Shall create and oversee a positive environment throughout the Club that adheres to the principles of the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA).

-Shall inspire the next generation of female leaders by being a champion for women’s leadership in program development and as a spokesperson and community outreach leader for the Club.

-Shall instill a culture that fosters and demands positive player-coach and parent-coach partnerships with an expectation of regular communication and feedback.

-Shall set standards for and oversee semiannual player evaluations for the Competitive Program.

-Shall regularly attend afternoon, evening, and weekend trainings and games to support coach and player development.

-Shall work from the Club office a minimum of 3 days per week.

-Shall help develop and support community outreach programs, camps, clinics, and other activities designed to grow participation in the Club and to develop a passion for the game.

-Shall represent the Club at the local, regional, and national level through participation in soccer governing bodies, league conferences, meetings, discussions, decisions, events, etc…

-Shall attend all Board meetings, communicate with Board members, and advise on all soccer issues.

-Shall develop and present to the Board of Directors an annual strategic plan, and an annual review at the Club’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).

In collaboration with the Club Treasurer, shall prepare, justify, and manage the operational budget including, but not limited to: coaching assignments, staff development (training, coaching education, etc.), and equipment.

-Shall establish policy, procedures, and guidelines for coaching staff operations.

-Shall lead the College Advisory Program for the Club, establish and build relationships within the college game and guide coaches, players, and parents through the process.

-Shall recruit college coaches to attend the RAGE College Showcase tournament.

-Shall recruit teams to attend all RAGE tournaments.

-Shall implement and oversee training and game analysis programs (video, data analytics, fitness, nutrition, etc…)

-Shall support the overall activities of the Club by helping to plan and execute tournaments, leadership events, community service events, fundraising, etc.

If needed, the Director of Coaching may be required to coach a team.

-Shall participate in the creation, implementation, analysis and feedback for all Club surveys.

 

2:03 Board Members-at-Large

2:03:01

The President shall have management responsibility for all subcommittees

2:03:02

The Competitive Vice President shall have management responsibility for the following Board Member:

-Competitive Associate:  Shall assist the Competitive Vice President in accomplishing the goals of the Competitive Program.

2:03:03

The Recreational Vice President shall have management responsibility for the following Board Member:

-Recreational Associate:  Shall assist the Recreational Vice President in accomplishing the goals of the Recreational Program.

2:03:04

The Secretary shall have overall management responsibility for the following position(s):

  1. Parliamentarian: Shall assist the Board in the interpretation and enforcement of the Constitution and Bylaws. Shall prepare Constitutional amendments for vote by the membership.  Shall maintain and keep current the Bylaws, General Procedures, and PIMs as approved by the Board of Directors.  Shall review corporate contracts.

2:04 Meetings

2:04:01

Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held bimonthly as scheduled by the President with consent of a majority of the Board of Directors.  Special meetings may be called by the President, Competitive Vice President, Recreational Vice President or one-half (1/2) of the Board of Directors.

2:04:02

Notice of meetings of members shall be given by the Corporation either personally, by first-class mail, by telephone, or by Electronic Transmission, as defined in Section 8:01 of these Bylaws, charges prepaid (in the case of mailed notices), addressed to such member at the member’s address appearing on the books of the Corporation or given to the Corporation for the purpose of notice.

All such notices shall be given to each member entitled to vote at the meeting not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days before the meeting. Any such notice shall be deemed to have been given at the time when delivered personally or by telephone, deposited in the mail, or sent by Electronic Transmission, as defined in Section 8:01 of these Bylaws.

2:04:03

A quorum (one over half of the Board of Directors) constitutes an official meeting for the transaction of business.  A majority vote of Board of Director members present at an official meeting will be required to make any decisions binding upon the membership.

2:04:04

The agenda for regular meetings shall be as follows:

  1. Call to Order
  2. Roll Call
  3. Guests and Speakers
  4. Approval of Meeting Minutes
  5. Review of Action Items
  6. Treasurer’s Report
  7. Officers’ Reports
  8. Committee Reports
  9. Unfinished Business
  10. New Business
  11. Adjournment

 

2:05 Committees

2:05:01 Permanent Committees

The following Permanent Committees shall be appointed yearly by the President.  Permanent Committee members need not be members of the Board.  The President shall be ex-officio member of all Committees. The Chairperson of all Permanent Committees must have been a Board member for one year prior to appointment by the President as Chairperson.

  1. Nominating and Elections Committee.  Chairperson shall be appointed by the President.  Shall present the slate of nominees at the AGM. Shall oversee the online voting process of the Annual Election of the Board of Directors. Shall conduct the Annual Election of the Executive Committee Officers at the January meeting.
  2. Permanent Committees of the Board:
  3. Communications
  4. Fundraising
  5. Fields
  6. Competitive
  7. ECNL Committee
  8. Recreational

 

 

2:05:02   Special Committees

The President, subject to Executive Committee approval, may constitute such other Committees, as it deems necessary to ensure the efficient administration of its affairs.

2:05:03 All Committees 

All Committee Chairs shall report to the Board of Directors meeting, or the Executive Committee between meetings of the Board.  Permanent Committees are not authorized to create Club policy or procedures. Committee finding and resolutions must be submitted in writing, with appropriate action being taken by the Board.

3:01 Expenditures/Fundraising

3:01:01

A budget must be presented to the Board of Directors for any proposed tournament, jamboree, clinic, camp, marketing program, fundraising program, special event, etc.

3:01:02

Expenditures or requests for reimbursement over $5000 (not previously budgeted) must be presented to the Board of Directors for approval.  Individual expenditures in any one category that accumulate to $5000 or above (not previously budgeted) must be presented to the Board of Directors for approval.

4:01 Protests and Appeals

4:01:01

Only violations of the Constitution, Bylaws, and General Procedures of this Club and misapplication of the FIFA “Laws of the Game” shall be proper subjects to consider for protest or appeals.

4:02:02

Protests or appeals must be filed with the Secretary within two (2) calendar days of the action being protested or appealed.  Protest shall be in writing, listing all particulars, Rule, Article, or Law being invoked.  Each protest being filed shall be accompanied by a check for $100 to the Club, which shall be returned if the protest or appeal is upheld.

4:02:03

For a game protest to be valid, the opposing team coach or manager and the referee must be notified that the game is under protest prior to leaving the field of play.  The referee should record protests on the game card.  No recreational protests shall be allowed.  (Protests for competitive games are administered by Cal North District 3-4 or other regulatory jurisdiction.)

4:02:04

The Executive Committee, at its earliest convenience, shall judge properly submitted requests.  Any member of the Executive Committee who has a personal involvement with the action being considered shall refrain from any discussion or voting of the protest or appeal.

4:02:05

In the matter of protest and appeals, no person(s) associated with the operations of this Club shall invoke the aid of any lawyer or courts of any state or United States without first exhausting all available remedies within PGSA, Cal North, U.S. Club Soccer, USYSA, and USSF, including a final appeal to the USSF Council at its Annual General Meeting.

5:01 Rules of Play

The FIFA “Laws of the Game” as modified by Cal North shall apply to any and all competitions sponsored by this Club.  Players under ten years of age may play soccer in accordance with the rules of this Club’s development player program.

6:01 Dissolution

Upon dissolution of the Club, the Board of Directors will first make payment of all outstanding debts and liabilities and make effort to receive all funds due. No dividends will be made to Board members or Staff during dissolution. All assets upon dissolution will be transferred to a charitable group.

7:01 Discrimination

Notwithstanding any provision of these Bylaws, the Corporation shall not discriminate against any director, officer, employee, applicant, or participant on the basis of sex, race, color, ethnicity, or national origin.

8:01 Electronic Transmission

The term “Electronic Transmission” means, in the case of a communication by the Corporation to a member or a director, a communication: (i) delivered by (a) electronic mail when directed to the electronic mail address for that recipient on record with the Corporation, (b) posting on an electronic message board or network which the Corporation has designated for those communications, together with a separate notice to the recipient of the posting, which transmission shall be validly delivered upon the later of the posting or delivery of the separate notice thereof, or (c) other means of electronic communication; (ii) to a recipient who has provided an unrevoked consent to use those means of transmission for communications under or pursuant to this Section 8:01; and (iii) that creates a record that can be retained, retrieved, reviewed, and rendered into clearly legible tangible form. However, an electronic transmission by the Corporation to an individual member of the Corporation who is a natural person, if communicated to the recipient in that person’s capacity as a member, is not authorized unless, in addition to satisfying the requirements of this section, the consent to the transmission has been preceded by or includes a clear written statement to the recipient as to (a) any right of the recipient to have the record provided or made available on paper or in non-electronic form, (b) whether the consent applies only to that transmission, to specified categories of communications, or to all communications from the Corporation, and (c) the procedures the recipient must use to withdraw consent.

“Electronic Transmission to the Corporation” means, in the case of a communication to the Corporation, a communication: (i) delivered by (a) telecommunication or electronic mail when directed to the electronic mail address that the Corporation has provided from time to time to members, officers, and directors for sending communications to the Corporation, (b) posting on an electronic message board or network which the Corporation has designated for those communications, and which transmission shall be validly delivered upon the posting, or (c) other means of electronic communication; (ii) as to which the Corporation has placed in effect reasonable measures to verify that the sender is the member (in person or by proxy), officer, or director purporting to send the transmission; and (iii) that creates a record that is capable of retention, retrieval, and review, and that may be rendered into clearly legible tangible form.

Unless otherwise provided in these bylaws, and subject to any guidelines or procedures that the Board may adopt from time to time, the term “writing” as used in these bylaws includes Electronic Transmission.

Adopted 2/17/2005. Amended 10/15/2007; 01/14/09; 07/08/14; 09/14/11; 10/01/12; 01/07/14; 07/15/14; 08/06/14; 09/10/14; 10/08/14; 02/24/16; 05/09/18; 10/16/19; 06/14/22; 11/8/22; 9/11/24