Lakeshore Lutheran League

(Updated 3/16/00)

Article I: Name

1. The name of the organization shall be the Lakeshore Lutheran League. Also referred to as the conference. For the basketball season, the league will be divided into two divisions.

Article II: Quorum

1. A quorum must exist in order for any meeting of the Lakeshore Lutheran League to take place.

2. A quorum is established when more than 50% of members schools are represented at the meeting.

3. When the constitution refers to a simple or two-thirds majority, that majority will be of the schools present at the meeting, providing a quorum exists.

Article III: Membership

1. Conference membership shall consist of the schools of the Lakeshore Lutheran League.

2. New members shall be accepted at any meeting of the conference by a simple majority vote of the existing members. Each member school must be notified at least two weeks in advance.

3. The constitution must be signed by a representative of each school. Each revision must also be signed by a representative of each school. This signature states that each school has agreed to abide by the constitution and rules for each sport. The signature also states that the school will abide by any decisions made by the elected officials or the voting members of the Lakeshore Lutheran League.

4. Voting membership shall be limited to one vote per school through their designated official. When schools are combined for a sport, they will be granted one vote on issues concerning that sport. (Voting shall be done by show of hands.)

5. If a repeated violation of the Constitution and/or Regulations of the conference occurs, the following steps shall be taken:

          1. The school that has been offended will contact the offender and try to settle the matter.

          2.The officers of the conference will be notified.

          3. The officers will contact the offending school in writing and inform them that the matter will be discussed at the next meeting of the conference.

          4. A conference meeting will be held to discuss the issue and the resolution of that issue.

          5. If no resolution is achieved, a meeting will be called in order to expel the offending school.

          6. The vote to expel a school must be a two-thirds majority of school present at that meeting

Article IV: Purpose of the League / Philosophy Statement

1. To provide opportunity for Christian sportsmanship, teamwork, and cooperation.

2. To provide opportunity for building Christian friendships.

3. To promote unity of purpose in the interscholastic athletics of our schools.

4. To provide opportunity to develop moral, physical, social, and mental characteristics of the children.

5. To provide training for high school and lifetime athletics.

6. To provide opportunity for exposure to sports in the interscholastic setting.

Article V: Officers of the League

Officers

President

Vice-President

Secretary-Treasurer

Election of Officers

Offices of the League shall be filled by means of an election. The election will take place at the spring meeting after the alignment of divisions takes place. Officers will assume their positions after the spring meeting. The designated official from each school is eligible to an officer. Officers will serve for two years. The election of President and Vice-President will occur in the even numbered years and the election of Secretary/Treasurer will take place in the odd numbered years. The President and Vice-President may not be from the same division. There is no limit on terms.

The President shall appoint a committee to prepare a nomination ballot for the elections for that given year. Each division should be represented on this nomination committee. This nomination ballot should be prepared for the May meeting. The committee should prepare ballots for the election. The election shall not be done by a show of hands.

In the event that an officer cannot finish his term, the President shall appoint a replacement officer until the next regularly scheduled election of that position. The replacement officer will finish out the term and then be eligible to be elected in the next scheduled election.

3. Duties

The President

The president shall prepare all meeting agendas, preside at all meetings, appoint committees, and arrange for meeting facilities. He shall oversee the set-up of all schedules in the division to which his school belongs. He is an ex-officio member of all committees and aids in conflict resolution.

The vice-president shall preside at all meetings when the president is unavailable. He shall oversee the set-up of all schedules in the division to which his school belongs. He shall assume the duties of the president in the case that the president leaves office. A new vice-president shall then be appointed by the new president to finish the term. He shall also aid in conflict resolution.

Secretary-Treasurer

The secretary treasurer shall keep all records and copies of minutes of all meetings. He shall send two copies of all minutes to each conference school. He shall send two copies of notices and agendas, prior to each called meeting, to each conference school. During basketball season, he shall send the scores and standings of the conference to each school on a weekly basis. He shall annually prepare the league roster (school name, address, phone number, principal’s name, coaches’ names, school mascot, and school colors.)

The secretary-treasurer shall collect all conference dues and pay all debts incurred by the conference in any function. A record of all conference funds shall be kept current, and a written report shall be presented at each conference meeting. The secretary-treasurer shall be responsible for the payment of all awards to be presented for athletic achievements at functions authorized by the league.

There shall be a person appointed to maintain and send out the standings and scores for the division opposite of the secretary. This "Division Recorder" shall be appointed for two years.

Article VI: League Meetings

1. August

a. All schedules for all sports will be reviewed. (Final schedules will be published in October)

b. Dues will be collected.

c. All materials for the new school year will be handed out.

d. Update of all coaches, athletic directors, etc. for the league roster.

e. Any changes that will be taking place for the coming school year.

f. Any scheduling of soccer may take place after the adjournment of the meeting.

a. Review of any WIAA-NFHS Basketball rule changes for the upcoming season.

b. Review of specific Lakeshore Lutheran League Basketball Regulations.

c. Discussion of questions and concerns from coaches and athletic directors.

3. May

a. Election of officers. The new officers will take office after the May meeting is done.

b. Dues will be established for the next school year. (They are to be paid in August.)

c. School must have their enrollment projection for grades 3-8. (this is for the next school year)

d. The divisions will be established in the even numbered years and will stay the same for a period of two years.

e. Schools must register for the sports in which their school will participate.

f. The schedules for volleyball and basketball will be set up during the summer by the officers.

g. Discussion of the school year just finishing and what needs to be changed for the next year.

4. Other meetings of the conference shall be called as deemed necessary by the president, or by the will of conference members in consultation with the executive committee.

The only sports where the league schedules games & assigns tournament hosts are basketball and volleyball. The softball tournament is also assigned by the league. All other sports are participated in by some, but not all of the schools in the league.

Article VII: Sports of the League

Fall

Volleyball - Girls

Soccer - Coed

Winter

Basketball - Boys A, Girls A, Boys B, Girls B

Wrestling (post basketball)

Spring

Softball - Boys, Girls, or Coed

Track - Boys, Girls

Additional sports may be added to the existing sports program of the league by a simple majority vote of the conference schools at a regular league meeting.

Article VIII: Tournaments

The league shall sponsor tournaments in Volleyball, Basketball, and Softball. Only league schools shall be invited to these tournaments. Tournaments shall be hosted by schools on a rotational basis (see guidelines). Awards, fees, and other guidelines shall be established by the league. (See league regulations for each sport.)

Article IX: Dues

The dues of the league shall be used for the administration of the league. The dues shall be set for the year in the spring meeting of the league. Payment of dues is required by September 30 of that year.

Article X: Amendments

This constitution may be amended by a two/thirds majority vote. (See Article II) All schools musst be notified of the proposed amendment at least two weeks in advance.

Article XI: Information for annual distribution

A copy of the constitution, individual sport and tournament regulations, league philosophy and policy, tournament ranking grid, and rotation schedule of tournament hosts will be distributed to each conference school at the August meeting.

Article XII: The Basketball Divisions Division 1 & Division 2

The establishment of the basketball divisions will take place at the May meeting. Each school is required to bring a total of their enrollment projection from grades 3-8 for the next school year. These totals will be used in the establishment of divisions. The largest eight schools will be Division 1 and the remaining eight schools will be Division 2. Any discussion of special situations regarding divisions will take place, including schools that will combine in order to have a team. Once the divisions are established for the year, a vote will be taken to approve what has been decided. Majority will rule. The divisions will be established in the even numbered years and will stay the same for a period of two years.

All other sports of the Lakeshore Lutheran League will not have divisions all schools will be eligible to compete against each other.

Article XIII: Enforcement of Regulations

All Athletic Directors must submit a complete schedule to the League Secretary who will keep them on file and will give a copy to the League President. These schedules must include all non-conference games and tournaments. If any schedules are changed, it is necessary to inform the President and Secretary of such changes. These changes must be made one week or more in advance. If disputes arise regarding the schedule changes, the President will be called on to settle the dispute.

If a violation of any league policy or regulation occurs, the Principal and Athletic Directors of the violating school must make every effort to resolve the violation at the local level. If no solution is reached between the schools, the President of the League, in consultation with the other league officers, will determine how the violation is to be handled.

If the President is involved in a dispute, the Vice-President will be called upon to mediate the dispute.