THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHESS FEDERATION
CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I: NAME

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Southern California Chess Federation, hereafter referred to as SCCF.

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

Section 1. It is the purpose of the SCCF to develop chess and chess competition, to broaden chess as art and recreation, and to promote chess as a significant cultural and educational element throughout Southern California.

ARTICLE III: POWERS

Section 1.The SCCF is empowered to do business as deemed necessary to support the purpose of the organization, except it will take no action contrary to all legal regulations applying to unincorporated, non-profit organizations in the State of California.

ARTICLE IV: NATIONAL STATUS

Section 1. In keeping with this purpose, the SCCF will also serve as the Southern California state chapter of the United States Chess Federation (USCF).

ARTICLE V: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Regular Membership:

1. Regular membership is open to any individual meeting the following conditions:

• They must reside in the Southern California area as defined in the Bylaws.

• They must have paid required dues.

2. Privileges and Benefits
• They are able to attend all regular activities and meetings of the organization.
• They may participate in organizing and conducting SCCF activities, subject to the approval of the Executive Board.
• They have the right to vote in all SCCF elections and referendums.
• They shall receive the official publication of the SCCF.
• No regular member is considered an agent or representative of the SCCF for any reason unless such authority is granted by the Executive Board.

Section 2. Associate Membership

1. Any individual who does not meet the requirements and conditions for regular membership is considered an associate member upon the payment of required dues.
2. Privileges and Benefits
• They are able to attend all regular activities and meetings of the organization.
• They may participate in organizing and conducting SCCF activities, subject to the approval of the Executive Board.
• They shall receive the official publication of the SCCF.
• No regular member is considered an agent or reliresentative of the SCCF for any reason unless such authority is granted by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE VI: AFFILIATION

Section 1: Clubs and Organizations

1. Subject to qualifying guidelines established by the Executive Board, any group, that has a purpose consistent with the SCCF, may affiliate with the SCCF.

2. Privileges and Benefits:

   • They have the right to organize and conduct SCCF activities, subject to the approval of the Executive Board.
   • They shall receive the official publication of the SCCF.
   • They are not entitled to vote in SCCF elections or referendums.
   • No affiliate is considered an agent or representative of the SCCF for any reason unless such authority is granted by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE VII: EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1. The SCCF shall be governed by an Executive Board herein referred to as the Board. This Board shall be elected by the regular members.

Section 2. Composition: The Board shall consist of twelve (12) elected members, five (5) of whom shall subsequently be selected as officers.

Section 3. Qualifications: All Board members are required for the term of their office to maintain current regular membership in SCCF and current USCF membership.

Section 4. Responsibilities and Privileges:

1. All affairs or business of the SCCF will be conducted by the Board.
2. The Board has the authority to establish membership dues and affiliation fees.
3. The Board has the power and authority to suspend and/or revoke, for just cause and with due process, any membership or affiliate status with no refund in dues, as prescribed in the Bylaws.
4. The Board has the authority to establish the Bylaws and Standing Rules of the organization.
5. The Board has the authority to conduct elections and referendums.
6. The Board has the authority to select delegates, voting members, and alternate voting members to the U.S. Chess Federation as prescribed by the USCF.
7. The Board has the authority to select the time and place for the annual membership meeting, which must be held on or before October 1 of each year.
8. The Board has the power to set the date, time and location of the regular Board meetings.
9. All powers not specifically delegated or limited elsewhere reside in the Board.

Section 4. Term of the Board: Board members shall begin their term of service upon election and serve a term of two (2) years or until their successors are elected. Six (6) Board members' terms shall expire in even years and Six (6) Board members' terms shall expire in odd years.

Section 5. Vacancies on the Board:

1. Vacant seats on the Board shall be filled by nominations from the Board members. A secret ballot election by the Board to fill a vacant seat shall be conducted. Vacant seats shall be filled before filling vacant offices of the Board.

2. A member elected to fill a Board vacancy shall hold office only during the balance of the term of office for the Board member they are replacing.

ARTICLE VII: OFFICERS

Section 1. The officers of the SCCF shall be, in order of precedence President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Membership Secretary.

Section 2. President

1. Responsibilities and Privileges

to preside at all Board meetings.

to preside at the Annual membership meeting.

to conduct the affairs of the SCCF between meetings

of the Board when necessary. Any action taken by the President shall require the later approval by the Board, as soon as it is practical.

to appoint standing and select committees subject to Board approval.

to call or convene unscheduled meetings of the Board as prescribed in the Bylaws.

to be the liaison between the SCCF and the U.S. Chess Federation.

to be, ex-officio, a member of all committees.

Vacancy: In the event the office becomes vacant for any reason, the Vice-President shall become the new President.

Section 3. Vice-President

1. Responsibilities and Privileges

• to assume all duties of the President when the President is unable to perform the duties of the office of President or when the office becomes vacant.

• to carry out the duties delegated to him by the President of the Board.

Section 4. Secretary

1. Responsibilities and Privileges

• to keep the minutes of all meetings.

• to mail to all Board members a copy of the last minutes of the previous meeting at least ten (10) days before any scheduled meeting.

• to handle all correspondence except as otherwise delegated by the President or Board.

• to maintain all records of the SCCF.

• to maintain and distribute upon request current copies of this Constitution, Bylaws and Standing Rules.

• to submit for approval the minutes of the previous meetings.

Section 5. Treasurer

1. Responsibilities and Privileges

• to maintain all financial records and accounts.

• to oversee any other savings or accounts authorized by the Board.

• to pay all encumbrances approved for payment by the Board.

• to receive funds collected for membership fees and any debts that are due.

• to prepare an annual financial report based on a fiscal year ending July 31.

• to cause to have prepared and filed any required tax returns.

• within fifteen (15) days after the termination of his office as Treasurer, submit all financial records and accounts to an auditing committee.

Section 6. Membership Secretary

1. A. Responsibilities and Privileges

• to maintain complete and accurate membership records for SCCF. These records shall include the name, address with zipcode, type of membership, and expiration date.

• to serve as an ex-officio member of the Finance and Planning Committee and the Publications Committee.

ARTICLE IX: TERM OF OFFICES

Section 1. The Board shall nominate and elect from its body the officers, who shall serve at the pleasure of the Board, as specified in the Bylaws.

Section 2. No officer shall hold more than one office at a time.

Section 3. No Board member may hold the same office or committee chairmanship for more than three (3) consecutive years. This does not limit eligibility for other offices, board membership, or the same office in a subsequent term.

ARTICLE X: MEETINGS

Section 1. Board Meetings

• Regular meetings of the Board shall require a twenty (20)day notice.

• The Board shall have the power to set the date, time and location of the regular Board meetings.

• The quorum shall consist of a majority of the full Board.

Section 2. General Membership Meetings

• At least one membership meeting shall be held annually, on or before October 1.

• Any membership meeting shall require:

• forty-five (45) days previous notice.

• the call for the meeting, including the time, date, and place of the meeting as determined by the Board be published in the official SCCF publication.

• The quorum shall be five (5) percent of the regular membership.

ARTICLE XI: ELECTIONS

Section 1. An Annual Election shall be held by secret ballot to fill the six (6) positions for the outgoing members of the Board.

Section 2. The Board shall establish election dates, times, and places to include specific opening and closing times of voting.

Section 3. Regular members may vote only once by:

• mailing in the provided ballot. The voted ballot must be received by the close of polls on election day in order to be counted.

• OR

• appearing in person at the Annual SCCF meeting, upon verification of current membership as the date specified in the Bylaws.

Section 4. The Board shall appoint an Election Board of at least three SCCF regular members to conduct any election as required by this Constitution and Bylaws. Responsibilities and Privileges of the Election Board are to oversee all aspects of the Election including by not limited to the below:

1. Shall solicit Nominations from:

• any SCCF Board members,

• OR

• petitions by declared candidates which shall contain the written signatures of ten (10) or more regular members.

• Nominations shall close sixty (60) days prior to election day.

• Prepare official ballots for Board elections or for special ballot measures including space for write-in votes.
• Conduct the polling and vote count in accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws.
• The Election Board shall maintain a membership index, at the polling place, in view of the public that clearly shows the name of each regular member who has or has not voted.
• The election count shall be performed in a public place and shall be continued without adjournment until completed and the result declared.
• The Election Board shall certify the election results in a written report to the Board as prescribed in the Bylaws.

ARTICLE XII: REMOVAL FROM THE BOARD

Section 1. Any Board member may be removed from the Board for gross neglect of duties or misconduct.

Section 2. An investigating committee shall be appointed to prefer charges and a formal hearing must be held. A three-fourth (3/4) vote of the entire Board will be required for removal from the Board.

Section 3. Any Board member who misses three (3) consecutive regular Board meetings without cause may be removed from the Board by a three-fourth (3/4) vote of the entire Board.

ARTICLE XIII: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Section 1. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the SCCF in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the Bylaws or any special rules of order the SCCF may adopt.

ARTICLE XIV: AMENDMENTS

Section 1. Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by:

• of 50 current regular members.
• OR
• Signatures of 9 current Board members

Section 2. Amendments to this Constitution must be approved by:

• a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of regular members voting at the Annual meeting.

• OR

• a majority vote of the regular members voting at the Annual meeting, or by mail subsequently ratified by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the entire Board at the next Board meeting.

ARTICLE XV: DISSOLUTION

Section 1. In the event that the SCCF should for any reason be dissolved, then all of its financial assets will be turned over to the United States Chess Trust, for use in the promotion of chess in Southern California in conformity with the purposes stated in Article II above.

APPENDIX A

IMPLEMENTATION PROVISOS (1988)

In the 1988 election carried out under the old constitution, four (4) officers and twelve (12) board members are elected under the old rules. The four (4) officers and the four (4) lowest vote-getter of the twelve (12) at-large Board members will get a one (1) year term. The other eight (8) Board members will receive two (2) year terms. Officers have the right to serve their full one (1) year terms in the offices to which they were elected unless impeached for cause.

IMPLEMENTATION PROVISOS (1998)

In the 1998 election, the Constitution was amended by the membership to change the number of Board members from sixteen (16) to twelve (12). Six (6) board members were elected, while the remaining eight (8) board members, elected under the old Board size, also remained in office. Therefore, in 1998-99, there will be fourteen (14) Board members. In the 1999 Election, six (6) Board members will be elected.