Society for International Hockey Research
 
 

SOCIETY FOR INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY RESEARCH
CONSTITUTION

Notice to reader: 
This is the original version of the SIHR constitution as accepted by the members present at the Annual General Meeting on May 22, 1993, in Montreal, Quebec Canada. Amendments made later are noted in red.

ARTICLE 1        NAME
The name of the organization shall be the SOCIETY FOR INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY RESEARCH, hereinafter referred to as the Society.

ARTICLE 2        OBJECTS
The objects of the Society shall be:

  1. To promote, develop and encourage the study of the game of ice hockey (hereinafter referred to as hockey) as a significant international athletic and popular social institution.
  2. To establish an accurate historical account of hockey through the years.
  3. To assist in the dissemination of the findings and studies derived from hockey research.
  4. To acknowledge and assist in safeguarding the intellectual property of individual research endeavours conducted by members of the Society. 

ARTICLE 3        AFFILIATION
The Society may maintain any affiliation with other organizations if the Board of Directors deems that an affiliation will promote the objects of the Society. 

ARTICLE 4        ORGANIZATION
The Society shall be composed of Members as hereinafter set out and it shall be managed by a Board of Directors constituted as stated in these By-Laws.

ARTICLE 5    MEMBERSHIP

  1. Membership shall be open to those who have an interest in hockey research, statistics, or history and are sympathetic to the objects of the Society.
  2. Members shall be accorded all the privileges to which membership shall normally entitle them.
  3. All members are required to respect the objects and comply with the Constitution of the Society.
  4. Any member who fails to abide by the objects or any other provision of the Constitution shall be subject to dismissal by a majority vote of the Board of Directors or by a majority vote at an Annual General Meeting.
  5. Members subject to a dismissal vote shall receive thirty (30) days advance notice of such proposed action in order to respond.

ARTICLE 6    MEMBERSHIP FEES

  1. Membership Fees shall be established at the Annual General Meeting of the Society.
  2. The due date of the Membership Fees shall be determined at the Annual Meeting of the Society.

ARTICLE 7    MEMBERSHIP YEAR
The membership year of the Society shall commence on the day of the Annual General Meeting of a year and conclude on the day of the Annual General Meeting of the following year.
* Later amended to follow the calendar year of January 1st to December 31st of each year.

ARTICLE 8    FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of the Society shall begin on January 1st and terminate on December 31st in each year.

ARTICLE 9    TERMS OF OFFICE

  1. The length of term for elected officers and directors shall be one year.
     * Later amended to extend the terms for President and Executive Vice-President to two years.
  2. The term for office for officers and directors of the Society shall commence on the day of the Annual General Meeting of a year and conclude on the day of the Annual General Meeting of the following year.

ARTICLE 10    ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

  1. The Annual General Meeting of the Society shall be held on or before the fourth week of May of each year.
  2. The precise date and place of the Annual General Meeting shall be determined by the Board of Directors.
  3. All members shall receive sixt (60) days notice in writing of the time and location of the Annual General Meeting.
  4. Order of business at Annual General Meeting:
    1. Call to Order
    2. Roll Call
    3. Tributes and Introduction of Guests
    4. Minutes of the Previous Annual General Meeting
    5. President's Report
    6. Officer's Reports
    7. Other Reports
    8. Auditor's Report
    9. Unfinished Business
    10. Amendments to the Constitution
    11. Election of Officers and Directors
    12. Other Business
    13. Date and Location of Next Annual General Meeting
    14. Adjournment
  5. The Chairman may, at his/her discretion, introduce any special business for discussion after the approval of the minutes.

ARTICLE 11    SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING

  1. A special General Meeting may be called by the Board of Directors.
  2. Notice of the date, time, location and business to be dealt with for any Special General Meeting shall be sent to all members no less than thirty (30) days prior to that meeting.

ARTICLE 12    RULES OF ORDER
All meetings of the Society shall be conducted in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order insofar as they may apply.

ARTICLE 13    PRESIDING OFFICER
The President shall preside at all General Meetings of the Society, and in his/her absence, the Vice-President shall assume the chair. The absence of both these officers shall require the selection, by the Executive Committee, of a pro tem presiding officer.
ARTICLE 14    QUORUM
Twenty-five percent (25%) of specified Members shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the Society.

ARTICLE 15    VOTING
The election of officers of the Society shall be by majority of those voting at any meeting of the Society.
ARTICLE 16    BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  1. The business of the Society shall be conducted by a Board of Directors consisting of ten (10) Directors, including a President, six (6) Vice-Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer and a Director-at-Large.
  2. Executive Officers: The Executive Officers of the Society shall consist of the President and two other Members of the Board of Directors selected by the President and subject to the approval of the Membership at the Society's Annual General Meeting.
  3. During the intervals between meetings of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee shall possess, and may exercise, all the powers of the Board of Directors in the management and direction of the affairs of the Society.

ARTICLE 17    MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  1. The Board of Directors shall meet no less than two times per year.
  2. A majority of the members present shall form a quorum at all meetings.

ARTICLE 18    MEETINGS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

  1. Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held at the call of the President.
  2. A majority of the members present shall form a quorum at all meetings.

ARTICLE 19    MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  1. President; The President shall:
    1. Preside at all meetings of the Society.
    2. Exercise a general supervision of the affairs of the Society.
    3. Exercise a general supervision of the affairs of the Society.
    4. Co-ordinate the activities of all the Members of the Board of Directors.
    5. Sit on all Society committees as an ex officio member.
  2. Vice-Presidents; The Vice-Presidents shall:
    1. Represent various regions in Canada and the U.S.A and other countries as determined by the Membership at an Annual General Meeting.
    2. Be responsible for public relations.
    3. Be responsible for regional development.
    4. Be elected annually
    5. A Vice-President shall be selected by the Membership at an Annual General Meeting to assume the duties of the President either, in the absence of, or under instruction from the President.
      * Later amended to extend the term of Vice-President to two years.
  3. Secretary; The Secretary shall:
    1. Assume the responsibility of recording the minutes of all Society meetings (General, Special and other).
    2. Issue copies of minutes of all meetings to the Membership.
    3. Assume responsibility for the Society’s correspondence.
    4. Maintain the records of the Society.
    5. Maintain a register of the interests and expertise of the Society’s Members.
    6. Undertake such duties as may be assigned by the President or Board of Directors.
    7. Be elected annually.
  4. Treasurer; The Treasurer shall:
    1. Be the custodian of the financial books of the Society.
    2. Keep full and accurate records of all revenues and expenditures in the books of the Society
    3. Receive and deposit all monies or valuable effects, in the name of the Society, in such depositories as designated by the Board of Directors.
    4. Account for all monies or valuable effects received.
    5. Pay all accounts due. Cheques drawn on the Society’s bank account shall be signed by any two of the following: President, Treasurer and Secretary (or a Vice-President or Director-at-Large).
    6. Present an annual budget to the members at an Annual General Meeting.
    7. Present a current financial statement as requested by the President or the Board of Directors.
    8. Reconcile the bank account(s) monthly.
    9. Prepare an annual financial report for presentation at the Society’s Annual General Meeting.
    10. Advise the Board of Directors on financial matters.
    11. Undertake such duties as may be assigned by the President or Board of Directors.
    12. Be elected  
  5. Director-at-Large; The Director-at-Large shall:
    1. Perform duties as set out by the President or Board of Directors.
    2. Be elected annually.

ARTICLE 20    VACANCIES

  1. If a vacancy, whatever the cause, occurs on the Society’s Board of Directors, the Board of Directors may appoint a person to fill the vacancy until the next Annual General Meeting.
  2. A Member of the Board of Directors may be expelled by a resolution of the Board of Directors for good and sufficient cause.

ARTICLE 21    HONORARY POSITIONS

  1. The Society may accord special recognition to a person who has rendered special service to hockey research by naming him/her as an Honorary Director or Honorary President of the Society.
  2. The Honorary position may be held for life.
  3. A person holding an Honorary Position may resign from that position by submitting a letter in writing to the Society’s Board of Directors.
  4. All nominations for an Honorary Position shall be submitted in writing by a Member or Officer of the Society to the Society’s Board of Directors.
  5. A person shall be awarded an Honorary Position when he/she receives an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Members present and voting at a General Meeting of the Society.
  6. A person who holds an Honorary Position may be deprived of that position for good and sufficient cause.

ARTICLE 22    COMMITTEES

  1. The Board of Directors may constitute standing or other committees as it deems necessary for the administrators of its affairs.
  2. The President shall be an ex officio Member of all Society committees, except any nominating committee.

ARTICLE 23    OTHER ARTICLES
The Society may make such miscellaneous rules and regulations as may be deemed necessary to enhance the administration of the Society.

ARTICLE 24    AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

  1. All proposed amendments to the Constitution shall be made at an Annual General Meeting.
  2. All proposed amendments to the Constitution shall be forwarded in writing to the Board of Directors no later than thirty (30) days prior to the Annual General Meeting.
  3. Amendments to the Constitution shall require a two-thirds (2/3) majority of those Members present and voting at the Society’s Annual General Meeting.
  4. Amendments to the Constitution shall become effective immediately upon approval at an Annual General Meeting.

ARTICLE 25    DISSOLUTION

  1. If the Society is compelled to dissolve, for whatever cause, all obligations and liabilities must first be properly attended.
  2. The remaining assets, if any, shall be given to a library or other research organization to be determined by the Membership by a majority vote at a General Meeting held for this purpose.