National Association of Women’s Gymnastics Judges

Be it hereby known that the name and symbol of the National Association of Women’s Gymnastic Judges are the trademarks denoting the Association and the membership. The names or emblems may not be displayed, used or copied without the express written consent of the National Association of Women’s Gymnastic Judges. The Association may hereinafter be referred to as the National Association of Women’s Gymnastic Judges and/or N.A.W.G.J.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES

The purposes and the objectives of this Association are:

An organized facility for teaching and training members to qualify them for certification as official gymnastic judges.
An organized educational and training opportunity for certified judges to qualify them to perform at meets of a dual, triangular, local, district, sectional, state, regional, and national nature for all gymnastic organizations requesting assistance.
Financial assistance for in-service training of judges.
Dissemination of FIG and USAG Technical Rules and interpretations. Dissemination of national, regional, state and lower level judging information.
Generation and promotion of interest to the people in the United States in the sport of gymnastics.
Encouraging and maintaining research projects that will benefit all levels of judging in the United States.
Continuing education of judges through the sponsorship of judges training and refresher clinics in cooperation with the USAG Judges Training Committee.
Issuing and distribution of National and State newsletters, updating and informing judges of the latest techniques in officiating in the sport of gymnastics.
Maintaining high ethical standards.
Said Association is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organization under Section 501 (c) (3) of the lnternal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law). Federal Tax Exempt Number 51 - 0178999.

ARTICLE III: REGISTERED OFFICE

Section I - Membership

There shall be four types of Association memberships:

PROFESSIONAL: Professional membership shall be composed of certified judges with equal privileges of voice and vote through their respective State Associations.

ASSOCIATE: Associate members are those who are engaged in the interest of the Association. These members will have voice but no vote.

LIFE: Life members are retired/non-retired judges who were/are active members of the NAWGJ and others chosen to be honored by two-thirds majority of the Governing Board, with privileges of voice for non-active members and voice and vote for active members.

NEW JUDGE: New Judge members are first year certified judges with equal privileges of voice and vote through their respective State Associations.

Section II - Fees

A.   Dues are payable upon certification and renewed on an annual basis from the original month of membership.

B.   Dues are payable to NAWGJ and mailed to the National Secretary-Treasurer.

C.   Upon payment of dues, each judge’s name shall be entered into the State Judges Association Directory and they shall become eligible for assignment.

Section III — Annual Open Meeting

There will be one annual open meeting of the membership called in the Summer at the National Judges Symposium or at the USAG Congress.

ARTICLE IV - GENERAL ORGANIZATION

Section I — Officers

A. The National Executive Board shall consist of three officers: President, Vice President, and Secretary Treasurer. 2/2003

B. The National Governing Board shall consist of the Executive Officers and the eight Regional Judging Directors representing the regions of NAWGJ and USAG.

C. The Past President shall serve on the Governing Board in an advisory capacity as a Member-At-Large for one year.

D. The National Symposium Director, National Newsletter Editor/Website Director, and the NAWGJ Librarian shall serve as Members-at-Large on the National Governing Board.

E. Each Regional Judging Director shall chair a Regional Governing Board composed of a State Judging Director from each state in the region.

F. Each State Judging Director shall chair a State Governing Board composed of a minimum of five and a maximum of nine members, excluding the SJD. Exceptions are by RJD approval only.

G. With the approval and sanction of the National Governing Board, large states may choose to have two State Judging Directors and two State Boards, while smaller states in close proximity may choose to combine Directors and/or Boards.

Section II — Elections

A. The Executive Officers shall be elected through the voting of the Regional Judging Directors and National Officers who shall vote from a slate of nominee(s) for the respective office.

B. All eight Regional Judging Directors shall be elected through the voting of the State Judging Directors and all NAWGJ Level 10 and above certified officials within their respective region from a slate of nominee(s) for each office. All voting officials must the criteria listed below in Art. IV, Sect. II, F. 2/2003

C. All State Judging Directors shall be elected through the voting of all NAWGJ certified officials in the particular state from a slate of nominee(s) for each office. All voting officials must the criteria listed below in Art. IV, Sect. II, F. 2/2003

D. All State Governing Board members shall be elected through the voting of all NAWGJ certified officials in the particular state from a slate of nominee(s) for each office. All voting officials must the criteria listed below in Art. IV, Sect. II, F. 2/2003

E. A judge’s voting privilege is in the state where she/he is registered with the National Office. 6/2004

F. For all elections, a judge must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible to vote. Ninety (90) days prior to the date the ballots are to be mailed as listed in the Election Timetable, a judge must:
                 1) Be a member of NAWGJ,
                 2) Have an address established with the National Office,
                 3) Have achieved the required rating (as per the test date). 6/2003

F. All At-Large Directors shall be appointed by the National Governing Board from a slate of nominee(s) for the respective office.

Section III — Terms of Office

All National and Regional Directors shall serve for a four year term and may be reelected. (Amendment: In 2004, the candidates for Vice President shall run for a 2 year term. In 2006, the four year term shall resume. 2/2003) The State Directors shall serve for a four year term and may be reelected. The State Governing Board Members shall serve for a two year term and may be reelected. The National Newsletter Editor/Website Director, National Judges’ Cup Director and the NAWGJ Librarian shall serve for a four year term and may be reappointed. The National Symposium Director shall serve for one symposium and may be reappointed. 2/2003

Section IV — Meeting Dates

A. The NAWGJ Governing Board shall meet biannually. Special meetings may be called at the request of the President.

B. A quorum of the members shall be necessary to conduct business. A quorum shall be a majority of the members.

C. The President shall preside over the meetings of the Governing Board. In her absence, the Vice President will preside.

ARTICLE V – ETHICS, HEARINGS, RESIGNATIONS

A. A guideline of standards for ethical behavior shall be followed and enforced. The Code of Professional Responsibility is published by the Vice President.

B. Any judge who violates any of the Canons or Disciplinary Rules stated in the aforementioned Code, is subject to disciplinary action by the Association according to the procedures outlined in the Code.

Section II - Hearings

A.   In the event that any Officer fails to carry out the responsibilities of the respective office in an efficient manner, said officer may be requested by the Executive Officers to terminate the term of office.

B.   Said Officer is entitled to a hearing with the NAWGJ Governing Board at the annual meeting.

C.   Following a hearing, the Director or Officer may be withdrawn from her position in the Association. A brief outline of such a hearing shall be published in the Governing Board Meeting minutes.

D.   Any Officer at the State level may be governed in the same manner as any National Governing Board member by their respective Governing Board.

Section III - Resignations

A. Any Officer, Director, or Member of a Board may withdraw, but a written notice shall be presented to the Board.

B. All operational and financial records must be filed with the Officer, to which they are directly responsible, prior to the acceptance of resignation.

ARTICLE VI - AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

Section I - Amendments

A.   Constitutional amendments shall be presented in writing to the Constitution Committee for presentation to the National Governing Board. All amendments shall be presented in writing to the Governing Board fifteen days prior to voting.

B.   All proposed amendments shall be voted on and approved by the National Governing Board. Should a mail vote be necessary, all National Governing Board Members shall vote by mail. Responses will be sent to the Vice President for tabulation.

C.   A two-thirds majority of the National Governing Board shall be required for adoption of a proposed amendment.

ARTICLE VII - PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall be required for adoption of a proposed amendment.

ARTICLE VIII - EMERGENCY VOTING

When applicable, emergency voting shall be conducted to fill unexpired vacancies with the approval of the respective Governing Board.

ARTICLE IX - DISSOLUTION OF ASSOCIATION

Upon the dissolution of the Association, the Board of Trustees (NAWGJ Executive Officers) shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all the liabilities of the Association, dispose of all the assets of the Association exclusively for the purpose of the Association in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable or educational purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section 501 (c) (3) or the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United states Internal Revenue Law), as the Board of Trustees shall determine. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the principal office of the Association is then located exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

ARTICLE X - LIMITATION OF POWERS

Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the Association shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on by an Association exempt from Federal Income Tax under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).

ARTICLE XI - COMMITTEES

Section I - Standing Committees

A. A Constitution Committee shall be composed of three members of the National Governing Board. The Committee Chairperson shall be the Vice President.

B. Other standing committees deemed necessary by the National, Regional or State Board shall be similarly composed and appointed by the appropriate Board.

Section II - Ad-Hoc Committees

A. Ad-Hoc Committees may be appointed by the presiding officer of each Board.

B. Each Ad-Hoc Committee shall be automatically dissolved upon completion of its report.