BFSC operates under a constitution and bylaws approved by the membership. These documents govern club operations, membership requirements, elections, and other organizational matters.
As part of the membership agreement, all skaters and families review and agree to abide by the club policies, conduct expectations, and safety rules that apply to skaters on BFSC ice. We repost these documents here for easy reference throughout the season.
The pages below collect the club rules, agreements, and conduct standards members most often need to reference.
Club Constitution
As amended on 08/01/2023.
ARTICLE I
Section 1. Name
The organization shall be known as the Binghamton Figure Skating Club.
Section 2. Headquarters
The Club shall have its headquarters at SUNY Broome Ice Center in Binghamton, Broome County, New York.
Section 3. Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the club shall be from July 1 to June 30.
ARTICLE II: Purpose
Section 1. Purpose
The purposes of the Club are:
- To encourage the instruction, practice and advancement in all types of figure skating.
- To encourage and cultivate a spirit of fraternal feeling among ice skaters.
- To sponsor, to produce or cooperate with production of amateur ice exhibitions and shows.
- And generally do and perform such other acts as may be necessary, advisable, proper, or incidental in the realization of the objectives and purposes of this organization and to carry out the general policies of the United States Figure Skating Association.
ARTICLE III: Membership
Section 1. Membership
Membership shall be made available to any person interested in the purpose of the Binghamton Figure Skating Club and who shall pay the prescribed annual dues. (See Article III of By-Laws.)
ARTICLE IV: Elections
Section 1. Election of Officers
The President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be elected via electronic voting in the Spring and shall serve for a period of one year. Any member in good standing, 18 years of age or older and an amateur, may be nominated and elected as an officer.
Section 2. Election of Governors
Governors shall be elected via electronic voting in the Spring and shall serve for a period of one year. Any member in good standing, at least 18 years of age, may be nominated and elected as a Governor.
Section 3. Voting
- Method of Voting: Vote shall be by ballot for each office in the Spring. Ballots may be cast online via a survey tool, so long as the ballot is received before the stated due date. The candidate receiving the greatest number of votes in each office or governorship shall be elected.
- Proxy: There shall be no vote by proxy.
ARTICLE V: Duties of Officers
Section 1. Duties of President
It shall be the duty of the President to take charge of the Club, to preside at all meetings of the Club, and of the Board of Governors. They shall have the entire supervision and management of the Club and its property pending the action of the Board of Governors; the power to suspend any member for violating the By-Laws or regulations of the Club, pending the approval of the Board; to call special Board meetings and Club meetings. The President, together with the Secretary will sign all agreements and contracts made by the Club upon the approval of the Board of Governors.
Section 2. Duties of the Vice President
It shall be the duty of the Vice President to assist the President in the discharge of the President’s duties and, in the President’s absence, to assume those duties and officiate in place of the President.
Section 3. Duties of the Secretary
It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep minutes of the meeting of the Club and the Board of Governors and to supervise all reports and documents connected with the business of the Club.
The Secretary shall supervise the correspondence of the Club, prepare and issue notices of all meetings of the Club and Board of Governors. They shall update new officers on the USFS web site within thirty (30) days.
Section 4. Duties of the Treasurer
The Treasurer shall have charge of the funds of the Club and shall keep a record of all receipts and disbursements. They shall render a written financial report at the stated Club meetings, and when requested by the President or Board of Governors. The Treasurer shall see that the appropriate income tax documents are prepared at the end of the fiscal year. Disbursements in excess of $100 shall be made only upon approval of the Board of Governors. All funds shall be deposited in a bank approved by the Board of Governors under the name of the Binghamton Figure Skating Club. All disbursements by check shall be signed by the Treasurer or the President or by another Club member as designated the President.
Section 5. Duties of the Chairpersons
The following chair positions can be assigned to the Board of Governors as appropriate:
- Membership Chair – To supervise keeping of a roll of membership together with the dates of their election and a record of all members elected, deceased, suspended or expelled. They shall receive all applications for membership and shall notify the applicant of their election or rejection and shall furnish them with the By-Laws and Rules of the Club if elected. They shall enter each member into the USFS website and pay the appropriate fees. At Club meetings, they shall ascertain that those voting are qualified for that privilege.
- SkateSafe Chair – Monitor and ensure certification of Board members, and train new Board members on how to become certified. Ensure compliance of Club activities, such as the annual exhibition per USFS guidelines.
- Exhibition Chair – Coordinate planning and execution of annual exhibition or show. Recruit and assign committee members. (See Article II of the By Laws.)
- Nominating Chair – Coordinate annual election of the Board of Governors. (See Article II of the By Laws.)
- Test Chair – Coordinate and run test sessions held at our home facility.
- Ice Account – Tracks purchase and usage of ice account, notifies members when their account becomes negative per Financial Policy, and notifies Board of Governors of delinquencies.
ARTICLE VI: The Governing Body (Board of Governors)
Section 1.
The Governing Board of the organization shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer; and three or five Governors, depending on whether the Club membership in the previous season is at most 75 or over 75, respectively. The power and duties of the Board of Governors are detailed in Article I of the By-Laws.
ARTICLE VII: Meetings
Section 1. Meetings
There shall be one annual Stated Club meeting each year. (See Article IV of the By-Laws.)
ARTICLE VIII: Amendments
Section 1.
Amendments to this Constitution may be acted upon at any Stated or Special meeting of the Binghamton Figure Skating Club. The proposed amendments shall be put in the announcement of the meeting and must be mailed electronically to each member at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting. An amendment to the Constitution may be adopted only after a vote of consent of two-thirds or more of the votes received by any of the methods described in Article IV, Section 3(a). Vote may not be by proxy.
Club By-Laws
ARTICLE I: Powers and Duties of the Board of Governors
Section 1. Number of Members
The Board of Governors shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and three or five Governors. (See Article VI of Constitution.)
Section 2. Meetings
The Board of Governors shall meet at least once in every month during the skating season. The date of such meetings shall be stated by the President or, in the President’s absence, by the Vice President. Any four members of the Board may call a board meeting upon written notice via electronic mail to all the members of the Board of Governors at least one week prior to the meeting. The notice shall state the date for the meeting, purpose for which the meeting is called, and the names of the four (4) members requesting the meeting.
Section 3. Quorum
Half or more of the Board members shall constitute a quorum.
Section 4. Authority
They shall have entire authority in the management of all of the affairs and finances of the Club and shall have general control of all its property. All rights and powers connected therein shall be vested in them.
Section 5. Rules
They shall make such rules as they deem proper respecting the use of the Club’s property; prescribe rules for the admission of visitors, fix penalties for offense against the rules, and make rules for their own government and for the government of the committees appointed by them.
Section 6. Appropriation
All appropriations of the funds of the Club exceeding $100 shall be made by the Board of Governors.
Section 7. Audits
They shall audit records of the Secretary, Treasurer and of the Committees.
Section 8. Indebtedness
They shall have power to limit the indebtedness of the Club.
Section 9. Suspend or Expel
A two-thirds vote of the Board of Governors present shall be necessary to suspend or expel a member for violation of the Constitution and By-Laws or for conduct which they shall deem improper.
Section 10. Readmit to Membership
They may at a regular meeting readmit to membership any former member whose resignation has been fully accepted. Such readmission must be by ballot and three negative votes shall reject. No rejected candidate shall be again proposed for reinstatement within six months after rejection.
Section 11. Drop and Reinstatement to Membership
They may as hereinafter provided drop from the roll a delinquent member and also reinstate such member as hereinafter provided.
Section 12. Standing Committee
They shall appoint all standing committees with full authority over them except as hereinafter provided and shall appoint such other committees as shall seem to be necessary.
Section 13. USFS Delegate
They shall elect a delegate or delegates to United States Figure Skating. The Club Secretary shall update on the USFS web site, the name and the address of the delegate elected. Said delegate or delegates shall be the representative between the Club and USFS and shall attend the USFS meeting either in person or by proxy. The Board may, as it sees fit, pay the traveling and other expenses of the delegate to the USFS meetings.
Section 14. Clerical Assistance
They shall have the authority to make in their discretion, appropriations for clerical assistance to the Secretary.
Section 15. Expenditures and Revenues
They approve and submit to the Fall Stated Meeting a program for anticipated expenditures for the coming year together with proposals of source of revenue for meeting those expenditures.
Section 16. Vacancy
If the office of the Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, or a governorship becomes vacant, the Board of Governors shall appoint a Club member in good standing to fill the vacancy for the balance of the year. At the next election, a Governor shall be elected for the unexpired term, if any.
Section 17. Additional power and Duties of the Board of Governors
Duties of each board member include:
- Regular attendance and participation at monthly board meetings.
- Conveying the needs of the skaters to the full board.
- Leadership or participation in committee work.
ARTICLE II: Committees
Section 1. Authority
The Board of Governors shall appoint a chairperson for the following committees and such other committees, as they may deem necessary. They may request the committee members to give a report at a meeting of the Board.
Section 2. Exhibition Committee
The Exhibition Committee shall consist of three (3) members.
Section 3. Nominating Committee
The Nomination Committee shall consist of three (3) members.
ARTICLE III: Membership
Section 1. Classes of Membership
- Senior Members are all skaters who are the age of 16 or over.
- Junior Members are all skaters under the age of 16.
- Professional Members are those skaters who offer instruction during Club ice sessions for a fee.
Annual dues for each class of membership are set forth yearly by the Board of Governors.
Section 2. Voting and Holding Office
Only home Club members 16 years of age or over may vote. Only home Club members 18 years of age or over may hold office. Where three or more home Club members of the same family pay member dues, only the two oldest of the family shall have a vote and the privilege of holding office.
- Senior Members are eligible to vote and may hold office.
- Junior Members may not vote, but a parent may vote on their behalf. Junior Members may not hold office.
- Professional Members may vote and become a Governor; however, they may not become an officer of the Club.
Members may vote:
- By electronic mail (email) using an online survey tool received by the date stated on the ballot.
Section 3. Arrears for Dues
Any member in arrears for dues, or other indebtedness, shall be notified by the Membership Chair at the member’s last known address, and the member’s name with the amount due, with any additional indebtedness shall be posted if not paid in full within thirty (30) days thereafter. The name of the delinquent shall be reported by the Secretary to the Board of Governors at their next meeting. The Board of Governors may drop from the roll any name of such delinquent member. A member dropped from the roll for nonpayment of dues or other indebtedness may, upon payment of same, at the discretion of the Board of Governors, be reinstated to full membership.
Section 4. Arrears for Dues Restrictions
No member in arrears for dues or other indebtedness shall be eligible to hold office, or entitled to vote or to enter in any Club competition.
Section 5. Resignation
Any member not in arrears for dues, or other indebtedness, may tender a written resignation of their membership to the Secretary, who shall report the same to the Board of Governors at their next meeting for their action.
Section 6. Non Club Members
Non Club members must present proof of USFS membership in order to skate on Club Ice.
Section 7. Approval for Competition or Exhibition
No member of the Club may make entry in the name of the Club in any competition or exhibition except with the approval of an Officer or the Test Chairperson.
Section 8. Ownership Rights
All ideas and work products generated by Club members on behalf of the Club shall become the property of the Club unless written agreements are made prior to their use or manufacture.
ARTICLE IV: Meetings
Section 1. Stated Meetings
There shall be one Stated Meeting of the Club each year. . .
Section 2. Special Meeting
The Secretary shall call Special Meetings at the direction of the President, or upon written request of five (5) voting members in good standing.
Section 3. Notice of Stated and Special Meetings
The notice shall be electronically mailed by the Secretary at least ten (10) days in advance thereof.
Section 4. Special Meeting Limitation
No business shall be transacted at a Special Meeting except that which appears in the notice of the meeting.
Section 5. Quorum
Ten percent (10%) of the voting membership, and no less than five members, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
ARTICLE V: Fees, Dues and Assessments
Section 1.
Fees, Dues and Assessments shall be determined by the Board of Governors for each type of membership for each year.
ARTICLE VI: Amendments
Section 1.
Amendments to these By-Laws may be acted upon at any Stated or Special meeting of the Binghamton Figure Skating Club. The proposed changes in the By-Laws shall be put in the announcement of the meeting and must be electronically mailed to each member at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting. A change in the By-Laws may be adopted only after a vote of consent of two-thirds or more of the votes received by any of the methods described in Article IV, Section 3(a). Vote may not be by proxy.
ARTICLE VII: Conduct of Meetings
Section 1.
The rules contained in Roberts Rules of Order shall govern the Club in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the By-Laws of the Club.
ARTICLE VIII: Conflict Resolution
Section 1.
If any Club member(s) has a complaint against another member(s) for an infraction of any By-Law or rule other than skating rules, they may file such complaint in writing to the board. Such complaint will be investigated according to the adopted conflict resolution policy.
Section 2.
Prior to filing a grievance with USFS, a member(s) must prove that resolution at the local Club level was attempted. A fee is required to file a grievance with USFS.
ARTICLE IX: Dissolution Clause
Section 1.
Upon the dissolution of the organization, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not disposed of shall be disposed of by a Court of Competent Jurisdiction of the county in which the principal office of the organization 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.
Upon the dissolution of the entity known as the Binghamton Figure Skating Club, all assets held by said entity will be transferred to The United States Figure Skating Memorial Fund, Colorado Springs, Colorado, an exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, if said organization is still in existence.