Constitution
ARTICLE ONE – INCORPORATION
1.1 The name of this organization shall be known as the United States Flag Football of the Deaf, Incorporated, (USFFD), hereinafter referred to as the Association.
ARTICLE TWO – AFFILIATION
2.1 The Association is affiliated with:
2.1.1 United States Flag & Touch League (USFTL).
ARTICLE THREE – OBJECTS
3.1 The objects of the Association shall be to:
3.1.1 Promote and protect the mutual interests of its members.
3.1.2 Promote amateur flag football in every way possible throughout the deaf communities.
3.1.3 Foster and extend the character and sportsmanship of flag football participants.
3.1.4 Stimulate the physical fitness, moral, and cultural education of flag football participants.
3.1.5 Act as the parent organization of the regional and local flag football organizations; these to be governed by the rules and regulations promulgated by the Association.
ARTICLE FOUR – MEMBERSHIP
4.1 Use of the pronouns "he" and "his" shall not be construed in any way as limiting officers and members of the Association to the masculine gender only.
4.2 The membership of the Association shall consist of:
4.2.1 An elected Board of Directors.
4.2.2 Individual team members.
4.2.3 Any individuals promoting the flag football sport interest of the Association.
4.3 Individuals seeking membership to the Association shall agree to abide to the articles of incorporation, Constitution, Bylaws, and Standing Rules of the Association, upon payment of membership dues as designed by the Association.
ARTICLE FIVE – OFFICERS
5.1 Every member in good standing shall be entitled to vote and hold office.
5.2 The six officers of the Association shall be as follows:
5.2.1 Commissioner.
5.2.2 Treasurer/Secretary.
5.2.3 Chief Team Representative.
ARTICLE SIX – BOARD OF DIRECTORS
6.1 The Board of Directors, hereinafter referred to as the Board, shall consist of the six elected officers and shall conduct the official business and administration of the Association subject only to the provisions of the Constitution, Bylaws, and Standing Rules of the Association.
6.2 The Board shall be the final authority for any and all issues connected with any national tournament.
6.3 The Board shall meet at least once per year and such meetings shall be open to all members of the Association except for those matters pertaining to litigation or personnel issues.
6.4 The Board shall be empowered to take such action as a majority of its members believes appropriate in the event they have knowledge that the Constitution, Bylaws, and Standing Rules of the Association have been violated, regardless of a lack of formal complaint.
ARTICLE SEVEN – FLAG FOOTBALL HUDDLE
7.1 The Flag Football Huddle shall consist of the following:
7.1.1 One team-elected representative of each participating team.
7.1.2 The officers of the Association.
7.2 No person shall be entitled to more than one vote, regardless of holding multiple offices.
7.3 Each delegate shall be a full member in good standing with the Association for at least one year before the Flag Football Huddle, and the organization he represents shall meet the membership criteria as outlined in Article Four of this Constitution.
7.4 The Constitution, Bylaws, and Standing Rules of the Association may be amended by the Flag Football Huddle at a properly constituted meeting of the Huddle.
7.4.1 Any member of the Association may submit a proposed amendment in writing, at least 15 days in advance of the Flag Football Huddle, to the Secretary.
7.4.2 Only the Board of Directors may submit written, proposed amendments from the floor.
7.5 The Flag Football Huddle shall be held during the Association’s flag football tourney.
7.6 For the transaction of business at the Flag Football Huddle, a quorum shall consist of one-fifth (1/5) of the total number of delegates allowed by Section 7.1 of this article.
ARTICLE EIGHT – COMMITTEES
8.1 The Board shall have the authority to establish such committees as necessary to meet the needs of the Association.
8.2 An officer of the Association shall serve as the Association’s liaison with each committee and shall report directly to the Board.
ARTICLE NINE – INDEMNIFICATION
9.1 The Association shall indemnify each of its present officers, employees or official representatives, against all expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such person (including, but not limited to, judgments, costs and counsel fees) in connection with the defense of any pending or threatened litigation to which such person is, or is threatened to be made, a party because such person is or was serving in such capacity. This right of indemnification shall also apply to expenses of litigation which is compromised or settled, including amounts paid in settlement, if the Association shall approve such settlement. Such person shall be entitled to be indemnified if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, and not opposed to, the best interests of the Association. The termination of any litigation by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in, and not opposed to, the best interests of the Association.
9.2 Any amount payable as indemnification under this Article shall be determined and paid by the Association pursuant to a determination by a majority vote of the Flag Football Huddle, that such person seeking indemnification has met the standards of conduct set forth in this Article.
9.3 Any expenses incurred by such person in connection with the defense of any litigation may be made by the Association in advance of a final disposition of such litigation upon receipt of an undertaking by such person to repay such amount if it is determined under (2) hereof that such person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article.
9.4 The right of indemnification under this Article shall be in addition to, and not exclusive of, all other rights to which such person may be entitled.
9.5 The Board may, at its discretion, authorize the purchase of insurance on behalf of any persons indemnifiable under this Article. Such insurance may include provisions for indemnification of such persons for expenses of a kind not subject to indemnification under this Article.
ARTICLE TEN – FINAL AUTHORITY AND APPEALS
10.1 In cases of conflicts between decisions and the rules of the member teams and organizations, and those adopted by the Flag Football Huddle, the last shall be considered official and decisive.
10.2 No member may deny or threaten to deny any amateur athlete the opportunity to compete in any flag football competition subject to the provisions set out in the regulations and guidelines.
ARTICLE ELEVEN – EFFECTIVE DATES OF RULES AND REVISIONS
11.1 Amendments or revisions to the Constitution, Bylaws, and Standing Rules of the Association shall go into effect after ratification immediately upon the conclusion of the Flag Football Huddle unless otherwise ordained by the Flag Football Huddle.
ARTICLE TWELVE – ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER
12.1 Any parliamentary procedures not covered specifically by the existing rules of the Association shall be determined by referring to a current edition of Robert's Rules of Order.
12.2 The Secretary shall have a copy and make it available at every meeting of the Board and the Flag Football Huddle.
12.3 The Commissioner shall appoint a parliamentarian before every meeting, and, upon request, the appointed parliamentarian shall advise the Presiding officer on proper procedures.
ARTICLE THIRTEEN – DISSOLUTION
13.1 In the event of dissolution of the Association, all tangible assets shall be sold and all monies realized therefrom, together with any other monies remaining, shall be turned over to the USFTL.
ARTICLE FOURTEEN – AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
14.1 The Constitution may be amended, altered or revoked at the Flag Football Huddle by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Flag Football Huddle delegates present and voting.