New Hampshire Swim Association By-Laws

Article I Name and Location

Section I: The name of the Association shall be the New Hampshire Swim Association, hereafter called NHSA and the location of the principle office shall be that of the presiding President. The purpose of NHSA shall be to provide competitive swimming opportunities for amateur swimmers through the age of 18 and/ or through grade twelve.

Article II Membership

Section 1: Membership is open to any qualified swimming team in the State of New Hampshire. A written petition will be required before consideration of ths membership. Special consideration will be given to out of state swimming programs through the same procedures required of New Hampshire teams. As an additional qualification, a team must accept the provisions stated herein, and receive a formal vote of confidence by the majority of the current NHSA members. A member shall be defined as the participating team as a whole. Each team shall send a representative to all scheduled and special meetings of NHSA.

Section 2. Membership fees, if they are deemed necessary shall be set by a majority vote(51%) of the current membership

Section 3: Each member team shall have one voting representative. No member team may vote by proxy or otherwise delegate its right to vote.

Section 4: All swimming rules of United State Swimming, hereafter called USS, shall apply unless specifically countered within these bylaws. “Y” teams participating in the NHSA, when competing against each other may compete under “Y” rules and guidelines and still meet NHSA requirements.

Section 5: Any member who is found to be in violation of the rules and regulations which govern the NHSA may be expelled as a member by vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the current membership.

Section 6: The NHSA shall run from September 1 to May 31.

Section 7: All members teams of NHSA must be registered with USS.

Article III Officers and Elections

Section 1: The NHSA shall have no less than two (2) officers. The first shall be the President and the other shall be the Treasurer. A secretary and Vice-President may be elected if desired, but may not reduce the requirement of the election of a President and a Treasurer. The Treasurer may, however serve concurrently as Vice-president of Secretary, but not both.

Section 2: The officers of the NHSA shall be elected at the annual meeting of the members, to serve for the period of one year or until the next succeeding annual meeting of the NHSA.

Section 3: In the event that the president is unable to fulfil the term of office, the vacancy shall be filled by the current Vice-President, and in the event that the Vice-President cannot fulfil the vacancy, the Treasurer shall do it. If the Treasurer cannot fulfil their term, the vacancy will be filled by a vote of the membership. Any member shall be elected shall hold office until the next succeeding annual meeting of the membership.

Section 4: The officers shall have and may exercise all powers of the NHSA, except as reserved by other provisions of these by-laws.

Section 5: The president shall preside at all meetings of the members and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the members. In the absence of the President, the Vice President, or in the absence of the Vice President the Treasurer shall perform the duties of the President and other such duties as may be assigned

Section 6: The Treasurer shall have the care and custody of the funds, books and valuable papers of the NHSA, shall keep accurate books of account which shall be the property of the NHSA, collect all moneys from time to time due and owing the Association and disburse the funds of the NHSA. The Treasurer shall maintain the funds of the Association in a bank account in the name of the NHSA. The account shall have two signiatures on it, the President’s and the Treasurers. Both officers shall give bond in the name fo the NHSA and in such sum and with such sureties as the members require. The Treasurer shall execute and deliver on behalf of the NHSA all such instruments under its commom seal as the members may require, unless their execution and delivery is otherwise specifically provided for. The Treasurer shall also perform such other duties as may be imposed by the members

Section 7: The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the members and record the proceedings thereof. The Secretary shall perform such other duties as the membership may impose upon the office or as may be customary for a secretary or clerk of the NHSA.

Section 8: The members may from time to time designate special agents or create such operating and other committees of members of the Association as it sees fit.

ARTICLE IV Annual Meeting

Section 1: The NHSA shall hold a meeting of its members annually in the month of September or October at a convenient hour and place designated by the President to consider the annual reports of the President, Treasurer, and others, and to transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting

Section 2: Meetings of the NHSA’s member teams may be called at any time by the President and much be called by the President on a receipt of the written request of three or more members of the NHSA.

Section 3: Notice of the time, place and purpose of each meeting of the NHSA membership shall be given by mail or telephone to each member not less than 5 nor more than 30 days before the meeting.

Section 4: At any meeting, fifty percent of the members shall be a quorum. When a quorum is present at any meeting, a majority of the members in attendance and voting shall decide any questions brought before such meeting unless specifically countered within the by-laws. In the presence or absence of a quorum, a meeting may be adjourned by a majority vote of the members present. No further notice is required for a adjourned meeting.

ARTICLE V ELIGIBILITY OF PARTICIPANTS

Section 1: The NHSA recommends that the following five age groups be used in all meets: 8 & under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-18.

Section 2: A swimmer age will be determined by USS rules of eligibility, except that “Y” teams competing against each other will be allowed to swim according to “Y” age guidelines.

Section 3: Each team must swim FOUR(4) dual meets with other NHSA teams and each swimmer must swim in THREE(3)* of these league meets in order to qualify for the NHSA Championships. A tri-meet may be recorded as TWO(2) team meets, but only as ONE(1) for a swimmers. Developmental and invitational meets will count for team and/or individual credit.

*Amendment made September 2001 meeting which allows those swimmers who compete for their High School Varsity Swim Team will only need to swim in TWO(2) league meets in order to qualify for the NHSA Championships.

Section 4: A swimmer who changes club affiliation after December 1^st will not be eligible to compete in NHSA Championships unless the following conditions are met.

(A) A petition explaining the reason(s) for the change is submitted in writing to a review board. The review board shall consist of one voting member from each team. No team initiating or directly affected by a petition will be allowed to vote on that petition. A majority of members present and voting will decide each issue. A tie vote will mean the petition is denied.

(B) Petitions must be submitted no later than the NHSA organizational meeting held in early or mid-February. The review board may convene directly after this meeting to act on all petitions or it may vote on the matter during the meeting as it sees fits.

ARTICLE VI CONDUCT and PROVISIONS OF MEETS

Section 1: All meets within the jurisdiction of the NHSA will be conducted in accordance with the current Rules and Regulations of the NHSA.

ARTICLE VII ALTERATION and AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS.