Bylaws of Taekwondo Referees United for Excellence

November 16, 2005

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of this organization is TAEKWONDO REFEREES UNITED for EXCELLENCE (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA).  The abbreviation of the name of this organization is TRUE (USA).  The principal office of the organization shall be located in the home state of the Chairperson.

The organization shall require its members to be currently registered with USA Taekwondo (USAT), the National Governing Body of Taekwondo in the United States of America.

ARTICLE II

TYPE

This organization is a non-profit organization.

ARTICLE III

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of TRUE is to build a community of USAT Referees.

ARTICLE IV

DURATION

The period of its duration is perpetual.

ARTICLE V

PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES

The purposes and objectives for which this organization is formed are:

1.   Serve as an up-to-date and reliable source for news and information of general interest to referees—events and activities, rule changes and interpretation, etc.

2.   Work with the USAT Referee leadership to assist with or augment their training efforts, in order to improve the professional performance of our members. 

3.   Actively work to bring new referees into the USAT ranks, and to promote referee participation in USAT-sanctioned events.

4.      Where appropriate, communicate with the National Referee Committee about matters and/or complaints that concern working referees.

5.      To aid in the implementation of the National Referee Committee Code of Operations.

ARTICLE VI

MEMBERSHIP

Membership in TRUE (USA) is open to:

1.      Any USAT certified Referee in good standing with both USAT and TRUE (currently registered with USAT and having paid current annual dues with TRUE).

2.      Any person currently registered as a member of USAT who shares a concern for matters regarding the US Referee.

ARTICLE VII

MEMBERSHIP FEES

Membership fees for this organization are $10.00 per calendar year and are payable every January 1^st. Membership dues may be changed by approval of two-thirds of members present at the Annual TRUE Meeting.

ARTICLE VIII

MEETINGS

1.     The Annual Meeting of TRUE shall be held in conjunction with the USAT Junior

  Olympics event.

2.          The End of Year Meeting of TRUE will take place at the time and place of the

  USAT National Championships.

3.          Special Meetings may be called by the TRUE Executive Council as needed. Notification of Special Meetings shall be given a minimum of forty-five (45) days prior to that proposed Special Meeting. Only the specific items for which the Special Meeting was called may be discussed at the Special meeting.

4.          Agenda items may be added at a meeting by a two-thirds vote of those present.

ARTICLE IX

OFFICERS

Elected officers for this organization will include, but not be limited to, the following:

Section 1:         Chairperson

a)      The Chairperson shall be the Chief Executive Officer and shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Council and the general membership.

b)      The Chairperson shall be an ex-officio (nonvoting) member of all committees except the Executive Council, and shall perform all duties assigned by the Executive Council.

c)      The Chairperson, through appropriate Committees, shall coordinate all functions of the Organization.

d)      The Chairperson or his/her appointed designee shall serve as the organization’s liaison to express TRUE membership concerns and opinions to the National Referee Committee of USA Taekwondo.

e)      The Chairperson shall be the nominal publisher of all publications of the Organization.

f)        The Chairperson must be at least a WTF certified International Referee.

Section 2:         Vice-Chairperson

a)      There will be two (2) elected Vice-Chairpersons of TRUE.

b)      One of the Vice-Chairpersons shall, in the absence of the President, conduct the annual meeting of TRUE and/or the Executive Council Meeting as necessary.

c)      Both Vice-Chairpersons shall perform duties as assigned or appointed by the Chairperson of TRUE.

Section 3:         Secretary

a)      The Secretary of the Organization shall also be the Secretary of the Executive Council.

b)      The Secretary shall keep the seal and the records of the Organization; supervise the taking, production, and distribution of minutes; attend to the publication of the official reports; attest documents: and perform such other functions as usually pertain to this office.

c)      The Secretary shall perform other duties assigned by the Chairperson or by the vote of the Executive Council.

Section 4:         Treasurer

a)      The Treasurer shall have charge of the books of account and the funds of the Organization and shall administer them in accordance with the direction of the Chairperson or by vote of the Executive Council.

b)      The Treasurer shall disburse funds in the manner authorized by the Chairperson, a vote of the Executive Council, or funds voted for disbursement by the membership. The Chairperson may authorize up to $500 in emergency expenditures without a vote, and the Executive Council may vote to authorize emergency expenditures not to exceed $1500. All expenditures must be receipted.

c)      The Treasurer shall make an annual financial report to the Executive Council, and any such reports as may be required from time to time.

Section 5:         Credentials for Officers

The officers shall be currently-registered members of USA Taekwondo, shall have been active as a USAT-certified Referee for at least five consecutive years immediately prior to the date of Elections, and shall be at least a National-level USAT Referee or higher, and must have been an active participant in TRUE for the immediate and consecutive five years preceding their candidacy.

Section 6:         Term of Office

All officers elected at the Annual Meeting shall take office immediately following the election and shall serve for a term of two years.  The Chairperson may serve no more than two consecutive terms, but may be considered as an eligible candidate following another Chairperson’s full term in office.

Section 7:         Officers Unable to Fulfill Their Term of Office

In the case where an Officer is unable to fulfill their full Term of Office, whether due to illness, resignation, or removal from office, a Special Election may be held to replace that officer for the duration of the original Term of Office. The Special Election may be held at either the Annual Meeting or the Semi-Annual Meeting of TRUE. If the replacement Officer’s term exceeds the duration of one year, that new officer will be considered to have served one full Term of Office.

ARTICLE X

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Section 1:        

The Executive Council shall serve as the Board of Directors of this organization, shall discharge the functions of the general membership on its behalf between meetings of the general membership, and shall perform other duties as assigned to it in the Bylaws.

Section 2:

The Executive Council shall consist of the current elected officers of the Organization and all active past Chairpersons of TRUE.

Section 3:

Each member shall serve until such time as his or her successor shall have been elected, appointed or selected.

Section 4:

In the event the same person should be named, elected, appointed or selected to more than one position on the Executive Council, he or she shall be entitled to hold such positions; however the holder of multiple positions will only be entitled to one vote.

ARTICLE XI

STANDING COMMITTEES AND APPOINTED OFFICERS

TRUE (USA) shall consist of the following Standing Committees:

•     Membership

• Professional Development
• Hospitality
• Communications

The Chairperson may make other appointments as deemed necessary:

ARTICLE XII

PROXY VOTE

There shall be no Proxy Voting

ARTICLE XIII

REMOVAL OF OFFICERS

Section 1:

The removal of any elected officer may take place by a two-thirds vote of the general membership present at the Annual Meeting, or at a General Meeting that occurs in conjunction with a USAT National Event.

Section 2:

Persons seeking the removal of an elected officer must be current members of TRUE and must submit the removal of the officer as an agenda item. Those who propose the removal of an officer must appear at the meeting at which the removal will be discussed and shall show cause for the removal of the officer.

ARTICLE XIV

AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS

Section 1:

Amendments to the bylaws may be made by a two-thirds vote of the general membership present at the Annual Meeting.  Amendments shall take place at the close of the meeting, unless a different date is specified at the time of approval of the amendments.

Section 2:

Proposed amendments must be submitted to the Secretary in writing by certified mail return receipt requested at least thirty days before the date of the Annual Meeting of the general membership.  The Secretary shall, under the direction of the Chairperson, distribute notice of proposed amendments to the members of the Executive Council prior to the Annual Meeting.

ARTICLE XV

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES

Section 1.

All meetings shall be conducted using Roberts Rules of Order.

Section 2.

Roberts Rules of Order may be suspended by a two-thirds vote of the voting eligible membership present at any meeting.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The Bylaw Revision Committee hereby submits the revisions made to the TRUE Bylaws for approval:

Neal Gitterman, Committee Member

Bruce C.K.W. Harris, Committee Chair

Shawn McDermott, Committee Member

I could be wrong, but, wasn't the membership fee raised to $20.00 annually, by vote, at JO's?

Barbara Wakefield

Hi All!

I would also suggest a proposal for a lifetime membership as they have in  most organizations, the fee being whatever is deemed appropiate.

               God Bless!

                     Tkdblue