Article I: Name and Affiliation

 The name of this organization shall be the Neuqua Valley Hockey Club. The Neuqua Valley Hockey Club (“NVHC”) shall be affiliated with the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois, INC (“AHAI”) and USA Hockey or their successors. If AHAI or USA Hockey are unable to operate and no named successors, NVHC will be affiliated with another high school ice hockey association providing similar amateur ice hockey programs, policies, leadership, and insurance as AHAI and USA Hockey (“Other Affiliate”).

Article II: Purpose 

• To provide Neuqua Valley High School students with an opportunity to play competitive high school hockey.
• To raise funds as necessary to provide a competitive hockey experience at the lowest possible cost to players and their families.
• To hire coaches, negotiate ice contracts, enter leagues and tournaments and conduct other business as necessary to support a competitive hockey program.
• To encourage, assist and promote sportsmanship and playing proficiency of all players involved with NVHC.
• To register teams with AHAI and USA Hockey or their successors and in the event of AHAI or USA Hockey’s inability to operate, to register teams with an Other Affiliate.
• To communicate and cooperate with other high school hockey clubs and leagues, AHAI, USA Hockey and other state and local associations to improve and promote the sport of hockey among high school players both within and outside the State of Illinois.

Article III: Fiscal Year 
The fiscal year end of the corporation shall be the last day of April.

 Article IV: Principal Office
 The principal office of the corporation in the State of Illinois shall be located in Naperville, IL in the County of Will, or at such other office location as established by the directors from time to time.
 
 Article V: Registered Office
 The registered office of the corporation required by The Illinois Not For Profit Corporation Act to be maintained in the State of Illinois may be, but need not be, identical with the principal office in the State of Illinois, and the address of the registered office may be changed from time to time by the Board of Directors.
 
 Article VI: Directors: Scope of Authority
The business and affairs of the NVHC shall be managed by the Board of Directors (“BoD”).
The BoD shall promulgate general policies, rules and regulations for NVHC, and determine how its policies will be followed. The BoD shall have the authority to promulgate, implement and enforce rules, regulations, policies, incentives and penalties that advance interests of the NVHC.
Members of the BoD, Officers and Executives Members will be elected by the majority of the BoD. Directors and Executive members shall hold office as follows:

The President shall serve one three-year term, with the option to be re-elected for one additional one-year term. After a total of four years served, the BoD may re-elect the President for one additional one-year term to assist in transition of the President’s responsibilities (“Transition Term”). During the Transition Term, the President will have no right to participate in a BoD vote.

The Treasurer shall serve one three-year term, with the option to be re-elected for one additional one-year term.

The Assistant Treasurer shall serve one two-year term, with the option to be re-elected for one additional two-year term.

The Registrar shall serve one two-year term, with the option to be re-elected for one additional two-year term.

The Secretary shall serve one two-year term, with the option to be re-elected for one additional two-year term.

The Operations Manager shall hold office from May 1st of each year until April 30th of the following year, with the option to be re-elected for additional terms.

Board Members at Large shall hold office from May 1st of each year until April 30th of the following year, with the option to be re-elected for additional terms.
In the event of a vacancy by death, disability, resignation, or removal each Director or Executive Member shall be replaced via a vote of the majority of the BoD.
A majority of the BoD, by resolution, will set the time and place for holding regular or special meetings.
Each member of the BoD shall be entitled to one vote upon each matter submitted to vote at meetings of the BoD of NVHC.
A majority of the BoD serving shall constitute a quorum at any regular or special meeting. The act of the majority of the BoD present at a meeting shall be the act of the BoD.

Article VII: Board of Directors, Officers and Executive Members
The officers of the NVHC shall include a President, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Registrar, Secretary, Operations Manager and Board Members at Large.
The Officers of NVHC shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at the first meeting following the April 30th fiscal year end.
Any Officer, Director or agent elected or appointed by the BoD may be removed with a minimum of a three-fifths vote of the entire BoD whenever in its best judgment in the best interests of the NVHC would thereby be served.

The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the NVHC and shall in general supervise all the business and affairs of the NVHC. He/She shall preside at all meetings of the members authorized by the BoD. He/She may sign, with any other proper officer of the NVHC so authorized by the BoD, any bonds, contracts or other instruments that the BoD has authorized to be executed, except in cases where the signing and execution shall be expressly delegated by the BoD or by these by-laws to some other officer or agent of the NVHC, or shall be required by law to be otherwise signed or executed; and in general shall perform all duties incident to the office of the President and such other duties as may be assigned by the BoD.

The Treasurer: is an official BoD position. The Treasurer shall faithfully discharge his/her duties with such surety or sureties as the BoD shall determine. He/she will oversee treasury activities and guarantee the financial transactions, policies, procedures that fulfill the organization's goals and requirements, as well as regulatory body requirements. He/She shall: (a) have charge and custody of and be responsible for funds and securities of the NVHC; receive and give receipts for moneys due and payable to the NVHC from any source whatsoever, and shall deposit all such monies in the name of NVHC in such banks, trust companies and other insured depositories as shall be selected in accordance with these by-laws; (b) in general perform all the duties incident to the Office of Treasurer and (c) other such duties as from time to time may be assigned by the of the BoD.

Assistant Treasurer: is an official BoD position. The Assistant Treasurer will assist the Treasurer in the direction and management of the organization's treasury activities. He/she will assist in overseeing the treasury activities and guarantee the financial transactions, policies, procedures that fulfill the organization's goals and requirements, as well as regulatory body requirements and other such duties as from time to time may be assigned by the BoD.
The Registrar: is an official BoD position. The Registrar shall be responsible for all (a) necessary NVHC player official documents as required by NVHC, AHAI, USA Hockey, leagues and tournaments. (b) oversee all rosters and provide information to the governing hockey bodies to assure NVHC player eligibility. (c) will assure all coaches are screened and are officially registered with USA Hockey with proper coaching credentials and (d) other such duties as from time to time may be assigned by the BoD.

The Secretary: is an official BoD position. The Secretary: (a) keep the minutes of the BoD meetings in one or more books (electronically kept) for that purpose; (b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these by-laws or as required by law; (c) be custodian of the records of NVHC; (d) keep a register of the post office addresses of each member of the BoD and all players and coaches involved with the NVHC; (e) in general perform all duties incident to the Office of the Secretary and (f) other such duties as form time to time may be assigned by the BoD.

Operations Manager: is an official BoD position. The Operations Manager will assist the club in the oversight of Fundraising Events, coordinating committees for the purpose of organizing volunteers. (Senior Night, Yearbook etc.) and other such duties as from time to time may be assigned by the BoD.

Board Member at Large: is an official BoD position. The Board Member(s) at Large are members of the BoD and have no specific duties unless assigned by BoD, but they have the same rights and responsibilities as other board members.

Varsity and JV Coaching Staff: shall not be permitted as members of the BoD, except with respect to an unforeseen circumstance causing a vacancy in a coaching position, in such case the BoD will vote to place a temporary USA Hockey certified coach in place until a permanent replacement is identified, if said temporary coach is a BoD member, such member will not receive compensation for services during the time said member is acting as a coach.
Members of the BoD are volunteers and will not receive compensation or other benefits not available to all participants of NVHC. Reimbursement of BoD approved out-of-pocket expenses of a BoD member are allowed.
 
 Article VIII: The Director of Hockey Operations
Director of Hockey Operations is an official club position, if so appointed by the majority of the BoD. The Director of Hockey Operations will not be a voting member of the BoD and will report to the BoD. This position will be invited to Board meetings for the purpose of discussing player/program development but will not have voting rights. This position will oversee all NVHC hockey operations, tournament selection, oversee all NVHC tryouts, coordinate the Summer Skate program and overall player development in accordance with the mission for NVHC as determined by the BoD. Coaching staff changes will be identified by the Director of Hockey Operations who will seek BoD approval for his/her recommendations, for this purpose only, the recommendation of the Director of Hockey Operations will carry the weight of one vote towards a three-fifths vote of the entire BoD related to coaching staff decisions.
 
 Article IX: Limited Liability of BoD
 No member of the BoD serving without compensation, other than reimbursement for approved actual expenses, of the corporation, shall be liable, and no cause of action may be brought, for damages resulting from the exercise of judgement or discretion in connection with the duties or responsibilities of such director unless the act or omission involved willful or wanton misconduct. No member of the BoD of the corporation shall be liable, and no cause of action may be brought, for damages resulting from such member’s actions or decisions made based on the member's reasonable reliance on the opinion of one or more advisers or consultants.

Article X: Operating Policies and Procedures

A. Fees
a.The Board shall determine appropriate fees and payments schedules as necessaryor the activities of the Club. Fees include player fees, tournament fees, sponsor contributions, and other necessaryfees.
b.Fees are payable when due. If payment not received within 30 days of the due date the player shall immediately be suspended until paid full or a hardship request
approved by a majority vote of the BoD. Hardship requests must be signed by a parent or legal guardian of the player and submitted to the Board Treasurer. It must include the reason for the hardship request and a payment plan that does not extend beyond the date of the last game of that season. If payments are not received as outlined in the BoD approved hardship request the player will be suspended until payments are brought up to date. Hardship requests will be kept confidential by both parties. Players may be reported to AHAI for non-payment by majority vote of the BoD if payment in full is not received.
c.The BoD may consider requests for fee adjustments or refunds on a case-by- case basis. The decision shall be determined by a majority vote of theBoD.
d.No player shall be allowed to register for the fall season fees pastdue.
e.The Club shall proceed collection activity to follow its own rules and stay within the boundaries of the AHAI requirements to support a collectionprocess.
 
 Article XI: Injury Credit
Once a player commits to a team by signing the official roster, no refunds with respect to an injury are given unless there is a significant illness or injury that prevents a player from participating for more than 6 weeks.
In cases where a player is injured while participating in the NVHC’s program or event and if said player is unable to participate for more than six weeks, the Club will provide a credit against dues and fees of a per day dollar amount approved by the BoD from the date the player is injured until the player returns or the end of the season in which the player was injured, whichever comes first. The maximum injury credit may not exceed the maximum dollar amount approved by the BoD for each season per player per season. The player’s family or NVHC coaching staff must complete an injury report within one week of the injury to be eligible for this credit.
 
 Article XII: Contracts, Loans, Checks and Deposits
 Contracts: The Board of Directors may authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument on the name and on behalf of NVHC, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
Loans: No loan shall be contracted on behalf of NVHC and no evidence of indebtedness shall be issued in its name unless authorized by a resolution of the BoD. Such authority may be general of confined to specific instances.
Checks, Drafts, etc.: All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes or evidence of indebtedness issued in the name of NVHC shall be signed by such officer or officers, agent or agents of the NVHC and in such a manner as shall from time to time be determined by a resolution of the BoD.
Deposits: All funds of the NVHC not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of NVHC in such banks, trust companies or other insured depositories as the BoD may select.
 

Article XIII: Distribution of Assets

NVHC shall not be operated for a pecuniary profit and shall have no capital stock and shall make no distributions of dividends to its members, directors, officers or persons having a private interest in the activities of the NVHC.
In the event the NVHC is dissolved, the Board of Directors shall pay, satisfy and discharge all liabilities and obligations or make adequate provisions therefore and distribute all remaining assets of the NVHC to AHAI an Illinois not for profit corporation, for public purposes substantially similar to those of the corporation, or to an organization or organizations engaged in activities substantially similar to those of the corporation and organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious or scientific purposes as shall at that time qualify as an exemption under Section 501C (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or corresponding provisions of future laws).
 
 

Article XIV: Amendments

These by-laws may be altered, amended or repealed and new by-laws may be adopted by the Board of Directors by the affirmative vote of the majority of the directors then in office.
 
 
Revised and Approved by the BoD: 08/20/2020