Gamecock Club
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS University of South Carolina
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS GAMECOCK CLUB UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
NAME The name of the Club shall be Gamecock Club of the University of South Carolina. ARTICLE II PURPOSE The purpose of the Club shall be to promote the welfare of the Athletic Department of the University of South Carolina by using all of the funds of said Club exclusively as follows: (a) To provide funds for Athletic Scholarships at the University of South Carolina, Columbia Campus. (b) To pay for expenses of operating the club. (c) For projects and/or other needs consistent with the policy of promoting the athletic Affairs at the University of South Carolina. (d) After payment of items described in Section a, b and c of this Article, surplus funds, if any, shall be endowed with the income of such endowment to be used for the benefit of the Athletic Department of the University of South Carolina, Columbia Campus. (e) To accept contributions of any kind, including but not limited to real and personal property. Acceptance of such contribution will be in accordance with the Donors intent, consistent with University policies and procedures. (f) To provide funds for Scholarships for Student Athletes at the University of South Carolina, Columbia Campus from funds raised by local chapters with reasonable conditions imposed by the local chapter as to how the funds will be disbursed by the University of South Carolina. All funds received by the Club shall be deposited with the Treasurer of the University of South Carolina and accounted for in the annual (calendar) report made to the Board of Directors in February of each year. These funds and all interest earned thereon shall be used solely for the purposes stated in Article II. After funds have provided for Athletic Scholarships as required in Article (a), any expenditure of the Gamecock Club funds must be initiated pursuant to a request by the Athletic Director, Columbia Campus, who shall obtain the recommendation of the Board of Directors of the Gamecock Club prior to presenting the proposal to the Intercollegiate Activities Committee and prior to action by the Trustees of the University of South Carolina. The Athletic Director will present to the Gamecock Club Executive Committee an annual budget proposal for the expenditures of Club funds. While final budget approval rests with the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees, the Executive Committee will review the budget proposal, present it to the Gamecock Club Board of Directors for their consideration, and will forward their
recommendation to the Office of the President for presidential approval. The president will then present the budget to the Board of Trustees Intercollegiate Activities Committee. Once adopted by the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees, the Executive Committee will receive a copy of said budget. All Club expenditures shall be in compliance with University policy and consistent with the purpose and charter of the Gamecock Club; and in accordance with the rules and/or limitations, where such apply, of the athletic associations and/or conferences of which the University is at the time a part. In addition, the University of South Carolina will not transfer any funds designated as athletic funds to other University budget units without consent of the Intercollegiate Activities Committee and the University Board of Trustees. Prior notification of such a transfer shall be sent to the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Gamecock Club and shall be included in the annual fiscal report. ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP Any member of the Gamecock Club shall be a member of the County Chapter of the County in which he or she resides (or in the area in which he or she request). ARTICLE IV COUNTY CHAPTERS A County Chapter, plus any out-of-state chapter recognized by the University of South Carolina Gamecock Club shall have its local membership with a chairman who shall also be a member of the Board of Directors. The Chairman of each county and its officers shall be elected to a term of not more than two (2) years, but shall be eligible to succeed himself or herself. Chairmen of each chapter shall have the authority to hold an election upon giving of notice to the Chapter membership or the membership may hold an election upon the written request of ten (10%) percent of the members of that county chapter to the Director of the Gamecock Club. County chapters should not charge dues in addition to Gamecock Club dues. County chapters must submit to the Gamecock Club, Columbia Campus, by July 31 of each year an annual accounting of all income and expenses for the fiscal year (July 1 to June 30). County chapters should restrict activities in support of the exempt purposes of the Gamecock Club. a) Annual activities should be recognized such as business meetings, kick off parties, tailgate parties, etc. All other activities should be approved by the Gamecock Club Director acting with the approval of the Board of Directors. b) The chapters are restricted from entering into contracts of any kind without the consent of the Gamecock Club Director. c) The chapters and their officers should be restricted from entering into credit arrangements. This includes credit cards, debit cards, or any other forms of credit. d) The chapters should be restricted from establishing independent funds, such as academic scholarships without the written permission of the Gamecock Club Director. e) Chapter reserves for operational purposes should not exceed $5.00 per chapter member. Chapters with less than 500 members may have a reserve of $2,500 with the written
permission of the Gamecock Club Director. f) Upon failure to operate satisfactorily or dissolution, all chapter funds must be disbursed to the Gamecock Club. g) Chapter officers and members must be volunteers and cannot receive compensation, directly or indirectly of any kind. ARTICLE V OFFICERS
Section 1 The governing body of the Gamecock Club shall be the Board of Directors of the Gamecock Club (further referred to as Board of Directors). The Board of Directors shall consist of the Chairmen of the various county and recognized out-of-state chapters. The Board of Directors shall elect annually from its membership a chairman and vice chairman who shall serve for a term of one (1) year, but who shall be eligible to succeed his or herself. Section 2 The policies of the Gamecock Club shall be recommended by an Executive Committee consisting of one member from each of the sixteen Judicial Circuits and one out-of-state representative elected every three years. The Executive Committee election policy is to rotate to the other county/counties in the judicial circuit. In the absence of an existing agreement, the rotation will be in alphabetical order. Executive Committee members will be selected from present or past county chairmen by a vote of the current County Chairmen within their Judicial District. Term of office on the Executive Committee shall be four (4) years. Election of Executive Committee shall be held in January of every other year for term beginning July 1 of that year. The Executive Committee shall elect, annually, from its membership, a chairman and vicechairman who shall serve for a one (1) year, but who shall be eligible to succeed himself or herself. Ex-Officio members of the Executive Committee shall be the Athletics Director, Columbia Campus, a member of Intercollegiate Activities Committee of the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees and the Gamecock Club Director. Section 3 The Secretary of the Gamecock Club shall be the Executive Director for the Gamecock Club (further referred to as Director). The Executive Director, reporting to the Director of Athletics, Columbia Campus, shall be charged with the supervisory responsibilities of the club’s day to day operation in accordance with the annual budget submitted by the University of South Carolina Athletic Department, Columbia Campus. The Director of Athletics, Columbia Campus, will counsel with and seek the advice of the Executive Committee in dealing with the employment status of the Executive Director. The Executive Director shall preside at all Board of Directors meetings and be responsible for minutes of said meetings. The Executive Director shall be a member of said board.
ARTICLE VI MEETINGS Section 1 A meeting of a local county chapter may be called by Chairmen of the local chapter at any time so long as the University of South Carolina Gamecock Club Director has been notified and seven (7) days notice is given to all members of a local chapter. Section 2 The Gamecock Club Board of Directors shall meet twice a year, once in February for scheduled elections and to receive a financial report for previous fiscal year ended in June, and again by June 1st to review and send forth their recommendations on the proposed budget. The Executive Director may call special meetings of the Board of Directors with prior notice to the Executive Committee at any time. The Executive Director shall call a special meeting of the Board of Directors when the Executive Director is presented with a petition of ten (10) or more County Chairmen. All special meetings must have notice of at least seven (7) days. A mail/fax/e-mail vote of the Board of Directors may be taken at any time by the Executive Director with the results of said business being made known to each member of the Board of Directors. Section 3 The Chairman of the Executive Committee may call a meeting of the Executive Committee. All members shall be notified seventy-two (72) hours in advance of said meeting. To submit a recommendation to the Board a simple majority must be met. A mail/fax/e-mail vote of the Executive Committee may be taken at any time by the Executive Director with the results of said business being made known to each member of the Executive Committee. Section 4 Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern all meetings. A simple majority of membership is considered a quorum. Proxies shall be counted for a quorum. Proxies may only be granted to another member of the Board.
ARTICLE VII DUES Annual dues for membership in the Gamecock Club shall be determined by the Executive Committee with approval of the Board of Directors. ARTICLE VIII MEMBERSHIP PRIVILEGES Admittance to various Gamecock Club meetings may be restricted to only current members of Gamecock Club. ARTICLE IX POLICIES AND PROCEDURES 1. ELECTIONS
A. All elections will be held between November 1-January 31. Newly elected officers will begin their term on February 1st with the first attended Board Meeting being the February meeting. B. Have elections at least every two years. C. The Executive Committee representative for the particular county holding an election or a member of the staff from the Columbia office should attend and conduct the election for the county or out-of state chapter. D. Each chapter will provide updated officer information to the Columbia office by January 31 of each year. 2. BENEFICIARY POLICY
All membership levels pass to the member’s spouse as long as the spouse continues at least at the same level. As of January 1, 2007, new members joining at Golden Spur or above membership levels will have the benefits of naming a beneficiary once they and their spouse are deceased. The spouse and any other beneficiary must be listed on the “Gamecock Club Beneficiary” form along with social security and date of birth. The named beneficiary must be a relative within one generation of the original donor. No corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, etc. can be a beneficiary. 3. DIVORCE POLICY
Ownership of membership will be left in the hands of the courts. If the courts do not address, the social security number listed on the application will be honored.
4. LIFETIME MEMBERSHIPS
The Gamecock Club will honor its contractual obligations of the past, but there will not be any future members at this level of giving. 5. GIVING LEVEL TICKET ALLOWANCES
Starting with brand new applications in 2008 The following was agreed on by vote: Century Club 2, Half Scholarship 4 plus 2 in secondary location or a total of 6, Full Scholarship 4 first priority and 4 secondary or a total of 8, Silver Spur 4 first & 4 secondary or total of 8, Garnet Spur 4 & 4 or total of 8, Golden Spur 6 & 2 or total of 8, Platinum 6 & 2 or 8 and Diamond Spur 8 & 2 or 10. This would not affect any current member but would help in the future. Effective February 27, 2009, Roost members will be eligible to purchase two non-priority tickets for football, basketball and baseball if available. 6. IN MEMORY OF MEMBERSHIPS
This membership will not be allowed in the future. Present members in this category will be requested to convert to regular membership if they are to receive benefits. 7. PERSONAL MEMBERSHIP QUALIFICATIONS
A social security number and birth date is required on a membership application. 8. REVOCATION OF MEMBERSHIP
Membership in the USC Gamecock Club including service on the Board of Directors and/or Executive Committee is a privilege and not a right. As such, members are expected to be ambassadors for the University of South Carolina. Any illegal or unethical behavior or actions by any member which adversely impacts the image, reputation and good standing of the University of South Carolina's athletic program subjects the member to disciplinary action up to and including a revocation of membership. Said disciplinary action must be recommended in writing by the Executive Committee at which time the effected member shall be given notice and the opportunity to be heard. Any recommended action by the Executive Committee must then be presented to the Board of Directors for final approval at which time the effected member shall again be given notice and the opportunity to be heard. 9. HARDSHIP CASES
Matters involving Hardship cases may be addressed at the discretion of the Executive Director on an immediate but temporary basis. Any and all such action must be brought before the Executive Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting at which time the effected member shall be given notice and the opportunity to be heard. The confirmation and/or approval of the Executive Committee are required for the action to continue in effect.
10. GIFT MEMBERSHIPS
Allow gift memberships from ages 1 to 21 as long as it is in the child's name with the date of birth and a social security number. At age 21, the membership must convert to a regular membership and be maintained by the recipient of the gift. 11. PARKING
The Executive Director at his discretion is allowed to revoke parking privileges with the confirmation of the Executive Committee at its next scheduled meeting. "Matters involving Revocation of Parking Privileges may be addressed at the discretion of the Executive Director on an immediate but temporary basis. Any and all such action must be brought before the Executive Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting at which time the effected member shall be given notice and the opportunity to be heard. The confirmation and/or approval of the Executive Committee are required for the action to continue in effect."
12. REFUNDS All annual Gamecock Club donations are non refundable under the discretion of the Gamecock Club director.
13. POINTS a. In order to receive points for a season ticket purchase the season ticket must be purchased through a Gamecock Club account. b. Combining points from multiple memberships will not be allowed. ARTICLE X AMENDMENTS The Constitution and By-Laws may be amended at any time with a non-binding recommendation from the Executive Committee concerning each proposed amendment to the Board of Directors, by a majority vote of the Board of Directors and in compliance with University policy and in accordance with the rules and/or limitations, where such apply, of the athletic associations and/or conferences of which the University is at the time a part. Recommended May 12, 2006 by Executive Committee Approved May 12, 2006 by Board of Directors
Amended February 6, 2008 Amended September 26, 2008 Amended February 27, 2009