I am a member of a bar box womens league. I also captain a team, as some of you may know. Now this league is no affiliations with any national or regional associations. We are supposedly registered with the WA Secretary of State as a non-profit organization/association.
Recently an issue has arisen where a sponsor has filed a grievance against one of her own teams for moving a couple of games from the sponsor's location to an alternate location, with the agreement of the other teams involved to do so. I can't say as I blame them, as this particular location has had running issues with drugs being dealt out of there, fights, and most recently, a stabbing.
There really is nothing in the rules/by-laws that comes right out and states that the games could not have been moved. And there is really nothing in the rules/by-laws to supports a sponsor filing a grievance against her own team.
I sit on the Grievance Committee this year. The by-laws clearly state that the grievance must have been filed within 24 hours of the alleged offense. The alleged offense took place on the 1/19, the grievance was presented by reading a letter at a captains' meeting that took place on 1/22...not for the purpose of the grievance. The actual filing of the grievance was not filed until 1/24.
Here's the issue, according to the by-laws, there is no grievance, since it was not filed in the correct, timely manner. However, we have some women, who also sit the committee, who like to ignore the rules/by-laws and just levy justice as they see fit. They say it doesn't matter what the by-laws say, that's for the grievance committee to decide. I say that it is not so. The state is quite clear on the laws of operating a non-profit, and one of which states that the by-laws cannot be amended, altered, or revoked without a membership meeting, and involving 2/3rds vote, or a quorum.
I bring this up, as last year we had some issues where officers and the grievance committee levied a forfeiture of game against my team, when it was not involved in a grievance, but the opposing team was, and I was not notified of the forfeiture of the game, at all. I was denied the ability to file my own grievance. I pointed out that this was a clear violation of the by-laws/rules set down by the general membership, and the response was....well, they're not so much rules, but guidelines, and since the grievance committee's decision was binding, I was basically a$$ out.
Basically, it's a certain select few women who want to run the league as they see fit, and the elected officials and appointed committees are but puppets.
AS a result of this mentality, we have lost many teams from last year, and I suspect that we'll lose more as a result of this action. These same women are trying to say that by insisting that these by-laws/rules be followed, we are destroying the league. It's just a big mess.
My question is this....do I walk in, present my case, and ask that the grievance be stricken? Do I play the legal card, should they continue to insist on penalizing the team in question, and report the violation to the WA Secretary of State?
My basic feeling is, good, bad, or otherwise, these by-laws/rules were voted upon by the general membership of the league. I feel we are honor-bound to uphold those by-laws/rules, whether we agree with them or not. Additionally, IF I just kept my mouth shut, and let the penalties fall where they may....meaning a major forfeiture of games, ultimately involving 3 teams, I actually benefit greatly in the final standings for my division....puts me solidly in 2nd Place for the season.
I have everything to gain and nothing to lose if I say or do nothing......but it is NOT the right thing to do here.
Suggestions and/or opinions would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks!!!
Lisa
Recently an issue has arisen where a sponsor has filed a grievance against one of her own teams for moving a couple of games from the sponsor's location to an alternate location, with the agreement of the other teams involved to do so. I can't say as I blame them, as this particular location has had running issues with drugs being dealt out of there, fights, and most recently, a stabbing.
There really is nothing in the rules/by-laws that comes right out and states that the games could not have been moved. And there is really nothing in the rules/by-laws to supports a sponsor filing a grievance against her own team.
I sit on the Grievance Committee this year. The by-laws clearly state that the grievance must have been filed within 24 hours of the alleged offense. The alleged offense took place on the 1/19, the grievance was presented by reading a letter at a captains' meeting that took place on 1/22...not for the purpose of the grievance. The actual filing of the grievance was not filed until 1/24.
Here's the issue, according to the by-laws, there is no grievance, since it was not filed in the correct, timely manner. However, we have some women, who also sit the committee, who like to ignore the rules/by-laws and just levy justice as they see fit. They say it doesn't matter what the by-laws say, that's for the grievance committee to decide. I say that it is not so. The state is quite clear on the laws of operating a non-profit, and one of which states that the by-laws cannot be amended, altered, or revoked without a membership meeting, and involving 2/3rds vote, or a quorum.
I bring this up, as last year we had some issues where officers and the grievance committee levied a forfeiture of game against my team, when it was not involved in a grievance, but the opposing team was, and I was not notified of the forfeiture of the game, at all. I was denied the ability to file my own grievance. I pointed out that this was a clear violation of the by-laws/rules set down by the general membership, and the response was....well, they're not so much rules, but guidelines, and since the grievance committee's decision was binding, I was basically a$$ out.
Basically, it's a certain select few women who want to run the league as they see fit, and the elected officials and appointed committees are but puppets.
AS a result of this mentality, we have lost many teams from last year, and I suspect that we'll lose more as a result of this action. These same women are trying to say that by insisting that these by-laws/rules be followed, we are destroying the league. It's just a big mess.
My question is this....do I walk in, present my case, and ask that the grievance be stricken? Do I play the legal card, should they continue to insist on penalizing the team in question, and report the violation to the WA Secretary of State?
My basic feeling is, good, bad, or otherwise, these by-laws/rules were voted upon by the general membership of the league. I feel we are honor-bound to uphold those by-laws/rules, whether we agree with them or not. Additionally, IF I just kept my mouth shut, and let the penalties fall where they may....meaning a major forfeiture of games, ultimately involving 3 teams, I actually benefit greatly in the final standings for my division....puts me solidly in 2nd Place for the season.
I have everything to gain and nothing to lose if I say or do nothing......but it is NOT the right thing to do here.
Suggestions and/or opinions would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks!!!
Lisa
They probably are afraid to stand up and rock the boat or just don't want the headache of fighting the "good ole girl network". I think it's a shame that you've let this get you upset.
I'll warn you though, they're a pretty tough lot.