2010 Sven Brask Chess Club Bylaws
1.1 TDs: The responsibilities of the TDs include the following:
· Compiling the yearly tournament schedule and running the events.
· Collection of monthly fees, membership dues, and paying expenses.
· Enforcement of the Club bylaws.
· Annual Club Meeting. This will be held in December prior to the 15th. The purpose of this meeting will be to ratify the bylaws, dues and fees, and TDs for the next year.
1.2 Voting Rights of Members: The TDs will refer all matters involving the following to a vote of the members:
· Fee increases or decreases
· Changes in meeting place or time
· Any other matter judged to have a significant impact on the Club’s operations
Members are encouraged to bring any suggestion or matter of concern regarding the operations of the Club to the attention of one or all of the TDs. The Club exists to serve the membership.
1.3 Appeal: The TD for each tournament is the final arbiter for any disputes that may arise in his tournament, although he is urged to seek the advice of the other TDs and consult the USCF rules, if necessary, should a dispute arise. Any member may appeal a rules decision of an individual TD to a committee comprised of all other TDs in attendance that night. The decision of this committee shall be final unless overruled by a majority of the members. The Ethics Committee as outlined in Section 1.4 will handle any violations of the Club’s Standards of Conduct.
1.4 Ethics Code and Committee: The actions and behavior of members participating in any club-sponsored event shall be in accordance with the spirit of fair play and good sportsmanship. Members agree to be bound by the Club’s Standards of Conduct while participating in any SBCC-sanctioned event, regardless of whether it is a weekly meeting or other special event. The following is a list of actions considered unethical:
· Repeated or gross violations of tournament regulations.
· Audible talking in the tournament room while others are playing.
· Distracting or annoying the opponent or any other member involved in a tournament game, in any manner whatsoever.
· Foul language, especially when directed at another member.
· Fighting or threats. These matters will be immediately referred to the police.
· Any other action deemed as unethical in the USCF Official Rules of Chess.
· Repeated no-shows of games without notifying the TD or opponent beforehand.
The TD for each event is responsible for enforcement of both the USCF Rules and these Standards during SBCC events.
Any member of the SBCC may ask for a hearing by the Ethics Committee if they deem it necessary and if the TD has been unable to resolve a dispute to their satisfaction. The Committee will be appointed by the members and should consist of 5 members, plus 2 alternates. These members should not be directly involved in the dispute; this includes the TD of the event in question and the player(s) involved, and should not be a close friend or relative of the accused. The Committee is empowered to make a factual inquiry and to impose sanctions if deemed necessary. The accused has the right to respond to the accusation and examine the evidence in the case. Sanctions may include one or more of the following:
· Verbal Reprimand: The fact that the member has committed an offense becomes a matter of record. The member is placed on probation for a length of time to be determined by the Committee, with a minimum of 3 months. A member judged guilty of another offense during a probationary period is liable to further sanctions.
· Suspension: The member’s Club privileges are suspended for a definite period of time to be determined by the Committee.
· Expulsion: The member’s Club privileges are permanently revoked. The member may only be readmitted by a decision of the Ethics Committee. The Committee will consider no reinstatement within 2 years of the date of expulsion.
Any member subject to suspension or expulsion forfeits any yearly dues and monthly tournament fees paid to the Club. He also forfeits any titles, trophies, or awards he may hold until such time as that member is reinstated.
3.1 Conduct for Rated Events: Rated games will start promptly at 730 PM
each week. All rated games will be
conducted according to the USCF Rules of Chess and the Standards of Conduct of
the Club. Members who are unable to play
a round or who will be late for a round should notify the TD and/or opponent as
soon as possible. Unless posted
otherwise prior to the start of a tournament, the following rules apply to all
Club events:
4. Handicapped Players: In all cases the Club will be accommodating to handicapped players, and Members playing a handicapped opponent are obliged to agree to any reasonable accommodation requested by the opponent or TD, as well as those outlined in the Rules of Chess. This may include, but is not limited to, playing with a specific board or pieces, playing in a particular location, modification of touch-move rules etc. Any accommodations for a handicapped player shall also apply to his opponent. Section 35 of the Rules of Chess grants the TD wide discretionary powers for the accommodation of handicapped players. Refusal to comply with these requests is a serious offense and is grounds for forfeiture of the game, tournament, and possible Ethics Committee action.