USA National Shuffleboard Association
Established 1931

The Association shall be known as THE USA NATIONAL SHUFFLEBOARD ASSOCIATION, INC. here after.

The general nature of the object of the Association is to stimulate the formation of State Associations; to give information on the game of shuffleboard; to promote construction developments in playing equipment and the improvement of the rules of play;  to create interest by promoting National Championship tournaments.

Any State Shuffleboard Association or Shuffleboard Association consisting of more than one State, including, The District of Columbia, having qualified under the Constitution and By-Laws of the National Shuffleboard Association, may be duly proposed to, and voted on, by the Board of Directors of the National Shuffleboard Association.

Each State Association, or Shuffleboard Association consisting of more than one State Association, is entitled to have the President and one (1) Delegate on the National Board of Directors.

Further, in any State where there is no State Shuffleboard Association, a person (Entity) desirous of membership, may by making proper application and paying the prescribed fee, upon being accepted, may become an Associate non-voting member of the National Shuffleboard Association, Inc.  (Associate member to be given notice of all meetings, a copy of the minutes, etc., allowed to attend meetings, but no voting rights.)

The officers of the Association shall be, a President, a First Vice-President, a Second Vice-President, a Third Vice President, a Treasurer, and a Secretary to be appointed by the President.  Create position of President Emeritus to be filled by the immediate out going President, this person to have full voting rights.

The Board of Directors shall be composed of duly qualified members of the Association as provided in Article IV.  Each member of the Board of Directors shall have equal voting power except the President, who will vote only if necessary to break a tie vote.  The Secretary and three Regional Directors, who are appointed by the President, shall have one vote when approved by the Board of Directors.

The Official Year of the Association shall begin as of the date of the Annual Meeting and election of Officers. The Fiscal Year of the Association shall be for the calendar year ending December 31^st.

The date and place of the Annual Meeting of the Association shall be determined by the President.  The elections of officers shall be held at the Annual Meeting.

Special Meetings of the Board of Directors may be called at any time by the President, or by written request to the President of a qualified majority of the Board of Directors.  A Semi-Annual Meeting will be held at the call of the President, at which time any suggested changes in the Constitution, By-Laws, or Rules will be submitted and discussed, and then placed on the agenda for a vote at the next Annual Meeting.

The State Association membership period in the Association shall be for the calendar year each year.  New membership applications must be accompanied by the required membership fee and may be accepted by the President, conditional on their being approved at the next Annual Meeting.

The following named Officers shall serve for two (2) years after their election to offices: President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Third Vice-President, Treasurer and Delegates elected to the National Board of Directors.

A legal quorum for the election of Officers for the transaction of business shall be not less than nine (9) qualified voting members of the Association’s Board of Directors.

The Constitution and/or By-Laws of the Association may be made, altered, or rescinded by a ten-day (10) notice prior to the Semi-Annual Meeting and a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the qualified voting members of the Board of Directors, comprising those present and absentee ballot votes, to receive approval at the Annual Meeting. (See Article V of the By-Laws.)

Any State Shuffleboard Association, or a Shuffleboard Association consisting of more than one State Association where the State Association are already members of the National Shuffleboard Association, desiring membership in the National Shuffleboard Association shall make its application to the Association by addressing it to the President, or to the Secretary of the National Shuffleboard Association.

Membership fees in the Association shall be Twenty ($20.00) per year, regardless of number of Clubs in the State Association.  Fees due annually on January 1st.

Nominations for Officers of the Association shall be made from the floor or by the reading of mailed in nominations at the Semi-Annual Meeting.  The election of the Association Officers shall take place at the time of and at the place of the Annual Meeting of the Association.  Currently serving Officers may be nominated to succeed themselves with the exception of President who may not hold office as President for more than four years.  If there be more than one nominee for an office, then, and only then, shall the voting be by secret ballot, otherwise, the Secretary shall be directed by the Presiding Officer to cast a single vote for the single nominee for each office.  Each nominee must receive a majority of the total votes cast to be elected.  In the event there are more than two candidates for any office, a run-off vote shall be had between the two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes on first ballot.  Each official elected shall hold office for two years or until his successor in office has been elected.  This Article shall apply to Officers and Directors of the Association.

Each member of the Board of Directors of the Association shall have one vote at all meetings of the Association:  any Board member unable to attend will be allowed to vote on any issue affecting changes in the Constitution, By-Laws, Rules, and election of Officers, by Absentee Ballot, said Ballot to be mailed in a sealed envelope to the Secretary, plainly marked on the outside, stating which matter the vote affects; said enveloped not to be opened until the vote is taken by the members present at the Annual Meeting of the Association.  Each suggested change or amendment to be voted on separately, and every Officer much be elected by individual ballot.

If, for any reason, an elective office becomes vacant between the regular Annual Meeting, such vacancy or vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the regular term of such office or officers by the President, with the approval of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors.  The First Vice-President shall fill a vacancy of the office of President.  In the event the First Vice-President cannot assume the office of President, then, and only then, shall the Second Vice-President assume the office of President.  In the event the Second Vice-President cannot assume the office of President, then, and only then, shall the Third Vice-President assume the office of President.

The President shall preside at all meeting (regular and special) of the Association and shall conduct the meetings in accordance with parliamentary procedure as set forth in the latest edition of “Robert’s Rules of Order.”

As promptly as possible following his election, the President shall appoint all committees and become ex-officio member of each.

The President shall appoint a National Shuffleboard Association Tournament Director and Assistant Tournament Directors as required.

The president shall perform all duties of the office deemed to be required of the office, or as may be specifically ordered by the Board of Directors.

The First Vice-President shall assume and perform all of the duties of the President during his incapacity.  In the event the First Vice-President in unable for any reason to assume the duties of the President, then, and only then, the Second Vice-President assume the duties of the President.  In the event the Second Vice-President is unable for any reason to assume the duties of the President, then, and only then the Third Vice-President assume the duties of President.

The Secretary shall fully and accurately record the proceedings of all regular and special meetings of the Association, shall attend to all correspondence, and be in charge of the files of the Association.  The Secretary will notify all voting members of the Board, at least twenty (20) days prior to the Annual Meeting of any suggested changes in the Constitution, By-Laws, or Rules and the names of those who have been nominated for office for the ensuing year, asking those who will not be present to vote by Absentee Ballot.

The Treasurer shall be the sole custodian of the Corporation Seal, and of all funds of the Association.  He shall draw all checks on the funds of the Association.  All checks of the Association shall be countersigned by the President.

The three Regional Directors shall be ardent promoters of the shuffleboard activities.  Their primary duty will be to promote the National Shuffleboard Association and the National Championship Tournaments in their area.

The three Regional Directors will report to the President, regarding Shuffleboard activities in their area, sixty days before each National Meeting.

The President will appoint the Three Regional Directors to serve for one year, and to be officially nominated and voted on at the Annual Meeting.

The Board of Directors shall hold an Annual Meeting and regular and special meetings between the dates of the Annual Meeting as often as may be deemed to be necessary for the efficient functioning of the Association, in accordance with the Constitution and By-Laws of the Association, and for the orderly and expeditious transaction of routine business of the Association.

Any suggested change in the Rules of the Association must be mailed to the Rules Committee at least ten (10) days prior to the Semi-Annual Meeting.  These changes will then be presented to the Board at the Semi-Annual Meeting, discussed, and placed on the Agenda for the next Annual Meeting.

The Board of Directors shall arrange for an annual audit of the financial records of the Association, shall decide if and when the Treasurer shall be bonded, and shall effectuate such bond.

Qualifications; In order to be nominated to the USA National Hall of Fame, a person must have a record of at least ten (10) years in Shuffleboard as a player, Executive officer, tournament director, or otherwise have distinguished himself by outstanding contribution to the National Shuffleboard Association.  A player must have a record of having won major tournament championship games and shown true sportsmanship.  To qualify for the Special Award, the nominee must have preformed an outstanding record for the benefit of shuffleboard as an executive, administrator, tournament official, or a combination.

Nominations: It is the privilege of the National President and each member of the Board of Directors to make one player and one Special Award nomination annually.  Nominations shall be sent to the Chairman of the Hall of Fame Committee not later than November 10^th.  A full record of accomplishments of each nominee shall accompany the letter of nomination, typed on one sheet of 8 ½ x ll inch paper suitable for photocopying.  The Hall of Fame Committee shall make copies of each nominee’s record of accomplishments and ensure that a copy is mailed to each member of the Board of Directors at least twenty (20) days prior to the Annual Meeting.

Election; Election to the Hall of Fame shall be at the Annual Meeting.  The board may elect two (2) persons in each category, PLAYER AND SPECIAL AWARD category. One (1) of which must be East of the Mississippi and one (1) West of the Mississippi.  With two or more candidates from an area, the one with the most votes wins.  If there are less than two (2) up for election, the candidate must receive the majority of the votes cast.  In case of a tie, an exception may be made for that year.  The Secretary shall notify those elected and inform them of the time and place of the presentation ceremony.

The National President shall be entitled to automatic induction into the National Hall of Fame, Special Award category, upon completion of two years in the office of President over and above the specified nominees for Hall of Fame and /or Special Award.  In the event of unforeseen circumstances (death in office or catastrophic illness requiring resignation) the President may also be eligible for this honor without having completed two years service upon an affirmative vote of the Executive Board.

National Championship Tournaments: One Championship singles and one Championship doubles tournament shall be held annually during the months of January, February, or March.  Similar tournaments shall also be held each year in July or other months of the year.

National Frame Game Championships Tournaments:  One championship singles (Men and Women’s division). One championship doubles (any) , may be held each year.

National tournaments may be played at any club in the jurisdiction of an affiliated member of the Association or by an associate member of the Association.  Tournament sponsorship shall be determined on a competitive basis with the amount of guaranteed prize money taking high priority.  The Board of Directors shall determine the location, date and format of all national Tournaments by majority vote at either the Annual or Semi-Annual Meeting.  The National President will work with the host club to determine the distribution of the prize money after expenses.

National Invitational Tournaments:  Invitational tournaments may be requested by any club in the jurisdiction of an associate member of the Association.  The tournament dated, formats, prize money, etc., shall be coordinated with the National President.  The finalized proposition shall be submitted to the Executive Board Members for approval or rejection by majority vote.

At all National tournament doubles or singles, $1.00 from each entry fee collected goes to the National Shuffleboard Association.

Each State Association, or Shuffleboard Association consisting of more than one State Association, is entitled to have the President and one (1) Delegate on the National Board of Directors.

Election to the Hall of Fame shall be at the Annual Meeting.  The Board may elect two (2) persons in each category, PLAYER AND SPECIAL AWARD category, one (1) of which must be East of the Mississippi and one (1) West of the Mississippi.  With two or more candidates from an area, the one with the most votes wins. If there are less than two (2) up for election, the candidate must receive the majority of the votes cast.  In case of a tie, an exception may be made for that year.  The Secretary shall notify those elected and inform them of the time and place of the presentation ceremony.