ARTICLE 607
DIVISIONS AND COMMITTEES

607.1           DIVISIONAL ORGANIZATION AND JURISDICTIONS AND STANDING COMMITTEES - The six or more divisions of NDSI shall each be chaired by a Vice-chairman, the Senior Athlete Representative, or the Coaches Representative, whose respective powers, duties, jurisdiction and responsibilities are described in Section 606.7. Under each division Vice-chairman there are officers, committees and direct responsibilities as follows:

.1                Administrative Division - Administrative Vice-chairman

Bylaws/Legislation/Rules

Club Development

Computer

Elections

Insurance

Legal (General Counsel, if applicable)

Membership/Registration

Public Relations

Policies and Procedures Manual

Swim guide/Parents Manual

Secretary

Special Events

Officials

.2                Age Group Division - Age Group Vice-chairman

Adaptive Swimming

Age Group

Camps/Clinics

Program Development

Technical Planning

Time Standards

Records/Top 16

Meet Sanctions

.3                Senior Division - Senior Vice-chairman

Awards

Camps/Clinics

Meet Evaluation

Meet Management

Meet Sponsorship

Safety

Zone Team

.4                Finance Division - Treasurer

Audit

Budget

Finance

Marketing/Sponsorship

Swim-a-thon

Tax

Treasurer

.5                Athletes Division - Senior Athlete Representative

Athlete Representatives

Athletes Committee

.6                Coaches Division - Coach Representative

Coach Representative

Coaches Committee

607.2           NON-OFFICER CHAIRMEN AND THEIR COMMITTEES

.1                Elected, Ex-officio and Appointed Non-Officer Chairmen

A                    Elected Chairmen - As provided in Section 606.2, certain non-officer committee chairmen and shall be elected by the House of Delegates. Their eligibility, terms of office, etc. shall be as provided in Sections 606.2, 606.3, and 606.6. These elected non-officer committee chairmen of NDSI are:

(1)            the Safety Coordinator

(2)            the Registration Coordinator

(3)            the Technical Planning Coordinator

B                    Ex-Officio Chairman - Pursuant to Section 607.3, certain other committee chairmen are designated ex-officio by virtue of an office currently held.

C                    Appointed Chairmen - The chairmen of all other standing committees shall be appointed by the General Chairman with the advice and consent of the Board of Directors and the respective division vice-chairman. The appointed standing committee chairman shall assume office upon appointment or the date designated by the General Chairman, and shall serve until sixty (60) days after the next election of a General Chairman or until a successor is appointed and assumes office.

.2                Duties and Powers of Non-Officer Chairmen -

A                    Safety Coordinator - The Safety Coordinator shall be responsible for coordinating safety enhancement and training opportunities as needed and for the dissemination of USS safety education information to all Group Members, athletes, coaches and officials of NDSI. The Safety Coordinator shall develop safety education programs and policies for NDSI and make recommendations regarding same, and the implementation thereof, to the Senior Vice-chairman, the Administrative Vice-chairman and the Board of Directors. The Safety Coordinator shall make the reports required pursuant to Section 608.7.

B                    Athletes Committee Chairman - The Senior Athlete Representative shall chair and have general charge of the business, affairs and property of the Athletes Committee, which shall be responsible for the publication of an athletes' newsletter and shall undertake such other activities (a) delegated to it by the Board of Directors or the General Chairman or (b) undertaken by the Committee as being in the best interests of the Athlete Members, NDSI, USS and the sport of swimming.

C                    Coaches Committee Chairman - The Coach Representative shall chair and have general charge of the business, affairs and property of, the Coaches Committee, which shall undertake such activities (a) delegated to it by the Board of Directors or the General Chairman or (b) undertaken by the committee as being in the best interests of the Coach Members, NDSI and the sport of swimming.

D                    Registration Coordinator - The Registration Coordinator shall be responsible for the registration of Group and Individual Members and shall make the reports as may be required by Section 608.6, together with such additional reports as may be required by USS, the Board of Directors or the Administration Vice-Chairman.

E                    Athlete Representatives - The Athlete Representatives shall serve as the liaison between the athletes who are members of NDSI and the Board of Directors and House of Delegates. The Senior Athlete Representative shall chair the Athletes' Committee.

F                    Coach Representative - The Coach Representative shall serve as a liaison between the coaches who are members of NDSI and the Board of Directors and House of Delegates.

G                    Technical Planning Coordinator - The Technical Planning Coordinator shall be responsible for long-range planning regarding the swimming programs conducted by NDSI, the continuing review and development of the NDSI philosophy and for advising other committees and divisions regarding the implementation of the philosophy in the context of NDSI's swimming programs. The Technical Planning Coordinator shall be responsible for state wide public relations for NDSI, serve as Swim-A-Thon Chairperson, be responsible for all state championship medals, act as non-athlete membership registration chairman for NDSI and be responsible for maintaining total coach certification compliance.

607.3           MEMBERS AND EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS OF STANDING COMMITTEES - Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws or by the Board of Directors, members of each standing committee shall be appointed by the General Chairman with the advice and consent of the respective division vice-chairman and the chairman of the committee. The division vice-chairman shall be an ex‑officio member (with voice and vote) of each standing committee within the respective division. The ex-officio members and other designated members of certain standing committees shall be as follows:

.1                Athletes Committee - The Athletes Committee shall consist of the Athlete Representatives and at least three other Athlete Members or Seasonal Athlete Members. The Senior Athlete Representative or the Athletes Committee shall determine the number of additional Athlete Members. The Senior Athlete Representative shall be the chairman of the committee.

.2                Audit Committee - The members of the Audit Committee shall be the Treasurer, the Administrative Vice-chairman, who shall serve as chairman, and the Coach Representative.

.3                Budget Committee - The members of the Budget Committee shall be the General Chairman, the Treasurer, who shall serve as chairman, the Administrative Vice-chairman, the Senior Athlete Representative, the Coach Representative, the Age Group Vice-chairman and the Senior Vice-chairman.

.4                Coaches Committee - The members of the Coaches Committee shall consist of the Coach Representative and such additional Coach Members as may be determined by the Coach Representatives. The Coach Representative shall be the chairman of the committee.

.5                Finance Committee - The members of the Finance Committee shall be the General Chairman, the Treasurer, who shall serve as chairman, and the Administrative Vice-chairman.

.6                Officials Committee - The members of the Officials Committee shall be the Officials Chairman, who shall serve as chairman, and at least two other members each of whom shall be a certified official of NDSI.

.7                Personnel Committee - The members of the Personnel Committee shall be the General Chairman, who shall serve as chairman, the Administrative Vice-chairman and the Treasurer.

.8                Program Development Committee - The members of the Program Development Committee shall be the General Chairman, the Age Group Vice-chairman, who shall serve as the chairman, the Senior Vice-chairman, the Coach Representative and the Senior Athlete Representative.

.9                Safety Committee - The members of the Safety Committee shall be the Safety Chairman, who shall serve as the chairman, and five additional members; one shall be an NDSI certified official, one shall be a Coach Member, one shall be an Athlete Member and two shall be Club Safety Coordinators.

.10            Technical Planning Committee - The members of the Technical Committee shall be the Technical Planning Coordinator, who shall serve as chairman, an Athlete Member and at least six (6) additional members of whom at least fifty percent (50%) shall be Coach Members. The Athlete Member and the additional members shall be appointed by the General Chairman with the advice and consent of the Board of Directors.

The General Chairman or the respective division vice-chairman may appoint the specified additional members and any other members deemed appropriate or necessary for any of the foregoing standing committees, except the Athletes, Coaches and Personnel Committees. Committee members appointed pursuant to the preceding sentence, shall hold their appointments at the pleasure of the appointing officer or successor.

607.4           DUTIES AND POWERS OF STANDING COMMITTEES -

.1                Audit Committee - The Audit Committee is authorized to, and it shall be its duty to, conduct the annual audit of the books of NDSI pursuant to Section 608.5 and present the results thereof to the Board of Directors and the House of Delegates.

.2                Budget Committee - The Budget Committee is authorized and obligated to consult with the officers, committee chairmen and prepare and present a proposed budget for consideration and approval by the Board of Directors and the House of Delegates. The officers and committee chairmen shall provide promptly such financial information (current and projected) and budget proposals as the Budget Committee may request. The proposed budget may contain alternatives.

.3                Finance Committee - The Finance Committee is authorized to develop, establish where so authorized or recommend to the Board of Directors and supervise the execution of policy regarding the investment of NDSI's working capital, funded reserves and endowment funds, within the guidelines, if any, established by the Board of Directors or the House of Delegates. The Finance Committee shall also regularly review NDSI's equipment needs (both operational and office) and the various methods available to finance the acquisition of any needed equipment, make a determination of the best financing method for NDSI and make recommendations to the Budget Committee and the Board of Directors.

.4                Registration Committee - The Registration Chairman is authorized and obligated to conduct the registration of Group and Individual Members and supervise the transmission of registration information to USS and assist in the preparation of the reports required by Section 608.6, together with such additional reports as may be requested by USS, the Board of Directors, the Administrative Vice-chairman or the Finance Vice-chairman.

.5                Officials Committee - The Officials Committee is authorized and obligated to recruit, train, test, certify, evaluate, retest, re-certify and supervise officials for NDSI and such other activities as may be necessary or helpful in maintaining a roster of qualified, well-trained and experienced officials of the highest caliber.

.6                Program Development Committee - The Program Development Committee is responsible for developing and coordinating an overall swimming program for all levels of swimming in the Territory, including Age Group and Senior programs, and the development of long‑range plans for swimming programs.

.7                Safety Committee - The Safety Committee shall be responsible for coordinating safety enhancement and training opportunities as needed and for the dissemination of USS safety education information to all Group Members, athletes, coaches and officials of NDSI. The Safety Committee shall develop safety education programs and policy for NDSI and make recommendations regarding those programs and policies and their implementation to the applicable division Vice-chairmen and the Board of Directors. When approved by the Board of Directors, the Safety Committee shall be responsible for the coordination of their implementation by the Club Members. The Safety Chairman with the assistance of the Committee members shall prepare and transmit the reports required pursuant to Section 608.7.

.8                Technical Planning Committee - The Technical Planning Committee shall be responsible for long-range planning for the swimming programs conducted by NDSI and for advice regarding the technical aspects of those programs and of the sport of swimming generally.

607.5           DUTIES AND POWERS OF CHAIRMEN GENERALLY - The duties and powers of the General Chairman, the division vice-chairmen, committees or subcommittees (in addition to those provided elsewhere in these Bylaws) shall be as follows:

.1                Preside at all meetings of the respective division, committee or subcommittee;

.2                See that all duties and responsibilities of the respective division, committee or sub‑committee in his charge are properly and promptly carried out;

.3                Appoint such committees or sub‑committees as may be necessary to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the division or committee, respectively;

.4                Communicate with the respective division, committee or subcommittee members to keep them fully informed;

.5                Keep the General Chairman, the respective division vice-chairman or committee chairman and the Secretary informed of the respective division, committee or subcommittee actions and recommendations;

.6                Appoint a member as secretary of the division, committee or subcommittee charged with taking minutes of each meeting and forward reports or minutes of all meetings to the Secretary.

.7                Refer to the Board of Directors any recommendation for action which would establish or change policies or programs for NDSI, except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws or by the Board of Directors; and

.8                Perform the other specific duties listed in NDSI's Policies and Procedures Manual or as may be delegated by the General Chairman, the respective division vice-chairman or committee chairman, the Board of Directors or the House of Delegates.

607.6           DUTIES AND POWERS OF COMMITTEES GENERALLY - Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, the duties and powers of the standing committees shall be prescribed by NDSI's Policies and Procedures Manual, the House of Delegates, the Board of Directors, the General Chairman or the respective division vice-chairman. Except as otherwise provided in the Bylaws, the duties and powers of any other committees and subcommittees shall be prescribed by NDSI's Policies and Procedures Manual, the House of Delegates, the Board of Directors or the officer or chairman pursuant to whose powers such committee or subcommittee was created.

607.7           REGULAR AND SPECIAL MEETINGS - Regular and special meetings of divisions, committees or sub-committees of NDSI shall be held as determined by the respective Vice-chairmen or committee or sub-committee chairman. In addition, meetings may be called where applicable by the division vice-chairman, or committee chairman pursuant to whose authority a committee or sub-committee was established.

607.8           MEETINGS OPEN; EXECUTIVE (CLOSED) SESSIONS - Meetings of divisions, committees and sub-committees other than the Personnel Committee shall be open to all members of NDSI and USS. Matters relating to personnel, disciplinary action, legal, taxation and similar affairs shall be deliberated and decided in a closed executive session which only the respective members are entitled to attend. By a majority vote on a motion of a question of privilege a division, committee or sub-committee may decide to go into executive session on any matter deserving of confidential treatment or of personal concern to any member of the division, committee or sub-committee.

607.9           VOICE AND VOTING RIGHTS OF DIVISION, COMMITTEE AND SUB-COMMITTEE MEMBERS - The voice and voting rights of Board Members and Individual Members shall be as follows:

.1                Members - Each division, committee and sub-committee member shall have both voice and vote in the respective meetings.

.2                Non-Voting Committee or Sub-committee Members - Unless entitled to vote under another provision of these Bylaws, the General Chairman shall have voice but no vote in meetings of divisions, committees and sub-committees.

.3                Individual Members - Individual Members who are not members of the division, committee or sub-committee may attend open meetings of the division, committee or sub-committee and be heard in the discretion of the presiding officer. Unless entitled to vote under another provision of these Bylaws, Individual Members shall have no vote in those meetings.

607.10       ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT - Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of a division, committee or sub-committee may be taken without a meeting if all the division, committee or sub-committee members entitled to vote consent to the action in writing and the written consents are filed with the records of the meetings. These consents shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting.

607.11       PARTICIPATION THROUGH COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT - Members of any division, committee or sub-committee may participate in a meeting of the division, committee or sub-committee through conference telephone or similar equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.

607.12       QUORUM - Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws or in the resolution or other action establishing a committee or subcommittee, a quorum of any committee or subcommittee shall consist of those members present of the committee or subcommittee.

607.13       VOTING - Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws or the Parliamentary Authority, all motions, orders and other propositions coming before a division, committee or subcommittee shall be determined by a majority vote.

607.14       PROXY VOTE - Voting by proxy in any meeting of a division, committee or sub-committee of NDSI shall not be permitted.

607.15       NOTICES

.1                Time - Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws or the resolution or other action establishing a committee or sub-committee, not less than forty-eight (48) hours notice in the case of notice given by telephone, and six (6) days notice in all other cases, shall be given for any meeting of a division, committee or sub-committee of NDSI. Separate notices need not be given for regular meetings that are scheduled well in advance. (See Section 616.1.5 for the various forms of notice.)

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