The Corporation will be called the WORL A/AA LEAGUE and hereinafter referred to as "W.O.R.L.".

The Head Office of the Association shall be in the City of Stratford, 94 Burnham Court, N4Z 1H5 in the Western Ringette Region (subject to change by special resolution ) or at such place within the Western Ringette Region where the Head Office is, from time to time, situated as the Council or Management may from time to time by resolution fix.

The object of W.O.R.L. shall be to promote and safeguard the sport of Ringette within Western Region.

Ringette provides the atmosphere in which our athletes of today learn how to think, react, and respond to the challenge of tomorrow; a game where they can acquire an understanding of discipline and a respect for the rights and privileges of others.

This fast expanding sport encourages the highest degree of sportsmanship, teaches skills, and promotes the need for esprit de corps. Within this environment a sense of loyalty, obedience, good judgment, and integrity is expanded.

In the non-body sport, the athletes obtain a feeling of accomplishment that comes from skillful skating and passing. It affords them exhilarating, challenging, spirited, and action-packed fun. W.O.R.L. provides an opportunity and extends an invitation to all athletes to participate and achieve the value that we all enjoy - the ability to contribute.

To foster and improve amateur organized Ringette at the All Star (representative) level, in accordance with the standards and under the rules prescribed by the W.O.R.L.

To provide member Associations competition at all levels, giving due consideration to the individual Associations’ capabilities, availability of facilities, and travel distance.

To maintain and increase the participation of W.O.R.L. members in tournaments run by member Associations.

To exercise a general supervision and direction over the playing interest of its players, coaches, officials, managers, and executive with the emphasis on the enhancement of sportsmanship, excellence of team play, character and citizenship.

To abide by the rule book of Ringette Canada as adopted by O.R.A. and the W.O.R.L. rules.

Membership in this League shall be composed of such amateur Ringette teams, Leagues or Associations which agree to abide by and comply with the Constitution and By-Laws of the W.O.R.L. The period of membership in each calendar year shall commence on the date of acceptance by the Executive Council.

Teams, Leagues, or Associations desiring affiliation must forward the following information to W.O.R.L. Secretary :

Each new membership application shall be received and voted on at the Annual General Meeting or at the first meeting of the season with consideration to League size, structure during the upcoming season, applicant’s ability to provide ice facilities, fees, Executive participation, and travel distance from a defined centre point.

The Secretary will deliver two up-dated copies of the Constitution By-Laws and Rules to each Association at the first meeting of the season.

The presence of one half of the Executive, plus one, shall constitute a quorum for meetings of the Executive and shall include two of the following : President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, immediate Past President or member at large.

On the day of the Annual General Meeting of the Council, the Board of Directors shall elect, from their own numbers present, a President, 1st and 2nd Vice Presidents, a Secretary and a Treasurer.

In case of the absence or inability to act as an Officer of the W.O.R.L., the Directors may delegate all or any of the powers of such Officer to any other Officer or to any Director for the time being, provided the majority of the Board agrees

.

The President shall preside at all meetings of the Directors and members and he shall sign all instruments required to be signed by him and perform all duties of his office and such other duties as the Directors may assign.

The Vice President, or if more than one in order of seniority, shall have the same powers and duties as the President in his absence or in the event of his refusal or inability to perform the duties of the President. The Directors may assign such powers and duties to the Vice President(s) as in their discretion they assign.

The Secretary shall, when present, act as Secretary of all meetings, shall have charge of the Minute Books of W.O.R.L., the seal, documents, registers, etc. as set out by Section 330 of the Corporation Act (Ontario) and shall perform such other duties as the Directors may require.

The Treasurer shall have care and custody of all funds and securities of the Association and shall deposit same in such bank or banks or with such depository as the Board of Directors may direct and perform such other duties as the Directors may require.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Chairman of the Annual Committee shall be empowered to receive and expand all funds directly connected with the production of the Annual Committee, and to maintain a separate Bank Account for that purpose.

The Executive of W.O.R.L. shall have control of the affairs of W.O.R.L. and shall have power to amend or alter the regulations, By-Laws, and any W.O.R.L. competitions.

The W.O.R.L. Executive Council shall appoint both standing and ad hoc committees and shall determine their terms of reference.

The W.O.R.L. Executive shall hold a minimum of four meetings between June and May in each year and such additional meetings as they shall deem necessary.

If a member of the W.O.R.L. Executive absents themselves from two consecutive Executive meetings, their office shall be declared vacant, unless granted leave of absence by the W.O.R.L. Executive Council.

Should a vacancy occur on the Executive, the designated member Association which named the representative to the W.O.R.L. shall name a replacement to fill the vacancy and the person so named shall complete the remaining term of office.

The Executive shall be responsible for setting the rules and regulations for competition within all their divisions and ensure that the W.O.R.L. rules of play are strictly adhered to.

They shall determine and hear all protests and appeals.

They may suspend or expel a team, team personnel, member Association or player for notorious and continued foul play or unsportsmanlike conduct, individuality, or collectively, on the ice or in any rink where a W.O.R.L. Ringette game is being played or at any meeting or gathering in the interest of W.O.R.L. for negligence to pay assessments or for any persistent infringement of the laws of the game or the rules of the W.O.R.L.

They shall have the power to appoint a Referee-In-Chief, Registrar, Statistician, and Scheduler. The appointed Referee-In-Chief, Registrar, Statistician, and Scheduler shall be responsible to and adhere to the rules and regulations as handed down by the W.O.R.L. Executive.

If an Association does not have a representative at a W.O.R.L. meeting, the Secretary will send a letter to the President of that Association to remind them of the importance of having a representative at all W.O.R.L. meetings.

Definition: Committees specifically named in this By-Law shall be designated as Standing Committees and others established from time to time shall be designated Ad Hoc.

trophies, crests or awards of any nature to players or members of the W.O.R.L. and to make

recommendations to the W.O.R.L. Executive in this regard.

special rulings where applicable.

delegated by the Executive shall be tabled at the following regular meeting of the W.O.R.L.

Executive.

The Annual Registration Fee for each participating team shall be fixed by the Executive of the W.O.R.L. A membership fee will be charged to each new Association who joins W.O.R.L. $50.00.

Any Association not paying fees by October will be suspended from the W.O.R.L. until paid.

No Association will be allowed to carry fines to the end of the season. Fines are due at the end of each month.

Any team not paying monthly fines shall post a $100.00 fine at the beginning of the next Seasonal year.

All protests must be filed with the Vice President within forty eight hours after the game. The party or

parties against whom the protest is made, shall be notified by the Vice President.

Upon receipt of an official protest or appeal in writing, the Vice President shall immediately arrange a

hearing of the protest or appeal within ten days, at which time all those concerned shall be given an

opportunity to present their evidence and be advised of the decision.

All suspensions handed out by W.O.R.L. must allow an appeal or a protest. This appeal or protest will be heard by the Discipline Committee. The person or Association must put up a fifty dollar ($50.00) non-refundable administration fee before the appeal or protest is heard and also be responsible for the cost of the appeal itself.

Persons under suspensions shall not enter the playing area, enter team dressing rooms, or carry on

any duties of their office during the full terms of their suspension.

No amendment or alteration shall be made to any part of this Constitution except at the Annual Meeting and only by a Two-Thirds (2/3) Vote of the members who cast votes. Notice of any proposed alterations or amendments or change of a rule must be received by the Secretary of the League in writing at the meeting before the Annual General Meeting of each year. The Secretary shall then forward by mail or e-mail, within three weeks, a copy to each Association or League.

All questions submitted to any meeting shall be decided by a simple majority vote of all eligible

members present and voting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendments to these By-Laws shall require a Two-Thirds (2/3) majority, convened by the President or Vice President and the Secretary shall record minutes of meeting. Notice of such meeting shall be delivered, mailed or e-mailed to each Director at least fourteen days before the meeting is to take place. Such form notice may be waived or Directors may signify consent in writing, thus the meeting to be held without their presence.

The order of business at Annual Meetings shall be as follows :

Every Director or Executive of the Association or other person who has undertaken or is about to

undertake any liability on behalf of the Association and their heirs, executors, administrators and

estates and effects respectively shall from time to time and at all times be indemnified and save

harmless, out of the funds of the Association from and against:

all cost, charges, and expenses whatsoever which such Director or other person sustains or incurs in or about any action, suit, or proceeding which is brought, commenced or prosecuted against him or in respect of any act or deed, matter or thing whatsoever made, done or permitted by him in or about the execution of the duties of his office or in respect of such liabilities;

all other costs, charges, and expenses which he sustains or incurs in or about or in relation to the

affairs thereof except such costs, charges or expenses as are occasioned by his own willful neglect or default.

No Director, Executive member or Officer for the time being of the Association shall be liable for the

acts, receipts, neglects, or defaults of any other Director or Officer or employee or for joining in any

receipt or act for conformity or for the loss, damage or expense happening to the Association, or loss or damages arising from the bankruptcy, insolvency or tortuous act of any person, firm or corporation with whom or which any moneys, securities or effects shall be lodged or deposited or for any loss, damage, or misfortune whatever which may happen in respective office or trust or in relation thereto unless the same shall happen by or through his own willful act or his own willful default.