The Constitution
January 12, 2013
CONSTITUTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL CURLING FELLOWSHIP OF ROTARIANS
RATIFIED APRIL 6, 1994, AT AYR, SCOTLAND
AND AMENDED MARCH 20, 1996 AT PETERBOROUGH, ONTARIO, CANADA
AND AMENDED MARCH 21, 2002 AT EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND
AND AMENDED APRIL 4, 2008, AT BRANTFORD, CANADA
AND AMENDED APRIL 5, 2012, AT LAUREL, MARYLAND, USA
ARTICLE I NAME
The name of this organization shall be:
The International Curling Fellowship of Rotarians, hereinafter referred to as the "Fellowship".
ARTICLE II OBJECTS
The objectives of this organization shall be:
1) To promote International fellowship between all Curling Rotarians.
2) To hold, every two years, an International Curling Competition, herein referred to as the "Championship", to determine the world champion rink of the International Curling Fellowship of Rotarians.
ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP
Membership is open to any Rotary Curling group in any country, subject to only one group representing each country, to be determined by that country, with the final approval of the "Fellowship".
ARTICLE IV LANGUAGE
The official language of this organization shall be English.
ARTICLE V DIRECTORS
1. Directors Each country will select its own Director, plus an Alternate Director. The selection method for the Director and Alternate Director shall be determined by each individual country. The Director's and Alternate Director's term of office for purposes of this Constitution, shall begin at the end of the Championships.
2. After the Directors have appointed a President and a Vice- President from amongst themselves (Article VI, Officers) the countries of the President and the Vice-President shall be allowed to appoint another Director in lieu.
3. At all Directors meetings each country will be allowed one vote, to be made by the country’s current Director. In the event of a tie, the President will cast the tie breaking vote.
4. Vacancies In the event that a vacancy of a Director occurs for any reason whatsoever, the country's Alternate Director shall assume the position of Director. Unless there is a Director vacancy, the Alternate Director will have no duties whatsoever.
ARTICLE VI OFFICERS
1) Officers
The incoming Directors will elect from amongst themselves, a President and a Vice President, who will both serve for a period of two years. They will elect a Secretary/Treasurer, who will also serve for two years. The Secretary/Treasurer does not have to be a Director. The President and Vice President may each serve for a maximum period of two terms. There will be no limit to the number of terms of office that the Secretary/Treasurer may serve. The election of officers shall be at a separate Director's Meeting at the "Championship". The officers shall assume office immediately after the "Championship".
2) Duties of Officers
a) The President shall preside at the Biennial Meeting of the International Curling Fellowship of Rotarians. He will make any appointments of non elective positions that he may deem necessary. He will have general supervision and direction of the affairs of the "Fellowship" for his entire term of office. In the event of the absence or inability of the Secretary/Treasurer to act, the President will appoint someone to record the minutes and proceedings of the Biennial Meeting.
b) The Vice President shall discharge the duties of the President in the event of the President's absence or inability to act.
c) The Secretary/Treasurer shall record the minutes and proceedings of the Biennial Meeting and send a copy of these minutes to all Directors’ and other persons entitled to receive these minutes. These minutes are to be forwarded within four months after the Biennial Meeting. The Secretary/Treasurer shall have general supervision over the collection, custody, investment and disbursement of funds of the "Fellowship" and will perform all functions normally expected of a Secretary/Treasurer of such an organization.
ARTICLE VII CHAMPIONSHIP COMPETITION
1) The "Championship" will be held every two years, alternating between the European Continent and the North American Continent.
2) Each country will be allowed rinks as follows, Scotland, 3 USA, 3, Canada, 4, and England, 1, subject to the available ice and time constraints. Each country will decide how its participating rinks are to be determined. (At some future date, if and when more countries participate in the "Championship", the maximum number of rinks allowed for each country may be modified.) A round robin event will be held, with each participating rink curling every other participating rink. After the completion of the round robin, subject to available ice and time constraints, the semi-finals will be played between the top four rinks, Number 1 rink playing Number 4, and Number 2 rink playing Number 3. The winning rinks of these two games will play each other in the finals, the two losing semi-finalists playing off for third and fourth places. The fifth and sixth place rinks, seventh and eighth place rinks, etc., will also curl, subject to available ice and time, to decide the order of finish. In the event of a tie in the rankings, with two rinks having the same number of wins, the rink that was the victor over the other rink, during the round-robin play, will be deemed to have a higher ranking than the rink that was defeated. In the event the four rink play down is not feasible for any reason, the two rinks that have the most number of victories, will curl each other to determine the winner of the "Championship". Additionally, under these circumstances, the third and fourth place rinks will also curl each other.
3) The World Curling Federation rules will apply. There may be some modifications to these rules made by the host organization in order to accommodate conditions that may arise during the "Championship". The use of a curling aid commonly referred to as a ‘delivery stick’ which enables the player to deliver a stone without placing a hand on the handle is considered acceptable. The curler must initiate the delivery from the appropriate hack and then advance directly by walking or sliding at the skip’s broom. The delivery and release of a rock are intended to occur within a reasonable proximity to the center line. Any attempt to change the angle of the delivery/release will result in the forfeiture of the delivered rock. The rock must be clearly released prior to reaching the near hog line. The body and the stick can cross the near hog line in a follow-through motion after the rock is released. If a player starts a game with a delivery stick then that player shall use a delivery stick throughout that game. If a player starts a game without a delivery stick, then a delivery stick shall not be used by that player in that game. No variation of the flat-footed slide is appropriate.
4) The prizes for the "Championship" will be the Silver Bell Trophy and gold medals for the winning rink and silver medals for the runner up rink. These prizes will be provided by the "Fellowship". There may be additional other prizes awarded at the discretion of the host organization.
5) A rink (team) may consist of five members.
6) No substitute will be allowed during a game. If it is necessary for a team member to discontinue play during a game for any reason, the first two remaining curlers will play three stones each, and the last curler will play two stone
7) A rink with only four members may curl with only three players if one member is unable to play, due to sickness or accident, subject to the host organization not providing a suitable substitute.
8) Members of all teams must be Rotarians in good standing.
ARTICLE VIII MEETINGS
An official meeting of the "Fellowship" will be held at some time during every "Championship". At this meeting, on any voting matter, those entitled to vote will be: all of the Directors, the immediate past President, and one representative of each rink that is participating in the "Championship" and “Friendship” events A simple majority of the eligible voters present, or represented by a written proxy filed prior to the biennial meeting with the Secretary/Treasurer, is necessary to pass any motion, subject to the provisions in Article IX.
In the event of a tie, the President will cast the tie breaking vote.
At the Biennial Meeting, the venue of the next "Championship" will be confirmed, plus the location of the country for the next following "Championship".
ARTICLE IX AMENDMENT
Notice of any proposed amendment to this Constitution must be made in writing and mailed by the proposer by registered mail or an equivalent procedure, to all Directors of countries in good standing, and to the Secretary/Treasurer six months prior to any vote on the same proposed amendment.
Any proposed amendment to this constitution will be ratified or rejected at the next Biennial Meeting, or else by mail, (the procedure to be determined by the President) by a two-thirds or more vote in favor of the amendment by the various participating countries. There will be one vote per country. The vote will be made by the country's current Director.
ARTICLE X VOTING SUSPENSION
Failure of a country to participate in the "Championship" for two successive competitions, will automatically suspend this country's voting privilege. This voting privilege will be reinstated at the next "Championship" in which the country participates. The Director of a new curling country, joining the "Fellowship", will have the right to vote at the first "Championship" in which the country participates
ARTICLE XI RATIFICATION
This constitution will become effective immediately after being approved by Directors from three or more of the four current curling countries.
CONSTITUTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL CURLING FELLOWSHIP OF ROTARIANS
RATIFIED APRIL 6, 1994, AT AYR, SCOTLAND
AND AMENDED MARCH 20, 1996 AT PETERBOROUGH, ONTARIO, CANADA
AND AMENDED MARCH 21, 2002 AT EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND
AND AMENDED APRIL 4, 2008, AT BRANTFORD, CANADA
AND AMENDED APRIL 5, 2012, AT LAUREL, MARYLAND, USA
ARTICLE I NAME
The name of this organization shall be:
The International Curling Fellowship of Rotarians, hereinafter referred to as the "Fellowship".
ARTICLE II OBJECTS
The objectives of this organization shall be:
1) To promote International fellowship between all Curling Rotarians.
2) To hold, every two years, an International Curling Competition, herein referred to as the "Championship", to determine the world champion rink of the International Curling Fellowship of Rotarians.
ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP
Membership is open to any Rotary Curling group in any country, subject to only one group representing each country, to be determined by that country, with the final approval of the "Fellowship".
ARTICLE IV LANGUAGE
The official language of this organization shall be English.
ARTICLE V DIRECTORS
1. Directors Each country will select its own Director, plus an Alternate Director. The selection method for the Director and Alternate Director shall be determined by each individual country. The Director's and Alternate Director's term of office for purposes of this Constitution, shall begin at the end of the Championships.
2. After the Directors have appointed a President and a Vice- President from amongst themselves (Article VI, Officers) the countries of the President and the Vice-President shall be allowed to appoint another Director in lieu.
3. At all Directors meetings each country will be allowed one vote, to be made by the country’s current Director. In the event of a tie, the President will cast the tie breaking vote.
4. Vacancies In the event that a vacancy of a Director occurs for any reason whatsoever, the country's Alternate Director shall assume the position of Director. Unless there is a Director vacancy, the Alternate Director will have no duties whatsoever.
ARTICLE VI OFFICERS
1) Officers
The incoming Directors will elect from amongst themselves, a President and a Vice President, who will both serve for a period of two years. They will elect a Secretary/Treasurer, who will also serve for two years. The Secretary/Treasurer does not have to be a Director. The President and Vice President may each serve for a maximum period of two terms. There will be no limit to the number of terms of office that the Secretary/Treasurer may serve. The election of officers shall be at a separate Director's Meeting at the "Championship". The officers shall assume office immediately after the "Championship".
2) Duties of Officers
a) The President shall preside at the Biennial Meeting of the International Curling Fellowship of Rotarians. He will make any appointments of non elective positions that he may deem necessary. He will have general supervision and direction of the affairs of the "Fellowship" for his entire term of office. In the event of the absence or inability of the Secretary/Treasurer to act, the President will appoint someone to record the minutes and proceedings of the Biennial Meeting.
b) The Vice President shall discharge the duties of the President in the event of the President's absence or inability to act.
c) The Secretary/Treasurer shall record the minutes and proceedings of the Biennial Meeting and send a copy of these minutes to all Directors’ and other persons entitled to receive these minutes. These minutes are to be forwarded within four months after the Biennial Meeting. The Secretary/Treasurer shall have general supervision over the collection, custody, investment and disbursement of funds of the "Fellowship" and will perform all functions normally expected of a Secretary/Treasurer of such an organization.
ARTICLE VII CHAMPIONSHIP COMPETITION
1) The "Championship" will be held every two years, alternating between the European Continent and the North American Continent.
2) Each country will be allowed rinks as follows, Scotland, 3 USA, 3, Canada, 4, and England, 1, subject to the available ice and time constraints. Each country will decide how its participating rinks are to be determined. (At some future date, if and when more countries participate in the "Championship", the maximum number of rinks allowed for each country may be modified.) A round robin event will be held, with each participating rink curling every other participating rink. After the completion of the round robin, subject to available ice and time constraints, the semi-finals will be played between the top four rinks, Number 1 rink playing Number 4, and Number 2 rink playing Number 3. The winning rinks of these two games will play each other in the finals, the two losing semi-finalists playing off for third and fourth places. The fifth and sixth place rinks, seventh and eighth place rinks, etc., will also curl, subject to available ice and time, to decide the order of finish. In the event of a tie in the rankings, with two rinks having the same number of wins, the rink that was the victor over the other rink, during the round-robin play, will be deemed to have a higher ranking than the rink that was defeated. In the event the four rink play down is not feasible for any reason, the two rinks that have the most number of victories, will curl each other to determine the winner of the "Championship". Additionally, under these circumstances, the third and fourth place rinks will also curl each other.
3) The World Curling Federation rules will apply. There may be some modifications to these rules made by the host organization in order to accommodate conditions that may arise during the "Championship". The use of a curling aid commonly referred to as a ‘delivery stick’ which enables the player to deliver a stone without placing a hand on the handle is considered acceptable. The curler must initiate the delivery from the appropriate hack and then advance directly by walking or sliding at the skip’s broom. The delivery and release of a rock are intended to occur within a reasonable proximity to the center line. Any attempt to change the angle of the delivery/release will result in the forfeiture of the delivered rock. The rock must be clearly released prior to reaching the near hog line. The body and the stick can cross the near hog line in a follow-through motion after the rock is released. If a player starts a game with a delivery stick then that player shall use a delivery stick throughout that game. If a player starts a game without a delivery stick, then a delivery stick shall not be used by that player in that game. No variation of the flat-footed slide is appropriate.
4) The prizes for the "Championship" will be the Silver Bell Trophy and gold medals for the winning rink and silver medals for the runner up rink. These prizes will be provided by the "Fellowship". There may be additional other prizes awarded at the discretion of the host organization.
5) A rink (team) may consist of five members.
6) No substitute will be allowed during a game. If it is necessary for a team member to discontinue play during a game for any reason, the first two remaining curlers will play three stones each, and the last curler will play two stone
7) A rink with only four members may curl with only three players if one member is unable to play, due to sickness or accident, subject to the host organization not providing a suitable substitute.
8) Members of all teams must be Rotarians in good standing.
ARTICLE VIII MEETINGS
An official meeting of the "Fellowship" will be held at some time during every "Championship". At this meeting, on any voting matter, those entitled to vote will be: all of the Directors, the immediate past President, and one representative of each rink that is participating in the "Championship" and “Friendship” events A simple majority of the eligible voters present, or represented by a written proxy filed prior to the biennial meeting with the Secretary/Treasurer, is necessary to pass any motion, subject to the provisions in Article IX.
In the event of a tie, the President will cast the tie breaking vote.
At the Biennial Meeting, the venue of the next "Championship" will be confirmed, plus the location of the country for the next following "Championship".
ARTICLE IX AMENDMENT
Notice of any proposed amendment to this Constitution must be made in writing and mailed by the proposer by registered mail or an equivalent procedure, to all Directors of countries in good standing, and to the Secretary/Treasurer six months prior to any vote on the same proposed amendment.
Any proposed amendment to this constitution will be ratified or rejected at the next Biennial Meeting, or else by mail, (the procedure to be determined by the President) by a two-thirds or more vote in favor of the amendment by the various participating countries. There will be one vote per country. The vote will be made by the country's current Director.
ARTICLE X VOTING SUSPENSION
Failure of a country to participate in the "Championship" for two successive competitions, will automatically suspend this country's voting privilege. This voting privilege will be reinstated at the next "Championship" in which the country participates. The Director of a new curling country, joining the "Fellowship", will have the right to vote at the first "Championship" in which the country participates
ARTICLE XI RATIFICATION
This constitution will become effective immediately after being approved by Directors from three or more of the four current curling countries.