NEFA Charter

(Updated Jan. 9, 2010)

The purpose of this document is to provide the New England Flying disc Association (NEFA) and its leaders with a structured system that will aid the organization to move forward and reach goals. To that end, a framework for reaching decisions, implementing change and continuing to expand disc golf in our region is provided within this document.

NEFA's Mission Statement

The goal of NEFA is to promote the growth of disc golf and related disc sports in and around New England. The ways of achieving this overall goal are limitless and may change dramatically from year to year, as well as from administration to administration. Possibilities include:

Promotion of disc golf and NEFA to the general public
* Organize and fund disc golf clinics for the general public
* Market disc sports, including course advertising
* Publish articles
* Reach out to media outlets for local course events
* Website

Courses
* Promote the creation and improvement of courses in our region
* Fund course improvements and expansions

Tournaments
* Coordinate, fund, and run the NEFA Points Series
* Assist New England tournament directors (TDs)
* Sponsor tournaments and related activities
* Sponsor top local players at major tournaments around the world
* Run fundraisers to help NEFA reach its goals

NEFA's Elected Officers: President, Vice President, and Administrator

These three NEFA Officers make up NEFA's executive branch. It is their job to keep NEFA moving forward. They enjoy great latitude in deciding how to spend NEFA's money, planning for the future, and creating policy. At the same time they have the challenge of trying to satisfy a diverse membership.

The Officers will reach a consensus before making major decisions. If, however, this proves to be impossible, the Board can be called upon to vote on the issue. In addition, any of the Officers may call for a Board vote on any significant issue when it arises.

The Officers will also be entrusted with annually updating the NEFA Charter to reflect new decisions and changing circumstances.

Individual Responsibilities of the Officers

For the most part, each Officer will define his or her own responsibilities and duties. Generally speaking:

* The President is responsible for coordinating all of NEFA's activities by working with and organizing the volunteers to reach the goals within the Mission Statement and beyond.
* The Vice President is generally responsible of keeping NEFA moving toward its goals, and working with the President and Administrator.
* The Administrator is in charge of managing NEFA's finances, NEFA memberships (along with the Database Manager), and Board voting.

Volunteer Positions

Volunteers actively assist NEFA in achieving its mission statement. Officers may, at any time, create additional volunteer positions and appoint people to fill them. NEFA has seven volunteer positions outside of the elected officers and the State Representatives:

* Database Manager
* Web Page Manager and co-Schedule Coordinator
* NEFA News Coordinator
* NEFA Points Data Manager
* NEFA Discs for Kids Coordinator
* Women's Representative
* Chairman of the NEFA Points Committee

The Board

The Board will vote on controversial issues as they arise. Half of all Board members are required to vote for the result to be valid.

The Administrator will count the votes, with the majority carrying the vote. Board votes can be called by any Board Member at any time. The Board is comprised of the:

* Three Officers
* NEFA Volunteers
* Seven NEFA State Representatives

Officers, Volunteers, and State Representatives can hold multiple Board positions. The one exception is that Officers cannot also be State Representatives. The Officers may also place individuals on the Board as Honorary Members. Each Board member, regardless of the number of positions he or she holds, still gets just one Board vote. Board members must be current NEFA members and want the job.

The NEFA Points Committee

The NEFA Points committee is responsible for writing and approving the NEFA Points Charter each year. They also will vote on any major decisions and any conflicts that occur during the year. The Points Committee will include at a minimum, the NEFA Points Committee Chairman, the three elected Officers, and the NEFA Points Data Manager. Other members will be selected by the President.

The other members of the Points Committee will include the seven NEFA State Representatives and any other members previously appointed of the NEFA Points Committee. The Chairman of the NEFA Points Charter is a Board position that can be held by anyone except the President or the Administrator. The Chairman's duties include being ultimately responsible for writing the NEFA Points Charter each year, being lead contact for all NEFA Points Series issues, managing all votes for the Points Committee, and being co-schedule coordinator with the Web Page Manager.

NEFA Elections

NEFA will hold Officer and State Representative elections once a year. Candidates must declare their challenges for specific Officer and State Representative positions by October 1. Voting will begin by October 10 and voting will extend to the end of October.

The elections will be run by an independent volunteer each year. Each NEFA Member can vote for all of the Officer positions, but can only vote for the State Representative in the State in which they
reside.