The name of this organization shall be the Midwest Scholastic Rowing Association (MSRA).
 

The purpose of this Association shall be:

Section 1. To serve the interests of  scholastic rowing within the geographical region of the Association with respect to:

1. Sponsoring an annual Midwest Scholastic Championship during the second full weekend in May. The site, events and rules (as specified in the MSRA Regatta Rules) of the Championship to be determined by the Association. Participation is limited to member organizations in good standing.
2. Promoting information exchange and regatta scheduling among the member organizations.
3. Serving as the representative body for scholastic rowing in the midwest to the USRowing Association Youth Committee.

Section 1. The membership in the Association will consist of organizations that are involved in sponsoring rowing for high school aged youth (grades 9-12).

Section 2. Organizations may only draw all of their participants from a single high school (to be referred to as "scholastic"). Whether a program for a single high school has the designation as a varsity sport, is recognized school activity or is solely composed of students attending that school, without official school designation, it is considered "scholastic." Members of a team must exclusively row representing that school during the spring season.

Section 3. Membership will be restricted to organizations located within the following states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the western half of Pennsylvania.

Section 4. Dues for membership will be payable annually. To be eligible to participate in MSRA activities (voting and Championship regatta) an organization must be current in the payment of dues and have completed an information survey form by April 1 of the current year.
 

Section 1. Executive Committee and Chair of the Association

1. Management of the Association shall be vested in an Executive Committee elected by the member organizations.
2. The Executive Committee will consist of six regionally elected representatives, from the following regions:

western Pennsylvania:              1 representative
Ohio and West Virginia:          2 representatives
Michigan:                                2 representatives
Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky: 1 representative
(and Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin)
 

3. Election of members to the Executive Committee will take place by mail ballot between June 1 and July 15 each year. The individual (top two individuals from Ohio and West Virginia, and top two individuals from Michigan) receiving the most votes cast within the geographical regions will be elected to serve a term of one year, commencing at the time of election.
4. The members of the Executive Committee will be responsible for maintaining contact with organizations within their region to receive input and discuss issues of interest to the Association. They are responsible for advising the Chair of the Association of new rowing programs and providing information to those programs of how to become organizational members (payment of dues and completion of organizational information sheet prior to April 1).
5. The Chair of the Association will be elected by the Executive Committee. The Chair will be responsible for insuring that the agenda and minutes of the meetings are distributed, maintaining a listing of the contact information of the organizational members and receiving the payment of dues.

1. The Executive Committee will meet at least twice per year at times it determines to be convenient. The Chair will give written notice of each such meeting to each member organization. Each member organization may send a representative to participate in discussion at Executive Committee meetings; however only Executive Committee members may vote at meetings.
2. A general meeting of all member organizations will be held during the weekend of the Championship Regatta, for the purpose of discussing issues of concern to the Association; however no issues shall be voted upon during the general membership meeting.

Amendments to the By Laws may be offered by any member organization and submitted to the Chair of the Association at least a month prior to the spring meeting. A two-thirds vote of those present and voting, will be required for the adoption of the amendment.

In the event of liquidation, dissolution or termination of the Association, whether voluntary or involuntary or by the operation of law, its property or other assets, or any other proceeds thereof, shall be distributed to such non-profit organizations which shall be exempt from Federal Income Taxes under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or such corresponding section or sections as may be from time to time in force, as the members of the Association, by majority vote thereof, shall determine; and none of such property, assets or proceeds shall be distributed to, or among, any of the members of the Association.

These By Laws will become effective immediately (as revised, November 2000) upon affirmative vote of a majority of the member organizations conducted by mail ballot. An organization failing to return its mail ballot will be deemed to have voted in favor of the adoption of these By Laws.