Preamble

Believing that the time-honored values of sportsmanship should be rewarded and encouraged in scholastic athletics, and seeking to cultivate the ideals of character, scholarship, leadership, and honor among today's student-athletes, the governing officers of the Scholastic Sportsmanship Foundation (SSF) have established this organization for the promotion of these ideals.

Purposes

The Scholastic Sportsmanship Foundation is organized exclusively for education and development of student-athletes involved in amateur sports, the promotion of sportsmanship in scholastic athletics, and educational purposes under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

The Organization shall:

(1) Promote the ideals of Honor, Scholarship, Discipline, Respect, Teamwork, Faith, Courage, Truth, and Loyalty on and off the field of scholastic athletic competition;
(2) Reward student-athletes for outstanding sportsmanship and encourage high standards of personal conduct, individual responsibility, and scholarship;
(3) Establish a team of leaders to serve as positive role models for student-athletes, parents, coaches, and the scholastic sports community;
(4) Provide a significant scholarship program for SSF student members and assist them in their pursuit of educational and career goals;
(5) Forge a team of concerned individuals, schools, colleges, and organizations that want to make a positive difference and believe that the mission of scholastic athletics is to develop character and leadership in young people;
(6) Hold events for the development of members, parents, coaches, and educators and provide opportunities for the exchange of ideas and practices; and
(7) Advance the growth and ideals of the Scholastic Sportsmanship Foundation throughout America.

ARTICLE I GOVERNMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION

SECTION 1. The National Officers of this organization shall be: the SSF Leadership Team Chair, the Chair-Elect, the Immediate Past Chair, the Treasurer, and the President/Chief Executive Officer. The Chair of the SSF Leadership Team shall hold office for two successive years. The Chair-Elect shall be elected the year immediately prior to assuming the office of Chair by the SSF Leadership Team at its regular annual meeting, and shall automatically succeed to the office of SSF Leadership Team Chair.

SECTION 2. The Scholastic Sportsmanship Foundation shall be governed by the SSF Leadership Team and shall be advised by the SSF Conference.

SECTION 3. The SSF Leadership Team shall be made up of four secondary school coaches, athletic directors, or administrators, two state high school athletic association commissioners, two scholastic sports officials (men's and women's sports), two collegiate conference administrators, two collegiate coaches, former coaches, or administrators, four professional or former professional athletes, coaches, or franchise owners, two sports media professionals, four sports industry leaders or owners, four at-large members, and the President/CEO. All SSF Leadership Team members should be persons who are fully committed to the furtherance of the vision, mission, purposes, and initiatives of the Scholastic Sportsmanship Foundation.

SECTION 4. All SSF Leadership Team members, with the exception of the Treasurer and President/CEO shall be elected to a four-year term. The terms of these Leadership Team positions shall be at the pleasure of the SSF Leadership Team and not subject to the four-year rotation. Any former SSF Leadership Team member may be eligible to return after one year's absence from the Team if re-elected.

SECTION 5. The SSF Leadership Team shall elect a candidate to fill an unexpired term. A member who has filled an unexpired term may be immediately elected to serve a four-year term.

SECTION 6. The SSF Leadership Team shall meet at least once a year at such time and place as shall have been fixed at the preceding meeting of the Team or as called by the Executive Committee of the Team. The Executive Committee shall meet as needed at the direction of the SSF Leadership Team Chair.

SECTION 7. It shall be the duty of the SSF Leadership Team to adopt all general membership and fiscal policies, to approve the annual proposed budget, to review the organization's annual financial audit, to assist in the development and expansion of the organization, and to review the progress of the organization at its annual meeting.

SECTION 8. The SSF Leadership Team shall set up such organizational committees as shall be necessary for the proper supervision and direction of the affairs of the organization.

ARTICLE II EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

SECTION 1. The SSF Executive Committee may act in place and stead of the SSF Leadership Team between meetings on all matters, except those specifically reserved to the Team by these bylaws. The SSF Executive Committee shall oversee the financial affairs of the Society and shall report its actions to the SSF Leadership Team in a timely manner.

SECTION 2. The SSF Executive Committee shall consist of the Chair, Immediate Past Chair or Chair-Elect, Treasurer, and the President/CEO.

SECTION 3. A majority of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum at any duly called meeting of the Committee. The SSF Team Chair shall call such meetings as the business of the organization may require.

SECTION 4. Any vacancy occurring on the Executive Committee shall be filled by appointment to the Committee by the Team Chair. This appointment shall be temporary and shall be filled by an active SSF Leadership Team member who has served on the Team for two or more years. This temporary appointment must be ratified by the SSF Leadership Team at its next meeting, a called meeting, or by other means as directed by the Chair.

ARTICLE III PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OFFICER AND STAFF

SECTION 1. The SSF Leadership team shall employ an administrator who shall have the title of President/Chief Executive Officer and whose terms and conditions of employment shall be specified by the SSF leadership Team. The Executive Committee is designated the authority to conduct an annual performance evaluation and to determine the ongoing compensation and other financial arrangements for the President/CEO. Such information will be reported to the SSF Leadership Team in a timely manner.

SECTION 2. The President/CEO shall manage and direct all activities of the organization subject to the policies of the SSF Leadership Team. The President/CEO may employ and terminate the employment of members of the staff necessary to carry on the work of the organization and fix their compensation and benefits within the approved budget. The President/CEO shall define the duties of the staff, supervise their performance, establish their titles and shall delegate those responsibilities of management as shall be in the best interest of the organization.

ARTICLE IV THE SSF CONFERENCE

SECTION 1. The SSF Conference is an appointed group of student-athletes, coaches, parents, school administrators, and business advisors who support the mission, vision, purposes, and programs of the organization. The SSF Conference is made up of four SSF student-athlete members, four SSF member school coaches, athletic directors, or administrators, two parents of SSF student-athletes, and four business advisors from the sports industry. The SSF Conference shall be appointed annually by the SSF Leadership Team.

SECTION 2. The terms of the SSF Conference members shall be set by the SSF Leadership Team. The SSF Conference members shall serve as liaison to the SSF Leadership Team and the organization's staff. Two SSF Conference student members and two adult members shall be elected annually by the SSF Conference to serve a one-year term as ex-officio members of the SSF Leadership Team, and represent the SSF Conference at its annual meeting.

ARTICLE V STUDENT MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1. Student membership in the Scholastic Sportsmanship Foundation shall be comprised of student-athletes who are actively participating in school sponsored, scholastic athletic programs and who shall qualify for membership according to the regulations of SSF and the local school administration. Members may be from any and/or all sports programs within the institution and must have been duly approved by a local school coach, athletic director, or school administrator.

A. Student-athletes under consideration as candidates for SSF membership shall be selected based upon the following characteristics which the candidate regularly exhibits on and off the field of play and which have been observed by his/her coaches, instructors, and/or administrators:
(a) Loyalty - a team-first attitude,
(b) Scholarship - 2.5 or higher scholastic average is recommended,
(c) Respect for self and others
(d) Honesty,
(d) Self-discipline,
(e) Dependability,
(f) Responsibility,
(g) Leadership, and
(h) Citizenship.

B. The SSF Leadership Team is confident that education professionals understand local conditions and recognize what characteristics of sportsmanship best represent excellence in scholastic athletics in their own community. Therefore, it is important to SSF that it be within the province of the school's coaching staff and administration to establish and to maintain specific standards for local student membership. The recommended national scholastic standard for SSF student members is 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale; however, local scholastic standards for SSF membership are set by local school administration and coaching staff .

C. At no time shall membership in the Scholastic Sportsmanship Foundation make it incumbent upon a student athlete member to alter his/her religious, social, ethnic or political ideals, beliefs or affiliations. Membership selection shall be made, at all times, without regard to age, race handicapping condition, creed, national origin, or sex of the individual candidate for membership. Additionally, any special, local membership requirements shall, if established, be in agreement with the standards and objectives of SSF and these bylaws and non-discriminatory.

D. Each student-athlete member in the Scholastic Sportsmanship Foundation shall be issued an official certificate of membership which shall bear the name and insignia of SSF and which shall be signed by the SSF Leadership Team Chair and the SSF President/CEO Director. The member shall also receive the official SSF membership card, and the official SSF "Champions by Choice" sportsmanship letter to be attached to the member's school letter jacket, or sweater.

E. The local schools are encouraged to welcome and recognize the new SSF student membership. The nature of the ceremony shall be determined by the local coaching staff and administration and conducted in order to bring maximum recognition to the school's SSF student-athlete members before parents, athletic boosters, fans, and local media

F. After the candidate has been nominated and duly elected into membership, and after the membership certificate has been received, he/she shall subscribe to, or consent to abide by the following SSF Code of Conduct:

"I pledge to maintain the highest standard of personal conduct on and off the field of play.
"I will strive for excellence in my education and refuse to engage in or condone activities for personal gain at the expense of my team or school.
"I will give my all to achieve victory with honor and will respect and obey the rules of the game.
"I will support my team, coaches, and school and uphold my obligations as a citizen of my community and of my country."

G. The Scholastic Sportsmanship Foundation is a scholastic, athletic, honor organization; therefore, student members who fail to maintain the required record of scholastic achievement or whose conduct is unbecoming to SSF and its stated purposes may be placed on probationary status for a specified period of time by their athletic director and/or the administrative head of the school. Should a member be placed on probation, it should be clearly explained to the member why this action as necessary and under what conditions he/she may be returned to the membership. Such action shall be in accordance with these bylaws. Furthermore, any member who fails to maintain the required record of scholastic achievement or whose conduct is unbecoming to SSF, its stated purposes, and his/her member school may be removed for cause from membership by the administrative head of the institution. The member should be advised by the administration why the action for membership removal was necessary. The school administration shall immediately notify the SSF Office in writing concerning this action. Such action to remove membership privileges shall not be discriminatory. A member may be reinstated into membership with no additional fee, provided he/she achieves a satisfactory record of performance as determined by the administrative head of the school. Any such action to reinstate a member whose membership has been revoked must be approved by the administrative head of the school and reported promptly, in writing, to the SSF National Office.

ARTICLE VI SSF MEMBER SCHOOL PROVISIONS

SECTION 1. Any SSF member school, which shall fail to carry out the provisions of the SSF bylaws, or which shall conduct itself in such a way as to impede the progress and purposes of the organization shall be required to forfeit its local SSF school membership.

SECTION 2. The local administration shall be notified in writing by the SSF President/CEO should this action be necessary.

ARTICLE VII EVENTS, CONFERENCES, CONVENTIONS

SECTION 1. There shall be held events and meetings of the SSF student-members, coaches, parents, sponsors, and others at such time and place as determined necessary and justified by the SSF Leadership Team. SSF events and meetings shall be conducted under the supervision of the SSF National Office with the assistance the Leadership Team and volunteers.

ARTICLE VIII SSF STUDENT MEMBERSHIP FEES

SECTION 1. The membership fee for each student member shall be set by the SSF Leadership Team. Membership fees are payable prior to installation into SSF.

SECTION 2. A transfer of membership from one SSF affiliated school to another affiliated school may be made without additional fees. The SSF student-member shall submit a copy his/her SSF membership documents for verification by his/her new school, and furthermore must meet all local requirements set at the school the member is transferring to.

ARTICLE XI OFFICIAL EMBLEM, INSIGNIA, COLORS, MOTTO

SECTION 1. The colors of the Scholastic Sportsmanship Foundation shall be gold, white and black.

SECTION 2. The official emblem of the organization shall be a flaming torch crossed by a scroll bearing the letters "SSF". Encircling the torch and scroll shall be a laurel wreath. The SSF motto; "Champions by Choice" shall also be included in the official emblem of the organization. The official emblem of the organization is to be used on all certificates, membership cards, documents and official publications as set forth in Section 1 of this article as its central figure.

SECTION 3. The official motto of the organization shall be: "Champions by Choice".

ARTICLE X AMENDMENTS

SECTION 1. The Bylaws of the Scholastic Sportsmanship Foundation may be amended or altered by the SSF Leadership Team at any of its regular or called meetings by a two-thirds majority vote of the Team members present.

ARTICLE XI DISSOLUTION

SECTION 1. The Scholastic Sportsmanship Foundation shall, upon dissolution of this said corporation, distribute its assets for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall distribute its assets to the Federal Government for a public purpose.

ARTICLE XII ADDITIONAL RULES OF ORDER

SECTION 1. Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, has been accepted and is recommended by the SSF Leadership Team as the standard for matters of procedure for local, state and national activities of the Scholastic Sportsmanship Foundation.

Written: 07-03-05
C. Allen Powell, Founder
Adopted: August 26, 2005 in Greenville, SC.
Attending: Mike O'Cain, Leighton Cubbage, Jim Ness, Barney Shorter, Lawson Holland, Andy Leventis, Steve Satterfield, Marion Drummond, and Allen Powell