The National Gymnastics Judges Association (NGJA) was conceived and formed from a recognized national need for unifying rules interpretations, improving the quality of gymnastics judging, increasing the quantity of gymnastics judges, and maintaining high ethical standards. To serve these ends, the National Gymnastics Judges Association is dedicated to provide the gymnastics community with rules interpretations (aligned with the International Gymnastics Federation), certification clinics and recommendations of judges to the Governing Bodies for National and International Competitions. In all other judging matters at all competitive levels, the National Gymnastics Judges Association stands ready to serve when called upon.

The strength and support of the National Gymnastics Judges Association is vitally tied to its members whom it services, providing guidelines which promote high standards in gymnastics through the development of excellence in judging. In the event of conflict between provisions of these Bylaws and the Articles of Incorporation, the latter shall govern.

The name of the organization shall be:

NATIONAL GYMNASTICS JUDGES ASSOCIATION, INC.

The national office will be located at the address of the National President.

SECTION I General

The National Gymnastics Judges Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to serve the gymnastics community by performing services relating to the evaluation and judgment of gymnastics performances.

It is an organization of autonomous member associations (Member Associations) for whom it provides guidelines. The National Gymnastics Judges Association has two major branches: Executive and Technical.

The Executive Branch is composed of the Governing Board. The officers and directors are:

National President

General Technical Vice President

Technical Vice President-Junior Program

Technical Vice President-National Program

Regional Directors (four)

At-Large Directors (two)

Treasurer Executive Secretary Technical Secretary

FIG MPC Member (Non-Voting)

Each of the fourteen (14) Governing Board members serves a four (4) year term of office.

The organization of the Executive Branch, voting Governing Board, is illustrated in Appendix I.

The Governing Board carries on the administrative and executive functions of the organization. The President is elected by the vote of the active national card holders. The four (4) Regional Directors are elected by regional votes of the active national card holders in their respective regions. Each Regional Director then represents and is responsible for that region. The two (2) At-Large Directors are elected by a national vote of all active national card holders. At-Large Directors are responsible for and represent the members of the whole organization. The other Governing Board members are selected by all of the elected officials in the manner described in these Bylaws.

The Technical Branch provides rules interpretations, certification procedures and tests, codes of conduct, training films, and any other services of a technical nature that are requested by specific groups or generally recognized as needed by member organizations. The Technical Branch will also make recommendations of judges for National and International Competitions based on guidelines outlined in these Bylaws.

The Technical Branch is minimally composed of:

General Technical Vice President

Technical Vice President-Junior Program

Technical Vice President-National Program

Regional Technical Directors

Assistant Regional Technical Directors

Regional Junior Program Technical Directors

Technical Secretary

National President (ex officio and voting)

The minimum, basic voting organization of the Technical Branch is illustrated in Appendix II.

Regional Technical Directors and Junior Program Technical Directors in each region are elected by the vote of the active national card holders in their respective regions. That person receiving the second most votes for Regional Technical Director in each region shall become the Assistant Regional Technical Director. Technical Committee members are to serve four (4) year terms.

SECTION 2 Requirements

All Officers and Directors of the Executive and Technical Branches must meet the following requirements.

A. They must be at least nineteen (19) years of age.

B. They must be an active national card holder.

C. They must be actively judging within the previous nominal year.

D. They must be in good standing with their association.

SECTION 3 Geographic Regional Distribution

The National Gymnastics Judges Association regions are listed in Appendix III. Each of the four (4) regions has a Regional Director, a Regional Technical Director, an Assistant Regional Technical Director and a Junior Program Technical Director. Their responsibilities are to service the administrative and technical needs for the members and member associations in that region.

ARTICLE IV

Voting

SECTION 1 General

Only active national card holders may vote in national and regional elections. The specific guidelines in these Bylaws are to be followed.

In all voting instances, the National President and Regional Directors, or their designees, are to carry out the election procedure according to these Bylaws. They must work from a list of active national card holders, which the Executive Secretary will maintain and provide.

SECTION 2 National President

Each Regional Director will solicit nominations from Member Association Presidents in his region for the office of National President. No more than two (2) nominations per Member Association will be accepted. Regional Directors will submit nominations to the National President or his designee.

The National President or his designee will conduct an election for the National President. The winner of this election will be determined by a majority of valid ballots returned. If no single candidate receives fifty percent (50 %) of the valid votes, a run off election between the top two finishers must occur within two weeks.

SECTION 3 At-Large Directors

The two (2) At-Large Directors are elected by a national vote. The National President or his designee will solicit nominations from Member Associations. No more than two (2) nominations per Member Association will be accepted. The National President or his designee will prepare and distribute ballots to all active national card holders.

SECTION 4 Regional Elections

Each Member Association may nominate candidates for Regional Director, Regional Technical Director, and Junior Program Regional Technical Director to its current Regional Director. No more than two (2) nominations per Member Association will be accepted.

SECTION 5 Emergency Voting

When applicable, emergency elections will be conducted by the highest ranking Governing Board Member then in place to fill vacancies in unexpired terms of elected officials.

The Governing Board will meet at least twice yearly.

A. The first meeting will occur in the first half of the year and the second meeting will be held in the second half of the year, preferably at the USA Gymnastics Congress.

B. Each year at the USA Gymnastics Congress there will also be a general meeting open to all individuals who wish to attend.

The National President shall preside over all Governing Board and general meetings. In his absence, the General Technical Vice President shall preside. The Technical Vice President-National Program shall preside over all Technical Committee meetings. In his absence, the Technical Vice President-Junior Program shall preside. Other meetings may be held when appropriate, providing a quorum is present.

The Technical Committee will meet at least once each calendar year. This meeting should be held during the annual USA Gymnastics Congress. Technical Committee meetings will not conflict with the Governing Board meeting or the annual General Meeting.

ARTICLE VI

Amendments to Division I Bylaws

Division I Bylaw amendments may be proposed at any time by any active national card holder. Each Division I Bylaw amendment shall include the following: a sponsor, a written statement explaining the rationale for the amendment, and twenty (20) signatures of active national card holders.

The sponsor must present the amendment, written statement, and signatures to his Regional Director, who in turn must provide copies to the Governing Board. The Governing Board shall appoint a Bylaw Committee to advise them on correctness of form, conflicts with the existing sections of the Articles and Bylaws. etc.

The Governing Board must determine when, within one (1) year of receipt of the proposed amendments, they should direct the Executive Secretary to send these to the membership for voting. All properly proposed amendments must be voted on, unless the sponsor agrees to withdraw them. Approval of the amendments shall be based on a majority of votes cast by active national card holders. The Executive Secretary shall send out these amendments and, at the discretion of the Governing Board, a statement giving the Governing Board's opinion relative to the proposed amendment to all qualified voters. Twenty-one (21) days shall be allowed for response, postmark to postmark. Final approval of votes must occur at the next Governing Board meeting. All ballots will be counted by a non-NGJA affiliated neutral body designated by the National President or his designee subject to the approval of the Governing Board.

ARTICLE VII

Membership

SECTION 1

Any new association may become a member of the National Gymnastics Judges Association provided its Constitution is approved by the Governing Board and provided the new association follows the guidelines of the NGJA. Active national card holders of a Member Association are members of the NGJA and must pay dues to the NGJA and that Member Association. If certification course participants do not belong to a Member Association because there may be none in their local area, they are then attached to the Member Association sponsoring the course at which they are certified. They are to pay dues and have a vote and voice in that Member Association until one can be formed in their local area.

SECTION 2 Requirements for Member Associations, Officers, Elections

All Member Association Officers must be active national card holders.

The Member Associations are to be autonomous, but must follow the national guidelines as outlined in the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the NGJA, as well as their respective Constitutions and Bylaws. All new associations must send their Constitution to the National President for approval by the Governing Board. Approval by a two-thirds majority of all Governing Board members at one of their two (2) annual meetings, or by mail vote, is required for a new association to become a NGJA Member Association. If changes are needed in the Constitution or Bylaws of the new association, they are to be made prior to approval. After approval by the Governing Board, the new Member Association may conduct its business with autonomy.

If problems arise in a Member Association, they should be, if at all possible, resolved at the local and/or regional levels with the aid of the Regional Director, Regional Technical Director, and Association President. If a suitable solution at those levels is not possible, the problem should be referred to the Governing Board by the Regional Director or Regional Technical Director.

A Member Association may be dropped by a written request from that Member Association and must be approved by a two-thirds majority of the Governing Board. Withdrawal or removal of a Member Association from NGJA membership for non-ethical conduct, or other serious allegations, is possible only after a full Governing Board hearing called by the National President at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Governing Board. A quorum with a two-thirds majority vote is necessary for withdrawal or removal. A Member Association may represent itself in any manner it deems necessary before the Governing Board.

SECTION 3 Auxiliary Memberships

Auxiliary memberships are also possible for interested gymnastics groups. These groups should have an interest in gymnastics judging, but do not have an active program directed specifically to judging. They have a voice but no vote. The acceptance of auxiliary memberships is determined by the Governing Board after examining the applying group's Constitution.

ARTICLE VIII

Certification

All judges certifications are to be carried out as stated in these Bylaws.

The following types of certification are possible:

A. National Card

B. Junior Olympic Card

Other types of certification may be instituted as the need arises.

ARTICLE IX

Ethics. Hearings. Resignation

SECTION 1 General

Any unethical conduct of Directors, Officers, Technical Committee Members or Member Associations, must be presented to the Governing Board for a hearing. A brief outline of such a hearing must be published in the Governing Board minutes. National Card revocations are considered to be serious matters and must have a Governing Board hearing.

Any Director, Officer, Technical Committee Member or Member Association may resign or withdraw, by written notice to the Governing Board. No Director, Officer or Member Association may be involuntarily dropped or withdrawn without a Governing Board hearing.

SECTION 2 Card Revocations

A Member Association or an NGJA Officer or Director may request revocation of an individual's membership in the NGJA. Revocation of membership is a serious matter and should not be requested unless due cause is present (i.e., unethical conduct, judging incompetence). Requests for membership revocation will be submitted to the National President or one of the Vice Presidents. Once a revocation request is submitted, the following will occur:

A. The Officer to whom the revocation request is made will immediately notify all Governing Board and Technical Committee members of the request.

B. The General Technical Vice President will call a meeting of the National Technical Committee to consider the revocation request. However, if it is the General Technical Vice President whose membership it has been requested to be revoked, then the Technical Vice President-National Program will call the meeting. The meeting will be held at a time set by the General Technical Vice President after consulting with the members of the Governing Board, but no later than the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Technical Branch.

C. The member whose membership it has been requested be revoked may appear at the revocation meeting, at the NGJA's expense, to present any evidence to the Technical Committee that is relevant to the issue of revocation. The member may be represented at the meeting in any manner the member chooses. The NGJA will, however, pay expenses to attend the meeting for only the member or a person to represent the member.

D. The individual who submitted the revocation request to the NGJA, or any other individual selected by the NGJA President (unless it is revocation of the NGJA President's membership that is being considered, then the General Technical Vice President), will appear at the revocation meeting on behalf of the NGJA, at the NGJA's expense, to present any evidence to the Technical Committee that is relevant to the issue of revocation.

E. National Technical Committee members hearing the presentation of the evidence may ask questions relevant to the issues of revocation of any person presenting evidence.

F. The chairman of the revocation meeting will be the General Technical Vice President, unless it is the General Technical Vice President whose membership it has been requested to be revoked, then the Technical Vice President-National Program will chair the meeting.

G. At the conclusion of the revocation meeting, the National Technical Committee members who heard all of the evidence will vote by secret ballot whether to recommend that the Governing Board revoke the member's membership. A simple majority of those Technical Committee Members who heard all of the evidence will be necessary to recommend revocation to the Governing Board.

H. The National Technical Secretary will prepare a report of the evidence presented at the revocation meeting and the results of the Technical Committee secret vote. The report will be presented to the chairman of the meeting who will check it for accuracy, adding information he deems appropriate. The chairman of the meeting will then submit the report to all Governing Board members.

I. If revocation of membership is recommended by a vote of the National Technical Committee, the member's status will be considered to be inactive until the recommendation can be acted upon by the Governing Board at the Governing Board's next regular meeting.

J. If revocation of membership is not recommended by a vote of the National Technical Committee, the member's status will remain active, providing the member continues to meet all requirements for membership.

K. At the next regular meeting of the Governing Board, the report of the revocation meeting will be considered. Should a simple majority of a quorum of the Governing Board approve acceptance of a revocation meeting report stating a member was placed on inactive status, the member's membership will be revoked. Should a simple majority of a quorum of the Governing board vote to not accept a revocation meeting report stating a member was placed in an inactive status, the member will return to active status, providing the member continues to meet all requirements for membership. Should a revocation meeting report not recommend revocation, the results of the National Technical Committee vote will stand, and no further action relative to the revocation request is necessary by the Governing Board.

L. A member placed in an inactive status as a result of a National Technical Committee vote at a revocation meeting may appear, at his expense, at the next regular Governing Board meeting and present additional evidence as to why revocation should not occur.

M. A member whose membership has been revoked may never again be an active member (i.e., active national cardholder) unless subsequent membership is approved by simple majority of a quorum of the Governing Board.

ARTICLE X

Specific Duties of Officers and Directors

SECTION 1 Officers

The National President is the Chief Executive Officer of the NGJA. He presides at all Governing Board meetings and supervises and controls the affairs of the Association. The National President will be an ex officio member of the National Technical Committee with voting privileges. He, or his designee, is to execute all contracts and sign all checks. He will present an annual report of the previous year's efforts at the annual general meeting. This report will be made available to all Directors, Officers, Technical Committee Members and Member Associations.

The General Technical Vice President is responsible for the coordination and delegation of all technical judging matters. The Technical Secretary, Vice President-Junior Program and Vice President-National Program all report to him. The General Technical Vice President is also responsible for the coordination of programs involving international competitions. In the absence of the National President he will preside over all Governing Board meetings and carry out the National President's duties. He is to prepare an annual report indicating the NGJA's international accomplishments of the previous year. This report is to be made available to all Directors, Officers, Technical Committee Members and Member Associations.

The Technical Vice President-Junior Program is responsible for the coordination and delegation of all technical matters pertaining to Junior Programs. This includes interpretations, certifications and the nominations of judges for the various competitions. He gives direction to, and is assisted as well as advised by, four (4) Regional Junior Program Technical Directors. He is to prepare an annual report indicating the accomplishments of the previous year relating to the NGJA Junior Program. This report is to be made available to all Directors, Officers, Technical Committee Members and Member Associations. He is also an ex officio non-voting member of the Junior Program Technical Committee for the term that follows his expired term.

The Technical Vice President-National Program is responsible for the coordination and delegation of all technical matters relating to the National Program, including college competitions. He is responsible for rules interpretations, certifications and the nomination of judges for national competitions. He gives direction to, and is assisted as well as advised by, the four (4) Regional Technical Directors and their Assistant Technical Directors. He is to prepare an annual report indicating the accomplishments of the previous year relating to the NGJA National Program. He is also an ex officio non-voting member of the Technical Committee for the term that follows his expired term.

The Technical Secretary shall keep records pertaining to all technical matters. The Secretary is responsible for the publication and distribution of all technical writings. He is a voting member of all technical committees.

The Executive Secretary shall keep records of all Member Associations and all NGJA members for the purposes of voting and membership. He shall send minutes, serve notices, maintain records, and in general, perform all secretarial duties as needed. In the absence of the National President and General Technical Vice President, he is to preside over all Governing Board Meetings.

The Treasurer is to receive and disburse funds as directed by the National President or Governing Board, maintain accounts, and present financial reports at least annually. He is responsible for all other pertinent treasurer's duties.

SECTION 2 Directors

The Directors shall perform all duties required of them. They shall attend all meetings, present, discuss and vote on all pertinent issues. The Regional Directors must represent their regions. The At-Large Directors must represent the entire membership.

ARTICLE XI

Committees

Committees may be formed, as needed, by the National President or by appointment of the Governing Board. A committee chairman may be designated by the National President or Governing Board. The committee chairman may then choose his own committee members without the approval of the Governing Board. He is responsible to report the work in progress to the National President and Governing Board as directed.

ARTICLE XII

Structure and Vote of the Governing Board

The maximum number of voting members on any one Governing Board is thirteen (13). They are:

National President	Regional Directors (four)
General Technical Vice President	At-Large Directors (two)
Executive Secretary	Technical Vice Pres National Program
Technical Secretary	Technical Vice President Junior Program
Treasurer

For all Governing Board meetings a quorum (seven) is needed in order to conduct business. Each Governing Board member has only one (1) vote. Mail votes may be conducted, if necessary.

The Governing Board may invite pertinent speakers to the meetings.

Governing Board meetings in addition to those required by these Bylaws may be called by the National President.

ARTICLE XIII

Seal of the corporation

The Seal of the Corporation shall be of the following form:

ARTICLE XIV

Corporate Year End

The fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on each September 30th., at which time the books of the Corporation shall be closed for all tax and accounting purposes.

APPENDIX I

ORGANIZATION OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

GOVERNING BOARD

		National President
	Executive Secretary	General Technical Vice President		Treasurer
Director West	Director Mid West	Director Mid East	Director East	Director At-Large	Director At-Large
	Technical VP-National Program	FIG MPC Member (Non Voting)		Technical VP - Junior Program	Technical Secetary

• A list of all participants who earned a National and/or Junior Olympic Card, including:

• The Course Report is to be sent to the National Executive Secretary and the appropriate Regional Director and Technical Director.