Constitution & By-Laws

Name

The name of this association is the Retirees Invitational Golf Group (RIGG), a non-profit association located in Santa Clara County, State of California.

Purpose & Profile

1. To organize, promote, and provide for senior golfers to come together for golf, fellowship, and recreation while furthering the best interests of the game.
2. To encourage conformance to USGA and NCGA rules of golf.
3. To maintain a uniform system of handicapping through the NCGA/USGA GHIN, with official handicap indexes issued for all members.
4. RIGG is overseen by a Board of Directors who govern the club and organize outings and competition at various courses.
5. Membership aligns with the NCGA, whose Associate Clubs are formed by golfers "associated by common interest." RIGG's associate NCGA club membership is that of retired men.

Membership, Dues & Meetings

1. New applicants must be recommended by a current member, or learn of RIGG via the NCGA or other means.
2. Applicants complete the online application and submit it to the Vice President of membership and recruitment.
3. Applicants play with two Officers over one or more rounds to demonstrate their understanding of the rules, appreciation of the game, and an ability to play in a manner becoming of RIGG membership.
4. After suitable rounds with Officers, the VP recommends the applicant to the Board with their profile. Upon acceptance by simple majority, the VP coordinates onboarding with the Treasurer, Roster/Handicap, Prize Coordinator/Webmaster, and Master Scheduler. The new member is informed, submits dues, and gains access to RIGG's tools. Applicants who don't meet requirements are notified by the VP.
5. Yearly dues include required NCGA and RIGG membership, paid annually in November for a year beginning January 1. Membership is automatically cancelled for failure to pay dues.
6. The Board may revoke membership of any member whose conduct discredits the club or who repeatedly violates the rules or courtesies of golf, or fails to play regularly. Revocation requires written notice and the right to a hearing within 30 days; a 2⁄3 vote of the Board is then required.
7. The Board may confer honorary memberships for longtime contributions, proposed by a Board member and approved by unanimous vote.
8. The Annual Meeting is held in the fourth quarter to elect officers (as needed) and conduct business. Special general meetings may be called by petition of at least 25 members. A quorum is 33⅓% of the members.
9. Board meetings take place in January and again in July or August, with others called as needed. Seven Board members constitute a quorum.

Elections

1. Board elections are held every second year at the fourth-quarter Annual Meeting; elected officers assume duties immediately — President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Roster Oversight/Handicap Chair, Prize Coordinator/Webmaster, Contracts Manager, Master Scheduler, Collector Manager, and up to three Directors at Large.
2. The President and each incumbent officer select replacement candidates, or the President appoints a three-member nominating committee by October of an election year. The slate is posted to members 30 days before the Annual Meeting. Up to 15 days before, any member may add a nominee by written request including the nominee's signed agreement to serve. The candidate with the most votes among those present is elected.
3. Vacancies during the year: the Vice-President takes over for the President; all other vacancies are filled by the President with Board-majority approval.

Officers & Committees

1. President — calls and presides at meetings (or designates an alternate), arranges the annual audit of the Treasurer's records, and appoints replacements for officers who cannot serve, subject to ratification.
2. Vice-President — assists the President and assumes his duties in his absence, chairs Membership/Recruitment, and serves as the club's NCGA representative.
3. Treasurer — responsible for all funds, pays bills, signs checks, and reports finances at every meeting. A separate audit is conducted yearly.
4. Roster & Handicap Chair — oversees handicap calculation and distribution per the NCGA, collects scores, and posts weekly results.
5. Webmaster & Prize Coordinator — records prizes from weekly and team events and annual awards, and maintains the RIGG website including the online sign-up sheets.
6. Contracts Coordinator — schedules courses, negotiates contracts, and assembles the schedule, fees, and course requirements into a single working document.
7. Master Scheduler — recruits and organizes schedulers and back-ups, and oversees sign-up sheets.
8. Collector Coordinator — recruits and schedules collectors for tournaments where the course won't take direct payment.
9. Secretary — records the minutes of all meetings and handles routine correspondence as directed.
10. Except as modified by the Board, committees function as recommended by the NCGA Golf Committee Manual.

Board of Directors

1. The Board consists of the nine elected officers plus the Past President, exercising all management powers of the association.
2. The President or designee calls Board meetings; seven members constitute a quorum. Up to three At-Large members may support the Board in managing the association.

Amendments & By-Laws

The Board may amend, repeal, or add to this document during the year, subject to ratification at the December General Meeting or a special-purpose meeting held to address the change.

Interpretation

The Constitution and By-Laws are interpreted by the Board, subject to appeal by the membership at a general meeting.

Liability

1. The association and its Board assume no liability for any member's actions in connection with an association function. Each member is responsible for all injury, behavior, and damages they cause, and agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the association, its officers, and directors.
2. The association assumes no liability for debts owed by members from any association-sponsored function.