ARTICLE I - Name

         The name of the organization shall be the Chess Association for Arkansas Schools (hereinafter CAAS).

ARTICLE II - Philosophy

         The CAAS believes that chess can be an integral part of any program because it shows students the reward of study and practice, enhances the development of critical thinking skills, cultivates creative problem solving, fosters self-esteem in a fun and motivating manner, and promotes good sportsmanship in a time-honored fashion.

         Through independent study and research, students learn principles that they can apply immediately, directly observing the link between their study and the results they achieve over the chessboard.

         A chess player quickly discovers that learning how to solve a problem can be more important than learning the solution to any specific problem.  Using all of their mental abilities to create strategies or devise plans, students learn to concentrate their attention on important factors while discarding any distractions.

         Chess is inherently an egalitarian competition because a player can be sure that - win, lose or draw - success depends solely on their ability to apply what he or she has learned and not on any other factor, whether of background or of circumstance.

         Like any other competitive activity, chess teaches students valuable lifelong  lessons: how to think coolly under pressure; how to win gracefully; and how to accept defeat and learn from it.

         Therefore, CAAS believes that encouraging and supporting competitive chess in our schools will contribute to the societal goal of raising literate and civilized citizens who will have the skills necessary to effectively participate in a democracy.

 

ARTICLE III - Purpose

         The primary purpose of CAAS is to organize and conduct interscholastic chess tournaments at various levels to achieve the following objectives:

1.     To provide another opportunity for all students to compete and benefit from participation in an activity according to their own level of interest and ability.

2.     To motivate students to use their critical thinking and problem solving skills.

3.     To demonstrate to students the value of improving their ability to concentrate on a problem at hand.

4.     To reinforce the correlation between focused study and success at a specific endeavor

5.     To encourage self-discipline among students and the heightened sense of self-esteem and empowerment that this ability can bring.

6.     To promote good sportsmanship as an essential aspect of a civilized life.

ARTICLE IV - Membership

         Section 1.  Eligibility

         All Chess Sponsors/Advisors/Coaches who meet the eligibility requirements of the Arkansas Activities Association shall be eligible for membership in CAAS.

         Section 2.  Individual Membership and Voting Privilege

         Every Chess Sponsor/Advisor/Coach is eligible for membership in CAAS, but they must register.  Each registered high school will have one vote.

ARTICLE V - Funding

         Should funding be discontinued for mailing, regional and state tournaments, etc., CAAS will formulate a funding policy for the provision of such funds.

ARTICLE VI - Executive Board

         Section 1.  Executive Board Composition

         The Organizational Board will consist of 24 members who are selected by region.  Fifteen (15) members will come from the Arkansas Educational Service  Cooperative Regions (1 per Cooperative) and nine (9) will be at-large members.  The Organizational Board will remain in effect for two (2) years.  At the end of this time, the Organizational Board will become the Executive Board.  The Executive Board will consist of fifteen (15) members:  one (1) from each of the fifteen (15) Arkansas Educational Service Cooperative Regions; eight (8) at-large members; and, one (1) from Pulaski County. The at-large members will be selected to balance out the school size representation so that there is a minimum of three (3) members per classification.  Nominations must be submitted in writing to the Regional Coordinators by the date determined by the Executive Board.  Executive Board members must be elected and assume duties by the date determined by the Executive Board.

         Section 2.  Terms

         All Executive Board members will serve three (3) year terms staggered to accommodate the terms of positions held by any member of the Executive Board.

         Section 3.  Duties

         The duty of the Executive Board members will be to act as liaisons between CAAS and member schools.

         Section 4.  Vacancies

         In the case of vacancy, the president will nominate a person to fill the position and the nominee will be confirmed by the Executive Committee.

          Section 5.  Positions of the Executive Board

         The following positions on the Executive Board, and/or any other positions that the Executive Committee deems necessary, will exist: Classification Coordinator; Regional Coordinator; Parliamentarian; Nominating Chairperson; and, Newsletter Editor. The position holders will be nominated by the president and confirmed by the Executive Board.                             

ARTICLE VII - Executive Committee

         Section 1.  Offices

         The Executive Committee shall consist of a president, president-elect, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and finance chairperson.  The immediate past president will also serve as an ex-officio member for one year.

         Section 2.  Elections

         All people nominated to hold Executive Committee positions must be members of the Executive Board.  Officers of the Executive Committee will be elected by the Executive Board and assume duties by July 15.

         Section 3.  Vacancies

         In case of vacancy, the president shall nominate a member of the Executive Board to fill the unexpired term.  The nominee must then be confirmed by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE VIII - Amendment Changes

         Proposed amendments to the constitution must be submitted in writing to the Executive Board by either of the following methods:

      1. they may be submitted to the Executive Board for consideration of placement on the ballot, or

      2. they may be submitted with a petition containing the signatures of 10% of the eligible voting members.  After       verification of the petition, the proposed amendment will be placed on the ballot.

ARTICLE IX - Rule Changes

         Proposed rule changes must be submitted in writing to the Executive Board by either of the following methods:

                   1. they may be submitted to the Executive Board for consideration of placement on the ballot, or

                   2. they may be submitted with a petition containing the signatures of 10% of the eligible voting members.  After verification of the petition, the proposed rule changes will be placed on the ballot.

ARTICLE X - Meetings

         Section 1.  Executive Board Meetings

         Meetings of the Executive Board will occur quarterly.  Special meetings can be called at the request of the Executive Committee or a majority of the Executive Board.

         Section 2.  Executive Committee Meetings

         Meetings of the Executive Committee will occur quarterly as well as any other time deemed necessary by the president or a majority of the Executive Board.

ARTICLE XI - Appeals

         The Executive Committee will set up an appeals process that will be defined in the by-laws.       


ARTICLE XII - Dissolution

         Whenever, for any reason, this association is dissolved or is no longer able to accomplish and carry out the specific purposes for which the association was formed, the Executive Board shall terminate the affairs of the association, pay its debts, and after this has been done, shall dispose of any remaining assets in a manner that will promote competitive scholastic chess in the state of Arkansas.

ARTICLE XIII - Ratification

         The constitution shall become effective when it has been ratified by a majority vote.