ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC).

ARTICLE II

ORGANIZATION AND MEMBERSHIP

The object of this Conference shall be to promote education and the development of students through intercollegiate athletics in the universities or colleges represented by this Conference.

The following institutions are current members of the Red River Athletic Conference.

ARTICLE III

MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.  New members may be admitted upon invitation by the Conference by submitting an application to the Chairman of the Council of Presidents by September 1, of the year prior to the effective date of admission.  All new members will be required to have three men and three women sports. (one sport in the fall, one in the winter, and one in the spring).  The new members will be admitted upon the approval of the Presidents.  No proxy voting is allowed.

Section 2.  Annual dues shall be determined by the Council of Presidents.  Dues are payable immediately after July 1, the beginning of the fiscal year.  Membership dues become delinquent after September 1.  All institutions delinquent in the payment of dues could be placed on probation or have their membership terminated upon the decision of the presidents. 

Section 3.  A member wishing to withdraw from this Conference may do so by submitting a resignation in writing to the Conference Council of Presidents’ Chair at the fall or spring meeting. Resignations become effective at the end of that academic year.

Section 4.  This Conference is affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and subscribes to the purposes and rules of eligibility of the association as a minimum standard.

ARTICLE IV

MEETINGS

Section 1.  There will be at least two meetings of the Council of Presidents annually. Of which one may be a conference call.  These meetings will be determined by the Conference Commissioner at the direction of the Council of Presidents.  

Section 2.    Special meetings shall be called by the Commissioner or upon request of one-half of the members of the Conference, and these special meetings shall be at the place designated by the petitioners, or named by the Commissioner.

Section 3.  There shall be yearly meetings of the Conference coaches to discuss matters related to their sport and to make recommendations for consideration by the Conference.  The chairman of each coaching group shall be determined by a majority vote of the coaches in that sport.

Section 4.  There will be at least two regular meetings of the Red River Athletic Conference Athletic Directors, Faculty Athletic Representatives, and Coaches at least ten days prior to the Presidents’ meetings.  Times, dates and locations will be set by the Council of Presidents or the Commissioners.

ARTICLE V

GOVERNANCE

Section 1.  The Conference shall have the following committees:

• Council of Presidents composed of the president from each member institution.

• Eligibility Committee shall be composed of the Eligibility Chair and the Faculty Athletic Representative from each member institution. The Commissioner is an ex-officio member of the Eligibility Committee.

• Athletic Committee shall be composed of the Conference Commissioner and the Athletic Director from each member institution.

• Sports Committees shall be composed of the coaches in each sport. 

Section 2.  A quorum shall consist of one over half of membership vote of any committee.  Voting by proxy is prohibited.

Section 3.  This constitution may be amended at a regular meeting by a simple majority vote of the membership, provided that such an amendment is presented in writing at the immediate preceding regular meeting.  Emergency action may be taken by the unanimous consent of the members of the Eligibility Committee, subject to the approval of the Council of Presidents.

Section 4.  Under this constitution, bylaws are authorized.  There shall be a set of bylaws to govern and control the activities of the Conference.  Bylaws must be passed by the Eligibility Committee of the conference, subject to the approval of the Council of Presidents. 

Section 5.  The appeal of any decision can be made in writing to the Council of Presidents.

Section 6.  The Eligibility Committee shall be responsible for all academic and eligibility issues.  Decisions of this Committee shall be reported to the Council of Presidents.

Section 7.  The intercollegiate athletic activities in the institutions of this conference shall be under the control of the chief executive officer of each institution.

Section 8.  The Eligibility Committee must assume full responsibility for enforcing the eligibility rules of the Conference.

ARTICLE VI

COUNCIL OF PRESIDENTS

Section 1.  Membership on the Council of Presidents requires concurrent service as a chief executive officer of a member institution.

Section 2.  The officers of the council of Presidents shall be composed of the Chair and the Vice-Chair.   Officers shall rotate on a two-year cycle among the presidents of the member institutions.  The Vice-Chair shall be the succeeding officer.  In the event a President feels he/she cannot accept this responsibility when his/her turn arrives, the leadership may pass to the president of the next school listed in alphabetical order.

Section 3.  The Council of Presidents shall have primary responsibility for conference membership and shall review and approve all policy recommendations.

Section 4.  The Council of Presidents may meet more often as deemed necessary, at such time and place as may be determined by the chairperson.

Section 5.  The Vice-Chair shall assume all duties of the Chair in his/her absence for any reason or disqualification.

ARTICLE VII

THE COMMISSIONER

Section 1.  There shall be one commissioner of the RRAC.  The commissioner shall be appointed by the Council of Presidents and the commissioner shall be responsible directly to the Council of Presidents.

Section 2.  The Commissioner:

Section 2.  The Commissioner:

• Shall act on all game protests.

• Shall keep a copy of all Conference athletic records.

• Shall maintain Conference correspondence and the property of the Conference.

• Shall be responsible for all awards and trophies in all sports.

• Shall be in charge of all post season men’s and women’s sporting events when four or more institutions are involved.

• Shall appoint the Eligibility Chair, who in turn, shall be responsible directly to the Commissioner.

• Shall appoint the Sports Information Director, who in turn, shall be responsible directly to the Commissioner.

• Shall secure and have on file minutes of all conference committee meetings

• Shall report any inappropriate behavior of coaches to the Eligibility Committee.

• Shall maintain statistical records for each conference sport and provide the compiled information weekly to coaches, news media, and the national organizations with which the conference is affiliated.  In addition, weekly summary stories and conference standings should be released to the Associated Press.  This will be coordinated with the Conference Sports Information Director.

• Shall bill each basketball participating institution one time for the total amount due for the assigned basketball officials.  Each institution is responsible for assigning officials for the other sports in which the institution participates.

• Shall see that each basketball official is paid for services rendered as well as supply applicable W-2 tax forms.

• All regularly authorized expenditures shall be paid by the secretary when presented by itemized accounts and signed by the individuals authorized to make expenditures.

• Shall send notices and collect all Conference dues.

• Shall submit records annually for audit from a reputable CPA firm.

Section 3.  The Conference Eligibility Chair shall be appointed by the Conference Commissioner and shall:

• Serve as the Conference Representative to the NAIA National Convention.

• Serve as chair of the Eligibility Committee

Section 4.  The conference secretary shall be appointed by the conference commissioner and shall be responsible for maintaining minutes of all meetings and up to date records of all conference members.

ARTICLE VIII

ELIGIBILITY COMMITTEE

Section 1.  The Eligibility Committee shall have responsibility for all academic and eligibility issues.  A majority vote of all members present and voting shall be required on all matters brought for consideration.

Section 2.  Each member of the conference shall be represented at all meetings by one voting delegate who shall be a regular member of the faculty of that institution and who is not directly connected with any of the fields of intercollegiate athletics.  These delegates shall be called the Faculty Athletics Representatives (FARs) and shall be the Eligibility Committee of the conference. 

Section 3.  The Eligibility Committee shall have a chair.  The Commissioner is an ex officio member of the Eligibility Committee.  The Secretary shall be elected at the spring meeting, and shall be responsible for taking and dispersing the minutes of the meetings.  The secretary shall be responsible for taking the minutes of regular meetings and submitting them to the conference secretary.

Section 4.  The Committee shall act as counselor and arbitrator for all of the members of the conference in the interest of good sportsmanship.

Section 5.  The Committee shall publish and distribute updates of the constitution and bylaws as changes are made by the conference.

Section 6.  The Conference Eligibility Chair shall serve as the chair of the Eligibility Committee.  The FAR from each member school is a member of the Eligibility Committee.  A minimum of two FARs shall be randomly selected from the conference FARs to serve on individual case.

A majority vote on all violations and appeals is required in determining a recommendation to accompany all cases sent to the national office.

• The committee’s members shall pursue, investigate all matters pertaining to the eligibility of conference athletes and institutions.

• This committee shall be responsible for the formulation of a recommendation to send to the national NAIA office involving any violation or appeal to a standard rule.

• This committee shall follow procedures as outlined in the Official Handbook of the NAIA.

• There will be no proxy votes.

ARTICLE IX

ATHLETIC COMMITTEE

Section 1.  The Athletic Committee shall be composed of the Director of Athletics from each member institution, and chaired by the Conference Commissioner.

Section 2.  The Athletic Committee shall consist of a chair appointed by the Athletic Directors, the Conference Commissioner, and, an Athletic Director from each member school.  The conference secretary shall be responsible for taking minutes and dispersing them to the membership.  The Conference Eligibility Chair shall be an ex-officio member without vote.

Section 3.  The Athletic Committee shall be responsible for games, meets, tournaments, and other similar intercollegiate activities.

Section 4.  The chairman of the individual sports committees will meet in the fall and spring and make recommendations to the Athletic at their regular conference meeting. 

ARTICLE X

SPORTS COMMITTEES

Conference sports committees shall be composed of a head coach of the individual sport.  The committee will meet in the fall and spring and make recommendations to the Athletic Directors at their regular conference meeting.  The head coach of the individual sport will call the meetings.

ARTICLE XI

NON-PROFIT STATUS

Section 1.  This organization is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of section 501, c, 3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from Federal Income tax under section 501, c, 3 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law).

Upon the winding up and dissolution of this corporation, after paying or adequately providing for the debts and obligations of the corporation, the remaining assets shall be distributed to a nonprofit fund, foundation, or corporation which is organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious and/or scientific purposes and which has established its tax-exempt status under section 501, c, 3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Section 2.  The Commissioner shall communicate with the Internal Revenue Service in regard to all financial matters.