Proposed Bylaw Changes

Bylaw Section

Original Wording

Changed Wording

Rationale

Comments/Questions

Article III, Section 1A1B

have the use of not less than eighteen-hole golf course situated within a radius of sixty miles from Philadelphia’s City Hall (radius of 30 miles or greater at the discretion of the Executive Committee, for Team Match participation.)

have use of not less than eighteen-hole golf course situated within a radius of 75 miles from Philadelphia’s City Hall (radius of 30 miles or greater at the discretion of the Executive Committee, for Team Match participation.)

Increasing the distance of the radius allows for more membership opportunities for clubs, as well as women who are just outside the current radius. This would not impact the distance traveled for team matches.

Why did you take out the part about organizations joining?

Because we want some more time to explore options for associate memberships, etc. and ways to be fair with the fees, access to tournaments, etc.

What happens to our current 9-hole clubs that are already members?

They are grandfathered in.  Any future by-law changes would not change their status as a WGAP club.

What is a “member club”? 

A member club is an approved facility by the Executive Committee.  Member clubs that are already members are grandfathered in.  None of the proposed changes would affect their status.

Can a public course be a member club?

A lot of area public courses are offering golf memberships (i.e. Honeybrook).  Members at any golf course approved by the Executive Committee that have a golf membership (weekday at the current time) are eligible to join.

Increasing the radius to 75 miles won’t affect team matches?

No.  Team match radius is still 30 miles with a few clubs preapproved just outside that radius.  The clubs that may join based on the radius increase would join knowing their members would have access to tournaments and open days only.

Please clarify membership privileges with respect to Open days and Team Match participation. Recommendations were offered to adopt a tiered structure to create clarity over privileges with respect to Open Days, Team Match play and Tournament participation. 

Any WGAP member at a member club that extends Open Day play privileges is allowed to make use of the 7 Open Days.  Team match participation is dependent on the club being within the radius and having a team for the individual to play on.

Article III, Section 1B1

Any amateur female golfer, who maintains full golfing privileges (all weekdays without paying greens fees) in a Member Club, may become an Individual Member.

Any female, as defined in accordance with the rules and policies of the USGA, who is an amateur golfer with an active handicap, and who has a golf membership as defined by her Member Club, may become an Individual Member.

This is reworded to reflect our following of USGA policies. We recognize that clubs have different types of golf memberships that didn’t fall under the full golf definition and would like to be more inclusive. 

Why did you take out the part about a women who is a member of an approved organization?

See above answer.

Will membership be restricted by any other measure? 

Yes, the members will still have to have an active GHIN handicap with an index of 36.0 or less.

Is this change intended to extend to Open Days and Team Match play? 

This change puts the onus of defining a golfing member on the member club.  Since clubs have so many membership categories, there is no way for WGAP to have one definition of what a golf membership is.  

COMMENT:  Strongly encourage a holistic approach to the bylaw changes to address such issues over privileges and golfers with full golfing privileges at their member clubs vs. other forms of membership (non-resident, social).  A tiered approach within the bylaws will promote clarity and equity.  Also, not in favor of extending Team Match and Open Days to non-resident and social members at private clubs.

Article V, Section 3

Vacancy in Office. Any vacancy on the Executive Committee shall be filled by an Individual Association Member selected by the Executive Committee.

Vacancy in Office. A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification due to absence without reasonable cause may be filled by the Executive Committee within 60 days for the unexpired portion of the term of office.

If during the year, a vacancy was to come up on the Executive Committee, we feel it is important that it be filled in a timely manner.

Why 60 days?

We wanted to give the committee time to find a replacement.  Also, if an EC member leaves in June, for example, it would be critical to fill the vacancy.  But, if the EC member left in October, the season is over and it wouldn’t be as critical to fill the position with the new EC coming in December. 

Recommend that the Nominating Committee be charged with replacements vs. the EC to ensure appropriate representation.

The Nominating Committee is in place to provide the slate the for the Annual Meeting.  It is not a year-round position.

Article V, Section 5D3

close the books at the end of the fiscal year and submit them for an audit to a certified public accountant designated by the Executive Committee.

close the books at the end of the fiscal year and submit them for review or audit to a certified public accountant designated by the Executive Committee.

In the hierarchy of CPA parlance, audit is the most comprehensive, then review, then compilation. In order to comply with the highest standards of Pennsylvania not-for-profit law, we are proposing either a review or audit annually.

No time frame given for when these will occur?
In the proposed wording, it says annually.  Both a review and audit are done by an outside CPA.

COMMENT:  Recommend bi-annual audits with reviews performed in alternating years.

Article VI, Section 2B1(a)

In the event that the Annual Meeting is cancelled, the slate of Officers and Executive Committee Members shall be elected by mail ballot.

(addition below that)

a. Mail and email ballots will be tabulated by the current year’s Nominating Committee.

This ensures the validity of the results.

How will tabulation be monitored? 
This would be taken care of by the nominating committee, a group of women who are not on the current Executive Committee. 

Article VII, Section 1B

In the event of an emergency, the Executive Committee by a two-thirds (2/3) vote may cancel the Annual Meeting.   All members shall be notified of the cancellation in a manner determined by the Executive Committee to be fair and reasonable under the circumstances.

In the event of an emergency, the Executive Committee by a vote of eight may cancel the Annual Meeting.   All members shall be notified of the cancellation in a manner determined by the Executive Committee to be fair and reasonable under the circumstances.

Changed to a vote of 8 to remain consistent throughout the bylaws.

Article VII, Section 2A

Special meetings of the Association may be called by the president or shall be called by her at the request of a majority of the Executive Committee or at the written request of five Member Clubs, stating the business that is proposed. Two weeks’ notice of a special meeting shall be mailed to all Member Clubs. A special meeting can take action that will be legally binding on only such business as is specified in the notice of the meeting.

Special meetings of the Association may be called by the president or shall be called by her at the request of a majority of the Executive Committee or at the written request of five Member Clubs, stating the business that is proposed. Two weeks’ notice of a special meeting shall be mailed or emailed to all Member Clubs. A special meeting can take action that will be legally binding on only such business as is specified in the notice of the meeting.

PA Not for Profit law now allows notice to be given by email. This change allows us to communicate in the most efficient way with Member Clubs.

Article XI, Section 1

The headquarters shall be located at 1974 Sproul Road, Broomall, PA or such other place designated by the Executive Committee.

The headquarters shall be located at 101 Bill Smith Boulevard, King of Prussia, PA or such other place designated by the Executive Committee.

Address change noted.