Democratic Action
The Constitution provides for the election of each member of
the National Board of Directors, the Officers of the program and the State Directors to
three year terms of office.
The nominations for the National Board of Directors and state
directors are mailed to the President on or before August 15 each year and the President,
or a national board member designated by him, shall conduct national board and state
director elections. Nominations may be made by any league holding a current franchise. The
list of nominees is mailed by September 1 to each league, and a mail vote will elect board
members. September 15 is the deadline for leagues to return their ballots to the
President.
Each state shall elect a member of the board each year.
States having three members shall elect a member for a three-year term. States having one
member shall elect a member for a one-year term. Each member elected shall receive a
majority of votes cast.
In states where an increase or decrease in the total number
of teams occurs the number of eligible board members must be altered. The President will
advise what procedure to follow to accomplish the change.
The new National Board of Directors takes office on October
1. The officers for the coming term will be elected by the board at the annual meeting
during appropriate years.
With the exception of school leagues, or other Dixie
programs, no national officer, national director or state director shall be permitted to
participate in an official capacity in any other organized youth baseball program
operating in more than one state.
The election of the state director shall be conducted in the
same manner as the election of national directors, as outlined under Democratic Action,
paragraph 2. State directors shall be elected for a three-year term. If no one nominee
receives a majority of the votes for a specific position, a run-off-election between the
two top nominees, plus any ties for the top two positions, shall be conducted in the same
manner as the original election.
Only a duly authorized representative of a franchised league
is allowed to vote in any matter before district or state meetings. No one person can
represent more than one league. NOTE: A duly authorized representative of a league is the
league president or a person designated by him in writing who is active currently in the
voting league.
There shall be no State Constitution or By-Laws in conflict
with the intent, aims, purposes, and rules of the National Dixie Youth Baseball
organization.
All tournament sites are determined by each state
organization with all leagues having equal opportunity in hosting the event provided the
league can comply with the requirements established by the state organization. The state
requirements are to be determined in advance by each state and announced accordingly.
Rule changes suggested by national, state, district or local
officials during the season shall be mailed directly to the Deputy Commissioner not later
than June 1 of the current year. Suggestions received after this date shall be placed on
the agenda for consideration the following year. The Deputy Commissioner will mail a copy
of all suggestions and proposed rule changes to each director as soon as he assembles
them.
A financial statement is prepared by a C.P.A. firm annually
and is presented at the annual meeting. Copies of Dixie Youth publications are mailed
periodically to all league contacts to distribute to league officials and managers.
Intent of Dixie Youth Baseball
The most fundamental intent of the organizers of Little Boys
Baseball, Inc., was to develop a program which would emphasize local autonomy. It was our
philosophy and belief that the parents and workers in each local league know what is best
for them and their children. Since the mores (customs) of our people vary from community
to community, even within the same districts, it was necessary to leave such things as
night baseball, team selections and league operation up to the local leagues. There were
imposed upon the leagues certain fundamental rules that were deemed necessary for good
organization and which would keep one league from gaining an unfair advantage over another
such as boundary and population limits, the number of teams in a league and the age
brackets.
The next important philosophical belief was that the leagues
affiliated with the program should have a voice in the running of the program. Thus, the
provision for electing national board members from among the leagues to serve with the
organizers was made. It should be borne in mind that at the outset there were no
provisions for state organizations, nor state or district directors. The original concept
of governmental structure was the Board of Directors and the leagues. The necessity for
state directors was realized shortly after organizing and soon after the need for district
directors became apparent. There is nothing specific in our constitution governing state
organizations, state directors nor district directors.
Any governmental structure between the local leagues and the
national board exists for one reason...to serve the local leagues as administrative
adjuncts of the board. The idea of local leagues being dominated by a district or state
organization is in direct conflict with the original philosophy. The impositions of any
rule on a local league should be done with utmost reluctance and absolute necessity.
Code of Ethics
National Board of Directors
In accepting the office of National Director of Dixie Youth
Baseball, Inc., I recognize the responsibility incumbent upon me as a member of the Board
of Directors. I pledge myself to:
- Observe, practice and maintain ethical practices of this
office;
- Encourage all officials, workers and youth of each level of
the state program to abide by the rules of good sportsmanship;
- Promote and help build a program that will result in obedient,
patriotic and God-fearing youngsters;
- Respect and adhere to the principle that Dixie Youth Baseball
is a "fun" program, and that it is designed for the enjoyment of youngsters and
is not meant to be a hobby for adults;
- Recognize and support the main purpose of Dixie Youth Baseball
which is to provide a recreation outlet for as many as possible with emphasis being on
local league play rather than tournament play;
- Periodically evaluate and review all present and proposed
Dixie Youth Baseball rules and regulations to assure that they meet the guiding principles
of our program: the physical development of the growing youth, full participation for all
playing baseball and the safety factor as it involves youngsters playing baseball;
- Refrain from participation in an official capacity in any
other organized youth baseball program operating in more than one state;
- Demonstrate and persuade others in the program to accept the
moral principles of Dixie Youth Baseball by not participating in activities or using
products that are detrimental to the welfare of youth;
- Develop and promote a spirit of cooperative teamwork among
Dixie Youth program or from any sponsor or other person connected with the program;
- Accept no remuneration of personal services performed from the
Dixie Youth program or from any sponsor or other person connected with the program;
- Refrain from undignified electioneering when running for
election to the National Board. This includes making promises of benefit or threat of
reprisal to local leagues who vote in the election;
- Refrain from encouraging election or defeat of other
candidates who are running for the National Board either in my state or other state
elections; and
- Never use Dixie Youth Baseball for purposes other than those
which further the objectives of the program.
