Proposed Bylaws
ARTICLE VI – MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: A DHA member shall be defined as a custodial parent or legal guardian of a player participating in either regular season session of the Learn to Play Program (Starter Stealth); a custodial parent or legal guardian of a player participating on a regular season 6U (mini-Mite) or 8U (Mite) team; a custodial parent or legal guardian of a player rostered on a DHA team scheduled to play at least twelve (12) regular season games; or a board approved and rostered regular season volunteer head or assistant coach, Executive Board member, or Executive Committee member, even if such individual does not have a child participating during the current regular season. All other individuals, including on-ice helpers and non-rostered coaches, are not eligible for membership. Participation in programs not listed in this Section does not qualify a family for membership consideration.
Section 2: For player-family members and regular season volunteer coaches, membership shall be tied to participation during DHA's regular season, which is defined as September through March of the applicable USA Hockey membership period. Spring Hockey and Summer Hockey sessions, summer practices and training sessions, summer and winter camps, participation in seeding tournaments, and all other activities outside the regular season are excluded from the membership period and shall not be considered for membership eligibility.
Player-family and volunteer coach memberships shall begin September 1 and conclude at the end of the regular season in March, extending no later than March 31. Executive Board and Executive Committee members shall remain members year-round during their period of service, regardless of whether they have a child participating during that season.
The Executive Board shall have authority under Article X to interpret and apply this provision, along with all other bylaws, including determining questions regarding the duration and scope of membership.
Section 3: A member shall be considered in good standing when all required registration fees and assessments have been paid, all DHA-issued equipment has been returned or otherwise accounted for, and the member is not under suspension or other disciplinary sanction imposed pursuant to these Bylaws.
Members who are not in good standing may not vote, hold office, participate in nominations or elections, or exercise other membership privileges until the deficiency is resolved.
Section 4: Membership in DHA is a privilege intended to promote a positive, respectful, and safe environment for players, families, coaches, volunteers, officials, rink personnel, and other participants.
Members are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Association and shall refrain from conduct that disrupts, undermines, or harms the organization or its participants. Membership conduct standards, including but not limited to any related discipline or appeals, shall be governed by the DHA Member Code of Conduct.
Section 5: A violation of the DHA Member Code of Conduct may constitute grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including suspension, denial of future participation, or in-season termination of membership. Violations of the DHA Member Code of Conduct include, but are not limited to abuse, harassment, or intimidation, disruptive conduct, inappropriate communications and social media conduct, conduct detrimental to the Association, or any other conduct the DHA Executive Board determines warrants discipline.
The DHA Executive Board and/or DHA Disciplinary Committee may consider the cumulative effect of conduct occurring over multiple seasons. While a single incident may not warrant discipline, a pattern of behavior that the DHA Executive Board and/or DHA Disciplinary Committee determines to be harmful to the welfare, operations, volunteers, participants, or reputation of DHA and/or its members may constitute conduct detrimental to the Association.
Section 6: Members may be subject to verbal warnings, written warnings, restrictions on participation, suspension, denial of future participation, or termination of membership as provided in the DHA Member Code of Conduct.
Section 7: Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit members from expressing opinions, raising concerns, seeking clarification, reporting misconduct, or communicating with USA Hockey, Mid-Am District, SafeSport, or other appropriate governing authorities in good faith.
No member shall be disciplined solely for asking questions, expressing respectful disagreement, seeking clarification of bylaws or policies, reporting concerns, or utilizing grievance procedures.
Section 8: Members that have been suspended, restricted from participating in in-season activities, had their membership terminated in-season, or deemed ineligible for future participation/membership by the DHA Disciplinary Committee or DHA Executive Board have the right to appeal the decision.
A. A member affected by restrictions on participation, suspension, or termination of membership during an active DHA membership period by the DHA Disciplinary Committee for violations of the DHA Code of Conduct may appeal that decision.
The appeal must be submitted in writing, either electronically or hard copy, to the DHA Executive Board within fourteen (14) days of receiving written notice of the disciplinary decision.
The appeal shall identify the basis for the request, including any additional information the member believes should be considered.
The DHA Executive Board shall review the appeal at its next regularly scheduled meeting or at a special meeting called for that purpose. The Board may request additional written information or permit the member to appear before the Board to provide a statement.
DHA Executive Board members who served on the DHA Disciplinary Committee or who have a material conflict of interest regarding the matter shall abstain from participating in the appeal.
The Executive Board may affirm, modify, or reverse the disciplinary decision by a two-thirds (67%) vote of the remaining eligible Executive Board members.
The decision of the Executive Board shall be final, subject only to any rights provided under applicable USA Hockey or Mid-Am District policies.
B. The Executive Board retains sole authority to determine eligibility for participation in future DHA programs.
At the conclusion of a membership period, the DHA Executive Board may determine that an individual or family is ineligible for future participation if, after considering the member's cumulative conduct, interactions with the Association, and the best interests of DHA, the Board concludes that continued participation would be detrimental to the organization, its volunteers, its business partners, its players, or its membership.
A determination regarding future participation is an administrative eligibility decision and shall not be considered a disciplinary termination of an active membership. Denial of future eligibility for an individual or family requires approval by a two-thirds (67%) majority of the DHA Executive Board.
A member or family deemed ineligible for future participation may submit a written request (appeal) for reconsideration to the DHA Executive Board no sooner than twelve (12) months after the effective date of the Board's decision, unless the DHA Executive Board establishes a different period at the time the determination is made. Requests for reconsideration shall explain the basis for the request and describe any material changes in circumstances that support reinstatement.
The DHA Executive Board may approve the request for reinstatement by a two-thirds (67%) majority vote of the DHA Executive Board. The DHA Executive Board's reinstatement appeal decision shall be final.
Section 9: The DHA Executive Board shall have authority under Article X to interpret and apply all bylaws, determine membership status and eligibility, determine whether conduct is detrimental to the best interests of the DHA, and make decisions regarding future participation in DHA programs.