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The North Grounds Softball League (NGSL) organizes, manages, and runs the recreational softball league at the University of Virginia School of Law. The league runs a fall and a spring season each school year and encourages any and all interested students to participate. NGSL Commissioners are charged with umping all season games, as well as managing the conditions of the playing fields.

Each spring, the NGSL holds an annual Softball Invitational, with proceeds from the event going to Children, Youth and Family Services, a local nonprofit charitable organization providing a range of services for children and families. Over 100 teams from law schools around the country come to Charlottesville to participate in the three-day long tournament, which is the largest of its kind in the nation and includes play at over seven fields in the Charlottesville area, a BBQ, parties, and more.

CONSTITUTION FOR THE NORTH GROUNDS SOFTBALL LEAGUE             (back to top)

Article I: NAME.

North Grounds Softball League ("NGSL")


Article II: PURPOSE.

(1) There are two primary purposes of the NGSL:

(a) to organize and run the University of Virginia School of Law softball league for the benefit and enjoyment of all the members of the community who wish to participate. Participation is not limited to students enrolled solely at the Law School;

(b) to organize and run the University of Virginia School of Law Spring Softball Invitational for the benefit and enjoyment of any law school who wishes to bring a team.

(i) proceeds from the Tournament go to a local Charlottesville charity.

Article III: MEMBERSHIP.

(1) New Members of the NGSL are selected twice an academic year or once per academic semester by the current membership of the organization.

(2) The requirements of membership include:

(a) Current matriculation at the University of Virginia School of Law;

(b) The student is not a first year law student in his or her first semester;

(c) The student is not a third year law student in his or her last semester.

(3) The organization will not restrict membership and/or activity by reason of age, citizenship, color, disability, gender, race, religion, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or status as a disabled veteran or veteran of the Vietnam eras. Notwithstanding these requirements, the organization may restrict membership based on an ability to perform the activities related to the organizations purpose.


Article IV: OFFICERS.

(1) The Managing Board of the NGSL is comprised of six (6) elected positions.

(a) Head Commissioner - the head commissioner is the executive head of the organization. It is the responsibility of the head commissioner to oversee and approve all activities and expenditures of the organization. Some of these duties include:

(i) approving the annual budget;

(ii) running the fall and spring softball leagues (making game schedules, approving rosters, etc.);

(iii) overseeing and working with the treasurer, head umpire, tournament directors, and head of fields to ensure that their duties are carried out in a manner consistent with this constitution and in the best interests of the NGSL;

(iv) acting as the official representative of the organization in matters involving the University of Virginia School of Law administration, members of the School of Law student body, other student organizations, or members of the community outside the School of Law.

(b) Tournament Directors - The tournament directors are responsible for organizing and running the annual University of Virginia School of Law Spring Softball Invitational. Their responsibilities include: reserving and setting up fields of play, finalizing team registration, selecting a proper charity.

(c) Treasurer - the treasurer is responsible for managing the financial health and affairs of the organization. These responsibilities include crafting an annual budget, keeping accurate and current financial records, and otherwise maintaining the good financial health of the organization.

(d) Head Umpire - The Head Umpire is responsible for organizing a schedule for umpiring games. This individual is also responsible for training new members of the organization, and making sure all players, captains, and umpires are informed of the playing rules.

(e) Head of Fields - The Head of Fields is responsible for maintaining Copeley Field, making improvements to the field, and determining when the scheduled games should be cancelled due to the weather.

Article V: ELECTIONS.

(1) Members of the Managing Board are elected once every academic year at the end of the spring semester at "Election Night."

(2) The Head Commissioner, the Treasurer, the Tournament Directors, and the Head Umpire are elected at the Elections Night by a simple majority with quorum present.

(a) to be eligible for nomination as Head Commissioner, a student must be entering his or her third year of law school.

(3) The new Head of Fields is selected by the Head Commissioner and the current Head of Fields, but only after the rest of the Managing Board positions have been filled.

(4) Members of the Managing Board are elected to single year terms and can be removed from office by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote with quorum present.

Article VI: COMMITTEES.

The Tournament Directors will annually create and staff various committees for the purpose of planning and operating the University of Virginia School of Law Spring Softball Invitational.

Article VII: MEETINGS.

(1) The NGSL holds two regularly scheduled meeting a semester.

(a) the purpose of the first meeting is to set the playing schedule for the upcoming season;

(b) the purpose of the second meeting is to elect new members into the organization.

(2) In addition to the two regularly scheduled meetings, there is an additional meeting at the end of the spring semester to elect new officials for the subsequent academic year.

Article VIII: FINANCE.

(1) There are no financial requirements to membership in the NGSL.

(2) All expenditures for the Softball Invitational must be authorized by either the Head Commissioner, Treasurer, or the Tournament Directors as they see fit to plan and operate the Softball Invitational.

(3) An annual budget will be prepared by the Treasurer and approved by the Head Commissioner before the beginning of each fall academic term. The budget will be made available to the entire membership of the NGSL within a week of its approval. Failure to prepare and gain approval of the budget will absolutely prevent any funds to be expended on behalf of the NGSL until such time as a budget is approved by the Head Commissioner.

(4) Only the student members of the organization may have voting powers with regard to expenditures of the Student Activities Funds ("SAF"). Furthermore, expenditures of all funds must be made in a non-discriminatory fashion.

(5) Any expenditure that is not provided for in the annual budget must receive the approval of the Head Commissioner before it is made.

Article IX. AMENDMENTS AND BY-LAWS.

None as yet.