MID-AMERICA KARATE REGION
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I
SECTION 1
Name: This organization shall be known as the Mid-America Karate Region, LLC.

ARTICLE II

SECTION 1
Mission: The Mid-America Karate Region, LLC, is a member of the International Shotokan Karate Federation. The organization is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code. This will be made possible by attending and participating in local, regional and national events such as tests, clinics, camps, and tournaments.

SECTION 2
Objectives:
A.) To assure positive mental and emotional attitudes, good conduct, and respect for fellow karateka, instructors and officials.

B.) To teach that success can be achieved through hard work, dedication, and positive
attitude.

C.) To help students develop self-discipline and control of their emotions by enduring
strenuous training and continuous practice.

D.) To serve members and the community as a source of physical education and self defense information and training.

E.) To allow students the opportunity for cultural exchanges with other karateka from around the
world by attending national and international camps and tournaments.

SECTION 3
Operation: Mid-America Karate Region, LLC, shall comply with the applicable International Shotokan Karate Federation’s policies and procedures.

SECTION 4
Chief Instructor and Assistant Instructor: The Mid-America Karate Region, LLC, shall have a Chief Instructor/Technical Director and Assistant Instructor/Technical Director, appointed by the International Shotokan Karate Federation.

A.) Duties of the Chief Instructor and his assistant will include, but are not limited to, providing
technical instruction to all members of the Mid-America Karate Region, LLC, acting as chief
arbitrator at all regional events, and assisting all member clubs in any matters relating to the
art of karate-do.

B.) The Chief Instructor shall be given a monthly stipend as determined by the Board of
Directors.
BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I
SECTION 1
Membership: Any person belonging to a registered ISKF US club within the geographical area know as Mid-America shall be eligible to be a member of the Mid-America Karate Region, LLC, and the International Shotokan Karate Federation.

SECTION 2
Term: Shall be for one year. Enrollment periods are every three months, starting in January and continuing until the following January. Memberships are good for one year starting with the month of enrollment until the following year.

SECTION 3
Registration Fees: All registration fees shall be determined by the Mid-America Karate Region, LLC, Board of Directors and/or the ISKF US.

ARTICLE II

SECTION 1
Elections:
A.) All current members of the Mid-America Karate Region, LLC, in good standing are
eligible to be nominated for an office. Nominations will be opened one month prior to elections. Completed nomination forms must be submitted to the Executive Director at least one week prior to elections for an individual to be named on the ballot.

B.) Elections for Executive Offices and two non-appointed Board members shall be held in April of each even numbered year beginning in 2006, and newly elected officers shall
take charge with the May meeting of that year.

C.) Vacancies shall be filled as needed by the Chief Instructor and Assistant Instructor
until regular elections are scheduled.

D.) Only current members of the Mid-America Karate Region, LLC, in good standing may
vote in the election of officers, and serve on the Board of Directors.

E.) Ballots shall be tallied and validated by the Election Committee. The results of the election will be announced publicly within one week after elections are held.

SECTION 2
Terms of Office:
A.) Mid-America Karate Region, LLC, Executive Board Officers shall serve a two year
term, with no term limit.

B.) The Chief Instructor and Assistant Instructor shall appoint one Board member from
each registered ISKF Club within the Mid-America Karate Region, LLC,.

C.) All appointed Board members shall be given an annual ISKF membership card gratis.
Failure to attend the annual Board of Directors meeting will negate the gratis membership fee, unless a substitute attends in the members place.

D.) All non-appointed Board members shall be elected every two years.

E.) Each Board member will have one vote.

ARTICLE III
SECTION 1
President:

  • Shall enforce all rules governing the Board of Directors, as stated in the constitution.
  • Shall chair the annual Board meeting held each May.
  • Shall settle all disputes concerning issues that are not covered under the by-laws or current operating procedures.

SECTION 2
Vice-President:

  • Shall act as assistant to the President
  • Shall serve as chairperson of any committee appointed.
  • Shall, in the event of President’s resignation or absence, assume and discharge all the duties of the President.

SECTION 3
Executive Director:

  • Shall keep minutes at all board meetings.
  • Shall keep records of attendance at all meetings.
  • Shall serve on the Elections Committee and keep records of nomination forms and election results.
  • Shall be responsible for scheduling events, meetings, and all other necessary activities within the Mid-America Karate Region, LLC,.
  • Shall issue membership cards, kyu certificates, and all other necessary paperwork within the Mid-America Karate Region, LLC,.
  • Shall keep membership records for all Mid-America Karate Region, LLC, members and clubs.
  • Shall keep detailed financial records for the Mid-America Karate Region, LLC,.
  • Shall present a financial report at the annual Board of Directors meeting and a monthly financial report to the Chief Instructor and Assistant Instructor.
  • Shall pay all bills by check with documentation of all said bills.
  • Shall work with the Chief Instructor and Assistant Instructor to prepare financial records for an annual audit.
  • Shall be required to ensure that the organization is organized exclusively for charitable educational purposes under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
    ARTICLE IV

Any officer of the Mid-America Karate Region Board of Directors, who fails to perform his or her duties or acts in a manner which is a discredit to his or her office, can be impeached by the other members of the board. Removal from the Board of Directors requires a two-thirds vote of all Board members.

ARTICLE V

SECTION 1
Individual Club Responsibilities:
A.) Keep good records of all club business and events.

B.) Keep copies of forms on file. Forms may also be found on the Mid-America Karate
Region web site (http:/midamericaiskf.com.htm).

C.) Plan ahead, organize, and use good business sense even if profit is not a main priority.

D.) Uphold the ideals and rules of the ISKF and Mid-America Karate Region. This includes
sending in the appropriate forms, collecting the applicable fees, and processing such
materials in a timely fashion.

E.) Collect membership fees each quarter and send them to the Executive Director.

F.) Promote involvement at Mid-America Karate Region and ISKF events.

SECTION 2
Mid-America Karate Region, LLC, / ISKF Membership:

A.) Annual Mid-America Karate Region, LLC, /ISKF membership fees shall be determined
by the Board of Directors.

B.) All new members will be given an ISKF membership packet. Packets will be issued by the Executive Director, and will include a ISKF membership card and patch, which is to be worn on the members gi/uniform.

C.) All karateka in the Mid-America Karate Region LLC,, including all instructors and
senior students, must be current members in good standing in order to participate in
any Mid-America Karate Region, LLC, /ISKF sponsored event. Including, but not
limited to, the regional tournament, instructor trainee program, dan and kyu exams,
Master camp, Board of Directors meeting, and the ISKF/Collegiate National
Tournament.

D.) Regional membership numbers will be typed onto the ISKF cards and will be checked at all aforementioned events. Members who are not current will be required to pay the current membership fee at said events.
SECTION 2 (Continued)

F.) Kyu certificates will be processed only for students who are current members in good
standing within the Mid-America Karate Region, LLC,.

G.) Kyu certificates will be processed only for clubs in which the club instructor(s) is/are
(a) current member(s) in good standing within the Mid-America Karate Region, LLC,.
All exam results are to be reported to the Executive Director for every student within
60 days after completion of the exam. Failure to do so could result in nullification of promotion. (See Article VI, Section 5, Letter B)

ARTICLE VI

SECTION 1
Rules and Regulations:
A.) All members of the Mid-America Karate Region, LLC, must be members of registered
ISKF clubs or regionally recognized associate clubs.

B.) All karateka in the Mid-America Karate Region, LLC, including all instructors and
senior students, must be current members in good standing in order to participate in
any Mid-America Karate Region, LLC, /ISKF sponsored event. Including, but not
limited to, the regional tournament, instructor trainee program, dan and kyu exams,
Master camp, Board of Directors meeting, and the ISKF/Collegiate National
Tournament. (Article V, Section 2, Letter D).

C.) It is the responsibility of local ISKF clubs, instructors, club officers, representatives,
etc., to be sure that the club registration is current and that only current
Mid-America Karate Region, LLC, members in good standing are allowed to test.

D.) Kyu and/or Dan exam results will not be processed if the club registration is not
current and/or if the individual is not a current Mid-America Karate Region, LLC,
member in good standing.

E.) Testing is conducted by the Chief Instructor, and/or Assistant Instructor, or in the
event of an emergency, by persons authorized by the ISKF US.

SECTION 2
Dan Examinations:
A.) Mid-America Karate Region, LLC, Dan examinations will be conducted approximately
every six months.

B.) The Chief Instructor will conduct and/or authorize these examinations.

C.) Only current individual Mid-America Karate Region, LLC, members from registered
ISKF US clubs will be permitted to test. Permission to test for any dan rank is
dependent upon the successful completion of a dan test preview and the submission of
the Dan Exam preregistration form to the Executive Director prior to the date of
testing.

D.) The cost of Dan exams are determined by the Board of Directors.

E.) Promoted students are required to register their new rank within 60 days after an
examination. (See Article VI, Section 4, Letter A)
ARTICLE VI (Continued)

SECTION 3
Kyu Examinations:
A.) Kyu ranked students are to be examined approximately every three months. The
Chief Instructor and/or Assistant Instructor will conduct and/or authorize these
examinations. Additionally, examinations will be held at regularly scheduled Mid- America Karate Regional events.

B.) Locally held kyu examinations are encouraged to be conducted as district events. This
shall be determined by the geographical location within the Mid-America Karate
Region.

C.) As mentioned in Article VI, Section 1, Letter C, only current individual Mid-America Karate Region members will be allowed to test. It is the responsibility of local clubs to
make sure that their club registration and individual memberships are current prior to testing.

SECTION 4
Dan Registration:
A.) Registrations should be completed within 60 days after testing. Failure to do so could
result in nullification of promotion.

B.) The following items are to be sent to the Executive Director:
1.) Three (3) completed Dan registration forms.
2.) Two (2) passport-size photographs.
3.) Money order or check for the correct amount made payable to Mid-America Karate.

C.) Dan registration fees will be determined by the Board of Directors ISKF US.

D.) All Dan registration forms must be typed and signed by the local club instructor and
applicant.

SECTION 5
Kyu Registration:
A.) All kyu testing information shall be sent to the Executive Director within 60 days
after completion of the exam. Failure to do so could result in nullification of
promotion.

B.) Testing information shall include the following:
1.) An itemized list indicating testing results.
2.) New or renewed individual Mid-America Karate Region, LLC, memberships.
3.) An itemized account of all compensations provided to the test examiner.

SECTION 6
Kyu Testing fees:
A.) The test examiners compensation fee will be determined by the Board of Directors.

B.) Travel expenses to be paid will be determined by the Board of Directors. (Article VI, Section 7)

C.) An itemized account of all compensations are to be provided to the test examiner
and the Executive Director within 60 days of the test/clinic.

D.) Kyu certificate fees will be determined by the Board of Directors.

E.) Club instructors are advised to structure the examination fees in such a way as to
cover the listed expenses.

F.) Send a check or money order made payable to Mid-America Karate for Kyu
registration fees and individual Mid-America Karate Region, LLC, memberships to the
Executive Director.

G.) The Executive Director will be compensated for each membership card and kyu
certificate typed. This will be determined by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 7
Additional Compensation:
A.) The Chief Instructor, Assistant Instructor, and Executive Director will be
compensated for travel expenses for each regional or national event for which he or she is in attendance. Said compensations may include, but are not limited to, milage
and meal allowances. Compensation will be determined by the Board of Directors.

B.) In addition, the Chief Instructor, Assistant Instructor, and Executive Director will be
compensated for meals and hotel expenses when an overnight stay is required at a
regional or national event. These may include, but are not limited to, the National
ISKF tournament, regional camps, Master camp, and the Mid-America Karate
Regional tournament and Board of Directors meeting. Compensation will be determined by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 8
Club Registrations:
A.) ISKF US club registrations must be renewed annually on January 1. The cost of
registration shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

B.) Club instructors/representatives are to complete an "Annual Membership Renewal
Form," and send it along with the appropriate fee to the Executive Director. Make checks or money orders payable to Mid-America Karate.

SECTION 9
Camps and Clinics:
A.) Club registration and individual membership in the Mid-America Karate Region, LLC,
make it possible for students to train with some of the best karate instructors in the
world. These trainings, held both on a regional and national basis, are critical to the
continued growth and development of instructors, senior students, developing kyu
ranks, and the Mid-America Karate Region, LLC.

B.) All clubs are expected to be represented at regional clinics, tournaments, and camps.
Participation in other ISKF US camps, especially the ISKF Master camp, is strongly
recommended.

C.) Compensation for camps and clinics shall be determined by the Board of Directors
and/or ISKF US By-Laws.

DISSOLUTION OF THE MID-AMERICA
KARATE REGION, LLC

Upon dissolution of this organization, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose.

The Mid-America Karate Region will have ceased operations by:
A.) Passing a resolution by the Board of Directors dissolving the Mid-America Karate
Region, LLC.

B.) Resolution by the ISKF US withdrawing its recognition of the Mid-America Karate
Region, LLC.

C.) Any other operational law.


MID-AMERICA KARATE REGION
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

CONSTITUTION
Addendum

A.) Monthly Stipend: The Chief Instructor shall be given a monthly stipend as determined by the Board of Directors. Currently, the stipend paid to the Chief Instructor is $400.00 per month. (Page 1, Constitution, Article II, Section 4)

B.) Membership Fee: Currently, the annual Mid-America Karate Region/ISKF membership fee is $35.00 per year. Instructors may charge more than this fee as a source of club funds. (Page 4, By-Laws, Article V, Section 2)

C.) Dan exams: The cost of Dan exams are determined by the Board of Directors. Current dan exams are $100.00 for shodan; $120.00 for nidan; $140.00 for sandan; $170.00 for yondan; $220.00 for godan; $270.00 for rokudan; and $320.00 for shichidan (Page 5, Article VI, Section 2, Letter D)

D.) Dan registration fees: (Page 6, Article VI, Section 4, Letter C)

  • Shodan $90.00
  • Nidan $120.00
  • Sandan $165.00
  • Yondan $220.00
  • Godan $270.00
  • Rokudan Y65,000
  • Sichidan Y160,000

E.)Kyu Testing fees: The test examiner is to be compensated as follows:

  1. $15.00 for each test for students aged 14 and under.
  2. $20.00 for each test for students aged 15 and older.
    (Page 7, Article VI, Section 6, Letter A)

F.) Travel expenses to be paid:

  1. 40.5 cents per mile roundtrip.
  2. Appropriate meal allowance is to be provided ($15.00 minimum per meal).
    (Page 7, Article VI, Section 6, Letter B)

G.) Kyu certificates are $6.00 per individual. This includes half rank promotions. There is no certificate charge for retest.
(Page 7, Article VI, Section 6, Letter D)

H.) The Executive Director will be compensated for each membership card and kyu certificate typed. This will be determined by the Board of Directors. Currently, compensation is 50 cents for each.
(Page 7, Article VI, Section 6, Letter G)

I.) The Chief Instructor, Assistant Instructor, and Executive Director will be compensated for meals and hotel expenses when an overnight stay is required at a regional or national event. These may include, but are not limited to, the National
ISKF tournament, regional camps, Master camp, and the Mid-America Karate Regional tournament and Board of Directors meeting. Compensation will be determined by the Board of Directors.
(Page 7, Article VI, Section 7, Letter C)

J.) Club Registrations: ISKF US club registrations must be renewed annually on or before January 1, of the new year. The cost of registration shall be determined by the Board of Directors. Currently, it is $85.00 per club.
(Page 7, Article VI, Section 8, Letter A)

K.) Compensation for camps and clinics shall be determined by the Board of Directors and/or ISKF US By-Laws. Currently, all guest ISKF US instructors invited to the Mid-America Karate Region are given $100.00 per hour, and $85.00 per diem. For local clinics, the Chief Instructor/Assistant Instructor is paid $15.00 per student.
(Page 8, Article VI, Section 9, Letter C)