ROCKET LAUNCHERS
The goal of the Rocket Launchers Parent Booster Association is to support the sports and activity programs of Raritan High School by raising funds to supplement the budget and facilities provided by the Board of Education. The Association will provide opportunities, functions and funds which will:
Assist of the students in their athletic and activities-related endeavors.
Recognize athletic and activities achievements of the students.
Provide an improved, healthy and safe environment for the school athletic and activities program.
Membership is open to the parents and guardians of Raritan High School students, alumni, members of the coaching staff and faculty of Raritan High School, the Raritan High School Principal and Athletic Director, and other friends interested in Raritan High School athletics.
CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I - NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Rocket Launchers Association. (RLA)
ARTICLE II- GOAL
The Association shall support the sports and activities program of Raritan High School by raising funds to supplement the budget and facilities provided by the Hazlet Township Board of Education. All activities shall be done in accordance with the established guidelines set forth by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association and in accordance with any other rules of the Shore Conference. Furthermore, all activities shall be undertaken in accordance with the guidelines established in the policies and regulations of the Hazlet Township Board of Education.
ARTICLE III -- OBJECTIVES
The Association shall provide opportunities, functions and funds which will:
(1) Assist the students in their athletic and activities-related endeavors
(2) Recognize athletic and activities achievements of the students
(3) Provide an improved, healthy and safe environment for the school athletic and activities program.
ARTICLE IV-- ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall be open to the parents and guardians of Raritan High School students, alumni, members of the coaching staff and faculty of Raritan High School, the Raritan High School athletic director and principal, and other friends interested in Raritan High School athletics.
ARTICLE V - GOVERNANCE
The Association shall be governed by a Board of Trustees composed of one member from each recognized sport or activity as outlined by the Association By-Laws and the Athletic Director, serving as an ex-officio member. The Board of Trustees shall elect an executive committee to handle the operations of the Association. The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer and the Athletic Director, as an ex-officio member. The Past President of the Association may be an ex-officio member of the Executive Committee. Each member of the Board of Trustees may be represented by an alternate designated by their group. All voting rights are conferred upon such alternate. Coaches/Advisors may not be trustees or alternates.
ARTICLE VI- MEETINGS
The Association and Board of Trustees shall hold eleven general meetings during the year, beginning with the month of August and ending with the month of June. The Executive Committee shall meet monthly to prepare items for the Board of Trustees.
ARTICLE VII- AMENDMENTS
The Constitution shall be amended only by a two-thirds majority vote of the Board of Trustees. Proposals to amend the Constitution may only be made by the Board of Trustees or by a petition from the membership containing 25 signatures from Association members. Amendments to the Constitution shall be proposed in September/March and discussed and voted on in October/April by secret ballot.
ARTICLE VIII-DISSOLUTION
If a majority of the Board of Trustees votes to dissolve the Association all remaining assets will be transferred to the Hazlet Township Board of Education.
Amended 6-11
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 Membership in the Association shall be conferred upon any individual who meets the criteria established within the Constitution and is appointed by their Sub-group.
Section 2 Members may resign via a letter to the Association.
Section 3 Members may attend any Association meeting and may address the Board of Trustees on any issue at said meeting.
ARTICLE II— SUB-GROUPS
Section 1 In order to be a recognized Sub-Group, sponsoring a specific sport or activity, a booster organization must agree to and be governed by the Constitution and By-Laws of the Association.
Section 2 Sub-Groups recognized (per Section 1 above) may maintain their own methods of governance, set their own meetings and determine their own fundraisers, provided notice is given to the Association and approval is received from the building principal for the fundraiser.
Section 3 Sub-Groups not recognized may not use the names Rockets or Raritan
High School in any manner, nor imply that they are official or sanctioned groups of the Rocket Launchers, Raritan High School or the Hazlet Township Board of Education. In addition, they may not make any filing to the Internal Revenue Service or the New Jersey Department of Taxation indicating they should be treated as a tax-exempt booster organization or foundation.
Section 4 For compliance purposes recognized Sub-Groups shall not have individual bank accounts. Access to Sub-Group funds shall not be denied by the Association.
Section 5 Each recognized Sub-Group shall be entitled to one representative on the Board of Trustees and two alternates. Selection of the Board of Trustees member and alternates shall be determined by the Sub-Group.
Section 6 In the event a recognized Sub-Group has not formally been organized, the Athletic Director, with the assistance of the coach of the sport or advisor of the activity, shall invite parents of the participating students to a meeting to determine the Sub-Group’s representative on the Board of Trustees and the procedure to be used to request payment from the Sub-Group’s ledger account.
Section 7 The following Sub-Groups are officially invited to be included within the Association:
Fall Sports: Football
Boys’ Soccer
Girls’ Soccer
Field Hockey
Boys’ Cross Country
Girls’ Cross Country
Girls’ Tennis
Girls Volleyball
Marching Band/Color Guard
Winter Sports: Boys’ Basketball
Girls’ Basketball
Wrestling
Indoor Track
Swim
Spring Sports: Baseball
Softball
Boys’ Track
Girls’ Track
Boys’ Tennis
Multi-season: Music
Cheerleaders
Dance Troupe
Section 8 Other groups may apply for Sub-Group status as warranted.
ARTICLE III - MEETINGS
Section 1 All meetings of the Association shall be open to all members and shall be set at the first meeting of the year which shall be designated to be the fourth Wednesday of August. Said schedule of meeting shall be sent to all members. The Board of Trustees shall be empowered to take all required actions at said meetings.
Section 2 The President of the Association shall chair all meetings.
Section 3 Meetings shall proceed according to the simplified version of Roberts’ Rules of Order.
Section 4 A quorum of the Executive Committee shall consist of three of the five members of the Committee.
Section 5 A quorum of the Board of Trustees shall consist of one-half of the members of the Board of Trustees.
ARTICLE IV - GOVERNANCE
Section 1 All official actions shall be determined by majority vote of the Board of Trustees meeting as a representative body of the Association.
Section 2 The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and of the Executive Committee. The President shall appoint any committee chairpersons and may designate a parliamentarian for meetings. The President shall perform such duties as a customarily incumbent upon this office. The President may be an ex-officio member of all committees.
Section 3 The Vice President shall serve in the absence of the President and may perform all duties of the President during such absence. The Vice President shall also perform any other duties assigned to the office by the Board of Trustees as necessary. The Vice President shall only be a member of a committee when specifically appointed to that committee.
Section 4 The Secretary shall record the minutes of all Association and Executive Committee meetings, conduct the correspondence of the Association, and perform such other duties that are assigned. The secretary shall be responsible for handling all official mailings of the Association in connection with meetings or amendments to the Constitution or By-Laws, but shall not be responsible for mailings of fundraising functions.
Section 5 The Treasurer shall receive all monies, whether from donations or fundraisers, of the Association. The Treasurer, with assistance from the Business Administrator of the Hazlet Township Public Schools, shall keep an accurate record of the amounts received and/or paid each month and shall report same in writing to the Association at each regular meeting. The Treasurer shall pay bills in accordance with the procedures outlined within these By-Laws. On all financial matters, the Treasurer may seek assistance from the Business Administrator of the Hazlet Township Public Schools. The Treasurer shall prepare, with the Business Administrator, an annual financial report of the Association for submission to the Association and the Board of Education.
Section 6 The Athletic Director shall be an Ex-Officio member of the Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee and shall assist the President and the Association in fulfilling the objectives of the Association. In the event of the absence of the Athletic Director, the Principal of Raritan High School may substitute at any meeting.
Section 7 In the event of a vacancy in the office of President, the Vice President shall assume the Presidency for the balance of the term. In the event of any other vacancy in an officer’s position, the Board of Trustees shall appoint one of its members to complete the term of office.
ARTICLE V - NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Section 1 The Nominating Committee shall be established in April for the purpose of meeting to nominate candidates for the officer’s positions for the Association.
Section 2 The Nominating Committee shall report the slate of nominees to the Board of Trustees at the May meeting.
Section 3 Other nominations from the floor may be made at the May meeting.
Section 4 An election of officers, if required, shall be conducted by secret ballot of the Board of Trustees at the June meeting.
Section 5 Officers should be elected for a one year term and should not exceed two consecutive years in the same position unless a replacement cannot be found. The term of office for all newly elected officers will run from July 1 to June 30 of the following year.
Section 6 Officer Candidates must be members of the Board of Trustees and be members in good standing, having attended at least six meetings of the Association during the year prior to nomination. This section can be waived by a ¾ vote of the Board of Trustees if there are no qualified officer candidates for any Executive Board position. Qualified means being a member of the Board of Trustees and having attended six Association meetings during the year prior to the nomination.
ARTICLE VI- FINANCE
Section 1 All financial matters shall be handled on a ledger/account basis. All SubGroups shall have a line in the ledger designated specifically for their use. There. shall also be a general line for overall Association activities.
Section 2 Payments from Sub-Group account lines shall not be restricted by the Association. Determination of such payments shall be by express order of the designated representatives of the Sub-Group. Appropriate voucher requests with back-up shall be all that is required from a Sub-Group account line. All trustees are initial designated signers on line account requests. There will be two names allowed to request funds by voucher, but only one is needed on the actual voucher. It is preferable that the treasurer of the Sub-Group be one of the designated signers.
Section 3 Coaches may not request money from their Sub-Group account. All requests for money must go through the RLA Trustees prior to all purchases.
Section 4 On all payment requests from the general support line, approvals shall be required per the following schedule:
On amounts up to $100, by order of the President.
On amounts over $100, but less than $250, by vote of the Executive Committee
On amounts over $250, by majority vote of the Board of Trustees at a regular meeting. The Board of Trustees will establish guidelines for the distribution of general support funds.
Section 4A In the case of a team winning a championship, the parents group for said team may solicit RLA for funds to supplement costs for special gifts or awards if they do not have enough funds to cover said costs. This will be in the amount of $25.00 per student athlete, not to exceed $1000.00 per team, providing RLA has the funds available.
Section 5 Should the Hazlet Board of Education authorize the RLA to receive Family Membership Pass revenue the cost of $25 per family and single passes at the cost of $10 each shall be collected annually. Any proposal to increase the cost of passes shall be established by the Executive Committee and ratified by the Membership. If the Hazlet Board of Education authorizes the RLA to receive family pass revenue all funds collected must be deposited in the general account.
Section 6 All checks of the Association, whether for general Association business or Sub-Group activity, shall require two signatures. The signatories shall be (1) the Treasurer of the Association and (2) the Business Administrator of the Hazlet Township School District. In the absence of the Treasurer, the President, Vice-President or Secretary may substitute. In the absence of the Business Administrator, the Superintendent of Schools may substitute.
Section 7 Should the Association ever dissolve, all funds remaining shall be returned to the individual Sub-group accounts in the Student Activities Account of Raritan High School. Should a Sub-group ever dissolve, all funds remaining in their line account shall be returned to the general support line of the Association.
ARTICLE VII- FUND RAISERS
Section 1 Any general Association fundraiser shall be approved by majority vote of the Board of Trustees. All proceeds from general fund-raisers shall be allocated 100% to the general support line.
Section 2 The building principal shall be responsible to review and approve all fundraisers involving any participation by their students. All Sub-Group fundraisers shall not require approval of the Association. However, all Sub-Group fundraisers shall be reported to the Association prior to the commencement of fund raising activities.
Section 3 All Sub-group fundraisers, other than snack bar, will contribute no more than 10% of their profits to the general support line.
Section 4 On all events where the Snack Bar is used at the main athletic field, the division of funds shall be as follows:
Two groups: Scheduled sport/activity two-thirds
Second group one-third
Three groups: Scheduled sport/activity one-half
Second group one-quarter
Third group one-quarter
Section 4a On all events where the main indoor concession is used by more than one group, the division of funds shall be disbursed in one of two ways, which shall be discussed and agreed upon by both groups at the beginning of each season.
a. Scheduled Sport activity does all pre planning, shopping and lay-out of monies. Both groups must have equal amount of work coverage.
Scheduled Sport/activity two-thirds
Second group one-third
OR
b. Both Sport/activity have an equal amount of pre-planning, shopping and lay-out of monies. Both groups must have equal amount of work coverage.
Scheduled Sport/activity one-half
Second group one-half
Section 5 If a sub-group plans to hold a fundraiser during another sub-groups event, approval from the trustee of the scheduled event must first be acquired. This approval shall be acquired ten days in advance.
Section 6 Fundraising is not permitted during Sports Awards Ceremonies unless approved by the RLA.
Section 7 If two or more sub groups plan a 50/50 together, the division of funds shall be distributed in one o two ways, which shall be discussed and agreed upon at the beginning of each season or prior to an individual fundraiser.
a. Each sub-group must purchase equal supplies, cut up and have ready equal amounts of tickets before the start of the event. Each sub-group must have equal amount of work coverage.
Two sub-groups one half profits each
Three sub groups one third profit each
OR
b. The main sub group 1 must purchase all supplies and have all tickets cut up and ready before the start of the event. Each sub group must have equal amount of work coverage.
Group 1 (main) two thirds
Group 2 one third
Three sub groups
Group 1 (main), one half
Group 2 one quarter
Group 3 one quarter
ARTICLE VIII- COMMITTEES
Section 1 All general Association fund-raisers shall be organized by a committee of volunteers and ‘authorized by the Board of Trustees. The President shall be empowered to name the chair of the committee, with the consent of the member being required.
Section 2 There shall be a nominations committee, composed of five members of the Board of Trustees and two volunteer members, charged with the responsibility of nominating members of the Board of Trustees for the four officer’s positions. Volunteer members shall be chosen at random from those volunteering to serve on the committee.
Section 3 The President may appoint any other committee that is deemed necessary for the good of the Association.
Section 4 Committee chairs shall report activities to the Board of Trustees on a regular basis at the monthly meeting.
ARTICLE IX - AMENDMENTS
Section 1 The By-laws shall be amended only upon a two-thirds majority vote of the Trustees attending a meeting which has been properly noticed.
Section 2 All Sub-groups in good standing, having attended at least six meetings of the Association prior to the vote, shall be entitled to vote by written secret ballot at the meeting when a By-laws amendment is scheduled for vote.
Section 3 Proposals to change the By-laws can be made by any member of the Board of Trustees or by petition containing the signatures of 25 members of the full membership which is received at a regular Association meeting. The By-law change proposal shall be officially read into the record at that meeting and voted upon at the next scheduled meeting. The secretary shall send notices to all members advising them of the pending vote on the By-laws amendment.
ARTICLE X-DISSOLUTION
If a majority of the Board of Trustees votes to dissolve the Association all remaining assets will be transferred to the Hazlet Township Board of Education.
Amended 6-11
ROCKET LAUNCHER OFFICERS 2021-22
Pres Tricia Sheldrick triciasheldrick@gmail.com 732-241-4800
VP Mariann Warren warren2230@yahoo.com
Treas Allison Dekis ppage1108@msn.com
Sec Megan McIimurray megan.mcilmurray@gmail.com