CONSTITUTION AND STATUTE
INTERNATIONAL MARTIAL ARTS FEDERATION
OF THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING
OF THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING
This Federation shall be known as the " International Martial Arts Federation of the Deaf " (I.M.A.F.D.).
It shall be established by those International people who are involed in all fighting styles or martial arts and shall be applied by the japanese ( 1978 ).
It was named the " International Silent Martial Arts Federation " (I.S.M.A.F).
Its law was changed for all associations since 1995 :
A ) It is non-political and does not recognizes difference of race or religion.
B ) It will be collaborated with the sport & social organization :
A ) The I.M.A.F.D.wants to spread the practice of martial arts among the deaf and hard of hearing people all over the world,
to contribute, through this practice, to the harmonious physical, cultural and spiritual development in sporting competitions of the deaf and hard
of hearing.
B ) Then the federation wants to organize the practice of martial arts by opening all the different style techniques to
deaf people, in every nation where the sport is practiced.
C ) To promote increase Judo, Karate-Do, TaeKwonDo, Wushu Kung-Fu and other martial arts among deaf and hard of hearing people.
D ) To preserve and protect their rights to practise those various martial arts in around the world.
E ) To perpetuate fellowship and promote social relations with the mother associations.
F ) To promote and develop this discipline by adding it to the Olympic sport games or International championships for the deaf in concert with the C.I.S.S. or E.D.S.O. .
A ) The Headquarters of the I.M.A.F.D. shall be located at the following address :
The duration of this Federation's existence depends on Article's objectives as described.
The funds of the I.M.A.F.D. shall be as follows :
A ) The affiliation share of the National Association.
B ) The application forms for instructors & athletes ect.
C ) The various International Federation contributions.
D ) Any private contributions, for the deaf sport activities.
E ) Every country will pay to the treasurer a percentage of every international match organized by I.M.A.F.D.
This Federation shall be composed of :
A ) ACTIVE MEMBERS : any physically deaf or Hard of hearing person, after being approved, may become an Active Member upon payment of annual dues set by General Assembly.
Such persons shall continue practicing or have become accomplished in any martial arts activity ( active athletes, students or an "ea".
Each member shall have an nationality and be entitled to right to vote at the General Assembly.
B ) HONORARY MEMBERS : any physically hearing or non-hearing person of any nationality, after being given the right to vote.
C ) SPONSOR MEMBERS : any person or association shall be a Sponsor Member upon receipt of a significant donation to this association.
The minimum of donation shall be set by the General Assembly.
Such persons shall not be required to pay dues and shall be entitled to the right to vote during a certain period of time set by the Board of Directors.
Such persons shall be entitled to the right to vote.
D ) Memberships subject to verification of applications and credentials.
Becoming a member recquires having the sponsorship of at least 2 members of this Association and shall be approved by a majority of the Board of Directors.
Membership shall be terminated by :
A ) Resignation which must be submitted by special delivery letter.
B ) Death.
C ) Cancellation of a membership after a warning by the Board of Directors for not paying dues or for certain serious causes.
That person shall be called to give an explanation to the General Assembly.
D ) Individual membership may be terminated by the committee for the following reasons :
Insubordination and disrespect to I.M.A.F.D. officers or other appointed delegates Verbal abuse of fellow members or other Deaf martial arts organizations
Other infractions
Disciplinary termination fro members or application members with falsified applications and/or bogus credentials shall be terminated permanently.
It's a lifetime ban from I.M.A.F.D. tournament participation.
This Federation shall be administred by the Board composed of a President, a Vice-President, a General Secretary, a 3 Treasurers and 6 persons of a Directing Committee for : Asia, North & South America, Africa, Europe and Oceana.
The number shall be defined by the General Assembly.
All Board members shall be elected by a majority vote of the Active members and then those who are elected shall be elected again by secret ballot for the the exact positions of Board Officers.
The term of office of the said officers shall be two years.
The President shall be an unique member of the I.M.A.F.D. Board of Directors, also should obligatory be a black belt.
Then he represents almost all of the organizations.
The Board shall fill the replacement temporarily.
The definite replacement shall be acted upon at the next General Assembly meeting.
The Board shall be reelected every 2 years.
The General Secretary and Treasurers are responsible for the nature of the Federation.
But before using money, they must have the approval of the Board of Directors.
When the General Assembly meets, the officers shall render a report on the activities of the Federation.
In case of dismissals, the Directing Committee shall elect a substitute until the end of the office;
In case of absence he should be ranked by the General Secretary.
The Directing Committee is elected every 2 years by the General Assembly, and it is constitued by the light member rendered before.
It has executive power, and it has to render to the General Assembly a report about the Federation activities.
The General Assembly has the Legislative power.
It's constitued by the representatives of the affilitated national societies.
The Board of Directors shall meet at least once each year and each time shall be called by the President or by a request of 1/4 of the members.
The presence of the 1/3 of the members of the Board of Directors shall be required for to validate the discussion.
All decisions shall me made by majority vote : in the case of an equal vote, the President shall have power to vote.
The reports of the minutes shall be required to be signed by the President and the General Secretary.
A Board member, who without an excuse has not attended three consecutive meetings, shall be considered for a meeting termination.
No one shall take a part in the Board without being approved by a majority.
Any members of this Federation shall not be allowed to receive compensations for their duties as officers.
Those who are paid collaborators shall be only entitled to a consultative vote at the sessions of the General Assembly and the Board of Directors.
All reimbursement for travel expenses or missions paid by Board members shall be approved by the General Assembly.
The ordinary general Assembly of this Federation shall be composed of :
A ) Associate members
B ) Active, donator and delegate members with updated duties.
The persons regulary constitued are represented by a permanent delegate.
The General Assembly meeting shall be held once each year and each time shall be called by the Board of Directors or by the request of 1/4 of the members.
At least six months prior to the chosen date of the meeting, the members of this Federation shall be called by the General Secretary.
At this time, the agenda shall be indicated.
The agenda shall be set up by the Board of Directors.
The officer shall be one of the Board of Directors.
The President shall preside at all General Assembly meetings and develop the orders of business of this Federation.
The General Assembly shall assure, if required, the election of the Board members.
A vote by mail or by proxy shall be submitted only for the elections of the Board of Directors.
Each year, the annual reports and the accounts shall be sent to all members of this Federation and to all Board members.
All expenses shall be reviewed by the President.
This Federation shall be represented by the President in justice and in all the acts of civil life.
The representative of this Federation shall be required to have a full possession of the civil rights in all tasks.
Home regulations shall be able to be established by the Board of Directors who has it approved by the General Assembly.
This possible settlement is destined to make points not prescribed in the by-laws.
The resources of the Federation shall be composed of :
Every country can be represented in its continental union by only one federation.
A national Federation or Association may be expelled from the I.M.A.F.D. for one of the following reasons :
There is an I.M.A.F.D. card for every category.
Modification of the by-laws can be initiated by a proposal from the Board of Directors.
The General Assembly must be called to pronouce the dissolution of this Federation, and this vote must be carried by at least one more than half of the members in duties.
The President shall be responsible for all the changes done in the administration or the management of this Federation and shall make them know within three months to the Prefecture of the district where the Federation headquarters is located.
A ) Memberships dues
B ) Admission fees for entrance at Championships
C ) Benefit funds of festivals
D ) Gifts by donation and by charity
F ) Charities and legalized sponsor, departments ect.
G ) Returns from diverse events or organized activitiesArt.16 AFFILIATIONS
A National Federation or Association becomes a member of the I.M.A.F.D. when his affiliation is ratified by the Directing Committee.Art.17 DISCIPLINARY RULES
A ) The expulsion from its continental union
B ) For non-payment of bi-annual fees
C ) By majority decision of the General Assembly
D ) The I.M.A.F.D. can't expell a National Federation or Association without the agreement of its continental union.
E ) If the National Federation or Association didn't pay the annual fees, it will be expelled from the international activities until the complete payment of the fees and of a fine, decided by the Directing Committee, are paid.
F ) If the national Federation or Association, or only an athlete ( but during an international matchs ) breaks the Federation's rules, they will be submitted to the Directing Committee, which, with the agreement of theirs continental union, will take the necessary disciplinary action.
G ) The National Federation or Association affiliated to the I.M.A.F.D., cannot have sport relations with a federation that has been expelled from the I.M.A.F.D. .
H ) On the other hand to contribute to the developing and diffusion of martial arts in the world, the federations affiliated are authorized to have friendly meetings with a federation which isn't affiliated yet.Art.18 GRADES
The categories are :
A ) Athletes
B ) Aspirant Instructors
C ) Instructors
D ) Amateurs
E ) Official Delegates
Then there is a card for each belt.
Every Black belt is a potential and preferable member of the General Assembly.
When a person goes from a Federation or Association to an I.M.A.F.D. member, he will be given exams for the new belt rank.
This exam is composed by the Directing Committee of I.M.A.F.D. .Art.19 MODIFICATIONS
Propositions for modifying shall be presented one month prior to the Board meeting.
The Board of Directors shall call a Special General Assembly meeting and set up an agenda.
To enact a proposal, the Special General Assembly meeting shall have at least one more than half of the members present.
If not, a new meeting shall be called and the convocation shall be sent out at least two months in advance, but these decisions must be explained to the General Assembly and must be approved or disapproved with a majority vote for every revision to the statutes.Art.20 DISSOLUTION
If the quorum is not met, the General Assembly can call again, at least in an interval of one month, and at this time it shall be valid to deliberate regardless of the number of members present.
In all cases, the dissolution may be voted by 2/3 of the members present.
One or several liquidators shall be named by the General Assembly.
If there is any clear-cut porition of the assets, it shall be devolved according to the article of the law.
If there shall be at least three national Federations or Associations established by the Association members in their own countries whose members are of the continental union, this Federation will be replaced by those established national Federations or Associations as the international representative.Art.21 ADMINISTRATIVE FORMALITIES