Constitution of Jamaica Zendo Kai Kan Karate Association (2001)

The following document the constitution of the Zendo Kai Kan Karate Association will now govern the operation of a Karate Association and its associated branches, clubs and schools and the administrative duties and responsibilities and professional conduct of the Association's Directors Instructors and members.

This document and its contents becomes the binding instrument constituting the Zendo Kai Kan Karate Association for Directors, Official Instructors and members and all who are bounded and govern by all articles of this document. The document can be disregarded only upon the dissolution of vote by the Zendo Kai Kan Karate Association members as constituted in this document at its annual general meeting.

1. Name of Association
The Association will now be called the Jamaica Zendo Kai Kan Karate Association (JZKKKA).

Black Belts
JZKKKA defines the following: Black Belt- a person who has pass the black belt examinations set by the World Zendo Kai Kan Karate Organization, recommended by a branch instructor and certified by the Sosai of the Organization Headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies.

Instructor- a certified Black Belt who operates either his or her own training school/club which is sanctioned by the Jamaica Zendo Kai Kan Karate Association or who operates a training class separate from any other training operations, e.g . self-defense seminars for law enforcement are sanctioned by the Jamaica Zendo Kai Kan Karate Association. Instructors must be certified. Certified Instructor status must come out of organization headquarters and has tenure of not exceeding 3 years.

Student - a member of the public who trains within the association under an instructor is considered to be a member of the respective Zendo school or club operated by a certified Instructor and who is up to date on the payment of membership and training fees to the certified Instructor and to the Jamaica Zendo Kai Kan Karate Association.

Association Badge
The badge that is used by the World Zendo Kai Kan Karate Organization is sanctioned by our founder Sosai Lambert Plummer

Association Uniform
Standard karate uniform with approved markings and patches.

2. Objectives of the Association
I. To perpetuate training in the martial art of Zendo Karate throughout Jamaica. This objective will entail the establishment of training schools or classes in communities throughout the island, and the provision of certified Instructors only sanctioned and authorized by World Zendo Kai Kan Karate Organization to operate these classes. These objective will also entail the association planning and implementing promotional events and activities whenever necessary aimed at increasing awareness and interest in Zendo. For examples; tournaments, training, seminars, demonstrations, motivational lectures, etc.

II. To maximize each students potential through professional instruction and training of professional standard, continually enhancing and improving student's physical and mental abilities and emphasizing the tenets of courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and the indomitable spirit within a disciplined training environment that nurtures personal development, cultivates harmonious inter-relationship between Students and Instructors. Encourages social growth and responsibilities through our student oath as outlined:

III. To maximize the potential of every certified Instructor and Black Belt in every school and Clubs sanction by the World Zendo Kai Karate Organization. The Association will insure that all its Instructors are highly qualified martial artist and professional instructors of Zendo through regular and International instructions or other educational courses or programs, tournaments or other competitions where appropriate and relevant.

3.Purpose of the Association
Our purpose is the promotion of the skill, art value and tradition of Zendo Kai Kan Karate.

1. We define Zendo Kai Kan Karate as a martial art that develop physical and mental abilities in those who practice.
2. We recognize Zendo Kai Kan Karate as a self- improvement program which enhances the quality of life.
3. Accomplishment of our purpose is achieved through an association of affiliated schools and clubs, each committed to a common standard of ethics and procedures. In order to fulfil its purpose, the association will provide:
I. A standard system designed to develop the mental and physical skill and tradition of Zendo
Kai Kan Karate.
II. Guidelines and requirements regarding related group activities that enhance Zendo Kai Kan Karate. Educational process including promotional testing, tournaments and classes.
III. A structured programme for the training development, evalution, certified and continued education of qualified certified instructors.
IV. A business forum for the free exchange among association members of ideas, concerns, and effective business methods and procedures.
V. The association will make its best effort to assist each member school and clubs in the establishment and maintenance of successful operations.

4.Association Structure
Student of the Jamaica Zendo Kai Kan Karate Association affiliated schools.
I. Instructors who have been trained and certified by the World Zendo Kai Kan Karate Organization.
II. Owners/operators of World Zendo Kai Kan Karate affiliated schools.
III. Officers and members of the World Zendo Kai Kan Karate Organization.

The Association will consist of the following:
Founder-Lambert Plummer (Sosai), Secretary, Black Belt Council
President, Marketing Director, Black Belts
Vice-President, Examination Board, Executive Committees
Chief Instructor, Disciplinary Committee, Student Committees
Treasurer, Instructors, Student

5.Roles and Responsibilities of JZKKA members.
Students are required to:
I. Understand and apply the tenets of Zendo in their daily life.
II. Actively participates in class, testing and all related activities sanction by the association.

Instructors are required to:
I. Pursue excellence in maintaining and improving personal technique and teaching methods.
II. Teaching regularly and dependable in an associated school or club.
III. Serve as needed at association testing activities.
IV. Provide a living example by maintaining the highest personal and professional standards.

Dojo Kun (school Pledge)
We pledge to train our minds and bodies to develop a true and strong spirit.
We will fear our god not seeking personal glory
We will strive to do our best with diligence and dedication
We will always be courteous to others and refrain from violence
We will pursue the meaning of Zen Do, Through respect, love, honesty and sincerity
Both in our training and our daily lives.

6. Association not formed for profit
The Association is not for profit and will collect membership fees and other dues that the boards of Directors may deem applicable from instructors, students in training school and clubs affiliated to the association. These fees will be utilized namely for the following purposes only:
1 To meet international obligations i.e. membership to international bodies.
2.To cover the salaries of directors if appointed.
3.To cover the costs associated with the operation of the organization.
4.To meet stipend.

7. The Constitution of the Association
The management of the association will be conducted by the Board of five (5) Directors and three (3) Management committees:
Marketing Committee
Disciplinary Committee
Examination Board.
These Committees will comprise of no more than three members each. A Director who will appoint two other members from the Association's Black Belts to assist in the planning and implementation of the activities to be pursued by the respective committee, will chair each Committee. The Marketing Committee is the only Committee to which the Director may appoint students, use the services of a professional marketing company or agent.
The Board of Directors may appoint Executive Committee when necessary to assist in the Administration of the Association. Each Executive Committee will comprise of no more than three members. An instructor will chair each Committee or Black Belts, who will appoint two other Qualified members from the Association's membership to assist in the planning and implementation of the activities pursued. Executive Committees will remain in effect for no longer than the administrative term of the Board of Directors and will be dissolved at the next Special General Meeting.

8. Election of Directors/Officers
The Board of Directors will be elected at Special General Meeting. All instructors and black belts who have been training at the association sanctioned training classes or schools for at least two times per month throughout the term of the Board of Directors, will be eligible for election to the board of Directors or to the Marketing, Disciplinary and Examination Committee.
All Directors will serve a term of office of twenty four months. At the end of this term, the Directors will demit office and become eligible for re-election at the next Special General Meeting. No Directors can serve for more than two (2) terms.

9. Special General Meetings
Special General Meeting will be held every two (2) years subsequent to the election of the Board of Directors for the Association. Special General Meeting must be held by September 1 or no later than two months after the expiration of the term of office of the Board of Directors. The President will ensure sufficient notice is given to all Directors, Instructors and Black Belts so that a quorum will be present for the meeting
All the Association's Instructors and Black Belts will attend special General Meetings. All Instructors and Black Belts who have been training, sanctioned training classes or schools for at least twice per month throughout the term of office of Board of Directors will be eligible to vote. The outgoing Secretary will keep a register of those instructors and Black Belts eligible to vote. Each Instructor and Black Belt eligible to vote is entitled to one vote only. Eligible Instructors and Black Belts will not be allowed to vote by proxy.
The quorum at Special General Meeting will consist of seventy percent of all the Association's and Black Belts. Resolution or decision considered by majority votes from this quorum.
The outgoing President will chair special General Meetings. The outgoing Secretary will present to the Board of Directors, with detail and account for the Association's activities for the term of office of the outgoing Board of Directors, including the activities of any appointed Executive Committee. The outgoing Treasurer will present the Association's recent audited Financial Statement. At the conclusion of this presentation, The Board of Directors will be considered retired. The outgoing President will then appoint an officer of Election to supervise the election of a new Board of Directors.
The Officer of Election may not be nominated for a position on the Board of Directors. The Officer of Election will ensure that only Instructors and Black Belts eligible to vote are allowed to participate in nominations and voting, though this will not necessitate the removal of ineligible Instructors and Black Belts from the Special General Meeting.
The Officer of Election will seek position nominations for each position on the Board of Directors. Each nomination for a position on the Board of Director must be seconded and there will be no more than three persons nominated per position. Utilizing a secret ballot system, the officer of Election will call for the votes for each nominee. The nominee securing the most votes will be appointed to the respective position . In the case of ties, the officer of Election will appoint a senior nominee for the position. In the case of equal rank of nominee the Officer of Election will consider each nominee's commencement date for training and /or age and will accordingly appoint the nominee who has either been training the longest or who is older.

The Officer of Election will ensure that the nominees are elected in the following order; Marketing Director, Treasurer , Secretary, Vice President, President.
Each Director on the Board will serve a term of office of twenty four months. Whereupon each Director will be considered retired becoming eligible election at the next Special General Meeting in twenty four months.
Upon election of the new Board , the newly appointed president will chair the continued the Special General Meeting and will see the respective Management Committee are appointed by the respective Directors appointed to chair these committees. No Executive Committees will be appointed at the Special General Meetings.
The new President will open discussion with Instructors and Black Belts on any issues of concern relating to the Associations objectives, activities, procedures and polices. Instructors and Black Belts may utilize the Special General Meeting to vote on resolutions related to the Associations activities procedures and policies.
These discussion and resolutions will guide the Board of Director's plans, strategies and activities over the Board's term of office.

10. Annual General Meetings
Annual General Meeting will be held every year. Annual General Meeting must be held by March , or no later than one month after the anniversary election of the present of Directors . The president will ensure that sufficient notice is given to all members. Annual General Meeting should be attended by all the Association's Instructors and black belts. Annual General Meeting will be chaired by the President.
The President will present the report of the Board of Directors which will detail and account for the Association's activities for the past year including the activities of any appointed Executive Committees.
The treasurer will present to the Associations most recent audited Financial Statement . At the conclusion of this Presentation, the President will then open discussion with members on any issues of concern relating to the Association's Objectives, Activities, Procedures and Policies

11. General Meetings
General Meeting may be convened by the President at any time. General meeting will be attended by all the Association's Instructors and Black Belts. The President will ensure that sufficient notice is given to all Directors, Instructors and Black Belts. General meeting will be called to address matters the president feels merit the concern and immediate attention of all Instructors and Black Belts.
12. Duties and Responsibilities of the Directors
1. President
The president will be any one who is competent in managing the affairs of the Association as it relates to its Objectives. The president is responsible for ensuring that the association's Board of Directors plans and implements activities throughout the Board's administrative year which directly or indirectly facilitate the achievement of the Association's Objectives.The president will be committed to ensuring that the Association achieves its Objectives.
The President will be responsible for ensuring that the association's Directors obey the association's Constitution, the association's Rules and Regulations, the Rules and Regulations of the association's governing body. He will convene and chair Board meetings and will ensure that the Board's of Directors regularly monitors the progress of activities and are in keeping with the association's objectives. He will be the association's spokesperson to the public, the media or other organizations. The vice president will act in the absence of the president. The president will have a deep understanding and appreciation of Zendo and will be committed to maintaining the distinction between the Zendo karate and all other martial arts practiced locally.

2. Vice President
The Vice President will be an instructor or Black Belt who will share the President responsibility for ensuring that the association's Board of Director and implements activities throughout the Board's Administrative year which will directly or indirectly facilitate the achievement of the association's objectives. The Vice President will be committed to ensuring that the Association achieves its objectives.
The Vice President will be responsible for liaising directly with the association's students and will be committed to enchancing the welfare of student throughout the association. The Vice President will monitor the student committees in all the association's schools and will ensure that these constitution pursue activities in the association objectives and in keeping with the objectives outlined in each student committed constitution.
The Vice President will ensure that the Association's student body is advised and informed of all association affairs, when pertinent or appropriate. First Vice President will also ensure that students interest are represented at Board Meetings.
In the president's absence and with the approval of the board of Directors, the Vice President will be the association's spokesperson to the public, media or other organization. He will not assume any other responsibility.

3. Secretary
The secretary will be responsible for keeping and maintaining accurate records of all meetings of the Board of Directors, all Special General meeting and general meeting; for storing all correspondence to the association and its directors and for ensuring that this corresponding is promptly replied; and for storing and maintaining all information related to all student in the association. The secretary will share President responsibility for ensuring that the Association's Directors obey the Association's Constitution, the Association's Rules and Regulations and the rules and Regulations of the Association's governing body; and for ensuring that the Association implements activities and procedures in keeping with the association's objectives.
The secretary will take minutes at all meeting of Board of Directors. These minutes will be circulated to all present at these meeting two weeks after all meetings of the Board of Directors and within one week after special Board meeting. The secretary will ensure that minutes are filed and accessible to all the Association's Instructors and Black Belts upon request or whenever necessary.
The secretary will file and maintain all information related to all students in the Association. The secretary will ensure that this information is accessible only to the Board of Directors and the Association Instructors. The secretary will be responsible for dispensing membership card to students and Black Belts.
The secretary will be present at all meetings of the Board of Directors. If the secretary is absent, the board will temporarily appoint one Director as secretary for that respective meeting. For that meeting only, the appointed Director will assume all the responsibilities of the secretary.

4. Treasurer
The Treasurer will be an Instructor or Black Belt with a professional background in accounting. The Treasurer will be responsible for managing the Association's finances and monitoring the Association's savings and chequing accounts deposited with banks and other Financial institutions.
The Treasurer will ensure that all training schools and classes sanctioned by the Association pay whatever sanctioning fees or other fees that are due to the Association as determined by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer will ensure that funds collected are deposited promptly to the Association's savings and chequing accounts deposited with banks and other financial institutions.
The Treasurer will maintain accurate records of all the Association's financial transactions, and will present to the Board of Directors with information on all transactions upon request. Be responsible for ensuring that the Association's funds are utilized solely to achieve the Association's Objectives.

5. Chief Instructor
The Chief Instructor will be the highest ranking active instructor. The Chief Instructor will be responsible for creating and updating the training syllabus to be utilized by all theAssociation's training schools and classes. This syllabus will reflect a commitment to continually enhance and improve Students and Black Belts and will incorporate martial arts information geared towards improving Zendo technique, self-defense, tournament sparring ability, or personal or mental development where appropriate or relevant. The Chief Instructor will prepare and on a regular basis update examination manuals for Students and will ensure that all new information relating to training regiment or techniques is disseminated to all students throughout the Association. The chief instructor must attend a special instructor seminar at least once every eighteen months. The Chief Instructor will also be responsible for representing the interests of Instructors at Board Meetings and will meet regularly with Instructors to communicate Board decisions. All training schools and classes throughout the Association must first be approved by the Board with special consideration be given to Chief Instructor recommendations. The Chief Instructor will ensure that training schools and classes perpetuate a training environment conducive to maximum training in Zendo. The Chief Instructor will have a deep understanding and appreciation of Zendo and will be committed to maintaining the distinction between the Association's Zendo Karate and all other martial arts practiced locally. The Chief Instructor may act as or appoint a Technical Director.

6. Technical Director
The Technical Director will be an Instructor or a Black Belt with at least a Third degree black belt in Zendo and who has trained and attended at least two International Instructors' Courses at the association international headquarters. These criteria must be met prior to the election of the Board of Directors. The Technical Director will be responsible for ensuring the technical proficiency of the Association's Instructors and Black Belts and for ensuring the standardization of Zendo techniques taught by all the Association's Instructors and Black Belts.
This will entail visits to all the Association's training schools and classes to arrange training with Instructors and Black Belts. Staging special classes on a regular basis for Instructors and Black Belts or ensuring that the Association is either fully or partially sponsored or requires mandatory or conditional attendance by Instructors or Black Belts to International Instructors Courses, or to other educational courses or programs where appropriate and relevant. The Technical Director will endeavor to ensure that all the Association's Instructors and Black Belts are highly qualified martial artists, professional teachers and practitioners of Zendo. The Technical Director must have a deep understanding and appreciation of all forms Zendo and will be committed to maintaining the distinction between the Association's Zendo and all other martial arts practiced locally.

7. Marketing Director
The Marketing Director will be responsible for conceptualizing and implementing the Association's marketing strategies related to marketing, advertising and public relations. The Marketing Director will ensure that the Association's marketing Strategies and activities are in keeping with the Association's Objectives. The Marketing Director will be responsible for co-ordinating the activities of any Executive Committees formed to assist in the implementation of the Association's marketing or other promotional Activities. The director will also ensure that association's member schools must not infringe on the immediate venue of martial arts that is similar to our practice. This direct open competition is a violation to our principle. The Marketing Director will ensure that the Association's image is of an international professional martial arts organization that is vibrant, progressive and uphold the values, ethics of the art in the implementation of our growth. The Marketing Director will be responsible for arranging the advertising and media promotion of all Association events, including tournaments, seminars, black belt examinations. The Marketing Committee will ensure that the advertising and media promotion for events which are staged by individual schools within the Association are properly arranged by the individual schools and that these events are in keeping with the Association's image and standards. The Marketing Director will choose no more than two other persons from the Association's Instructors, Black Belts or Students to assist in the conceptualizing and implementation of the Association's marketing strategies related to marketing, advertising and public relations. They will be known as the Marketing Committee

8. The Disciplinary Committee
The Disciplinary Committee will consist of no more than five persons. Three chosen from the Association's Instructors or Black Belts and will include the Master instructor and the association's president. At the Special General Meeting, the President will appoint an Instructor or Black Belt to chair the Disciplinary Committee. This Instructor or Black Belt will become a Director on the Board and be termed the Director of Discipline. The Director of Discipline will then appoint no more than two Instructors or Black Belts to sit on the Disciplinary Committee. The Disciplinary Committee will be responsible for monitoring the discipline of the Association's Instructors, Black Belts and Students. The Disciplinary Committee will adjudicate in all disputes and matters relating to discourtesy; lack of integrity; poor disciplines; breaches of the Association's Constitution; breaches of the Association's Rules and Regulations; and breaches of the Rules and Regulations of the Association's Governing body. The Disciplinary Committee will strive to uphold justice and also to uphold the Association's image of integrity, fairness and objectivity. The Disciplinary Committee may have matters referred to it by Instructors or Black Belts or it may proceed on its own cognizance to address matters that the Disciplinary Committee considers to be in breach of the Association's Constitution, the Association's Rules and Regulations, the Rules and Regulations of the Association's governing body or to be displays of discourtesy, lack of integrity or poor Discipline.

The Disciplinary Committee will utilize its discretion to determine which matters merit disciplinary action as opposed to advice or reminders to Instructors, Black Belts or Students as to appropriate behaviour within the Association's Constitution, the Association's Rules and Regulations, or the Rules and Regulations of the Association governing body. The Disciplinary Committee will reserve Disciplinary action for severe breaches of the Association's Constitution or Rules of Regulations, or the Rules and Regulations of the Association's governing body; or for extreme displays of discourtesy, lack of integrity or poor discipline. Members of the Association considered in breach of the Association's Constitution, Rules and Regulations and the Rules and Regulations of the Association's Governing body; or members who have displayed discourtesy, lack of integrity or poor discipline that are referred to the Disciplinary Committe or who in the Disciplinary Committee's opinion merit consideration for disciplinary action, will be invited in writing to a Meeting of the Disciplinary Committee. Members considered in breach will receive at least two weeks' notice of said meetings. Disciplinary Committee meetings will be chaired by the Director of Discipline. The Committee will judge one dispute at a time, ensuring that the Committee's proceedings are privy only to members who are involved with the matter in question. The Disciplinary Committee will hear and receive testimony and evidence from all parties involved either verbally or in writing, one party at a time. The Committee will then dismiss all parties involved and will determine whether punishment or other disciplinary action is suitable or necessary. Punishment and disciplinary action will be in keeping with the Association's image of justice, integrity, fairness and objectivity. All parties involved will be called to be present to hear the Disciplinary Committee's decision and sentence on the matter. All punishment and disciplinary action will become effective three days after the meeting of the Disciplinary Committee. Instructors must accompany students considered in breach to Disciplinary Committee meetings. No member of the Association will be deemed beyond the jurisdiction of the Disciplinary Committee. In matters involving Instructors or Black Belts who are of higher rank than the highest ranking member of the Disciplinary Committee, the President will facilitate the involvement and adjudication of a higher-ranking Instructor or Black Belt.