University of Waterloo Sports Management Association
Club Name
The name of the club will be University of Waterloo Sports Management Association. We are not agent or representative of the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA), and our views and actions in no way represent the WUSA.
Governance
The club will uphold the values, mission, and mandate of both the University of Waterloo (UW) and WUSA through following the directives outlined in the WUSA Clubs Manual, all WUSA By-Laws, Policies, and Procedures, as well as all policies and procedures outlined by the UW Secretariat. Furthermore, the club will abide by all laws of the Region of Waterloo, Province of Ontario, and Government of Canada. All club matters will ultimately be governed by the WUSA Clubs Manager.
Purpose
The purpose of the club is to gather University of Waterloo students, staff, faculty and members of the UW community at large to
Create a centralized and inclusive community for individuals interested in the sports and recreation industry, while bridging the gap between academic learning and practical, real-world experience. The club aims to support students in exploring and pursuing careers in sport management by providing meaningful opportunities for professional development, industry exposure, and skill-building. Through collaboration with peers, faculty, alumni, and industry professionals, the association seeks to foster connections, encourage knowledge-sharing, and promote a deeper understanding of the business of sport. Ultimately, the club strives to empower members with the resources, experiences, and network needed to succeed in the sports industry while cultivating a strong, engaged, and supportive community on campus.
Club events, activities, and/or initatives will include
Club events, activities, and/or initiatives will include industry speaker panels, networking events, and guest presentations featuring professionals from the sports and recreation industry. The club will also organize career development and co-op preparation workshops focused on building practical skills and preparing members for opportunities in sport business. UWSMA will offer experiential learning opportunities through initiatives such as case competitions, collaborative projects, and industry-related programming. In addition, the club will host social and community-building events to foster engagement, collaboration, and a strong sense of community among members.
Membership Structure
The club will be fully inclusive and welcoming to both its current and potential membership. New membership is welcome and accepted at any time during a club’s active term. Eligible club members may be current: WUSA Members, as outlined by the WUSA By-Laws; UW graduate students; UW staff or faculty; and/or members of the UW community at large, as defined in the Clubs Manual.
Only current UW students (graduate or undergraduate) may hold voting membership within the club. UW Staff, faculty, and members of the UW community at large may hold non-voting membership within the club. (If Applicable) UW undergrad students who are eligible to obtain voting membership in the club who do not wish to pay the club membership fee at the time of joining may hold non-voting membership within the club. Voting membership can be obtained for said members by paying the membership fee.
At least two thirds of the club's membership must be current UW students (graduate or undergraduate).
Membership Fee
Executive Officers
The majority of executives will be current UW students (graduate or undergraduate). The club president will be a current UW undergraduate student. All club executives will be elected, not hired or appointed. The term of office for all executive positions is three consecutive academic terms, as outlined by the UW Registrar’s Office. All club decisions will be determined by executive vote, as no executive officer (not even the President) holds decision making power for the collective.
The Co-Presidents ensures that:
- The club operates according to the guidelines of its constitution and some agreed upon guidelines for running a meeting, such as Robert's Rules of Order;
- The club works towards its objectives as agreed upon by the membership; and
- Their successor is trained.
The Co-Presidents is a signing authority.
The Vice President, Operations ensures that:
- Records of what the group has done are maintained, distributed, and are accessibile to all the members;
- Meeting minutes/notes are recorded and made available to all voting members;
- All club correspondence is monitored and brought to the attention of the appropriate person(s);
- Their successor is trained.
The Vice President, Operations is a signing authority.
The Director of Finance ensures that:
- The club's WUSA bank account and all financial transactions for the club are monitored and verified;
- All club revenues are collected, deposited into the club's WUSA bank account, and reconciled correctly and within a timely manner;
- Club cheque requests are submitted correctly and in a timely manner; and
- Their successor is trained.
The Director of Finance is a signing authority.
It is important to assure that the person with the most information and/or knowledge in the club is not the full-time chairperson. Therefore, the club will occasionally rotate the role of chairperson among voting members.
Executive Support Structure
The Director of Marketing & Communications ensures that:
- Develops and executes marketing strategies, manages branding and communications, oversees promotional activities, and supports the club’s digital presence.
- Ensures that the next Director of Marketing & Communications is trained.
The Director of Events ensures that:
- Plans, organizes, and executes club events while ensuring professionalism, strong logistics, and alignment with UWSMA’s objectives.
- Ensures that the next Director of Events is trained.
The Director of Partnerships & Sponsorships ensures that:
- Leads external outreach, secures partnerships and sponsorships, and maintains relationships with industry organizations and stakeholders.
- Ensures that the next Director of Partnerships & Sponsorships is trained.
The Director of Careers & Professional Development ensures that:
- Designs and supports programming focused on career readiness, workshops, panels, networking opportunities, and professional development.
- Ensures that the next Director of Careers & Professional Development is trained.
The Director of First-Year Engagement ensures that:
- Focuses on recruiting and integrating first-year students, encouraging early engagement, and supporting long-term membership retention.
- Ensures that the next Director of First-Year Engagement is trained.
Meetings
General Meetings
The club will hold bi-weekly general meetings. Quorum for general meetings will be 15 voting members of 20% of voting membership (whichever is more).
Executive Meetings
The club will hold bi-weekly executive meetings. Quorum for executive meetings will be 2 executives or at least 51% of the executive body (whichever is more).
The first meetings (both general and executive) of the following term will be arranged by the outgoing executive. At said meetings, subsequent meeting dates and locations will be set. Meeting dates and times will be forwarded to voting members by:
- Phone
Emergency meetings can be called by an executive via:
- Phone
and must be sent to the appropriate members at least 48 hours prior to the meeting time.
ELECTION PROCESS
Elections shall take place at the end of each term for the following academic term. Only University of Waterloo students who are members of the club can vote. Club members must be notified, by email, two weeks in advance of the meeting where executive elections will take place. The term of office shall be for one term. An executive can only hold office (any position) for a total of up to three terms.
Nominations for executives can be made from any club member. The majority of executives must be undergraduate University of Waterloo students. The successful candidate will be the one with the most votes. In the case of a tie, a re-vote will take place until the tie is broken.
IMPEACHMENT AND DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES
A movement to impeach an executive officer may be made by any executive officer or by petition of at least five voting members. When the motion is made the Clubs Manager will be informed. An emergency general meeting will be called as soon as is reasonably possible. No club funds will be spent until the issue is resolved.
At the impeachment meeting, the individual(s) who initiated the process will state their case. Afterwards, the officer(s) under impeachment will have an opportunity to defend their position(s) on the matter.
There will then be a question and answer period followed by the selection process for a Chief Returning Officer (CRO) who will oversee the voting process to ensure the decision is fair and democratic. Any executive officer who is neither the initiator nor subject of the impeachment may volunteer as CRO. If there is no such officer, then any voting member of the club present at the meeting may volunteer. If there are multiple volunteers, then the CRO will be selected based on a simple majority vote cast by secret ballot and tallied publically by the chairperson of the meeting. If there is no such volunteer for CRO, then the meeting will be at a standstill until either an eligible executive officer or voting member volunteers.
The vote will be by a “YES/NO” secret ballot, tallied publically by the CRO. If at least two thirds of the votes are for impeachment, then said officer will immediately be stripped of their position. The remaining executive may choose to call an immediate by-election to replace the newly vacant executive officer position.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
A claim against any executive officer or club member regarding a potential conflict of interest can be made by any executive officer or by petition of at least five voting members. If such a claim arises, then said individual(s) under suspicion have the opportunity to remove them self (or themselves) from said potential conflict without acknowledging intention of wrongdoing. In the event the claim is contested, then the Clubs Manager will be informed and an emergency executive meeting will be called to determine the validity of the claim. Executive officers who have a claim against them cannot vote to determine the validity of said claim. If executive quorum is not possible due to the removal of said vote(s), then an emergency general meeting will be called and the same proceedings described for impeachment will be used to determine the validity of the claim.
If the claim is validated and there is suspicion of intentional wrongdoing, an immediate impeachment proceeding may be called by any executive officer or by petition of at least five voting members, of whom are not named in the claim. If it is determined that a club member is involved in intentional wrongdoing, the impeachment proceeding will be called to determine said member’s club status.
AMENDMENTS
Constitutional amendments may be proposed by any executive officer or by petition of at least five voting members. The amendment will then be voted on by referendum. The voting procedure will be the same as for the impeachment process. If the vote passes, the amendment and the vote will be forwarded to the Clubs Manager for final approval. If the Clubs Manager approves, then the constitution will be amended and any changes will be inserted into the constitution.
A motion to officially close the club will follow the same procedure as a constitutional amendment. If such a motion passes, then the club will be purged from the clubs system.
AFFILIATIONS
Internal Affilations
The club is affiliated with WUSA. The nature of the affiliation, including the conditions required by both parties, is outlined as follows:
UWSMA is a student club seeking recognition under the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association. Once approved, UWSMA will operate in accordance with WUSA policies, procedures, and regulations, while maintaining independence in its day-to-day activities and decision-making.
University of Waterloo Sports Management Association Club Constitution
1. Name
The name of the club shall be the University of Waterloo Sports Management Association (UWSMA).
The UWSMA is a recognized club under the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA).
While affiliated with WUSA, the club operates independently in its day-to-day activities. The views and
actions of the club do not necessarily reflect those of WUSA.
2. Governance
The UWSMA shall operate in accordance with all policies, procedures, and regulations set out by
WUSA, including the WUSA Clubs Manual, as well as all applicable University of Waterloo policies.
The club shall comply with all municipal, provincial, and federal laws. All activities, finances, and
operations must align with WUSA guidelines, and the club is subject to review by the WUSA Clubs
Manager.
All executives are responsible for ensuring that their actions reflect the standards of professionalism,
inclusivity, and accountability expected of a recognized student organization.
Major or significant decisions affecting the direction or structure of the organization shall be determined
through a formal vote conducted by the Board of Directors, with each voting member holding equal
voting rights.
3. Purpose
The purpose of the UWSMA is to act as a central hub for students interested in pursuing careers in the
sports and recreation industry. The association is focused on bridging the gap between academic
learning and practical industry experience.
The club aims to:
● Provide meaningful professional development opportunities for students interested in sport
business
● Facilitate connections between students, alumni, faculty, and industry professionals
● Offer experiential learning through events such as workshops, case competitions, and networking
initiatives
● Foster a strong, inclusive, and collaborative community of students with a shared interest in
sports management
To support these objectives, the UWSMA will organize programming such as:
● Industry speaker panels and networking nights
● Career development and co-op preparation workshops
● Sport business case competitions and collaborative projects
● Facility tours and industry site visits
● Social and community-building events
All programming will be designed to provide tangible value to members and support career growth in
the sports industry.
4. Membership
Membership is open to all members of the University of Waterloo community, including undergraduate
students, graduate students, faculty, and staff.
Voting rights shall be limited to current University of Waterloo students. In accordance with WUSA
policy, at least two-thirds of the club’s members must be current UW students.
The UWSMA is committed to maintaining an inclusive and welcoming environment. Membership will
remain open throughout the academic term, and no eligible individual shall be denied membership on
discriminatory grounds.
Members are expected to engage respectfully with others and contribute to maintaining a professional
and inclusive club environment.
5. Membership Fees
Membership shall be free unless otherwise determined by the executive team.
6. Executive Structure
The UWSMA shall be governed by an executive team responsible for strategic planning, operations, and
the delivery of all club initiatives. Executive members are expected to act in the best interest of the club
and maintain a high level of professionalism.
6.1 Executive Leadership
● Co-Presidents: Braden Luck and Ethan Yang
● Vice President, Operations: Aidan Cordeiro
The Co-Presidents are responsible for setting the overall strategic direction of the club, ensuring
alignment across all portfolios, and representing the organization externally.
The Vice President, Operations, supports the Co-Presidents and is responsible for internal coordination,
executive accountability, and ensuring that all initiatives are executed effectively and on schedule.
6.2 Director-Level Executives
● Director of Finance: Brandon Fernandes
● Director of Marketing & Communications: Ryan Kovacs
● Director of Events: Abby Rowland
● Director of Partnerships & Sponsorships: Ashley Wallace
● Director of Careers & Professional Development: Emily Vrsaljko
● Director of First-Year Engagement: Andi Wand
Each Director is responsible for leading their respective portfolio, managing supporting team members,
and contributing to strategic decision-making as voting members of the executive team.
Directors report to the Vice President, Operations and are expected to provide regular updates on
progress, challenges, and outcomes.
6.3 Supporting Roles
Supporting members assist in the execution of initiatives and report to their respective Directors.
Marketing & Communications Team:
● Graphic Design Manager: Daniel Apa
● Brand Ambassador Lead: Nathan Woo
● Social Media Manager: Aneeva Murray
● Social Media Coordinator: Tobi Lee
● Graphic Design Coordinator: TBD
● Videographer/Photographer: TBD
● Brand Ambassadors: TBD
Events Team:
● Event Coordinator(s): Jesse Heidebrecht and TBD
Partnerships & Sponsorships Team:
● Sponsorship Coordinator: TBD
● Partnership Coordinator: TBD
Careers & Professional Development Team:
● Career Development Assistant: TBD
First-Year Engagement Team:
● First-Year Peer Mentors: Mea Roberts and TBD
Supporting roles do not hold voting power but play a key role in executing the club’s initiatives and
maintaining operational efficiency.
7. Roles and Responsibilities
Co-Presidents (Braden Luck & Ethan Yang):
Provide overall leadership and strategic direction, oversee all executive functions, facilitate executive
meetings, and act as the primary representatives of the club to WUSA, faculty, and external
stakeholders.
Vice President, Operations (Aidan Cordeiro): Ensures smooth internal operations, monitors executive
performance, coordinates planning processes, and supports long-term sustainability through structured
organization and accountability.
Director of Finance (Brandon Fernandes):
Oversees all financial matters, including budgeting, expense tracking, funding applications, and
sponsorship revenue. Ensures transparency and compliance with WUSA financial policies.
Director of Marketing & Communications (Ryan Kovacs):
Develops and executes marketing strategies, manages branding and communications, and oversees all
promotional activities and digital presence.
Director of Events (Abby Rowland):
Responsible for planning, organizing, and executing all events while ensuring a high standard of
professionalism and alignment with the club’s objectives.
Director of Partnerships & Sponsorships (Ashley Wallace):
Leads external outreach efforts, secures partnerships and sponsorships, and maintains relationships with
industry organizations and stakeholders.
Director of Careers & Professional Development (Emily Vrsaljko):
Designs and implements programming focused on career readiness, including workshops, panels, and
networking opportunities.
Director of First-Year Engagement (Andi Wand):
Focuses on recruiting and integrating first-year students, ensuring early engagement and fostering
long-term membership retention.
8. Meetings
The UWSMA shall hold regular general meetings and events throughout the academic term. Meetings
are expected to be held bi-weekly.
Executive meetings shall occur on a consistent basis to plan initiatives, review progress, and address any
operational issues.
Meeting times, locations, and relevant information shall be communicated to members through official
channels such as email and social media.
9. Elections and Terms
Executive elections shall be held annually to ensure continuity and leadership renewal.
● All voting members are eligible to vote
● Candidates must be current University of Waterloo students
● Elections will be conducted in a fair and transparent manner
● A simple majority vote determines the outcome
● In the event of a tie, a re-vote will be conducted
Outgoing executives are expected to participate in a structured transition process, including knowledge
transfer and documentation, to ensure long-term sustainability.
10. Finances
The UWSMA shall manage all financial activities in accordance with WUSA policies and guidelines.
Revenue sources may include:
● WUSA club funding
● Corporate sponsorships
● Ticketed events
● Membership fees (if decided later on)
Expenses may include event costs, marketing materials, and administrative needs.
All financial decisions must be approved by the executive team, with oversight from the Director of
Finance.
11. Amendments
This constitution may be amended by a majority vote of the executive team, subject to WUSA approval
where required.
Members must be notified of any proposed changes in advance, and amendments should reflect the
evolving needs of the organization.
12. Dissolution
In the event that the UWSMA is dissolved, all remaining funds and assets shall be distributed in
accordance with WUSA policies.