The Buena Regional Athletic Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization formed in 2009 to recognize and celebrate the achievements of those special individuals, teams and supporters who have represented Buena Regional High School in an exemplary manner, both on and off the field of play, throughout their careers or affiliations with the school.

The Hall of Fame has encompassed the theory of maintaining the integrity, rich heritage and tradition of athletic success and excellence at Buena Regional High School.

A. Athletes must have:

1. Graduated at least ten (10) years prior to induction.

2. Completed one full season in the sport(s) being considered and received varsity letter(s) in one or more sports.

3. Demonstrated excellence in sport(s) of induction.

or

4. Highly accomplished in that sport following graduation, i.e., Progressed on the collegiate level to become an All-American or participated/coached professionally.

5. Must have departed Buena Regional High School in good standing and the record of the nominee must be so outstanding that there is no question as to qualifying for induction.

6. Served as examples of outstanding character, integrity, courage, ethical conduct, leadership, and sportsmanship which the Buena Regional School District seeks to maintain in its athletic program.

B. Coaches must have:

1. Recognized by peers as a top-level coach.

2. Demonstrated an ability to enhance the athletic experience of the student athlete, while serving as a positive role model through exemplary leadership, sportsmanship, ethical conduct, integrity, and character.

3. Achieved accomplishments that merit outstanding recognition or significant contributions to the athletic program.

4. Has coached the same sport for more than one full season and has not left the Buena Regional School District for reasons detrimental to the image of the school district or community.

C. Teams must have:

1. Achieved elite teams’ status by winning one or more of:

a) State Championship

b) Group Championship

c) County Championship

d) League Championship

2. Had varsity status during the season for which they are being nominated.

3. Elapsed a minimum of eight (8) from the last date of play for their nominated season to be considered.

4. Demonstrated examples of outstanding character, ethical conduct, integrity, and sportsmanship.

D. Supporters must have:

1. Demonstrated dedication to Buena Regional Athletic team(s) through donation of time, money, or support for a minimum of five (5) years.

2. Made outstanding contributions to the athletic programs other than coaching and/or playing but does not need to be a graduate or former employee of the Buena Regional School District.

3. Demonstrated examples of outstanding character, ethical conduct, integrity, and sportsmanship.

E. A person can be inducted in more than one category.

F. Nominees will be considered posthumously.

G. The Hall of Fame committee will determine the number of inductees in the inaugural year. Following the first induction ceremony, approximately five (5) individuals and one (1) team will be honored annually.

II. Awards

A. Plaques – Individual/Coach/Supporter

1. Inductee plaque and school plaque – 9x12 inch inductee plaque with current 5x7 inch picture for individual to keep and one to be placed on foyer of gymnasium wall. 

2. Team plaque – Individual team plaque to be placed on foyer of gymnasium wall.

3. Custom individual plaques for team members and coaches to keep.

III. Dinner/Banquet

A. Once a year banquet to honor inductees

B. Inductees given corsage and award.

C. Programs/selling of advertisements to support expenses.

D. 50/50 tickets sold at the event.

E. Host/nominator introduces each inductee followed by speech given by inductee.

F. To be held in the late fall season as established and approved by the Hall of Fame committee.

IV. Nominations/Notification

A. Nominations are open to all eligible individuals.

B. Nominations open all year round and close on July 1st of banquet year.

C. Nomination forms are made available on the Buena Hall of Fame website and social media site and athletic director’s office.

D. All entries must be submitted on the Buena Regional Athletic Hall of Fame nomination form.

E. Nomination forms must be filled out accurately and completely for consideration.

F. New inductees notified via telephone and follow up letter within the following week after the July 1st deadline.

G. Potential inductees must attend the banquet to be inducted into the hall of fame. If a potential inductee is unable to attend the annual banquet for that year, the inductee will be entered into the hall of fame the following year(s) when the inductee is able to attend based on their availability.

H. Any nominees not voted for induction into the Hall of Fame during the year of his/her nomination will remain in consideration for two (2) additional years following nomination. After that period, the candidate must be re-nominated for consideration.

V. Administrative Issues

A. Ticket sales

1. Ticket sales being available immediately following inductee(s) notifications.

2. Ticket sales are the primary fundraising source.

3. Sales must cover the cost of banquet facility rental/food expenditures and additional related costs.

4. Sales end on or about November 1st to allow preparation time for banquet planning.

B. Maintenance of Hall of Fame web page

1. Announce existence of Hall of Fame

2. Nomination form included.

3. Solicit donations.

4. Solicit advertisements.

5. Current sports updates

6. Hall of Fame Committee contact information included.

C. Compilation of athletic graduates/coaches and/or supporter(s) contact information

D. Plaque displays in foyer of high school gymnasium.

E. Hall of Fame bank account established and maintained.

1. The treasurer’s report will be available at any time for the review and monitoring of finances deposited, spent, withdrawn, and moved.

2. The treasurer’s report will be presented at each committee meeting for review.

VI. Hall of Fame Committee Members 

A. Positions

1. Chairperson (will be selected by the committee on a yearly basis)

2. Banquet/site person(s)

3. Treasurer

4. Award person(s)

5. Advertising/Public relations person(s)

6. Administrative support person(s)

7. Technical support person(s)

B. Any of the above-listed positions, except for the chairperson and treasurer, may be held by one or more people.

C. The committee will meet throughout the year to conduct business as necessary and will follow the duties and responsibilities as follows.

1. Attend regular scheduled meetings.

2. Evaluate the nominations of individuals submitted who fulfill the requirements for consideration.

3. Evaluate and update the policies and operational procedures of the Buena Regional Athletic Hall of Fame Guidelines on an annual basis or as deemed necessary to operate feasibly. 

4. Validate and approve all worthy candidates for induction.

5. Keep all action of the Hall of Fame committee confidential.

D. Voting procedures for Hall of Fame Inductees

1. Review eligible candidates based on information available at the time after July 1stof the banquet year.

2. After an open discussion about candidates, a vote will be conducted for the purpose of choosing inductees.

3. Each committee member shall rank candidates in order of desired induction preference with the top choice receiving the highest number.

4. The inductees are determined by totaling the number of votes for each candidate. To be approved for induction, the candidate must have a majority of the votes from the selection committee.

5. The annual voting of the inductee(s) selection will be confidential.

E. Composition

1. The committee will make every effort to have a diverse representation of gender, race, ethnicity, and individuals from different eras (i.e., 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s).

2. Members need not be currently associated with Buena Regional High School to qualify; however, knowledge of the athletic program is recommended.

VII. Scholarships

A. Reserved exclusively for Buena Regional High School senior year student athletes that have received a varsity letter in one or more sports.

B. Reserved for college bound student athletes that will be utilized for college tuition payment.

C. Selection will be based on student athletes’ scholastic achievement, guidance counselor, teacher and/or coach(es) recommendation and extracurricular activities without regard to race, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or financial need.

D. Eligible student athletes must have demonstrated examples of outstanding character, ethical conduct, integrity, and sportsmanship.

E. The amount of scholarships to be awarded and the monetary value of the scholarships will be determined by the Hall of Fame committee and awarded based on the available funds as generated by revenue received from the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, fund raising, public and private entity donations and other means necessary to generate positive non-profit funding.

F. Selection of student athletes to receive scholarships will be made on or about June 1stof the graduation year.

G. Only applicants selected to receive a scholarship will be notified.

H. Scholarships are not renewable and will be awarded once to the receiving student athlete.

VIII.  Clauses, Status and Limitations

A. Purpose Clause: The Buena Regional Athletic Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization and shall be operated exclusively for educational and charitable purposes, within the meaning of section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or corresponding section of any future Federal tax code).

B. Non-Profit Status: The Buena Regional Athletic Hall of Fame is a New Jersey non-profit organization, recognized as tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code.

C. Exempt Activities Limitation: 

1. Notwithstanding any other provision of these guidelines, no Buena Regional Athletic Hall of Fame director, officer, employee, member or representative of this organization shall take an action or carry on any other activity by or on behalf of the organization not permitted to be taken or carried on by an organization exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code as it now exists or may be amended, or by any organization contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of such Code and Regulations as it now exists or may be amended.

2. No part of the net earnings of the Buena Regional Athletic Hall of Fame shall injure to the benefit or be distributable to any director, officer, member or other private person, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in in the Articles of Incorporation and these Guidelines.

D. Dissolution Clause: 

1. Upon termination or dissolution of the Buena Regional Athletic Hall of Fame, any assets and resources lawfully available for distribution shall be distributed to one (1)  or more qualifying organizations described in Section 501(c)(3) of the 1986 Internal Revenue Code (or described in any corresponding provision of any successor statue) which organization or organizations have a charitable purpose which, at least generally, includes a purpose similar to the terminating or dissolving organization.

2. The organization to receive the assets of the Buena Regional Athletic Hall of hereunder shall be selected in the discretion of a majority body of the organization, and if its members cannot so agree, then the recipient organization shall be selected pursuant to a verified petition in equity filed in a court of proper jurisdiction against the Buena Regional Athletic Hall of Fame, by one (1) or more of its managing body which verified petition shall contain such statements as reasonably indicate the applicability of this section. The court upon a finding that this section is applicable shall select the qualifying organization or organizations to receive the assets and resources to be distributed, giving preference if practicable to organizations located with the State of New Jersey.

3. In the event that the court shall find this section is applicable but there is no qualifying organization known to it which has a charitable purpose, which, at least generally, includes a purpose similar to the Buena Regional Athletic Hall of Fame, then the court shall direct the distribution of its assets lawfully available for distribution to the Treasurer of the State of New Jersey to be added to the general fund.

IX. Conflict of Interest

A. This organization will enter into a conflict-of-interest policy that will protect the organization’s interest when it is contemplating entering into a transaction or arrangement that might benefit private interest of an officer of the organization or might result in excess benefit transaction.

B. The policy is intended to supplement but not replace any applicable state and federal laws governing conflict of interest applicable to nonprofit and charitable organizations.

C. The Buena Regional Athletic Hall of Fame Conflict of Interest Policy is an adopted policy effective on the date signed by all committee members.

1. A copy of the policy will be given to each member and retained as a permanent document as one of the organization’s official documents.

X. Changes

A. Changes to these guidelines must be proposed by members of the Buena Regional Athletic Hall of Fame Committee. Proposed changes shall become effective upon the agreement of a simple majority of the committee.

Adopted and approved on ______ day of _________________, 2023.

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Chairman  Committeeperson

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Committeeperson  Committeeperson