Grievance Reporting Procedures:

Step One: Person(s) wishing to lodge a grievance to Court Masters Club must do so in writing. A Grievance Report Form can be sent or a person may write a free-style letter describing in detail the grievance. The occurrence of an incident must precipitate any "accusations" of misconduct of others. The written grievance report must be signed.

Step Two: The written complaint is to be directed to the Club President, Ms. Jayne Sendt  181 Moonstone Lane East Dubuque, IL 61025.

In the event of a grievance involving an "accusation" of misconduct, the written complaint must be received by the Club President within 10 days of the alleged incident.

Step Three: The Club President will forward the grievance report to the Court Masters Grievance Committee for review. The Court Masters Grievance Committee is comprised of three Board Members of Court Masters Club and is appointed at the beginning of each season by the Club President.

Step Four: The Court Masters Grievance Committee will review the grievance and, if needed, will collect more information, interview parties involved, etc. to facilitate a fair and reasonable decision. In the event of a grievance involving an "accusation" of misconduct, the involved party has the right to be notified of such grievance. The initial notification will be verbally with the intent of also collecting information related to the grievance. The Court Masters Grievance Committee will send a written notification to the involved party. In the event that the grievance is reporting misconduct of a severe nature (eg: physical or sexual abuse of a player), then the Court Masters Club President and Grievance Committee reserves the right to notify the appropriate authorities for the safety of the minor player. The same holds true in the event of a report of illegal activity or use of illegal drugs and/or tobacco and alcohol that is against Club Policy.

Step Five: The Court Masters Grievance Committee will make a decision regarding the grievance as to action needed, if any, by Court Masters Club. This decision will be in writing to the Club President within 7 days of receipt of the initial grievance report. The Club President will then forward this decision in writing via registered mail to the person initiating the grievance.

Step Six: The person(s) lodging the initial grievance report has 10 days from receipt of the Court Masters Grievance Committee's decision to file an appeal. Court Masters Club will allow ONE AND ONLY ONE request for an appeal hearing with the Court Masters Board of Directors. The Club President MUST receive the request for an appeal within 10 days of the receipt of the Court Masters Grievance Committee's decision. If more than 10 days has passed, the matter is considered closed and is not open for further review.

Step Seven: If a request for an appeal hearing is received by the Club President, the appeal request will be put on the agenda for the next scheduled board meeting.

Step Eight: The person(s) involved in the grievance report will address the Court Masters Board Members for the appeal hearing. A description of the grievance should be presented with arguments as to why the first decision from the Court Masters Grievance Committee was not satisfactory. The Court Masters Grievance Committee will have submitted a report to the other board members prior to the appeal hearing showing the initial grievance report and any information collected by the Court Masters Grievance Committee and their decision with rationale for how they came to their decision. After presentation of the case, the person(s) attending the appeal hearing will be asked to leave the meeting room so that the board members can have a closed discussion and potential vote on the matter. Note that the Court Masters Board of Directors reserves the right to "table" a vote on any matters they feel need further review, information or possible legal counsel. If it is agreed to take a vote on the grievance at hand, then an eligible representative from each team present will vote. If a majority vote occurs, that is the decision. If there is a tie vote, then and only then, the Club President will vote as the tiebreaker. The person(s) presenting the appeal will then be asked to re-enter the meeting room to be given the Board's decision, which as a reminder, is the Final Decision. There is no option for further appeal and the matter will be considered closed.