CLUB CONSTITUTION

 

1. Name of the Club

The name of the Club shall be ASKERN RADIO SAILING CLUB. Hereinafter will be referred to as The Club.

 

2. Aims and Objectives.

The objective of the Club shall be to keep members together in a friendly atmosphere and to promote and exchange ideas in the design, construction and sailing of radio-controlled yachts.

 

3. Membership

(a) Membership of the Club shall be open to anyone interested in participating, volunteering, or promoting the design, construction and sailing of radio-controlled yachts, regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion, or other beliefs.

(b) All members will be subject to the regulations of the constitution and by joining the Club will be deemed to accept these regulations and other notified Club rules and policies that have been adopted.

(c) Members will pay membership fees as determined at an Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting. A condition of membership is that all members must hold membership of the Model Yachting Association (MYA)

(d) Individuals shall not be eligible to take part in the business of the Club, vote at the Annual General Meeting, General Meetings or Extraordinary General Meetings, unless the applicable subscription has been paid by the due date.

(e) Membership fees become due on 31st December and must be paid by 31st January, otherwise membership will lapse.

(f) The Committee may offer to non-sailing supporters of the club, “Honorary Membership.” There will be no fee for this class of membership. Honorary members will have no voting rights.

 

4. Sports Equity

(a) This Club is committed to ensuring that equity is incorporated across all aspects of its development and adopts the Sport England definition of sports equity.

(b) Sports equity is about fairness in sport, equality of access, recognising inequalities and taking steps to address them. It is about changing the culture and structure of sport to ensure it becomes equally accessible to everyone in society.

(c) The Club respects the rights, dignity and worth of every person and will treat everyone equally within the context of the sport, regardless of age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, religious belief, sexuality, or social/economic status.

(d) The Club is committed to everyone having the right to enjoy their sport in an environment free from threat of intimidation, harassment, and abuse.

(e) All Club members have a responsibility to oppose discriminatory behaviour and promote equality of opportunity.

(f) The Club will deal with any incident of discriminatory behaviour seriously, according to Club procedures.

 

5. The Committee

(a) The affairs of The Club shall be conducted by a committee on behalf of the membership. The committee shall consist of the officers of Commodore, Secretary, Treasurer/Membership Secretary and two committee members. All Officers will be elected at an Annual General Meeting. Ordinary Members will be eligible to attend any Committee Meeting.

(b) All Committee Members must be Members of The Club.

(c) The term of office shall be one year, and officers shall be eligible for re-election.

(d) If a post of officer shall fall vacant after such an election, the vacancy may be filled on a temporary basis until the next AGM, by the Committee.

(e) New policies and rules that affect the organisation of The Club will be agreed at the Annual General Meeting or at an Extraordinary General Meeting or a general meeting, called for that purpose.

 (f) In the event of the necessity for a disciplinary hearing, it will be conducted by the Committee (excluding anyone with a direct interest in the case). The Committee will also be responsible for taking any action deemed necessary following the hearing.

(g) There will be one meeting per year, (the AGM). Additional meetings may be called as required in which case Members will be given a minimum of 7 days’ notification prior to the meeting.

(h) All Full Members will be eligible to attend any Committee Meeting. Those so attending will be eligible to speak and vote as required.

(i) The quorum required for business to be agreed at a Committee Meeting shall be four members one of which must be an Official of The Club, with the Meeting Chairperson holding the casting vote if required.

(j) The Chairperson will be elected from those present at any meeting.

 

6. Finances

(a) The Club Treasurer will be responsible for the finances of The Club.

(b) The financial year of The Club will run from1st December to 30th November.

 (c) All Club monies will be banked in an account held in the name of the Club except for a working cash float.

(d) A statement of annual accounts will be presented by the Treasurer at the AGM

(e) Any cheques drawn against The Club will hold the signature of the Treasurer.

(f) All members of The Club shall be jointly and severally responsible for the financial liabilities of The Club.

(g) Spending of The Club’s money will be in accordance with the procedures agreed at an AGM.

 

7. Annual General meeting and Extraordinary General meetings.

(a) The Annual General Meeting is the means whereby the members of The Club exercise their democratic rights in conducting The Club’s affairs.

(b) The Club shall hold the Annual General Meeting (AGM) yearly. `

• Approve the minutes of the previous year’s inaugural meeting and subsequently the minutes of the previous AGM

• Receive a report from the Commodore

• Receive a report from the Treasurer and approve the Annual Account.

• Receive a report from the Membership Secretary

• Elect the Officers

• Agree the membership fees for the following year.

• Consider any proposed changes to the constitution

• Deal with any other relevant business.

(c) Notice of the AGM will be given by the Club Secretary with at least 14 days’ notice to be given to members.

(d) Proposed changes to the constitution will be sent to the Secretary at least 28 days prior to the AGM.

(f) The quorum for the AGM will be eight members.

(g) The Chairperson will hold the casting vote at all meetings.

(h) An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) may be called by the Committee or an applicant in writing to the secretary supported by at least 20% of the members of the Club.

 (i) Procedures for an EGM shall follow those outlined above for AGMs.

 

8. Amendments to the Constitution

The constitution will only be changed through agreement by majority vote at an AGM or EGM.

 

9. Discipline and Appeals.

(a) All concerns, allegations or reports of poor practice/abuse relating to the welfare of children and young people will be recorded and responded to, swiftly and appropriately, in accordance with The Club’s policies and procedures. The Commodore is the lead contact for all members in the event of any child protection concerns.

(b) All complaints regarding the behaviour of members should be presented in writing to the Secretary.

(c) Such complaints will be dealt with in accordance with The Club’s procedures.

(d) Should disciplinary action be necessary there is a right of appeal which should be made to the Secretary within 10 days of the notification of disciplinary action.

 

10. Dissolution

(a) A resolution to dissolve the Club can only be passed at an AGM or EGM through a majority vote of the membership.

b) In the event of dissolution, all debts should be cleared with Club funds

(c) Any assets of the Club that remain following this will become the property of any Club to be formed with similar objectives and of which 50% of the members are existing members of The Club.

(d) Failing this any remaining assets will be sold, and all monies distributed equally to the membership.

 

11. Declaration

ASKERN RADIO SAILING CLUB hereby adopts and accepts this constitution as a current operating guide regulating the actions of members.