1. Name
1.1 The Club shall be called Lancaster & District Canoe Club (hereinafter called the Club).
1.2 The club shall be affiliated to the British Canoe Union.
2. Aims and Objectives
2.1. The objectives of the Club shall be to provide for promoting and furthering the interests of canoeing sport and recreation offering coaching and competitive opportunities for canoeing sport and recreation.
2.2. The aims and objectives of the Club should be consistent with the furthering of equal opportunities for all groups in that sport.
3. Membership
3.1 The Club shall consist of the officers and the members.
3.2 Membership of the Club shall be open, and not unreasonably restricted on the grounds of sex, race or of political, religious or other opinions, to any person in the area who is prepared to accept and support the objectives of the Club.
3.3 In accepting membership, a person agrees to abide by the constitution of the Club and the mlings of the Club Executive Committee.
3.4 Members under the age of 16 shall be considered as junior members.
3.5 Junior members shall have the right to elect from amongst themselves one representative to sit on the club executive committee as an Officer of the Club.
3.6 Junior members shall be given the same playing and voting rights within the Club as held by other members.
4. Membership Fees
4.1 Membership fees shall be stipulated by the Club Executive Committee distinguishing between members, junior members and families.
4.2 Annual membership fees are due on 1st of May of each year and are payable to the Club Treasurer.
4.3 The Club Executive Committee may decide upon other charges or subscriptions at its discretion.
5. Officers
5.1 The officers of the Club shall be: Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Equipment officer, Coach Officer, and Youth Representative.
5.2 The officers shall hold office for a calendar year, being elected annually at the Club Annual General Meeting. All officers shall retire annually but shall be eligible for re-appointment.
5.3 Any casual vacancy occurring may be filled by another eligible person appointed by the Executive Committee to act until the next AGM.
6. Executive Committee
6.1 The management of the Club shall be vested in the Executive Committee (hereinafter called the Executive Committee).
6.2 The Executive Committee shall act for the members. Liabilities incurred shall fail upon the membership (provided they act in accordance with the constitution, in honesty and good faith).
6.3 The Executive Committee shall comprise Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Coach Officer, Youth Representative
6.4 Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be convened by the Secretary, and the committee shall meet monthly.
6.5 The quorum necessary for the transaction of business at Executive Committee meetings shall be three present and eligible to vote (Note: this quorum will differ for general and Executive Committee meetings).
6.6 Every question at a meeting of the Executive Committee shall be determined by a majority of the vote of the members present and voting, every member have one vote. In the event of an equality of votes, the Chair of the meeting shall have a casting vote.
6.7 The interpretation of the Club constitution shall be vested in the EC, who shall decide all questions relating to the Club, save those specified in, or involving an amendment to the constitution.
6.8 The Executive Committee shall be responsible for considering any application for membership and shall decide if this application should be accepted. This decision shall be in accordance with a non-discriminatory policy specified in 3.2.
6.9 The Executive Committee may employ professional officers at its discretion.
7 Finance
7.1 All monies raised by, or on behalf of; the Club shall be applied to further the objects of the Club and for no other purpose.
7.2 The Club Treasurer is responsible for the finances of the Club.
7.3 The financial year of the Club ends on the 31st of April.
7.4 Proper accounts shall be kept of all sums of money received and paid out by the Club.
7.5 An audited statement of accounts, up to and including this date, shall be presented at the Annual General Meeting of the Club.
7.6 The fluids of the Club shall be lodged at a bank or building society in an account in the name of the Club, and all cheques, drafts etc drawn on these
accounts shall be signed by any two of the following officers: Chair, Treasurer, Membership Secretary.
8. Annual General Meeting and other meetings
8.1 The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Club shall be held in January, when the annual report of the executive committee and the audited statement of accounts of the financial year shall be presented.
8.2 Not less than 20 days notice of the date of the AGM shall be given to all members by the Secretary.
8.3 The AGM shall elect such officers of the Club as it may from time to time determine.
8.4 Nominations shall be accepted from the floor of the meeting on the proviso that the nominated member agrees wholly. Nominations shall require one
second nomination. Nominations can only be accepted from person eligible to vote at the AGM.
8.5 The dates of the general meetings and of the Executive Committee meetings shall be determined at the previous meeting. In addition, the Chair may call a meeting when she/he considers it necessary or desirable, or upon the written request of at least two of the members of the Executive Committee.
8.6 All members shall be entitled to vote at general meetings of the Club and shall have equal voting rights.
8.7 The quorm for general meetings shall be ten members present and eligible to vote.
8.8 An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) shall be called by an application in writing to the Secretary signed by not less than two members. The Executive Committee shall have the power to call an EGM by decision of a simple majority of its members.
9 Voting Procedures
9.1 Each member shall be entitled to one vote.
9.2 A motion shall be carried by a simple majority of those present and voting, except when the motion is a constitutional amendment which shall require a two-thirds majority (see 14).
9.3 The Chair shall have a casting vote in addition to a deliberative vote.
10. Property and Staff
10.1 Responsibility for all property owned or leased by the Club and for the employment of paid staff and volunteers rests with the Executive Committee.
11. Discipline and Appeals
11.1 The Executive Committee shall have the power to take appropriate disciplinary action against any member, and shall have the authority to terminate the membership of any member guilty of conduct deemed to be to the detriment of the Club.
11.2 There shall be the right of appeal to the Executive Committee, or an Appeal Committee set up by it to act on its behalf against any decision made by an officer of the Club.
11.3 The appear should normally be considered within 14 days of it being received by the Secretary.
12. Dissolution Procedures
12.1 In the event of the Club ceasing to exist, and following the discharge of all debts and liabilities, any assets at the time of dissolution shall become the property of the British Canoe Union.
12.2 The Club may be wound up on a resolution of the members, passed by a two-thirds majority at a special meeting convened for that purpose upon the request of fifteen members of the Club. At least 60 days notice of the meeting shall have been sent to all members of the Club.
12.3 In the event of the passing of the resolution to wind up the Club, the members of the Club shall appoint a representative committee which shall be empowered to distribute the assets, including cash and investments in hand, to Clubs having similar objectives as their own.
13. Review of the Constitution
13.1 This constitution shall be reviewed on a yearly basis.
13.2 Amendments to the constitution shall only be agreed at AGMs.
13.3 Additions to, or alternations of, the constitution shall be submitted to the Secretary not less than 30 days before the date of the AGM, or with a request for a special meeting of Club members. No resolution involving an amendment to the constitution may be proposed or amended from the floor of a meeting.
13.4 In the event of a proposal for amending the constitution being submitted, the Secretary shall inform the membership of the proposed motion not less than 20 days before the AGM.
13.5 Any amendments to the proposed motion duly proposed and seconded in like maimer shall be submitted in writing to the Secretary not less than 5 days before the said meeting.
13.6 Any alternation to the constitution shall require a two-thirds majority of members present and voting.
13.7 In the event of any question or matter arising which is not provided in the constitution, such question or matter shall be dealt with by the EC, whose decision shall be final.
14 Rules
14.1 No junior member may canoe alone from the clubhouse.
14.2 No junior member may take a boat from the clubhouse unless a responsible adult is present.
14.3 All club members must wear buoyancy aids.
14.4 The Club and its members shall agree to follow the “Safe from harm” guidelines as produced by the BCU.
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Lancaster Canoe Club |
