CONSTITUTION Constitution for the Adopted on the 11th day of May 2011. The name of the club is Roche Angling Club which is hereafter referred to as the ‘Club’
ADMINISTRATION. Subject to the matters set out below the Club and its property shall be administered and managed in accordance with this constitution by the members of the Executive Committee, constituted by clause 7 of this constitution.
OBJECTS
a. The objects of the Club shall be to obtain, rent, stock or reserve any water or waters with fish for the use of its members and to act in the interests of its members, and angling generally, so long as finances permit.
b. The Club aims to encourage its members to participate and enjoy all forms of angling which the club caters for.
c. The Club aims to improve all aspects of the lakes owned and leased by the club along with the angling facilities provided.
d. The Club shall encourage its members and non-members (i.e. the public) to participate in the sport of angling without discrimination in any form.
e. The Club aim to foster a community spirit between individual members and collegiate clubs through the exchange of skills, knowledge and experience.
f. The Club shall educate members and non-members on issues relating to angling skills and the environment.
POWERS. In furtherance of these objects but not otherwise, the Executive Committee may exercise the following procedures:
a. Power to raise funds and to invite and receive contributions provided that in raising funds the Executive Committee shall not undertake any substantial permanent trading activities and shall conform to any relevant requirements of the law. 2
b. Power to buy, take on lease or exchange any property necessary for the achievement of the objects and to maintain and equip it for use.
c. Power subject to any consents required by law and the approval of the membership to sell, lease or dispose of all or any part of the property of the Club.
d. Power subject to any consents required by law and the approval of the membership to borrow money and to charge all or any part of the property of the Club with repayment of the money so borrowed.
e. Power to employ such staff (who shall not be members of the Executive Committee) and to recruit and support volunteers as are necessary for the proper pursuit of the objects.
f. Power to co-operate with other Charities, Voluntary bodies, angling clubs and statutory authorities operating in furtherance of the objects or of similar charitable purposes and to exchange information and advice with them.
g. Power to establish or support any charitable trusts, angling associations or institutions formed for all or any of the objects.
h. The Committee shall have the power to discipline, suspend or expel any member who shall be in breach of the Club’s Constitution or Club rules. The member shall have the right to appeal to any disciplinary action. The appeal must be made in writing within 14 days from the date of the disciplinary letter. The appeal must be made via rocheanglingclub@gmail.com. The appeal will be reviewed by a disciplinary sub-committee comprising of three members chosen from the executive and general committee. This will take place at the following monthly committee meeting if the appeal is received not less than seven days prior to the meeting date. The member may be asked to appear in person at the appeal to provide a supporting statement. The majority decision of the sub-committee shall be final and conclusive.
i. Power to do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the achievement of the objects.
MEMBERSHIP. Membership of the Club shall be open to:
a. All anglers irrespective of ethnicity, nationality, disability, gender, age, religious, political or sexual orientation.
b. Anglers seeking to apply for membership of Roche Angling Club will require the support of two club members and if he/she does not know two existing members then he/she will be required to attend an interview with the executive committee or sub-committee appointed by the Executive Committee at the earliest possible convenience.
c. Candidates for Membership, other than Life or Honorary Membership shall complete an application in a form approved by the Executive Committee and admission to membership shall be subject to the approval of a majority vote of the Executive Committee or Sub-Committee. The membership Secretary shall, after vetting, issue a Membership Card, a 3 Copy of the Constitution and a copy of the Byelaws to members on receipt of the appropriate subscription for the class of Membership required.
d. The final decision on application for membership will be at the discretion and vote of the Executive Committee. Their decision shall be final.
e. All members will be required to attend at least 2 work parties or support other Club activities during the membership year. Failure to do so may mean that reapplication for membership is not considered by the Executive Committee.
f. The annual membership fee and rejoining fee will be reviewed by the Executive Committee on an annual basis. All membership fees shall be decided at the AGM or at an EGM called for that purpose.
g. Membership will run from the first of January each year and all membership fees must be paid by the Thirty First of January. Failure to do so will result in the forfeiting of club membership. Should this be the case a reapplication to join the club along with the payment of the joining fee will be needed for membership to continue.
h. New memberships must be taken up within 14 days of acceptance of application.
i. All angling members of Roche AC must hold a valid rod licence.
Full Senior membership – any persons aged between 18 and 60 years of age on or before the 1st January on the year of subscription Full Junior Membership – any persons aged between 12 and 18 years of age on or before the 1st January on the year of subscription.
Child Membership – any person under 12 years of age, on or before the 1st January on the year of subscription will be free of charge.
OAP & Disabled membership – any person greater than 60 years of age on or before the 1st January on the year of subscription, or a person presenting evidence of disability. The annual fee will be 50% of the full membership fee.
Senior Sea / Game membership – any person aged between 18 & 60 years of age on or before the 1 st January on the year of subscription. Junior Sea / Game – any person aged between 12 and 18 years of age on or before the 1st January on the year of subscription.
Non angling membership – any person who is a spouse, partner or parent of an angling member.
Honorary Membership – May be granted by the Executive Committee to persons who, in the opinion of the Committee, have specially contributed to the objects of the Club. The period of such Honorary Membership shall be decided by the Executive Committee when it is granted.
HONORARY OFFICERS. At the annual general meeting of the Club, or an extraordinary general meeting called specifically for that purpose, the members shall elect from amongst themselves a President, Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, a Secretary, and a treasurer, who shall hold office from the conclusion of that meeting.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
a. The Executive Committee shall consist of: I. The honorary Officers specified in the preceding clause II. Membership Secretary, Fisheries Officer and Publicity Officer,
b. The Executive Committee may also in addition appoint not more than 2 co- opted members, but so that no-one may be appointed as a co-opted member if, as a result, more than one third of the members of the Executive Committee would be co-opted members. Each appointment of a co-opted member shall be made at a special meeting called by the Executive Committee under clause 15, and shall take effect from the end of that meeting. Unless the appointment is to fill a place which has not then been vacated, in which case the appointment shall run from the date when the post becomes vacant.
c. All the members of the Executive Committee shall retire from office together at the end of the Annual General Meeting next after the date on which they came into office, but they may be re-elected or re-appointed.
d. The proceedings of the Executive Committee shall not be invalidated by any vacancy among their number.
e. Nobody shall be appointed as a member of the Executive Committee who is under 18.
f. No person shall be entitled to act as a member of the Executive Committee whether on a first or on any subsequent entry into office until after signing in the minute book of the Executive Committee a declaration of acceptance and of willingness to act in the trusts of the Club.
DETERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
A member of the Executive Committee shall cease to hold office if he or she: a. Is disqualified from acting as a member of the Executive Committee by virtue of section 72 of the Charities Act 1993.(or any statutory re-enactment or modification of that provision), offends against the Constitution / Byelaws of the Club or whose conduct brings the Club into disrepute.
b. Becomes incapable by reason of mental disorder, illness or injury of managing and administering his or her own affairs.
c. Is absent without the permission of the Executive Committee from all their meetings held within a period of six months and the Executive Committee resolve that his or her office be vacated; or
d. Notifies to the Executive Committee a wish to resign (but only if at least three members of the Executive Committee will remain in office when the notice of resignation is to take effect).
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS NOT TO BE PERSONALLY INTERESTED.
a. No member of the Executive Committee shall acquire any interest in property belonging to the Club (otherwise than as a trustee for the Club) or receive remuneration or be interested (otherwise than as a member of the Executive Committee) in any contract entered into by the Executive Committee.
MEETINGS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
a. The Executive Committee shall hold at least six ordinary meetings a year. A special meeting may be called at any time by the Chairman, or by any two members of the Executive Committee upon not less than 4 days notice being given to the other members of the Executive Committee of the matters to be discussed, but if the matters include an appointment of a co-opted member, then not less than 21 days notice must be given.
b. The Chairman shall act as chairman at meetings of the Executive Committee. If the chairman is absent from any meeting the Vice Chair shall act as chairman or members of the Executive Committee present shall choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting before any other business is transacted.
c. There shall be a quorum when at least 4 members of the Executive Committee are present at a meeting.
d. Every matter shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members of the Executive Committee present and voting on the question; but in the case of equality of votes the chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.
e. The Executive Committee shall keep minutes of the proceedings at meetings of the Executive Committee and any sub-committee.
f. The Executive Committee may from time to time make and alter rules for the conduct of their business, the summoning and conduct of their meetings and the custody of documents. No rule may be made that is inconsistent with this constitution.
g. The Executive Committee may alter or revoke byelaws for the effective management of the club. All such byelaws shall be binding on the members of the club provided that each member receives written notification or through electronic means of the change of byelaw within 28 days of the alteration.
h. The Executive Committee may appoint one or more sub-committees to organise, manage and bring to fruition particular functions. In so-doing the sub-committee will have the same delegated powers as the executive committee excepting the powers of electing and expelling members and / or changes to byelaws provided that all acts and proceedings of any such sub- committee shall be fully and promptly reported to the Executive Committee.
OTHER CLUB OFFICIALS. The membership shall also elect at the Annual General Meeting, or at an extraordinary meeting called for that purpose, the following club officials who must be 18 years of age or over: Lake Wardens Representatives from the match, specimen, game and sea sections. Cup Custodian 11. RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE.
a. The funds of the Club, including all donations and bequests, shall be paid into accounts operated by the Executive Committee in the name of the Club at such a bank, as the Executive Committee shall from time to time decide. All the cheques drawn on the account must be signed by at least two members of the Executive Committee.
b. The funds belonging to the Club shall be applied only in furthering the objects.
PROPERTY.
a. Subject to sub-clause (b) of this clause, the Executive Committee shall cause the title to: I. All land held by or in trust for the Club which is not vested in the Official Custodian for Charities; and II. All investments held by on behalf of the Club; To be vested either in a corporation entitled to act as custodian trustee or in not less than three individuals appointed by them as holding trustees. Holding trustees may be removed by the Executive Committee at their pleasure and shall act in accordance with the lawful direction of the Executive Committee. Providing they act only in accordance with the lawful direction of the Executive Committee, the holding trustees shall not be liable for the acts or defaults of its members.
b. If a corporation entitled to act as custodian trustee has not been appointed to hold the property of the Club, the Executive Committee may permit any investments held by or in trust for the Club to be held in the name of a clearing bank , trust corporation or any stockbroking company which is a member of the International Stock Exchange (or any subsidiary of any such stockbroking company) as nominee for the Executive Committee, and may pay such a nominee reasonable and proper remuneration as such.
ACCOUNTS. The Executive Committee shall comply with their obligations under the Charities Act 1993 (or any statutory re-enactment or modification of that Act) with regard to:
a. The keeping of accounting records for the Club.
b. The preparation of annual statements of account for the Club.
c. The auditing or independent examination of the statements of account of the Club.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.
a. There shall be an annual general meeting of the Club which shall be held in the month of February in each year or as soon as is practicable thereafter.
b. Every annual general meeting shall be called by the Executive Committee. The secretary shall give at least 28 days’ notice of the annual general meeting to all the members of the Club. All angling members, over the age of 18, of the Club shall be entitled to attend and vote at the meeting.
c. The Executive Committee shall present to each annual general meeting the report/s and accounts of the Club for the preceding year.
d. All proposals and nominations for election to the Executive Committee must be made by members of the Club in writing (clearly stating the proposers and seconders name and membership number) and must be in the hands of the secretary of the Executive Committee at least 14 days before the annual general meeting. Should nominations exceed vacancies, election shall be by ballot.
SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS / EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETINGS.
The Executive Committee may call a special general meeting of the Club at any time. If at least ten members request such a meeting in writing stating the business to be considered the secretary shall call such a meeting. At least 21 days’ notice must be given. The notice must state the business to be discussed.
PROCEDURE AT GENERAL MEETINGS.
a. The secretary or other person specially appointed by the Executive Committee shall keep a full record at every general meeting of the Club.
b. There shall be a quorum when at least one tenth of the number of voting members of the Club for the time being or ten members of the Club, whichever is the greater, are present at any general meeting. 17. NOTICES. Any notice required to be served on any member of the Club shall be in writing and shall be served by the secretary or the Executive Committee on any member 8 either personally, through electronic means or by sending it through the post in a prepaid letter addressed to such member at his or her last known address in the United Kingdom, and any letter so sent shall be deemed to have been received within 10 days of posting.
ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION.
a. Subject to the following provisions of this clause the Constitution may be altered by a resolution passed by not less than two thirds of the members present and voting at a general meeting. The notice of the general meeting, must include notice of the resolution, setting out the terms of the alteration proposed.
b. No amendment may be made which would have the effect of making the Club cease to be a Club at law.
DISSOLUTION. If the Executive Committee decides that it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the Club, it shall call a meeting of all members of the Club, of which not less than 21 days notice (stating the terms of the resolution to be proposed) shall be given. If the proposal is confirmed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting, the Executive Committee shall have power to realise any assets held by or on behalf of the Club. Any assets remaining after the satisfaction of any proper debts and liabilities shall be given or transferred to such other angling club or institutions having objects similar to such objects of the Club as the members of the Club may determine, or failing that shall be applied for some other charitable purpose. This constitution was adopted on the date mentioned above by the persons whose signatures appear at the bottom of this document.
