The Cambois Rowing Club Constitution is drawn up in accordance with the recommendations of the
Amateur Rowing Association
. The Club is an Open Club, welcoming members from all sections of the community.
The following text is the current constitution, with updates recommended by the
ARA in the spring of 2008.
Cambois Rowing Club Constitution
1. NAME
The Club shall be known as Cambois Rowing Club hereinafter known as ‘the Club’.
2. OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the Club are to promote rowing in East Northumberland.
3. MEMBERSHIP
A. The Club is an Open Membership Club.
B. Classes of Membership
• Full members over the age of 18 years.
• Concessionary 16-18 years old, unemployed, student.
• Junior members under the age of 16 years.
• Social do not have access to or use of club boats.
C. Election of Membership
1. Membership of the Club shall be open to anyone interested in the sport of
rowing on application in accordance with the Equal Opportunities Policy (Section
4). However, limitation of membership according to available facilities is
allowable on a non-discriminatory basis.
2. The Club may have different classes of membership and subscription on a
non-discriminatory and fair basis. The Club will keep subscriptions at levels
that will not pose a significant obstacle to people participating.
3. Applicants for membership and members renewing their membership, will abide
by the Rules and Regulations of the Club and the sport of rowing.
4. If it is considered by the Club committee that the granting or renewal of
membership would be detrimental to the aims and objectives of the Club, by
virtue of conduct or character likely to bring the Club or the sport of rowing
into disrepute or for some other similar good cause, the Club committee shall be
entitled to refuse or withdraw such membership. In doing so the committee shall
provide full reasons for their decision and grant a right of Appeal to the
members.'
D. Restriction
A person who has been expelled from, or refused membership of, the Amateur
Rowing
Association shall not be eligible for membership.
4. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES POLICY
The Club is fully committed to the principles of equality of opportunity and is
responsible for ensuring that no member, volunteer, employee or job applicant
receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, gender, disability,
race, ethnic origin, nationality, colour, parental or marital status, pregnancy,
religious belief, social status, sexual orientation or political belief.
5. CHILD PROTECTION PROCEDURES
The Club accepts the policy and procedures relating to Child Protection and the
Protection of Vulnerable Adults as set out by the ARA, and requires all members
to accept them as a condition of membership.
6. ENTRANCE FEE
Each applicant for membership shall, if his/her application be accepted, pay an
entrance fee, the amount of which shall be determined by the members in General
meeting.
7. SUBSCRIPTION
The rates of subscription shall be determined by the members in General meeting
and shall be due on election and, thereafter, on or before 1st December in each
year.
8. CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP
a. Any member may resign giving one month's clear notice in writing to the
Secretary.
b.i. Any member violating any of the rules or regulations of the Club or being
adjudged guilty of unsatisfactory conduct may, by resolution of the Committee,
be suspended or expelled. Any member so suspended or expelled may appeal to an
independent Hearings Panel if such an appeal is approved by _____ of the _____
officers of the Club. The panel may be drawn from the membership of the Club or
from other clubs in the region. The panel will hear and receive evidence, reach
a conclusion, affirm or reject the sanctions imposed as appropriate.
b.ii. Any hearings panel must give a fair and independent hearing to the
appellant within an appropriate timescale. Hearings must not contravene the
Human Rights Act 1998 or any other policies of the Club and Amateur Rowing
Association.
c. A member shall be deemed to have resigned from the Club if, after due notice
in writing, they have not paid by 1st January the annual subscription which
became due on 1st December. They may, however, rejoin at any time during that
year without payment of any entrance fee, subject to the provision of 3.C or 3.D
above.
9. GRIEVANCE AND DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES
An individual or member with a complaint about treatment by the Club should set
out their
grievance, in the first instance to the Club Chairman. The Club will seek to
deal with complaints in a fair and timely manner, with reference to the ARA’s
Guidelines on Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures in Rowing.
10. DISQUALIFICATION FROM HOLDING OFFICE
a. Only members entitled to vote are eligible to hold office.
b. Any member who is under the age of 16 years, shall not be eligible for
election to the Committee of the Club.
11. COMMITTEE
a. The Committee shall conduct the affairs of the Club as a whole and shall
consist of a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and other Officers as deemed
necessary, together with 4 ordinary members. The Committee shall have the power
to co-opt up to 4 further members but co-opted members shall have no right to
vote at Committee meetings.
b. Nominations for the position of Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and other
Officers shall be put forward in the form of a motion under the terms of Rule
14.d.
c. The Committee shall elect a Vice-Chairman from among its number.
d. The term of office shall be for one year, and members shall be eligible for
re-election.
12. DUTIES OF COMMITTEE OFFICERS
a. Chairman: The Chairman (or Chair) will preside at all General meetings of the
Club and at all meetings of the Committee, and shall be responsible for guiding
the activities of the club in accordance with its general policy as expressed by
the majority of its members. The Chairman shall represent or arrange for the
representation of the Club at ARA regional level and at meetings of other
organisations. The Chairman shall ex officio be a member of any other committee
of the Club.
b. Captain: The Captain will be responsible for training, coaching and
representation of the Club in competitions.
c. Secretary: The Secretary will be responsible for the organisation of meetings
of the Committee and of the Club, and the recording of minutes relating to such
meetings and all correspondence relating to the general business of the Club.
d. Treasurer: The Treasurer will be responsible for the collection and
disbursement of all monies belonging to the Club and will keep proper accounting
records of all such transactions. He or she will present to the members at the
AGM a balance sheet and income and expenditure account showing the Club’s
financial position and the results of its transactions for the year. The
transactions of the Club will be conducted through a bank account and will
require the signatures of any 2 of 4 members of the Committee who have been
designated for the purpose.
13. CLUB COMMITTEE
a. The Committee is responsible for the general conduct of the Club's business
and activities.
b. The Committee shall meet at regular intervals during the year, as required by
the business to be transacted.
c. Special meetings of the Committee shall be called by the Secretary on
instructions from the Chairman, or not less than three committee members.
d. A quorum shall consist of not less than 5 members.
e. In the case of casual vacancy among the Committee, the said Committee shall
be entitled to appoint another eligible person to act until the next AGM.
14. GENERAL MEETINGS
a. An Annual General Meeting shall be held in the Autumn of each year. There
shall be laid before the meeting a statement of accounts made up to the 30th day
of the month of September immediately preceding.
b. An Extraordinary General Meeting shall be called on the instructions of a
simple majority of the Committee, or on a requisition signed by not less than 4
of the members of the Club entitled to vote.
c. Not less than 21 days clear notice shall be given, specifying to all members
the time and business of the General Meeting.
d. Motions for discussion at Annual General Meetings not of origin from within
the Committee, shall be lodged with the Secretary at least 30 days preceding the
AGM, and be signed by 2 members entitled to vote.
e. At any General Meeting, a resolution put to the vote of the Meeting shall be
decided by a show of hands, of those entitled to vote, except when more than one
nomination has been received for a position on the Committee, in which case
voting will be by secret ballot.
f. At all General Meetings the Chairman will preside or, in his/her absence, a
Chairman for the meeting will be elected by the voting members present.
g. At all General Meetings not less than 8 members of the Club entitled to vote
shall constitute a quorum.
h. Absences of Quorum: If after half an hour from the time appointed for the
meeting, a quorum is not present, the Meeting, if called at the request of the
members, shall be dissolved. In any other case, the Meeting shall be adjourned
until a time and place to be fixed by the Committee. If a quorum is not present
within half an hour from the time appointed for an Adjourned Meeting, the
members present shall be a quorum.
i. Accidental Omission: Accidental Omission to give notice of a meeting to, or
the non-receipt of notice of, a meeting by any member shall not invalidate the
proceedings of a meeting.
15. LIABILITY
The General Committee shall manage the affairs of the Club. Financial or legal
liability incurred in the rightful exercise of their office shall not, however,
be the personal liability of the Committee, but shall be the responsibility of
the Club as a whole. The Committee should ensure that adequate and appropriate
public or preferably civil liability insurance is in place to cover all the
activities of the club, its committee and members.
16. VOTING
Only full members, and family members over the age of 16 years are entitled to
vote at all meetings.
17. ALTERATION OF CONSTITUTION
a. This constitution shall not be altered, amended or rescinded except by a
General Meeting of the Club.
b. A resolution to give effect to a change must be passed by at least 75% of the
members present at the General Meeting, and voting on this behalf.
18. AUDITOR
Every Annual General Meeting shall appoint an Auditor who shall at the
conclusion of the next financial year examine the accounting records of the
Club, and report to the members on the income and expenditure accounts and
balance sheet that are presented to the next AGM.
19. DISTRIBUTION OF PROFITS
In no circumstances can any profit be distributed to members, but any profits
earned shall be used in furthering the objects of the Club.
20. TERMINATION
The Club shall not terminate except by a resolution of a Special General Meeting
convened for the purpose and, in such an event, any surplus assets shall be
handed over to a body or bodies with similar objects or to a charity or
charities agreed by the meeting which formally terminates the Club.
21. POWER OF DECISION
Any matter not provided for in this constitution, or any question over the
interpretation of it shall be dealt with by the Committee whose decision shall
be final.
22. SAFETY
The Officers and Committee have primary responsibility for safe practice within
the Club and for adopting the minimum standards advised by the ARA.
The Committee shall appoint a member to act as a Safety Adviser whose duty it
will be to understand the requirements of the ARA Code of Practice for Water
Safety and advise on their prominent display, their observation and their
implementation at all times.
23. DECLARATION
Each member upon joining shall sign the following declaration:
Name: ______________________________________________________
Upon acceptance into membership of the Cambois Rowing Club
I understand that rowing is undertaken at my own risk. I confirm that I do not
suffer from any disability or medical condition which may render me unfit for
strenuous exercise.*
I also confirm that I am able to swim a minimum of 50 metres.
Signed: _____________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian (if under 18) ___________________________________
*Should a medical condition exist, this will not necessarily preclude you from
membership/participation, but it must be declared. Should you be in any doubt,
advice should be sought from your family doctor.
Cambois Rowing Club
9th June 2008