CITY OF SUNDERLAND ROWING CLUB CONSTITUTION
1.NAME
The club shall be known as City of Sunderland, hereinafter known as ‘the club’
2.OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the club are:-
i)To promote amateur rowing in the community and encourage and support community participation.
ii)To provide and maintain a rowing clubhouse and club facilities.
iii)To ensure a duty of care to all members of the club
iv)To offer coaching, competitive and non-competitive opportunities in rowing.
v)To represent the City of Sunderland in local, regional and international regattas (may encourage funding/grants if we have to provide a copy of the rules???)
vi)To provide all its services in such a way as to be fair to everyone.
3.MEMBERSHIP
a)Membership of the club shall be open to anyone interested in the sport of rowing on application, in accordance with the Club’s Equal Opportunities Policy. Limitation of membership according to available facilities is permissible on a non-discriminatory basis.
b)The club shall have different classes of membership on a fair and non-discriminatory basis as follows:-
Full membersMembers above 18 years of age at the time of joining/renewing membership, who have access to club facilities and equipment
£120 per year
Land- based membersMembers who have access only to land based training equipment
£60 per year
Family membersThe partner and/or children under 12 years of a full member.
£60 per year
Junior membersMembers up to the age of 18 years at the time of joining/renewing membership
£80 per year
Student membersStudent members access to club facilities and equipment.
£80 per year
Associate/socialMembers who do not have access to or use of club boats/ member’s training
membersequipment.
£45 per year
Honorary membersMembers who are elected by the committee and who have full member access to club facilities but may not vote on club matters.
No membership fee
c)Applicants for membership and members renewing their membership will abide by the regulations and codes of practice of the Club and the sport of rowing.
d)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 sport of rowing into disrepute or for a similar good cause, the Club committee shall be entitled to refuse or withdraw membership. The committee shall provide full reasons for their decision and grant a right of Appeal to the Club members.
e)The Club Secretary shall ensure that all members receive a copy of the Club rules, and that a copy of the rules is displayed in the boathouse.
f)The Club shall be affiliated to the British Rowing association and the members of the Club shall adhere to the rules of British Rowing.
4.SUBSCRIPTIONS
a)The Club shall have different classes of subscription in accordance with membership on a fair and non-discriminatory basis. The Club will keep subscriptions at levels that will not pose a significant obstacle to people participating.
b)The rates of subscription shall be reviewed and determined by the members at the Annual General Meeting and shall be due on acceptance of application and, thereafter on or before 1st November each year.
c)In the event of non-payment of subscriptions by 2nd November in the same year, subscriptions shall be considered to be in arrears and the member will cease to be entitled to use of the club house or club facilities as long as the subscription remains in arrears (except in exceptional circumstances agreed by the Committee).
d)In the event of non-payment of subscriptions by 1st December of the same year, the member shall cease to be a member of the Club. The Club may at any time when there is a vacancy in the club re-admit them to the Club upon receiving a full application and the payment of full subscription fees then due.
5.RESTRICTION OF MEMBERSHIP
a) Any person who has been expelled from, or refused membership of, British Rowing shall not be eligible for membership of the Club.
6.CHILD PROTECTION PROCEDURES
a)The Club accepts the policy and procedures relating to Child Protection and the protection of Vulnerable Adults as set out by British Rowing, and requires all members to accept them as a condition of membership.
b)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 child protection policy
and procedures. The Club Welfare Officer is the lead contact for all members
in the event of any child protection concerns.
7.CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP
a)Any committee member wishing to resign must one month’s notice to the Secretary
8.CLUB COMMITTEE
a)The Committee shall be responsible for the general conduct of the Club’s business and activities, and will be responsible for adopting new policy, codes of practice and rules that affect the organisation of the Club. The Committee shall also be responsible for disciplinary hearing of members who infringe the Club rules/regulations /constitution. The Committee shall be responsible for taking any action of suspension or discipline following such hearings.
b)The Committee shall consist of President, Captain, Secretary, Treasurer, Water Safety Officer, Welfare Officer, Junior representative, University of Sunderland committee representative and any other Officers as deemed necessary, together with two ordinary members.
c)The committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.
d)The terms of office shall be for one year and members shall be eligible for re-election
e)The Committee shall meet at regular intervals during the year as and when required to ensure the effective running of the Club business.
f)A quorum shall consist of no less than 3 members.
g)In the case of a casual vacancy among the committee, the Committee shall be entitled to appoint another eligible person to act until the AGM.
9. DUTIES OF COMMITTEE OFFICERS
a)President: The President shall be the most senior member of the committee, and as such is responsible for everything that goes on within the club; ensuring the club runs according to its constitution, chairing meetings and overseeing the committee, advising coaches and club development planning
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 Committee and Club meetings and for the recording of the 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 pay-out of all monies belonging to the club and will keep proper accounting records of all transactions. The treasurer will present 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 made through a bank account and will require 2 signatures from designated members of the committee.
e)Water Safety Officer (WSO): The WSO will support the Club Officers and Coaches to help club members enjoy rowing safely by setting, implementing and monitoring safety policies for all club members, and will be responsible for educating members in risk assessment and safe practice, and maintain u to date displays of safety information on the Club premises.
f)Club Welfare Officer (CWO): The CWO will act as the central contact point for all club members for child welfare, ensuring appropriate action is taken where concerns are raised, and ensure the club adopts and follows the BR Safeguarding and Protecting Children Policy and procedures. The CWO will also be responsible for administering the club’s CRB checks.
- GRIEVANCE, DISCIPLINARY AND APPEALS PROCEDURE
a)The Committee shall be responsible for disciplinary hearings of members who infringe the club rules/regulations/constitution. The Committee will be responsible for taking any action of suspension or discipline following such hearings.
b)An individual or member with a complaint about treatment by the Club or the behaviour of members should be submitted in writing to the Chair. The Club will seek to deal with complaints in a fair and timely manner, in line with British Rowing’s Guidance on Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures in Rowing.
- SAFETY
a)The Officers and Committee have primary responsibility for safe practices within the Club and for observing guidance of water safety issued by British Rowing and through Row Safe.
- DAMAGE TO CLUB PROPERTY
a)All damage to club property shall be reported to the Committee who will then decide whether it was due to negligence, intentional damage or accidental.
b) In the case of intentional damage or gross negligence the member(s) concerned shall be responsible for repairing the damage at their own cost. The Committee has the power to expel the member(s) concerned in line with Club Disciplinary Procedures
- FINANCE
a)All club monies will be banked in account held in the name of ‘City of Sunderland Rowing Club’.
b)The financial year of the club will end on 31st October.
c)Any cheques drawn against club funds shall hold the signatures of the Treasurer plus at least one other Officer designated as a signatory for financial affairs.
- GENERAL MEETINGS
a)An annual general meeting (AGM) shall be held in the Autumn of each year. At least twenty one days notice shall be given by the Club Secretary, specifying to all members the time and business of the AGM.
b)An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called on the instructions of a simple majority of the Committee
a)Items for discussion at the AGM shall be presented to the Club Secretary in writing at least 10 days before the AGM.
b)Nominations for officers of the Committee shall be sent to the Secretary.
c)At all general meetings every question shall be decided by a majority of votes by a show of hands, except when more than one nomination has been received for a position on the Committee in which case voting shall be by secret ballot. . Every member shall have one vote; in the case of equal votes the chair shall hold casting vote.
d)Members absent from the meeting may vote either by proxy or by previously sending their votes in writing to the secretary.
e)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 the meeting.
- TRUSTEES
a)The property of the Club shall be vested in three trustees who shall be appointed by the Committee.
b)The property of the Club shall be dealt with by them as the Committee may direct by resolution and record in writing.
c)Trustees shall be indemnified against risk and expense out of club property.
d)Trustees shall hold office until death or resignation or removal of office by the Committee. Where by reason of this it is necessary that a new trustee or trustees be appointed the Committee shall nominate the person(s) to be appointed
e)For the purpose of giving effect to such nominations the President is nominated as the appointer of new trustees of the Club and they shall by deed duly appoint the person(s) nominated by the Committee
- DECLARATION
a)Upon joining each member shall sign the following declaration in line with British Rowing guidance-
Name: ______
Upon acceptance into membership of the City of Sunderland 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 can 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 on the accompanying medical questionnaire.
Should you be in any doubt, you should seek advice from your doctor.
17. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
a) The constitution will only be changed through agreement by majority vote at an AGM or EGM.
- DECLARATION
The City of Sunderland Rowing Club hereby adopts and accepts this constitution as a current operating guide regulating the actions of members.
Signed: ______Date: ______
Name:______Position: Club President
Signed: ______Date: ______
Name: ______Position: Club Secretary
CITY OF SUNDERLAND ROWING CLUB CLUBMARK FOLDER 1.3 CLUB CONSTITUTION