Constitution

CLUB CONSTITUTION AND RULES
The club shall be known as the, ‘Tees Tigers Canoe Club’ here in after known as
THE CLUB

2 OBJECTS
The objects of the Club are to promote and provide facilities for the sport and recreation of canoeing, with a specific focus on the disciplines of Canoe Polo and Canoe Slalom.

3 MEMBERSHIP
1 Qualification: Any person who undertakes to behave in the best interest of canoeing shall be eligible for membership regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or other beliefs. However, limitation of membership according to available facilities is allowable on a non discriminatory basis.
2 Classes of Membership:
a. Full Members - over the age of 18
b. Family Members - the spouse and/or children under 18 of a full member
c. Junior Members - under the age of 18.
3 Election: Candidates for election to membership shall make a verbal or written application to the Secretary of the Club. The power of election shall rest with the General Committee who may refuse membership only for good cause such as conduct or character likely to bring the Club or sport into disrepute. Appeal against refusal may be made to the members.
4 Restriction: A person who has been expelled from, or refused membership of, the British Canoe Union, shall not be eligible for membership.
5 Acceptance: The General Committee may decline to accept renewal of membership, from any person, only for good cause such as conduct or character likely to bring the Club or sport into disrepute. Appeal against refusal of renewal may be made to the members.

4 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.

5 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 April 1st in each year

6 CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP
1. Any member may resign giving one month’s clear notice in writing to the Secretary.
2. Any member violating any of the rules or regulations of the Club or being adjudged guilty of unsatisfactory conduct may, by resolution of the General Committee, be suspended or expelled. Appeal against suspension or expulsion may be made to the members.
3. A member shall be deemed to have resigned from the Club if, after due notice in writing, he/she has not paid the annual subscription which became due on April 1st. He/she may, however, rejoin at any time during that year without payment of any entrance fee, subject to the provision of 3.3 or 5 above.

7 SECTIONS
1. The Club may organise various sections to cover the various activities of canoeing.
2. The affairs of each section shall be conducted by a sub-Committee of whom the Chairperson or his/her deputy shall serve on the General Committee.

8 DISQUALIFICATION FROM HOLDING OFFICE
1. Only members entitled to vote are eligible to hold office, except that a Junior Section Chairperson may be elected by the Junior members of the Club, and be entitled to vote at General Committee meetings.
2. Any member who is under the age of 18 years, shall not be eligible for election to the General Committee of the Club.
3. Any member whose main income is derived from the sale or manufacture of canoes and/or accessories, or who is disqualified as an amateur under the rules of the British Canoe Union, will not be eligible for election to the General Committee of the Club, but such a person may be co-opted without voting rights.

9 GENERAL COMMITTEE
1. The General Committee shall conduct the affairs of the Club as a whole and shall consist of a Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, and other officers as deemed necessary.
Additionally, the General Committee may co-opt no more than 8 members of the Club to its number.
2. Nominations for the position of Chairperson, Hon Secretary, Hon Treasurer and other officers shall be put forward in the form of a motion under the terms of Rule 13. 4.
3. The General Committee shall elect a Vice-Chairperson from among its number.
4. The term of office shall be for one year, and members shall be eligible for re-election.

10 DUTIES OF COMMITTEE
1. Chairperson: The Chairperson will preside at all General Meetings of the Club and at all meetings of the General Committee. He or she shall be responsible for guiding the activities of the club in accordance with its rules and general policy as expressed by the majority of its members. The Chairperson shall represent or arrange for the representation of the Club at BCU regional level and at meetings of other organisations. He/she shall ex officio be a member of any other committee of the Club.
2. Hon Secretary: The Hon Secretary will be responsible for the organisation of meetings of the General 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. He/She shall be responsible for handling all membership and information collation issues, whilst being available to aid and assist the other members of the committee in their roles.
3. Hon Treasurer: The Hon Treasurer will be responsible for the collection of all monies including subscriptions and shall keep such books of account as required by the General Meeting. The Hon Treasurer shall audit the books annually and shall produce at the AGM balance sheets showing the financial state of the General funds. Cheques should have two signatures. The Treasurer must make the committee aware of any existing or potential financial or cash flow problems.
4. Coach: The club coach will be responsible for all matters concerning training and competitions. I will be their responsibility to ensure that ‘captains’ are acting in the interests of the club and ensuring the club as a whole benefits from consistent high quality coaching and training.
5. General member: The general members role will be support and assist any member of the committee in any area which they require assistance. They can take on responsibilities in their own right and are in no way working under the other committee members. They will have a full say in all committee decisions and an equal vote.

11 GENERAL COMMITTEE
1. The General Committee is responsible for the general conduct of the Club’s business and activities.
2. The General Committee shall meet at regular intervals during the year, as required by the business to be transacted.
3. Special meetings of the General Committee shall be called by the Hon Secretary on instructions from the Chairperson, or not less than three committee members.
4. In the case of casual vacancy among the General Committee, the said Committee shall appoint another eligible person to act until the next AGM.


13 GENERAL MEETINGS
1 An Annual General Meeting shall be held in the spring of each year. There shall be laid before the meeting a statement of accounts made up to the first day of the month immediately preceding.
2. An Extraordinary General Meeting shall be called on the instructions of a simple majority of the General Committee, or on a requisition signed by not less than 50 % of the members of the Club entitled to vote.
3. Not less than 21 days clear notice shall be given , specifying to all members the time and business of the General Meeting.
4. Motions for discussion at Annual General Meetings, not of origin from within the General Committee, shall be lodged with the Hon Secretary at least 30 days preceding the AGM. 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 General Committee, in which case voting will be by secret ballot.
6. At all General Meetings the Chairperson will preside or, in his/her absence, a Chairperson for the meeting will be elected by the voting members present.
7. At all General Meetings not less than twenty percent of the members of the Club shall constitute a quorum.
8. 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.
If anyone is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for an Adjourned Meeting, the members present shall be a quorum.
9 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.

14 LIABILITY
1. 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.

15 VOTING
Only full members and family members over the age of 16 years are entitled to vote at all meetings.

16 ALTERATION OF CONSTITUTION
1. This constitution shall not be altered, amended, or rescinded except by a General Meeting of the Club.
2. 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.

17 AUDITOR
Every Annual General Meeting shall appoint an Hon Auditor who shall at least once in every year examine the Accounts of the Club, and ascertain the correctness of the income and expenditure accounts and of the balance sheet.

18 DISTRIBUTION OF PROFITS
The club may not make payment to members for participation in the sport which would contravene amateur status nor can any profit be distributed to members, but any profits earned shall be contributed to a General Fund for furthering the objects of the Club.

19 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 the BCU for use in related amateur Sport Any matter not provided for in this constitution, or any question over the interpretation of it shall be dealt with by the General Committee whose decision shall be final.

20 RULES
The General Committee shall be empowered to draw up rules for the safe conduct of canoeing activities, to include the following:
1. No Junior members may canoe alone from the Clubhouse
2. No Junior member may take a boat from the Clubhouse unless a responsible adult is present.
3. All novices must wear buoyancy aids.
4. Juniors must wear buoyancy aids at all times unless exempted at the express permission of their coach on an organised race training session.
5. Juniors may not paddle without a competent adult present until they have passed their BCU 1 Star or Placid Water Grade III Test. Juniors must paddle in groups of not less than three.

21 DISCIPLINARY
Every member shall be subject to the disciplinary procedures stated by the club should any incident occur. These procedures will be made available via the club website/forum and as a paper copy by request which should be made to the club secretary.

22 DECLARATION
Each member upon joining shall sign the following declaration:
Name................................................................................................................
Upon acceptance into membership of the.................................................Canoe Club I understand that canoeing 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.*
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.