1 |
Scope |
| 1.1 |
This constitution shall regulate the structure,
administration and activities of the British Sub-Aqua Club Branch to be known
as the London Hellfins Sub-Aqua Club (hereinafter “the Club”). |
2 |
Objectives |
| 2.1 |
The Club is formed for the purpose of organising and
running diving related activities in the UK and overseas in accordance with
the standards and rules of the British Sub-Aqua Club together with related
social activities. |
| 2.2 |
The Club shall be run by and for its members and as such
it shall not operate so as to make profits or financial gain for any member
or group of members within the Club. |
3 |
Membership |
| 3.1 |
There shall be four classes of annual membership: |
| i) |
Full Diving membership for which any person over the age
of 14 years of age or over shall be eligible. |
| ii) |
Associate membership for which any person shall be
eligible, but which shall not entitle such a member to take part in
snorkelling or any other activity involving the use of sub-aqua equipment. |
| iii) |
Country membership for which any person over the age of 14
years of age whose normal place of residence is more than 150 miles from the
centre of London or overseas shall be eligible. Country Members must convert
to Full Diving Members should their residential status change during the year
such that the above provision cannot be complied with. |
| iv) |
Honorary membership for which any person whom the
Committee has taken a Committee Decision to grant such Membership from time
to time shall be eligible. |
| 3.2 |
All Members shall have the right to undertake Sub-Aqua
diving activities with the club (except as indicated otherwise in Clause 3.1)
and to vote on Committee Decisions and Membership Decisions. |
| 3.3 |
An applicant for membership of the Club shall apply to the
Committee and upon acceptance of his application and payment of the
appropriate Club and BSAC subscriptions he shall become a member of the class
of membership for which he has applied and is eligible. The Committee may
delegate to such members of the Club as it may see fit the responsibility for
entertaining and accepting applications for membership. |
| 3.4 |
A member shall retain his membership until he has resigned
or is deemed to have resigned in accordance with this Clause or Clause 12
(Disciplinary Action). A member shall be deemed to have resigned if payment
of his Club or BSAC subscriptions in respect of any period is 30 days or more
overdue.
|
| 3.5 |
Members under the age of 18 (“Minors”) shall be admitted
to the Club provided that they comply with the following rules |
| i) |
The parent or legal guardian of a Minor shall remain
responsible for the Minor at all times while he is involved in Club
activities. |
| ii) |
The parent or legal guardian shall accompany the Minor on
all dive trips which the Minor attends
|
| iii) |
The parent or legal guardian shall accompany the Minor to
all diving social events and meetings that the Minor attends that take place
in public houses or other establishments where alcohol is served. |
| 3.6 |
Details of membership charges for each class of membership
are as laid out in Schedule A. |
4 |
Members of the Committee |
| 4.1 |
The Club shall be managed by a Committee. Each member of
the Committee, with the exception of Training Officer(s), shall be elected
annually at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and shall hold their post until
the following year's AGM. If more than one member wishes to stand for a post
then the Club Officer or Committee Member shall be elected by means of a
simple majority vote of all Members present at the AGM. The Diving Officer
may appoint as many Training Officers as he sees fit to assist him in his duties.
The Diving Officer may appoint a maximum of three of these Training Officers
to be Committee Members. Any candidate for Diving Officer must state his
proposed appointment(s) prior to the election. |
| 4.2 |
The Committee shall consist of four Club Officers and no
less than two other Committee Members. |
| 4.3 |
The four Club Officers shall be the Chairman, the Diving
Officer, The Secretary and the Treasurer. The duties of the Officers shall be
as set out below. Full details of the roles and responsibilities of the Club
Officers and other Committee Members as may be required from time to time are
set out in Schedule B. |
4.3.1 |
The Chairman |
| |
The Chairman shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the
Club. He shall take the chair at all meetings of the Club and of the
Committee at which he is present. |
4.3.2 |
The Diving Officer |
| |
The Diving Officer derives his authority in training and
diving matters from the National Diving Officer of the British Sub-Aqua Club.
He shall have responsibility for the training and diving activities of the
Club and for the safe conduct thereof. He shall ensure that such activities
are carried out in accordance with such practices and procedures as may be
recommended from time to time by the National Officer of the British Sub-Aqua
Club or pursuant to his authorisation. |
| |
The Diving Officer may delegate training duties to one or
more Training Officers, who shall be responsible to him for the performance
thereof. |
| |
The Diving Officer's decision in respect of his responsibilities
shall be final within the Club. He shall ensure that a list of rules
regarding safe diving practices is published on the club website. |
| |
The Diving Officer shall hold a diving qualification at
least equivalent to BSAC Advanced Diver and BSAC Instructor. In the event
that no member of suitable qualification is willing to stand for the post of
Diving Officer then members of a diving qualification at least equivalent to
BSAC Dive Leader and BSAC Instructor shall be able to stand. |
4.3.3 |
The Treasurer |
| |
The Treasurer shall be responsible for dealing with all
monies received or paid on behalf of the Club. He shall make any investment
of Club funds approved by the Committee by Committee Decision and shall keep
records and proper books of account of all financial transactions conducted
in the Club’s name. |
| |
Each year the Treasurer shall prepare for consideration by
the Committee a statement of income and expenditure and a balance sheet for
the period up to and including the last day in September. He shall cause such
statement and balance sheet to be audited by an individual outside of the
Committee, preferably with an accountancy background (“the Club Auditor”) and
submit them to the Members at the Annual General Meeting for ratification. |
| |
The Treasurer shall arrange for all Club funds and
securities to be kept on deposit with a bank or banks approved by the
Committee by Committee Decision and shall maintain a current account or
accounts upon which cheques or other orders may be signed by any two
Committee Officers. With the approval of the Committee by Committee Decision
the Treasurer may open one or more current accounts on which any other member
of the Committee has joint signature authority. |
4.3.4 |
The Secretary |
| |
The Secretary shall ensure that the Club records are
maintained including recording the minutes of all Committee meetings, General
Meetings of the club, and any other meetings as the Chairman may request. He
shall be responsible for the Club’s communications with third parties, and
shall keep the Officers, the Committee and the Club, as may be appropriate,
informed of matters coming to his attention which pertain to Club activities. |
| 4.4 |
No Club Officer shall hold the same post within the
Committee for a period of more than five (5) consecutive years. |
5 |
Committee Meetings |
| 5.1 |
A Committee Meeting can be convened by any of the
Committee Officers provided that: |
| i) |
at least eight(8) Club Officers or Committee Members are
able to attend. |
| ii) |
Notification of the meeting has been sent to all Club
Officers and Committee Members at least one week in advance of the meeting. |
| 5.2 |
Where these conditions are unable to be complied with then
any meeting held between Club Officers and Committee Members shall only be a
working meeting and not a formal Committee Meeting. As a result a working
meeting cannot take any decisions that require a Committee Decision. |
| 5.3 |
Minutes shall be taken from every Committee Meeting to
record all Committee Decisions that are taken. The Committee shall retain
Committee Meeting minutes for at least three years. |
6 |
Responsibilities of the Committee |
| 6.1 |
The Committee shall determine any question as to the
interpretation of the Club Constitution and of any regulations made hereunder
and may rule in connection with any situation not otherwise provided herein.
In the latter event, such ruling shall only remain in effect until the next
General Meeting of the Club where its continued validity shall depend upon
its ratification at such meeting. |
| 6.2 |
The Committee shall hold and administer for the benefit of
the membership all funds, equipment and property owned by the Club. |
| 6.3 |
The Committee shall be able to levy fees upon members to
cover the costs of running and operating the Club as laid out in Schedule C
and Schedule D. |
| 6.4 |
The Committee shall have the power to fill any vacancy for
a Club Officer or other Committee member which occurs during their term of
office by means of a Committee Decision appointing another member to the
vacant position. |
| 6.5 |
At the start of each year, and within at least 3 months of
the AGM the Committee shall call an EGM to present to the Membership for
ratification by Membership Decision the budget for the year ahead detailing
forecast expenditures and revenues. |
7 |
Committee Decision |
| 7.1 |
Where Committee approval or other decision is required to
be made by the Committee such a decision (“Committee Decision”) shall require
either: |
| i) |
At a Committee Meeting - at least a 51% majority vote of
the Club Officers and Committee Members present. |
| ii) |
Outside of a Committee Meeting - at least a 51% majority
vote of all the Club Officers and Committee Members. |
| 7.2 |
In the event of a tie under 7.1(i) the Chairman shall
reconvene a further Committee Meeting at another date when any absent
committee members are able to attend. |
| 7.3 |
In the event that a Committee Decision still results in a
tie then the issue can only be resolved by means of a Membership Decision. |
| 7.4 |
No Committee Officer or Committee Member shall be entitled
to vote on a matter in which his interest differs from that of the Club as a
whole, and he shall withdraw from any meeting during the period of discussion
of such interest. |
8 |
Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) |
| 8.1 |
The Club shall hold an AGM every year in the month of
October. Notice of the meeting and the proposed agenda shall be communicated
to all paid-up members of the Club at least four weeks before the meeting.
The AGM shall include the following |
| i) |
Election of Club Officers and Committee Members for the
following year |
| ii) |
Presentation of |
| |
a) The budget for the year to 30th September agreed at the
EGM earlier in the year. |
| |
b) The statement of income and expenditure for the year to
September 30th; |
| |
c) The balance sheet for the year to 30th September |
| iii) |
Ratification by Membership Decision of items b) and c) above |
| iv) |
Any other motion that requires a Membership Decision |
| 8.2 |
Where motions are to be presented at the AGM that require
a Membership Decision under iii) above then the notice for the AGM shall
include the text of any motion proposed for consideration together with any
relevant background information. Amendments to such motion may be proposed at
the meeting. |
9 |
Extraordinary General Meetings (“EGM”) |
| 9.1 |
Any General Meeting of the Club other than the AGM shall
be known as an EGM. |
| 9.2 |
The Committee can call an EGM if: |
| i) |
The Committee makes a Committee Decision to hold an EGM |
| ii) |
A written request for an EGM is made to Committee by at
least 10 members of the Club. |
| 9.3 |
The Committee shall give written notice for such an EGM to
all Club members at least 14 days in advance. The notice shall state the
reasons for the meeting and shall include the text of any motion to be
proposed for consideration. Amendments to such motion may be proposed at the
meeting. Any motion proposed at an EGM shall be decided by means of a
Membership Decision. |
10 |
Membership Decision |
| 10.1 |
Membership Decisions require either: |
| i) |
At least a 51% majority vote of all the listed Members. |
| ii) |
At least a two-thirds majority vote of all the Members
present at either an EGM or the AGM provided that at least 25% or 15 people
(whichever is the lower) of the listed membership are present at such
meeting. |
11 |
Control of Expenditure |
| 11.1 |
No member of the Club may spend more than £1000 of the
Club funds without a Membership Decision agreeing to such expenditure. Such
Membership Decision may be given as part of the annual budget process. |
| 11.2 |
No member of the Club may spend more than £100 of the Club
funds without a Committee Decision agreeing to such expenditure. |
| 11.3 |
No member of the Club may spend an amount of the Club
funds less than £100 unless - |
| i) |
They hold the post of Club Officer or Committee Member and
the expenditure relates directly to the responsibilities of the Club Officer
or Committee Member in question. |
| ii) |
They are a Dive Manager of a Club dive trip that has been
agreed to by the Diving Officer and the expenditure relates directly to the
costs of repairing, maintaining or replacing Club equipment. |
| iii) |
They have been authorised to make such expenditure by a
Committee Decision. |
12 |
Suspension of Membership |
| 12.1 |
The Committee shall have the power by a two-thirds
majority of all serving Committee Members and Officers to suspend the
membership of any member of the Club. A decision to suspend so taken shall be
communicated to the member concerned as soon as reasonably practicable and
his membership shall thereupon be suspended. A suspended member shall be
entitled to demand a hearing at the next regular meeting of the Committee
during which the reasons for his suspension shall be explained and he shall
be able to answer fully the charges against him. Upon conclusion of the
meeting, the suspended member shall leave the meeting and the Committee shall
vote again on the suspension. |
| 12.2 |
If the motion is not carried by the requisite two-thirds
majority, the suspension shall thereupon be lifted and the member shall be
informed accordingly. If the motion is carried by the said majority, the
member shall be so informed and he shall thereupon be deemed to have resigned
his membership of the Club. The member affected shall have the right to
appeal from the decision of the Committee to the next General Meeting of the
Club. |
13 |
Suspension of Membership of a Club Officer or Committee Member |
| 13.1 |
Suspension of the membership of an Officer or other
Committee member shall only be voted upon at a Committee meeting where the
agenda |
| i) |
has been communicated to all Committee Members at least
one week in advance of the proposed meeting |
| ii) |
explicitly refers to the motion of suspension |
| 13.2 |
If the member charged attends the meeting, he shall be
entitled to hear and respond to the charges levied against him. When the
Chairman or acting Chairman of the meeting is satisfied that the matter has
been adequately and fairly discussed, the person charged shall leave the
meeting and a vote shall be taken. If the proposal to suspend is carried by
the requisite two-thirds majority, the member charged shall be deemed to have
resigned his membership of the Club, and he shall have the right of appeal
provided for in the preceding clause. If the member charged does not attend
the Committee Meeting then the provisions of the previous Clause shall apply. |
14 |
Dissolution of the Club |
| 14.1 |
The Club can only be dissolved where a Membership Decision
has been taken to take this course of action. |
| 14.2 |
In the event that a Membership Decision is taken to
dissolve the Club then the Committee shall proceed without delay to realise
the property of the Club and to discharge the Club’s outstanding liabilities.
Any net assets thereafter remaining shall be either donated to the charity
RNLI or given to another BSAC sub-aqua club, the distribution between the
aforementioned shall be decided by a simple majority of members that were
present at the time the decision was taken to dissolve the club. |
15 |
British Sub-Aqua Club Rules |
| 15.1 |
This Club Constitution is made in compliance with Rule 3
of the Rules of the British Sub-Aqua Club, shall be subject to the provisions
and requirements of that Rule, and shall only be valid to the extent that
they are not in conflict with the said provisions and requirements or with
those of the Articles of Association of the British Sub-Aqua Club. |
16 |
Changes to the Constitution |
| 16.1 |
Changes to this Constitution can only be made by means of
a Membership Decision. |
| 16.2 |
Changes to any schedule to this Constitution can only be
made by a means of a Membership Decision or a Committee Decision. |
17 |
General |
| 17.1 |
Except where the context requires otherwise, words in the
singular shall include the plural and vice versa and words in the masculine
shall include the feminine and neuter. |
18 |
Non-Members |
| 18.1 |
The Diving Officer is responsible for placing suitable restrictions
upon individuals who wish to participate in diving related activities with
the Club, but who are not Members (“Guest Divers”). |
|
Schedules of the constitution
are available here
|
