1 Name
1.1 The name of the Club shall be Runnymede Swimming Club.
2. Objects
2.1 The main objects of the club are to provide facilities for and promote the amateur sport of swimming in the local area of Castle Point and community participation in same, further objects being the teaching, development and practice of swimming for its members. In furtherance of these objects:
2.1.1 The Club is committed to treat everyone equally within the context of its activity, regardless of sex, ethnic origin, religion, age, disability or political persuasion.
2.1.2 The Club shall implement Swim England’s. Equal Opportunities policy.
2.2 The Club shall be affiliated to Swim England East Region and shall adopt and conform to the rules of this Association and to such other bodies as the Club may determine from time to time.
2.3 The business and affairs of the Club shall at all times be conducted in accordance with the Laws and Technical Rules of Swim England (f.k.a ASA) (“Swim England Laws”) and in particular:
2.3.1 All competing members shall be eligible competitors as defined in Swim England Laws; and
2.3.2 The Club shall in accordance with Swim England Laws adopt the Swim England Child Protection Procedures; and shall recognize that the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility and that all children and young people have a right to have fun, be safe and be protected from harm.
2.3.3 Members of the Club shall in accordance with Swim England Laws comply with the Swim England Child Protection Procedures.
2.4 By virtue of the affiliation of the Club to Swim England East Region the Club and all members of the Club acknowledge that they are subject to the laws and rules of:
2.4.1 Swim England East Region and Essex and:
2.4.2 The Swim England; (to include the Swim England/IOC Code of Ethics); and
2.4.3 British Swimming (in particular its Doping Control Rules & Protocols & Disciplinary Code); and
2.4.4 FINA, the world governing body for the sport of swimming in all its disciplines (together “the Governing Body Rules”)
2.5 In the event that there shall be any conflict between any rule or by-law of the Club and any of the Governing Body Rules then the relevant Governing Body Rule shall prevail
2.6. In the event of any conflict between the rules of the Governing Body and the statutory requirements for the Community Amateur Sports Club scheme as provided for by Schedule 18 Finance Act 2002, the statutory requirement for the CASC scheme shall prevail.
3 Membership
3.1 The total membership of the Club shall not normally be limited. If however the Committee considers that there is a good reason to impose any limit from time to time then the Committee shall put forward appropriate proposals for consideration at a General Meeting of the Club. The members shall have the right to impose (and remove) from time to time any limits on total membership (or any category of membership) of the Club on a non-discriminatory basis. All persons who assist in any way with the club’s activities shall become members of the club and hence of the Swim England and the relevant Swim England membership fee shall be paid. Assisting with the club’s activities shall include, but not be restricted to, administrators, associate members, instructors, teachers and coaches, whether employed, self-employed or voluntary, Committee members, helpers, Honorary members, life members, officers, patrons, presidents, technical and non-technical officials, temporary members, vice-presidents and verifiers or tutors of the Swim England’s educational certificates. Paid instructors, teachers and coaches who are not members of the club must be members of a body, which accepts that its members are bound by the Swim England’s Code of Ethics, the Laws relating to Child Protection and those parts of the Judicial Laws, Judicial Rules and procedures necessary for their implementation and whilst engaged in activities under the jurisdiction of the Swim England. shall be subject to all the constraints and privileges of the Judicial Laws and Rules.
3.2 Membership of the Club shall be open to all persons without discrimination. Appeal against refusal of or removal from membership may be made to a separate appeal panel, no member of which will have been involved in making the initial decision. Any person who wishes to become a member of the Club must submit a signed application to the Secretary (and in the case of a junior swimmer the application must be signed by the swimmer’s parent or guardian). The Committee shall determine election to membership. Any person refused membership may seek a review of this decision before a Review Panel appointed by the Committee comprised of not less than three members. The Review Panel shall {wherever practical} include one independent member nominated by the Swim England East Region. The person refused membership shall be entitled to make representations to the Review Panel. The procedures for the review shall be at the discretion of the Review Panel whose decision shall be final and binding. The Club shall not refuse an application for membership on discriminatory grounds, whether in relation to ethnic origin, age, sex, religion, disability, political persuasion or sexual orientation.
3.2.1 As representatives of junior members, all parents/carers are responsible for abiding by all rules and articles of the club. They are duly expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner that does not bring the Club into disrepute and to ensure that the juniors that they are responsible for behave in an acceptable manner.
4 Subscription and Other Fees
4.1 The annual member’s subscription and coaching and squad fees (as applicable) shall be determined from time to time by the Committee and the Committee shall in so doing make special provision for different classes of membership and subscription on a non-discriminatory and fair basis, as it shall determine. The Club will keep subscriptions at a level that will not pose a significant obstacle to people participating.
4.2 The annual subscription and entrance fee (if any) shall be due on joining the Club and thereafter on the first day of September each year.
4.3 Any member whose subscription is unpaid by the date falling 30 days after the due date for payment may be suspended by the Committee from some or all Club activities from a date to be determined by the Committee and until such payment is made
4.4 The Committee shall, from time to time, have the power to determine the annual membership subscription and other fees. This shall include the power to make such increase in the subscription as shall, where the Club pays the individual Swim England Membership Fees to the Swim England on behalf of members, be consequential upon an increase in individual Swim England membership fees. Any increase in subscriptions shall be advised to the members in writing with the reasons for any increase to be reported to the members at the next Annual General Meeting.
5 Resignation
5.1 A member wishing to resign membership of the Club must give to the Secretary written notice of his resignation. A member’s resignation shall only take effect when this (Rule 5.1) has been complied with.
5.2 Notwithstanding the provisions of Rule 5.1 above a member whose subscription is more than two months in arrear shall be deemed to have resigned. Where the membership of a member shall be terminated in this way he shall be informed in writing that he is no longer a member by notice handed to him or sent by post to his last known address.
6 Expulsion and other Disciplinary action
6.1 The Committee shall have power to expel a member when, in its opinion, it would not be in the interests of the Club for that person to remain a member. The Club in exercising this power shall comply with the provisions of Rules 6.2 and 6.3 below.
6.2 The Club shall adopt and comply with the Swim England Guidelines for handling Internal Club Disputes (“the Guidelines”) as the same may be revised from time to time. The Guidelines are set out as an Appendix to the Swim England Judicial Laws and appear in the Swim England Handbook. A copy of the current Guidelines may be obtained from the Swim England Legal Affairs Department.
6.3 A member may not be expelled or (subject to Rule 6.4 below) be made the subject of any other penalty unless the panel hearing the complaint shall unanimously vote in favour of the expulsion of (or other penalty imposed upon) the member.
6.4 The Officers of the Club (or any person to whom the Committee shall delegate this power) may temporarily suspend or exclude a member from particular training sessions and/or wider club activities, when in their opinion; such action is in the interests of the Club. Where such action is taken the complaint will thereafter be dealt with in accordance with the Guidelines. An appeal against removal from membership may be made in accordance with Rule 3.2.
7 Committee
7.1 The Committee shall consist of the Chairman, Secretary; Treasurer (together “the Executive Officers of the Club”) and additional secretaries as required elected to manage specific activities of the Club (together “the
Officers of the Club”) all of whom must be members of the Club. The Club must have a Welfare Officer. All Committee members must be not less than 18 years of age though the Committee may allow younger member(s) to attend their meetings without power to vote.
7.1.1 Any person who has a conflict of interests may not hold the position of Chairman, Treasurer or Secretary on the Committee. Other Officers who have an interest in the Club may stand on the Committee but may be requested to leave the Meeting by the Chairman as he sees fit when relevant issues are to be discussed, nor shall they be eligible to vote on such matters. Also any such person must declare such an interest at the 1st Committee Meeting after the AGM.
7.1.2 Further to Paragraph 7.1.1: Where two or more members of a family wish to stand for various committee posts, it must be noted that said situation would mean that the members would only carry one vote. Furthermore, if a member currently carries out a poolside function (i.e. coach, assistant coach), then it is not recommended that either their partner or other family members hold a committee post.
7.1.3 Any person who holds a position which is subject to financial remuneration by the club or its affiliated organisations and bodies may not hold a committee position.
7.2 The Committee members shall be proposed, seconded and elected by ballot at the Annual General Meeting each year and shall remain in office until their successors are elected at the next Annual General Meeting. The Committee may fill any vacancy occurring by resignation or otherwise. Retiring members of the Committee shall be eligible for re-election (See also 8.1)
7.3 Committee meetings shall be held not less than quarterly (save where the Committee itself shall by a simple majority resolve not to meet) or more frequently if and when required, and the quorum of that meeting shall be such number as shall represent not less than a simple majority of the Committee members (to include not less than one Executive Officer). The Chairman and the Secretary shall have discretion to call further meetings of the Committee if they consider it to be in the interests of the Club. The Secretary shall give all the members of the Committee not less than seven days oral or written notice of a meeting. Decisions of the Committee shall be made by a simple majority and in the event of equality of votes the Chairman (or the acting Chairman of that meeting) shall have a casting or additional vote. The Secretary, or in his absence a member of the Committee, shall take minutes.
7.4 In the event that a quorum is not present within thirty minutes of the published start time, a meeting shall stand adjourned to the time and date falling seven days after the date of the meeting, or such other date and times as may be determined by the Chairman. If a quorum is not present at the adjourned meeting then those Committee members attending may act for the purpose of calling a Special General Meeting of the members, to which the provisions as to minimum notice contained in Rule 11.1 shall not apply.
7.5 In addition to the members so elected the Committee may co-opt further members of the Club who shall serve until the next Annual General Meeting. Co-opted members shall be entitled to vote at the meetings of the Committee and shall not be counted in establishing whether a quorum is present.
7.6 The Committee may from time to time appoint from among their number such sub-committees as they may consider necessary (and to remove (in whole or in part) or vary the terms of reference of such sub-committees) and may delegate to them such of the powers and duties of the Committee as the Committee may determine. All sub-committees shall periodically report their proceedings to the Committee and shall conduct their business in accordance with the directions of the Committee.
7.7 The Committee shall be responsible for the management of the Club and shall have the sole right of appointing and determining the terms and conditions of service of employees of the Club. The Committee shall have power to enter into contracts for the purposes of the Club on behalf of all the members of the Club. The Committee shall be responsible for ensuring that an independent examiner to be appointed by the members in General Meeting examines the Accounts of the Club for each financial year. The Committee shall also have power to make regulations and to settle disputed points not otherwise provided for in this Constitution.
7.8 The members of the Committee shall be entitled to an indemnity out of the assets of the Club for all expenses and other liabilities properly incurred by them in the management of the affairs of the Club.
7.9 The Committee shall ensure that the financial records and minutes of meetings are retained for a period of at least 6 years.
7.10 The Committee shall maintain an Accident Book in which all accidents to club members at swimming related activities shall be recorded. Details of such accidents shall be reported to the Swim England. Office. The Club shall make an annual return to the Swim England in the prescribed form.
8 Officers and Honorary Members
8.1 The Executive Officers and Committee of the Club shall be proposed, seconded and elected by ballot at the Annual General Meeting and shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting when they shall retire. The Committee may fill any vacancy occurring by resignation or otherwise. Retiring officers shall be eligible for re-election.
8.2 The Annual General Meeting of the Club, if it thinks fit, may elect a President and Vice-Presidents. A President or Vice-President need not be a member of the association and on election shall, ex officio, be an honorary member of the Club and must be included in the Club’s Annual Return of Members to the Swim England.
8.3 The Committee may elect any person as an honorary member of the Club for such period as they think fit and they shall be entitled to all the privileges of membership except that they shall not be entitled to vote at meetings and serve as officers or on the Committee unless any such person shall have retained in addition his ordinary membership of the Club. Such honorary members must be included in the Club’s annual return as to membership.
9 Annual General Meeting
9.1 The Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held each year on a date in June. The Committee shall fix the date for the Annual General Meeting
9.2 The purpose of the Annual General Meeting is to transact the following business:
9.2.1 To receive the Chairman’s report of the activities of the Club during the previous year;
9.2.2 To receive and consider the accounts of the Club for the previous year and the report on the accounts of the independent examiner and the Treasurer’s report as to the financial position of the Club;
9.2.3 To remove and elect the independent examiner (who must not be a member of the Committee or a member of the family of a member of the Committee) or confirm that he remain in office;
9.2.4 To elect the Executive Officers and other members of the Committee;
9.2.5 To decide on any resolution, which may be duly submitted in accordance with Rule 9.3
9.3 Nominations for election of members to any office or for membership of the Committee shall be made in writing by the proposer and seconder to the Secretary not later than 10th May. The nominee shall be required to indicate in writing on the nomination form his willingness to stand for election. Notice of any resolution proposed to be moved at the Annual General Meeting shall be given in writing to the Secretary not less than 10th May.
10 Special General Meeting
10.1 A Special General Meeting may be called at any time by the Committee. A Special General Meeting shall be called by the Secretary within (28) days of receipt by him of a requisition in writing signed by not less than 7 members entitled to attend and vote at a General Meeting or (if greater) such numbers as represents (one tenth) in number of such members stating the purposes for which the meeting is required and the resolutions proposed.
11 Procedure at the Annual and Special General Meetings
11.1 The Secretary shall personally be responsible for the handing out or sending to each member at his last known address a written agenda giving notice of the date, time and place of the General Meeting together with the resolutions to be proposed there at least 14 days before the meeting and in the case of the Annual General Meeting a list of the nominees for the Committee posts and a copy of the examined accounts. The Secretary may, alternatively, with the agreement of members concerned distribute these materials by e-mail or similar form of communication. The Notice of Meeting shall in addition wherever possible be displayed on the Club Notice Board where one exists.
11.2 The quorum for the Annual and Special General Meetings shall be 7 members entitled to attend and vote at the Meeting or (if greater) such number as represents one-tenth in numbers of such members.
11.3 The Chairman, or in his absence a member selected by the Committee, shall take the chair. Each member present shall have one vote and resolutions shall be passed by a simple majority. For the procedures for submitting resolutions to be considered at a General Meeting members are referred to Rule 9.3. In the event of an equality of votes the Chairman shall have a casting or additional vote. Only Paid up members who have reached their 16 th birthday shall be entitled to be heard and to vote on all matters. Members who have not reached their 16th birthday (or a parent/carer on their behalf) shall be entitled to be heard and vote only on those matters determined by the Chairman as matters concerning juniors.
11.4 The Secretary, or in his absence a member of the Committee, shall take minutes at the Annual and Special General Meetings.
11.5 The Chairman shall at all General Meetings have unlimited authority upon every question of order and shall be, for the purpose of such meeting, the sole interpreter of the Rules of the Club.
12 Alteration of the Rules and other Resolutions
12.1 The rules may be altered by resolution at an Annual or Special General Meeting provided that the resolution is carried by a majority of at least two-thirds of members present and entitled to vote at the General Meeting. No amendment to the rules shall become effective until such amendment shall have been submitted to and validated by such person as is authorised to do so by the County Association/ Swim England East Region.
12.2 Any member shall be entitled to put any proposal for consideration at any General Meeting provided the proposal in writing shall have been handed to or posted to the Secretary of the Club so as to be received by him/her not later than 10th May in the case of the Annual General Meeting or (in the case of a Special General Meeting) 14 days before the date of the meeting and thereafter the Secretary shall supply a copy of the proposal or resolution to the members in the manner provided in Rule 11.1
13 By-Laws
13.1 The Committee shall have power to make, repeal and amend such by-laws as they may from time to time consider necessary for the well being of the Club which by-laws, repeals and amendments shall have effect until set aside by the Committee or at a General Meeting.
14 Finance
14.1 All moneys payable to the Club shall be received by the Treasurer and deposited in a bank account in the name of the Club. No sum above £50 shall be drawn from that account except by cheque signed by two of the three signatories who shall be the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. Any moneys not required for immediate use may be invested as the Committee in its discretion think fit.
14.2 The income and property of the Club shall be applied only in furtherance of the objects of the Club as set forth in this constitution and no part thereof shall be paid directly or indirectly, covertly or overtly by way of bonus, dividend or profit to any members of the club or third parties; other than the registered community amateur sports clubs or charities as set out in clause 18.3.
14.3 The Committee shall have power to authorise the payment of remuneration and expenses to any officer, member or employee of the Club and to any other person or persons for services rendered to the Club.
14.4 The financial transactions of the Club shall be recorded by the Treasurer in such manner as the Committee think fit.
14.5 The financial year of the Club shall be the period commencing on 1stApril and ending on 31st March. Any change to the financial year shall require the approval of the members in a General Meeting.
14.6 The Committee shall retain for a minimum period of six years all financial records relating to the Club and copies of Minutes of all meetings.
15 Borrowing
15.1 The Committee may borrow money on behalf of the Club for the purposes of the Club from time to time at their own discretion [up to such limits on borrowing as may be laid down from time to time by the General Meeting] for the general upkeep of the Club or with the prior approval of a General Meeting for any other expenditure, additions or improvements.
15.2 When so borrowing the Committee shall have power to raise in any way any sum or sums of money and to raise and secure the repayment of any sum or sums of money in such manner or on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit, and in particular by mortgage of or charge upon or by the issues of debentures charged upon all or any part of the property of the Club.
15.3 The Committee shall have no power to pledge the personal liability of any member of the Club for the repayment of any sums so borrowed.
16 Property
16.1 The property of the Club, other than cash at the bank, shall be vested in not more than four Custodians. They shall deal with the property as directed by resolution of the Committee and entry in the minute book shall be conclusive evidence of such a resolution.
16.2 The Custodians shall be elected at a General Meeting of the Club and shall hold office until death or resignation unless removed by a resolution passed at a General Meeting.
16.3 The Custodians shall be entitled to an indemnity out of the property of the Club for all expenses and other liabilities properly incurred by them in the discharge of their duties.
17. Property and Fund
17.1 The property and funds of the Club cannot be used for the direct or indirect private benefit of members other than as reasonably allowed by the Rules and all surplus income or profits are reinvested in the club.
17.2 The Club may provide sporting and related social facilities, sporting equipment, coaching, courses, insurance cover, medical treatment, away-match expenses, post match refreshments and other ordinary benefits of Community Amateur Sports Clubs as provided for in the Finance Act 2002.
17.3 The Club may also in connection with the sports purposes of the Club:
a. sell and supply food, drink and related sports clothing and equipment;
b. employ members (though not for playing) and remunerate them for providing goods and services, on fair terms set by the Committee without the person concerned being present;
c. pay for reasonable hospitality for visiting teams and guests;
d. indemnify the Committee and members acting properly in the course of the running of the Club against anyliability incurred in the proper running of the Club (but only to the extent of its assets).
18. Dissolution
18.1 A resolution to dissolve the Club shall only be proposed at a General Meeting and shall be carried by a majority of at least three – quarters of the members present and entitled to vote. A specific date for the dissolution shall be included in the resolution.
18.2 The dissolution shall take effect from the date specified in the resolution and the members of the Committee shall be responsible for the winding-up of the assets and liabilities of the Club.
18.3 Any assets remaining after the satisfaction of the debts and liabilities shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the Club, but shall be given or transferred to one or more of the following approved sporting or charitable bodies nominated by the last Committee.
(i) a registered charitable organisation(s).
(ii) to another Club which is a registered CASC.
(iii) to the sport’s national governing body for use by them for related community sports.
Where there is any conflict between any of the above Rules (“key Rules”) and any other rule or rules the key Rule(s) will take priority. Interpretation of all the Rules must be consistent with the statutory requirements for CASCs (which means Community Amateur Sports Clubs as first provided for by the Finance Act 2002.)
19 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
19.1 The Members acknowledge that these Rules constitute a legally binding contract to regulate the relationship of the members with each other and the Club.