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CONSTITUTION

The club will be called ORWELL PANTHERS ATHLETIC CLUB and will be affiliated to the SEAA – South of England Athletics Association and Suffolk County Athletic Association, under the laws and rules of UK Athletics or any subsequent body or bodies controlling the sport at National level.

2. CLUB COLOURS

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

1. Membership should consist of officers and members of the Club.

2. Applicants for membership must be 11 years old by midnight on the 31^st August during the clubs financial year. A candidate for membership must apply in writing on a form provided for this purpose, and be proposed by one member and seconded by another member and will be classed as a Probationary Member upon submission of membership form and appropriate fees until agreed by the Management Committee at the next meeting.

3. All members will be subject to the regulations of the constitution and by joining the club will be deemed to accept these regulations and codes of conduct that the Club has adopted.

4. Members will be enrolled in one of the following categories: -

   d. (i). Full member – Having voting rights and full use of and participating in all clubs facilities and activities.

   d. (ii). Associate member – As d. (i), with the exception of use of the clubs facilities for training.

   d. (iii). Probationary member – New members awaiting agreement by Management Committee.

   d. (iv). Life member – Awarded in recognition of services and/or achievement (to be confirmed by a majority decision at a General Meeting of the Club). Having voting rights and full use of and participating in all clubs facilities and activities.

   d. (v). Second claim – An athlete where first claim membership is with another club. Having voting rights and full use of and participating in all clubs facilities and activities.

1. Membership fees would be set annually, proposed by the Management Committee and confirmed by the membership at the AGM. The amount agreed becoming payable for that financial year at the date of renewal of membership, or by persons/s joining the club.

2. Membership fees will be paid annually, at the date of renewal of membership, or by person/s joining the club, along with weekly subscription.

3. The Management Committee shall have the power to expel any member whose subscription is twelve months in arrears, provided one months notice in writing shall be sent to such member by register or recorded letter, addressed to his/her last known address, informing him/her of the proposed action of the Management Committee. But membership will be suspended if annual membership renewal fee is not paid within three months of becoming due.

4. The name and address of any person so expelled from the club shall be sent to the South of England Athletics Association, who shall enter his/her name in a book (called the ‘The Suspension Book’). Every person whose name has been entered shall be suspended from competing at any meeting held under UK Athletics Rules until the liability causing his/her said expulsion, which shall not exceed one year’s subscription, is discharged.

7. RESIGNATION

8. OFFICERS OF THE CLUB

a) The officers of the club will be: -

	President (ex-officio)
	Chairperson
	Vice Chairperson
	Honorary Secretary
	Treasurer
	Membership Secretary
	Child Protection Officer x 2, (one male and one female)
	Coaching Secretary
	Publicity Officer
	Minutes Secretary (ex-officio)

b) Officers will be elected annually at the AGM between 15^th October and 15^th November.

c) All officers will retire each year, but will be eligible for re-election.

a. The club will be managed through the Management Committee consisting of - Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Honorary Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Two Child Protection Officers, Publicity Officer, and Coaching Secretary plus up to six members. Only these posts will have the right to vote at meetings of the Management Committee.

b. In the event of a member being elected to fill more than one of the above-mentioned offices, no additional appointments shall be made.

c. The Management Committee shall have the power to fill any vacancies that may arise and may co-opt others to serve ex-officio.

d. The Management Committee will be convened by the Honorary Secretary of the Club and will be held no less than four meetings per year and only those named as forming the Management Committee will have the right to vote at said meetings.

e. The quorum required for business to be agreed at Management Committee meetings will be five.

f. The Management Committee will be responsible for adopting new policy, codes of conduct and rules that affect the organization of the club as passed at the preceding General Meeting.

g. The Management Committee will have powers to appoint sub-committees/working parties as necessary and appoint advisors to the Management Committee as necessary to fulfil its business.

h. The Management Committee will be responsible for disciplinary hearings of the members who infringe the club rules/regulations/constitution. The Management Committee will be responsible for taking any action of suspension or discipline following such hearings.

1. All club monies will be banked in an account held in the name of the club Orwell Panthers Athletic Club.

2. The club treasurer will be responsible for the finances of the club.

3. The financial year of the club will end on 30^th of September.

4. The treasurer at the AGM will present a financial statement and independently examined accounts.

5. Any cheques drawn against the club funds should hold the signatures of two of the three agreed and named signatories of unrelated other officers. (One of which should be the treasurer).

1. The Annual General Meeting shall be held each year between 15^th of October to the 15^th of November.

2. The Management Committee shall announce the date of the AGM at least two months ahead of the meeting.

3. The Honorary Secretary will give not less than 21 clear days’ written notice of the business of the AGM to all members.

4. The AGM shall: -

   d. (i) Receive and adopt the report from the Management Committee. (A simple majority of attending members is required).

   d. (ii) Receive and adopt a financial statement and independently examined accounts. (A simple majority of attending members is required).

   d. (iii) Vote on any proposed change in subscriptions. (A simple majority of attending members is required).

   d. (iv) Vote on any proposed changes to the Constitution or Rules of the Club. (A majority of two thirds of attending members is required).

   d. (v) Elect officers and committee members for the forthcoming year. (In the event that no nominations have been received prior to the AGM for a position, it will be in order to take nominations at the AGM).

   d. (vi) Consider only other business, which has been notified, in writing, to the Management Committee at least 28 days prior to the AGM and subsequently notified to all members with the notice of the meeting.

5. Nominations for officers of the Management Committee will be sent will be sent to the     Honorary Secretary 28 days prior to the AGM.

6. All members have the right to vote at the AGM.

7. The quorum for AGM’s will be 30% of the total voting membership.

14. DISCIPLINE AND APPEALS

1. Orwell Panthers Athletics Club subscribes unreservedly to the Codes of Practice and procedures of Athletics Welfare as set out in documents published by UK Athletics a copy of which is held by the Honorary Secretary. The Management Committee shall early in its year of office publish a Code of Conduct applicable to club members for the following year.

2. All complaints regarding the behaviour of members should be submitted in writing to the Honorary Secretary.

3. The Management Committee will meet to hear complaints within 21 days of a complaint being lodged. The Management Committee has the power to take appropriate disciplinary action including the termination of membership.

4. The outcome of a disciplinary hearing should be notified in writing to the person who lodged the complaint and the member against whom the complaint was made within 10 days of the hearing.

5. Members have the right of appeal but must apply, in writing, to the Honorary Secretary outlining their claim for an appeal to be heard within 21 days of any disciplinary action being announced. Applications should be accompanied by payment of £20.00, which will be refunded in the event of a successful appeal. The President, Chairperson and Honorary Secretary of the club shall hear appeals. The appellant may be present and may be accompanied by another person.

1. A resolution to dissolve the club can only be passed at an AGM, EMG and SGM through a majority vote of membership.

2. In the event of dissolution, any assets of the club that remain will become the property of Suffolk County Athletic Association, for the use of the continuing promotion of athletics for people with disabilities within the county of Suffolk.

3. All current membership to be notified in writing within fourteen days of the meeting.

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