Constitution

    CONSTITUTION of WORTHING ROWING CLUB

    THIS DOCUMENT shall form the constitution of The Worthing Rowing Club.

    1. NAME AND OBJECTIVES

    • The Club shall be called the Worthing Rowing Club. (hereinafter referred to as "the club"
    • The objective of the Club shall be to promote the participation
      of the members in the sport of Amateur Rowing and other sporting
      activities.
    • The Club premises shall be the buildings and forecourt known as Worthing Rowing Club at Splash Point, Marine Parade, Worthing.

    2. MEMBERSHIP

    • a) The number of members of the Club shall be unlimited.
    • b) The following shall be the classes of membership:-

      • 1) Full Membership

    • A Full Member is a member who has been admitted to the club as described in para 2(c) below. A Full Member shall have the right to the use of all club equipment and facilities, and shall have the right to vote at meetings and to stand for election to any club office.
       
    • 2) Junior & Student Membership
    • A Junior or Student Member is a member who has been admitted to the club as described in para 2c: below, but who is under the age of 18, or is pursuing a course of full-time education. Junior & Student members shall have the same rights of membership as full members.
       
    • 3) Social Membership
    • A social member is a member who has been admitted to the club as described in para 2(c) below, but who does not wish to make use of all the club equipment and facilities. A social member shall have no voting rights at meetings and no right to stand for election to any club office, but shall have the right to use of bar facilities.
       
    • 4) Associate Membership
    • An Associate Member is any Bona-fide member of a Club that has been given Associate status the committee of the Club, and whose name and address have been passed to the Committee by the associate club. An associate member shall have no voting rights at meetings and no right to stand for election to any club office, but has the right to use of the Bar and changing facilities.
       
    • 5) Life Membership
    • An Honorary Life Member is a member who has been elected as such at an Annual General Meeting of the Club. Honorary Life Members shall not be required to pay an annual subscription and shall have all the privileges of membership including the rights to vote at meetings and to stand for election to any club office.

      • 6) Vice Presidents
      A Vice President is a member who shall be elected as such at an Annual General Meeting of the Club. and thereafter must be re-elected on an annual basis. Vice Presidents shall have the same rights of membership as full members.

    • 7) Honorary Members
    • In the absence of any membership in their own right the spouse of any member shall be regarded as an honorary member of the club with the same rights as a social member.
       
    • Any person wishing to join the Club as a full. Junior & Student member, or as a social member must complete a proposal form, be proposed and seconded by two members of the Club, and his election be subject to the approval of the Committee (defined hereinafter).

    • No person shall be admitted to membership of the Club without an interval of at least two days between nomination or application for membership and admission

      .
    • d) Members of Visiting Clubs and Associations who are attending an event on that day shall be entitled as guests of the club, to use the facilities of the club including the purchase of intoxicating liquor for consumption on the premises for the period of their visit.

    3. SUBSCRIPTION

      • a) The Annual subscriptions to the Club for each class of membership shall be determined each year at the AGM.
      • b) The financial year shall be from the 1st October to the following 30th September.
      • b) Vice Presidents and Honorary Life Members of the Club shall not be required to pay an Annual subscription.
      • c) On payment of a subscription a member shall be provided with a membership card and be entitled to a copy of this constitution. No person shall be entitled to any privileges of the Club until the subscription due is paid. Members shall be allowed period of grace of one month after 1st October for payment of the subscription.
      • d) At the discretion of the Committee, individuals may be permitted limited use of Club equipment on payment of a sum agreed by the Committee.

    4. COMMITTEE

      • a) Shall consist of the elected Officers of the Club and no less than 2 other members of the Club of whom one shall be a representative of the Wine Committee (defined hereinafter).
      • b) Five members shall form a quorum. The names of those present at Committee meetings shall be recorded in the minutes of such meetings by the secretary. Any member failing to attend each of three successive meetings shall be liable to forfeit his seat unless a satisfactory explanation is given to the Committee.
      • c) The Committee shall normally meet once a month.
      • d) The Committee shall have the power to co-opt any additional member who shall not have the power to vote.
      • e) At the request in writing of not less than three members of the Committee, the Secretary shall call a Committee meeting at not less than forty-eight hours notice.
      • f) The duties of the Committee shall be to comply with the objectives of the club. The Committee shall be specifically responsible for:-
        • 1) The maintenance, and improvement of the facilities of the Club.
        • 2) The financial planning of the club.
        • 3) The usage of the club funds, which shall not be used for purposes unconnected with the club or it's activities.
      • g) The Committee may make or amend and rescind regulations for the management of the Clubhouse and Bar (contained in sections 5 & 6) but otherwise may not amend this constitution.
      • h) The Committee may grant Associate status to a Club or Association that wishes to use the facilities of the Club on a regular basis, and all members of such a club shall become Associate members.

    5. MANAGEMENT

      • a) Any damage to the club's property shall be reported as soon as possible to a member of the Committee and it shall be referred to at the next meeting. Where the damage is deemed by the Committee to be wilful or due to negligence, the offender may be held personally responsible and liable.
      • b) Disorderly conduct on the part of members tending to impair the reputation of the Club, and any breach of these rules shall be reported to the secretary and shall be brought to the notice of the Committee at its next meeting. Where proven, the Committee shall have the power to impose a fine on the offending member(s) and shall have the power to suspend or dismiss him from the Club.
        In such case no subscription is refundable.
      • c) Gambling unauthorised by the Committee is prohibited in or on any part of the Club premises.
      • d) The Committee shall have exclusive use of the south room for it's meetings.
      • e) Any member may introduce as their guest any person. The member shall be responsible for the conduct their guest and at no time shall leave the premises whilst the guest is thereon.
      • No member may introduce more than two guests in any one day and he may not introduce the same persons as guests more than once in any one week.
      • The names and addresses of all persons introduced by members must be entered in the visitors book and such guests must be signed in by members.
      • Guest may only purchase and consume alcoholic liquor in the presence of the member who must be aged over 18 and who has signed that guest in.

    WINE COMMITTEE AND BAR RULES

    • a) The Wine Committee shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting of the Club. Vacancies in the Wine Committee during the ensuing year shall be appointed by the committee from the members of the Club. The Wine Committee shall consist of no less than two members.
    • b) The duties of the Wine Committee shall be:-
      • 1) To arrange the supply of intoxicating liquor and tobacco to the Club on behalf of the committee, and
      • 2) This shall include the arrangements of all aspects of running
        the Club bar.
    • c) The Wine Committee shall meet at regular intervals.
    • d) A representative of the Wine Committee shall report to the Committee each month and the Wine Committee shall be accountable to the same.
    • e) No person shall be paid at the expense of the Club any commission, percentage or similar payment on or with reference to purchase of intoxicating liquor the Club.
    • f) The hours of opening shall be the same as permitted by the local licensing division.
    • j; No member or guest under the age of 18 years may purchase or consume alcoholic liquor on the premises.

    7. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

      • a) An Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held at a date specified by the committee and shall be in October annually. The business to be transacted at the AGM shall be notified to all members at least 14 days before the date of the meeting and this business shall include the following matters:-
        • 1) The report of the Chairman for the past year.
        • 2) The report of the Captain for the past year.
        • 3) The report of the Treasurer for the past year.
        • 4) The adoption of the accounts for the previous financial year; (these may be adopted subject to audit in which case the Management Committee shall be authorised to approve them when they have been audited)
      • 5) The fixing of the subscription rates for the ensuing year.
      • 6) The election of the Officers of the club these shall be
        • a) President.
        • b) Chairman.
        • c) Secretary.
      • d) Treasurer.
        • e) Social Secretary.
      • f) Club Captain.
      • g) Vice-Captain.
      • 7) The election of Vice-Presidents
      • 9) The appointment of the Wine Committee.
        9) Any other business.
      • b) Any fully paid-up voting member wishing to raise a matter shall give written notice to the secretary of such a proposal at least 7 days prior to the AGM.
      • c) Any fully paid-up voting member is entitled to one voce on any particular issue.
      • d) Extraordinary General Meetings may be called upon due written notice being received by the Chairman or Secretary from 12 members or at the discretion of the committee. Such requisition shall specify the business to be transacted at the meeting. All members shall receive 14 days notice of the aforesaid meeting and such meeting shall discuss only the business specified on the Agenda.
      • e) The Chairman of the Committee shall preside at all meetings. In his absence a Chairman shall be appointed Pro Tern
      • f) All notices of meeting shall be sent out by the Secretary of the Club or such persons as the Committee may authorise.