Wilmslow Striders Club Constitution

1. Name

The name of the organisation shall be Wilmslow Striders hereinafter referred to as the Club.

2. Objectives

The club is established to pursue the following objectives:
Participation in the sport of running for those aged over 18
To offer support and encouragement, coaching and competitive opportunities in the name of running
To assist and encourage members to achieve their own personal goals
To promote the club within the local community
To ensure duty of care to all members of the Club
To provide its services in a way that is fair to all members
To foster a spirit of comradeship and co-operation between members and promote a cordial relationship between members
To co-operate with clubs and leagues in all matters including those related to the laws of England Athletics.

3. Affiliation

The Club shall be affiliated to England Athletics.

4. Membership

All members are subject to the Constitution of the Club and the regulations of England Athletics.
Membership of the club is open to all individuals provided they comply with this Constitution.
No person shall be refused membership on the grounds of race, colour, creed, religion, sex, sexual preference, impairment or disability.
All applications for membership shall be accompanied by the appropriate annual membership fee, which shall thereafter be payable on demand. New members joining after 31 December shall pay a reduced fee covering membership through to the following 31 March.
New members transferring in from other clubs shall provide, in addition to the club application form, a completed first claim transfer form together with information required from their former first claim club in order to register the transfer, together with the England Athletics transfer fee.
Each fully paid up member shall be entitled to attend and vote at General or Annual General Meetings.
Fully paid up members may be elected and serve on the Committee.
Fees will be set annually and agreed by the Committee or determined at the Annual General Meeting and will be paid annually. The subscription year will run from 1 April until the following 31 March.
Members entering races should run in official club shirts and abide by rules set out by race organisers.

5. Officers of the Club

The officers of the Club will be

Chair
Secretary
Treasurer
Events Coordinator
Social Media Coordinator
Social Secretary
Welfare Officer
Any other relevant position as required from time to time as decided by the Committee

6. Committee

The Club will be managed through the Committee consisting of the officers

The Committee will have the power to appoint subcommittees as necessary and appoint advisers to the Committee as necessary to fulfil its business
The Committee will be responsible for disciplinary hearings of members who infringe the club rules/regulations/constitution. The Committee will be responsible for taking any action of suspension or discipline following such hearings.

7. Committee Meetings

Meetings shall be chaired by the Chairman or another Committee member.
Committee meetings will take place no less than 4 times per year
The committee members will receive an agenda prior to the meeting
Any competent business to be discussed/considered at a meeting shall be notified to the Secretary at least 14 days before the meeting in order that it may be included in the agenda
Any votes at club meetings shall be indicative and not binding
No proxy votes will be permitted at club meetings apart from AGM & EGMs.

8. Finance

All Club monies will be banked in an account in the name of the Club
The Club Treasurer will be responsible for the finances of the Club
The Financial Year of the Club will end on 31st March.
A statement of annual accounts will be presented by the Treasurer at the AGM
Any cheques drawn on the Club will hold the signature of the Treasurer plus either the Chair or Secretary.
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.

9. Annual General Meetings

Notice of Annual General Meetings (AGM) and Extraordinary General Meetings (EGM) and agenda will be given by the Club Secretary. Not less than 21 days notice to be given to members.
The Committee shall agree the Agenda for each AGM/EGM prior to it being circulated to the Members by the Secretary
Nominations for officers of the Committee shall be sent to the Secretary at least 14 days prior to the AGM or EGM at which an Election of officers is to take place. All nominations should be proposed and seconded by club members and the nomination should clearly state who proposes and seconds the member seeking election
Elections of officers are to take place at the AGM or, in Extraordinary circumstances, at an EGM
In the event of two members standing for one office, each member shall provide a written statement to the Secretary outlining why they believe they should be elected for that office. The statement shall be provided, together with the nomination, no later than 7 days prior to the AGM/EGM at which an election is to take place. The statements will be circulated to the members by the Secretary together with the meeting agenda and the person(s) standing for office shall not be permitted to make any further representation at the AGM/EGM at which the election is to take place. The statements will be read out at the AGM/EGM by the Secretary or Chairman
An AGM or EGM shall be chaired by the Chairman or a Committee member
All members over the age of 18 have the right to vote at an AGM or EGM. In the case of an equality of votes, the Chairman of the meeting (as per clause f above) will have a second, casting vote. Members who have an interest in a vote such as their own election to office must make the meeting aware of their interest in the vote and will not be permitted to vote on the matter
The quorum for AGM/EGM’s will be25% of membership
The Committee or 25% of the members acting together have the right to call Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs) outside the AGM. Procedures for EGMs will be the same as the AGM
Any request for alteration of the rules or Constitution must be agreed at an AGM or EGM. A proposal to change a rule or the Constitution may be voted upon providing it is submitted in writing 14 days in advance, bears the name of the proposer and a seconder and has been circulated to the members as an agenda item at least 14 days prior to the meeting at which it is to be considered
All votes at AGM/EGM’s shall be by show of hands and shall be passed by a simple majority

Members will be entitled to vote by proxy if they are unable to attend an AGM/EGM. Proxy votes must be submitted in writing to the Secretary no later than 7 days prior to the meeting. The Secretary will confirm to the meeting the outcome of any proxy votes and confirm who has voted by proxy

10. Personal Risk

Members (and guests) acknowledge and accept that playing or participating in sport of any kind can be dangerous and that in participating in these activities they may be at risk of an injury, and even the possibility of death.
Members and guests shall take personal responsibility for their own actions and safety.
When participating in any of the Club's training sessions or events, they do so entirely at their own risk and release Wilmslow Striders from liability for injury, illness or death that may occur as a result of participating in a club session or event.
The liability of the Club and its Officers to any member is limited to the net assets of the club.

11. Complaints

Any member wishing to register a complaint against the Club or a member of the Club should do so in writing to the Secretary
The Committee will meet within 7 days of a complaint being lodged. The Committee has the power to take appropriate disciplinary action including the termination of the membership
The outcome of a disciplinary hearing will be notified in writing to the person who lodged the complaint and the member against whom the complaint was made within 7 days of the hearing
There will be the right of appeal to the Committee following disciplinary action. The Committee should consider the appeal within 7 days of the Secretary receiving the appeal.

11. Dissolution

A resolution to dissolve the Club can only be passed at an AGM or EGM through a majority vote of the membership
In the event of a dissolution, any assets of the Club that remain will be donated to a charity chosen by club members

Wilmslow Striders hereby adopts and accepts this constitution as a current operating guide regulating the actions of members.