SOWERBY ANGLING SOCIETY CONSTITUTION
- NAME
- The name of the club shall be the Sowerby Angling Society (‘the Society’).
- OBJECTS
2.1 The Society is established for the following objects (‘the objects’) –
- To operate a fishing club on the Cod Beck (‘the beck’) for its members
- To use all reasonable endeavours to protect and improve the water on the beck which it occupies under licences to fish granted by riparian owners
- To promote the sport of angling.
- POWERS
3.1 In pursuance of the objects the Society has the power to-
– buy, lease or licence fishing rights on the beck
– invest and deal with the Society’s funds
– operate bank and other accounts
– employ or engage third party contractors, agents, volunteers or advisers in any role which assists the achievement of the objects
– do all such other activities and things which are incidental or conducive to the objects.
- INCOME AND DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS
4.1 The Society’s income shall be used only for the achievement of the objects.
4.2 No payment of capital or otherwise shall be made to a member or officer except for reimbursement of expenses, or for services rendered to the Society.
4.3 If the Society is wound up or otherwise dissolved, after payment of debts and liabilities, any surplus funds remaining shall not be paid to the members but shall be paid to the Wild Trout Trust and Herriot Hospice in equal shares , or, in the event that either or both bodies have ceased to exist at the time of dissolution , to other bodies with similar objects.
- MEMBERSHIP
5.1 Membership of the Society is open to any angler, and there are no restrictions relating to age, gender, location or any other characteristic.
5.2 Applications for membership will be considered and decided by the Secretary in consultation with the chair.
5.3.1 There are three classes of membership –
- Full
- Honorary
- Concessionary (comprising juniors under 16, seniors 65 or over and registered disabled members)
5.3.2 Full and honorary members may vote at Society meetings; concessionary members may vote except for junior members who may contribute to meetings but not vote.
5.4. The maximum number of full members is 40, or such other number as the AGM may decide from time to time.
5.5 The maximum number of honorary and concessionary members is 20 , or such other number as the AGM may decide from time to time.
5.6 If a member wishes to resign, notice must be given to the Secretary before the AGM. Further, if notice is given after the AGM, the member’s annual subscription is payable for the following year.
5.6 Members may not transfer membership to another person.
- EXPULSION OF MEMBER
6.1 If a member –
- is guilty of conduct which has or is likely to have a serious adverse effect on the Society or bring the Society into disrepute; or
- has persistently and/or seriously has failed to comply with the rules made under paragraph 11 or the Health and Safety policy under paragraph 12; or
- has failed to pay the membership subscriptions
the Society may expel or suspend the member by a resolution of the Committee and no refund of entrance fee or subscription will be repayable.
- OFFICERS
7.1.1 The officers of the Society shall be as follows-
- Chair
- Secretary
- Treasurer
7.1.2 With the prior approval of the AGM (or then chair in the case of urgency ) the posts of secretary and treasurer may be combined , and carried out by one person.
7.2 Officers shall be elected at the AGM and shall serve for one year but may be re-elected to the same or a different post the following year. A temporary chair may be appointed at the AGM or any committee meeting if the chair is unavailable.
8 . COMMITTEE
8.1 The affairs of the Society shall be controlled by a committee comprising the officers and up to seven and no fewer than three other members elected at the AGM. The committee shall meet at agreed intervals and not less than once per year.
8.2 The duties of the committee shall be-
– to manage the Society’s affairs
– to keep accounts which shall be submitted to the AGM for
approval
– to maintain a club bank account (with power for the treasurer and chair to authorise payments by cheque or otherwise)
– to co-opt such members onto the committee as it sees fit
8.3.1 The quorum of the committee shall be three and decisions shall be taken on the basis of a simple majority vote of committee members present at the meeting (including any co-opted members).
8.3.2 In the case of an equality of votes the chair shall have a second, casting vote.
8.3.3 Where urgent action is required to safeguard the club’s interests or the safety of its members , the chair may take decisions on the club’s behalf , in consultation with the secretary and treasurer.
- GENERAL MEETINGS
9.1 The AGM of the Society shall be held between 1 January and 31 March and 14 days’ notice of the meeting shall be given to members ;notice may be served by email, post or personally.
9.2 The AGM shall –
- confirm the minutes of the previous AGM and any general meetings held since the last AGM
- receive the accounts for the year from the treasurer
- receive the annual report of the Society and committee from the secretary
- elect the officers and committee members;
- agree subscription rates
- consider such other matters as are included in the agenda; except in the case of urgent matters the agenda shall be circulated at least seven days before the meeting.
9.3 Special general meetings may be convened by the committee or on receipt by the secretary of a request in writing from at least ten members of the Society. At least 14 days’ notice for the meeting shall be given.
9.4 Nomination of candidates for election of officers shall be made by members at the AGM and must be seconded by another member.
9.5 Decisions at a general meeting shall be made by a simple majority of votes from members in attendance, and each member shall have one vote, subject to paragraph 8.3.2 above.
9.6 The quorum for a general meeting shall be four members and two officers.
- CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION
10.1 The Constitution may only be changed if the following conditions are met-
– written notice of the proposed change, and the reasons
for it, must be given to the AGM, or Special General
Meeting
- the proposal must be made by a Society member and
seconded by another
- at least two thirds majority of a quorate meeting has
approved the proposed change.
- RULES
11.1 The Society shall establish rules (‘the rules’) relating to the seasons, location and manner in which members may fish on the beck. Special rules may be made to apply only to junior members.
11.2 The rules shall be regularly reviewed by the Committee and any changes to them shall be recommended by the Committee and approved by the AGM.
11.3 Every member must comply with the rules and failure to do so may result in expulsion from the Society under paragraph 6.
- HEALTH AND SAFETY
12.1 The Society will establish a health and safety policy (‘HS policy’) relating to the identification, avoidance and/or management of foreseeable risks members may encounter on the beck.
12.2 The HS policy shall be regularly reviewed by the Committee and any changes to it shall be recommended by the Committee and approved by the AGM.
12.3 Every member must comply with the HS policy and failure to do so may result in expulsion from the Society under paragraph 6.
- INDEMNITY AND INSURANCE
13.1 Each officer of the Society shall be indemnified against costs, charges, liabilities and expenses by the Society where they have been incurred by the officer in the execution of his
duties.
13.2 The Society shall take out such insurance against public liability and such other risks as the Committee decides to be prudent to protect the Society’s interests, and those of its officers.
14.0 GENERAL
14.1 The Society may join such organisations whose objectives complement the Society’s objectives, including (without limitation) the Angling Trust and the Wild Trout Trust.
14.2 Notices may be served on members by email, post or in person.
14.3 Any dispute on the meaning or effect of the Constitution, Rules or HS Policy shall be referred to the committee, whose judgement shall be final.
14.4 The Constitution should be reviewed regularly by the Committee and in any case at least once every three years.
14.5 The Constitution shall come into effect on 24 January 2024 and will supersede the previous Constitution in every respect on such date.
December 2023