Shearwater Constitution

1 TITLE

1.1 The Association shall be called The National Shearwater Catamaran Owners Association, hereafter to be referred to as “the Association” (and shall be affiliated to the Royal Yachting Association)

2 OBJECTS

2.1 To foster and promote the Shearwater Catamaran at all levels, and provide opportunities for recreation and competition.

3 MEMBERSHIP

3.1 Membership of the Association shall be open to any person completing a membership application form and paying the relevant subscription/joining fee as determined by the Annual General Meeting of the Association Members.

3.2 There shall be three classes of membership available. These are:

3.2.1 Full Member - (identified by annual subscription.)

3.2.2 Associate Member – (as above)

3.2.3 Honorary Member – (identified and recorded by the Committee)

4 OFFICERS

4.1 The Officers of the Association shall be as follows:

President - Non-Executive, Honorary position

Chairperson

Vice Chairperson - Executive Officers

Secretary - //

Treasurer - //

TT Coordinator - //

Assistant TT Coordinator * - //

Class Measurer - //

Public Relations - //

National Champion - //

*This position is aimed at new members, to give them experience on the Committee.

5 ELECTION OF OFFICERS

5.1 With exemption of the National Champion, whose position is competed for annually, Officers shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Association, from, and by, the full Members of the Association only. (full members having paid the required subscription).

5.2 With the exemption of the Chairperson, whose Office is elected every three years, all other Officers are elected for a period of one year, but may be re-elected to the same office or another office the following year.

6 THE COMMITTEE

6.1 The affairs of the Association shall be controlled by a Committee comprising the Chairman and Executive Officers of the Club. The Committee shall meet at agreed intervals, and not less than twice per year. It may appoint sub-committees.

6.2 The duties of the Committee shall be:

6.2.1 To control the affairs of the Association on behalf of the Members.

6.2.2 To keep accurate accounts of the finances of the Association through the Treasurer. These should be available for reasonable inspection by Members and should be audited before every Annual General Meeting. The Association shall maintain a bank current account and the following Officers shall be authorised to sign Club cheques: two from either the Chairperson, Treasurer or Secretary.

6.2.3 To co-opt additional members of the Committee as the Committee feels this is necessary. Co-opted members shall not be entitled to a vote on the Committee, unless they have been co-opted to replace a member who has died, resigned, or is unable to serve because of serious illness. They shall hold office until the next A.G.M.

6.2.4 To make decisions on the basis of a simple majority vote. In the case of equal votes, the Chairperson shall be entitled to an additional casting vote. The Chairperson is also entitled to insist that decisions be made by a majority vote of the entire Association’s voting membership, if he/she considers the decision to be of sufficient importance as to negate the authority of the Committee. In such situations the Chairperson will still be entitled to an additional casting vote, if required.

6.2.5 To organise a six event “Travellers Trophy” Race series between April and November each year, and a National Championship Competition. This to be held no later than the last week of September each year.

6.2.6 To prepare and publish the National Championship and Travellers Trophy results. The National Championship results to be issued at the end of the competition, and Travellers Trophy results to be issued no later than March of the following year. Results will be calculated in accordance with ISAF Racing Rules 2005-2008 ; Appendix A – with the following amendment to A8.1 – excluded (previously discarded) results will be included until a tie is broken.

6.2.7 To make such arrangements as required to produce a quarterly magazine publication, detailing those events and matters pertinent to the Association, and distribute to the membership of the Association, and any others as identified by the Committee.

6.2.8 To provide and maintain a Web-Site advertising the Association, and detailing events and matters pertinent to the Association. This to be made available to all, and updated as required.

7 GENERAL MEETINGS

7.1 The Annual General Meeting of the Association shall be held not later than the end of September each year. Seven clear days written notice shall be given to Members of the Annual General Meeting by publishing a copy of the notice in the Association Magazine, or by E-mail. Members must advise the Secretary in writing of any business to be moved at the Annual General Meeting at least 1 day before a meeting. The Secretary shall circulate or give notice of the agenda for the meeting to Members not less than 1 day before the meeting.

7.2 The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be to:

7.2.1 Confirm the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting and any other General Meetings.

7.2.2 Receive the audited accounts

7.2.3 Receive the annual report of the Secretary.

7.2.4 Elect the Officers of the Association (i.e. President; Chairperson; Secretary; Treasurer and other General Committee Members).

7.2.5 Fix Association subscription rates. A Member who has not paid his subscription by such default date as the Committee prescribes may at the discretion of the Committee be deemed to have resigned.

7.2.6 Transact such other business received in writing by the Secretary from Members 1 day prior to the meeting and included on the agenda.

7.2.7 Such other business except business for which a Special General Meeting is required (e.g. expulsion, dissolution or changes to the constitution) as by common consent of the meeting the Chairperson in his/her discretion admits.

NOTE: The agenda will provide for “Any Other Business”, but Members should be encouraged to refer other items to the Committee and give the required notice for important Annual General Meeting business as already stipulated..

7.3 Special General Meetings may be convened by the Committee, or on receipt by the Secretary of a request in writing from not less than 5 Full Members of the Association. At least 21 days notice of the meeting shall be given.

The business to be considered at the meeting to be specified in the notice convening the business.

7.4 Nomination of candidates for election of Officers shall be made in writing to the Secretary at least 14 days in advance of the Annual General Meeting date. Nominations can only be made by Full Members and must be seconded by another Full Member.

In the absence of nominations prior to the meeting nominations may be taken from the floor. All nominations shall have the consent of the nominee, and be seconded by another Full Member.

7.5 At all General Meetings the chair will be taken by the Chairperson, or, in their absence, by the Vice Chairperson.

7.6 Decisions made at a General Meeting shall be by a simple majority of votes from those Full Members attending the meeting. In the event of equal votes, the Chairperson shall be entitled to an additional casting vote or alternatively in his/her discretion he/she may direct a written poll.

7.7 A quorum for a General Meeting shall be 10 Full Members and 4 Officers of the Committee. The latter to include 2 from either the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary or Treasurer.

7.8 Each Full Member of the Club shall be entitled to one vote on any separate issue at General Meetings.

8 A member who is found by vote carried at a Special General Meeting called in accordance with clause 7.3 to have behaved in a manner likely to bring the Association into disrepute or cause substantial prejudice to it may be expelled from the Association. Provided that:-

a) The resolution must be carried by 4/5ths of those attending and voting.

b) This is the only business at the meeting.

c) Before putting the motion to the vote the member shall have a full opportunity to address the meeting.

The member expelled may appeal by notice in writing sent to the Secretary of the Committee within 14 clear days, who shall within 14 days thereafter convene a meeting of the Chairperson (or in their absence the Vice-chairperson) of the Committee and two members who shall decide the appeal, and shall not be required to give reasons. Following expulsion any subscription for the whole of that year that has been paid by that member shall be returned.

9 ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION

9.1 Any proposed alterations to the Associations Constitution may only be considered at an Annual or Special General Meeting, convened with the required written notice of the proposal. Any alteration or amendment must be proposed by a Full Member of the Association and seconded by another Full Member. Such alterations shall be passed if supported by not less than two thirds of those Full Members present at the meeting and voting, assuming that a quorum has been achieved, or by written Poll, as directed by the Chairperson, to the entire voting membership.

An abstention shall be recorded but shall not count as a vote.

10 DISSOLUTION

10.1 If at any General Meeting of the Association, a resolution be passed calling for the dissolution of the Association, the Secretary shall immediately convene a Special General Meeting of the Club to be held not less than one month thereafter to discuss and vote on the resolution.

10.2 If at that Special General Meeting, the resolution is carried by at least two thirds of the Full Members present at the meeting and voting the Committee shall thereupon, or at such date as shall have been specified in the resolution, proceed to realise the assets of the Association and discharge all debts and liabilities of the Association. Abstentions shall be recorded but shall not count as a vote.

10.3 After discharging all debts and liabilities of the Association, the remaining assets shall be paid or distributed amongst the Full Members of the Association.