Ashton-Under-Lyne Rifle Club

Constitution

1.Name

The name of the Club is the Ashton-under-Lyne Target Shooting Club or other such name as the Management Committee may from time to time decide.

2. Administration

Subject to the matters set out below, the Club and its property shall be administered and managed in accordance with this constitution by members of the Management Committee, constituted by clause 7 of this constitution.

3. Objects

The Clubs objects are to provide facilitate for, develop and promote participation of the whole community in the sport of target shooting.

4. Powers.

In furtherance of the objects but not otherwise the Management Committee may exercise the following powers:

Power to raise funds and to invite and to receive contributions provided that in raising funds the Management Committee shall not undertake any substantial permanent trading activities and shall conform to any relevant requirements of the law;
Power to co-operate with other clubs, voluntary bodies and statutory authorities engaged in furtherance of the objects and to exchange information and advice with them;
Power to support any charitable trusts, associations or institutions formed for all or any of the objects;
Power to do all such lawful things as are necessary for the achievement of the objects.

5. Membership

Membership of the Club shall be open to all persons interested in furthering the objects of the Club and who have paid the annual subscription as fixed from time to time by the Members present at the Annual general meeting called specifically for that purpose, irrespective of ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or beliefs; or of age, sex or disability except as a necessary consequence of the requirements of target shooting as a particular sport, subject to the probationary requirements laid by the sports governing body and the firearms act 1968 (amendment) act 1997.
The Management Committee may refuse membership or expel from membership only for good and sufficient cause, such as conduct or character likely to bring the Club or the sport into disrepute, provided that the individual concerned shall have the right to be heard by the Management Committee, accompanied by a friend or representative, before the final decision is made. Appeal against such a decision may be made to the Clubs members and decided by a majority vote.
The Management Committee may create any class of member on a non-discriminatory basis they deem necessary and may determine what benefits or rights such members may have, and may lay down procedures for the introduction of prospective new members to the Club. The exercise of any such powers by the Management Committee shall be subject to ratification by the next annual general meeting of the Club by means of appropriate amendment(s) to the bylaws of the Club.

6. Honorary Officers

At each annual general meeting of the Club the members shall elect from amongst themselves a chairman, a secretary, a treasurer and a club captain, who shall hold office from the conclusion of the meeting.

7. Management Committee

The Management Committee shall consist of not less than five members and not more than twelve members being: The honorary officers specified in the preceding clause.
All members of the Management Committee must be full current members of the Club in their own right.
The Management Committee may in addition appoint two co-opted members but so that no-one may be appointed as a co-opted member if, as a result, more than one third of the members of the Management Committee would be co-opted members. Each appointment of a co-opted member shall be made at a special meeting of the Management Committee under clause 10.1 and shall take effect from the end of the meeting unless the appointment is to fill a place which has not been vacated shall run from the date when the post becomes vacant.
All the members of the Management Committee shall retire from office together at the end of the annual general meeting next after the date on which they came into office but they may be re-elected or re-appointed.
The proceedings of the Management Committee shall not be invalidated by any vacancy among their numbers or by any failure to appoint or any defect in the appointment or qualification of a member.
No person shall be appointed as a member of the Management Committee who is aged under 18 or who would if appointed be disqualified under the provisions of clause 8.
No person shall be entitled to act as a member of the Management Committee whether on a first or any subsequent entry into office until after signing in the minute book of the Management Committee a declaration of acceptance and willingness to act in the trusts of the Club.

8. Determination of Membership of the Management Committee

A member of the Management Committee shall cease to hold office if he or she:

Ceases to be a full current member of the Club; or
Becomes incapable by reason of mental disorder, illness or injury of managing and administering his or her own affairs; or
Is absent without permission of the Management Committee from all their meetings held within a period of six months and the Management Committee resolve that his or her office is vacated; or
Gives to the Management Committee notice that he or she wishes to resign with effect from a date at least one month after the date of the notice (unless there are exceptional reasons for shorter notice), but only if at least five members of the Management Committee remain in office when the notice of resignation is to take effect.

9. Management Committee Members not to be Personally Interested

Subject to the provision of sub-clause 9.2 no member of the Management Committee shall acquire any interest in property belonging to the Club (otherwise than as a trustee for the Club) or receive remuneration or be interested (otherwise than as a member of the Management Committee) in any contact entered into by the Management Committee.
Any member of the Management Committee for the time being who is a solicitor, accountant or other person engaged in a profession may charge and be paid all the usual professional charges for business done by him or she or his or her firm when instructed by the other members of the Management Committee to act in a professional capacity on behalf of the Club, provided that at no time shall a majority of the members of the Management Committee benefit under this provision and that a member of the Management Committee shall withdraw from any meeting at which his or her own instruction or remuneration, or that of his or her firm, is under discussion.

10. Meetings and Proceedings of the Management Committee

The Management Committee shall hold at least two ordinary meetings each year. A special meeting may be called at any time by the chairman or by any three members of the Management Committee upon not less than seven days notice being given to other members of the Management Committee of the matters to be discussed but if the matters include appointment of a co-opted member then not less than seven days notice must be given. All notices must be given in writing.
The chairman shall act as chairman at meetings of the Management Committee. If the chairman is absent from any meeting, the members of the Management Committee present shall choose one of their numbers to be chairman of the meeting before any other business is transacted.
There shall be a quorum when at least one-third of the Management Committee for the time being or five members of the Management Committee, whichever is the greater, are present at the meeting.
The Management Committee shall keep minutes, of the proceedings at meetings of the Management Committee and any sub-committee.
The Management Committee may from time to time make or alter the bylaws of the Club. Any such addition or alteration to the bylaws must be laid before the next annual general meeting of the Club for ratification. No bye law, rule, standing order or other regulation may be made which is inconsistent with the constitution.
The Management Committee may appoint one or more advisory or sub-committee of three or more members of the Management Committee for the purpose of making any enquiries or supervising or performing any function or duty which in the opinion of the Management Committee would be more conveniently undertaken or carried out by a sub-committee: provided that all acts and proceedings of any sub-committee shall be fully and promptly reported to the Management Committee.
The Management Committee shall ensure that at all times the Club and its members shall comply with all legal requirements in force from time to time and any rules appertaining to the conduct of the activities being undertaken.

11. Receipts and Expenditure

The funds of the Club, including all donations, contributions and bequests, shall be paid into an account operated by the Management Committee in the name of the Club at such bank or building society as the Management Committee shall from time to time decide. The Club may operate more than one bank account. All cheques drawn on the Clubs bank account must be signed by two members of the Management Committee.
The Income and Property of the Club shall be applied solely towards promoting the Clubs objects as set forth in this constitution and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred, directly or indirectly, to the Members of the Club

12. Property

Subject to the provisions of sub-clause 12.2, the Management Committee shall cause title to:
1. all land held by or in trust for the Club; and
2. all investments held by or on behalf of the Club; and
3. all assets of the Club other than land and investments;
to be vested in not less than three individuals appointed by them as holding trustees. Holding trustees may be removed by the Management Committee at their pleasure and shall act in accordance with the lawful directions of the Management Committee. Provided that they act only in accordance with the lawful directions of the Management Committee, the holding trustees shall not be liable for acts and defaults of its members.

13. Annual General Meeting

There shall be an annual general meeting of the Club which shall be held each year within two months of the end of the Clubs financial year or as soon as is practicable
1. Every annual general meeting shall be called by the Management Committee. The Secretary shall give at least 14 days notice of the annual general meeting in writing to all the members of the Club. All members of the Club shall be entitled to attend and vote at the meeting.
The chairman of the Club then in office shall be the chairman of each annual general meeting, but if he is not present, before any other business is transacted, the persons present shall appoint a chairman of the meeting.
The Management Committee shall present to each annual general meeting the report and accounts of the Club for the preceding financial year.
Nominations for election to the Management Committee must be made by members of the Club in writing and must be in the hands of the Secretary to the Management Committee at least seven days before the Annual General Meeting. The person nominated must confirm in writing his or her willingness to stand. Should nominees exceed vacancies, election shall be by ballot.
1. To determine the Subscription Fees for the forthcoming year.
2. To consider any other business relevant to the affairs of the Club.

14. Special General Meetings

The Management Committee may call a special general meeting of the Club at any time. If at least 50% of the Club membership or 12 members, whichever is less, request such a meeting in writing stating the business to be considered the Secretary shall call such a meeting. At least 21 days notice must be given. The notice calling the meeting must state the business to be discussed.

15. Procedure at General Meetings

appointed by the Management Committee shall keep a full record of proceedings at every general meeting of the Club.
There shall be a quorum when at least 33% of the members of the Club for the time being or 12 members of the Club, whichever is the less, are present at any general meeting.
If after 30 minutes from the time stated for the commencement of the meeting there are still insufficient members present to form a quorum, the meeting shall be adjourned to another time and place. The adjourned meeting shall take place within 21 days of the original meeting, or as soon after as is practicable.
If at the adjourned meeting there are insufficient members present to form a quorum, the meeting will proceed after a delay of 30 minutes unless sufficient members are present before that time to form a quorum.

16. Notices

Any notice required to be served on any member of the Club shall be in writing and shall be served by the Secretary or the Management Committee on such members either personally or by sending through the post in a prepaid envelope letter addressed to the members at his or her last known addressed in the United Kingdom, and any letter so sent shall be deemed to have been received within 10 days of posting.

17. Voting

Every member shall have one vote on any resolution on which he is entitled to vote. Every resolution shall be decided by a majority of the votes by those present and entitled to vote on the question but in the case of a tied vote that the Chairman of the meeting shall have a second and casting vote.

18. Alteration to the Constitution

The constitution may be altered by a resolution supported by not less than majority of the members present and voting at the general meeting. The notice of the general meeting must include notice of the resolution, setting out the terms of the alteration proposed.

19. Dissolution

If the Management Committee decides that it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the Club it shall call a meeting of all members of the Club, of which not less than 21 days notice (stating the terms and resolution to be proposed) shall be given. If the proposal is supported by majority of those present and voting the ManagementCommittee shall have power to realise any assets held by or on behalf of the Club. Any assets remaining after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the Club, but shall be given or transferred to one or more of the following approved sporting or charitable bodies:

A registered charitable organisation(s).
Another Club which is a registered CASC.
The sports national governing body for use by them for related community sports.