Balfron Barracudas Constitution 2022
Scottish Swimming Club Constitution Issue 2021 (December 2021)
Balfron Barracudas Swimming Club
CONSTITUTION, BYE-LAWS AND REGULATIONS
INDEX
Constitution
SECTION C1.0 NAME
SECTION C2.0 OBJECTIVES
SECTION C3.0 MEMBERSHIP
SECTION C4.0 GOVERNANCE
SECTION C5.0 GENERAL MEETINGS
C5.1 General
C5.2 Annual General Meeting (AGM)
C5.3 Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM)
SECTION C6.0 AWARDS
SECTION C7.0 TROPHIES
SECTION C8.0 DISSOLUTION
Bye-Laws
SECTION BL1.0 MANAGEMENT
SECTION BL2.0 COMMITTEE MEETINGS
BL2.1 Committee Meeting Standing Orders
BL2.2 Management Committee Meetings (MCM)
SECTION BL3.0 FINANCE AND ACCOUNTS
SECTION BL4.0 DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE, COMPLAINTS and APPLEALS
BL4.1 General
BL4.2 Disciplinary Procedure
BL4.3 Complaints
BL4.4 Appeals
BL4.4 Suspensions and Fines
CONSTITUTION
C1.0 NAME
C1.1 The Club shall be called Balfron Barracudas Swimming Club (hereinafter referred to as the Club)
C2.0 OBJECTIVES
C2.1 The objectives of the Club shall be to: –
- Advance the public participation in Aquatic Sports in accordance with paragraph C2.1 of the SASA Constitution.
C3.0 MEMBERSHIP
C3.1 The membership shall consist of the following categories: –
- Adult Member.
An Adult is an individual 16 years and over.
- Junior Member.
A Junior is an individual 15 years or under (not as defined in Scottish Swimming Company Rule R4.5.6. which refers to Championship and Meets, Eligibility).
- Life Member
- Associate Member
C3.2 Membership fees shall be as agreed at each Annual General Meeting.
C3.2.1 The Membership fees of existing members (agreed at the AGM) shall become due first day of the first term of each academic year and those of new members on the date of acceptance for membership. Training fees shall become due on the first day of each term
C3.2.2 Members not renewing within one calendar month will be deemed to be non-members and will be notified in writing accordingly.
C3.2.3 Members may be excluded from taking part in any of the Club’s activities unless their annual subscription payments and club fees are up to date.
C3.3 All Club Members must be registered with the SASA in accordance with the categories defined in SASA Constitution C3.3.3.
C3.4 All members joining the Club shall be deemed to accept the terms of this Constitution, the Club Bye-Laws and any Regulations adopted by the Club.
C3.5 A member wishing to resign from the Club shall inform the Secretary in writing.
C3.6 A Club member wishing to change their 1st or 2nd Claim Club must do so in accordance with Scottish Swimming Company Rule R5.2.
C3.7 The Management Committee shall have the power to turn down an application for membership, provided they act in accordance with paragraph C3.7.1.
C3.7.1 When an application for membership is turned down by the Management Committee, the applicant must be advised of the reason and their right of appeal to Scottish Swimming, in writing.
C4.0 GOVERNANCE
C4.1 The Club shall be subject to and bound by, the Scottish Swimming Governance Documentation (SASA Constitution, Company Articles and Company Rules) and the appropriate SASA District Rules.
C4.2 The Club shall comply with the Scottish Swimming Codes of Conduct, Ethics and Wellbeing and Protection Guidelines.
C4.3 The Club shall be governed by its Constitution, Bye-Laws and Regulations.
C4.4 Amendments to the Constitution shall only be made at a General Meeting, provided at least a two thirds majority of those present and voting is secured.
C4.5 Amendments to the Bye-Laws shall only be made at a General Meeting provided a simple majority of those present and voting is secured.
C4.6 The Management Committee shall have the power to publish and enforce such Regulations as the Committee feels necessary to govern the activities of the Club.
C5.0 MEETINGS
C5.1 General
C5.1.1 Notices
At least 10 days notice and the Agenda shall be given to all Adult and Life Members of any General Meeting.
C5.1.2 Attendance
All Adult and Life Members are entitled to attend, take part and vote unless specifically excluded from doing so by the Club’s Constitution. A Parent / Guardian, who is not a club member, is permitted to attend AGMs on behalf of a Junior Member.
C5.1.3 Voting
- With the exception of changes to the Constitution, decisions put to a vote shall be resolved by simple majority at General Meetings.
- Voting shall be by a show of hands unless decided otherwise by a majority of those attending the meeting.
C5.1.4 Quora
The quorum at General Meetings shall be one tenth of those members eligible to vote, provided at least three members are present.
C5.1.5 Changes to the Constitution and Bye-Laws
A proposal to change the Constitution or Bye-Laws must be submitted in writing to the Secretary, signed by two members eligible to vote at a General Meeting.
C5.1.6 Conduct of Business
The conduct of business shall be in accordance with Scottish Swimming Company Rules Section R16
C5.2 Annual General Meeting (AGM)
C5.2.1 The Club shall hold an AGM between September and December each year.
C5.2.2 The Secretary shall give notice not less than 10 days prior to the date of the AGM to all Adult and Life Members. The format of the notice shall be agreed by the Management Committee.
C5.2.3 Appended to the notice of intimation of an AGM shall be the Agenda, minutes of the last AGM, a note of the process governing alteration to the Constitution, Bye-Laws and nomination for the Management Committee.
C5.2.4 Nominations for Officers of the Club and other members of the Management Committee shall be submitted in writing, signed by two Adult or Life Members and the nominee, to the Secretary no later than 10 days before the date of the meeting.
C5.2.5 Proposed alterations to the Constitution and Bye-Laws and notices of motion must be received by the Secretary not later than 10 days before the date of the meeting.
C5.2.6 The Secretary shall arrange for all nominations and proposed alterations to be circulated at least seven days before the meeting. The format of the circulation shall be agreed by the Management Committee.
C5.2.7 The business for an AGM shall include:
- Chairperson’s Remarks
- Apologies for Absence
- Approval of minutes from previous AGM & matters arising.
- Secretary Report
- Financial Report
- Head Coach Report
- Proposed changes to Constitution
- Proposed changes to Bye-Laws
- Notices of Motion
- Election of Management Committee Members
- Appointment of Auditors / Independent Examiners
- Life Membership Awards
- Other relevant business
C5.3 Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM)
C5.3.1 An EGM shall be called by an application in writing to the Secretary supported by at least fifteen Adult Members of the Club. The Management Committee shall also have the power to call an EGM by decision of a simple majority of its members at a Management Committee Meeting.
C5.3.2 The Secretary will give notice, in writing of all EGMs, stating the Agenda, to all Adult and Life Members at least 30 days prior to such meetings being held.
C5.3.3 The order of Business for an EGM shall be:
- Chairperson’s Remarks
- Apologies for Absence.
- Business to be transacted of which due notice has been given.
C5.3.4 No business shall be transacted at the EGM other than business of which due notice has been given.
C6.0 AWARDS
C6.1 Life Membership
C6.1.1 Life membership may be presented to person(s) who have given outstanding service, over many years, to the Club and shall be presented at the AGM or at any other time decreed suitable by the Management Committee
.
C6.1.2 A recommendation for Life Membership may be made by any Adult or Life Member to the Secretary for submission to the Management Committee. Full details of the nominee’s service should be included with the recommendation.
C6.1.3 In the event that a Life Membership should require to be removed from any recipient, the Management Committee will make the decision to rescind and notify the Member concerned.
C7.0 TROPHIES
C7.1 All trophies belong to the Club in perpetuity and cannot be won outright.
C7.2 The Club Treasurer shall act as Trustee of Club Trophies.
C7.3 The winner of a Club trophy shall guarantee safe custody and return of the trophy when requested by the Management Committee.
C7.4 The Club shall be responsible for arranging and funding the engraving of the winners name on all Club trophies.
C8.0 DISSOLUTION
C8.1 In the event of the dissolution of the Club, any funds, property and other assets shall not be distributed amongst the members of the Club in any way whatsoever, but shall be applied towards the objectives of Scottish Swimming.
C8.2 So long as four members agree to support the Club it cannot be dissolved.
BYE-LAWS
BL1.0 MANAGEMENT
BL1.1 The affairs of the Club shall be conducted by a Management Committee which shall consist of the Officers of the Club plus up to six other Adult Committee Members and ex-officio members as set out in Bye-Law BL1.5.1.
Adult Committee Members can be Adult or Life Members of the Club.
BL1.2 The Officers of the Club, who shall be Honorary, shall consist of a Chairperson, Vice-Chair, Treasurer and Club Secretary who shall be elected at an AGM, as shall be the said Adult Committee Members.
BL1.3 If the post of any Officer or Adult Committee Member should fall vacant after such an election, the Management Committee shall have the power to fill the vacancy.
BL1.4 All Management Committee members shall be Adult or Life Members of the Club.
BL1.5 Management Committee
BL1.5.1 The ex-officio members of the Management Committee may consist of Assistant Secretary, Meet Secretary, the Squad Coaches, Club Boy Captain and Club Girl Captain.
BL1.5.2 The term of office for Chairperson, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer shall usually be for two years.
BL1.5.3 The term of office for the Adult Committee Members shall normally be two years.
BL1.5.4 The Assistant Secretary and Meet Secretary shall be elected for a term of normally two years.
BL1.5.5 Retiring members of the Management Committee may offer themselves for re-election.
BL1.5.6 A Club Boy Captain and Club Girl Captain may be appointed for one year.
BL1.5.7 Management Committee members co-opted by the committee shall be subject to endorsement at the first EGM or AGM thereafter.
BL1.5.8 The Management Committee shall be responsible for:
- Running the day to day management and affairs of the Club.
- The organisation and control of all members during Club hours.
- The appointment of coaches and instructors.
- The selection of members to represent the Club.
- The organisation of swimming activities as may be requested by other bodies.
- Considering and approving or otherwise nominations for Life Membership of the Club.
BL1.5.9 The Management Committee shall appoint such sub-committees as may be considered necessary.
BL1.5.10 The Management Committee shall appoint at least one Wellbeing and Protection Officer (WPO) who has attended a Scottish Swimming approved training course.
BL2.0 COMMITTEE MEETINGS
BL2.1 Committee Meetings Standing Orders
BL2.1.1 At all meetings, if a quorum is present, the Chair shall be taken not later than fifteen minutes after the appointed time of the meeting.
BL2.1.2 All Members when called to order at any meeting or gathering of the Club and not complying to the “rule of order” shall be expelled from the meeting.
BL2.1.3 The Chair at all meetings of the Club shall be the President In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall substitute. In the absence of the President and Vice President, those in attendance shall appoint a substitute, this will usually be the appointed Chair or Vice-chair
BL2.1.4 In the event of equality of votes in any resolution before the meeting which requires a choice to be made for the continued good governance of the Club, the Chair of a meeting shall have a second or casting vote.
BL2.1.5 The Chair of a meeting shall be the sole judge of questions of order and interpreter of the “rules” governing the Club.
BL2.1.6 A meeting must keep a record, in writing, of every decision taken by the meeting. The general rule is that any decision made by the meeting must be either a unanimous decision or a majority decision.
BL2.1.7 The minutes of all meetings will be circulated to Management Committee and posted on the Club Website.
BL2.1.8 A person is able to exercise the right to speak and vote at a meeting when:
- that person is able to communicate and vote, during the meeting, on the business of the meeting; and
- that person’s vote can be taken into account in determining whether or not such motions are passed at the same time as the votes of all other persons attending the meeting.
BL2.1.9 A meeting need not be held in any particular place and the meeting may be held without any number of those participating in the meeting being together at the same place. In determining attendance at a meeting, it is immaterial whether any two or more persons attending it are in the same place as each other.
BL2.2 Management Committee Meetings
BL2.2.1 The club shall hold Management Committee Meetings no less frequently than every three months during school term time.
BL2.2.2 A Management Committee Meeting shall be called by the Secretary when there is business to transact or on request of an Officer of the Club or by an application in writing by at least seven Adult or Life Members of the Club.
BL2.2.3 A quorum for Management Committee Meetings shall be at least one Officer of the Club and two Committee members.
BL2.2.4 The business of the meeting shall be enacted in accordance with Section BL2.1.
BL2.2.5 The Secretary will give Notice of the date, time and venue of each committee meeting at least 7(seven) days prior to the meeting. The format of the notice shall be agreed by the Management Committee.
BL2.2.6 Adult or Life Members who are not members of the Committee, may attend, but may only participate with the agreement of the Chair.
BL2.2.7 All, except ex-officio members shall have a deliberative vote.
BL2.2.8 No decision of the Committee may be altered or revoked without 14(fourteen) days prior notice of intent, in writing, being given to the Secretary.
BL3.0 FINANCE & ACCOUNTS
BL3.1 The financial year shall run from 1 July to 30th June each year.
BL3.2 The Treasurer shall be responsible for the preparation of Annual Accounts of the Club.
BL3.3 The Accounts shall be audited/examined by an independent person(s) elected annually at the AGM.
BL3.4 All invoices / expenses received by the club should be signed off by an Officer of the Club before being processed by the Treasurer. All cheques drawn against the Club’s funds shall be signed by a minimum of two Officers of the Club. When payments are required to be made by direct Bank transfer the Treasurer shall obtain e-mail/written agreement from the President or another Officer of the Club prior to making an electronic payment.
BL3.5 The Management committee can enter into contracts and/or partnerships, on behalf of the Club, provided each proposal is fully discussed at and recorded in the minutes of a quorate committee meeting prior to the commitment being made.
BL3.6 All Adult Members and Life Members, who are Adult Committee Members of the Club, shall be jointly responsible for the financial liabilities of the Club
BL3.7 Any surplus of the Club’s income will be re-invested in the Club and not distributed to its members.
BL3.8 The Treasurer shall arrange for the Auditor/Independent Examiner to examine and certify the accounts and balance sheet before presentation of a certified summary to the AGM.
BL3.9 The Treasurer shall submit a budget, to the last meeting of the Management Committee prior to the AGM, for the following financial year.
BL3.10 The Treasurer shall submit a financial statement to the Management Committee no less frequently than every school term.
BL3.11 All outgoing payments shall be made by cheque or direct Bank transfer duly
authorised in accordance with paragraph BL3.4.
BL4.0 DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE, COMPLAINTS and APPLEALS
BL4.1 General
BL4.1.1 All Complaints and Appeals, except for doping, wellbeing or protection, or alleged criminal offences, shall be dealt with in accordance with Sections BL4.2, BL4.3 and BL4.4.
BL4.1.2 Complaints involving doping should be referred to British Swimming as Per Scottish Swimming Company Rule R13.1.3.
BL4.1.3 Complaints involving, wellbeing or protection, or other criminal offences shall be referred to Scottish Swimming within 48 hours, in accordance with Scottish Swimming Company Rule R13.2.1.
BL4.2 Disciplinary Procedure
BL4.2.1 In the event that the behaviour of a swimmer, member of the coaching team or Management Group or a parent volunteer contravenes the Club’s codes of conduct, the following action will be taken.
BL4.2.2 The President, or a deputising club official, will conduct an investigation into the alleged breach of the Club’s codes of conduct as they see fit and all persons and parties shall cooperate fully with the same. Failure to co-operate may amount to misconduct.
BL4.2.3 The Investigating Club Official shall thereafter be entitled at any time to decide to:
a) Apply a sanction to the person(s) being investigated
b) Refer the matter to a Club Complaint panel
c) Take no further action
d) Pursue an alternative resolution, which may include Mediation, Arbitration or Conciliation.
BL4.2.4 The Club will keep a record of each stage of the disciplinary process.
BL4.3 Complaints
BL4.3.1 A complaint, which is a formal expression of dissatisfaction or allegation of unfair practice in connection with the management of the Club, can be made by:
- Any member of the Club
- A parent or guardian on behalf of a Junior member as defined in paragraph C3.1(b)
- A parent or guardian on behalf of a Member classified as a Vulnerable Person, defined as a person who lacks sufficient capacity to present a grievance by themselves.
- Any Individual
BL4.3.2 A complaint must be made in accordance with Scottish Swimming Company Rules Sections R12 to R15.
BL4.4 Appeals
BL4.4.1 An appeal may be made against decisions taken by the Club in respect to the outcome of a submitted grievance or against decisions taken by a National Complaints Committee.
BL4.4.2 An appeal must be made in accordance with Scottish Swimming Company Rules Sections R12 to R15.
BL4.5 Suspensions and Fines
BL4.5.1 The Management Committee may take action (e.g. fine, suspend or cancel membership) against any Club Member proved guilty of conduct or breach of the Constitution, Bye-laws, Regulations which is detrimental to the interests or aims of the Club or for acting in such a manner as to bring disrepute to the Club. Such action shall only be taken if the principles and procedures embodied in the Complaints, Appeals and Suspension & Fines sections of the Scottish Swimming Governance Documentation (Sections R12 to R15) have been applied.
Scottish Swimming Maintained Policies/Regulations (refer to Scottish Swimming)
Links to the relevant parts of the Scottish Swimming web site (www.scottishswimming.com) for the Scottish Swimming Policies are under <Club> – <Manage Your Club> – <Governance Documents>
(https://www.scottishswimming.com/clubs/manage-your-club/governance-documents.aspx)
Complaints & Appeals Procedure – Refer to Scottish Swimming Company Rules Sections R12 to R15 (within the “Scottish Swimming Governance Documents” for the current year)
Also refer to the: –
Club Complaints Process
Wellbeing and Protection Policy
Equal Opportunities Policy
Data Protection Policy (GDPR)
Code of Conduct (Coach, Athlete, Parent, Volunteer)
Team Manager Policy (within Code of Conduct – Appendix 9g)
Photographic and Video Equipment