Club Constitution

The Secretary shall retain each member’s signed declaration.

Amendments ratified at the EGM (25 Feb 2019, 4 Jun 2019) arehighlightedAmendment ratified in 2019.

Amendments ratified at the AGM on 24 Oct 2023 arehighlighted in a different colourAmendment ratified in 2023.

1. Name

The club shall be known as the Sudbury Rowing Club hereinafter referred to as “the club”. The Club colours shall be Oxford Blue and White

2. Objectives

The object of the club is to provide facilities for and promote participation of the whole community in the sport of rowing.

3. Property of the Club

All freehold land and buildings belonging to the Club shall be vested in Trustees and held in trust for the members of the Club in accordance with the constitution of the Club. The Trustees shall deal with such property as the committee directs. Trustees shall be elected from time to time by simple majority vote in a General Meeting.

4. Membership

The club is an open membership club.

Classes of Membership

Voting members

1. Full Members (persons over the age of 18 years old):
   1. rowing
   2. non rowing
2. Family Members
   The spouse and/or children, under 18, of a full member.
3. Junior Members
   Persons under the age of 18 years old on 1st September of the current rowing year (The rowing year running from 1st September to 31st August).

Non Voting members

1. Part time student members
   Those who only row part of the year either holiday or term
2. Associate/Social (Friends of SRC)
   Do not have access to or use of club boats or members training equipment (including boats) and do not have voting rights.

Election of Membership

Membership of the Club shall be open to anyone interested in the sport of rowing on application, regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or other beliefs. However, limitation of membership according to available facilities is allowable on a non-discriminatory basis.

The Club may have different classes of membership and subscription on a non-discriminatory and fair basis. The Club will keep subscriptions at levels that will not pose a significant obstacle to people participating.

Applicants for membership and members renewing their membership, will abide by the Rules and Regulations of the Club, of British Rowing, and the sport of rowing.

If it is considered by the Club committee that the granting or renewal of membership would be detrimental to the aims and objectives of the Club, by virtue of conduct or character likely to bring the Club or the sport of rowing into disrepute or for some other similar good cause, the Club committee shall be entitled to refuse or withdraw such membership. In doing so the committee shall provide full reasons for their decision, upon written request, and grant a right of appeal to the members.

Restriction

A person who has been expelled from, or refused membership of British Rowing, shall not be eligible for membership.

5. Subscription

The rates of subscription shall be determined by the members in General Meeting and shall be due on election and, thereafter, on or before 1st November in each year.

6. Cessation of Membership

Any member may resign by giving one month’s clear notice in writing to the Secretary; any fees already paid will not be refunded.

Any member violating any of the rules or regulations of the Club or being adjudged guilty of unsatisfactory conduct may, by resolution of the Committee, be suspended or expelled. In doing this the committee shall provide full reasons for their decision, upon written request, and grant a right of appeal to the members.

A member shall be deemed to have resigned from the Club if, after due notice in writing, they have not paid, or set up a direct debit by 1st January the annual subscription which became due on 1st November.

7. Equal Opportunities Policy

The Club will ensure that the talents and resources of all members are utilised to the full and that no member receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, disability, marital status, creed, social class, ethnicity, age or sexual orientation.

10. Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures

An individual or member with a complaint about treatment by the Club should set out their grievance, in the first instance to the Club Chairman. The Club will seek to deal with complaints in a fair and timely mannerand will adopt and follow the British Rowing Grievance and Disciplinary Policy.Amendment ratified in 2023

11. Child Protection Procedures

The Club accepts the policy and procedures relating to Child Protection and the protection of Vulnerable Adults, as set out by British Rowing, and requires all members to accept them as a condition of membership.

12. Safety

The club activities will comply with the Water Safety Code contained in the rules of British Rowing and the Water Safety Code Guidance Notes as published by British Rowing.

The Committee shall appoint a member to act as Safety Adviser whose duty it will be to understand the requirements of the British Rowing Code of Practice for Water Safety and advise on their prominent display, their observation and their implementation at all times.

13. Club President

The incoming Mayor of Sudbury shall be invited each year to become the Club president. The Secretary shall send a letter to the Town Clerk each year with the invitation. Vice-Presidents will be elected annually at the A.G.M.

14. Disqualification from Holding Office

Only members entitled to vote are eligible to hold office.

Any member who is under the age of 16 years, shall not be eligible for election to the Committee of the Club.

15. Committee

The Committee shall conduct the affairs of the Club as a whole and shall consist of a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and other Officers and committee members as deemed necessary.

If required, the Committee shall elect a Vice-Chairman from among its number.

16. Club Committee

The Committee is responsible for the general conduct of the Club’s business and activities.

The Committee shall meet at regular intervals during the year, as required by the business to be transacted.

Special meetings of the Committee shall be called by the Secretary on instructions from the Chairman, or not less than three committee members.

A quorum shall consist of not less than 5 members. Two of whom must be identified under section 17.

In the case of casual vacancy among the Committee, the remainder of the Committee shall be entitled to appoint another eligible person to act until the next AGM.

17. Duties of Committee

Chairman: The Chairman (or Chair) will preside at all General meetings of the Club and at all meetings of the Committee, and shall be responsible for guiding the activities of the club in accordance with its general policy as expressed by the majority of its members. The Chairman shall represent or arrange for the representation of the Club at British Rowing regional level and at meetings of other organisations. The Chairman shall ex officio be a member of any other committee of the Club.

Captain: The Captain will be responsible for training, coaching and representation of the Club in competitions.

Secretary: The Secretary will be responsible for the organisation of meetings of the Committee and of the Club, and the recording of minutes relating to such meetings and all correspondence relating to the general business of the Club.

Treasurer: The Treasurer will be responsible for the collection and disbursement of all monies belonging to the Club and will keep proper accounting records of all such transactions. He or she will present to the members at the AGM a balance sheet and income and expenditure account showing the Club’s financial position and the results of its transactions for the year. The transactions of the Club will be conducted through a bank account and will require the signatures, or appropriate electronic authorisationsAmendment ratified in 2019 of any 2 of 3 members of the Committee who have been designated for the purpose.

18. Trustees

Trustees of the club shall be appointed, there being no less than 5, in whom the assets of the club i.e. land and property shall be invested. Their liability in law shall not extend further than the assets of the club from time to time invested in them. Trustees are:

• Adrian Ablitt
• Andrew Blit
• Patricia Fincham
• Antony Moule
• Simon White

19. General Meetings

An Annual General Meeting shall be held in the October of each year. There shall be laid before the meeting a statement of accounts made up to the 30th September which immediately precedes the meeting.

An Extraordinary General Meeting shall be called on the instructions of a simple majority of the Committee, or on a requisition signed by not less than 10% of the members of the Club entitled to vote.

Not less than 21 days clear notice shall be given, specifying to all members the time and business of the General Meeting.

Non-committee motions for discussion at Annual General Meetings, shall be lodged with the Secretary at least 30 days preceding the AGM, and be signed by 5 members entitled to vote.

At any General Meeting, a resolution put to the vote of the Meeting shall be decided by a show of hands, of those entitled to vote, except when more than one nomination has been received for a position on the Committee, in which case voting will be by secret ballot.

At all General Meetings the Chairman or President will preside or in his/her absence the voting members present shall elect a Chairman for the meeting.

At all General Meetings not less than 20% of the members of the Club entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum.

1. Absences of Quorum
   If after half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting, a quorum is not present, the Meeting, if called at the request of the members, shall be dissolved. In any other case, the Meeting shall be adjourned until a time and place to be fixed by the Committee. If a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for an Adjourned Meeting, the members present shall be a quorum.
2. Accidental Omission
   Accidental Omission to give notice of a meeting to, or the non-receipt of notice of, a meeting by any member shall not invalidate the proceedings of a meeting.

20. Liability

The General Committee shall manage the affairs of the Club. Financial or legal liability incurred in the rightful and proper exercise of their office shall not, however, be the personal liability of the Committee, but shall be the responsibility of the Club as a whole.

21. Alteration of Constitution

This constitution shall not be altered, amended or rescinded except by a General Meeting of the Club.

A resolution to alter, amend or rescind the constitution must be passed by at least 75% of the members present at the General Meeting.

22. Auditor

Every Annual General Meeting shall appoint an Auditor who shall at the conclusion of the next financial year examine the accounting records of the Club, and report to the members on the income and expenditure accounts and balance sheet that are presented to the next AGM.

23. Distribution of Surplus Funds

In no circumstances can the club funds be distributed to members, and any profits earned shall be used in furthering the objects of the Club.

24. Termination

The Club shall not terminate except by a resolution of a Special General Meeting convened for the purpose and, in such an event, any surplus assets shall be handed over to another registered CASC, a registered charity or the sport’s governing body as agreed by the meeting which formally terminates the Club, for use by them in community-related sports.

25. Power of Decision

The Committee shall deal with any and all matters not provided for in this constitution, including its interpretation. The Committee’s decision in these matters shall be final.

26. Declaration

Each member upon joining shall sign the following declaration: