Littlehampton Swimming Club Constitution

As at March 2008

1              Name

1.1           The name of the Club shall be Littlehampton Swimming Club

2              Objects

2.1           The object of the Club is to provide facilities for and promote participation of the whole community in the sport of Swimming :

2.1.1        The Club is committed to treat everyone equally within the context of its activity. This shall be, for example, regardless of sex, ethnic origin, religion, disability or political persuasion, on any grounds.

2.1.2        The Club shall implement the A.S.A.  Equal Opportunities policy

2.2           The Club shall be affiliated to ASA South East Region, and shall adopt and conform to the rules of this Association, and to such other bodies as the Club may determine from time to time.

2.3           The business and affairs of the Club shall at all times be conducted in accordance with the Laws and Technical Rules of the Amateur Swimming Association (“A.S.A. Laws”) and in particular:

2.3.1        All competing members shall be eligible competitors as defined in A.S.A. Laws; and

2.3.2        The Club shall in accordance with A.S.A. Laws adopt the A.S.A. Child Protection Procedures; and shall recognise that the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility and that all children and young people have a right to have fun, be safe and be protected from harm.

2.3.3        Members of the Club shall in accordance with A.S.A. Laws comply with the A.S.A. Child Protection Procedures.

2.4           By virtue of the affiliation of the Club to ASA South East Region, the Club and all members of the Club acknowledge that they are subject to the laws, rules and constitutions of:

2.4.1        ASA South East Region and

2.4.2        The Amateur Swimming Association; (to include the A.S.A./IOS Code of Ethics); and

2.4.3        British Swimming (in particular it’s Doping Control Rules and Protocols and Disciplinary Code); and

2.4.4        FINA, the world governing body for the sport of swimming in all its disciplines (together “the Governing Body Rules”)

2.5           In the event that there shall be any conflict between any rule or by-law of the Club and any of the Governing Body Rules then the relevant Governing Body Rule shall prevail

3              Membership  

3.1           The total membership of the Club shall only be limited by available water resources and safe lane loading. Where groups are full a waiting list will operate.

 3.2          All persons who assist in any way with the club’s activities shall become members of the club and hence of the A.S.A. and the relevant A.S.A. membership fee shall be paid. Assisting with the club’s activities shall include, but not be restricted to, administrators, associate members, voluntary instructors, teachers and coaches, Committee members, helpers, Honorary members, life members, officers, patrons, Presidents, technical and non-technical officials, temporary members, Vice Presidents and verifiers or tutors of the A.S.A’s educational certificates.

                 Paid teachers and coaches who are not members of the club must be members of a body which accepts that its members are bound by the A.S.A.’s Code of Ethics, the Laws relating to Child Protection and those parts of the Judicial Laws, Judicial Rules and procedures necessary for their implementation and whilst engaged in activities under the jurisdiction of the A.S.A. shall be subject to all the constraints and privileges of the Judicial Laws and Rules.

3.3           Any person who wishes to become a member of the Club must submit a signed application to the Membership Secretary (and in the case of a junior swimmer the application must be signed by the swimmer’s parent or guardian). An ASA Level 2 or above Coach will advise on which Squad/Group the swimmer is suitable for. T he Club shall not refuse an application for membership on discrimatory grounds, whether in relation to ethnic origin, age, sex, religion, disability, political persuasion or sexual orientation.

3.4           Certain information is held on the Club Database relating to membership details, swimming performance and Club accounts. No information is passed on to third parties. Access to this information is strictly managed by the Data Controller, who is appointed by the Committee. The Data Processors will be the Membership Secretary, the Treasurer and the Head Coach. The Committee and Squad Coaches may request certain reports, as required to carry out their role, from the Data Controller.

3.5          The Club may refuse membership or expel from membership only for good and sufficient cause, such as conduct or character likely to bring the Club or sport into disrepute. Appeal against such a decision may be made to the Club’s members and decided by a majority vote.

4             Subscription and Other Fees

4.1          The annual member’s subscription and monthly swim fees shall be determined from time to time by the Committee and the Committee shall in so doing make special provision for different classes of membership as it shall determine. Any increase in subscriptions or swim fees shall be advised to the members in writing with the reasons for any increase to be reported to the members at the next Annual General Meeting.

4.2          The Welfare sub-committee shall have the authority to use discretion with fees in exceptional circumstances. The Welfare sub-committee shall be the Welfare Officer, the Treasurer and the Head Coach.  

4.3           The annual subscription and entrance fee shall be due on joining the Club and thereafter on the 1st day of January each year. 

4.4           Any member whose subscription is unpaid by the date falling 30 days after the due date for payment may be suspended by the Committee from some or all Club activities from a date to be determined by the Committee and until such payment is made.

4.5           A.S.A. Membership Fees, amount as determined by the A.S.A., are payable by the Club on behalf of the members to the A.S.A. by 31st March each year. The Club shall collect these fees with the annual subscription.

5             Resignation

5.1           A member wishing to resign membership of the Club must give to the Secretary written notice of his resignation.  A member’s resignation shall only take effect when this (Rule 5.1) has been complied with.

5.2           Notwithstanding the provisions of Rule 5.1 above a member whose subscription is more than two months in arrears shall be deemed to have resigned.  Where the membership of a member shall be terminated in this way he shall be informed in writing that he is no longer a member by notice handed to him or sent by post to his last known address.

6              Expulsion and other Disciplinary action

6.1           In addition to Rule 2.4, all members shall adhere to the guidelines and codes of conduct as set out in the Club Welfare Policy.

6.2           The Committee shall have power to expel a member when, its opinion, it would not be in the interests of the Club for him to remain a member. The Club in exercising this power shall comply with the provisions of Rules 6.2 and 6.3 below

6.3           The Club shall adopt and comply with the A.S.A. Guidelines for handling Internal Club Disputes (“the Guidelines”) as the same may be revised from time to time.  The Guidelines are set out as an Appendix to the A.S.A. Judicial Laws and appear in the A.S.A. Handbook.  (A copy of the current Guidelines may be obtained from the A.S.A. Legal Affairs Department.)

6.4           A member may not be expelled or (subject to Rule 6.5 below) be made the subject of any other penalty unless the panel hearing the complaint shall by a two-thirds majority vote in favour of the expulsion of (or other penalty imposed upon) the member.

6.5           The Officers of the Club (or any person to whom the Committee shall delegate this power) may temporarily suspend or exclude a member from particular training sessions and/or wider club activities, when in their opinion, such action is in the interests of the Club. Where such action is taken the complaint will thereafter be dealt with in accordance with the Guidelines.

7             Committee

7.1           The Committee shall consist of the Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer (together “the Executive Officers of the Club”) and up to 10 other elected members, all of whom must be members of the Club. The club shall have a Welfare Officer. All Committee members must be not less than 18 years of age, though the Committee shall allow the Senior Club Captains (who may be under 18) to attend their meetings without power to vote.

7.2           The Committee members shall be proposed, seconded and elected by show of hands at the Annual General Meeting each year and shall remain in office until their successors are elected at the next Annual General Meeting.  Any vacancy occurring by resignation or otherwise may be filled by the Committee.  Retiring members of the Committee shall be eligible for re-election. (See also 8.1)

7.3           Committee meetings shall be held not less than once every 2 months (save where the Committee itself shall by a simple majority resolve not to meet), and the quorum of that meeting shall be 6 (to include not less than one Executive Officer).  The Chairman and the Secretary shall have discretion to call further meetings of the Committee if they consider it to be in the interests of the Club.  The Secretary shall give all the members of the Committee not less than two days oral notice of a meeting.  Decisions of the Committee shall be made by a simple majority (and in the event of equality of votes the Chairman (or the acting Chairman of that meeting) shall have a casting or additional vote.) The Secretary, or in his absence a member of the Committee, shall take minutes.

7.4           The newly elected Committee shall agree the following positions: Vice Chairman, Membership Secretary, Welfare Officer, Gala Secretary, Open Meets Secretary, Swim 21 Co-ordinator, Grant Application/ Sponsorship, Press Officer, Social Secretary, Trophy Secretary. In addition, the Committee shall be responsible for appointing the Head Coach, who shall be entitled to a seat on the Committee and have full voting rights.

7.5           In the event that a quorum is not present within thirty minutes of the published start time, a meeting shall stand adjourned to the time and date falling seven days after the date of the meeting, or such other date and time as may be determined by the Chairman.  If a quorum is not present at the adjourned meeting then those Committee members attending may act for the purpose of calling a Special General Meeting of the members, to which the provisions as to minimum notice contained in Rule 11.1 shall not apply

7.6           The Committee may from time to time appoint from among their number such sub-committees as they may consider necessary (and to remove (in whole or in part) or vary the terms of reference of such sub-committees) and may delegate to them such of the powers and duties of the Committee as the Committee may determine. All sub-committees shall periodically report their proceedings to the Committee and shall conduct their business in accordance with the directions of the Committee.

7.7           The Committee shall be responsible for the management of the Club and shall have the sole right of appointing and determining the terms and conditions of service of employees of the Club.  The Committee shall have power to enter into contracts for the purposes of the Club on behalf of all the members of the Club.  The Committee shall be responsible for ensuring that the Accounts of the Club for each financial year be examined by an independent examiner, to be appointed by the members at a General Meeting. The Committee shall also have power to make regulations and to settle disputed points not otherwise provided for in this Constitution.

7.8           The members of the Committee shall agree who shall be responsible for the custody of the Club’s equipment/assets and entry in the minute book shall be conclusive evidence of such a resolution.The members of the Committee shall be entitled to an indemnity out of the assets of the Club for all expenses and other liabilities properly incurred by them in the management of the affairs of the Club.

7.9           The Committee shall maintain an Accident Book in which all accidents to club members at swimming related activities shall be recorded. Details of such accidents shall be reported to the A.S.A. Office. The Club shall make an annual return to the A.S.A. in the prescribed form

8             Officers and Honorary Members

8.1           The Executive Officers and Committee of the Club shall be proposed, seconded and elected at the Annual General Meeting and shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting when they shall retire.  Any vacancy occurring by resignation or otherwise may be filled by the Committee.  Retiring officers shall be eligible for re-election.

8.2           The Annual General Meeting of the Club, if it thinks fit, may elect a President and Vice-Presidents.  A President or Vice-President need not be a member of the association and on election shall, ex officio, be an honorary member of the Club and must be included in the Club’s Annual Return of Members to the A.S.A..

8.3           The Committee may elect any person as an honorary member of the Club for such period as it thinks fit and they shall be entitled to all the privileges of membership except that they shall not be entitled to vote at meetings and serve as officers or on the Committee unless any such person shall have retained in addition his ordinary membership of the Club. Such honorary members must be included in the Club’s annual return as to membership.

9             Annual General Meeting

9.1           The Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held each year on a date in July. The date for the Annual General Meeting shall be fixed by the Committee

9.2           The purpose of the Annual General Meeting is to transact the following business:

9.2.1        To receive the Chairman’s report of the activities of the Club during the previous year;

9.2.2        To receive and consider the accounts of the Club for the previous year and the report on the accounts of the independent examiner and the Treasurer's report as to the financial position of the Club;

9.2.3        To remove and elect the independent examiner (who must not be a member of the Committee or a member of the family of a member of the Committee) or confirm that he remain in office;

9.2.4        To elect the Executive Officers and other members of the Committee;

9.2.5        To decide on any resolution which may be duly submitted in accordance with Rule 9.3.

9.3           Nominations for election of members to any office or for membership of the Committee shall be made in writing by the proposer and seconder to the Secretary not later than31st May. The nominee shall be required to indicate in writing on the nomination form his willingness to stand for election. Notice of any resolution proposed to be moved at the Annual General Meeting shall be given in writing to the Secretary not later than 31st  May.

9.3           Nominations for election of Club Captains (1 senior boy, 1 senior girl, 1 junior boy, 1 junior girl) shall be made in writing by the proposer and seconder to the Secretary not later than14 days before the Annual General Meeting. The nominee shall be required to indicate in writing on the nomination form his willingness to stand for election. A ballot shall take place in the week before the AGM on a date set by the Club Secretary. The result shall be announced at the Annual General Meeting.

10           Special General Meeting

10.1         A Special General Meeting may be called at any time by the Committee. A Special General Meeting shall be called by the Secretary within 28 days of receipt by him of a requisition in writing signed by not less than 10 members entitled to attend and vote at a General Meeting or (if greater) such numbers as represents one-tenth in number of such members stating the purposes for which the meeting is required and the resolutions proposed.

11             Procedure at the Annual and Special General Meetings

11.1         The Secretary shall personally be responsible for the handing out or sending to each member at his last known address a written agenda giving notice of the date, time and place of the General Meeting together with the resolutions to be proposed thereat at least 14 days before the meeting and in the case of the Annual General Meeting a list of the nominees for the Committee posts and a copy of the examined accounts. The Secretary may, alternatively, with the agreement of member(s) concerned distribute these materials by e-mail or similar form of communication.  The Notice of Meeting shall in addition wherever possible be displayed on the Club Notice Board where one exists.

11.2         The quorum for the Annual and Special General Meetings shall be 10 members entitled to attend and vote at the Meeting or (if greater) such number as represents one-tenth in number of such members.

11.3         The Chairman, or in his absence a member selected by the Committee, shall take the chair.  Each member present shall have one vote and resolutions shall be passed by a simple majority. For the procedures for submitting resolutions to be considered at a General Meeting members are referred to Rule 9.3.  In the event of an equality of votes the Chairman shall have a casting or additional vote. Only paid up members who have reached their 16th birthday shall be entitled to be heard and to vote on all matters.  (Members who have not reached their 16th birthday shall be entitled to be heard and vote only on those matters determined by the Chairman as matters concerning juniors, such as the election of club captains.)

11.4         The Secretary, or in his absence a member of the Committee, shall take minutes at the Annual and Special General Meetings.

11.5         The Chairman shall at all General Meetings have unlimited authority upon every question of order and shall be, for the purpose of such meeting, the sole interpreter of the Rules of the Club.

12            Alteration of the Rules and other Resolutions

12.1        The rules may be altered by resolution at an Annual or Special General Meeting provided that the resolution is carried by a majority of at least two-thirdsof members present and entitled to vote at the General Meeting. No amendment(s) to the rules shall become effective until such amendment(s) shall have been submitted to and validated by such person as is authorised to do so by the Sussex County Association / ASA South East Region.

12.2         Any membershall be entitled to put any proposal for consideration at any General Meeting provided the proposal in writing shall have been handed to or posted to the Secretary of the Club so as to be received by him not later than 31st May in the case of the Annual General Meeting or, in the case of a Special General Meeting, 18 days before the date of the meeting and thereafter the Secretary shall supply a copy of the proposal or resolution to the members in the manner provided in Rule 11.1

13           By-Laws

13.1         The Committee shall have power to make, repeal and amend such by-laws as they may from time to time consider necessary for the well being of the Club which by-laws, repeals and amendments shall have effect until set aside by the Committee or at a General Meeting.

14           Finance

14.1         All moneys payable to the Club shall be received by the Treasurer and deposited in a bank account in the name of the Club .  No sum shall be drawn from that account except by cheque signed by two of the four signatories, who shall be the Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Head Coach.  Any moneys not required for immediate use may be invested as the Committee in its discretion think fit.

14.2         The income and property of the Club shall be applied only in furtherance of the objects of the Club and no part thereof shall be paid by way of bonus, dividend or profit to any members of the Club, (save as set out in Rule 17.3.)

14.3         The Committee shall have power to authorise the payment of remuneration and expenses to any officer, member or employee of the Club and to any other person or persons for services rendered to the Club.

14.4         The financial transactions of the Club shall be recorded by the Treasurer in such manner as the Committee thinks fit.

14.5         The financial year of the Club shall be the period commencing on 1st April and ending on 31st March. Any change to the financial year shall require the approval of the members in a General Meeting.

14.6         The Committee shall retain for a minimum period of six years all financial records relating to the club and copies of Minutes of all meetings.

15           Borrowing

15.1         The Committee may borrow money on behalf of the Club for the purposes of the Club from time to time at their own discretion [up to such limits on borrowing as may be laid down from time to time by the General Meeting] for the general upkeep of the Club or with the (prior) approval of a General Meeting for any other expenditure, additions or improvements.

15.2         When so borrowing the Committee shall have power to raise in any way any sum or sums of money and to raise and secure the repayment of any sums or sums of money in such manner or on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit, and in particular by mortgage of or charge upon or by the issues of debentures charged upon all or any part of the property of the Club.

15.3         The Committee shall have no power to pledge the personal liability of any member of the Club for the repayment of any sums so borrowed.

16           Dissolution

16.1         A resolution to dissolve the Club shall only be proposed at a General Meeting and shall be carried by a majority of at least three-quarters of the members present and entitled to vote. A specific date for the dissolution shall be included in the resolution.

16.2         The dissolution shall take effect from the date specified in the resolution and the members of the Committee shall be responsible for the winding-up of the assets and liabilities of the Club.

16.3         Any property remaining after the discharge of the debts and liabilities of the Club shall be given to a registered charity or charities or another registered CASC nominated by the last Committee.

17           ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

17.1         The Members acknowledge that these Rules constitute a legally binding contract to regulate the relationship of the members with each other and the Club.

17.2         In furtherance of 17.1, the following statement shall appear on Club membership forms and is to be signed by the member and must also be countersigned by the parent, or a person having parental responsibility for the member, if under 18 years of age: “I acknowledge receipt of the rules of Littlehampton Swimming Club and confirm my understanding and acceptance that such rules (as amended from time to time) shall govern my membership of the Club. I further acknowledge and accept the responsibilities of membership upon members as set out in these rules.”