Constitution
Fulfordgate Badminton Club Constitution
1. NAME
The club will be called Fulfordgate Badminton Club (“the Club”) and will be affiliated to the York and District Badminton League.
2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The aims and objectives of the Club will be:
o To offer social and competitive opportunities in badminton.
o To promote the Club within the local community.
o To exercise a duty of care and safeguard all club members.
o To make sure all club members are treated equally and fairly
3. MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the Club shall be open to anyone interested in Badminton on application regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or other beliefs.
All members will be subject to the regulations of the constitution and by joining the Club will be deemed to accept these regulations and the codes of practice that the Club has adopted.
4. MEMBERSHIP FEES
Membership fees will be set annually and agreed by a majority vote at the Club’s Annual General Meeting.
The Management Committee reserve the right to run club nights on a pay-as-you-play basis for members, if the finances of the Club dictate it necessary. Any such club nights will be communicated to members in writing via email.
5. GUEST FEES
A guest shall pay a guest fee, the amount of which will be set annually and agreed by a majority vote at the Club’s Annual General Meeting. Once a guest has attended club night 3 times the Management Committee will decide whether to invite the guest to become a member of the Club. A pro-rated membership fee will then be payable.
6. OFFICERS OF THE CLUB
The officers of the Club will be:
o Chairperson
o Deputy Chairperson
o Secretary
o Treasurer
o Team Selection Committee
The officers will resign annually at the Club’s Annual General Meeting, but will be eligible for re-election.
7. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
The Club will be managed through the Management Committee consisting of:
o Chairperson
o Deputy Chairperson
o Secretary
o Treasurer
The Management Committee will be responsible for adopting new policies, codes of practice and rules that affect the organisation of the Club.
The Management Committee will have the powers to appoint sub-committees as necessary.
The Management Committee will be responsible for disciplinary hearings of members who infringe the Club’s constitution.
The Management Committee will be responsible for taking any action of suspension or discipline following such hearings.
8. FINANCE
All club monies will be banked in an account held in the name of the Club.
The Club’s Management Committee will be responsible for the finances of the Club which will be managed by the Treasurer.
A statement of annual accounts will be presented by the Treasurer at the Club’s Annual General Meeting.
9. ANNUAL GENERAL AND OTHER MEETINGS
Notice of Annual General Meetings will be given by the Club Secretary. Not less than 14 clear days’ notice will be given to all members. The notice of the Club’s Annual General Meeting will be published on the Club’s website and a direct communication via email sent to all voting members.
The agenda will include:
o Treasurer’s report and presentation of the year's accounts;
o Secretary’s report;
o reports by team captains;
o League entries for the forthcoming season;
o setting fees for the coming season;
o resignation of the current officers;
o election of officers for the coming year
All paid up members have the right to vote at the Club’s Annual General Meeting.
The Management Committee has the right to call Extraordinary General Meetings outside the Annual General Meeting. Procedures for Extraordinary General Meetings will be the same as for the Club’s Annual General Meeting.
Members of the Club also have the right to call an Extraordinary General Meeting, which must be called for by at least 25% of the membership and communicated with 14 days’ notice.
10. LEAGUE AND FRIENDLY MATCHES
Members taking part in League and friendly matches shall pay a match fee for home and away matches. Match fees will be set annually and agreed by a majority vote at the Club’s Annual General Meeting.
11. DISCIPLINARY & APPEALS
If any member feels they have a grievance or issue that needs resolving then they should notify a member of the Management Committee at the earliest opportunity. All relevant information should be provided to allow proper consideration of the matter.
More serious complaints regarding the behaviour of members should be presented and submitted in writing to the Secretary or Chairperson.
The Management Committee will meet to hear complaints within 21 days of a complaint being lodged. The committee will then decide on a course of action.
The outcome of a disciplinary hearing will be notified in writing to the person who lodged the complaint and the member against whom the complaint was made within 7 days of the hearing.
There will be the right of appeal to the Management Committee following disciplinary action being announced. The committee should consider the appeal within 21 days of the Secretary receiving the appeal in writing. The outcome of the appeal will be notified in writing to the person who lodged the complaint and the member against whom the complaint was made within 7 days of the hearing. This decision will be final.
The committee has the power to take appropriate disciplinary action including the termination of membership.
12. CODE OF CONDUCT FOR MEMBERS
Fulfordgate Badminton Club is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the well-being of all its members. The Club believes that it is important that members should, at all times, show respect and understanding for the safety and welfare of others. Therefore, members are encouraged to be open in sharing any concerns or complaints they may have about any aspects of the Club with a member of the Management Committee.
All members of Fulfordgate Badminton Club are expected to abide by the following code of conduct:
o All members must play within the rules and laws of badminton.
o All members must respect the rights, dignity and worth of all participants regardless of age, gender, ability, race, cultural background or religious beliefs or sexual identity.
o All members should be honest and play fairly in everything they do and never deliberately cheat or be dishonest.
o When representing the Club in League matches all members should challenge any decisions by opposing team players in a respectful manner.
o All members should encourage, support and help other players enjoy badminton.
o Acknowledge good performance and efforts from all players and teams.
o Never punish or belittle players for losing or making mistakes.
o All members should challenge and/or report discriminatory or bullying behaviour.
o Poor behaviour during a session should be immediately be reported to a member of the Management Committee. They will take appropriate action which may involve issuing a verbal warning, issuing a written warning, temporarily suspending membership or permanently terminating membership.
o Inform the Management Committee of any injury/health or welfare issues that you feel it is appropriate for them to know.
o All members should keep to agreed timings for League matches. They should inform their team captain if they are going to be late.
o All members should inform their team captain immediately if they are required to withdraw from a match that they have been selected for.
o All members selected to represent the Club in league matches will be expected to have been regularly attending club nights and to continue doing so.
o All members must wear suitable badminton sports clothing for club sessions and matches.
o All members will use the correct equipment for the sport and will look after it to the best of their ability.
o All members must pay any fees promptly and, in any case, by the due date.
13. MEMBERSHIP OF LEAGUES
Any member of the Club’s Management Committee shall be the Club's official representatives at general meetings of Leagues and shall have the power to vote on all matters affecting the Club's interest.
14. CLUB ENTRIES IN LEAGUES
The type and number of entries to be submitted for entry into any League for the following shall be agreed by a majority vote at the Club’s Annual General Meeting.
15. TEAM SELECTION
The Selection Committee shall be responsible for selecting teams and whose decision must be regarded as final in respect of the first matches played. Thereafter the team captains, also to be nominated by the Selection Committee, are responsible for selecting players for matches involving their team.
The club Secretary shall be responsible for submitting any required team nominations to the League.
16. DISSOLUTION
A resolution to dissolve the Club can only be passed at an Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meetings through a majority vote of the membership.
In the event of dissolution, any assets of the Club that remain will become the property of some other badminton club with similar objectives to those of the Club.
17. CONSTITUTION CHANGES
This Constitution can be changed only by a majority vote at the Club’s Annual General Meeting.
18. DECLARATION
Fulfordgate Badminton Club hereby adopts and accepts this constitution as a current operating guide regulating the actions of members.