Brighton Judo Club

Brighton Judo Club Constitution

1 - TITLE

1.1 The Club shall be called Brighton Judo Club or Brighton Judo and Martial Arts Centre, hereafter to be referred to as "the Club" and shall be affiliated to the British Judo Association Governing Body.

2 - OBJECTS

2.1 To foster and promote the sport of judo at all levels, providing opportunities for recreation and competition.
2.2 To provide facilities and support for the practice of other legal martial arts.

3 - POWERS

In furtherance of the above objects, the Club may

3.1    Provide coaching, training, playing and associated facilities,
3.2    Provide regular coaching and training sessions and one off seminars, courses and events;
3.3    Raise funds through grant applications, appeals, subscriptions, and fees;
3.4    Open and maintain bank account/s;
3.5    Manage and maintain Club building and facilities;
3.6    Set aside funds for special purposes or as reserves.
3.7    Invest funds in any lawful manner;
3.8    Employ and engage contractors;
3.9    Pay for reasonable hospitality for visiting teams and guests;
3.10 Employ members (though not for playing) and remunerate them for providing goods and services, on fair terms set by the Committee without the person concerned being present;
3.11 Sell and supply related sports clothing;
3.12 Co-operate with or affiliate to firstly any bodies regulating or organising the Sports and secondly any Club or body involved with it and thirdly with government and related agencies; and,
3.13 Do all other things reasonably necessary to advance the purposes;

NONE of the above powers may be used other than to advance the objects consistently with the Constitution and with the general law.

4 - MEMBERSHIP

4.1   Membership of the Club shall be open to any person completing a membership application form and paying the relevant subscription as determined by the Annual General Meeting of the Club Members.
4.2   Membership of the Club shall be open to anyone 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
4.3   The Club Committee may refuse membership, or remove it, only for good cause such as conduct or character likely to bring the Club or sport into disrepute. Appeal against refusal or removal may be made to the General Committee and any decision will be based on a majority vote with the Chairperson having an additional casting vote in the case of an equal vote.
4.4
        4.4.1    Senior Judo Member (16 years and over);
        4.4.2    Junior Judo Member (Under 16 years of age);
        4.4.3    Associate Member (non-practising member);
        4.4.4    Affiliated Group Member.
4.5 All members must adhere to club rules and agreements.
4.6 All instructors must also sign and adhere to an instructor’s agreement which also serves as an affiliation agreement for affiliated members].

5 - OFFICERS

5.1    The Officers of the Club shall be as follows:
        5.1.1     President - Non-Executive Officer - usually an Honorary position; and,
        5.1.2     Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer - Executive Officers.
        5.1.3     Club Welfare Officer, Senior Judo Representative, Junior Judo Representative, Building Officer/s, Publicity Officer and Affiliated Officers. All Affiliated Officers can attend committee meetings but only a maximum of three have voting rights on committee decisions.
5.2    Appendix one of this constitution contains job specifications for Club officers.

6 - ELECTION OF OFFICERS

6.1 All Officers shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Club, from, and by, the Members of the Club.
6.2 All Officers are elected for a period of one year, but may be re-elected to the same office or another office the following year.

7 - GENERAL COMMITTEE

7.1    The affairs of the Club shall be controlled by a General Committee comprising of the Executive Officers of the Club and other Officers elected from, and by, the Full Members of the Club. These can include: Club Welfare Officer; Senior Judo Representative; Junior Judo Representative; Publicity Officer; Building Officer/s, Leaseholders and Affiliated Group Member Representative’s. The General Committee shall meet at agreed intervals and not less than three times per year.
7.2    The Committee will have due regard to the law on disability discrimination and child protection.
7.3    The duties of the General Committee shall be:
        7.3.1    To control the affairs of the Club on behalf of the Members;
        7.3.2    To keep accurate accounts of the finances of the Club. These should be available for reasonable inspection by Members and should be audited before every Annual General Meeting. The Club shall maintain a bank current account and the following Officers shall be authorised to sign Club cheques, two from the Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary;
        7.3.3    To co-opt additional members of the Committee as the Committee feels this is necessary. Co-opted members shall not be entitled to a vote on the Committee; and,
        7.3.4    To make decisions on the basis of a simple majority vote. In the case of equal votes, the Chairperson shall be entitled to an additional casting vote. The quoracy for committee meetings shall be 50% of the current standing committee members. Minor decisions can be made via group e-mail’s.
        7.3.5    To ensure members are informed of club rules and conditions of use and all instructors sign an instructors agreement.
        7.3.6    To have due regard to the law on disability discrimination and child protection.

8 - GENERAL MEETINGS

8.1    All members may attend the Annual General Meeting of the Club which shall be held not later than the end of April each year. 21 clear days written notice shall be given to Members of the Annual General Meeting by circulating a copy of the notice to every member at their home or e-mail address and posting the notice on the Club notice board. Members must advise the Secretary in writing of any business to be moved at the Annual General Meeting at least 14 days before a meeting. The Secretary shall circulate or give notice of the agenda for the meeting to Members not less than 14 days before the meeting.
8.2    The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be to:
        8.2.1    Confirm the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting and any General Meetings held since the last Annual General Meeting;
        8.2.2    Receive the audited accounts for the year from the Treasurer;
        8.2.3    Receive the annual report of the Committee from the Secretary and/or Chair;
        8.2.4    Elect the Officers of the Club;
        8.2.5    Review Club subscription rates and agree them for the forthcoming year;
        8.2.6    Transact such other business received in writing by the Secretary from Members 14 days prior to the meeting and included on the agenda.

NOTE: The agenda could provide for "Any Other Business", but Members should be encouraged to refer other items to the General Committee and give the required notice for important Annual General Meeting business.

8.3    Special General Meetings may be convened by the General Committee or on receipt by the Secretary of a request in writing from not less that five Full Members of the Club. At least 21 days notice of the meeting shall be given.
8.4    Nomination of candidates for election of Officers shall be made in writing to the Secretary at least 14 days in advance of the Annual General Meeting date. Nominations can only be made by Full Members and must be seconded by another Full Member.
8.5    At all General Meetings, the chair will be taken by the Chairperson or, in their absence, by a deputy appointed by the Club or by Full Members attending the meeting.
8.6    Decisions made at a General Meeting shall be by a simple majority of votes from those Full Members attending the meeting. In the event of equal votes, the Chairperson shall be entitled to an additional casting vote.
8.7    A quorum for a General Meeting shall be five Full Members and three Officers of the Club including two from the Chairperson; Secretary and Treasurer.
8.8    Each Full Member of the Club shall be entitled to one vote at General Meetings.

9 - ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION

9.1 Any proposed alterations to the Club Constitution may only be considered at an Annual or Special General Meeting, convened with the required written notice of the proposal. Any alteration or amendment must be proposed by a Full Member of the Club and seconded by another Full Member. Such alterations shall be passed if supported by not less than two-thirds of those Full Members present at the meeting, assuming that a quorum has been achieved.

10 - DISSOLUTION

10.1    If at any General Meeting of the Club, a resolution be passed calling for the dissolution of the Club, the Secretary shall immediately convene a Special General Meeting of the Club to be held not less than one month thereafter to discuss and vote on the resolution.
10.2    If at that Special General Meeting, the resolution is carried by at least two-thirds of the Full Members present at the meeting, the General Committee shall thereupon, or at such date as shall have been specified in the resolution, proceed to realise the assets of the Club and discharge all debts and liabilities of the Club.
10.3    After discharging all debts and liabilities of the Club, the remaining assets shall not be paid or distributed amongst the Full Members of the Club, but shall be given or transferred to some other voluntary organisation having objects similar to those of the Club.