Constitution - Derwent Rowing Club

Constitution

1) NAME
The club shall be known DERWENT ROWING CLUB hereinafter known as THE CLUB, and will be affiliated to the Amateur Rowing Association.

2) OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the Club are:
- To offer coaching and competitive opportunities in Rowing
- To promote the club within the local community and Rowing
- To manage the Derwent Rowing Club Clubhouse
- To ensure a duty of care to all members of the club
- To provide all its services in a way that is fair to everyone
- To ensure that all present and future members receive fair and equal treatment

3) MEMBERSHIP
Membership should consist of officers and members of the club.
- All members will be subject to the regulations of the constitution and club rules and by joining the club will be deemed to accept these regulations and codes of conduct that the club has adopted.
A. Classes of Membership-
The club will be formed from the following classes of members:
- Full Members - aged over 18.
- Junior Members - aged of 18 or under. Those under 11 will only be admitted when one or both parents/guardians are members.
- Student Members - those in full-time education.
- Social Members - do not have access to or use of club boats.
- Vice Presidents - Membership may be proposed at the discretion of the committee and in accordance of the club rules.

4) 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 or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be relevant to performance.

5) CHILD PROTECTION PROCEDURES
The Club accepts the policy and procedures relating to Child Protection, as set out by the ARA, and requires all members to accept them as a condition of membership. The Committee shall appoint a member to act as Welfare Officer whose duty it will be to understand the requirements of the ARA policy and procedures relating to Child Protection advise on their observation and implementation at all times.

9) DUTIES OF COMMITTEE
- President: The President or his/her nominated representative will preside at all General meetings of the Club.
- Chairman: The Chairman will preside 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 ARA 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 all matters to do with boats and their crews including training, coaching and representation of the Club in
- 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.

10) CLUB COMMITTEE
- All categories of members, are eligible for election to the committee.
- The Committee shall comprise of the constitutionally constituted officers detailed above and other listed within the club rules, such other committee members as have been appointed by General Meeting and any members appointed by the 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.

11) GENERAL MEETINGS
Details of the procedures for meetings are listed and part of Club rules which are available upon request.

12) LIABILITY
The General Committee shall manage the affairs of the Club. Financial or legal liability incurred in the rightful 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.

13) VOTING
Details of the procedures for voting are listed and part of Club rules which are available upon request.

14) ALTERATION OF CONSTITUTION
This constitution shall not be altered, amended or rescinded except by a General Meeting of the Club.

15) FINANCE
- All club monies will be banked in an account held in the name of the club.
- The Club Treasurer will be responsible for the finances of the club.
- The financial year of the club will end on: 31st August.
- An audited statement of annual accounts will be presented by the Treasurer at the Annual General Meeting.
- Any cheques drawn against club funds should hold the signatures of the Treasurer plus at least one other authorised signatory.
- The transactions of the Club will be conducted through a bank account and will require the signatures of any members of the Committee who have been designated for the purpose.

16) DISTRIBUTION OF PROFITS
In no circumstances can any profit be distributed to members, but any profits earned shall be used in furthering the objects of the Club.

17) TERMINATION
Details of the procedures for meetings are listed and part of Club rules which are available upon request. A resolution to dissolve the club can only be passed at an AGM or EGM through a majority vote of the membership In the event of dissolution, any assets of the club that remain will become the property of the Amateur Rowing association OR some other club with similar objectives to those of the club.

18) POWER OF DECISION
Any matter not provided for in this constitution, or any question over the interpretation of it, shall be dealt with by the Committee whose decision shall be final.

19) SAFETY
The Committee shall appoint a member to act as Safety Adviser whose duty it will be to understand the requirements of the ARA Code of Practice for Water Safety and advise on their prominent display, their observation and their implementation at all times. The Safety Adviser bears no liability for the safety of individual members.