RULES
of the Bournemouth Swimming Club as at 29.10.2007
1. Name
1.1 The name of the Club
shall be Bournemouth Swimming Club.
2. Objects
2.1 The objects of the Club
shall be the teaching, development and practice of swimming, open water, water
polo for its members In the furtherance of these
objects:
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 West 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 West 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 West Region
and Dorset County Amateur Swimming Association
2.4.2 the
Amateur Swimming Association; (to include the ASA/IOS Code of Ethics); and
2.4.3 British Swimming (in
particular its 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 not normally be limited. If however the Committee considers that
there is a good reason to impose any limit from time to time then the committee
shall put forward appropriate proposals for consideration at a General Meeting
of the Club. The members shall have the right to impose (and remove) from time
to time any limits on total membership (or any category of membership) of the
Club.
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 instructors, 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.
3.2 Any person who wishes to
become a member of the Club must submit a signed application to the Secretary
(and in the case of a junior swimmer the application must be signed by the
swimmer's parent or guardian). Election to membership shall be determined by
[the Membership Officer] OR* [the Membership Applications sub-committee] but
other person(s) authorised by the committee may make recommendation as to the
applicant's acceptability. The Membership Officer shall be required to give
reasons for the refusal of any application for membership. Any person refused
membership may seek a review of this decision before a review panel appointed
by the Committee ("Review Panel") comprised of not less than three
members (who mayor may not be members of the Committee). The panel shall
[wherever practicable] include one independent member nominated by the ASA
South West Region. The person refused membership shall be entitled to make representations
to the Review Panel. The procedures foreview shall be
at the discretion of the Review Panel whose decision shall be final and binding
The Club shall not refuse an
application for membership on discriminatory grounds, whether in relation to ethnic
origin, age, sex, religion, disability, political persuasion or sexual
orientation.
4 Subscription and Other Fees
4.1 The annual members subscription and coaching and squad fees (as
applicable) 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.
4.2 The annual subscription
and entrance fee (if any) shall be due on joining the Club and thereafter on
the 1 st day of January each year.
4.3 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
4.4 The Committee shall,
from time to time, have the power to determine the annual membership
subscription and other fees. This shall include the power to make such increase
in the subscription as shall, where the Club pays the individual A.S.A.
Membership Fees to the A.S.A. on behalf of members, be consequential upon an
increase in individual A.S.A. membership fees. Any increase in subscriptions
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.
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 arrear 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 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
6.2 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.)
6.3 A member may not be
expelled or (subject to Rule 6.4 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
temporarily suspend or exclude a member from particular training sessions
and/or wider club member.
6.4 The Officers of the Club
(or any person to whom the Committee shall delegate this power) may 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 11 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 may allow
younger member(s) to attend their meetings without power to vote.
7.2 The Committee members
shall be proposed, seconded and elected by ballot 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 also8.1)
7.3 Committee meetings shall
be held not less than quarterly (save where the Committee itself shall By a
simple majority resolve not to meet), and the quorum of that meeting shall be
such number as shall represent not less than a simple majority of the Committee
members (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 fourteen days written 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 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
7.5 In addition to the
members so elected the Committee may co~opt up to 4
further members of the Club who shall serve until the next Annual General Meeting. Co-opted members shall be entitled to vote at the
meetings of the Committee and shall be counted in establishing whether a quorum
is present.
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 in 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 be indemnified by the members of the Club against all
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 (by ballot)
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 Mayor June. 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 Rule9.3.
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 than 10th April. 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 10th April
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 7 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 7 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 I 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-thirds) of 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 County
Association/ASA South West Region.
12.2 Any member shall 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 10th April 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 above £1000:00 shall be drawn from that account except
by cheque signed by (two of the three signatories who shall be the Chairman,
Secretary and Treasurer.) 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 January and ending on 31st
December. .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. 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 Property
16.1 The property of the
Club, other than cash at the bank, shall be vested in not more than four
Custodians. They shall deal with the property as directed by resolution of the
Committee and entry in the minute book shall be conclusive evidence of such a
resolution.
16.2 The Custodians shall be
elected at a General Meeting of the Club and shall hold office until death or
resignation unless removed by a resolution passed at a General Meeting.
16.3 The Custodians shall be
entitled to an indemnity out of the property of the Club for all expenses and
other liabilities properly incurred by them in the discharge of their duties.
17 Dissolution
17.1 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.
17.2 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.
17.3 Any property remaining
after the discharge of the debts and liabilities of the Club shall be given to
a charity or charities (or other non-profit making organisation have objects
similar to those of the Club for the furtherance of such objects) nominated by
the last Committee.
The following statement needs to 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: "
18 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
18.1 The Members acknowledge
that these Rules constitute a legally binding contract to regulate the
relationship of the members with each
other and the Club.
Bournemouth Swimming Club Bye-Laws for 2008
8.2 The committee shall
include the Officers of the club and members responsible for the following.
Minutes Secretary, Water
Polo, Membership, Fixtures
Competitions, Coaching, Men's Captain, Ladies' Captain
Welfare Officer, Registration
Officer, Past Presidents.
If
necessary one member may hold more than one post.
The Welfare Officer shall
not be a relative of any of the Executive Officers, the Coach, the club
teachers or the Team Manager .
9.3 The Competition
Secretary shall be responsible for organising all club competitions and hold a
record of members holding Trophies and organize the return of the Trophies for
presentation to the winner each year.
9.4 The Competition
Secretary to ensure a Roll of Honour of Club Record swimming times is
maintained.
10.5 Swimming session
admission charges should be paid before members enter the pool. Such charges to
be in line with the charges made by the Baths Management for admission for
swimming and so may alter during the course of a year, the Club Committee to
exercise their discretion should this occur .
10.8 The Hon. Treasurer
shall deliver up all books, monies and receipts to
the Hon. Secretary if ordered b a majority vote of the Committee.
11.3 New members shall be
given the opportunity to take part in two sessions before being asked to pay a
membership subscription.
Club rules of Competitions.
Every competitor shall
fulfil the following conditions:-
I Swimmers must have been a
member for three months prior to the closing date for the Club Championship
which the competitor is entering.
2 The above stipulation does
not app1y to Average Competitions.
3 Must not compete or have
competed during the current year in a championship event of another club.
[Representation or championships for Services, Schools and Business Houses are
exempt.
4 Competitors in Junior
Championships and Competitions must be under 17 years of age on the 31st
December in the ear of the competition
5 In Competitions restricted
b an a
e Qualification, competitors must be under the age stated on the 31st December
in the year of the competition.
6 All competing members
shall be eligible competitors as defined in ASA Laws except for
those competing in Master Competitions
who may be professionals.
Policies ,
1 As the club is obliged to
hire Life Guards employed by the Baths Management the club must follow the
Health and Safety rules laid down by the Management at any bath that it hires.
2 SHALLOW WATER RACING DIVES
Members under the age of 13
attending Stokewood Leisure Centre, will be examined
from time to time along the lines of the ASA award and issued a club
Certificates.