NORTH DOWN CYCLING CLUB
Constitution
1. Name
The club will be called North Down Cycling Club, referred to hereinafter as ‘The Club’
and be affiliated to the UCI recognized Governing Body, Cycling Ireland.
2. Purpose of the Club
The purpose of the club shall be to organize and promote the amateur sport of
cycling and cycling orientated activities in North Down, without discrimination. It shall
be club policy to offer opportunities to participate in cycling to all sections of the
community.
3. Permitted means of advancing the purposes
The Committee has the power to:
a. Acquire and provide equipment, coaching, training, transport and related
facilities
b. Take out any insurance for club, contractors, members, guests and third
parties
c. Raise funds by organizing events, sponsorship, members subscriptions and
gifts
d. Open bank accounts
e. Lease property
f. Make grants and loans and give guarantees and provide other benefits
g. Set aside or apply funds for special purposes or as reserves
h. Deposit or invest funds in any lawful manner
i. Produce Rules and Procedures to be followed by all members of the Club.
Such Rules and Procedures will be sent to members either by post or email
and a copy shall be published on the Club’s website
j. Do all other things reasonably necessary to advance the purposes.
NONE of the above powers may be used other than to advance the purposes
consistently with the Rules below and the general law.
The Committee has the responsibility to:
k. To operate a child protection policy which conforms to the requirements of
Cycling Ireland and other relevant agencies.
l. To promote drugs free participation in cycling in accordance with the
requirements of, Cycling Ireland, the UCI and the World Anti Doping Agency.
m. To adhere to policies adopted by the Governing Body.
4. Membership
a. Membership of the Club shall be open to anyone interested in the sport on
application 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.
b. The Club may have different classes of membership and subscription on a
non-discriminatory and fair basis. The Club will keep subscriptions at levels
that will not pose a significant obstacle to people participating.
c. 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 an appointed
panel consisting of club members.
5. All General Meetings
a. All members may attend all general meetings of the Club in person.
b. Such meetings need 21 clear days’ written notice to members.
c. The quorum for all general meetings is 20 members present or 10 percent of
the total membership at 1st October whichever is greater.
d. The Chair or (in his or her absence) another member chosen at the meeting
shall preside.
e. Except as otherwise provided in these Rules, every resolution shall be
decided by a simple majority of the votes cast on a show of hands.
f. Formalities in connection with General Meetings (such as how to put down
resolutions) shall be decided by the Committee and publicised to Club
members.
5. Annual General Meetings (AGM)
The Club will hold an AGM once in every calendar year. The meeting shall be called
in November or December.
a. The Members will elect a Committee including a Chair, Treasurer and
Secretary to serve until the next AGM;
b. The Treasurer will produce accounts of the Club for the latest financial year
audited as the Committee shall decide. The accounts shall be drawn up to 30
September each year;
c. The Committee will present a report on the Club’s activities since the previous
AGM; and
d. The Members will discuss and vote on any resolution (whether about policy or
to change the Rules) and deal with any other business put to the meeting.
7. Extraordinary General Meetings (EGM)
An EGM shall be called by the Secretary within 14 days of a request to that effect
from the Committee or on the written request of not less than 10 percent of members
signed by them. Such an EGM shall be held on not less than 14 or more than 21
days’ notice at a place decided upon by the Committee or in default by the Chair.
8. The Committee
a. Role
i. Subject to these Rules the Committee shall have responsibility for the
management of the Club, its funds, property and affairs.
b. Property and funds.
i. The property and funds of the Club cannot be used for the direct or
indirect private benefit of members other than as reasonably allowed by
the Rules and all surplus income or profits are reinvested in the Club.
ii. The Club may provide sporting and related social facilities, sporting
equipment, coaching, courses, insurance cover, medical treatment, event
expenses, post event refreshments and other ordinary benefits of
Community Amateur Sports Clubs as provided for in the Finance Act
2002.
iii. The Club may also in connection with the sports purposes of the Club:
Sell and supply food, drink and related sports clothing and equipment;
Pay for reasonable hospitality for visiting cyclists and guests; Indemnify
the Committee and members acting properly in the course of the running
of the Club against any liability incurred in the proper running of the Club
(but only to the extent of its assets).
The Committee will have due regard to the law on disability discrimination and child
protection
c. Composition etc.
i. The Committee shall consist of at least eight members (including
Officers). The office bearers of the club shall be Principal Officers who
shall be Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Treasurer, Hon.Secretary, Open
Race Secretary and Club Race Secretary. The Principal officers i.e.
Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Treasurer, Hon. Secretary, Open Race
Secretary and Club Race Secretary shall be members of the Committee.
Additional members shall be elected from the membership as required to
fulfil specific or general roles within the Club. Committee members must
be paid up cycling members of the club and of Cycling Ireland and have
been for at least two years prior to being elected.
ii. The Committee members may co-opt club members (up to the maximum
permitted number) to serve until the end of the next AGM.
iii. Any Committee member may be re-elected or re-co-opted without limit
iv. A Committee member ceases to be such if he or she ceases to be a
member of the Club, resigns by written notice, or is removed by the
Committee for good cause after the Member concerned has been given
the chance of putting his/her case to the Committee with an appeal to the
Club members, or is removed by club members at a general meeting. The
Committee shall fairly decide time limits and formalities for these steps.
d. Committee meetings
i. Whenever a Committee member has a personal interest in a matter to be
discussed, he/she must declare it, withdraw from that part of the meeting
(unless asked to stay), not be counted in the quorum for that agenda item
and withdraw during the vote and have no vote on the matter concerned.
ii. The Committee may decide its own way of operating. Unless it otherwise
resolves the following rules apply:
iii. At least 2 members must be present for the meeting to be valid;
iv. Committee meetings shall be held face to face;
v. The Chair, or whoever else those present choose shall chair meetings;
vi. Decisions shall be by simple majority of those voting;
vii. A resolution in writing signed by every Committee member shall be valid
without a meeting;
Each committee member shall have one vote with a casting vote being carried by the
Chairperson.
e. Delegation etc –
i. The Committee may delegate any of their functions to subcommittees but
must specify the scope of its activity and powers; the extent to which it
can commit the funds of the Club; its membership; its duty to report back
to the Committee. The Committee may wind up any sub-committee at any
time or to change its mandate and operating terms.
f. Disclosure
i. Annual club reports and statements of account must be made available
for inspection by any member and all club records may be inspected by
any Committee member at anytime within 14 days of the request.
9. Amendments
ii. These Rules may be amended at a general meeting by two-thirds of the
votes cast and not in any event to alter its purposes or winding up
provisions.
iii. The Club Purposes may be changed to include another eligible sport if the
Committee unanimously agree and the members also agreed the change
by a 75% majority of votes cast.
10. Winding up the Club
i. The members may vote to wind up the Club if not less than three
quarters of those present and voting support that proposal at a properly
convened general meeting.
ii. The Committee will then be responsible for the orderly winding up of
the Club’s affairs.
iii. After settling all liabilities of the Club, the Committee shall dispose of the
net assets remaining to one or more of the following:
a. To another Club with similar sports purposes which is a registered
charity and/or
b. To another Club with similar sports purposes and/or
c. To the Club’s national governing body for use by them for related
sports.