DRAGONS RUNNING CLUB

CONSTITUTION

1. Name

1.1 The club shall be called Dragons Running Club (Leeds) hereinafter called "the club".

1.2 The club is located at LA Fitness, Howarth Lane, Yeadon, Leeds, LS19 7EN

2. Affiliation

2.1 The club shall be affiliated to UK Athletics.

2.2 The affiliation fees are paid by Dragons Running Club.

3. Aims and Objectives

3.1 The objective of the club is the promotion of amateur athletics, with a specific interest in road running and racing. It also has an interest in cross country & racing, and fell running & racing; offering social training nights, occasional coaching sessions and competitive opportunities for club members and members of other clubs and the general public.

4. Membership

4.1 The club shall consist of the officers and the members.

4.2 Membership of the club shall be open to anyone who is a member of LA Fitness.

In accepting membership, a person agrees to abide by the constitution of the club and the rulings of the club committee.

4.4 A candidate for membership should apply on a specific application form provided by the membership secretary.

4.5 Membership is limited to amateurs who are eligible to compete under UK Athletics.

5. Membership Fees

5.1 Annual membership fees fall due on or before 1 May for the following year.

These are given to the Membership Secretary.

6. The Committee

6.1 The management of the club shall be vested in the committee of which there are 14 positions or as agreed by the Chair.

6.2 The committee shall act for the members. Liabilities incurred shall fall upon the membership (provided they act in accordance with the constitution, in honesty and good faith).

The committee shall comprise –

The Chair
Secretary
Treasurer
Membership Secretary
Social Secretary

There are also 9 other General Committee Members or as agreed by the Chair.

6.4 These officers of the club shall hold office for a calendar year, being elected annually at the club annual general meeting (see paragraph 8). All officers shall retire annually but shall be eligible for re-appointment.

6.5 Any casual vacancy occurring may be filled by the committee.

6.6 The quorum necessary for the transaction of business at committee meetings shall be 5 present and eligible to vote.

Every question at a meeting of the committee shall be determined by a majority of the vote of the members present and voting, every member having one vote. In the event of equal votes, the chair of the meeting shall have a casting vote.

6.8 The interpretation of the club constitution shall be vested in the committee, who shall decide all questions relating to the club, save those specified in, or involving an amendment to the constitution (see paragraph 13).

7. Finance

7.1 All surplus income or profits are re-invested in the club.

7.2 The club treasurer is responsible for the finances of the club.

7.3 Proper accounts shall be kept of all sums of money received and paid out by the club.

7.4 An audited statement of accounts, up to and including this date, shall be presented at the annual general meeting of the club.

7.5 The funds of the club shall be lodged at a bank or building society in an account in the name of the club, and all cheques, drafts etc. drawn on these accounts shall be signed by any two authorised officers.

8. Annual General Meeting and Special General Meetings

The annual general meeting (AGM) of the club shall be held in every year during the month of January when the annual report of the committee and the audited statement of accounts up to the end of the financial year shall be presented.

8.2 Not less than 21-days of notice of the date of the AGM shall be given to all members by the secretary.

Officers will be elected at the meeting.

Agenda items will be dealt with at the meeting. Notice of any business which is intended for inclusion on the agenda must be given to the Secretary at least 7 days before the meeting.

8.5 The AGM shall elect such officers of the club as it may from time to time determine.

8.6 All members are entitled to vote at general meetings of the club and shall have equal voting rights.

8.7 The quorum for the AGM shall be 10 members present and eligible to vote.

9. Voting Procedures

9.1 Each member shall be entitled to one vote.

9.2 A motion shall be carried by a simple majority of those present and voting, except when the motion is a constitutional amendment, which shall require a two thirds majority (see 13).

9.3 The chair shall have the casting vote in addition to a deliberative vote.

10. Disciplines and Appeals

10.1 The committee shall have the power to take appropriate disciplinary action against any member, and shall have the authority to terminate the membership of any member guilty of conduct deemed to be to the detriment of the club or amateur athletics generally.
See Appendix.1

11. Dissolution Procedures

11.1 Upon dissolution of the club any remaining assets shall be given or transferred to another registered community amateur sports club or a registered charity. No member shall obtain any asset from the club.

11.2 The club may be wound up on a resolution of the members, passed by a two-thirds majority at a special meeting convened for that purpose upon the request of 10 members of the club. At least 14 days notice of the meeting shall have been sent to all members of the club.

11.3 In the event of the passing of the resolution to wind up the club, the members shall appoint a representative committee which shall be empowered to distribute the assets, including cash and investments in hand to those listed in point 12.1.

12. Review of the Constitution

12.1 This constitution shall be reviewed on an annual basis.

12.2 Amendments to the constitution shall only be agreed at AGM’s or at a special general meeting called for that purpose.

12.3 Additions to, or alterations of, the constitution shall be submitted to the secretary not less than 14 days before the date of the AGM, or with a request for a special meeting of club members. No resolution involving an amendment to the constitution may be proposed or amended from the floor of a meeting.

12.4 In the event of a proposal for amending the constitution being submitted, the secretary shall inform the membership of the proposed motion not less than 21 days before the AGM.

12.5 Any amendments to the proposed motion duly proposed and seconded in like manner shall be submitted in writing to the secretary not later than 21 days before the said meeting.

12.6 Any alteration to the constitution shall require a two thirds majority of the members present and voting.

12.7 In the event of any question or matter arising which is not provided in the constitution, such question or matter shall be dealt with by the committee, whose decision shall be final.

APPENDIX.1

The Club shall not tolerate the physical or mental abuse, bullying, harassment, discrimination or defamation of any of its Members either by verbal or any other means of communication. Any Member may be disciplined or excluded from membership of the Club if his or her conduct has been, or is likely to be, prejudicial to the interests of the Club.
Exclusion will be agreed by resolution of a majority of at least two thirds of those present and voting at a properly convened Committee Meeting.

Such Member shall have clear notice of the Committee Meeting sent to him or her together with details of the case against him or her. The Member shall be entitled to attend the Meeting and be heard in defence, but shall not be entitled to be present at the voting or take part in the proceedings other than as the Committee shall permit. If the Member is a member of the Committee, he or she shall not be entitled to vote.

The committee can at their discretion issue either an initial verbal warning, followed by a final written warning or one final written warning followed by exclusion from the Club.

Any Member disciplined or excluded from the Club for disciplinary reasons may lodge an appeal with the Committee and shall thereupon have the right to demand that the matter be referred to
further investigation.

The Chairperson shall appoint two independent members of the Club to investigate the claim.
The Club members will report their findings to the Committee who will make an unbiased and independent decision.
Should the Member disagree with the Committee’s decision the Member can lodge a final appeal to the Chairperson, whose decision will be final and binding.

APPENDIX.2

AGM Resolutions passed in respect of the eligibility and allocations for the London Marathon.

1. Eligibility
It was decided that – ‘In respect of eligibility for the London Marathon Ballot’.
A member shall be defined as one who has paid the required club subscription by the end of May of the relevant year and has Dragons Running Club as their ‘first claim’.

It was felt that this would act as a spur to membership.
Enable us to maximize the number of places allocated to the club, and also prevent anyone whose primary allegiance was to another club.

2. A further resolution was passed to exclude all those who had already benefited from the ballot.
In future, the ballot will only be open on a once only basis.

The purpose of this policy was to attempt to limit the ballot to those who had previously not benefited from the process.
It was felt that as the places are very highly regarded, it would be fairer to all.
With 15 entrants this year, reducing to 13 for 2009, this will give participants an increased chance of selection.

It was also agreed that the above resolutions would reviewed yearly at the Annual General Meeting