ECH & TAC Club Constitution and Rules

1. The Constitution of the Club
That this Club is called East Cheshire Harriers and Tameside Athletic Club.
 
2. Objects of the Club
Is the promotion of all athletic activities that are governed by UK Athletics.
 
3. Management
The general affairs of the Club to be dealt with by a Finance and General Purposes Committee consisting of:
President
Honorary Secretary
Honorary Treasurer
Bar and House Manager
Track and Field Representative
Road and Country Representative
Trustee/Life Member
Coaching Co-ordinator
Six General Committee Members
Each holding full voting rights, according to Club rules for voting. All elected officers shall serve for a period of two years and at any Annual General Meeting only half of the officers will be eligible for re-election.
The Quorum for the 'Finance and General Purposes Committee' shall be a minimum of five of the elected members.
As in the spirit of our present constitution, the trustees and Delegates are considered ex-officio to the Finance and General Purposes Committee.
The athletic side of the club will be managed by a Track and Field Group and a Road and Country Group meeting as required by the elected Representative.
 
4. Subscriptions
The subscriptions shall be as follows:
£77.00 Senior Members (male and female over the age of 18 years but under the age of 65 on 1st January).
£57.00 Senior Member (male and female over the age of 65 on 1st January).
£36.00 Junior Members (male and female over the age of 16 years and under 18 years on 1st January).
£26.00 Under 16 years on 1st January.
£10.00 Social Members.
£77.00 Second Claim Members.
£108.00 Family Membership.
£41.00 Disabled.
£31.00 Students 16-18 years.
£41.00 Senior Students.
All subscription are due 1st January each year and shall be paid before 1st March in the same year. All existing members' subscriptions paid after this date shal be subject to an additional levy as indicated later. Non-payment renders the defaulters to forfeiture of their membership at the discretion of the Committee. Any new subscription rates decided at the the Annual General Meeting shall apply from the 1st January of each new year.

The additional levy on existing members' subscriptions paid on or after the 1st March to be as follows:

£25.00 Senior Members (male and female over the age of 18 years but under the age of 65 years on 1st January).
£19.00Senior Members (male and female over the age of 65 on 1st January).
£12.00 Junior Members (male and female over 16 years and under the age of 18 years on 1st January).
£9.00 Under 16 years on 1st January.
£3.00 Social Members.
£25.00 Second Claim Members.
£35.00 Family
£10.00 Students 16-18 years.
£13.00 Senior Students and Disabled.
 
Students attending full courses at University etc., provided they are in receipt of no emolument other than the statutory Government Grant, will be allowed to become full members on payment of two-thirds of the current subscription. Proof to be produced to the Management Committee at the time of application.
Family Membership is defined as one or two adults with children under 16 years and over 6 years of age. Children under 8 years of age who join are the responsibility of the parents.
The Committee has the power to increase the subscription up to the rate of inflation on 1st January each year.
 
On top of these will be the N of E Membership fee of £2.00 per member over 11 years of age.
 
5. Election of Members
New members may be proposed at any meeting of the Committee and the name of proposer and seconder, together with that of the candidate and his or her usual place of residence recorded in the books of the Club. After election (which shall not take place until two clear days have elapsed from the time of nomination) the Secretary shal notify the new member. No new shall be entitled to the privileges of the Club until he or she has paid one year's subscription. No member shall be eligible for election to any office within the Club until he or she has been a First Claim member for one year. The elected committee, however, may co-opt any member to assist on the committee irrespective of length of membership.
 
6. Expulsion of Members
I any complaint be made to the Secretary that any member has misconducted himself/herself to the annoyance or any other member/s or person/s on Club premises or on Club activities, the Secretary shall, on being notified thereof in writing, summon the Committee to hear such complaint/s, and the Committee shall have power to fine or expel such member/s, who, when expelled shall forfeit all claims on the Club in respect of any subscriptions he/she may have paid.
 
7. The Committee
Any member of the Committee (with the exception of the President) absenting himself/herself from three consecutive meetings, without notice to the Secretary, shall be disqualified, and the Committee may at the next meeting, proceed to fill up the vacancy.
The Committee shall meet together, adjourn and regulate their meeting as they think fit and may fill up any vacancy that may occur during the year. They shall have the sole management of the Ground and Club property and the responsibility for making fixtures and choosing the teams to represent the Club.
They may determine any question tha may arise on the interpretation of these rules, or anything relative to the Club not provided in them. They may also delegate any of their power to any Sub-Committee consisting of such members of their body as they think fit, and any Sub-Committee so formed shall in exercise of their power so delegated conform to any regulations that may be imposed upon them.
 
8. List of Members
A list of Officials of the Club shall be displayed and where possible, a list of members shall be available at the Club Headquarters.
 
9. Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting shall be held by the end of March each year and the Club Secretary will display a Notice in the Club Headquarters and in the local newspaper not less than a month before the date of such meeting; such Notice shall state the date, time and place of such meeting.
The Agenda and any alteration of Club Rules will be displayed at Club Headquarters at least fourteen days before the Annual General Meeting. Tha the business of the Meeting shall be:
To receive Reports and Balance Sheet
Any other business of which due notice of Fifteen days has been given to the Secretary.
Every hear to elect new Committee Members and Officials.
All members over sixteen years of age have voting rights provided they are fully paid up members to the end of the previous year.
 
10. Special Meetings
The Management Committee shall at the request of twelve members of the Club, or may, on their own authority, call a Special General Meeting of which fourteen days notice shall be given stating the place, time and object of such a meeting.
No resolution shall be carried, except by a majority of two-thirds of the members present and voting. All members over sixteen years of age have voting rights provided they are fully paid up members.
 
11. Regulations
The Management Committee shall have power to make, alter and amend or rescind such regulations as may from time to time be found necessary for good order, general convenience and comfort of the members and other persons frequenting the Club Grounds and Premises, which shall have equal force and effect as rules made on that behalf. A list of such rules should be available and, if possible, displayed at the Club Headquarters.
Such regulations may, however, be altered or rescinded by a meeting of members of the Club to be convened on the request of twelve members made to the Secretary, in writing, specifying the alteration proposed to be made.
 
12. U.K. Athletics
That the laws of U.K. Athletics are considered the criterion of decision in all matters of reference.
 
13. Alteration of Rules
These rules may be altered, abrogated and added to either generally or for the particular occasions at any Special or General Meeting by a majority of two-thirds of the members present and voting at such meeting.
 
14. Financial Regulations
The Rules for the handling of the Club's financial affairs are contained under a set of rules known as Financial Regulations which are set out as an Appendix to these Rules.
 
15. Club Costume
That the Club Costume shall be Gold shorts and green vest for men and women. All members shall compete in Club Costume in all Races and be fully paid up members otherwise they are liable for disqualification.
 
16. Second Claim Members
Second Claim Membership is open to anyone who is a member of a First Claim Club in accordance with U.K Athletics Laws. The fee shall be the same as that for First Claim Members. All Second Claim Members shall be allowed to run in any Handicap, but not Club Championships.
 
17. Life Membership
The number of Life Members shall be restricted to no more than ten. In order to qualify for Life Membership a member must have given exceptional service to the Club, either as an active athlete, a coach or an official. To be elected to Life Membership candidates must be proposed and seconded by Senior Members of the club at an A.G.M. and receive a minimum of two-thirds of the votes of those members present and eligible to vote at that A.G.M.
 
18. Rules relating to Sale of Alcohol
a. The bar is open for the sale of alcoholic liquor to members and their bona fide guests only.
b. Alcoholic liquor will only be sold during the current permitted hours for the Club, tha is to say:
Monday to Saturday: 11.30 am to 11.00 pm.
Sundays: 2.00 pm to 11.00 pm.
Sundays, Christmas Day and Good Friday: 12 noon to 2.30 pm and 7.00 pm to 10.30 pm.
c. No alcoholic liquor shall be sold to any person under the age of eighteen years.
Music and dancin every day of the week from 2.00 pm to 11.00 pm.
 
19. Visitors and Guests
All members are permitted to introduce two guests to the Club. The names and addresses of such guests together with the introducing members shall be entered into the book provided by the Club for that purpose. The introducing member shall be responsible for the conduct of guests whilst in the Club and no guest may remain in the Club after the introducing member has left the Club premises.
The Club may admit visitors:
Persons attending the Club for the purpose of participating in any sporting or recreational activity, meeting or competition, promoted and organised by the Club, or promoted and organised and approved by the General Committee.
Persons attending a function at the Club, promoted by a member and approved by the General Committee, admission to which function issue private invitation obtained otherwise than by payment thereof. A list of names and addresses of the persons attending should be forwarded to the Secretary of the Club by the promoting member, to reach him at least 48 hours prior to the function taking place.
The premises may be used for functions organised by or on behalf of th Club and approved by the Committee provided that the number of such functions shall not exceed twelve in any one calendar year.
Persons attending such functions at the Club may purchase intoxicating liquor in accordance with the provisions of Section 49 of the Licensing Act 1964.
 
20. Winding Up
Should the Club be wound up, the athletic equipment will be donated to local community groups for their use.
 
21. Policies
The Club adheres to all the National Governing Bodies Policies.
 
22. Trustees
The Trustees are indemnified from paying any monies connected with the Sport England agreement on the track grant.
 
23. Clubmark
East Cheshire Harriers & Tameside Athletic Club welcomes applicants from all members of the community and will ensure present and potential members receive fair and equal treatment.
 
FINANCIAL REGULATIONS
1. That the Club will appoint a Treasurer.
2. That two auditors be appointed at the Annual General Meeting, one for a minimum period of two years.
3. That three Trustees be appointed at the Annual General Meeting for a period of three years one of which should be eligible for re-election each year.
4. That the Club Funds will be banked in a recognised place of business.
5. That all cheques in the ordinary course of business will be signed by the Treasurer, and any Trustee or other signing officer.
6. Tha the Club Investment Accounts shall be the responsibility of the Treasurer and Trustees of the Club, who will maintain it in the most advantageous manner to the Club. All transfer of any monies to the Club Investment Accounts to be sanctioned by the Management Committee. All withdrawals to be authorised by the Treasurer and at least two Trustees.
7. That where possible, all monies received and all payments out of the Club Funds will be made to and by the Treasurer.
8. That the books of the Club are available at any time to the Auditors who will complete at least one audit in each year and verify the facts on the Balance Sheet.
9. That the financial position of the Club be confidential, except that the Treasurer must answer any questions at a Committee Meeting, General Meeting and Special General Meeting.
10. Any alterations to Financial Regulations are subject to Rule 14 of the Club Constitution and Rules.

As amended January 2007.