NAME
The name of the club shall be Queensbury Cricket Club, hereafter referred to as “the club”, and the club will be affiliated to the England and Wales Cricket Board through the Yorkshire Cricket Board.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE CLUB
The purposes of the club are to promote the amateur sport of cricket in Queensbury and community participation in the same.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the club shall be open to anyone interested in the sport on application regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientations, religion or other beliefs. However, limitation of membership according to available facilities is allowable on a non-discriminatory basis.
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.
The club Executive committee may refuse membership, or remove it, only for good reason such as conduct or character likely to bring the club or sport into disrepute. Appeal against refusal or removal of membership may be made to members.
CLASSES OF MEMBERSHIP
There shall be three classes of membership available. These are:
• Senior Playing Member
• Junior Playing Member (Under 17 years of age on 1 September prior to the beginning of the current financial year)
• Social Member (to include parents/carers of Junior Members)
Senior Playing Members who are in full time education, unwaged, or under the age of 21 shall be entitled to a reduced membership fee.
The Treasurer shall ensure that a list of members in each category is maintained.
OFFICERS
The officers of the club shall be:
• President
• Chair
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Child Welfare Officer
• Junior Manager
• Ground Manager
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
All Officers shall be elected from the membership of the club by the Senior Playing Members of the club at the Annual General Meeting of the club.
All Officers shall be elected for a period of one year, but shall be eligible for re-election to the same or another office in the following or subsequent years.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee, comprising all Officers of the club, 2 other members elected at the Annual General Meeting, and the Director of Cricket (appointed by the Executive Committee) shall manage and conduct the affairs of the club. Only these members of the Executive Committee shall be entitles to vote at the Executive Committee meetings.
The Executive Committee will be convened by the Secretary and shall meet at agreed intervals and not less than four times per year.
The quorum required for business to be agreed at an Executive Committee meeting shall be 50% of the Committee’s membership, and must include at least two of the Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.
The duties of the Executive Committee shall be:
• To control the affairs of the club on behalf of the members.
• To keep accurate accounts of the finances of the club through the Treasurer. These shall be made available for reasonable inspection by members, and should be audited before every Annual General Meeting. The club shall maintain a current bank account and the following Officers shall be authorised to sign club cheques: the Treasurer together with either the Chair or Secretary.
• To co-opt additional members of the Executive Committee as the Executive Committee feel is necessary. Co-opted members shall not be entitled to vote at Executive Committee meetings and shall serve until the next Annual General Meeting.
• To make decisions on the basis of a simple majority vote. In the case of equal votes, the Chair shall be entitled to an additional casting vote. (An Executive Committee member holding more than one post shall be entitled to a single vote, unless it is a casting vote by the Chair).
The Executive Committee shall have powers to appoint sub-committees as necessary, and to co-opt advisers, who may be non-club members, to advise on specialist subjects.
An elected Executive Committee members ceases to be such is s/he ceases to be a member of the club, resigns by written notice or is removed by the Executive Committee for cause after the member concerned has been given the chance of putting their case to the Executive Committee. Appeal against removal may be made to the Appeals Committee. This sub-committee shall be appointed by the Executive Committee as and when necessary, and shall be appointed of not more than three Senior Playing Members of the club. The Executive Committee shall set reasonable time limits and formalities for these steps.
The Executive Committee has the power to:
• Acquire and provide grounds, equipment, coaching, training, and playing facilities, clubhouse, transport, medical, and related facilities.
• Provide coaching, training, medical treatment and related social and other facilities.
• Take out any insurance for the club, employees, contractors, players, guests and third parties.
• Raise funds by appeals, subscriptions, loans and charges.
• Borrow Money and give security for the same, and open bank accounts.
• Buy, lease or licence property and sell, let, or otherwise dispose of the same.
• Make grants and loans and give guarantees and provide other benefits.
• Set aside funds for special purposes or as reserves.
• Invest funds in any lawful manner,
• Employ and engage staff and others, and provide services.
• Co-operate with, or affiliate to any bodies regulating or organising the sport of cricket, any club or body involved with cricket, and with government and/or related agencies.
• Take any actions reasonable necessary to advance the aims and objectives of the club.
NONE of the above powers may be used other than to advance the aims and objectives in a manner consistent with the rules and the general law.
GENERAL MEETINGS
The Annual General Meeting of the club shall be held no later than the end of November each year. 21 Clear days written notice of the Annual General Meeting shall be given to members by circulating a copy of the notice to every member at their home address and posting the notice on the club notice board. Members must advise the Secretary in writing of any other business to be moved at the Annual General Meeting at least 14 days prior to the meeting. The secretary shall circulate or give notice of the agenda for the meeting to members not less than seven days before the meeting.
The business of the Annual General Meeting shall include:
• Confirmation of the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting and any General Meetings held since the last Annual General Meeting.
• Receipt of the audited accounts for the year from the Treasurer.
• Receipt of the annual report from the Secretary.
• Election of an auditor.
• Election of Officers of the Club.
• Election of additional Executive Committee members.
• Appointment of Vice Presidents.
• Review and agree subscription rates for the forthcoming year.
• Transact such other business received in writing by the Secretary from members (see above).
Nominations of candidates for election of Officers shall be made in writing to the Secretary at least 14 days in advance of the Annual General Meeting date. Senior Playing or Social members may make nominations.
Special General Meetings may be convened by the Executive Committee, or upon receipt by the Secretary of a written request from not less than 15 Senior Playing members of the club. At least 21 days written notice of the meeting shall be given to all members.
At all General Meetings the chair will be taken by the Chair or, in their absence, by a deputy appointed by the Senior Playing members attending the meeting.
Decisions made at a General Meeting shall be by a simple majority vote from those Senior Playing Members attending the meeting. In the event of equal votes the chair of the meeting shall be entitled to an additional casting vote.
A quorum for a General Meeting shall be 7 Senior Playing members, including at least two from the Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.
Each Senior Playing member shall be entitles to one vote at General Meetings.
ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION
Any proposed alterations to the Constitutions may only be considered at an Annual or Special General Meeting convened with the required written notice of the proposal. Any alteration or amendment must be proposed by a Senior Playing member of the club and be seconded by another Senior Playing member. Such alterations shall be passed if supported by not less than two-thirds of those Senior Playing Members present at the meeting, assuming that a quorum has been achieved.
FINANCE
The financial year will end of the 31st October.
All club monies must be passed to the Treasurer within 7 days of receipt and shall be banked in an account in the name of the club.
Any cheques drawn against the club funds must hold the signatures of the Treasurer and either the Secretary or Chair.
The Treasurer shall ensure that the club maintains adequate and appropriate insurance to cover the assets and activities of the club.
The Treasurer will present an audited statement of annual accounts at the Annual General Meeting.
All surplus income or profits shall be reinvested in the club. No surpluses or assets will be distributed to members or third parties.
PROPERTY AND FUNDS
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 shall be reinvested in the club.
The club may also, in connection with the sporting purposes of the club:
• Sell and supply food, drink and related sports clothing and equipment
• Employ members and remunerate them for providing goods and services on fair terms set by the Executive Committee, without the person concerned being present.
• Pay for reasonable hospitality for visiting teams and guests.
• Indemnify the Executive Committee and members acting properly in the course of the running the club against any liability incurred in the proper running of the club (but only to the extent of its assets).
DISCIPLINE AND APPEALS
All complaints regarding the behaviour of members of the club should be lodged in writing with the Secretary.
The executive Committee shall appoint a Disciplinary Committee who will meet to hear complaints within 14 days of a complaint being lodged. Any member requested to attend a Disciplinary Committee hearing shall be entitled to be accompanied or represented by another member of the club, and to call witnesses. The Disciplinary Committee shall have the power to take appropriate disciplinary action, including termination of membership.
The outcome of any disciplinary hearing shall be communicated in writing to the person who lodged the complaint and the member against who the complaint was made within 14 days of the hearing.
There shall be a right of appeal to the Executive Committee against the finding of sanction imposed by, or the finding of and the sanction imposed by the Disciplinary Committee. The Executive Committee shall appoint an Appeals Committee (maximum three members), which shall not include members involved in the initial disciplinary hearing. The Appeals Committee shall consider the appeal within 14 days of the Secretary receiving an appeal. The individual submitting the appeal shall be entitled to be accompanied or represented by another member of the club and to call witnesses. The decisions of the Appeals Committee shall be final and binding on all parties.
INDEMNITY
The Officers, or any person under the instruction of the Executive Committee, shall be indemnified out of the assets of the club against any liabilities incurred by reason of any mistake or omission made in good faith, or by reason of any other matter or thing except wilful or individual fraud, neglect, or wrong doing.
DISSOLUTION
If at any General Meeting of the club, a resolution be passed calling for the dissolution of the club, the Secretary shall immediately convene a Special General Meeting of the club to be held not less than 28 days thereafter to discuss and vote on the resolution.
If, at that Special General Meeting, the resolution is carried by at least three-quarters of the Senior Playing Members present at the meeting, the Executive Committee shall thereupon, or at such date as shall have been specified in the resolution, proceed to realise the assets of the club and discharge all the debts and liabilities of the club.
Upon dissolution of the club any remaining assets shall be given or transferred to another registered CASC, a registered charity, or the sport’s governing body.
DECLARATION
Queensbury Cricket Club hereby adopts and accepts this constitution as a current operating guide regulation the actions of all members.
SIGNED
PHIL SHARPLES (CHAIR) 20.11.2011
SIGNED
NEIL MYERS (SECRETARY) 20.11.2011