Scottish Hill-walking and Activities Group constitution

Transcription

1 Scottish Hill-walking and Activities Group constitution 1 Name The Club shall be called The Scottish Hill-walking and Activities Group (hereinafter referred to as the Club). 2 Objectives 2.1 To promote and develop interest and participation in hill-walking, climbing and other outdoor activities. 2.2 To promote and develop the adventurous spirit, respect for the environment and self reliance that defines mountaineering in Scotland. 2.3 To promote safety in walking and climbing, through shared experience, encouraging and facilitating member participation in professionally run training courses, and good general practice. 2.4 To foster an inclusive community and encourage members who share our values. 2.5 To provide opportunity and encouragement to members who wish to gain experience and develop expertise in hosting Club events. 2.6 To promote the 'Aims and Objectives' of the Mountaineering Council of Scotland. 3 Membership 3.1 Membership of the Club is free. 3.2 Membership of the Club is available only through our meetup site, and is open to those aged 18 years and over, agreeing to abide by the constitution and by-laws of the Club. Membership runs on a yearly basis from the day of the AGM to the day of the next AGM. To be considered a full member for the next year, continuing members can either attend the AGM, or attend any meetup between AGMs. New folk joining the meetup group, must attend three activity based events, with no intervening no shows, to qualify as a member The AGM/EGMs and Social nights are the only events that are not considered activity based events for this purpose. 3.3 Members wishing to bring juniors along to events must remain responsible for them. 3.4 Membership of the Club shall only be open to those who recognise that climbing and mountaineering are activities with a danger of personal injury or death. Members shall be aware of and accept these risks and agree to be responsible for their own actions and involvement.

2 3.5 The Club encourages all members to take out adequate personal insurance for participating in potentially dangerous activities. 3.6 Affiliation to Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) Club Members have the option to take advantage of affiliation to MCofS by electing to pay the Club rate annual subscription MCofS subscription fees are set by MCofS on an annual basis Members are responsible for paying their subscription fees directly to MCofS on an annual basis or otherwise as agreed by MCofS Subscription for Membership affiliation to the Mountaineering council of Scotland remains the responsibility of the individual member: the Club has no liability in this respect Membership of MCofS will be actively encouraged as it provides a raft of benefits and protections for our members Details of and links to the MCofS membership package will be maintained on our 'MCofS Meetup Information Page'. 3.7 Expulsion or Exclusion from Membership The Management Committee shall have the power to expel from the Club any member, as defined in section 3.2, whose conduct warrants such action, such as members who breach our no show policy. More serious complaints for example, and not restricted to, harassment, bullying, physical/verbal abuse, racism etc will be dealt with under the terms of natural justice. In such a case, complaints should go to the organiser of the event, or a member of the Management Committee in the first instance. In cases like this, the decision to expel a member must be based on the unanimous decision of the management committee The Committee shall have the power to exclude members for fixed periods as a result of lesser offences as laid out in the by-laws. 3.8 Affiliation to Meetup The Club will maintain an affiliation with Meetup Affiliation to Meetup is free for all Members and a pre-requisite for Club Membership The Club will fund the Meetup subscriptions by way of encouraging member donations for this purpose. 3.9 Communication with Membership Meetup will provide the primary point of communication and scheduling facilities for membership The Club will maintain one or more Facebook pages to manage specific requirements and communications for focus groups.

3 3.9.3 Membership of focus groups is optional but will be available to all members. 4 Management of the Club 4.1 The management of the club will be entrusted to the Management Committee. 5 Management Committee 5.1 The Management Committee, hereafter referred to as the committee, shall be formed of elected office bearers Officers A number of unpaid Officers will be elected from the Committee to undertake specific roles, consisting of but not limited to: Chairperson and Communications Officer. The minimum number of office bearers will be three The election of Club officers will take place annually by the membership at the AGM or at any time at an EGM called specifically for that purpose. Any member who has hosted three or more events may put themselves forward for election. 5.3 Committee meetings The Committee will meet as necessary on a date fixed by them or at the request of the Communications Officer. The other organisers will be invited to attend to make their views known. Three Committee Members shall form a quorum. 5.4 Voting 5.5 Co-Option Decisions put to a vote shall be resolved by simple majority at Committee Meetings The quorum for Committee Meeting shall be The chairperson to have a casting vote if necessary. In the event of a vacancy occurring for an officer between elections, the Committee may co-opt an organiser as a replacement. The Committee may also co-opt Members onto the Management Committee to perform special functions. 6 General Meetings 6.1 Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held approximately annually on a date fixed by the committee and the club members will be notified by at least 30 days in advance. The lesser of twenty members, or one quarter of the active membership shall constitute a quorum. Active members for this purpose are the full members defined in section 3.2.

4 6.2 Extraordinary General meeting 6.3 Voting An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called by an application by to the Communications Officer The motion to call an Extraordinary General Meeting requires the support of 3 or more members of the Management Committee or 25% of the active membership, as defined in section Five members constitute a quorum Members will be notified by at least 15 days in advance of any Extraordinary General Meeting Only members who have attended a meetup since the last AGM, excluding the AGM or any EGMs, may vote on club matters With the exception of changes to the Constitution which requires a two thirds majority, decisions put to a vote shall be resolved by simple majority at General Meetings The chairperson will have a casting vote if necessary. 6.4 Changes to the Constitution The Constitution may be amended only at the Annual General Meeting or an Extraordinary General Meeting and such proposed changes to be first discussed by the committee and circulated with the agenda of the meeting. 7 Finance and Accounts 7.1 The club shall not have a bank account or hold members funds. 8 Bye-laws 8.1 The Management Group shall have the power to set Club bye-laws. Such bye-laws shall be in accordance with the articles of the Clubs Constitution, and the policies of the Mountaineering Council of Scotland. 8.2 A separate written record of By-laws will be kept by the Chairperson. 9 Liabilities 9.1 The club or the Committee, will accept no liabilities of any sort for the person, property or behaviour of a member or any other person. 9.2 The club or the Committee, will accept no liabilities for any unpaid subscriptions to Meetup, failure to raise subscriptions in the prescribed manner from membership should trigger a dissolution of the club.

5 10 Dissolution 10.1 Dissolution of the Club may be carried out by a decision of three quarters of the active members of the club at an AGM or EGM or by or in combination with an ballot Active members in this respect will be that number reported from the previous six months activity in Meetup prior to the call for dissolution. No other votes will be accepted.