READING ROWING CLUB RULES NAME AND OBJECTIVES 1. The Club shall be called the Reading Rowing Club ; hereinafter known as the Club. Its objectives shall be the practice and promotion of rowing, sculling and indoor rowing; it shall be affiliated to the British Rowing Limited; its colours shall be blue and white. MEMBERSHIP 2. (a) The membership shall be unlimited and consist of Gold, Silver, Associate, Junior, Student, Coach, Cox, Corporate, Umpire, Parent Helper, International / Country and Honorary Members or a combination thereof. (b) Gold Members shall be entitled to all the privileges and benefits of membership. (c) Silver Members shall be entitled to all the privileges and benefits of membership except that they shall not be entitled to represent the Club at British Rowing events with the exception of Explore Rowing events. (d) Associate Members shall be entitled to all the privileges and benefits of membership except that they shall not be qualified to be Officers of the Club, or to vote as Members, or be entitled to the use of the Club s boats, oars or sculls or to represent the Club at a regatta or other open event. (e) Junior Members shall be less than eighteen years of age on the first day of the January prior to that subscription year. Junior Members shall be entitled to all the privileges and benefits of membership except that they shall not be qualified to be Officers of the Club, or to vote as Members. (f) Student Members are Gold Members of the Club who are registered with a Local Education Authority as being in full-time education. Student Members shall be entitled to all the benefits and privileges of membership but shall pay a reduced subscription. (g) Coach Members are Gold Members or Junior Members of the Club who are registered with the Club as a Squad Coach. All Coach Members are required to have the appropriate British Rowing coaching qualification and to maintain their British Rowing membership in order that their coaching insurance cover is maintained. Coach Members shall be entitled to all the benefits and privileges of membership but shall not be required to pay an entrance fee or subscription.
(h) Cox Members are Gold Members or Junior Members of the Club who are registered with the Club as a Registered Club Cox. Cox Members shall be entitled to all the benefits and privileges of membership but shall not be required to pay an entrance fee or subscription. In line with Junior membership, Cox Members who are less than eighteen years of age will not be qualified to be Officers of the Club, or to vote as Members. (i) Corporate Members are Gold Members whose employers have contributed to the Club in return for lower individual subscriptions for their employees. Corporate Members shall have the same privileges and benefits of membership as Gold Members. (j) Umpire Members are Gold Members of the Club who are registered with the Club as a Registered British Rowing Umpire, or are undertaking British Rowing training to become an Umpire. Umpire Members shall be entitled to all the benefits and privileges of membership but shall not be required to pay an entrance fee or subscription. (k) Parent Helper Members are parents of junior members who regularly support the Junior VC and coaches in running the junior squad. In that role they are entitled to use Club equipment as deemed necessary by the Junior VC and coaches, and they shall be qualified to be Officers of the Club, and to vote as Members. (l) International / Country membership shall be granted to persons normally resident overseas or remotely from the Reading area who will be living in the Reading area for a period and who wish to train at the Club during their period of residence. They may be admitted as an adult or junior dependent on their age. International / Country Members shall be entitled to all the privileges and benefits of membership except that they shall not be qualified to be Officers of the Club, or to vote as Members. They may represent the Club at a regatta or other open event subject to any separate regulations made by the Race Committee of the proposed event. International / Country Members shall pay the Introduction Fee and a pro-rated membership subscription to cover the period of the year that they will attend the Club. (m) In recognition of outstanding services or support to the Club, the Management Committee may, at its discretion, invite any Member to become an Honorary Member or a Vice-President of the Club. Vice-Presidents and Trustees shall be entitled to Honorary Membership. No Honorary Member shall be elected if, by that election, the number of Honorary Members shall then exceed one quarter of the total membership of the Club or twenty persons, whichever is greater. Honorary Members shall be entitled to all the benefits and privileges of membership but shall not be required to pay an entrance fee or subscription or represent the Club at a regatta or other open event. (n) Temporary Members shall be entitled to all the privileges and benefits of membership except that they shall not be qualified to be Officers of the Club, or to vote as Members, or to represent the Club at a regatta or other open event. Temporary Members will consist of: (i) Persons participating in the Learn to Row courses or in a Junior Training Camp shall be Temporary Members of the club for the duration of the course or camp.
(ii) Persons who are members of other rowing clubs visiting the club and being allowed the use of the club facilities for the payment of a fee shall be Temporary Members of the club for the duration of their visit. (iii) School pupils who attend and use the facilities of the club in accordance with an arrangement with their school shall be Temporary Members of the club for the duration of any school term in which they attend. (o) In no event shall the total number of non-voting Members, excluding Junior Members, exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the total membership of the Club. ELECTION OF MEMBERS 3. (a) Membership of the Club shall be open to anyone interested in the sport of rowing on application in accordance with the Equal Opportunities Policy (Section 5). However, a limitation on membership according to available facilities is allowable on a non-discriminatory basis. (b) A person who has been expelled from, or refused membership of British Rowing Limited shall not be eligible for membership. (c) Every application for membership shall be submitted with the appropriate entrance fee (if applicable) and subscription to the Membership Secretary. A properly completed application will result in the applicant being elected as a Member of the Club. However, the Membership Secretary may refer any application to the Club Captain for further deliberation prior to electing the applicant to member. If the Club Captain also questions the suitability of an applicant for membership the matter will be referred to the Management Committee. If the Management Committee agrees that the granting or renewing of membership would be detrimental to the aims and objectives of the Club, by virtue of conduct or character likely to bring the Club or the sport of rowing into disrepute or for some other similar good cause, the Management Committee shall be entitled to refuse or withdraw such membership. In doing so the Management Committee shall provide full reasons for their decision and grant a right of Appeal to the applicant. If a candidate fails to be elected, the Membership Secretary shall return the entrance fee and subscription fee (if applicable) as soon as is practicable. (d) Applicants for membership and members renewing their membership will abide by the Rules and Regulations of the Club and the sport of rowing. This includes agreeing to volunteer time to support the Club with bar functions, Learn To Row courses, Reading Amateur Regatta, Reading Small Boats Head, Club clean-up days, and other occasions across the year. NOTICE OF ELECTION 4. The Membership Secretary shall send to every newly elected Member written notice thereof, together with a copy of these Rules, and he or she shall become a Member of the Club, provided that at least 2 days have elapsed between application and admission.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES POLICY 5. The Club is fully committed to the principles of equality of opportunity and is responsible for ensuring that no member, volunteer, employee or job applicant receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, gender, disability, race, ethnic origin, nationality, colour, parental or marital status, pregnancy, religious belief, social status, sexual orientation or political belief. CHILD PROTECTION POLICY 6. The Club has established and will maintain in force a Child Protection Policy in accordance with directives issued by British Rowing Limited or other Statutory Body, from time to time. The Club will implement the procedures necessary to comply with this Policy. The Child Protection Policy, procedures, details of those authorised to coach or assist children and names of those to whom complaints or concerns should be addressed, will be posted prominently on the Club Premises at all times. The Club requires all Members and their guests to accept these policies and procedures as an ongoing condition of membership of the Club. SUBSCRIPTION AND MEMBERSHIP 7. (a) The annual and pro-rated subscriptions for each category of membership shall be fixed from time to time by the Management Committee under Bye- laws made pursuant to these Rules. The Membership and other Fees to apply at the Annual Renewal Date shall be fixed at the prior Annual General Meeting. The Management Committee shall have the discretion to adjust subscription rates in specific cases and shall advise the Membership Secretary of the appropriate rate to be charged. (b) If the Management Committee shall so decide, an Entrance Fee shall be imposed and shall be paid by new Members. (c) The contribution to be made by an employer and the associated reduction in annual subscriptions for Corporate Members who are their employees shall be fixed by the Management Committee under Bye-laws made pursuant to these Rules. (d) The Membership Subscription shall become due on admission of the Member to the Club or on the first day of the month following expiry of the Member s current subscription. (e) Deleted. (f) No person shall be entitled to the privileges of membership until the subscription has been paid. If the subscription of any Member has not been paid by the first of the month following when it is due, then he or she shall forfeit all rights and claims on the Club and shall cease to be a Member of the Club. (g) The date of expiry of a Member s membership may be extended by a maximum of three months in any twelve month period. The rules for determining the extension will be decided by the Management Committee from time to time and will be notified to Members at the start of the Member s membership year.
TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP 8. (a) Any Member may resign his or her membership by giving to the Membership Secretary notice in writing to that effect. Any member who resigns their membership shall not be entitled to a refund on membership fees paid. (b) The Management Committee shall have the power to sanction any Member who shall infringe any Rule or Bye-law or whose conduct is, in their opinion, unworthy of a Member of the Club. The published club policy for rule / byelaw infringement will be followed when any allegation of such has been made. The Captain will communicate any applicable sanction to the member in writing. (c) Members can appeal against any sanction applied by writing to the President, stating their grounds for appeal as detailed in the Infringement & Grievance Policy. A separate meeting will consider the appeal and can overturn or uphold the original sanction. The decision of this panel is final. (d) Copies of the Club Rules, Bye-Laws and Infringement Policy are available from the Club s website (www.readingrc.com) or through contacting the Club Secretary. EFFECT OF CEASING TO BE A MEMBER 9. (a) Any person ceasing to be a Member of the Club shall forfeit all rights to and claim upon the Club and its property and funds. (b) The termination of membership by resignation, expulsion or otherwise shall in no way relieve a Member from any outstanding liability to the Club. The Honorary Treasurer shall have a lien upon all property of any Member in or upon Club Premises for any monies due to the Club from that Member and shall have the right to enforce that lien by sale or otherwise. OFFICERS 10. (a) The Officers of the Club shall consist of the following who will be elected annually at the Extraordinary General Meeting called under Rule 18 (e). Captain Men s Vice-Captain Women s Vice-Captain Masters Vice-Captain Junior Vice-Captain Explore Vice-Captain The Officers of the Club shall also consist of the following who will be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting called under Rule 18 (a). Honorary President Honorary Secretary Honorary Treasurer
Membership Secretary Boat Manager House Manager Open Events Secretary Social Secretary Marketing Officer Kit Officer (b) The Captain or, in their absence, the Vice-Captains, or, in the absence of both, any other Officer of the Club present shall have entire control of the crews and boats. (c) Crews shall be composed of Gold Members and Junior Members and their selection shall be in the hands of the Captain and Vice-Captains. The Vice- Captains shall be responsible for assisting the Captain in matters regarding all crews. Areas of responsibility shall be decided between the Captain and the four Vice-Captains. No Member shall enter any regatta or other event in the name of the Club without permission of the Captain. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE 11. (a) The affairs of the Club and matters not reserved for the Club in General Meeting shall be managed by a committee known as the Management Committee. (b) The Management Committee shall consist of as a minimum the Officers of the Club as identified in Rule 10(a), a Club Welfare Officer (non-voting) and a Club Safety Adviser, together with two nominees from Reading Borough Council (who shall be Honorary Members for the period during which they are Council nominees and may attend committee meetings as they deem necessary). If any post remains unfilled after the Annual General Meeting or the Extraordinary General Meeting, the Management Committee shall be responsible for finding someone willing and able to fill the post. The Management Committee shall at their first meeting elect a Chairman from amongst their number. (c) The Management Committee shall be empowered to: (i) nominate or arrange elections for the membership of any sub committees that may be required from time to time; (ii) appoint, pay and dismiss such servants as it may necessary; and deem (iii) make Bye-laws, not inconsistent with these Rules, for the conduct of Members and Officers of the Club, a copy of which must be made available for inspection by Members.
(d) The Management Committee shall have the power to fill any casual vacancy in any elected position for the remainder of the term of office and to co-opt and remove not more than two additional non-elected voting Members of the Management Committee. (e) Failure of Members to read notices informing them of nominations of candidates to the various Committees shall not invalidate the election of such candidates. (f) he Officers shall deal with the property of the Club as directed by the Management Committee and they shall be indemnified against risk and expense out of the Club property. (g) A subcommittee consisting of the Captain and the five Vice-Captains will propose the Club equipment buying and disposal policies. A quorum for meetings of this sub-committee shall consist of the Captain and three vice Captains. Proposals from this sub-committee will only be presented to the Management Committee following unanimous agreement to the proposals by the sub-committee members present. Their proposals will be considered and ratified or rejected by the whole Management Committee. The ultimate authority for the purchase or disposal of the Club s equipment lies with the Management Committee. (h) Members may attend committee meetings at any time and speak if invited to do so by a committee member through the Chair. (i) Deleted. (j) The Honorary Secretary is responsible for the organisation of meetings of the Management Committee and of the Club, shall conduct the correspondence of the Club, keep Minutes of all meetings and records of Regattas and have custody of all documents, including those relating to contractual links between the Club and external organisations. The Honorary Secretary is also the custodian of the Club Rules. (k) The Honorary Treasurer is responsible for receiving all monies due to the Club shall who shall keep the accounts of the Club and shall expend on behalf of the Club such sums as the Management Committee may from time to time authorise. All subscriptions and other liabilities due to the Club from Members and other persons shall be a personal debt to the Honorary Treasurer for the time being and such Treasurer shall have power in his own name to sue for and to recover any and all such liabilities. The Honorary Treasurer shall also generate the Financial Statements for the financial year to August 31, for presentation to the Independent Reviewer and at the next Annual General Meeting in that year. (l) The Membership Secretary shall be responsible for all applications for membership and the collection of all fees and subscriptions due from new and existing Members, and maintain a Register of the names and addresses of the Members of the Club (a copy of which shall be kept on the Club Premises). (m) The Management Committee shall be responsible for the day to day management of the club: in particular the management of the Bar, for the management of catering activities in the club, and for the general running of the premises. These duties will be assigned by the Management Committee on an annual basis following the election of officers at the AGM.
12. Deleted. PURCHASE AND SALE OF INTOXICATING LIQUOR 13. (a) The Management Committee shall be responsible for the purchase and supply of intoxicating liquor within the Club. (b) Intoxicating liquor may be sold to persons attending the Club Premises for social or other functions organised or authorised by the Club provided always that the number of such functions shall not exceed 20 in any one year but no function shall be permitted to which admission may be obtained by payment of money at the door, whether for a ticket or otherwise. (c) Supply of intoxicating liquor shall be restricted to persons who are 18 years and over. (d) Intoxicating liquor shall not be sold to visitors to the Club except as specifically provided in the Rules. (e) Off sales are permitted only to Members of the Club in person during permitted hours. (f) The permitted hours of the Club shall be fixed by the Management Committee in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003 and shall be published as a Bye- Law of the Club, and exhibited on the Club Premises. (g) Rules (d) & (e) may be suspended when an appropriate temporary licence is obtained. STORAGE OF PRIVATELY OWNED BOATS 14. (a) Gold, Silver or Junior Membership of the Club is a prerequisite for the storage of a privately owned boat. (b) Privately owned boats stored on Club Premises must be comprehensively insured by the owner throughout the time the boat is stored on Club Premises. (c) The Club accepts no responsibility for privately owned boats on or off the Club Premises. (d) No privately owned boat will be left on the Club Premises without the allocation of a rack. (e) The Individual nominated by the Captain, on behalf of the Management Committee, will allocate racks on an annual basis. No boats, except those undergoing maintenance, will be stored in the aisles between the racks. (f) Any privately owned boat for which a Membership Fee and a Rack Fee have not been paid by the first day of the third month following expiry of membership may be removed from the boathouse by the Management Committee and disposed of. (g) A letter will be sent to the last known address of the owner of the boat not less than 14 days before removal of the boat informing the owner of the consequences of non-payment of the fees due.
STORAGE OF BOATS OWNED BY OTHER ROWING ASSOCIATIONS OR CLUBS 15. Rules 14(b) to 14(g) for the storage of privately owned boats will also apply to boats owned by rowing or other clubs other than the Club unless otherwise authorised by the Captain or a Vice-Captain. TRUSTEES 16. (a) The property of the Club shall be vested in Trustees who shall not at any time be more than four or less than two in number. The Trustees shall be appointed by the Club at a General Meeting. The Trustees from time to time appointed shall resign their Trust and transfer the property vested in them to other Trustees to be appointed in their stead upon receiving a written requisition to do so, signed by the Chairman and the Honorary Secretary in pursuance of a resolution passed by a majority of three-fourths of the Members present at a General Meeting. When the Trustees shall be reduced to less than two in number by death, or resignation, or otherwise, other Trustees shall be appointed in the stead of those who shall have died, resigned or become incapable to act. (b) An order in writing in pursuance of a resolution of the Management Committee, signed by the Chairman of the Meeting at which the Resolution was passed and counter-signed by the Honorary Secretary or Honorary Treasurer for the time being, shall be sufficient for the performance or execution of any act or deed which they may, by such order, be required or requested to do or execute and shall exempt them from all liabilities in respect thereof. (c) Any Member who shall lose or damage any property of the Club shall immediately report the same to one of the Officers of the Club and shall have the same replaced or repaired at his or her own expense. The Management Committee shall set the proportion of the actual cost of replacement or repair to be charged to the Member except that the total amount charged will not exceed the full cost of the replacement or repair. In the case of dispute, the matter shall be decided by the Management Committee who will have the authority to suspend the Member. QUORUMS 17. (a) The quorum at a Management Committee Meeting shall be nine of its Members. (b) Deleted. (c) The quorum at any Annual General Meeting shall be twelve Members of the Club eligible to vote. (d) The quorum at any Extraordinary General Meeting shall be twelve Members of the Club eligible to vote. (e) All questions arising at a meeting (except as otherwise provided by the Rules) shall be decided by a majority of votes of the persons who shall be present and entitled to vote and, in the case of equality of votes, the Chairman of the Meeting shall have the casting vote. All questions shall be decided by a show of hands unless any four persons entitled to vote shall demand a ballot, in which case the question shall be decided by a ballot in the usual way.
GENERAL MEETINGS 18. (a) The Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held once in every calendar year on or before 31st December and not more than 15 months after the date of the previous Annual General Meeting. The business to be transacted at an Annual General Meeting shall be: (i) to receive a Report from the Management Committee on the state of affairs of the Club and to consider the Financial Statements for the financial year ended on the previous 31st August and the report from the Independent Reviewer (ii) to elect the Officers of the Club, except for the Captain and Vice- Captains, for the ensuing year; (iii) to elect an Independent Reviewer for the Club for the ensuing year; and (iv) to transact any other business. (b) The date, time and location of the Annual General Meeting will be determined at a full meeting of the Management Committee. (c) Notices of general meetings (AGMs and EGMs), together with the agenda for the meeting will be displayed in the Boathouse a minimum of 14 days before the date of the meeting. (d) Where Officers of the Club are to be elected a notice from the Management Committee calling for nominations will be displayed in the boathouse a minimum of 14 days before the election. (e) An Extraordinary General Meeting of the Club shall be held once in every calendar year on or before 30th August and not more than 15 months after the date of the previous Extraordinary General Meeting to elect the Captain and Vice-Captains of the Club for the ensuing year. (f) An Extraordinary General Meeting of the Club may be convened by the Management Committee at any time and shall be convened if a written request to that effect shall be delivered to the Honorary Secretary by not less than 10 or one-fifth (whichever is the lesser) of the Members entitled to vote at such meeting, such written request specifying the object or objects for which such meeting is to be held and the business to be transacted at the said meeting. (g) Every General Meeting shall be summoned by an electronic calling notice to each Member according to the details provided on their membership application form submitted to the Club at least fourteen days prior to such notice shall state the purpose for which such meeting is to be held. At any General Meeting, each eligible Member personally present shall be entitled to one vote on each resolution and voting shall be confined to eligible Members. NOTICE OF BUSINESS 19. Any Member entitled to and desirous of moving any Resolution at a General Meeting (other than one called at the request of Members) shall give notice thereof in writing to the Honorary Secretary not less than seven days before the date of such meeting.
FINANCIAL YEAR AND ACCOUNTS 20. (a) The financial year of the Club shall end on the 31st day of August in each year, to which date the Accounts of the Club shall be balanced. Financial statements including a Balance Sheet, income statement and cash flow shall be presented at the next succeeding Annual General Meeting. (b) The Independent Reviewer elected at each Annual General Meeting shall examine the Balance Sheet and Accounts and report thereon. BORROWING 21. If at any time the Club in a General Meeting shall pass a Resolution authorising the Management Committee to borrow money, the Management Committee shall thereupon be empowered to borrow for the purposes of the Club such amount of money either at one time or from time to time and at such rate of interest and in such form and manner and with such security as shall be specified in such resolution. Thereupon, the Management Committee shall, on behalf of the Members, make all such disposition of the Club property or any part hereof and enter into such agreement in relation thereto as the Management Committee may deem proper for giving security for such loans and interest. All Members of the Club, whether voting on such Resolution or not, and all persons becoming Members of the Club after the passing of the Resolution, shall be deemed to have assented to the same as if they had voted in favour of such Resolution. OPENING OF THE CLUB PREMISES 22. The Club Premises shall be open to Members on such days and between such hours as the Management Committee shall determine, and the Management Committee may close the Club on such occasions and for such time as they deem necessary. GAMBLING PROHIBITED 23. The Club Premises shall not be used for gambling which is outside the limits of the law or the playing of an unlawful game. The Management Committee shall have the power to prohibit any game which, in their opinion, is unlawful or the playing of which would be injurious to the interests of the Club. VISITORS 24. Members shall have the right to introduce guests subject to such Regulations as shall be made from time to time by the Management Committee. No Member shall be entitled to introduce more than three bona fide guests into the Club at any one time. The names and addresses of all guests and the name of the Member introducing them shall be entered into a book maintained for that purpose and kept on the Club Premises. The Management Committee reserve the right to refuse admission to the Club Premises to any non-member without explaining the grounds for such refusal. AMENDMENT OF RULES 25. These Rules may be repealed or amended by Resolution at any General Meeting, providing that no such Resolution shall be deemed to have passed unless it is carried by a majority of at least three-fourths of Members voting thereon.
DISTRIBUTION OF PROFITS 26. In no circumstances can any Profit be distributed to Members, but any Profits earned shall be used in furthering the objects of the Club. DISSOLUTION 27. (a) If, at any General Meeting of the Club, a resolution be passed calling for the dissolution of the Club, the Secretary shall immediately convene an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Club to be held not less than one month thereafter to discuss and vote on the resolution. (b) If at that Extraordinary General Meeting, the resolution is carried by at least two-thirds of the Gold and Silver Members present at the meeting, the Management 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 debts and liabilities of the Club. (c) After discharging all debts and liabilities of the Club, the remaining assets shall not be paid or distributed amongst the Members of the Club, but shall be disposed of to one or more of the following: (i) to another Club with similar sports purposes which is a charity and/or (ii) to another Club with similar sports purposes which is a registered CASC and/or (iii) to British Rowing Limited for use by them for related community sports. NOTICES 28. Written notices and other written communications from the Club will be delivered via email. Similarly, where any of the Club Rules require members to give written notices to a Club Officer, such notices will be given via email. INTERPRETATION 29. The Management Committee shall be the sole authority for the interpretation of these Rules and of any Bye-laws or Regulations made from time to time; and the decision of the Management Committee upon any question of interpretation or upon any matter affecting the Club and not provided for by these Rules or by the Bye-laws or Regulations shall be final and binding on the Members. Interpretation of all the Rules must be consistent with the statutory requirements for CASCs (which means Community Amateur Sports Clubs as first provided for by the Finance Act 2002). SAFETY 30. The Safety Adviser is to co-ordinate the implementation by the Club of the requirements of the British Rowing Row Safe Guide. The Club requires all Members to accept this Row Safe Guide which is embodied within the Club s own guidance on water safety which is a condition of membership of the Club.
These Rules were adopted in accordance with Rule 25 at the Annual General Meeting of Reading Rowing Club held on 11 October 2017. Signed by: Captain of Reading Rowing Club (Gail Buckley) Secretary of Reading Rowing Club (Emily Hodges)