HERTFORDSHIRE NETBALL ASSOCIATION CONSTITUTION 1. TITLE The County Association shall be called the HERTFORDSHIRE NETBALL ASSOCIATION (hereinafter called the County). MISSION STATEMENT The County aims to promote equal opportunities for people to take part in Netball at a level appropriate to their needs and aspirations and to promote their Performance and Development. The County aims to achieve this by taking positive action to develop Netball as a sport by continuing to promote and develop productive partnerships with appropriate sporting and outside agencies. 2. AFFILIATION The County shall be affiliated to the All England Netball Association (hereinafter called England Netball) and to the East Region Netball Association (hereinafter called Netball East). 3. EQUITY STATEMENT The County is fully committed to the principles of equality of opportunity and is responsible for ensuring that no job applicant, employee, volunteer or registered participant receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, gender, disability, race, language, ethnic origin, nationality, colour, parental or marital status, pregnancy, religious belief, class or social background, sexual preference, gender reassignment or political belief. 4. DUTY OF CARE The County accepts the principals and core values of the England Netball Duty of Care Guidelines. 5. OBJECTIVES 5.1 To carry out the administrative plans made and the policies formulated by England Netball and Netball East. 5.2 To plan and encourage the growth of Netball at all levels within the County as agreed and shown in the Hertfordshire Whole Sport Plan. 5.3 To organise such events as agreed by the Members. 5.4 To adopt the rules and regulations of the game of Netball as laid down by England Netball. 5.5 To keep a watching brief on Netball Facilities within the County. 5.6 To employ the funds of the County as shall be deemed to be in the best interest of its members and the game of Netball. 5.7 To serve as a forum to co-ordinate activities within the County and to organise competitions, technical courses and tests for all members at all levels. 1
5.8 To work in partnership with Herts Sports Partnership and liaise with other organisations to ensure full involvement in providing facilities and participation for members. 5.9 The County shall have the power to engage in any activities incidental thereto. 6. MEMBERSHIP The following shall be eligible for Membership:- 6.1 Netball Club, Young Persons Group, Youth Club, Junior League. 6.2 Any Educational Institution such as Junior/ Primary, Middle/Secondary Schools, Colleges/Universities. 6.3 Registered Participants a registered participant is a person who plays, coaches, umpires or organises Netball or who is in any way concerned or connected with Netball. She/he must register with England Netball either through a club affiliated to the County or directly through the County. 6.4 The Honorary Life Membership of Hertfordshire. 6.5 All Members shall be bound by this Constitution and any other rulings of the Main Committee and by the current rules of the game of Netball. 6.6 A Member may resign from the County:- (a) Having given twenty eight days written notice and relinquished any benefits of membership; OR (b) is requested to resign by a majority vote of the Main Committee. 7. MAIN COMMITTEE The management of the affairs of the County shall be entrusted to the Main Committee which will have the power to conduct all business and decide on matters on behalf of the County. 7.1 The Main Committee shall comprise of: Honorary Positions - President - Vice President(s) - England Netball Regional Manager - Herts Netball Life Members Honorary Officers - Chairman - Vice Chairman - Secretary - Treasurer - Technical Group Chairmen Members - Communications and Marketing Officer - Equity and Welfare Officer - County Netball Development Officer All Honorary Officers must hold a current affiliation to England Netball and Hertfordshire Netball. 2
7.2 All members of the Main Committee are eligible to one vote with the exception of President, Vice Presidents, England Netball Regional Manager and Herts Netball Life Members. 7.3 The Main Committee shall have the power to co-opt not more than three members with the power to vote. 7.4 The Main Committee shall have the power to confer Honorary Life Membership of the Association upon any person who has rendered special services to the County with such rights and privileges as the Main Committee may from time to time determine. 7.5 The Main Committee shall submit an Annual Report to Netball East at least one month prior to the East Region Netball Association Annual General Meeting to include reports of all activities held at County level. 7.6 The Main Committee shall have the power to invite any person having specialised knowledge to attend any meeting of the County or it s Technical Groups in an advisory capacity and without the power to vote. 7.7 The Main Committee shall set up Technical Groups as and when necessary with appropriate terms of reference agreed by the Main Committee. 7.8 The Main Committee may fill any vacancy that may occur during the year on the Main Committee or Technical Groups. If this involves filling an elected position then that person must offer themselves for election at the next Annual General Meeting following their initial appointment. 7.9 The Main Committee shall meet at least 4 times a year. 7.10 Five voting members shall form a quorum. 7.11 At all Main Committee Meetings, in the absence of the Chairman, the Vice Chairman shall act as Chairman or if neither is present, the Chairman shall be elected from those present at the meeting. 8. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 8.1 An Annual General Meeting shall be held each calendar year on a date set by the Main Committee. 8.2 The date and agenda of the Annual General Meeting shall be circulated not less than 14 days before the meeting to all members, Main Committee Members and Honorary positions.
3 8.3 All Honorary Officers shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting for a period of (3) three years. They shall be eligible for re-election and require nomination. Existing Honorary Officers shall hold Office to the end of the Annual General Meeting at which their successor is appointed. 8.4 Nominations for Honorary Officers may be made by an Ordinary Member. These must be sent, in writing, to the Honorary Secretary not later than one month before the Annual General Meeting, together with the names of the proposers and seconders. The sanction of the nominee must first have been obtained. 8.5 The President shall chair the Annual General Meeting. In the absence of the President, the County Chairman shall act as Chairman or if neither are present, then the Vice Chairman shall act as Chairman. 8.6 Business to be transacted shall be: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) To receive reports To adopt an audited Statement of Accounts To elect Honorary Officers To appoint an Auditor To consider any proposed resolution submitted in writing to the Honorary Secretary twenty eight days before the date of the Annual General Meeting, which has been proposed and seconded by the Main Committee or two members entitled to vote at the Annual General Meeting. To agree Annual Affiliation Fees including School Affiliation Fees to the County. Set date for next Annual General Meeting. 8.7 Voting One representative from each affiliated Netball Club, Netball section of a Sports Club, Netball section of a Youth Club and/or Community Club, Educational Institution or Club within an Educational Institution and Honorary Officers shall be entitled to one vote each. 8.8 Each affiliated Netball Club may appoint a representative from their local league to speak and vote on their behalf as their nominated proxy. 8.9 All matters at the Annual General Meeting shall be decided by a majority vote. 8.10 The Chairman of the Annual General Meeting shall have a casting vote in the case of an equality of votes. 8.11 A quorum of the Annual General Meeting shall be thirty voting members, including the proxy votes held by the local league representatives.
4 9. EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING 9.1 An Extraordinary General Meeting shall be convened by the Honorary Secretary (a) By order of the Main Committee (b) At the request, in writing, from the Committee of two Leagues (c) At the request, in writing, of four affiliated Clubs or Educational Institutions. The requisition in this case must be signed by an official of each Club or Educational Institution. 9.2 Each requisition for an Extraordinary General Meeting must be made, in writing, to the Honorary Secretary and must state the purpose for which a meeting is required and shall set out, in full, any resolution which it is desired to propose. 9.3 The Meeting shall be held within 60 days of receipt of the requisition by the Honorary Secretary and 30 days notice of the Meeting and of any resolution proposed shall be given to every member entitled to vote. 10. TECHNICAL GROUPS The following Technical Groups shall be set up- (a) Coaching (b) Officials (c) Competition Provision (d) School and Club Development (e) Talent Development (f) Any other Technical Group that is considered necessary 11. MEMBERSHIP FEES 11.1 Each Member shall pay an Annual Fee to the County which includes both the subscription towards the expenses of the County plus the appropriate fees to Netball East and England Netball. 11.2 Annual Subscription shall be due on 1 st September and must be paid by 1 st October that year. They shall be valid between 1 st September and 31 st August the following year. 11.3 The Main Committee is empowered to recommend any alterations in total membership fees, either arising from any resolution at the Annual General Meeting of Netball East, the Annual General Meeting of England Netball or based on the County expenses. 11.4 The scale and rate of the total fees shall be proposed by the Honorary Treasurer and approved at the Annual General Meeting. 11.5 The financial year shall end on 30 th March.
5 12. REPRESENTATIVE TEAMS 12.1 Any group of players, playing as a team representing the County shall be affiliated through a Club or Educational Institution within the County. 12.2 The affairs of any representative team shall be overseen by the Performance Manager on behalf of the Main Committee. Any financial decisions will be taken by the Main Committee. 12.3 The colours of the County shall be Royal Blue and Gold. 13. MANAGEMENT PROPERTY/FUNDS 13.1 All funds and other property of the County shall not be paid or distributed among the members of the County but shall be applied towards the furtherance of the Association s objectives. 13.2 Payment to individuals other than petty cash expenses shall be sanctioned by the Main Committee. 14. DISCIPLINARY POWERS, PROCEDURES AND APPEALS 14.1 The County shall deal with any disciplinary matters in accordance with the England Netball Disciplinary Procedures. The current version is located on the England Netball website www.englandnetball.co.uk 14.2 The County shall be an APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY under the England Netball Disciplinary Procedures Manual, sections 4 and 7. For the purposes of the Disciplinary Procedures the County Association Secretary shall be the Disciplinary Secretary. 14.3 Members of any Investigation Committee convened under these procedures shall be drawn from members of the County Main Committee and League Chairs and chaired by one of the County Association Honorary Officers. 14.4 Members of any Appeal Committee convened under these procedures shall be drawn from members of the County Main Committee and League Chairs and chaired by one of the County Association Honorary Officers. 15. DISSOLUTION That in the event of dissolution, the funds remaining will be devoted to other organisations whose objects are similar to those of the County or to other purposes approved by the Charity Commissioners. 16. INDEMNITY All Honorary Officers, members of the Main Committee and Technical Groups shall be indemnified through their affiliation to England Netball against all costs, losses or liabilities which they may incur or sustain in relation to the execution of their duties or their office or by reason of any duty performed for or with the authority of the Main Committee.
Approved June 2011 Signed Chairman.. Secretary.. 7