Constitution of Clonmel Athletic Club

Constitution of Clonmel Athletic Club

 

Passed at a specially convened EGM – Hearn’s Hotel – 30th April 2007, updated May 2012 and March 2021.

 

  1. Title

 

– The Club will be known as Clonmel Athletic Club

– It will be non-political and non-sectarian.

– It will be subject to the overall Constitution of the parent association, Athletics Association of Ireland and to the Irish Sports Council

 

  1. Objective

To assist, through athletics, each member of Clonmel Athletic Club to reach their full potential, physically and mentally, in an atmosphere of friendship, co-operation, fairness, equal opportunity and safety and to assist in the development of athletics in Clonmel and surrounding areas.

 

  1. Management of the Club
  2. A Management Committee will manage the Club on a day-to-day basis. The Management Committee should comprise of at least 17 elected members in accordance with Section 3.4 of this Constitution. These shall include a Chairperson, 2 Vice Chairpersons one Senior and one Juvenile, Secretary, Juvenile Registrar /Competition Secretary, Senior Registrar / Competition Secretary, Treasurer, Asst. Treasurer, Juvenile PRO Officer, Senior PRO Officer, 2 Child Protection Officers, Male and Female. The Management Committee should not exceed 17 members.
  3. In addition to the elected members of the Committee, the Management Committee will elect a Coach’s Representative from the overall Committee. (This person can also hold an officer ship).
  4. The Management Committee may co-opt other members as required once they comply with section 3.4 of this constitution provided the total number does not exceed 17.
  5. Only paid-up members of the club can seek election to the Management Committee. To be eligible for membership of the Management Committee one must be a member of the club for one year and be 17 years of age and over.
  6. Any member of the Committee may seek re-election to the Committee or to any post.
  7. The Management Committee will have the power to appoint different sub-committees and to approve membership of each sub-committee.
  8. Management meetings shall take place monthly but at least eight times a year.
  9. For a meeting to be held, a quorum of 5 must attend.
  10. The only vote that the Chairman has is the casting vote.
  11. If, for any reason, the Membership of the Committee falls below 17, the Management Committee has the power to co-opt additional members from the Registered Membership.
  12. Positions not filled at the AGM may be filled by co-option by the Management Committee in accordance with Section 3.4 of this Constitution.
  13. The Management Committee must ensure a Register of current paid up members is maintained and is available for examination at any AGM or
  14. Minutes of Previous meeting and Agenda of upcoming meeting to be issued to all Management Committee members at least 24 hours before upcoming meeting.
  15. The Management Committee may request a member to act on its behalf in any forum.
  16. It will be the responsibility of the Management Committee to secure funding for Clonmel Athletic Club from the Lotto, County Council or any other available sources.
  17. No expenditure greater than 1000 Euros can be spent without the approval of the Management Committee. Where expenditure for the club is over 5000 Euro, tenders should be obtained from at least three suppliers unless there is only one specialist supplier, where practical.
  18. Borrowings for the club up of to 300,000 Euro may be approved by the Management Committee but over this amount approval must be approved by the membership at an AGM or an EGM with detailed reasons given to the membership.
  19. All Clonmel Athletic Club cheques must have two signatories of two of the following Officers: Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and/or Assistant Treasurer.
  20. A Copy of the Constitution should be available at all Management meetings.
  21. A report on all attendances at committee meetings during the year will form part of the Secretary’s Annual Report.
  22. Annual General Meeting
  23. It will be held annually in December.
  24. Our AGM can be held Virtually but will only be used in extreme cases, where we cannot physically be in attendance in one location due to government regulations like in times of a pandemic.
  25. To vote or to serve or to seek an Officer ship a person must be a fully paid-up registered member by the 1st of November prior to the AGM. This does not preclude anyone from been a member after the 1st of November but does prevent them from voting at that AGM.
  26. Members will be notified at least 21 days before the AGM. The Agenda for an AGM should be circulated to all paid up members 7 days before the date convened. Motions and Nominations must be with the Secretary 10 days before the AGM.
  27. The Agenda should include:
    • Welcoming address by the Chairman
    • Standing Orders and scrutiny of delegates
    • Minutes of the last AGM
    • Matters arising from them.
    • Reports of Officers
    • Approval of Financial Statement and setting of subscriptions and fees.
    • Reports of any EGM held.
    • Amendments to the Constitution
    • Motions for debate
    • Nominations for Election to the Management Committee (Officers and Committee members)
    • AOB
  28. Any paid-up Registered Member may propose an Amendment to the Constitution or a motion once the motion is seconded by another Registered paid-up member. These should be notified in writing at least ten days before the AGM to allow the Secretary to copy them and to circulate them to all paid up members.
  29. Any paid-up member may propose or second another member for any post on the Management Committee, subject to section 3.4 of this constitution.
  30. Motions and Nominations must be proposed by the Proposer at the AGM, failure to be there in person to propose the Motion or Nomination will deem the Motion or Nomination as invalid and will be struck out.
  31. Voting at an AGM is allowed on the basis of one vote per paid up member 17 years of age and older.
  32. In the case of a tied vote, the Chairman has the casting vote.
  33. All recordings related to the meetings and correspondences remain the property of Clonmel Athletic Club and should be held by the Secretary. An outgoing Secretary hands these over to the incoming Secretary at the AGM.
  34. All financial records, similarly, remain the property of Clonmel Athletic Club and are held by the Treasurer and an outgoing Treasurer hands them over to an incoming Treasurer at the end of an AGM.
  35. The outgoing Management Committee falls at the end of an AGM as do any sub-committees.
  36. Club records should be held for 6 years.
  37. A secret ballot will take place where there in one or more nominations for a position or where there are more than the required number seeking to go on the committee.
  38. Extraordinary General Meetings
  39. Any four members of the Management Committee can call an EGM or 15 signed up and paid-up members in accordance with section 3.4 of this constitution. All 4/15 must sign the request and must include, in their application for an EGM, the reason for the request.
  40. Any request for such a meeting must include copies of any proposed amendments to the Constitution or any motions, signed, proposed and seconded by fully paid-up members.
  41. Membership of Clonmel Athletic Club
  42. Membership is a contract between the club and the athlete that the athlete will train to the best of their ability and will compete when requested to by the club, the athlete also agrees to help with the fund-raising activities of the club.
  43. Payment of the requested fee agreed at the AGM is required before the end of January each year unless agreement is reached with the Treasurer for payment by arrangement otherwise. For new members, membership must be paid within 3 weeks of their first Club training session.
  44. Transfer applications from Clonmel Athletic Club will be dealt with at the Management meeting and submitted to the County Board subject to the rules of AAI. No transfer will be accepted or approved if there is any financial liability outstanding.
  45. Liability of Clonmel Athletic Club will not be the liability of the Management Committee but will be the liability of all its members.
  46. Members and athletes are bound by the Code of Conduct which they are issued with when they join and which they sign.
  47. Membership can be terminated in exceptional circumstances. They have the right to appeal.
  48. Members must act for the good of the club and in the interest of Clonmel Athletic Club at all times. They must abide by the code of Conduct for the club and be courteous at all times to all members.
  49. Roles of Officers Defined
  50. Chairperson: It is the function of the Chairman to organise and chair meetings. The Chairman also gives the Chairman’s addresses at EGMs, AGMs and any function organised by the club. Only where a vote is tied does the Chairman have a casting vote. In a case where the Chairman has a specific interest, the Deputy Chairman takes over this role. The Chairman is one of the members listed who can sign cheques. This is his only function in relation to finances. The Chairman may have a role in relation to correspondence of a strictly personal and confidential nature.
  51. Vice Chairpersons: assists the Chairman and takes over in his absence or where the Chairman has a personal interest which might influence the vote.
  52. Secretary: deals with the correspondence, keeps minutes of the meetings, maintains club records and assists the Chairman in arranging meetings. The Secretary reads the correspondence at the meeting and minutes it and keeps it on record. Correspondence of a highly sensitive nature may be kept by either the Secretary or another officer and not read out. The Secretary is one of the officers who can sign cheques, this is their only function in relation to finances.
  53. Registrar / Competition Secretary: deals with the Registration of all members and keeps an up-to-date record of Registered members, which must be available at all meetings. This person will also be responsible for sending in Entries to all Competitions.
  54. Treasurer: maintains strict financial records of all incoming and outgoing monies in accordance with normal accounting procedures.
    1. The Treasurer presents the accounts to an accountant for audit before the AGM.
    2. The Treasurer presents a financial statement to the AGM for approval.
    3. Records of all expenditure are kept with receipts and invoices kept by the Treasurer.
    4. The Treasurer reports on a monthly basis to the Management Committee on all income and expenditure
    5. The Treasurer can sign for necessary expenditure for the running of the club up to 5000 Euro, subject to it being receipted and reported to the Management Meeting.
    6. The Treasurer may keep correspondence of a highly personal and confidential nature in relation to members in difficulties. This will not be read at meetings.
  55. Assistant Treasurer assists the Treasurer in ensuring that the Finances of the Club are controlled in accordance with normal accounting procedures and takes over in his absence. The Assistant Treasurer is one of the officers who can sign cheques.
  56. Public Relations Officer ensures regular media coverage of athletes’ achievements in the local media, ensures coverage of the club’s fundraising activities as well as all other Club activities.
  57. Coach’s Representative maintains a liaison between club management and day-to-day activities of coaching. The Coaches Representative will chair the Coaches Meetings and will report outcomes of said meetings to the Management Committee. The Coaches Representative relays any request for equipment to the management meeting. The Coaches Representative ensures that training is carried out in safety and is suitable for the age and ability of the various age groups in line with the guidelines given by the NCC.
  58. Child Protection Officer(s) is/are responsible for safeguarding the well being of its juveniles in accordance with the Code of Ethics provided by the Sports Council. The Child Protection Officer implements the policy as provided in that code.
  59. Other members assist the committee in the normal running of the committee and club within their own expertise and as required.
  60. Sub Committees
    Sub Committees are governed by the rules of Clonmel Athletic Club as at section 3.4 They must be a minimum of three Committee members of which one must be an Officer. They may have non-members as participants on the committee. Sub committees may use the club logo and subject to parental permission of athlete’s media material for the good and development of the club. They must seek the permission of the Management meeting to spend any finance. Sub Committees can co-opt non-club members onto their committee, but all sub committees must be ratified by the Management Committee. The Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer will chair the Finance Committee.

Sub Committees will be elected as deemed necessary by the Management Committee.

All Sub Committees must furnish a report, within 48 hours to sec before on each meeting held to the Secretary in time for the next Management Committee (where practical)

 

  1. 9. Funding of Clonmel Athletic Club
  2. The day-to-day funding of the Athletic Club is to be funded by the annual subscription fees as agreed at the AGM as well as other fund-raising activities agreed by the Management Committee. The Membership fee covers Registrations and Insurance. It is not intended to cover transport costs.
  3. When any item costs more than 5000 Euro tenders from three suppliers must be sought unless it is been supplied by a specialist supplier, where practical.
  4. The Club may not borrow in excess of 300,000 Euro without seeking the approval of the majority of its members at an AGM or an EGM. Full details of the proposed expenditure must be given to the membership.
  5. The membership, not the Management Committee, carries the joint liability for any funding borrowed.
  6. The Dissolution of Clonmel Athletic Club
  7. Clonmel Athletic Club can be dissolved if a motion to that effect is proposed at an AGM, EGM subject to two thirds of the total membership being in attendance and subject to the motion been passed by 2/3rds of a majority. To dissolve the Club the motion needs 2/3rd of the attendance to pass it.
  8. The assets of Clonmel Athletic Club as well as any monies remaining will be dispose of to other similar clubs with similar objectives in the area as agreed by a majority at that meeting.
  9. Any outstanding debts are the responsibility of the membership and it falls to them to decide how to clear them and to do so.