SOUTH WALES MOUNTAINEERING CLUB
CLWB MYNYDDA DE CYMRU
Constitution (as amended by 2012 AGM)

1. NAME

1.1 The club is named “South Wales Mountaineering Club” (Clwb Mynydda De Cymru) and is referred to as “the club” throughout the constitution.

2. OBJECTS

2.1 The objects of the Club are to provide facilities for and promote community participation in the amateur sports of Mountaineering and Climbing in all their forms.

3. MEMBERSHIP

3.1 Membership of the Club shall be open to all persons irrespective of ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or beliefs; or of age, sex or disability except as a necessary consequence of the requirements of Mountaineering and Climbing as particular sports.

3.2 Applicants must complete an application form and pay the appropriate subscription.

3.3 All members are entitled to full voting and other rights. Members who share an address are asked to consider asking for a single copy of any publications or papers to save on costs and materials.

3.4 There are four categories of membership: Honorary, Ordinary, Concessionary and Junior.

3.5 The Committee may vary the category of membership if the circumstances of the member change.

3.6 Membership will be refused or revoked for any grossly negligent, criminal or anti social behaviour that affects other members of the club or the reputation of the club. It is recognised that this is a serious step and the committee will make any decision of this nature. Anyone whose membership is revoked or is refused membership has the right of appeal at a general meeting and may be reinstated by decision of that meeting.

3.7 In addition to revocation, the Committee may suspend membership. The committee may reinstate membership.

3.8 A suspended member has the right of appeal at a general meeting and may be reinstated by decision of that meeting.

3.9 On ceasing to be a member a person forfeits all right to and claim upon the Club and its property and funds.

3.10 A person who has been expelled from the Club shall not be entitled to participate in any subsequent activity of the Club nor to visit the Club’s premises.

4. SUBSCRIPTIONS

4.1 The committee will fix the annual subscription from time to time, by a simple majority of officers present and voting. Subscriptions will be kept at a level that will not pose a significant obstacle to people participating.

4.2 Annual subscriptions are payable on the 1st of January and are valid until the end of December that year. Any member failing to renew their subscription within one month will no longer be a member.

4.3 The first subscription of a new member paid on or after 1st November shall be valid for the following club year.

4.4 Honorary membership is free

5. THE COMMITTEE

5.1 A committee of nine officers will manage the club: Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary (East), Membership Secretary (West), Barn Warden, Communications Officer, Ordinary Member (East) and Ordinary Member (West).

5.2 The committee are elected at each annual general meeting by a simple majority of members present and voting.

5.3 The officers must be members of the Club, and must be proposed and seconded by members.

5.4 The Committee will aim to meet every second or third month, with a minimum of four meetings per year.

5.5 Five officers must be present for the committee to be quorate.

5.6 The Committee are responsible for all necessary actions in managing the affairs of the club.

5.7 The Committee is responsible for authorising expenditure by the Treasurer, arrangements of meets and appointment of meet leaders, matters relating to membership, interpretation of the constitution and matters of policy.

5.8 The Committee may co-opt members when required. These co-opted members will have no vote at committee meetings.

5.9 On retirement of a Committee member during their term of office, the Committee may accept nominations for a replacement. The person nominated, who must be a Club member, must be proposed and seconded in writing by members. The names of the nominee, proposer and seconder must be circulated to members, and if no objections are received within 21 days of the date of circulation, the nominee will be appointed. The committee may also co-opt a member in accordance with paragraph 5.8.

5.10 If an objection, more than one nomination, or no nominations are received, the Committee will call a general meeting to elect the officer by a simple majority of members present and voting.

6. GENERAL MEETINGS

6.1 The Committee will call General Meetings as required. Notice of the meetings and the agenda must be circulated at least 21 days before the meetings. The objects of the meeting must be clearly stated in the agenda, and no other business can be transacted.

6.2 An Extraordinary Meeting may be called at any time on a written requisition signed by at least one third of the members of the Club. The object of the meeting must be stated in the requisition and no other business can be transacted at the meeting.

6.3 The Annual General Meeting will be held during November, the Committee to choose an evening mid-month. Notice of the meeting and agenda must be circulated at least 21 days before the meeting.

6.4 Notice of subjects of discussion at the meeting must be given to the Honorary Secretary at least 35 days before the meeting.

6.5 At the Annual General Meeting the Chairman and Treasurer will present reports of club activities during the past year. The officers of the Club will be elected for the coming year. Any other business on the agenda must be transacted.

6.6 Only club members can vote at General Meetings.

6.7 All decisions at General Meetings (except for alteration to the constitution or dissolution of the club) require a simple majority of members present and voting.

6.8 The quorate number for a General Meeting is 20 or one third of the membership, whichever is the lower.

7. THE CONSTITUTION

7.1 No alteration of the constitution shall be made unless approved by a two thirds majority of members present and voting at a General Meeting.

8. DISSOLUTION

8.1 The Club can only be dissolved at a General Meeting called for that purpose, and if two thirds of the members present agree.

8.2 On dissolution, the assets of the Club shall be given or transferred to another registered Community Amateur Sports Club, a registered charity or the British Mountaineering Council.

9. FINANCE AND PROPERTY

9.1 The Treasurer will present the audited accounts of the Club at the Annual General Meeting.

9.2 The financial year shall finish on 30th September.

9.3 Committee and the property of the Club (other than cash which shall be under the control of the Treasurer) shall be vested in them to be dealt with as the Committee shall from time to time direct by resolution. The Trustees shall be indemnified against risk and expense out of the Club property. The Trustees shall hold office until death or resignation or until any reason which may seem sufficient to a majority of the Committee present and voting at any meeting called to remove any Trustee or Trustees from the office of Trustee. Where by reason of such death, resignation or removal it shall appear necessary to the Committee that a new Trustee or trustees shall be appointed, the Committee shall by resolution nominate the person or persons to be the new Trustee or Trustees. For the purpose of giving effect to such nomination, the Chairman is hereby nominated as the person to appoint new Trustees of the Club within the meaning of Section 36 of the Trustees Act of 1925 and he shall by deed duly appoint the person or persons so nominated by the Committee as the new Trustee or Trustees of the club, and the provisions of the Trustee Act of 1925 shall apply to all such appointments. Any statement of fact in any such deed of appointment shall in favour of a dealing bona fide and for value with the Club or the Committee be conclusive evidence of the fact so stated.

9.4 The Club cannot make any dividend, gift, or bonus in money to or between any of its members. All surplus income or profits are re-invested in the club. No surpluses or assets will be distributed to members or third parties.

9.5 The financial assets of the Club must be kept in a current or deposit account at a Bank or Building Society.

9.6 If at any time the club in General meeting shall pass a resolution authorising the Committee to borrow for the purpose of the Club such amounts of money either at one time or from time to time and in such form and manner and upon such security as shall be specified in such resolution, and thereupon the Trustees shall at the direction of the Committee make all such dispositions of the Club property or any part thereof and enter into such agreements in relation thereto as the Committee may deem proper for giving security to 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 such a resolution, shall be deemed to have assented to the same as if they had voted in favour of such resolution.

10. RESPONSIBILITY

10.1 The Club does not hold itself responsible for the safety of its members and is not liable for any injury arising to members on Club meets from any cause whatsoever, whether from negligence of the Club members, officers, or servants or any other cause.