Club Constitution

1. Gosforth Harriers and Athletic Club

GOSFORTH HARRIERS AND ATHLETIC CLUB Established 1927

1. Aims and objectives

• The aims and objectives of the club will be:
• To offer coaching and competitive opportunities in Athletics
• To promote the club within the local community and Athletics.
• To ensure a duty of care to all members of the club.
• To provide all its services in a way that is fair to everyone.

1. Club Equity Statement

This club is committed to ensuring that equity is incorporated across all aspects of its development. In doing so it acknowledges and adopts the following Sport England definition of sports equity:

Sports equity is about fairness in sport, equality of access, recognising inequalities and taking steps to address them. It is about changing the culture and structure of sport to ensure it becomes equally accessible to everyone in society.

• The club respects the rights, dignity and worth of every person and will treat everyone equally within the context of their sport, regardless of age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, religious belief, sexuality or social/economic status.
• The club is committed to everyone having the right to enjoy their sport in an environment free from threat of intimidation, harassment and abuse.
• All club members have a responsibility to oppose discriminatory behaviour and promote equality of opportunity.
• The club will deal with any incidence of discriminatory behaviour seriously, according to club disciplinary procedures.

1. Membership

To ensure all present and future members receive fair and equal treatment. Membership should consist of officers and members of the club. All members will be subject to the regulations of the constitution and by joining the club will be deemed to accept these regulations and codes of practice that the club has adopted.

Members will be enrolled in one of the following categories:

• Full member.
• Associate member.
• Junior member.
• Life member.

Members wishing to resign must give notice in writing to the honorary Secretary of the club. Membership shall cease on the date of notice unless the member is financially indebted to the club, in which case acceptance will be withheld until the indebtedness has been met.

1. Competitors

Competitors in club races must have been a member for at least three weeks and have five clear attendances to qualify. No member is allowed to compete in club races whose subscription has not been paid.

1. Membership fees

Membership fees will be set annually and agreed by the Executive/ Management Committee or determined at the Annual General Meeting. Fees will be paid annually.

1. Officers of the club

The officers of the club will be:

• President & Head Coach Mr Colin Haggie
• Chairman Stephen Boddy
• Secretary Jenny Graham and Kevin Spreadbury
• Susan Ashman
• Mens captain Ben Ward
• Ladies Captain Sarah Platten
• Auditor TBC

 Officers will be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. All officers will retire each year but will be eligible for re-appointment.

1. Committee

The club will be managed through the Management Committee.

• Only members of the Committee will have the right to vote at meetings of the Management Committee.
• The Management Committee meetings will be convened by the Secretary of the club and held monthly
• The quorum required for business to be agreed at Management Committee meetings will be five members
• The Management Committee will be responsible for adopting new policy, codes of practice and rules that affect the organisation of the club.
• The Management Committee will have powers to appoint subcommittees as necessary and appoint advisers to the Management Committee as necessary to fulfil its business
• The Management Committee will be responsible for disciplinary hearings of members who infringe the club rules/regulations/constitution.
• The Management Committee will be responsible for taking any action of suspension or discipline following such hearings.

1. Finance

• All club monies will be banked in an account held in the name of the club.
• The Club Treasurer will be responsible for the finances of the club.
• The financial year of the club will end on 30th September
• An audited statement of annual accounts will be presented by the Treasurer at the Annual General Meeting.
• Any cheques drawn against club funds should hold the signatures two of the four designated signatories (Susan Ashman, Jenny Graham Stephen Boddy, Sarah Ashman).

1. Annual General Meetings

Notice of Annual General Meetings (AGM) will be given by the Club Secretary. Not less than 21 clear days notice to be given to all members.

The AGM will receive a report from officers of the Management Committee and a statement of the audited accounts. Nominations for officers of the Management Committee will be sent to the Secretary prior to the AGM. Elections of officers are to take place at the AGM. All members have the right to vote at the AGM. The quorum for AGMs will be 25% of the adult membership The Management Committee has the right to call Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs) outside the AGM. Procedures for EGMs will be the same as for the AGM.

1. Discipline and appeals

All concerns, allegations or reports of poor practice/abuse relating to the welfare of children and young people will be recorded and responded to swiftly and appropriately in accordance with the club’s child protection policy and procedures. The club Welfare Officer is the lead contact for all members in the event of any child protection concerns. All complaints regarding the behaviour of members should be presented and submitted in writing to the Secretary. The Management Committee will meet to hear complaints within ten days of a complaint being lodged. The committee has the power to take appropriate disciplinary action including the termination of membership. The outcome of a disciplinary hearing should be notified in writing to the person who lodged the complaint and the member against whom the complaint was made within ten days of the hearing. There will be the right of appeal to the Management Committee following disciplinary action being announced. The committee should consider the appeal within ten days of the Secretary receiving the appeal.

1. Dissolution

A resolution to dissolve the club can only be passed at an AGM or EGM through a majority vote of the membership. In the event of dissolution, any assets of the club that remain will become the property of England athletics or some other club with similar objectives to those of the club.

1. Amendments to the constitution

The constitution will only be changed through agreement by majority vote at an AGM or EGM.

1. Declaration

Gosforth Harriers and Athletic Club hereby adopt and accepts this constitution as a current operating guide regulating the actions of members.