Constitution
Scottish Thistles Masters Hockey Club
1. Title and Address
1.1 The Club will be called Scottish Thistles Masters Hockey Club, hereafter to be referred to as the "Club" and will be affiliated to the National Governing Body (NGB) for Hockey in Scotland.
1.2The address of the Club will be the address of the Secretary as a registered trustee with the National Governing Body for Hockey in Scotland.
2. Objectives
2.1 To foster and promote the participation of persons aged 35 years and over, in hockey played at Masters level.
2.2 To provide opportunities for social recreation and competition.
2.3 To administer and organise teams in appropriate age groups for non-representative Masters Hockey as delegated by the NGB for hockey and as provided for by the relevant Continental and World Governing Bodies.
3. Membership
3.1 Membership of the club will be open to those who wish to participate in or contribute to the development of non-representative Scottish hockey at Master’s level by playing, coaching, umpiring or otherwise supporting the objectives of the club. No person shall be refused membership of the Club on the grounds of gender, gender reassignments, disability, race (including ethnic background, nationality, and colour), marital or civil status, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, or social background.
3.2 Every person joining the Club will be deemed to accept the terms of this Constitution and any Bye-laws from time to time adopted by the Club.
3.3 Club subscription fees will be determined at each Annual General Meeting of the Club.
3.4 There will be three classes of membership
3.4.1 LIFE MEMBER: A person who has given distinguished service to the Club.
3.4.2 FULL MEMBER: A player who has attained the age of 35 years by the 31st day of December in any given year of competition.
3.4.3 ASSOCIATE MEMBER: A non-playing person who supports the objective of the Club.
3.5 Associate Members may attend the Club AGM but will have no voting rights and will be ineligible to serve as officers of the Club.
4. Officers
4.1 The Officers of the Club will be as follows:
4.1.1 President
4.1.2 Vice President
4.1.3 Secretary who will be Convenor of all Executive Committee and General meetings
4.1.4 Treasurer
4.2All Officers will be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Club, from and by the Life and Full members of the Club.
4.3All Officers will be elected for a period of two years, but may be re-elected to the same or another office at subsequent Annual General Meetings.
4.4 The Officers of the Club will be ex-officio Trustees of the Club.
5. Management of the Club
5.1 The affairs of the club will be controlled by an Executive Committee comprising the Club's Officers, plus two Life or Full members elected at an Annual General Meeting who will be elected for a period of one year, but may be re-elected at any subsequent Annual General Meetings. The Executive Committee will have the power to deal with all matters relating to the Club except those specifically reserved for an Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting as determined by this Constitution, including the ability to co-opt members on to the Executive.
5.2 The Executive Committee will keep accurate accounts of the finances of the Club on a calendar year basis; These accounts will be available for inspection by members and should be audited before being presented at the Annual General Meeting. The Club will maintain all bank account(s) and any two individual officers will be authorised club signatories.
5.3Decisions will be on the basis of a simple majority vote of the Executive Committee. In the event of equality of votes the Chair will be entitled to a casting vote.
5.4 The Executive Committee may appoint Sub-Committees and Working Groups as necessary to carry out the Club's affairs. It may delegate authority to individual Club members to carry out specific tasks on its behalf. Any Committees or individuals so appointed must conduct themselves and their business at all times in line with the objectives of Scottish Thistles Masters Hockey Club.
5.5 The quorum of the Executive Committee shall be three members, at least two of whom are officers, and the quorum of a Sub-Committee shall be determined by the Executive Committee.
5.6The Executive Committee will, after due consideration, submit for approval by the members at an Annual General Meeting its recommendation(s) for Life Membership.
5.7The Chair of the Executive Committee shall be the President, whom failing, the Vice President, whom failing, the members present, and forming a quorum, shall appoint a Chair for the purposes of that meeting, The Chairs of any Sub-Committees or Working Groups shall be appointed by the Executive Committee. If the Chair is not present, the members present, and forming a quorum, shall appoint a Chair for the purposes of that meeting.
6. Annual General Meetings
6.1 The Executive Committee shall fix the date of the Club’s Annual General Meeting, which shall be no later than 30thApril each year.
6.2 All Club members will be notified of the date, venue and method of the Annual General Meeting not less than 30 days in advance.
6.3 Members must advise the Secretary of any business to be moved at the Annual General Meeting, including nominations for Officers of the Club and Members of the Executive Committee, at least 14 days before the Annual General Meeting. All nominations or business to be moved must have a proposer and seconder.
6.4 The business of the Annual General Meeting will be to:
6.4.1 Confirm the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting and any Extraordinary General Meetings held since the last Annual General Meeting.
6.4.2 Receive audited accounts for the year from the Treasurer.
6.4.2.1 Review club subscription fees and agree their level for the forthcoming year.
6.4.3 Receive an annual report from the Secretary.
6.4.4 Receive an annual report from the President.
6.4.4.1 Approve the Executive Committee's recommendations (if any) for Life Members.
6.4.5 Elect the Officers of the Club for the coming season.
6.4.7 Elect two Ordinary Members of the Executive Committee
6.4.8 Elect an Auditor.
6.4.9 Transact such other business received by the Secretary from members prior to the meeting and included on the agenda.
6.4.10 Deal with any other relevant business.
6.4.11 Members may appoint a proxy to vote on their behalf by letter or email sent to the Secretary at least 48 hours prior to an Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary Meeting of the Club giving the Chairman of the meeting or such other named member of the Club authority to vote on their behalf.
6.5 The quorum for an Annual General Meeting will be twenty percent of those members eligible to vote at an AGM, including two Officers of the Club.
6.6. Decisions made at a General Meeting will be by a simple majority of votes from those attending the meeting, including votes by proxy. In the event of equality of votes, the Chair will be entitled to a casting vote.
7. Extraordinary General Meetings
7.1 Extraordinary General Meetings may be convened by the Committee or on receipt by the Secretary of a request in writing from not less than ten voting members of the Club. At least 21 days notice of the meeting will be given.
7.2 Procedures for an Extraordinary General Meeting will be as for Annual General Meetings.
8. Alterations to the Constitution
8.1 Any proposed alteration to the Club constitution may only be considered at an Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting, convened with the required notice of the proposal. Any alteration or amendment must be proposed by a Full or Life member of the Club and seconded by another Full or Life member.
8.2 Such alterations will be passed if supported by not less than two-thirds of those Life or Full members present at the meeting, subject to a quorum being in place.
9. Dissolution
9.1 If at any General Meeting of the Club, a resolution be passed calling for the dissolution of the Club, the Secretary will immediately convene an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Club to be held not less than 30 days thereafter to discuss and vote on the resolution.
9.2 If at that Extraordinary General Meeting, a resolution is carried by at least two thirds of the voting members present at the meeting, the Committee will at such a date as will have been specified in the resolution, proceed to realise the assets and discharge all debts and liabilities of the Club.
9.3On the winding-up or dissolution of Scottish Thistles Masters Hockey Club, after provision has been made for all its debts and liabilities, any assets or property that remains available to be distributed or paid, shall not be paid or distributed to the Members (except a Member that qualifies under this Article) but shall be transferred to the National Governing Body for the advancement of Masters Hockey in Scotland, failing which, to another body (charitable or otherwise) with objects similar to those of Scottish Thistles Masters Hockey, such body to be determined by resolution of the Members at or before the time of the winding up or dissolution and, subject to any such resolution of the Members, may be made by resolution of the Officers at or before the time of winding up or dissolution.
10. Discipline
Members are required to observe the current Club Code of Conduct as presented by the NGB.
10.1 All complaints regarding the behaviour of a member should be submitted to the Secretary.
10.2 The Executive Committee will appoint a Disciplinary Sub-Committee under the chair of the Vice President to convene to hear a complaint being lodged. Sub-Committee members will, singly or collectively, take the evidence of any witness to the alleged behaviour and will listen to the response of the member so accused.
10.3 The Disciplinary Sub-Committee will have the power to take disciplinary action, including termination of membership.
10.4 The outcome of the disciplinary hearing will be notified in writing to the complainant and the member against whom the complaint was made within seven days of the hearing.
10.5 The member disciplined will have the right to appeal the outcome within 30 days of being notified of the decision. The Executive Committee will refer the appeal to an Appeals group under the chair of the President within 30 days of it being lodged.
Amended version of the Constitution approved at the EGM, February 2020
Signed:
President Secretary¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬__________________________
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