SSC general rules

1. The Club shall be entitled the Slaughden Sailing Club. The Club shall be fully affiliated to the Royal Yachting Association (RYA)

2. (a) Objects:The objects of the Club shall be to promote the sport of sailing and small boat seamanship, provide facilities for educational, physical and mental recreation of those interested in the sport, in such a way as may be deemed now and thereafter to be charitable in accordance with the laws at present in force, and that nothing in the foregoing shall authorise the Slaughden Sailing Club to participate directly or indirectly in any activity which is not charitable according to the laws at present in force, or in the future enacted in the United Kingdom, and that the whole of the property of the Club shall be used and applied solely for the objects of the Club and that no portion thereof shall be paid directly by way of dividend or bonus or otherwise by way of profit to members of the Club

2. (b) The Club may raise by subscription or otherwise funds for the furtherance of the Club.

3. Membership

3.1 Membership shall be open to all who have a participative or supportive interest in the sport. The Club operates on a "self help" basis and members are expected to take part in Club activities and assist with the work of running and maintaining the Club.

3.2 There will be the following grades of membership

3.2.1 Full Membership. this is the form that qualifies for all privileges of membership including the right to vote. Full Membership shall either be Single or Family. Family Membership shall be appropriate when two adults as a family, both meet the requirements of 3.1. Family membership shall also be appropriate when one adult, who meets the requirement of 3.1 wishes to join the Club & wishes thier children to sail and take part in Club activities. Their children, up to the age of 18 years, who are living with them, shall be "Junior Members" without paying the "Junior Membership" subscription. The adults shall each have separate voting rights.

3.2.2. Associate Membership, carries all the privileges of membership except that Associate Members shall not have voting rights, nor be able to sponsor juniors. This grade of membership is introductory and is automatically offered to all applicants seeking Full Membership. It will normally be for a maximum of one year but re-application may be made. Upgrading to Full Membership will take place when in the opinion of the Management Committee, the Associate Member has demonstrated compliance with 3.1. An Associate Member who considers they have been unfairly treated may seek upgrading at a General Meeting. Associate Membership shall be deemed to have been awarded when a completed application form, together with the required subscription and joining fee, is in the possession of the Membership Secretary. or (Acting Membership Secretary).

Membership shall be either Single Associate or Family Associate as described in 3.2.1

3.2.3 Sponsored Junior Members. A sponsored junior member shall be a young person between the ages of 10-15 years, who wishes to take part in the Club activities & who has no Club member in thier immediate family (when Family Membership rules would apply). A Sponsored Junior must:

(a) be able to swim and

(b) produce written permission to join the Club from one or both parents/ guardians; and

Sponsored Junior Membership becomes effective when a correctly completed application form is in the possession of the Membership Secretary or (Acting Membership Secretary)

3.2.4 Short Term Membership. A Club Officer, or member of the Management Committee, may admit into temporary membership persons with sailing interests.

They will be allowed to participate in Club activities (subject to any contrary ruling by the Management Committee).

They will pay a fee per person, per day. The fee will be fixed by the Management Committee, at their discretion, without reference to a general meeting.

They will have full use of Clubhouse facilities within the context of the House Rules.

They will have no voting rights in the Club.

They will have no right to introduce visitors.

They will not be eligible to collect trophies restricted to Club members.

They may have the right to boat storage on the Club dinghy park, subject to available space.

They will not have the right to use the Club owned boats.

When the Club sponsors events, or makes its facilities available for the use of other organisations involved with boating, those taking part will be "Short Term Members" for the duration of the event, and their names and addresses shall be recorded in the Visitors Book or elsewhere.

3.2.5 Guest Members Single and Family Members ( Full and Associate), may introduce Guests according to the conditions and limitations determined by the Management Committee.

3.2.6 Junior Membership is open to Juniors aged between 15 and 18 years (inclusive) who are not otherwise covered by Family Membership. Their membership becomes effective when a completed application form is in the possession of the Membership Secretary or (Acting Membership Secretary). This form MUST contain a section for the parent or guardian to give consent. Junior Members shall have no voting rights and may not introduce Guest Members.

3.2.7 Friend of Slaughden. Past Single and Family Members who can no longer partake in Club activities through illness, age, or moving out of the area, or other reason which the Committee consider valid within the spirit of the Club, may apply to be a "Friend of Slaughden". As such they will receive copies of newsletters and other like communications, will be welcome at the Club, and may attend Annual General Meetings but will have no voting rights. The purpose of this rule is to allow past members to keep in touch with the Club for "old times sake", when circumstances prevent them from being an active member.

3.2.8 Honorary Life Members. The Management Committee shall have the power to recommend to a general meeting the election of a Life Member, without subscription, of any persons who, in their opinion, have rendered distinguished service to the Club or the sailing community of the River Alde. Life membership shall be offered at the grade of the member when offered Life Membership, and shall carry all the privileges of Full Membership.

3.2.9 Honorary Membership, the Management Committee may offer Honorary Membership in special cases for a maximum period of one year. Such members shall only have the privileges afforded to "Friends of Slaughden"

4 Subscriptions.

Entrance fees and subscriptions shall be as the Club in general meetings from time to time determine.

Subscriptions become due on 1st January each year.

Membership shall cease if subscriptions remain unpaid on 1st March.

Fees may, at the discretion of the Management Committee, be paid by monthly instalments by bank standing order

The candidates elected on or after 1st September in any year shall not be liable to pay a further subscription until the second succeeding January.

5 Retirement or Expulsion.

Any member wishing to retire from the Club must give their notice in writing to the Membership Secretary.

If the notice is not received by 1st December then the following year’s subscription is payable.

Every member on joining the Club undertakes to comply with the Rules and any refusal or neglect to do so, or any conduct which in the opinion of the Committee is injurious to the interests of the Club shall render a member liable to suspension or expulsion by the Committee, providing that before expelling a member the Committee shall call upon that member for an explanation, and give themselves an opportunity of defending themselves or of resigning their membership.

Any member who has been expelled has the right to require a special general meeting to be held within two months of their expulsion. They shall have the right to be present at that meeting but not to vote.

6 Officers.

These shall consist of President, Commodore, Vice Commodore Cruising, Vice Commodore Dinghies, Rear Commodore, Secretary, Treasurer.

7 Management Committee.

This shall consist of the Commodore, Vice Commodore Cruising, Vice Commodore Dinghies, Rear Commodore, Secretary, Membership Secretary, Treasurer, ex officio Chairman of the Ducklings Committee, Junior Members Representative, Safety & Training Organiser, and six others members.

The President shall have the right to attend the Committee meetings but shall not have voting rights.

The Committee shall meet as and when required. Five Committee members shall constitute a quorum. The Committee shall have power to appoint any Sub Committee as may be deemed necessary to the proper conduct of the Clubs affairs.

Such Sub-Committees shall submit written reports to the main Committee, and shall not have the power to raise, hold or disburse any funds except as authorised by the main Committee.

In addition to such Sub-Committees as the Management Committee may from time to time appoint for specific tasks, there shall be six standing Committees as follows:-

a) Duckling Committee to organise events of the Club. Chairman of the Committee shall be elected at the AGM and shall be ex-officio a member of the Management Committee.

b) Dinghy Sailing Committee. To organise dinghy racing and other sailing events appropriate to dinghies and light craft, and maintain the Club support boats. The Chairman of this Committee to be the Vice Commodore Dinghies.

c) YOTAS. To organise events for younger members. The Chairman of this Committee shall be the Vice Commodore Dinghies. The Junior Members Representative shall also be on this Committee.

d) Cruising Committee. To represent the interests of members with cruising boats and to organise such events as they may desire. The Chairman of this Committee shall be the Vice Commodore Cruising.

e) Assets Committee. To be responsible for the day to day management of the Clubhouse, outside shed, dinghy park, Club boats other than the support boats, and any other major Club assets. The Chairman shall be The Rear Commodore.

f) Safety & Training Committee. To review all aspects of safety in the Clubs assets and activities and to report their findings to the Management Committee, to liase with the Flag Officers to organise relevant training. The Chairman shall be the Safety and Training Officer.

All other members of these Committees shall be appointed annually by the Management Committee from a list submitted by the Sub-Committee Chairman, but in making such appointments they shall endeavour to see that the composition of the Committees is representative of the interests they serve.

8 Election of Officers and Committee.

The Officers and Committee shall be elected annually by the AGM. Proposals for election of Officers and Committee can be made by members provided any such proposal be made by one member, seconded by another and sent to the Secretary a least seven days before the AGM together with written confirmation from the candidate that he / she is willing to stand.

In the event of sufficient nominations not being received in accordance with the foregoing procedure, the Chairman may accept nominations from the floor of the meeting to meet any such deficiencies subject to nominees indicating their willingness to stand.

9 The Secretary shall keep all the necessary minutes, and the Treasurer shall keep all necessary accounts and shall issue a balance sheet each year showing the financial position of the Club and such accounts shall be prepared by a qualified Accountant annually.

10 The AGM will be held in the last quarter of each year for the purpose of electing Officers and the Committee and for the presentation of the accounts. The Secretary will notify all members at least fourteen days before the meeting. Additional general meetings may be called by the Committee whenever they consider it necessary, or upon the receipt of a request signed by not less than eleven members of the Club stating the object of the proposed meeting, not less than fourteen days notice shall be given to members of such meetings.

11 All General Rules shall be agreed by a majority at a general meeting. The General Rules may be amended only at a general meeting. General Rule amendments for discussion at the AGM should be proposed and seconded and submitted in writing to the Secretary by 1st October in order that they may be incorporated in the notice for the AGM.

Unless otherwise stated, a Rule so passed will be minuted to take effect immediately.

12 The Club sailing headquarters shall be at the dinghy park and Clubhouse at Slaughden.

13 The Club burgee is yellow with a red motif. On the red sail the initials SSC in yellow, Patterns of the burgee can be obtained from the Secretary.

14 Activities.

Tuition for novices, sailing practice for beginners, racing and Club cruises will be arranged.

Notices of such meetings will be posted at the Clubhouse.

Members wishing to take part must meet at the dinghy park at the time appointed to receive directions from the O.O.D. his decisions will be based on the weather and tidal conditions.

Life Jackets must be worn.

A safety boat will be provided during official sailing activities whenever thought necessary by the O.O.D.

Members and their quests using the Club premises or taking part in official activities will do so at their own risk and must undertake to make no claim of the Club or its Officers in respect of any injury, damage or loss of property arising as a result of such use of premises or participation in activities.

15 As a condition of membership, members are obliged to comply with all House Rules of the Club.

The House Rules are not General Rules. They are decided upon at the discretion of the Management Committee, who must take into consideration the wishes of the Club members.

Trustees

16 Number and Terms of Reference.

There shall be at least three Trustees of the Club, who shall be appointed from time to time as necessary by the Committee of the Club from among full family or honorary members who are willing to be so appointed. A Trustee shall hold office during his lifetime or until he shall resign, by notice in writing given to the Committee, or until a resolution removing him from office shall be passed at a meeting of the Committee by a majority comprising two-thirds of the members present and entitled to vote.

17 Property of Club Vested in Trustees.

All the property of the Club including land and investments, shall be held by the Trustees for the time being, in their own names as it is necessary and practicable, on trust for the use and benefit of the Club.

On the death, resignation, or removal from office of a Trustee, the Committee shall nominate a new Trustee in his place, and shall as soon as possible there after take all lawful and practicable steps to procure the vesting of all the property into the names of the Trustees as constituted after such nomination.

For the purpose of giving effect to such nomination, the (Honorary)Secretary for the time being is hereby nominated as the person to appoint new Trustees of the Club within the meaning of Section 36 of the Trustee Act 1925, and shall deed duly appoint the person or persons so nominated by the Committee.

18 Powers of Trustees.

The Trustees shall in all respects act, in regard to any property of the Club held by them, in accordance with the directions of the Committee, and shall have the power to sell, lease, mortgage or pledge any Club property so held for the purpose of raising or borrowing money for the benefit of the Club in compliance with the Committee’s directions (which shall be duly recorded in the minutes of the proceedings of the Committee) but no purchaser, lessee or mortgagee shall be concerned to enquire whether any such direction has been given.

19 Indemnity of Liability of Trustees from the Club.

The Trustees shall be effectually indemnified by the Committee out of the assets of the Club from and against any liability, costs, expenses and payments whatsoever which may be properly incurred or made by them in the exercise of their duties or relation to any property of the Club vested in them, or in relation to any proceedings, or which otherwise relate directly or indirectly to the performance of the functions of a trustee of the Club.

20 Limitation of Liability of Club Trustees.

(To be incorporated in every contract, lease, licence or other agreement entered into by the Trustees of the Club). The liability of the Trustees for the performance of any contractual or other obligation undertaken by them on behalf of the Club shall be limited to the assests of the Club.

21 Dissolution.

If the Club decides on the grounds of expense or otherwise it is desirable that the Club shall be dissolved or would up then, if after such winding up or dissolution, there remains after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities any property or assets whatsoever, the same shall be given to or transferred to a charitable organisation having similar objects to the Club and if and in so far as effect cannot be given to such provision the transfer shall be made to some other charitable organisation with the same object.

22 Club Assets.

Land and buildings in the Clubs ownership cannot be sold, transferred or disposed of in any way without the membership being advised and the matter discussed at an AGM or special AGM. A majority vote to two thirds of the meeting will be required for any proposal relating to the above.

Rules updated 14th June 2002 Extraordinary General Meeting

Sponsored Junior Membership amended AGM 2003