Constitution – Aberfeldy Rugby Football Club. (July 2024) (click to download in word format)

1.Name
The name of the club shall be “Aberfeldy Rugby Football Club”, hereinafter referred to as the “club”

2.Objectives
The Club is established to pursue the following objectives:
Participation in the sport of rugby union, hereinafter referred to as the “sport”.

The organisation, management, and development of the sport in Aberfeldy and surrounding district for all members of the club.

Membership of appropriate leagues for the purpose of establishing regular competitive play for the club’s representative teams.

The provision of training and playing facilities for its members.

Promoting and maintaining the highest standards of technical competence and safety in the sport.

Teaching and upholding the rules, regulations and values of the sport.

Providing equal opportunities for participation by all sections of the community.

Promoting and fostering within the club: sportsmanship, respect, fairness, self-confidence, friendship and fun.

3.Affiliation
The club shall be affiliated to the Scottish Rugby Union

4. Membership
a) In accepting membership, each member agrees to abide by the constitution of the club, the regulations of the Scottish Rugby Union, and the rulings of the Management Committee.
b) Membership is open to all and no application for membership shall be refused on other than reasonable grounds; there will be no discrimination on grounds of age, gender, disability, religion, sexual orientation, race, political opinion or beliefs.
c) All applications for membership shall be accompanied by the appropriate annual membership fee, which thereafter will be payable on demand.
d) Each fully paid up member shall be entitled to attend and vote at General or Annual General Meetings.
e) Fully paid up members may be elected and serve on the Management Committee.
f) The Code of Conduct, the Child Protection Policy and the Constitution shall be made available to all members upon request.
g) Members will be enrolled within one of the following categories:
i) Male Playing Member (18 and over)
ii) Female Playing member (18 and over)
ii) Youth Member (17 and under)
iii) Social Member (non-playing)

5.Suspension, Refusal or Termination of Membership
a) The Management Committee shall be entitled to:
i) refuse any application for membership on the grounds that it would be prejudicial to the objectives of the club as set out in Rule 2 of this constitution;
ii) for good and sufficient reason to refuse renewal of any existing membership or terminate or suspend any membership provided that the member concerned shall have the right to be heard by the full management committee before a final decision is made.
b) The member may apply for reinstatement at the next general meeting.
c) Any member who fails to pay their fees by the date required shall forfeit their right to representation on the management committee and at general meetings and shall be suspended from taking part in any event under the control of the club until such fees are paid.
d) Any member under suspension shall be barred from taking part in any match or event under control of the club.
e) The Management Committee shall inform the member in writing of any decision to terminate their membership.
f) Where considered appropriate by the Management Committee, notification of the termination of a membership will be forwarded to the Scottish Rugby Union.

6. General Meetings
a) Annual General Meeting (AGM)
The AGM shall be held each year at such time and place as determined by the management committee, at approximately twelve – monthly intervals, but no more than fourteen months after the date of the previous AGM. At each AGM the following business will be conducted:
. Receive and confirm the minutes of the previous AGM.
Receive the Chairman’s report.
Receive the annual accounts from the Treasurer
Elect the office bearers (i.e., Chairman, Vice- Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Coach, Captain and up to ten other general committee members)
Ratify subscription rates for the forthcoming year.
Transact such other business included on the agenda.
Any other business brought before the meeting which has been submitted in writing to the Secretary not less than seven days prior to the AGM and any other business deemed relevant by the Chairman.
Notice for an AGM shall be a minimum of 21 days.
b) Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM)
An EGM may be convened by the Management Committee, or by a written request to the Secretary from not less than six eligible adult members.
Notice of an EGM must be a minimum 14 days and stating the business to be discussed.

7.Rules for General Meetings
a) A minimum of 21 days’ notice in writing shall be given to all members, except in the event of an EGM where the notice shall be a minimum of 14 days.
b) The Chairman, or in his/her absence a member selected by the meeting will take the chair.
c) All members shall register with the Secretary before the start of the meeting.
d) Each member shall have one vote.
e) All votes shall be determined by a simple majority. In the event of a tied vote, the Chairman may exercise a casting vote.
f) The quorum shall be a quarter of those eligible to vote or fifteen members, whichever is the smaller.
g) The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings and record all proceedings and resolutions.

8) Election of Officers to the Management Committee.
a) The members of the management committee shall be drawn from the membership, as defined in clause 4 of this constitution.
b) Candidates shall be elected by ballot at the AGM and shall be members of the management committee from the conclusion of that AGM until the conclusion of the following AGM.
c) All nominations of candidates for election shall have the consent of the nominee; be in writing; be seconded; be received by the Secretary not less than fourteen days before the AGM.
d) The Secretary shall send all members a list of nominations not less than seven days prior to the AGM.

9. Management Committee
a) The affairs of the club shall be controlled by a Management Committee of not more than sixteen members but always including the following office bearers:
i) Chairman
ii) Vice-Chairman
iii) Treasurer
iv) Secretary
v) Coach
vi Captain
vii Director of Rugby
b) Each committee member shall be entitled to one vote at general meetings. All votes shall be determined by a simple majority. In the event of a tied vote, the Convenor shall exercise a casting vote.
c)The committee may co-opt any member to any unfilled post until the conclusion of the following AGM, providing that the number of those co-opted shall not exceed one half of the total number of persons serving on the committee at that time.
d) The management committee may appoint any sub – committees it may deem necessary to deal with the matters of the club, until the conclusion of the following AGM. The proceedings of such sub-committees shall be reported to the management committee by a representative selected by that sub-committee.
e) The committee shall meet at agreed intervals and not less than twice per year. Fourteen days’ notice of any meeting shall be given by the Secretary except when:
i) the date of the meeting had been agreed at the previous management meeting.
ii) In an emergency when the Chairman may call a meeting at two days’ notice
f) The duties of the management committee shall be:
i) To control the affairs of the club on behalf of the members.
ii) To keep accurate accounts of the finances of the club through the Treasurer.
g) The committee may invite any other person to attend all or part of any of their meetings but only committee members shall be entitled to vote.
h) The Chairman shall chair each meeting, or in his/her absence a member selected by the committee shall take the chair.
i) a quorum for the management committee shall be six of which at least three must be office bearers.

10.Finance
a) The income and property of the club, however derived, shall be applied solely towards the objectives of the club as set out in Rule 2 of this constitution.
b) The club shall have power to raise money by any suitable means as determined by the management committee including, but not limited to, membership subscriptions, the sale of kit, sponsorship fees, charges for social events and prize raffles.
c) All monies shall be lodged in a bank account in the name of the club. The Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary shall be authorised signatories to sign cheques on behalf of the club. Two of the panel of three authorised signatories must authorise each payment.
d)Any contracts, leases or other agreements to be entered into by the Club, having been duly authorised by the Management Committee, shall be signed by two of the panel of three signatories authorised to sign cheques on behalf of the Club.
e) The financial year shall run from 1st June till 31st May.
11. Amendments to the Constitution
This constitution may be amended by a proposal passed by a majority of members present and entitled to vote at an Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting.
12. The Dissolution of the Club.
a) Any resolution to dissolve the club may be passed at any General Meeting provided that:
I) the terms of the proposed resolution are received by the Secretary at least forty – two days before the meeting at which the resolution is to be brought forward, and that
ii)at least twenty -eight days’ notice of the proposed resolution shall be given in writing to all members, and that
iii) such a resolution shall receive the assent of two thirds of those present and entitled to vote.

13. Declaration
It is hereby certified that this document represents a true and most up to date version of the Constitution of Aberfeldy Rugby Football Club.