SURF LIFE SAVING WESSEX

 

CONSTITUTION

 

Version

Date

Details

1.0 draft

2nd December 1999

Draft version of Constitution to be discussed at the inaugural AGM of SLS Wessex on 16/01/2000

 

1.0

16th January 2000

Additional changes made during the inaugural AGM of SLS Wessex.

2.0

May 2008

Change minimum days before SLSGB AGM in line with Director nomination Rules.

Change rules of affiliation to take into account ‘zero’ affiliation fee.

Change name of SLSA of GB to SLSGB

 

 

Constitution as approved by the inaugural Annual General meeting of 16th January 1999

 

1          NAME

 

The name of the body shall be “Surf Life Saving Wessex”. Hereinafter referred to as The Region.

 

2          AIMS

a)

To promote all water safety activities.

b)

To develop life saving activities when ever and where ever the need becomes apparent or requested.

c)

To comply with all relevant parts of the Constitution and Rules of  Surf Life Saving  (Hereinafter referred to as SLSGB) and the instructions of the Governing body of that Organisation .

d)

To work in co-operation with all other bodies and organisations whose work is conducive to the aims of SLSGB .

 

3          MEMBERSHIP

 

a)   All affiliated Clubs of SLSGB falling into the geographical boundaries of Avon, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

 

b)   Life Membership - will be conferred on a member as the highest honour the Region can make. It shall be given in recognition of work for the Region of the highest calibre. Election to life membership shall be made by the following procedure:-                                                   A nomination shall be made to a Regional Club, which will discuss the proposal in     committee. If the result is favourable the Club shall seek a second Regional Club to support the proposal, again through Committee, if this stage is successful the nomination shall go to the Honorary Chairman who will present it as an agenda item to the next Annual General Meeting. A two-thirds majority of those present and voting in favour will result in Life Membership being conferred.

 

 

4          AFFILIATION

 

a)    There shall be a Regional Affiliation fee which shall be decided at the Annual General Meeting.

b)    The membership year shall run from 1st January to 31st December.

c)    Membership shall be deemed to have ceased if no affiliation fee has been received by 31st January.

d)    In the event of a ‘zero’ affiliation fee, any Club affiliated to SLSGB and located in the geographical Region shall be deemed affiliated but must provide details of Club Officers to the Regional Secretary.

 

5          ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM)

 

a)    The Annual General Meeting shall take place during February, March or April, at least 6 weeks before the AGM of SLSGB.

b)    Notice of the AGM must be given to all affiliated clubs, Officers and life members of the Region not less than 28 days in advance of the AGM date.

c)    Items for the AGM agenda to be received by the Honorary Secretary not less than 7 days before the AGM. This Agenda must include the Reports from all Officers and Commission representatives as well as a re-election of those positions.  

d)    Anybody may attend the AGM and be entitled to speak at appropriate occasions, but voting shall be restricted to those parties entitled to vote.

e)    Voting at the AGM. Those entitled to vote at the Region’s AGM shall be as follows:-

I)

II)

III)

3 members per Club.

All Officers.

All Regional Life Members.

 

            Note:- At all Regional meetings, an individual shall have one vote regardless of the number of posts held within the Region. The exception being the Chairman who shall have a casting vote in the event of a tie.

 

f)  Quorum at the AGM. A quorum for the Annual General Meeting shall consist of at least 7                                                            persons who are entitled to vote of which at least 2 must be Honorary Officers.

 

 

6          EXTRA-ORDINARY GENERAL MEETING (EGM)

 

a)    An Extra-Ordinary General Meeting of the Region may be summoned at any time by the Regional Management Committee, by the Regional Committee or upon written request submitted to the Honorary Chairman from 2 Regional Club Secretaries stating that their Club Committees have discussed and agreed a request for such a meeting,; giving not less than 28 days notice to all affiliated clubs and Officers of the Region .

b)    Such Notice shall include an Agenda and a “Statement” of the reasons for calling the EGM. Only items on the Agenda shall be discussed at an EGM.

 

7          ADMINISTRATION

 

a)

The Region shall be administered by the Regional Committee.

 

 

 

 

b)

The Regional Committee shall consist of the following:-

 

 

 

(I)

 3 Appointed Representatives from each Affiliated Regional Club

 

 

 

(II)

 Honorary President

 Honorary Chairman

 Honorary Secretary

 Honorary Treasurer

 Regional Life Members

 Honorary Vice Presidents

 Honorary Vice Chairman

 Honorary Assistant Secretary

 Honorary Gear Steward

 

 

(III)

Regional Representatives of all the National Committees and Commissions as defined by the structure of SLSGB, its Committees, Boards and Commissions.

 

 

 

(IV)

Regional Technical Officer

Regional Deputy Technical Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

c)

Nominees for election to the posts laid out in 7bii, 7biii and 7biv (Officers). Each Nominee shall have a proposer and a seconder, and his/her nomination shall be received, in writing on the approved form, by the Honorary Secretary not less than 7 days prior to the meeting where an election is to take place and must be aged 18 years or over by the date of taking up office with the exception of the posts on the Regional Management Committee who shall be over 21.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

d)

Regional Management Committee. The Regional Management Committee shall consist of the Honorary Chairman, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer and Regional Technical Officer. In matters requiring urgent action a decision will be made by the Regional Management Committee. Any decision and action by the Regional Management Committee will be reported at the next Regional Committee Meeting. The posts of the Honorary Chairman, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer and Regional Technical Officer must be held by separate individuals. In such circumstances where 2 or more posts may be held by the same person (due to resignation etc.) the Regional Committee can either accept the situation or second a new member of the Regional Management Committee. This individual need not take on any role other than that of Regional Management committee member.

 

 

 

 

 

e)

The appointments made at the Regional AGM shall take effect from 1st May of that year.

 

 

 

 

 

8          POWER OF THE REGIONAL COMMITTEE

 

a)    It shall be responsible for the running of the Region according to the Constitution and shall be subject to the directions which will from time to time be given by the Annual General Meeting.

b)    It shall have the power to co-opt members onto the Committee (who at all times have no voting rights).

c)    It may appoint such sub-committees as it deems necessary.

d)    Regional Committee meetings must be notified to all affiliated clubs and Officers not less than 21 days before the meeting.

e)    For meetings of the Regional Committee the quorum shall be 7 at least 2 of which must be Honorary Officers.

f)     Further duties and powers of the Committee are described in the Regional Rules.

 

9          FINANCE

 

a)    The Honorary Treasurer shall record all financial transactions of the Region and will be required to produce books together with a previously independently assessed Balance sheet/s at each Annual General Meeting.

b)    All members of the Regional Management Committee shall be permitted to inspect the Accounts upon reasonable notice being given to the Honorary Treasurer by the Honorary  Chairman.

c)    The financial year shall run from 1st January to 31st December.

 

10         COMMUNICATION WITH HEAD OFFICE

 

A copy of all Regional Minutes and Reports shall be forwarded to the Head Office of SLSGB by the Honorary Secretary.

 

11         ALTERATION TO THE CONSTITUTION

 

a)    Alterations to this Constitution must receive the assent of two-thirds of the members present and voting at an EGM expressly convened for that purpose.

b)    A resolution for the alteration of this Constitution must be received by the Honorary Secretary at least 21 days before the meeting at which the resolution is to be brought forward.

c)    All alterations must satisfy Section 2(c) 

 

12                DISSOLUTION OF THE REGION

 

If the Regional Committee accepts at an EGM, expressly called for that purpose, to dissolve the Region, the assets of the Region shall be placed in the charge of Trustees of the Region . The number of Trustees shall be 3. The Trustees shall then take sole responsibility for the distribution of the assets to any organisation(s) that replace the Region or, if no such body is likely to be created, to any organisations with similar aims to those laid out in Section 2. The Trustees of the Region shall be elected by Regional Committee as and when the posts become vacant.