AMENDED CONSTITUTION OF SHREWSBURY & DISTRICT RIDING CLUB

ADOPTED AT THE AGM Nov 16th. 2009

1 TITLE

The Club shall be known as the Shrewsbury & District Riding Club

2 OBJECTIVES

The objects of the Club shall be:

(a) To encourage riding as a sport and recreation, to promote good fellowship amongst riders and to improve and maintain the standard of riding and horsemanship.

(b) To organise instructional meetings, lectures and competitive events and other activities to further the objects.

(c) To be affiliated to the British Horse Society and to support and co-operate with recognised organisations interested in the breeding and use of all breeds and types of horses and ponies.

(d) To support the subject of bridle tracks and rights of way with a view to opposing those that have been closed and maintaining and more clearly defining those that are in existence.

(e) To concern itself with any object which will benefit the horse and horse user in the district.

3 MEMBERSHIP

This shall consist of persons who have attained the age of eighteen years and, having been accepted by the Committee, have paid the due subscription for the current period. Honorary membership may be conferred by the Committee upon any person deemed by them to have rendered notable service to the Club.

4 Any person wishing to become a member shall complete the appropriate application form and send it to the membership secretary. The Committee retain the right to refuse any membership application.

5 The annual subscription shall be payable on the first day of the Club's membership year (1st January). Any member whose subscription is more than one month in arrears shall have his or her name removed from the Membership List and shall be required to pay an additional £5 rejoining fee to renew after that date. No person may partake in mounted Club activities without fully paid up membership as they would not be insured. Any member joining the club on or after 1 st November shall be deemed to have paid his or her subscription for the ensuing year.

6 Members are required to fulfil duty days as required by the Committee. Failure to comply will lead to entries to future competitions being refused or in the case of repeated violations exclusion from the Club.

7 The Committee may expel from membership of the Club any member who has breached any of the rules of the Club, or who has in the opinion of the Committee have been guilty of any conduct derogatory to the character or prejudicial to the interest of the Club, provided that before expelling him or her the Committee shall call upon them for an explanation of their conduct and provide a proper opportunity of answering the allegations against them. See the BRC Rulebook for full details.

ADMINISTRATION

8 The Committee

•  All powers of management shall be vested in the Committee consisting of the

Chairman, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer and a maximum of 9 other Committee members. Six shall form a quorum. In the event of a tie the acting Chairman has the casting vote.

(b) The Committee may co-opt additional members with specific expertise as seen fit but these members will not hold voting rights

(c) At the Annual General Meeting each year, one third of the members of the Committee shall retire, comprising those wishing to stand down in the first instance and then those who have served longest. Retiring members shall be eligible for re-election. Each member must stand for re-election every 3 years. Nomination for Committee Members must be received by the Secretary on the official nomination forms. Candidates need to be proposed and seconded by any member of the Club and the election shall be made by ballot.

(d) The Chairman, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer shall be elected annually by the Committee from amongst their number.

(e) The Committee shall have the power to fill any vacancy arising amongst members of the Committee but any person so co-opted shall be a non-voting member and retain office only until the next Annual General Meeting. They shall then be eligible for re-election as a full voting member.

(f) The Committee shall be the sole authority for the interpretation of the rules and for anything relating to the Club not provided therein and their decision shall be final and binding on the members.

(g) The Committee may formulate Club Rules for the detailed running of the Club and elect sub-committees for any special activities of the Club which the Committee may authorise.

9 The financial year of the Club shall commence on the 1 st October in each year.

10 The annual subscription shall be such sum as shall from time to time be proposed by the Committee and confirmed at the AGM by the membership..

11 The Committee may appoint annually a President and Vice-Presidents. They shall not by virtue only of such appointment become members of the Committee.

12 The Annual General Meeting shall be held within three months of the financial year end. Notice convening the General Meeting shall be sent by post to the membership not less than 14 days before the meeting and shall specify the matters to be dealt with. The following business must be transacted:-

(a) To receive and, if approved, to adopt a Statement of the Club's Accounts to the end of the preceding financial year.

(b) To elect a Committee

(c) To deal with any special matter which the Committee may desire to bring to the members and to receive suggestions from the members for consideration by the Committee.

13 The Accounts of the Club shall be subject to annual checks carried out by an independent assessor experienced in accounting matters to be appointed by the Committee.

14 A special General Meeting may be called by the Committee, or by a request signed by not less than 25% of the membership specifying the business to be discussed. The Secretary shall give all members ten days notice of the date of such a meeting and shall specify in such notice matters to be dealt with at the meeting.

15 Notice of all meetings may be given to any member by sending it by post to them at their address in the United Kingdom registered in the records of the Club. If any member has no address in the United Kingdom such member shall not be entitled to receive any notice. The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting to or the non-receipt of a notice of a meeting by any member shall not invalidate the proceedings of a meeting. Communication in all aspects may be by post, email or text and if sent in more than one form is deemed to have been received. It is the responsibility of the member to ensure their correct contact details.

16 This constitution may be added to, repealed or amended by resolution at any Annual or Special General Meeting, provided that no such resolution shall be deemed to have been passed unless carried by a majority of at least two-thirds of the members present and voting thereon, and provided that prior notice has been sent to all members stating the proposed amendment.

17 Safety is of paramount importance at all Club events and the Health and Safety Policy forms part of this constitution. Members shall be correctly turned out in accordance with the Club Rules and should also refer to the BRC Rule Book.

18 TERMINATION OF THE CLUB

a. The membership may decide to dissolve the Club at an Annual or Special General Meeting if the resolution is approved by a majority of not less than three quarters of those present.

b. The assets of the Club, after payment of all outstanding debts and liabilities, shall be given

to charitable associations or associations with similar aims as determined by the membership .

Signed by Chairman………………………… Dated …………………… ……

REVISED at AGM 16 th Nov 2009