AMENDED CONSTITUTION OF SHREWSBURY & DISTRICT RIDING CLUB

ADOPTED AT THE AGM Nov 1st. 2005

1. TITLE

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

2. AIMS & OBJECTIVES

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 objectives

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 investigate 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

a. This shall be open to anyone who has attained the age of eighteen years provided that they have:-

i. Been accepted by the Committee

ii Paid the appropriate subscription for the current period

iii Fully completed the application form providing all information requested on membership category and interests

b. Annual subscription renewals shall be due on 1 st January each year

c Any person whose subscription is more than one month in arrears shall have his or her name removed from the membership list and to renew after that date shall be required to pay a re-joining fee

d. Any member joining the Club between January and October shall pay the full subscription for that year but subscriptions paid after 1 st November shall be deemed to cover the ensuing year

e. The Committee may expel from membership of the Club any person who has willfully disobeyed any of the rules of the Club or who has in the opinion of the Committee been guilty of any conduct derogatory to the character or prejudicial to the interests of the Club, provided that before expelling that person the Committee shall call upon him or her for an explanation of their conduct and provide an opportunity for explanation and mitigation

f. Honorary membership may be conferred upon any person deemed by the Committee to have rendered notable service to the Club

4. ADMINISTRATION

a. All powers of management shall be vested in the Committee consisting of the Chairman, Hon Secretary, Treasurer and a number of other members as agreed by the Committee. Four shall be a quorum.

b. At the Annual General Meeting each year, nomination for membership of the Committee shall be proposed and seconded by any member of the Club and the election shall be made by ballot. Members shall hold office for a year following their election and shall be eligible for re-election. The Committee shall have the power to co-opt not more than four other persons from amongst the members of the Club or from outside to attend meetings for consultation. Co-opted persons shall not have voting rights

c. The Committee shall be the sole authority for the interpretation of the Club rules or for any other matter relating to the Club not provided for in the rules and their decision shall be final and binding on the members.

d. The Committee may formulate bye-laws for the detailed running of the Club and elect sub-committees for any special activities as required.

e. Co-opted members shall retain office only until the next Annual General Meeting and then shall be eligible for re-election.

f. The Committee may appoint annually a President or Vice President. These shall not by virtue only of such appointment become members of the Committee.

5. FINANCE

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

b The annual subscription shall be determined by the Committee and varied from time to time as required

c. The Treasurer shall record and the Committee be responsible for ensuring that accounting records are kept showing all financial transactions of the club and its income and expenditure

d. The Accounts shall be subject to annual checks carried out by an independent assessor to be appointed by the Committee

6. THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

This shall be held within two months of the financial year end to transact the following business:-

a. To receive and if approved adopt a statement of the Club's Accounts to the end of the preceding year

b To elect a committee

c. To deal with any special matters which the Committee may desire to bring before the members and to receive comments from the membership for consideration by the Committee

Notice convening the Annual General Meeting shall be sent by post to all members at their last address registered with the Secretary not less than 14 days before the meeting and shall specify the matters to be considered. The Committee shall not be held responsible for the accidental omission to give notice of a meeting to or the non-receipt of a notice of the meeting by any member and this shall not invalidate the proceedings of the meeting.

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 at least 10 days notice of the date and business of such a meeting.

This Constitution may be added to, repealed or amended by resolution at any Annual or Special General Meeting provided that proper notice has been given as defined above and that the resolution is approved by a simple majority of those eligible voters present at the meeting.

In the event of a tie, the Chairman shall have the casting vote.

7. DISSOLUTION

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