South Normanton, Alfreton and District Amateur Radio Club
CONSTITUTION as at 1 May 2023
- The name of the club shall be The South Normanton, Alfreton and District Amateur Radio Club (SNADARC).
- The aims of the club shall be to: –
(a) Encourage and promote all aspects of Amateur Radio and associated electronics.
(b) Provide training for amateur radio examinations.
(c) Increase knowledge and enjoyment of the hobby.
- Membership shall be open, at the discretion of the committee, to licensed radio amateurs, aspiring amateurs, short-wave listeners and anyone with a genuine interest in the fields of radio and related electronics.
The club is committed to treat everyone equally within the context of their activity, regardless of sex, ethnic origin, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation or political persuasion, and as such we actively encourage applications from all sections of the community. Should be replaced with the following, more future proof version.:- The club ensures an environment where club members can develop their potential, bring their full self to the club and engage fully as member of the amateur radio community. To enable such an environment, the club actively encourages applications from all members of the community and adheres to the 2010 equality act, follows HMG guidelines to the act and uses other authorities as needed.
The committee shall have the power to grant a Life Vice Presidency (including free membership) to any person deemed to have provided outstanding service to the club.
This may be overruled by majority vote at an Annual General Meeting (AGM) or Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM).
- The annual subscription shall be paid by the 1st MAY each year. Membership not paid by this date will be deemed to have lapsed, and lose voting rights.
The annual subscription may be amended at the Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting.
4.1 Persons in full-time education under the age of 18 are exempt from membership subscriptions and will be non-voting With the exception of Life Vice Presidents (as per rule 3) non-paying members may only be agreed at a full Committee meeting for exceptional reasons and shall be non-voting.
4.2 Non-members will be asked to pay 50 pence per visit. Any person attending on four or more occasions per year will be asked to join the club and pay the full subscription according to their category; in this case any monies already paid may be offset against the subscription.
4.3 Persons joining the club after 1st September each year will pay 50% of the appropriate annual membership fee.
4.4 A person must be a fully paid-up member of the club for a minimum period of 6 months prior to an AGM or EGM before being able to submit a proposal to, or vote at, the same.
- The affairs of the club shall be administered by a committee elected at an Annual General Meeting (AGM) or Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM).
A committee member must have been a member of the club for at least 12 months immediately prior to appointment at an AGM or EGM.
The committee shall consist of:
5.1 A Chair, who shall chair each meeting of the committee, approve the Agenda and chair the AGM, act as spokesperson on behalf of the club at open and general meetings, to the press and to conduct meetings in accordance with the constitution. The chair shall rule on questions of interpretation and shall have a casting vote in the event of a tied vote. In these circumstances the chairs decision is final and binding.
5.2 A Secretary who shall summon and prepare an agenda which shall be approved by the chair for all meetings and take the minutes of such meetings and at the AGM, and carry out correspondence as required by the committee.
The secretary shall keep a record of membership and shall produce all record books of the club in their possession when required to do so by the committee or at the request of a member.
5.3 A Treasurer, who shall receive all subscriptions and other payments for the club and pay over the amounts so received as the committee directs and to keep the clubs financial records and books in order and to maintain any bank accounts held by the club.
The treasurer shall present a financial statement at the Annual General or Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) and committee meetings.
5.4 An Events Manager, responsible for arranging club events and activities as from time to time decided by the committee in consultation with the membership.
5.5 A Members representative, who will keep in touch with the non-committee members of the club, obtaining their views on the progress of the club and raising any items of interest and suggestions at Committee meetings, and may act as an Assistant Secretary if the need arises.
5.6 An Examinations Secretary, who will organize and manage the clubs formal Amateur Radio Licence examinations in accordance with the guidelines issued by RSGB and in liaison with the appropriate Instructor for the course in question.
This member will report matters of interest as do all other committee members.
5.7 A Shack Manager, who will ensure the safe operation of the club shack and that the committee is informed of any problems with the equipment and in the running of the shack generally. The Shack Manager will maintain an inventory of club equipment and also ensure that all appropriate club electrical equipment is annually tested to the current safety standard. The Shack Manager may withdraw from service or usage any equipment or shack facility or service, which in their opinion is faulty, dangerous or the continued use of which would be detrimental to the interests of the Club.
All equipment failures or withdrawals will be brought to the attention of the committee at the
first opportunity, the Committee may reinstate the equipment or facility after due consideration.
The Shack Manager will also undertake the duties of club QSL manager.
5.8 Approved Special Interest Groups may appoint a non-voting representative to attend committee meetings.
5.9 The club Lead Instructor plus Club Website and Social Media Manager may attend committee meetings to report on their activities, they will also be non-voting.
5.10 The committee may co-opt a club members to fill a vacant committee post until the next AGM or EGM.
- ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
- Notice of the AGM shall be given in writing at least 28 days before the meeting. Items for the Agenda must be submitted to the secretary in writing at least 14 days before the AGM, to allow circulation to those attending the meeting prior to the AGM. The AGM is to be held during the first week in April unless it falls during the Easter week, when it should be no more than two weeks late.
In exceptional circumstances the committee may defer the date, an AGM must be held within 13 months of the previous one.
The meeting to be quorate must be attended by 25% of the up membership including the committee.
It shall read and approve the minutes of the previous AGM and any EGM’s called since the last AGM.
It shall receive the annual reports of the committee members.
It shall consider any resolutions, make amendments to the constitution, receive nominations for committee posts, and any other business brought forward by a member of the club or committee provided it has been notified within 14 days of the date of the meeting.
It shall elect the Committee members for the next 12 months, or until the next AGM.
A temporary Chair (a voting member who is not standing for office at the AGM) shall be appointed by the meeting for the election of officers.
(a) Any resolutions or proposals to amend the constitution which must be supported by the committee or 25% of fully paid-up members, must be given in writing to the secretary at least 14 days before the meeting. Voting shall constitute a majority of the meeting. In the event of a tied vote, the chairs decision shall be binding on the meeting.
- EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
The committee shall have the power to call an EGM by giving notice in writing to the membership at least 14 days in advance of such a meeting.
A member can demand an EGM provided notice is given to the Secretary in writing at least 21 days in advance of such a meeting.
A member can demand an EGM, provided notice is given to the secretary in writing at least 21 days
before the date of the proposed meeting and is seconded in writing by at least 25% of the voting membership.
- NON-PAYING MEMBERS
Non-paying members in full-time education will be non-voting members, but any views expressed should be listened to with consideration by voting members and their views taken into account.
- EXPELLING A MEMBER
9.1 The committee shall have the power to expel any members whose conduct, in the opinion of at least three-quarters of the full committee, has brought the club into disrepute, or is otherwise acting prejudicial to the activities and ethos of the club.
9.2 A member will have the right of appeal to the committee against such expulsion including the right to call an EGM under the terms of Clause 7 of this constitution.
- DISSOLUTION
The decision to dissolve the club can only be taken at an EGM.
In the event of a decision to dissolve the club, any items loaned to the club shall be returned where possible. The funds of the club shall, after the sale of all assets and the payment of outstanding debts, be disposed of to a REGISTERED CHARITY as directed by a simple majority vote of the paid-up membership attending the EGM.