INDEX

CASTLEGATE MARINE CLUB RULES

                The name at the Club shall be Castlegate Marine Club

                The Club is established for the purpose of providing for its members boating, sailing, skin diving, angling facilities and any water sport sanctioned be the Local Authority

                (a) Membership at the Club shall be open to all persons living in the County of Cleveland and at the discretion of the Club Committee to persons living in neighbouring Counties

                (b) A candidate for membership shall send to the secretary a form setting out his or her name and address and any other particulars the Committee shall require and containing the signatures of two members in support as Proposer and Seconder.  (The form shall be completed and handed to the Membership Secretary for display 14 days before the monthly Committee Meeting whose decision on acceptance must be agreed.  No reason for a non-acceptance will be given.) Candidates for membership shall have no privileges whatsoever in relation to the use of the clubs equipment or facilities.

                (c) There shall be the following categories of membership:-

   1.   Full membership

2.  Social Membership. (No voting rights, (Re: AGM 1992)).

3.  Senior Citizens, (Gentlemen over sixty five years and Ladies over  60 years  sixty years).

4.  Junior Membership, (for persons under the age of eighteen years)

5.  Honorary Membership can be conferred by the committee on a member who is over 65 and has given a minimum of 10 years unbroken service to the club and who has filled responsible committee positions over these years.

                (d)     The annual subscription for membership and categories of membership shall be decided at the Annual General Meeting

             Election of candidates to membership shall take place at the meeting of the Committee and a simple majority shall decide.

    4.1           New Members have a six months probationary period

                Any member desirous of resigning from the Club shall notify the Secretary in writing to that effect and thereupon the rights of such person and his family as members shall cease.

                Every member on joining the Club impliedly undertakes to comply with the rules and if he shall fail to do so or in the opinion of the Committee be guilty of any misconduct or  omission likely to be injurious to the Club he shall be liable to expulsion and forfeit any monies he may have paid into the Club by resolution of the Committee. Such a member shall be served with a notice stating the nature of the proposed resolution not less than seven days before the date upon which it is to be considered and informing him that he may attend the meeting and give such explanation as he may think fit, either orally or in writing. Voting shall be by ballot and such a resolution shall only be carried out by a majority of not less than two thirds of the members of the Committee present.

6.1            A notice under this rule shall be held to have been duly given if sent by pre-paid post to the address of the member appearing in the club books. Any member disciplined or expelled by the Committee has the right of appeal to the Committee which will forward his appeal to a General Meeting

                Members shall pay such entrance fees, dues and subscriptions to the Club as shall from time to time be fixed by the Annual General Meeting. Membership subscriptions are due on the 1st September. Any member whose subscriptions are due, but unpaid on the 1st December in any year shall be deemed to have resigned.

                Club meetings shall be held each Wednesday throughout the year.  Venue to be arranged by the Committee.

                An Annual General Meeting shall be held during the month of March each year. Members shall be informed of the date of the A. G. M. forty two (42) days before the meeting, notices will be sent to members addresses as shown in the Club Register.

                (a)  No business, except the passing of accounts, receiving of reports, election of Officers and Committee, appointment of the Auditor and such other business as the Committee may place upon the agenda of meeting, shall be discussed at the A.G.M. unless notice thereby in writing shall have been received by the Secretary not less than fourteen days prior to such meeting.

                 (b)  The secretary shall, not less than fourteen days before the Annual General Meeting or fourteen days before a special General Meeting, display on the Club Notice Board the Agenda, setting out the business to be discussed.

(c)  At a Annual General Meeting of the Club all full members and Senior Citizens shall have one vote. In the case of an equality of votes, the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote.

(d)            The quorum shall be one tenth of the members. No meeting shall become incompetent to transact business from the want of a quorum arising after the chair has been taken.

(e)             In the absence of provision to the contrary in these rules the decision of a majority at any meeting shall be binding upon all members.

                A special General Meeting must be held to sanction the following:

11.2          One tenth of the total number of full members may join together to requisition a special General Meeting. For this purpose, a notice shall be delivered to the Secretary stating the business to discuss. The secretary shall convene such a meeting within four weeks.

               The Committee shall consist of the Officers and seven  active members of the club elected at the Annual General Meeting, to hold office until the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting.

12.1          Only members within a minimum of 12 months full membership prior to the A.G.M. can be considered for election to the committee.

12.2          Candidates for election to the Committee shall place their names and signature on a notice which will be posted on display twenty four (24) days before the meeting and taken down forty eight hours before the meeting. If there are too few candidates to fully complement the committee, nominations can be accepted from the floor at the meeting.

12.3          The Committee has not the power to co-opt.

12.4          If the number of candidates exceeds the number of vacancies to be filled the election shall be by ballot, if the number of votes cast for any two or more candidates shall be equal, the person presiding at the meeting shall exercise the casting vote.

12.5          Meetings of the Committee may be convened by any Officer or any two Committee men not being officers. If votes be equal the vote of the acting chairman present shall count as two votes. A quorum at any meeting of committee shall be five.

                The Committee may appoint from all the club members such Sub-Committee as it thinks fit.

        13.1          Sub-Committees shall keep proper minutes of their meetings and a copy of such minutes shall be submitted to the next following Committee Meeting.

        13.2          Sub-Committees shall be responsible to the General Committee and shall be re-appointed after the election of a new General Committee.

                The officers of the Club shall consist of a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer who can only be eligible to stand for appointment at the A.G.M. if they have previously served as a Committee Member of the Club 24 months prior to the A.G.M.

             14.1          If an Officer vacancy is caused by death or resignation, the Committee may fill the vacancy by appointing one of themselves to serve until the next A.G.M.

                The Management of the Club shall be in the hands of the committee and according to these rules. The Committee shall apply the funds and the property of the Club and any gain arising from its being carried on solely for the direct or indirect benefit of the Club or its members.

        15.1          The Committee may from time to time make, alter and repeal by - laws and regulations for the good conduct of the affairs of the club and as to the management of the club premises. Such by-laws  and regulations shall, provided they are not inconsistent with the rules of the club for the time being be binding upon members and be construed as part of the rules of the club until they are rescinded or varied by the club’s affairs, and to explain its transactions.

                No alteration or additions to these rules shall be made except by a resolution carried by a majority of at least two thirds of the members present at the A.G.M. convened for that purpose.

                The decision of the Committee upon any question of the interpretation of these rules or upon any member having a matter affecting the Club not otherwise provided for, shall be final and binding upon all members.

        17.1          All members have the right of appeal to these rules. Appeals to be forwarded to the Secretary, in writing, and to be dealt with by the Committee or at a General Meeting.

                Club policy is to affiliate with clubs having similar water sports interest.

There shall not be more than four Trustees of the Club. The Trustees shall be appointed by the Committee, and the property of the club (other than cash which will be under the control of the Treasurer, and intoxicating liquor which shall be under the control of the Committee or a Sub-Committee appointed for that purpose in accordance with Rule-10(e)) shall be vested in them to be dealt with by them as the committee shall from time to time direct by resolution (of which an entry in the minutes book shall be conclusive evidence). Any lease, licence or agreement, which the club shall require in respect of the user of water, shall be taken in the names of the Trustees. The Trustees shall be indemnified against any liability and expense in particular the payments due from time to time under the aforementioned Lease, Licence or Agreement) by all persons equally who are full members of the club at the time such liability or expense is incurred. The Trustees shall hold office until death or resignation, or until removed from office by a resolution of the Committee who may for any reason which may seem sufficient to a majority of them present at any meeting, remove any Trustee or Trustees from the office of Trustee. Whereby reason of any such death, resignation or removal, it shall appear necessary to the Committee that a new Trustee or Trustees shall be appointed, or if the Committee shall deem it expedient to appoint an additional Trustee or Trustees, the Committee shall by resolution appoint the person or persons to be appointed the new Trustee or Trustees.

                Members renting moorings, pontoons or land storage must conform to Club Bye-Laws covering there particular section.

                At the Annual General Meeting each year an Auditor shall be appointed whose duty it shall be to audit the current accounts of the Club. A copy of the audited accounts shall be displayed in the club premises at least seven days immediately prior to the Annual General Meeting. In the event of the person so appointed being unable or unwilling to act, the Committee shall appoint a substitute. The Club's financial year shall run from 1st February to the last day of January.  Every two months the Treasurer is to display a club balance sheet, supported by a bank statement.

               Where possible this position should be filled by a person of note in the locality or by someone who has a special association with the particular activities pursued by the Club. It is largely an honorary position and is usually offered to an individual who can command the respect of club members and who is able to give the club a good public image. The Commodore will normally chair the Annual General Meeting and be asked to address the club on special occasions.

                This is a key position. The Chairman leads by example and, in addition to chairing meetings, is responsible for the general direction of club affairs. The person needs to be knowledgeable and able to represent the club in the public relations aspects of its activities. Since the Chairman will be called upon to give rulings and direct committee procedure, he/she should remain detached and objective in any discussions or disputes. The Chairman will often be required to explain club policy to members and officials and to liaise with team captains in seeking to establish the highest standards of club behaviour. In effect, it is the Chairman who sets the tone and atmosphere in which meetings and formal business are conducted, thus playing a major role in the well-being and good name of the club.

                The Honorary Secretary shall: -

                (a)     Keep a register of all club members’ names and addresses.

                (b)     Conduct the correspondence of the Club.

                (c)     Keep custody all documents.

                (d)     Keep full minutes of all meetings of the Club.

                (e)     See to the maintenance of such insurance policy or policies as may be needed fully to protect the interests of the club and its members.

                (f)         Maintain contact with the clubs legal adviser to ensure that the clubs affairs are managed in accordance with current law.

                (g)    To provide Officers and members with up-to-date notices and  information and making sure that the Clubs administration is functioning adequately.

                The Honorary Treasurer shall :-

                (a)     Cause such books of account to be kept as are necessary to give a true and fair view of the state of the finances of the club.

                (b)    Cause all returns as may be required by law in relation to such accounts to be rendered at the due time.

                (c)        Prepare an Annual Balance Sheet in March each year and cause such balance sheet (and accounts as necessary) to be audited at least once annually and shall thereafter cause the same to be exhibited in the club premises at least fourteen days before the date of the A.G.M.

                He should be responsible for enrolling members, collecting fees, updating membership details and informing the Committee of membership applications.

                He should be responsible to converse with the public for the Club and also member's queries and work with the Officers to improve communications on behalf of our Commodore.

                He should be responsible for all entertainment, fund raising and social events for the benefit of the Club for our members.

                He should be the authority over all matters appertaining to the storage and safety of all items within the Clubs boat storage compound and will act on behalf of the committee to the laid down rules and procedures.

                He should he the authority over all matters appertaining to the moorings at Stockton and will act on behalf of the committee to the laid down rules and procedures.

                Members, their guests and visitors are bound by the following rule which shall also be exhibited in a prominent place within the Club premises:

     Members of the Club, their guests or visitors may use the club premises, and any other facilities of the club, entirely at their own risk and impliedly accept:-

            (a)             The Club will not accept any liability for any damage to or loss of property belonging to members their guests or visitors to the Club.

            (b)            The Club will not accept any liability for personal injury arising out of the use of the club premises, and any other facilities of the club either sustained by members their guests or visitors or caused by the said members, their guests or visitors whether or not such damage or injury could have been attributed to, or was occasioned by, the neglect default or negligence, of any of them, the Officers, Committee or servants of the Club.