This is an online version of the Constitution and Rules of the Manx Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club that has been modified for ease of reading on devices ranging from mobile phones to tablet and desktop computers. Where formatting and occasionally punctuation has been modified for clarity, the essence of the original print document has been maintained.
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Manx Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club
CONSTITUTION AND RULES
April 2017 (V1.2)
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Revision History
1st Draft. First draft presented. 2nd Feb 17
1st Draft. Wording change, page 3 section 4 changes, removed “subject to the following conditions” and added “membership classifications”. 30th Jan 17.
2nd Draft. Page 3. Membership classification conditions modified. 1st Feb 17.
2nd Draft. Page 3 section 4. Children clause added. 1st Feb 17.
2nd Draft. Page 3. Section 2. Added “This is inclusive of any discipline that the club shall choose”. 2nd Feb 17.
2nd Draft. Page 3 section 4. Removed requirement to be CP rated. Amended age of children from 18 to 16 in line with Manx voting age. 2nd Feb 17.
2nd Draft. Page 4 section 7. Quorum amended from two, to three committee members. Page 5 section 13. Amended “Facebook page” to Club website”. 2nd April 17.
V1.0. Page 3, section 4. Add “new” preceding candidate. 3rd April 17.
V1.0. Page 5, section 10. In the sentence “An Annual General Meeting shall be held in November each year,” Words added, “the first Thursday in November each year”. 3rd April 17.
V1.0. Page 5, section 14. “its Facebook page” changed to read “the Club Website”.
3rd April 17.
V1.0. Page 5, section 15 moved to Page 6 and the following sentence “Any full member who engages in hang gliding or paragliding at any time during the membership year shall maintain membership of the BHPA as a flying member during the entirety of that membership year. Associate members must have valid third party insurance before flying on the island” amended to read “All Full Members must be a minimum of BHPA Club Pilot Rated and shall maintain Full Flying Membership of the BHPA during the entirety of the Club Membership Year. Associate Members must have valid third party insurance before flying on the island and be appropriately qualified to fly unsupervised”. 3rd April 17.
V1.0. Page 6, section 15. The wording “(without recompense)” amended to read “(without recompense of fees already paid)”. 3rd April 17.
V1.0. Page 3, section 3. Added “New Full Members joining after August 31st are eligible to pay half fees that year”. 3rd April 17.
V1.0. Page 3, section 4. Added, “Membership is complete when a completed membership form and first annual payment has been received” also “Members of The Club who fail to pay their annual membership subscription within 60 days of the subscription renewal date shall be deemed to have resigned their membership of The Club”. 3rd April 17.
V1.0. Page 3, section 2. The word “related” added. 3rd April 17.
V1.0. Page 3, section 4. Sentence reading, “Members under the age of sixteen will need to be accompanied by their parent or guardian at all times … “, replaced with “Members under the age of sixteen will need to be accompanied by a responsible adult whilst …”. 3rd April 17.
V1.1. Version proposed to D Wood and P Swales. 4th April 17.
V1.2. Section 7. “Committee Meeting: two committee members”. Changed to “Committee Meeting: three committee members”. 5th April 17.
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1. TITLE
The title of the club is “Manx Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club”, hereinafter called The Club.
2. OBJECTS
The Objects of The Club shall be to promote the sports of hang gliding and paragliding on the Isle of Man. This is inclusive of any related discipline that the club shall choose.
3. THE CLUB YEAR
The Membership Year shall run from 1st March to end of February. New Full Members joining after August 31st are eligible to pay half fees that year.
The Financial Year shall run from 1 October to 30 September.
4. MEMBERSHIP
The Club shall consist of a committee of officers and members who shall be bound by the Constitution and Rules of the club.
Each new candidate for admission must be proposed and seconded by a member and elected by the committee, except for the group of pilots previously known as the Manx Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club who shall be already deemed members under this constitution.
Membership classifications:
Full membership is reserved for paid up BHPA members, age 16 years and over.
Associate membership is available for persons who do not qualify for full membership. Flying Associate Members will be required to produce evidence that they are covered for third party liability risks. No voting rights.
Honorary membership is at the discretion of the committee.
Membership is complete when a completed membership form and first annual payment has been received.
No person under the age of sixteen years shall be a Member of The Club unless his/her parent or guardian shall have signed a consent certificate approving his/her application for membership and accepting all legal responsibility for the Member. Members under the age of sixteen will need to be accompanied by a responsible adult whilst undertaking Paragliding or Hang Gliding activities on the Isle of Man.
Members of The Club who fail to pay their annual membership subscription within 60 days of the subscription renewal date shall be deemed to have resigned their membership of the club.
5. SUBSCRIPTIONS
The subscription for each year shall be set by the committee prior to the beginning of the membership year.
Subscription payment by a member shall be deemed to be acceptance of, acquiescence in and submission to the rules and regulations of The Club.
6. COMMITTEE
The business of The Club shall be managed by a Committee consisting of not less than three voting members, in which number shall be included any of the undermentioned officers of The Club:
Chairman
Secretary / club contact
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Treasurer
Safety officer
Sites officer
Any voting member of The Club shall be eligible to stand for election to the committee. No nomination shall be accepted without the nominee’s prior consent.
Members of the committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting. If, after the annual general meeting any committee post remains unfilled or any committee post becomes vacant, an election for that post may be held at a general meeting.
Election to the committee shall be by a simple majority of the members present and voting at an annual general meeting or general meeting. In the event of an equality of voting at any meeting, the Chairman shall be entitled to a second casting vote.
The committee may appoint sub-committees as may be desirable from time to time from the members.
7. QUORUM
The following quorums shall apply.
Annual, Extraordinary and General meetings: five non-committee voting members plus three committee members.
Committee Meeting: three committee members.
8. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COMMITTEE
The Committee shall hold and administer for the general benefit of all members, all funds, property and equipment in the general ownership of The Club.
The Committee may arrange activities for The Club in accordance with the objects and incur such liabilities as it may deem proper provided that the committee may not without the prior approval of a general meeting incur liabilities more than the assets.
The committee may award to any member such honorarium as it shall deem proper for necessary technical or professional services to The Club, which would otherwise have required the employment of an independent contractor, and may reimburse authorised out of pocket expenses incurred by any member in the conduct of the affairs of The Club.
9. ACCOUNTS
The Treasurer shall keep proper books of account, and the funds of The Club shall be under the control of the committee and kept in an appropriate bank.
Cheques, transfers, withdrawal of funds must be signed by any two of the following; the Treasurer; the Chairman; or one other committee member as approved at a committee meeting.
The books of account shall be open for inspection by any member of The Club at any reasonable time.
10. MEETINGS
General meetings may be held from time to time to further the objects of The Club, and shall be convened by the committee.
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Committee meetings shall be convened by the Chairman, or in his absence by two other committee members, stating the object for which the meeting is convened.
An extraordinary general meeting may be called by a minimum of five voting members or two committee members and a minimum of ten days notice shall be given by the committee.
An annual general meeting shall be held on the first Thursday of November each year, or as soon afterwards as is practicable but not later than 31 December.
The annual general meeting shall:
Receive and adopt the annual report and statement of income and expenditure for the previous year.
Elect the committee.
Deal with any appropriate business.
The Chairman shall take the chair at all committee meetings and general meetings. In his/her absence those present shall appoint a chairman for the meeting.
In the event of an equality of voting at any meeting, the Chairman shall be entitled to a second casting vote.
Voting on any club business will be by a show of hands.
The Chairman shall ensure that the minutes of the proceedings of each meeting are recorded.
11. DISSOLUTION
The Club may be dissolved by a resolution passed by a simple majority of the members present and voting at an annual general meeting or at an extraordinary general meeting called for the purpose
If upon the dissolution of The Club there remains after satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities any money or sale of property whatsoever, then the remainder shall be evenly distributed among the current paid members.
12. ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION
The constitution may not be altered except on a resolution passed by a simple majority of the members present and voting at an annual general meeting or extraordinary general meeting
Members shall be notified of any resolution for the alteration of the Constitution not less than 21 days prior to the Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting.
13. NOTICES
Notices shall be posted by means of The Club’s email distribution list and Club Website.
The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting to or the non-receipt of the notice of a meeting by any member shall not invalidate any proceedings or resolutions at any meeting of The Club or committee.
14. RULES TO BE DELIVERED AND DEEMED BINDING
A copy of this constitution and rules shall be made available to the members of The Club by means of The Club’s email distribution list and the Club Website. No Member shall be absolved from the effect of this constitution and rules by ignorance of their contents.
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15. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEMBERS
All Full Members must be a minimum of BHPA Club Pilot Rated and shall maintain Full Flying Membership of the BHPA during the entirety of the Club Membership Year. Associate Members must have valid third party insurance before flying on the island and be appropriately qualified to fly unsupervised.
All members of The Club undertake activities of The Club entirely at their own risk. Neither The Club nor any of its officers are liable for damages or injury resulting from the actions of any member.
All members shall make themselves acquainted with the rules and regulations and all alterations additions and amendments thereto, and all notices that may be promulgated by the committee. All members shall also be responsible for ensuring that any visitors introduced by them are also acquainted with and comply with the rules, regulations and notices.
Members shall uphold the good name of The Club, maintain good relations with site owners, landowners and the public and shall respect the environment in which they undertake their flying activities.
Any Member whose manner or behaviour is deemed to be unseemly, offensive or calculated to bring The Club into disrepute may be referred to the committee and may have the privilege of membership suspended or withdrawn (without recompense of fees already paid) at the committee’s discretion.
The settlement of any questions or queries or disputes shall rest entirely with the committee whose decision shall be final.
16. PROPERTY
Any property belonging to The Club may be invested in the names of not more than four nor less than two trustees who may be appointed or removed from time to time by the committee. The Committee may from time to time direct the Trustees to sell vary and transfer investments and property. Trustees so appointed shall be indemnified by The Club from and against any liabilities, costs, expenses and payments whatsoever which may be properly incurred or made by them in relation to the trusts of the property and investments of The Club or any proceedings relating thereto.
This constitution was agreed at the Inaugural General Meeting of the Manx Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club on:-
Date: 6th April 2017
Name and position in group:
Dan Wood, Chairman
Name and position in group:
Richard Barker, Secretary
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