Constitution

1. Name of Club: Rutland Civil Service Sailing Club (RCSSC) shall be an affiliated club of the Civil Service Sailing Association (CSSA) and a corporate member of Rutland Sailing Club (RSC). It incorporates Rutland Revenue and Customs Sailing Club (RRCSC) for members of Revenue and Customs Sports and Leisure (RCSL)
    
2. Objects:
   2.1 To provide opportunities for sailing, sail training and racing in keelboats at Rutland Water for members of RCSSC
   2.2 To facilitate opportunities for offshore sailing (including racing) and additional dinghy sailing through connections with other affiliated clubs and divisions of the CSSA
   2.3 To provide opportunities for keelboat sailing for members and associates of CSSA and RCSL
    
3. Membership
   3.1 Membership will run from 1st December each year for a period of 12 months.
   3.2 Membership requirements
   3.2.1 Payment of an annual membership fee (fees as decided at the AGM each year)
   3.2.2 Carrying out of membership duties to Rutland Sailing Club according to RSC Club Rules
   3.2.3 Agreement to abide by the constitution and rules of RCSSC
   3.3 The committee reserves the right to terminate a person’s membership, without recompense, if any of these requirements fail to be met, or to ask a member to resign should two thirds of the committee agree with this proposal. Reasons for requesting resignation will be given and the member has the right of reply. However, the committee’s decision after considering any response is final.
    
4. Categories of membership:
   4.1 Individual members – members who hold membership plus of CSSC Sports and Leisure (CSSC) or are members of HM Revenue and Customs Sports & Leisure (RCSL)
   4.2 Associate members – members who do not qualify as individual members. Associate members will need to be sponsored by at least 2 existing members of RCSSC. Associate members may not make up more than 49% of the club membership.
   4.3 Family membership – available to individual or associate members and their spouses or partners and children (up to the age of 21)
   4.4 Honorary members – members invited to join the club by a majority of the committee in recognition of services rendered to the club. Honorary members will not be expected to pay a membership fee.
    
5. Organisation of the club:
   5.1 The club will be organised and run by an elected committee consisting of the following officers:
   o Commodore
   o Treasurer
   o Boat Husband
   o Sailing secretary
   And up to 3 additional general committee members
   5.2 Decisions regarding the every day running of the club will be made by the officers and members of the committee, with a quorum needed of at least half of the committee (4 officers), being present at a committee meeting or having made their opinion known via email, for decisions to be made and ratified.
   5.3 Changes to the club rules may be made by a majority of the committee
   5.4 Honorary committee members may be invited to join the committee to provide advice on particular issues.
   5.5 Members may be co-opted onto the committee as the need arises
   5.6 The committee will meet in person as often as needed or will conduct its business via email or telephone discussion, whichever is most appropriate to the subject matter in hand. Record will be kept of any decisions made by the committee.
    
6. Responsibilities of officers
   6.1 Commodore
   • To oversee the running of the club and maintain an overview with regard to ensuring that the objects of the club are met
   • To ensure that the assets and finances of the club are well managed
   • To ensure that records are kept of club business
   • To ensure that the boats are maintained in a safe condition for use by members
   • To ensure that the boats are adequately insured for the uses to which they are put
   • To liaise with CSSA and its clubs and divisions as appropriate
   • To liaise with RSC as appropriate, and to ensure that RSC club rules are met by members
   • To liaise with the National Squib Owners Association (NSOA) and the Rutland Sailing Club Squib Fleet as appropriate
   • While the Commodore is responsible for maintaining an overview of the running of the club and is responsible for ensuring that its objects are achieved, individual tasks may be delegated to other members of the committee or to co-opted members as appropriate
   6.2 Treasurer
   • To maintain a proper record of the club’s finances and transactions
   • To pay in any monies received by the club to the club bank account
   • To ensure that authorised bills and expenses are paid promptly as appropriate, while ensuring that the club does not go into debt other than through agreed loans
   • To advise the Commodore and the committee of the financial status and the income and expenditure of the club at least quarterly
   • To provide income and expenditure, account balance and other appropriate financial details to the AGM each year and to recommend an auditor.
   
   6.3 Boat Husband
   • To ensure that the club boats are maintained in a safe condition for use by members
   • To ensure that any boats owned by the club which are used regularly for racing meet the class rules
   • To advise all members if any boats are not in a suitable condition for use and put in place measures for rectifying the situation (which may include recommendations to the committee).
   • To make recommendations to the committee for improvements to the club boats or for improvements to their management
   • To encourage all members to assist in general maintenance of the club boats
   6.4 Sailing Secretary
   • To co-ordinate club sailing activities, providing a link between members who wish to sail via email each week.
   • To ensure that a mix of at least one RCSSC approved skipper per boat and sufficient crew is available before sailing is permitted (see RCSSC Club Rules)
   • To co-opt another member as needed to take on this role while the Sailing Secretary is on holiday or otherwise unavailable
   6.5 General Committee Members
   • To support the Commodore, Treasurer, Boat Husband and Sailing Secretary in their roles
   • To ensure that the club is run fairly and democratically and that the objects of the club are met
   • To take on specific responsibilities as needed
    
7. General Meetings
   
   7.1 An Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held each year.
   7.2 All officers will be elected or re-elected each year at the AGM. There is no maximum or minimum term of service for officers or members of the committee.
   7.3 Nominations for election to post of Commodore, Treasurer, Boat Husband and Sailing Secretary and for the remaining committee posts will be made by at least two members (proposer and seconder). Where more than one candidate is nominated election will be via a simple majority vote.
   7.4 Changes to the constitution can only be made at an AGM or a Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM). Changes may be proposed by any member.
   7.5 An EGM may be called by the committee or by a majority of the members as the need arises
   7.6 All members have the right to speak and to vote at any General Meeting.
    
8. Dissolution of the Club
   
   The club shall not be dissolved except by a resolution of a General Meeting of which two thirds of the members present in person or by proxy are in favour. Upon the passing of such a resolution the net assets of the club after the discharge of all liabilities shall be split between the CSSA and the RCSL for the promotion of their objects.