GRYPHON BADMINTON CLUB CONSTITUTION

Revised August 2023

1. Name

The club will be called Westfield Gryphons Badminton Club and will be known as Gryphon Badminton Club and will not be affiliated to any other organisation.

2. Address.

 The address of the club shall be care of the Club Secretary

3. Purpose Aims and objectives.

 The purpose, aims and objectives of the club will be:

• • To promote and provide facilities for the amateur sport of badminton in Yeovil and Sherborne and surrounding areas
  • To offer coaching, training and competitive opportunities in Badminton
  • To promote the sport of badminton
  • To ensure a duty of care to all members of the club
  • To provide all its services in a way that is fair to everyone and to ensure that all present and future members receive fair and equal treatment

4. Membership

• Membership should consist of officers and members of the club.
• Membership of the Club shall be open to anyone interested in the sport on application regardless of sex, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or other beliefs. However, limitation of membership according to available facilities is allowable on a non-discriminatory basis. The maximum number of active members (as listed on the Playwaze portal) will not exceed 60.
• The Club may have different classes of membership and subscription on a non-discriminatory and fair basis. The Club will keep subscriptions at levels that will not pose a significant obstacle to people participating.
• The Club Management Committee may refuse membership, or remove it, only for good cause such as conduct or character likely to bring the Club or sport into disrepute or having reached the maximum number of members.
• Appeal against refusal or removal may be made to the Management Committee.
• All members will be subject to the regulations of the constitution and by joining the club will be deemed to accept these regulations and codes of conduct that the club has adopted.
• Members will be enrolled in one of the following categories:
  • Subscribed member – allowing play a maximum of twice a week and attendance on the third night will be paid at the current ‘Pay as you Play’ rate.
  • Pay as you Play member

5. Membership fees.

• Membership fees will be set annually and determined by the Management Committee and ratified at the Annual General Meeting.
• Fees will be paid by 4 monthly subscription payments comprising Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, Jul-Sep and Oct-Dec or on a weekly basis for Pay as you Play.

6. Executive Officers of the club.

The officers of the club will be:

• • Chairman
  • Treasurer
  • Club Secretary
  • Event Secretary
  • Non-league representative 1
  • Non-league representative 2
  • Partnering representative
  • And other members of the club to be appointed annually by majority vote at the AGM and limited to a maximum of 2 posts

7. Management

• The club will be managed through the Management Committee consisting of all Executive Officers
• Only these posts will have the right to vote at meetings of the Management Committee
• The Management Committee will be convened by the Secretary of the club and held no less than 3 times per year.
• The quorum required for business to be agreed at Management Committee meetings will be 5.
• The Management Committee will be responsible for adopting new policy, codes of conduct and rules that affect the organisation of the club.
• The Management Committee will be responsible for disciplinary hearings of members who infringe the club rules/regulations/constitution or whose actions adversely affect the club. The Management Committee will be responsible for taking any action of suspension or discipline following such hearings.

8. Property and Finance.

• The property and funds of the Club cannot be used for the direct or indirect private benefit of members other than as reasonably allowed by the Rules and all surplus income or profits are reinvested in the club.
• The Club may provide sporting and related social facilities, sporting equipment, coaching, courses and insurance
• The Club may also in connection with the sports purposes of the Club:
• sell and supply food, drink and related sports clothing and equipment;
• employ members (though not for playing) and remunerate them for providing goods and services, on fair terms set by the Committee without the person concerned being present;
• pay for reasonable hospitality for visiting teams and guests;
• indemnify the Committee and members acting properly in the course of the running of the Club against any liability incurred in the proper running of the Club (but only to the extent of its assets).
• The Committee will have due regard to the law on disability discrimination and child protection.
• All club monies will be banked in an account held in the name of the club.
• The Club Treasurer will be responsible for the finances of the club.
• The financial year of the club will end annually on 30^th
• A statement of annual accounts will be presented by the Treasurer at any Annual General Meeting.
• Any charges drawn against club funds should hold the signature of the Treasurer or Chairman.
• Any profits generated from club activity have to be reinvested in the Club for future development and club activities.

9. Annual General Meetings.

• The AGM of the Club will be held in July.
• Notice of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be given by the Club Secretary. Not less than 21 clear days’ notice to be given to all members.
• The AGM will receive a report from the Chairman and a statement of the accounts and reports from executive officers.
• All members have the right to vote at the AGM. Pay as you play members must have attended a min of 15 club nights in the preceding 8 months to be eligible to vote
• The quorum for AGMs will be 20% of the membership.
• The Management Committee has the right to call Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs) outside the AGM. Procedures for EGMs will be the same as for the AGM.

10. Discipline and appeals.

• All complaints regarding the behaviour of members should be submitted in writing to the Secretary.
• The Management Committee will meet to hear complaints within 14 days of a complaint being lodged. The committee has the power to take appropriate disciplinary action including the temporary or permanent suspension of membership.
• The outcome of a disciplinary hearing should be notified in writing to the person who lodged the complaint and the member against whom the complaint was made within 14 days of the hearing.
• There will be the right of appeal to the Management Committee following disciplinary action being announced. The committee should consider the appeal within 14 days of the Secretary receiving the appeal.
• Any suspended member will not be re-admitted to the club until all club fees due for the period of suspension are paid in full and only with the unanimous agreement of the Management Committee.

11. Dissolution

• A resolution to dissolve the club can only be passed at an AGM or EGM.
• The members may vote to wind up the Club if not less than 80% of those present and voting support that proposal at a properly convened general meeting.
• The Committee will then be responsible for the orderly winding up of the Club’s affairs.
• After settling all liabilities of the Club, the Treasurer shall dispose of the net assets of the Club to a non profit organisation/club with similar aims and goals.

12. Amendments to the constitution.

• The constitution will only be changed through agreement by majority vote at an AGM or EGM
• Gryphon Badminton Club hereby adopts and accepts this constitution as a current operating guide regulating the actions of members.