Rules of the Kells Amateur Rugby League Football Club

 

1.    Name

 

The name of the Club shall be the KELLS AMATEUR RUGBY LEAGUE FOOTBALL CLUB (hereinafter called “The Club”).

 

2.    Address

 

The address of the Club shall be Old Arrowthwaite, Kells, Whitehaven, Cumbria, CA28 9EJ and all communications should be addressed to the Secretary thereat.

 

3.    Objects

 

The object of the Club is to provide facilities for and promote participation of the whole community in the sports of Rugby League and Association Football.

 

4.    Admission to Membership

 

Membership of the Club shall be:

 

1. Open to all persons irrespective of ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or beliefs; or of age, sex or disability except as a necessary consequence of the requirements of Rugby League and Association Football as particular sports.
2. The Committee of the Club (“The Committee”) may offer such categories of Membership of the Club with such qualifications, applications, application procedures and conditions, duties, privileges and subscriptions but always on the basis that every Member shall have one vote. Details of categories, qualifications, application procedures and conditions, duties and privileges of Membership in force from time to time shall be kept by the Secretary and shall be available for inspection by Members at all reasonable times.
3. The Club may refuse Membership or expel from Membership only for the good or sufficient cause, such as conduct or character likely to bring the Club into disrepute, but Membership of the Club shall be open to all without discrimination on any grounds whatsoever including for these purposes discrimination on the grounds of attainment of a certain standard of performance. Appeal against such a decision may be made to the Clubs Members and majority vote.
4. The number of Members shall be unlimited.
5. No person shall be admitted to Membership or be admitted as a candidate for Membership to any of the privileges of Membership without an interval of at least two clear days between their application for Membership and their admission.
6. No person shall be admitted to Membership without having paid to the Treasurer their first annual subscription.
7. A Member shall cease to be a Member on resignation, on termination of Membership of the committee or on death.

 

5.    Conduct of Members

 

Every Member, upon election and thereafter, is deemed to have notice of, and impliedly undertakes to comply with, the Club Rules and the current bye-laws and regulations of the Club. Any refusal or neglect to do so, or any conduct which, in the opinion of the Committee, is either unworthy of a Member or otherwise injurious to the interests of the Club, shall render a Member liable to expulsion by the Committee.

 

 

 

 

6.    Subscription

 

1. The subscription payable for Membership shall be determined from time to time by the Committee and no persons shall be admitted to Membership until they have paid to the Treasurer their first annual subscription. Thereafter, annual subscriptions shall be paid without demand on the last day of August in each year. Any Member who has not renewed their annual subscription by the first day of September next following shall, if the Committee so decides, cease to be a Member.
2. No Member in arrear shall be permitted to use the Club premises save for the purpose of paying their subscriptions.
3. The Committee on receiving information that any Member is unable to pay their subscription owing to want of work or other good cause, may at its discretion excuse payment of such Members subscription for such period as they think fit and the number shall not forfeit the privileges of Membership.
4. Any person previously a Member but now in arrear, shall be required to pay back subscriptions if re-applying for Membership at a later date.
5. Membership subscriptions will be kept at levels that will not pose a significant obstacle to people participating.
6. The current rate of entrance and subscription fee shall be prominently displayed in the Club premises.

 

7.    Register of Members

 

The Club shall keep at its premises a Register of Members in which the Secretary shall enter the following particulars:

 

1. The names and addresses of the Members
2. The date at which each person was entered in the Register as a Member and the date at which any person ceases to be a Member.
3. The names and addresses of the Officers of the Club with the offices held by them respectively at the date on which they assumed office.

 

Any Member changing their address shall notify the Secretary of such change within fourteen days.

 

8.    Committee of the Club

 

1. The affairs of the Club in all matters not in these Rules reserved for the Club in General Meeting shall be managed by the General Committee of the Club. The General Committee shall consist of not more than Twelve Members (who have attained the age of eighteen years) of the Club (or such other number as may be determined from time to time by the Club in General Meeting). Six of whom shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting of the Club. Three shall go out of office in every year, but shall be eligible for re-election. The General Committee may appoint one or more Sub-Committees for such purposes as it may deem appropriate. Not less than five Members (or such other number as may be determined from time to time by the Club in General Meeting) of the total number of the Committee shall form a quorum and two a quorum of a Sub-Committee.
2. The Committee shall meet at least once per month for general business.
3. The Committee shall determine the composition, powers and terms of reference of each Sub-Committee.
4. The Chairman of any Sub-Committee shall have second or casting vote, and the quorum necessary for the transaction of business by a Sub-Committee will be as stated in i. above.
5. A Sub-Committee may exercise the power of co-option subject to the provisions of rule vi. below.
6. The Committee shall have power to co-opt additional Members to serve on it provided that the number of such co-opted members shall not exceed twenty-five per cent of the number of Members elected to hold office on the Committee (the Officers for the purpose of this computation being deemed to be elected Members) and to approve the co-option of additional Members to serve on any Sub-Committee, in both cases either for general or special service and with or without voting rights.
7. The Committee shall not exercise its powers in any way or for any purpose inconsistent with the objects of the Club.
8. The General Committee shall arrange the supply of intoxicating liquor by the Club to Members on the Club premises and shall secure the due observance of the provisions of the Licensing Acts and all Acts relating there to and of any conditions attached to any licence held by or on behalf of the Club for the supply of intoxicating liquor or to any Registration Certificate granted in respect of the Club premises.
9. The procedure for the conduct of meetings of the Committee shall be prescribed by the Committee and details thereof shall be kept by the Secretary and be available for inspection by Members at all reasonable times.

 

9.    The Officers

 

1. There shall be a President, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and a Treasurer who shall be elected from time to time by the Club in General Meeting from among the members of the Club and such other Officers of the Club as the Club in General Meeting appoint. The President, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and every such Officer shall act in all matters in accordance with the directions of the General Committee of the Club of whom they shall be ex-officio Members.
2. Each Officer on election at an Annual General Meeting shall hold office from the end of that Meeting until the end of the next Annual General Meeting but shall be eligible for re-election from year to year.
3. If any such office fall vacant between one Annual General Meeting and the next such vacancy shall be filled by the Committee for the period of the vacancy.
4. The President shall officiate at the commencement of the Annual General Meeting until election of the Chairman. Any dispute involving the instruction or interpretation of these rules of their application to any Member shall be first referred to the President.
5. The Chairman shall preside at all Meetings and it shall be their duty to keep order at such Meetings.
6. The Treasurer shall be responsible for paying into the bank all monies received by the Club from all sources, without any deduction for any purpose whatsoever, to the credit of an account opened in the name of the Club at such bank and in such manner as the Committee may direct and, further shall keep such accounts and pay such debts of the Club as the Committee shall direct, and shall, when required to do so, render to the Committee or a General Meeting an account of any money received and expended. They shall keep such account as the Committee shall direct.
7. The Secretary shall, in the event of intoxicating liquor being consumed on the premises, keep on the premises a list of the names and addresses of the Members of the Club. They shall carry out the directions of the Committee and attend all Meetings, and take minutes of the proceedings.

 

10.   Meetings

 

1. The Club shall hold a General Meeting in every Calendar year as its Annual General Meeting at such time as may be determined by the Committee, and shall specify the Meeting as such in notices calling it, provided that every General Meeting shall be held not more than fifteen months after the holding of the last preceding meeting.
2. All General Meetings other than Annual General Meetings shall be called Extraordinary General Meetings.
3. The Committee may whenever they think fit convene an Extraordinary General Meeting and an Extraordinary General Meeting shall also be convened at the request of not less than fifteen members of the Club and such request must state the object of the Meeting, and must be signed by the said Members and be lodged with the Secretary of the Club.
4. Twenty one days notice in writing of every Annual General Meeting and of every Meeting convened to pass a special resolution and fourteen days notice in writing of an Extraordinary General Meeting specifying the place, the day and the hour of the Meeting and in the case of special business the nature of that business shall be given to all Members by the posting of a notice to that effect in a conspicuous place on the Club premises provided always that the accidental omission to give sufficient or any Notice of the Meeting shall not invalidate any resolution passed or proceeding had at any Meeting.

 

11.   Proceedings at Meetings

 

1. The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be to receive a report by the Committee for the previous financial year, to receive a profit and loss account and balance sheet, and the Report of the Accountant (or Auditor where necessary in law or where the membership require) for the previous twelve months, the election of Club Officials, the appointment of an independent Auditor/Accountant and any other business notified in the Agenda. No other business other than that named in the Agenda shall be brought before a General Meeting. The Agenda shall be drawn by the Committee.
2. No business shall be transacted at any General Meeting unless quorum is presented when the Meeting proceeds to business. Save as herein otherwise provided five Members present shall be a quorum.
3. If within half an hour from the time appointed for the holding of a General Meeting a quorum is not present the Meeting shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and place or at such other place as the Chairman shall appoint unless the Meeting has been requested by the Membership in which case the Meeting shall be dissolved.
4. Should the position of Chairman be vacant, the President of the Club shall preside at the Annual General Meeting until the election of the Chairman has taken place whereupon the incoming Chairman shall preside over the remainder of the Meeting.
5. At any General Meeting a resolution put to the vote of the Meeting shall be decided on a show of hands unless a poll is demanded by either the Chairman or at least three Members who are present at the Meeting and voting.
6. In the case of an equality of votes whether on a show of hands or on a poll the Chairman of the Meeting shall be entitled to a second or casting vote.
7. Nominations for offices of the Club shall be received by the Secretary not less than fourteen days before the date of the General Meeting and in each case shall be proposed and seconded by Members of the Club. No Member of the Club may propose or second more than one candidate for each office. The nomination shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the Club premises. The General Meeting may admit a member as a candidate notwithstanding that late notice or no notice at all has been given, provided that not less than two-thirds of the members present at the General Meeting shall support this.

 

12.   Accounts

 

The Treasurer shall keep such books of account as will enable them to present at every Annual General Meeting of the Club or at any other time as is required (on reasonable notice) by the General Committee, an accurate report and statement concerning the finances of the Club, including a separate statement with regard to the purchase and supply of tobacco and intoxicating liquor for the preceding year or for the current year as the case may be, and shall present such report and statement accordingly. The accounts shall as soon a practicable after the end of the financial year is prepared by a professional Accountant who shall be appointed at each Annual General Meeting. A vacancy occurring in the office of Accountant during the year shall be filled by the Committee.

 

13.   Introduction of Guests

 

Members may introduce and entertain guests at the Club and there shall be kept at the Club premises a Visitor’s Book which both the Member and their Guests shall sign. No guest shall be permitted to purchase intoxicating liquor in the Club. The Member introducing a guest shall be responsible for their guest strictly observing these Rules and the Club bye-laws and shall not leave the Club premises before their guest. No person whose Membership of the Club has been terminated shall be introduced as a guest.

 

14.   Visiting teams

 

There may be admitted to the Club Members and officials of visiting teams and referees, and intoxicating liquor may be sold to such persons by or on behalf of the Club for consumption on the premises and not elsewhere.

 

15.   Functions

 

Persons other than Members or guests of the Club may be admitted to the Club and may purchase intoxicating liquor sold to them by or on behalf of the Club. This Rule shall apply only in the case of properly organised function organised by a group of people who are jointed together in the form of a Society, Club, Group of Employees, a recognised Interest Group or by some means have a defined Membership. The use of the Club premises by such persons shall be limited to functions which may be properly described as private functions and the public at large may not be admitted. There shall be no more than eighteen of any such functions in any one year.

 

16.   Purchase and Supply of excisable goods

 

1. The purchase for the Club of excisable goods and the supply of the same upon Club premises shall be exclusively and solely under the control of the Committee, or of a special sub-committee appointed by the Committee.
2. Intoxicating liquor may only be sold for consumption on the Club premises to persons over the age of eighteen who are entitled to use the Club premises in pursuance of the rules, bye-laws and regulations for the time being in force.
3. No person shall take a commission, percentage or other such payment in connection with the purchase of exercisable goods for the Club. Any profit deriving from the sale of such goods shall (after deduction of the costs of providing such goods for the benefit of the Club) be applied to the provision of additional amenities or the purchase of property to be held in trust for the benefit of the Club.
4. Proper accounts of all purchases and receipts shall be kept and presented at the Annual General Meeting in each year and such information as the Secretary or Auditors (where appropriate) may require shall be furnished to enable any statutory return or statement and the payment of excise or other duty or tax to be made.
5. The permitted hours for the supply of intoxicating liquor shall be fixed (and may be varied from time to time) by the General Committee in accordance with the statutory provisions for the time being in force.

 

17.   Trustees

 

1. There shall be at least three Trustees of the Club who shall be appointed from time to time as necessary by the Committee of the Club from among Members. A Trustee shall hold office during their lifetime or until they resign, by notice in writing given to the Committee, or until a resolution removing them from office shall be passed at a Meeting of the Committee by a majority comprising two-thirds of the Members present.
2. All the property of the Club, including land and investments, shall be held by the Trustees for the time being, in their own names so far as it is necessary and practicable, on trust for the use and benefit of the Club. In the event of the death, resignation, or removal from office of a Trustee, the Committee shall nominate a new Trustee in their place, and shall as soon as possible thereafter take all lawful and practicable steps to procure the vesting of all Club property into the names of the Trustees as constituted after such nomination. For the purpose of giving effect to any such nomination, the Secretary for the time being is hereby nominated as the person to appoint new Trustees of the Club within the meaning of Section 36 of the Trustees Act 1925 and shall by Deed duly appoint the person or persons so nominated by the Committee.
3. The Trustees shall in all respects act, in regard to any property of the Club held by them, in accordance with the directions of the Committee and shall have power to sell, lease, mortgage or pledge any Club property so held for the purpose of raising or borrowing money for the benefit of the Club in compliance with the Committee’s directions (which shall be duly recorded in the minutes of the proceedings of the Committee) but no purchaser, lessee or mortgage shall be concerned to enquire whether any such direction has been given.
4. The Trustees shall be effectually indemnified by the Committee out of the assets of the Club from and against any liability, costs, expenses and payments whatsoever which may be properly incurred or made by them in the exercise of their duties or relation to any property of the Club vested in them, or in relation to any legal proceedings, or which otherwise relate directly or indirectly to the performance of the functions of a Trustee of the Club.
5. (To be incorporated in every contract, lease, licence or other agreement entered into by the Trustees of the Club) The liability of the Trustees for the performance of any contractual or other obligation undertaken by them on behalf of the Club shall be limited to the assets of the Club.

 

18.   Surplus Income or Profits

 

All surplus income or profits are re-invested in the Club. No surpluses or assets will be distributed to Members or third parties.

 

19.   Rules

 

1. These Rules may be revoked, added to or altered by a majority comprising two thirds or more of the Members present and entitled to vote any General Meeting of the Club of which notice has been duly given before provided specifying the intention to propose the revocation addition or alteration together with full particulars thereof.
2. The General Committee may from time to time make, vary and revoke bye-laws (not inconsistent with these rules) for the regulation of the internal affairs of the Club and the conduct of Members and the bye-laws for the time being in force shall be binding on all Members.

 

20.   Limitation of Liability

 

Neither the Club nor any Official thereof shall be liable to any Member or temporary Member or Guest of any Member for the loss or damage to any property occurring from whatever cause in or about the Club premises or playing field; nor for any injuries sustained by any Member, temporary Member, or guest of any Member whilst entering or leaving the Club premises or playing field.

 

21.   Dissolution

 

1. If at any General meeting a Resolution for the dissolution of the Club shall be passed by two thirds of the Members present and at a Special General Meeting held not less than six weeks thereafter (of which not less than four weeks’ written notice shall have been given to each member) and at which not less than one half of the Members shall be present that Resolution shall be confirmed by a Resolution passed by a majority of two thirds of the Members voting thereon, the Committee shall thereon, or at such future date as shall be specified in such Resolution, proceed to realise the property of the Club, upon the completion of the realisation and the discharge of liabilities and the distributions the Club shall be dissolved.
2. Upon dissolution of the Club any remaining assets shall be given or transferred to another Club with similar sports purposes which is a charity and or another Club with similar sports purposes which is a registered CASC and or the sport’s national governing body for use by them for related community sports.