MRM Constitution as revised at the

EGM 11 January 2002

TITLE:

(1) The title of the club shall be the 'MAIDENHEAD RADIO MODELLERS'.

OBJECTIVES:

(2) To promote and encourage the hobby of radio control model making, and to establish friendly association with the membership of other similar clubs and other interested individuals or groups. It shall count as one of its primary objectives the encouragement of its younger members.

OFFICERS:

(3) The officers of the club shall include the Secretary and Treasurer. In addition, the officers of the club may include a President and a Chairman; if a Chairman is elected, there may also be a Vice Chairman.

COMMITTEE:

(4) The day-to-day running of the club shall be the responsibility of the committee.
(5) The committee shall consist of the Officers and other fully paid-up club members who shall be chosen at the Annual General Meeting and/or Extraordinary General Meetings.
(6) All fully paid-up members shall have equal voting power, except that if there is a Chairman present, that Chairman shall have only the casting vote.
(7) No proxy votes are accepted at any meeting unless written and signed.
(8) It shall be the joint duty of the committee to arrange meetings at which the hobbies may be discussed and developed, at appropriate intervals.

MEETINGS:

(9) A committee meeting may be held at the request of any committee member and that meeting shall be held within three weeks of the request.
(10) A majority of the committee members, including one officer, must be present for an ordinary committee meeting to proceed. A majority of the committee members including the Secretary and Treasurer, must be present for an Annual General Meeting or an Extraordinary General Meeting to proceed.
(11) An Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting shall require a quorum of at least seven members, including the representation of the committee.
In the event that the required committee representation cannot be achieved at an Annual General Meeting, Extraordinary General Meeting or committee meeting, due to long term non-availability of one or more elected committee members, the committee shall appoint fully paid up club members as proxy members of the committee to achieve the minimum requirement for that meeting only.
(12) Any member shall have the right to bring to the attention of the committee any matter of business concerning the club at an ordinary meeting. The officers of the club shall then put it to the meeting whether the point shall be discussed.
(13) The Annual General Meeting shall be held in November and the financial year shall run from the 1st December.
(14) At the Annual General Meeting the committee shall present a report of the club's work and activities and a financial statement for the previous year, and its recommendations for the number of committee members and financial plans for the coming year.


Annual General Meeting PROCEDURE:

(15) Guidelines for the conduct of an Annual General Meeting:
Copies of the balance sheet shall be made available at least two weeks in advance of the meeting.
When the committee stands down they should physically move to the floor.
An officer of the club may chair nominations and voting for the new committee.
No person may both nominate and second a nominee or either nominate or second themselves.
Any person who is nominated must indicate willingness to serve in the nominated position.
Committee recommendations for the format of the committee shall be available in advance of the meeting, and shall be stated at the meeting.
An outline description of each position should be given at the meeting if requested by any member.
Subscriptions for the new club year shall be recommended by the outgoing committee at the Annual General Meeting for review, and shall be voted on by the club members.
All members should be notified of the date and time of an Annual General Meeting at least two weeks beforehand.
(16) The agenda for an Annual General Meeting shall be as follows:
Open meeting.
Distribution of copies of balance sheet for previous financial year.
Reading of previous year's minutes and adoption.
Club Officers' reports
Other members of the committee give their reports if they so desire.
Club Officers present the committee recommendations.
Voting on committee recommendations.
Prize giving.
An officer of the club asks for a volunteer to Chair until the new committee is elected.
Present committee stand down.
Election of Club Officers, which shall include Secretary and Treasurer.
Election of remainder of committee.
Points arising.
Committee meeting.
Answers to points arising.
Any other business.
Close of meeting.

SUBSCRIPTIONS:

(17) Club subscriptions shall be due annually. Subscriptions are due at the Annual General Meeting and are payable before 31st December. The BMFA subscription will be paid at the same time as the club subscription and is payable by all members, except where a BMFA membership for the relevant year has been obtained by the individual and has been demonstrated to an officer of the club.
(18) Acceptance of subscriptions on or after 1st January shall be at the absolute discretion of the Committee.
(19) Junior and OAP club subscriptions shall not be in excess of half Senior subscriptions.

MEMBERSHIP:

(20) Membership shall be at the discretion of the committee.
(21) All members paying the Senior, OAP and Junior club membership subscription shall be deemed to be full members of the club. Membership shall consist of Junior members and Senior members, OAPs, Associate members and Honorary members. Juniors shall be 17 or under on the first day of the new club year. OAPs shall be 65 or over on the first day of the new club year. Associate membership is at the discretion of the committee. Associate members are not deemed fully paid up members and do not have voting rights. Honorary members shall be members deemed by the committee to be worthy of Life membership without financial obligations to the club and their club membership shall be deemed fully paid up.


EXPULSION:

(22) It shall be permissible for the committee to place before an Extraordinary General Meeting a motion for the expulsion of any member, if the committee deem the conduct of the individual to be detrimental to the interests of the club. Voting shall take place at the meeting and shall be a ballot paper vote. At least three-quarters of the votes cast shall be in favour for the motion to be carried. In the event of the motion not being carried, no minute shall be kept.

SECRETARY'S DUTIES:

(23) The Secretary shall:
Maintain a list of all club members, names and addresses.
Keep minutes of committee meetings, Annual General Meetings and Extraordinary General Meetings.
Ensure all members are aware of their rights to belong to the relevant governing bodies and if required, arrange annual renewal of their membership.

WINDING UP:

(24) In the event of a quorum not being formed at two Annual General Meetings in succession, an Extraordinary General Meeting will be called. If a quorum is not then obtained, the club will be automatically wound up.
(25) The club can be voluntarily wound up by a motion at an Extraordinary General Meeting supported by at least three-quarters of the votes cast.
(26) On winding up, all monies and assets shall be passed to charities chosen by the remaining members.

GENERAL:

(27) Any alterations to this constitution or any decisions outside its framework shall be placed by the committee before an Extraordinary General Meeting.
(28) The club shall be affiliated to the BMFA. All fully paid up club members must be members of the BMFA.
(29) All members shall abide at all times by the general rules, requisitions and codes of practice of the relevant governing bodies.
(30) If a Club Committee member engages or becomes involved in Court Proceedings, whether criminal or civil in the member's representative capacity on behalf of the Club, as opposed to as a private individual, notwithstanding that the member is taking part in Club activities but in circumstances where it would be unreasonable for the Club as a whole to ratify the member's actions then in the former instance, i.e. in the member's capacity, the Club will indemnify the Committee member in respect of any fines damages or costs awarded against the Committee member. In the event of a Committee member being awarded damages or costs in the course of proceedings taken by the member or the member's representative capacity, such damages or costs will belong to the club and not the Committee member personally and forthwith upon receipt by the Committee member that Committee member will pay them to the Club Treasurer.

September, 1977; Revised April 87, November 88, December 91 and January 2002