Club Constitution
CONSTITUTION
OF
RUSH ATHLETIC
ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL CLUB
REGULATIONS
&
RULES
- Name & Objects:
1.1 The Club shall be called Rush Athletic Association Football Club.
1.2 The Club shall be affiliated to the Leinster Football Association
- The main objectives of the Club are to
2.1 Promote the game of association football to the fullest possible extent.
2.2 Provide schoolboy football at all levels for junior members.
2(B) In furtherance exclusively of the foregoing main object the Club shall have the following subsidiary objects:
2.3 Provide playing, training, coaching and accommodation facilities for its members.
2.4 To contribute to the general welfare of the local community.
- Membership:
The Club shall consist of the following classes of members whose annual subscription shall be determined on an annual basis by the committee:
- Ordinary member
- Associate member
- Junior member
- Family membership
4. Full and associate membership is open to any member of the public (male and female).
5. Junior members must be 18 years of age or under.
6. Life, Honorary and Temporary members may be elected by the Committee on such terms as they may from time to time determine.
7. If the conduct of a member (of any description or class) of the Club, should, in the opinion of the Committee, be likely to endanger the welfare of the Club or to bring the Club into disrepute, the Committee shall be at liberty to call upon such member to give an explanation or excuse either orally or in writing, for any such conduct. If any such member, having been so called upon, fails to give such excuse, or explanation so given shall be deemed to be insufficient, the Committee shall have the power to expel, suspend or discipline such member as they see fit.
8. Officers:-
The Officers of the club shall be as follows:-
- President
- Chairman
- Hon. Secretary
- Hon. Treasurer
9. This rule shall apply to every Officer of the Club except the President,
9. (1) Each of the Officers of the Club shall be proposed, seconded and elected at each annual General Meeting. Unless he dies, retires or is removed from Office each such Officer shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting when he shall retire but shall be eligible for re-election from year to year.
9. (2) If any Officer resigns, or dies, during his term of office the Committee shall have power to appoint a successor who shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting of the Club, when he shall retire but shall be eligible for re-election.
9. (3) A General meeting of the Club specially called for the specific purpose, shall have power to remove any office holder from office. Such General Meeting may appoint a successor to such removed officer, who shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting when he shall retire but shall be eligible for re-election. If the General Meeting does not appoint a successor to a removed Officer, the Committee shall fill the vacancy at its next meeting after the General Meeting.
10. The main duties of the Officers shall be as follows:-
President: This Office shall be an Honorary one with the capacity of figurehead.
Chairperson: The Chairperson will preside at all Committee and General Meetings, and shall have a casting vote at such meetings.
Hon. Secretary: The Hon. Secretary shall conduct the correspondence of the Club, convene general and committee meetings, liaise with the relevant sporting authorities.
Hon. Treasurer: The Hon. Treasurer shall control all receipts and disbursements of cash and be responsible for the production of annual accounts. All withdrawals from accounts are to be signed by two of the other officers.
11. Committee:
The Committee of the Club shall consist of the officers, the trustees, and five ordinary or life members to be elected at the Annual General meeting. Each of these five (non-officer) committee positions shall be proposed, seconded and elected at each Annual General Meeting.
12. The Committee shall have the power to:-
12 (1) Accept for membership those who qualify under the rules governing membership.
12 (2) Decide on all policy matters affecting the affairs of the Club.
12 (3) Decide on all financial matters affecting the Club.
12 (4) Employ such people as may be necessary to run the affairs of the Club and
to determine their remuneration (if any) and terms of reference, provided such
persons are not also officers or Trustees of the club.
12 (5) Establish whatever committees are necessary for the smooth running of the Club’s affairs and to delegate to them whatever authority the committee may deem necessary to fulfil its Functions.
12 (6) Co-opt to the Committee. If it deems it necessary to do so, not more than two additional members.
13. Committee will meet on a regular basis, at least twelve times per year. Five members shall form a quorum, which shall include one officer. The committee may co-opt to the committee a fully paid up member of the Club to replace any member who has died, resigned, or who has failed to attend without reasonable explanation, three consecutive meetings of the committee or who has become ineligible to remain in office for any reason.
14. Members of the Committee shall be indemnified against all expenses and liability incurred by them, by reason of their position, by the members of the Club.
15. Trustees:-
Three Trustees shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.
16. All the real and leasehold property of the club shall be bested in the Trustees who shall have custody of all documents relating thereto.
17. The Trustees shall have the following powers and duties, viz.,
17 (1) to purchase, lease or otherwise acquire land or buildings,
17 (2) to hold same and to develop them in the interests of the Club,
17 (3) to raise funds by way of mortgage, loan or debentures,
17 (4) to manage and control the finances of the Club,
17 (5) if and when the Trustees consider it desirable to incorporate the Club as a limited Company under the Companies Act.
17 (6) to lease the property of the Club or any part thereof for any period not exceeding one year if and when they are directed to do so by a resolution of the Committee of which resolution an entry in the Minute Book of the Committee shall be sufficient evidence.
17 (7) to sell the property of the Club or any part thereof if and when they are directed so to do by a resolution of the Club passed at a General Meeting of which resolution an entry in the Club’s Minute Book shall be sufficient evidence.
18. A sum equivalent to one year’s gross rent, rates and interest may be retained on deposit in the names of the Trustees as long as the Trustees shall continue to act. This fund is to be a guarantee fund for the payment of rent, rates and interest.
19. No order or contract shall be valid or binding on the Club unless it is sanctioned by the Trustees and all inquiries for tenders are to have this rule endorsed hereon. Provided always that the Committee shall have power to order goods or make contracts not exceeding in value €200 or such greater sum as the Trustees may from time to time authorise, without first getting the prior consent of the Trustees.
20. The Trustees shall be a sub-committee and shall meet at least once a year. Two Trustees shall be a quorum.
21. Should any Trustee be absent from the Club through illness, or any other reason, such Trustee may appoint, in writing, an Ordinary member of the Club to act in his/her absence, and such proxy shall, during the period of his/her appointment, be considered as a member of the Committee.
22. Each Trustee shall be indemnified against all expenses and liability incurred by him/her, by reason of his/her position as Trustee by the members for the time being of the Club.
23. Annual General Meetings:-
The A.G.M. shall be called within one month of the finish of the Club’s commitment to the Leagues to which they are affiliated. The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be:-
23 (1) To receive the committees reports for the year preceding such Annual General Meeting.
23 (2) To receive final accounts of the Club for the previous year.
23 (3) To elect committee for the coming year.
24. Procedure of Annual General Meeting:-
24 (1) The quorum shall be 20 fully subscribed members. If 45 minutes after the time fixed for the commencement of the meeting a quorum is not present, the Chairman shall declare the meeting automatically adjourned until the same time a fortnight hence, without the need to give notice of the adjournment. At the adjourned meeting those who are entitled to vote, fully subscribed members, whatever their number, shall constitute a quorum and shall be entitled to deal with any matters which but for the lack of a quorum could properly have been dealt with at the meeting from which the adjourned took place.
24 (2) Voting on any motion, other than constitutional changes, shall be decided by a simple majority.
24 (3) The Chairman who presides at such meetings shall have a vote, plus a casting vote if necessary. Junior members shall have no vote.
24 (4) Family members shall be entitled to one vote.
24 (5) Honorary members are not entitled to vote.
25. Special General Meeting:-
25 (1) The Committee may call a special general meeting of fully subscribed members when it considers such a course necessary or shall call such a meeting on a requisition in writing to the Hon. Secretary signed by 20 fully subscribed members, which requisition must state the business to be brought forward.
25 (2) No business shall be transacted at such meetings except that contained in the agenda issued by the Hon. Secretary or specified in the requisition. At least one weeks notice of a special general meeting shall be given to all members and for this purpose publication on the Clubs notice board shall suffice. Such notice shall clearly indicate the purpose of the meeting.
26. Altering the Constitution:
Alterations and additions to the Constitution may be made at the Annual General meeting of the Club, provided that:-
26 (1) Fourteen days notice, in writing, is given to the Hon. Secretary setting out the grounds for such proposals and the motion is duly seconded by a fully subscribed club member.
26 (2) A two thirds majority of those present are in favour.
26 (3) Additions, Alterations or Amendments
No addition, alteration or amendment shall be made to the provisions of the main object clause, the income and property clause, the winding up clause, the keeping of accounts clause or this clause of the constitution for the time being in force unless the same shall have been previously approved in writing by the Revenue Commisioners.
27. Income and Property
28. Keeping of Accounts
Annual accounts shall be kept and made available to the Revenue Commisioners on
request.
29. Winding-up:
If upon winding up or dissolution of the club there remains, after the satisfaction of all its debts and liaibilities, any property whatsoever, it shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the club. Instead, such property shall be given or transferred to some other institution or institutions having main objects similar to the main objects of the club. The institution or institutions to which the property is to be given or transferred shall prohibit the distribution of its or their income and property among its or their members to an extent at least as great as is imposed on the Club under or by virtue of Clause 27 (Income & Property clause) hereof. Members of the club shall select the relevant institution or institutions at or before the time of dissolution, and if and so far as effect cannot be given to such provisions, then the property shall be given or transferred to some charitable object.