The North West's No1 Scuba Club (probably!)

Constitution

This Constitution was formally adopted at the March 1998 A.G.M.

1.0 Name.

The Club shall be called the "Manchester Diving Group", whose headquarters shall be the Old Tramways Office, Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester. M21 2AT. (Hereinafter known as "the Club")

Smoking is not permitted in the Club House.

2.0 Aims & Objectives.

2.1 The Aims & Objectives of the Club, shall be to further underwater exploration and the promotion of the art of sport diving and snorkelling, including the sport of "Octopush". In furtherance of these aims, the Club will:-

(a) Offer a practical and theoretical training and education service to enable its members to become proficient and safe sports divers and snorkellers;

(b) Provide, where practical, a full equipment service for trainees;

(c) Arrange and safely supervise open water and open sea dives for trainees, in accordance with recognised training procedures.

3.0 Membership.

3.1 Membership of the Club shall be open and not unreasonably restricted on the grounds of sex, race or of political, religious or other opinions, to any person in the area, aged 18 years or above, who is prepared to accept and support the aims and objectives of the Club.

3.2 In accepting membership, a person agrees to abide by the Constitution of the Club and the rulings of the Club's Executive Committee.

3.3 Junior membership shall be open to persons aged between 14 and 17 years. All applications for Junior membership must be supported by an existing Full or Disabled member.

3.4 Application for membership shall be made on the approved membership application form, which shall be completed and submitted to the Club's Membership Secretary, or any Executive Committee member. On submission of the completed application, the applicant will immediately be granted "Temporary Membership" of the Club, until such time as the applicant's membership can be approved by the Clubs Executive Committee. The relevant membership fee will then become due and will be backdated to the date of the application submission.

3.5 Payment of the Club's membership fee (and joining fee, where appropriate), becomes due immediately after the applicant's acceptance by the Executive Committee, but membership is not granted until membership fees due, have been received.

3.6 The Executive Committee may, at their discretion, refuse any application without disclosing reasons for doing so, providing it is in accordance with a non-discriminatory policy specified in 3.1 above.

3.7 The Executive Committee shall have the power to take appropriate disciplinary action against any member and shall have the authority to terminate the membership of any member guilty of conduct deemed by them to be to the detriment of the Club.

3.8 If a member wishes to become a member of another diving organisation this will be accepted on the understanding that:-

(a) They will stay loyal to Manchester Diving Group;

(b) They will not try to entice members away from M.D.G. to join another diving organisation, or vilify the M.D.G. in any way, shape or form;

(c) They will not use the Club premises for meetings or any other business, except with the permission of the Club's Executive Committee. If any Club member is found guilty of violating this clause, they will be expelled from the Club and never be allowed to rejoin the Manchester Diving Group.

4.0 Membership Fees.

4.1 The Club's Joining Fee and the Annual Membership Fees may only be altered by the membership, voting by a simple majority, at the Club's Annual General Meeting, or properly convened Extraordinary General Meeting. However, should the cost of the B.S.A.C's Diving Manual be increased during the course of the year, the Club's Executive Committee will have the power to increase the Joining Fee commensurate with that increase.

4.2 The annual membership fees become due on the 1st April each year. Anyone not having paid their annual membership fees -by the 1st June of that year, shall no longer enjoy the privileges of Club Membership.

4.3 New Members, joining after 1st October, will only be required to pay 50% of the appropriate annual membership fee, for that membership year, plus the full joining fee, where appropriate.

4.4 The Club's Executive Committee will decide upon and set all other fees & charges that the Club may from time to time make. 4.5 The classes of Club Membership shall be:-

(a) Full Member - entitled to use all the Club's facilities - shall pay the full annual membership fee.

(b) Full Member - with more than 5 years membership- shall pay full membership less 10%

(d) Full Member - with more than 15 years membership- shall pay full membership less 20%

(e) Junior Member - entitled to use all the Club's facilities - shall pay 50% of the full annual membership fee.

(f) Family Membership - includes siblings in full time education up until the age of 21- shall pay full membership fee plus 50% (no discount for long term membership). Only one vote allowed per family membership.

(g) Registered Disabled Member - entitled to use all the Club's facilities - shall pay 50% of the full annual membership fee.

(h) Social member - entitled only to use the Club's social facilities - shall pay 25% of the full annual membership fee.

(i) Honorary Social Member - partners of Full, Junior or Disabled members, who are entitled only to use the Club's social facilities - shall pay no annual membership fee.

(j) Country Member - past members who move away and now live more than 50 miles away from the Club for more than six months of the year - shall pay 25% of the full annual membership fee. N.B. No rebates will be given for any of the above.

4.6 Honorary Social members and non-members may be allowed to use the pool during Club training times, but only at the Diving Officer's Discretion. They will only be permitted to use equipment at the Diving Officer's discretion.

4.7 Non-members will be allowed into the Clubhouse up to a maximum of six occasions per annum, at the discretion of the Executive Committee, providing that:-

(a) They are accompanied by a member who will be responsible for signing them in and for their good conduct.

(b) They pay the current non-members entrance fee.

4.8 A joining fee is payable by candidates for Full, Disabled and Junior membership, which fee will include the cost of a British Sub-Aqua Club's Diving Manual. N.B. When more than one member of a family within a single household joins the Club, then that family need only have one manual between them and the cost of the manual will be deducted from the joining fee of the second or subsequent members of that family.

4.9 In addition to the above fees, all members and non-members will be required to pay a pool training fee, on entry to the pool.

4.10 At the Diving Officer's discretion, new members who have recognised diving qualifications, need not pay the joining fee.

5.0 Officers.

5.1 The Officers of the Club shall be:- Chairman Secretary Treasurer Diving Officer (must be a M.D.G. Certificate holder) House Manager Social Secretary Membership Secretary

Elected Officers

Chairman
Mr P May

Secretary
Mr R Baxandall

Treasurer
Mr S Rogerson

Diving Officer
Dr M Hogg

House Manager
Mr C Edge

Social Secretary
Mr C Walton

Membership Secretary
Mr P Hope

5.2 These Officers will hold office for one calendar year, being elected annually at the Club's Annual General Meeting. All Officers shall retire at the following Annual General Meeting, but shall be eligible for re-election.

5.3 Any vacancy which occurs during the Club year may be filled by the Club's Executive Committee, who shall also have the power to co-opt onto the Committee, any other members, or to appoint Sub-Committees for particular projects.

5.4 The Executive Committee will appoint and supervise the activities of the following officials, who shall be appointed from the membership:-Bar Steward, Assistant Diving Officer, Equipment & Compressor Room Manager, Boat Marshall and Outings Officer.

6.0 Executive Committee.

6.1 The management of the Club shall be vested in the Executive Committee.

6.2 The Executive Committee shall act for the members. Liabilities incurred, shall fall upon the membership, always providing, the Executive Committee have acted in accordance with the Club Constitution, in honesty and in good faith.

6.3 The Executive Committee shall comprise those Officers listed in 5.1 above.

6.4 The Executive Committee shall meet on a regular, two monthly frequency, to conduct the affairs of the Club.

6.5 The Quorum necessary for the transaction of business at Executive meetings, shall be four of the Officers listed in 5.1 above and resolutions shall be passed by a simple majority of all those present. The Chairman of the meeting shall remain impartial, but shall have the casting vote in the event of a split decision.

7.0 Finance.

7.1 All monies raised by, or on behalf, of the Club, shall be applied to further the aims and objectives of the Club and for no other purpose.

7.2 The Club Treasurer shall be responsible for the finances of the Club and keep proper accounts of all sums of money received by, or paid out by, the Club.

7.3 Any other member of the Club, who shall have reason to receive and send monies for any related Club activity, shall be responsible for that money and/or goods and shall also produce proper accounts and deliver them to the Club Treasurer at the end of each project.

7.4 The Club's financial year shall be from 1st February until 31st January.

7.5 Club auditors shall be elected at the Club's Annual General Meeting (Executive Committee members are not eligible to be appointed as Club auditors). All the Club's accounts for the financial year shall, at the latest, be delivered to the Club auditors by the 28th February. The auditors report shall be presented to the following Club Annual General Meeting.

7.6 The funds of the Club shall be lodged at a registered bank or building society, in the account of the Manchester Diving Group" which shall be approved each year at the Club Annual General Meeting. But the bank or building society may be changed during the course of the year by resolution of the Executive Committee, if it is deemed, by them, to be in the best interests of the Club.

7.7 All cheques, drafts, etc., drawn from the Club account, shall be signed by any two of the following three Officers of the Club:- Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer.

8.0 Annual & Extraordinary General Meetings.

8.1 The Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held each year, during the month of March, when the annual report of the Executive Committee and the audited statement of accounts up to the end of the financial year shall be presented.

8.2 The Club Secretary will give written notice to each Full and Disabled member, stating the time, the date and the venue of the Club's Annual General Meeting, giving those members, at least, 21 days, prior notice of the meeting. N.B. It is each members responsibility to ensure that the Club Secretary is kept informed of any changes to member's addresses

8.3 The Secretary shall receive nominations for Officers, not less than seven days prior to the Annual General Meeting. The signatures of two Club members shall support all nominations. Nominations can only be accepted by persons eligible to vote at the Annual General Meeting.

8.4 Should more than one nomination be received for any Officer post, then a secret ballot, will be held, by those eligible members attending the Annual General Meeting. Should there be only one nomination for a post, then that nominee shall be formally declared elected.

8.5 Only Full and Disabled members shall be entitled to vote at the Club Annual General Meeting and Extraordinary General Meetings and shall each have equal voting rights.

8.6 With the exception of 9.4, 11.1 & 12.0 below, resolutions will be passed by a simple majority of those eligible members attending the Annual General Meeting, or Extraordinary General Meeting. The Chairman of the meeting shall remain impartial, but shall have the casting vote in the event of a split decision.

8.7 The Quorum for the Annual General Meeting and Extraordinary General Meetings shall be 20% of the Club members who are eligible to vote at such meetings.

8.8 The Club's Executive Committee can, by resolution, call an Extraordinary General Meeting of members at any time. Alternatively any member can call such a meeting by written application to the Club Secretary, which must be supported with the signatures of not less than 12 eligible Club members.

8.9 On receipt of a legitimate application to call an Extraordinary General Meeting, the Club Secretary, must within seven days, call such a meeting, giving fourteen days notice to members of the meeting, stating the purpose of the meeting. No other business, other than that which the meeting was called for, may be discussed at that meeting.

9.0 Club President, Vice Presidents and Life Members.

9.1 A special person who the Club may wish to honour may be invited to assume the position of President of the Club.

9.2 Persons, who have an external interest in the Club, may be invited i.e. assume the position of a Vice President of the Club. Any number of Vice Presidents may be elected. Such position shall be held for one calendar year, but may be re-affirmed at the following Annual General Meeting.

9.3 Members who have given long and dedicated service to the Club may be elected as Life Members of the Club.

9.4 The above awards may only be granted by a unanimous resolution of the Club's Executive Committee.

10.0 Trustees.

10.1 The Trustee's only responsibility is to oversee the club constitution. The Trustee's have no say in the day to day running of the club other than their normal voting rights as club members.

10.2 There will be four elected Trustees.

10.3 The Chairman of the day will be a Trustee.

10.4 Elected Honorary Members will be Trustees.

10.5 To be eligible for election as a Trustee an individual must have been a full club member for at least 10 years.

10.6 No time limit is set on a person being a Trustee.

10.7 New Trustees will be elected by member's vote at the A.G.M. or an E.G.M.

10.8 The Trustees will, without personal prejudice and only to the good of the club oversee any constitutional changes. The Trustees will ensure that any proposed changes do not affect the basic ethos of the club, its name or original objectives. Ratification of any such proposed changes are to be agreed by a two-thirds majority of the Trustee's.

10.9 The committee will require written permission for constitutional changes from the Trustee's. Such permission may be requested before or after the club members have voted on any such proposed change having followed the procedures detailed in item 12.0.

11.0 Dissolution Procedures.

11.1 The Club may be wound up by a resolution of eligible members passing such a resolution by a 75% majority, at a specially convened Extraordinary General Meeting.

11.2 In the event of the Club ceasing to exist and following, the discharge of all debts and liabilities, any assets the Club may possess at the time of the dissolution shall be offered for sale to other sport diving organisations, or sold by auction.

11.3 In the event of the Club ceasing to exist, no member shall obtain any asset from the Club and the proceeds of any sale or auction of the Club's assets shall be donated to the Royal National Lifeboat Institute.

12.0 Review of Constitution.

12.1 This Constitution may only be amended at the Club's Annual General Meeting, and then, only by means of the processes detailed in 12.2, 12.3 and 12.4 below.

12.2 The Club's Executive Committee may, by resolution, recommend to the Club's Annual General Meeting any alteration to this Constitution, which must be detailed in the agenda and given to members in accordance with 8.2 above.

12.3 Any member may request that the Executive Committee consider such an alteration to the Constitution. However, if after deliberation, the Executive Committee refuse to submit the requested amendment to the Club's Annual General Meeting for approval, any member may submit such a recommendation themselves, providing they give written notice to the Club Secretary, which must be supported with the signatures of not less than 12 eligible members.

12.4 This Constitution may only be amended by members passing such amendments by a 75% majority of those members present who are eligible to vote at the Club's Annual General Meeting. In the event of any question or matter arising, which is not provided for in this Constitution, the matter shall be dealt with by the Club's Executive Committee, whose decision shall be final.