The Classic Offshore Powerboat Club (COPC) Constitution

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		SECTION 1 – NAME AND OBJECTS
	1.	The name of the Club shall be ‘Classic Offshore Powerboat Club (COPC)’ (hereinafter referred to in these rules as the Club).
	2.	The objects for which the Club is formed are to promote and facilitate [(a) community participation in] the sport of yachting [and] to provide social and other facilities for members as may be from time to time determined.]
		SECTION 2 – OFFICERS
Officers of the Club	*3.	The Officers of the Club shall be Full or Family members of the Club and shall consist of a [President], [Vice President], a Commodore, a Vice-Commodore, a Rear-Commodore, [an Honorary Secretary and an Honorary Treasurer]. Officers shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting in each year and shall hold office for one year, retiring at the termination of the Annual General Meeting in each year. All Officers of the Club shall be eligible for re-election.
		Duties of [Honorary] Secretaries etc.
	4.	The [Honorary] Secretary (and/or the Assistant [Honorary] Secretary) shall:-
Duties of Honorary Secretary	(a)	Keep a register of Club members’ names and addresses;
	(b)	Conduct the correspondence of the Club;
	(c)	Keep custody of all Club documents;
	(d)	Keep full minutes of all meetings of the Club, the Committee as defined in S.4 and [ ] sub-committee which shall be confirmed and signed by the appropriate Chairman upon the agreement of the Club, the Committee or [ ] sub-committee at the next following meeting of the Club, the Committee or [ ] sub-committee;
	(e)	Administer such insurance policy or policies as may be needed fully to protect the interests of the Club, its Officers and its members;
	(f)	Maintain contact with the Club’s Legal Advisor to ensure that the Club’s affairs are managed in accordance with current law.
	(g)	Maintain any such certificates or registrations, and complete any such non-financial returns, as may be required by law.
	5.	The [Honorary] Treasurer shall:-
Duties of Honorary Treasurer	(a)	Cause such books of account to be kept as are necessary to give a true and fair view of the state of finances of the Club.
	(b)	Cause all returns as may be required by law in relation to such accounts to be rendered at the due time.
	(c)	*Prepare an Annual Balance Sheet as at [date] in each year and cause such Balance Sheet (and accounts as necessary) to be audited at least once annually and shall thereafter cause the same to be exhibited in the Club premises at least fourteen days before the date of the Annual General Meeting.
	6.	The Honorary Auditors shall:-
Duties of Honorary Auditors	(a)	Be appointed at the Annual General Meeting in each year [and shall be two appropriately qualified members of the Club];
	(b)	The Auditors shall audit the accounts [* and Annual Balance Sheet] of the Club when called upon to do so and shall give such certificate of assurance as to the accuracy of the said accounts as shall be required by law or by the Committee;
	(c)	If either unwilling or unable to act, inform the Committee who shall appoint a substitute to hold office until the termination of the next Annual General Meeting.
		SECTION 3 – MEMBERSHIP
Categories and votes of Membership	7.	There shall be the following categories of membership with power to vote at all meetings of the Club as indicated hereunder. The rights and privileges of each category of members are as defined in the latest edition of the byelaws of the Club.
		A FULL MEMBER – being a person who, at the date of election, shall have attained the age of eighteen years shall have one vote.
		A FAMILY MEMBER – which expression shall include one or two co-habiting adults and all children within their guardianship under eighteen years of age. The family unit shall have one vote, exercisable by either adult.
		A JUNIOR MEMBER – being a person who, at the date of election, is under the age of eighteen shall have no vote.
		Such a member shall be one who at the commencement of the subscription year joins the Club other than as a full member or a family member.
		AN HONORARY MEMBER – who shall have no vote.
		A SOCIAL MEMBER – who shall have no vote.
		A TEMPORARY MEMBER – who shall have no vote.
		No member may use the Club premises, or any of the facilities of the Club until forty-eight hours have elapsed from the date of posting of notice of election.
		* Candidates for membership shall have no privileges whatsoever in relation to the use of the Club or premises.
Membership Entrance & Subscription Fee	8.	The rate of Entrance and Subscription fee for each category of Membership shall be proposed by the Committee to the members at the Annual General Meeting in each year. Any proposed changes shall be approved by a majority of those present and entitled to vote and shall become operative on the first day of January in the year following. The current rate of Entrance and Subscription fee shall be prominently displayed in the Club premises.
		[(a) Membership of the Club shall be open to anyone interested in the sport of yachting on application regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or other beliefs. Membership may however be limited according to available facilities on a non-discriminatory basis.][(b) Membership subscriptions will be kept at levels that will not pose a significant obstacle to people participating.][(c) The Club Committee may refuse membership or, subject to Rule 18, remove it, only for good cause such as conduct or character likely to bring the Club or sport into disrepute. Appeal against refusal of membership may be made to the members.]
	9.(a)	Members shall also make the following annual payments:-An annual boat permit fee of such a sum as the Committee shall from time to time prescribe which shall entitle a member [to sail his or her own boat on the water controlled by the Club] [and] [a space in the Club’s boat park].
	(b)	All members shall pay the Entrance fee (if any) and their first annual subscription upon election to the Club and thereafter on the first day of January in each year. Provided that a member elected after the first day of June in any year shall pay half the annual subscription applicable for that year and that a member elected after the first day of November in any year shall not be required to pay any subscription in respect of the year of election, but shall pay, on election, the Entrance fee and the annual subscription in respect of the year following election.
Members’ duty to provide an up to date address	10.	Every member shall furnish the [Honorary] Secretary with an up-to-date address which shall be recorded in the Register of Members and any notice sent to such address as shall be deemed to have been duly delivered.
		Election and retirement of members
Candidates for election	11.	[(a) Every candidate for membership (except Honorary Members) shall be proposed and seconded by a Full or Family member of the Club, both of whom must be personally acquainted with the candidate.] [(b) Candidates for membership without sufficient personal acquaintances within the Club may be proposed and seconded by two Committee members after an introductory meeting.]
Application for membership	12.	An application for membership shall be in the form from time to time prescribed by the Committee, and shall include the name, address, and occupation of the candidate, [(a) and the signatures of the Proposer and the Seconder.]
Election of Members	13.	[*Upon receipt of an application for membership, the [Honorary] Secretary shall enter such application in a Register of Candidates and there shall be an interval of at least two days before the meeting of the Committee at which such application for membership shall be considered.] The election of all classes of members is vested in the Committee and shall be a simple majority vote of those of the Committee. [(a) The Committee may refuse applications only for good cause such as conduct or character likely to bring the Club into disrepute.] The [Honorary] Secretary shall inform each candidate in writing of the candidate’s election or non-election. He shall furnish an elected candidate with a copy of the Rules and Byelaws of the Club and make request for such payments as are necessary. [(b)Appeal against refusal to elect may be made to the members in General Meeting.]
Payment of Fees upon Election	14.	Upon election, a candidate shall pay, within one calendar month, such Entrance and other fees as shall be requested. In default of such payment, the election shall be void unless sufficient cause for delay be shown.
One year’s temporary absence of member	15.	A member who, for any reason, anticipates inability to use the Club or its facilities for the whole of any one year shall be excused payment of the annual subscription and other annual fees provided that notice in writing is given to the [Honorary] Secretary before the last day of November in the previous year. A member wishing to be re-instated during the year in question shall pay such portion of the annual subscription as the Committee shall require.
Retirement of a member	16.	A member desirous of retiring from membership shall give notice in writing to the [Honorary] Secretary before the last day of November and shall not then be liable to pay the subscription for the following year. Upon re-application by a past member the Committee may, at its discretion, excuse payment of an Entrance Fee.
Arrears of Subscription	17.	The Committee may cancel, without notice being given, the membership of any member whose annual subscription and other annual fees are more than three months in arrears provided that the Committee may, at its discretion, re-instate such member upon payment of arrears. No member whose annual payment is in arrears may enter any Club event or regatta or vote at any meeting.
		Conduct of Members
Under-taking by members to comply with rules	18.	Every member, upon election and thereafter, is deemed to have notice of, and undertakes to comply with, the Club Rules and the current Byelaws 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 disciplinary action by the Committee, which may include expulsion or non-renewal of membership.
Disciplinary action against members		PROVIDED THAT, before taking any such disciplinary action, the Committee shall call upon such member for a written explanation of the member’s conduct and shall give the member full opportunity of making explanation to the Committee, or of resigning.
		A Resolution to apply any sanction shall be carried by a simple majority vote by those members of the Committee present and voting on the Resolution.
		Appeal against expulsion or non-renewal of membership may be made to the members in General Meeting.Upon expulsion of a member, the Committee may dispose of the former member’s boat and/or trailer in accordance with Clause 72.
Guests in the Club	19.	Members shall enter the names of all guests in the Visitor’s Book. Not more than [three] guests may be introduced in any one day and the same guest may not be introduced more than [six] times in any calendar year.
Damage to Club property	20.	A member shall not knowingly remove, injure, destroy or damage any property of the Club and shall make restitution for the same if called upon to do so by the Committee or by the [Honorary] Secretary upon the instructions of the Committee.
Exhibiting of notices	21.	A member shall not cause any communication in whatever form to be exhibited on Club notice boards or premises without permission of the [Honorary] Secretary.
Settlement of Accounts	22.	A member shall settle any indebtedness for refreshment or otherwise before leaving the Club premises, or in accordance with any byelaw relating to the settlement of such indebtedness.
Suggestions	23.	All suggestions shall be entered in the Suggestion Book and signed by the Member.
Complaints	24.	Complaints of any nature relating to the management of the Club premises shall be addressed in writing to the [Honorary] Secretary. Under no circumstances shall a servant of the Club be personally reprimanded by a member.
Members of other RYA Clubs	25.	A member of any Club affiliated to the Royal Yachting Association (a list whereof is published by the said Association) may be authorised to use the premises of the Club by any member of the Committee of the Club. Such authorisation shall specify between which dates the said person may so use the premises.
Competitors in Club races	26.	Any person who is a competitor or crew member in any race sponsored by or on behalf of the Club is entitled to the use of the Club premises within a period of [24 hours] before and after the race in which they are competing.
Power to expel those admitted under rules 25 & 26 hereof	27.	The [Honorary] Secretary or any other person who has received the authority of two members of the Committee, may expel, temporarily or permanently, any person who has the right to the use of the Club premises only under Rules 25 and 26.
		Limitation of Club liability
Limitation of Club liability	28.	All references to the Club in this Rule shall mean each and every individual member of the Club from time to time.
		Members are bound by the following Rule which shall also be exhibited in a prominent place within the Club premises:-
		Members of the Club may use the Club premises, and any other facilities of the Club, entirely at their own risk and impliedly accept:-
		(a) The Club will not accept any liability for any damage to or loss of property belonging to members.
		(b) The Club will not accept any liability of personal injury arising out of the use of the Club premises, any other facilities of the Club either sustained by members or caused by the said members whether or not such damage or injury could have been attributed to or was occasioned by the neglect, default or negligence of any of them, the Officers, Committee, Trustees or Servants of the Club.
	29.	Membership of the Club and acceptance of these rules by the member will be deemed to constitute consent to the holding of relevant personal data for the purposes of the Data Protection Acts.
		SECTION 4 – MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Constitution of Committee	30.	The Management Committee (herein referred to as ‘the Committee’) shall consist of the Officers, ex officio, and not less than [four] nor more than [eight]
		Full or Family Members [*(who have attained the age of eighteen years)] elected at the Annual General Meeting each year to hold office until the termination of the next following Annual General Meeting.
Retirement of members of the Committee	31.	At the Annual General Meeting each year two of the Full and Family members shall retire in order of election or seniority. In the case of equal seniority the order of retirement shall, failing agreement between the members concerned, be determined by lot. Members retiring under the rule shall not be eligible for re-election to the Committee until the Annual General Meeting next following the meeting at which they retire.
Candidates for election to Committee	32.	Candidates for election to the Committee (not being Officers of the Club) shall be those members of the retiring Committee eligible to offer themselves for re-election and such other full or Family members whose nominations (duly proposed and seconded in writing by Full or Family members of the Club) with their consent shall have been received by the [Honorary] Secretary at least twenty eight days before the date of the Annual General Meeting in each year. Such nominations, together with the names of the Proposer and Seconder shall be posted to the Club premises at least fourteen days prior to the date of the Annual General Meeting.
Election of Committee by ballot	33.	If the number of candidates for election is greater than the number of vacancies to be filled then there shall be a ballot.
No contest for election	34.	If the number of candidates for election is equal to or less than the number of vacancies to be filled then all candidates shall be deemed to be elected if two thirds of those present at the Annual General Meeting, and entitled to vote, vote in favour of such election.
	35.	In the event of the ballot failing to determine the members of the Committee because of an equality of votes the candidate or candidates to be elected from those having an equal number of votes shall be determined by lot.
Casual vacancy	36.	If, for any reason, a casual vacancy shall occur, the Committee may co-opt a Full or Family member to fill such a vacancy until the next following Annual General Meeting.
Retiring Commodore ex officio	37.	A retiring Commodore shall serve as an ex officio member of the Committee in the year immediately following his retirement.
Committee Meetings	38.	The Committee shall meet at least every two months making such arrangements as the conduct, place of assembly and holding of such meetings as it may wish. The Commodore or in his absence a Chairman elected by those present shall preside.
Voting at Committee	39.	Voting (except in the case of a resolution relating to the expulsion of a member) shall be by show of hands. In the case of equality of votes the Commodore or Chairman (as the case may be) shall have a second and casting vote.
Quorum	40.	Five members personally present shall form a quorum at a meeting of the Committee.
		Powers of the Committee
Management of Club by Committee	*41.	The Committee shall manage the affairs of the Club according to the Rules and shall cause the funds of the Club to be applied solely to the objects of the Club or for a benevolent or charitable purpose nominated by General Meeting.[(a)In particular the Committee shall ensure that the property and funds of the Club will not be used for the direct or indirect private benefit of members other than as reasonably allowed by the rules and that all surplus income or profits are re-invested in the Club.]
Powers to make Byelaws and Regulations	42.	The Committee shall make such Byelaws and Regulations as it shall from time to time think fit and shall cause the same to be exhibited in the Club premises for fourteen days before the date of implementation. Such Byelaws and Regulations shall remain in force until approved or set aside by a vote of a General Meeting of the Club.
Appointment of sub-committees	43.	The Committee may appoint such sub-committees as it may deem necessary and may delegate such of its powers as it may think fit upon such terms and conditions as shall be deemed expedient and/or required by the law. Such sub-committees shall consist of such members of the Committee or of the Club as the Committees may think fit. Officers of the Club shall be ex officio members of all such sub-committees
Disclosure of interest to third parties	44.	A member of the Committee, of a sub-committee or any officer of the Club, in transacting business for the Club, shall disclose to third parties that he is so acting.
Limitation of Committee’s authority	45.	The Committee, or any person or sub-committee delegated by the Committee to act as agent for the Club or its members, shall enter into contracts only as far as expressly authorised, or authorised by implication, by the members. No one shall, without the express authority of the membership in General Meeting, borrow money or incur debts on behalf of the Club or its membership.
Members’ indemnification of Committee	46. (a)	In pursuance of the authority vested in the Committee by members of the Club, members of the Committee are entitled to be indemnified by the members of the Club against any liabilities properly incurred by them or any one of them on behalf of the Club wherever the contract is of a duly authorised nature or could be assumed to be of a duly authorised nature and entered into on behalf of the Club.
		The limit of any individual member’s indemnity in this respect shall be a sum equal to one year’s subscription at the then current rate of that category of membership unless the Committee has been authorised to exceed such limit by a General Meeting of the Club.
Contractual Liability	46. (b)	The Committee shall endeavour to ensure that the following clause is incorporated in every contract, lease, licence or other agreement entered into by the Committee and/or Trustees of the Club, as appropriate.
		“The liability of the [Committee/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.”
Nomination of Honorary Members by Committee	47.	The Committee may nominate for election at an Annual General Meeting such Honorary Members as the Committee may think fit. The total of such Honorary members shall not, however, at any time, exceed [ ] per cent of the total number of members.
		The election of Honorary Members shall be put to the vote at the Annual General Meeting each year and such Honorary Members shall be duly elected if two thirds of those present, and entitled to vote, vote in favour of election.
		Purchase and supply of excisable goods
Purchase & Supply of Excisable Goods	*48.	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.
		Intoxicating liquor may only be sold for consumption on the Club premises to persons over the age of eighteen who are entitled to the use of the Club premises in pursuance of the Rules, Byelaws and Regulations for the time being in force. No Junior Member under the age of eighteen may purchase or attempt to purchase intoxicating liquor within the Club premises nor may a Junior Member under the legal age purchase or attempt to purchase tobacco or cigarettes within the Club premises.
Hours of Sale of Excisable Goods	*49.	The Committee shall cause the Club bar to be opened (subject to terms of the Club premises certificate) at convenient times (and such times shall be prominently exhibited in the Club premises) for the sale of excisable goods to persons who are entitled to the use of the premises of the Club in pursuance of these rules (except Junior Members as aforesaid) PROVIDED THAT visitors’ names and addresses and the name of their introducer shall have been entered in the Visitor’s Book upon entry to Club premises.
Profits from Sale of Excisable Goods	*50.	No person shall take a commission, percentage or other such payment in connection with the purchase of excisable goods for the Club. Any profit deriving from the supply 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.
Accounts relating to excisable goods	*51.	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 [Honorary] Secretary or [Honorary] Auditors 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.
		SECTION 5 – TRUSTEES
Number of & terms of reference	52.	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 Full, Family or Honorary Members who are willing to be so appointed. A Trustee shall hold office for a maximum term of [ten] years, or until he shall resign by notice in writing given to the Committee or until a resolution removing him from office shall be passed at a meeting of the Committee by a majority comprising two-thirds of the members present and entitled to vote.
Property of Club vested in Trustees	53.	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 his 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 [Honorary] 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 Trustee Act 1925 and he shall by Deed duly appoint the person or persons so nominated by the Committee.
Powers of Trustees	54.	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 mortgagee shall be concerned to enquire whether any such direction has been given.
Indemnity of Trustees from Club	55.	The Trustees shall be effectually indemnified by the members of the Club 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.
		SECTION 6 – MEETINGS OF THE CLUB
Annual General Meeting	56.	An Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held each year in the month of [November] on a date to be fixed by the Committee. The [Honorary] Secretary shall at least fourteen days before the date of such meeting post or deliver to each member notice hereof and of the business to be brought forward thereat.
Business at Annual General Meeting	57.	No business, except the passing of the Accounts and the election of the Officers, Committee, Trustees and Honorary Auditors, and any business that the Committee may order to be inserted in the notice convening the meeting shall be discussed at such meeting unless notice thereof be given in writing by a member entitled to vote to the [Honorary] Secretary at least forty two days before the date of the Annual General Meeting.
Special General Meeting	58.	The Committee may at any time, upon giving twenty one days notice in writing, call a Special General Meeting of the Club for any special business, the nature of which shall be stated in the summons convening the meeting, and the discussion at such meeting shall be confined to the business stated in the notice sent to members.
Special General Meeting upon request of members	59.	The Committee shall call a Special General Meeting upon a written request addressed to the [Honorary] Secretary by at least [ ] members. The Committee shall give twenty one days notice in writing of any such Special General Meeting. The discussion at such meeting shall be confined to the business stated in the notice sent to members.
Chairman at Meetings	60.	At every meeting of the Club the President or the Commodore or, in their absence, a Chairman elected by those present shall preside.
Quorum at Meetings	61.	[Fifteen] members entitled to vote and personally present shall form a quorum at any meeting of the Club.
Entitlement to vote at Meetings	62.	Only Full and Family members shall vote at any meeting of the Club. Other members may attend but are not entitled to vote.
Voting at Meetings	63.	Voting, except upon the election of members of the Committee, shall be by show of hands.
Equality of Votes	64.	In the case of an equality of votes the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote, on any matter other than the election of members of the Committee.
Voting on Rule Change	65.	On any resolution properly put to a meeting of the Club relating to the creation, repeal or amendment of any Rule, Byelaw or Regulation of the Club such Rule, Byelaw or Regulation shall not be created, repealed or amended except by a majority vote of at least two-thirds of those present and entitled to vote.[(a) Provided that no such change shall jeopardise the Club’s status as a Community Amateur Sports Club within the meaning of the Finance Acts, or in any event alter its objects or winding-up provisions.]
		SECTION 7 – DISSOLUTION OF THE CLUB
Dissolution of the Club	66.	(a) If, upon the winding up or dissolution of the Club, there remains after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities any property whatsoever, the same shall not be paid to or distributed amongst the members of the Club. The Committee shall dispose of the net assets remaining to one or more of the following:
		(i) to another Club with similar sports purposes which is a charity and/or(ii) to another Club with similar sports purposes which is a registered CASC and / or(iii) to the sport’s national governing body for use by them for related community sports.

Effective from: 17th May 2012