Club Rules

THE CLUB NAME

1. The name of the club shall be "Ormskirk and District Amateur Swimming Club". The headquarters shall be at the "Park Pool" Ormskirk

AIMS OF THE CLUB

2. The aims of the club shall be to promote and encourage club members in the art of swimming and allied aquatic arts, to conduct championship events, galas, life-saving examinations and exhibitions and other developments within the scope of the club, including social events. The club undertakes to provide qualified instructors in the swimming and life saving arts.

LINKS WITH SWIMMING ASSOCIATIONS

3. The club shall be affiliated to The Northern Counties Amateur Swimming Association and such other bodies as the Annual General Meeting may decide.

MEMBERSHIP

4. The club shall consist of an unlimited number of members, but the governing body of the club shall have the right to refuse membership to any person without giving the reason for its decision.

5. The categories or membership are:

1. JUNIOR - for children who are at least 5 years old on joining the club and are less than 18 years old on 31st December

2. SENIOR - for those who are 18 years old or older on 31st December

THE GOVERNING BODY

6. The following persons shall be eligible to serve on the governing body of the club:

1. SENIOR members

2. Parents of guardians of members

3. Instructors and coaches with current appointments made by the governing body

4. The president and vice-presidents

5. Current members of the governing body

6. Any other adult appointed at a general meeting of the club or by the current governing body

7. The governing body of the club shall be the Executive Committee which shall comprise the following persons:

1. Six designated officers

1. Chairman

2. Vice Chairman

3. Secretary

4. Membership Secretary

5. Treasurer

6. Chief Coach

2. Seven other adults who are eligible by virtue of Rule 6

8. The term of office of all members of the executive committee shall run from the date of the annual general meeting at which they were elected, to the time of the election of the new committee at the next annual general meeting. All retiring members of the executive committee shall be eligible for re-election providing they satisfy the conditions specified in Rule 6 and are not debarred by the terms of Rule 9

INELIGIBILITY 9. Any person who is:

1. serving the club in any paid capacity, or

2. the holder of any official position with any other swimming club;

shall not be eligible for membership of the Executive Committee

CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

10. There shall be an annual club championship, normally held during November. The arrangements and rules for this gala shall be determined by the executive committee. As a minimum requirement, members must have been registered with the club by 31st July to be eligible to take part in the gala.

FINANCIAL MATTERS

11. The annual subscription from all members shall be due on joining the club and shall be such sums as the Executive Committee shall decide.

12. Renewal of membership shall be due on 1st January each year. Any member who has not paid the renewal subscription by 28th February shall be liable to expulsion from the club.

13. Payment of subscriptions shall entitle members to all the benefits of the club. The admission charges for the club activities shall be in addition to the subscription and shall be such sums as the Executive Committee shall decide.

14. All accounts of the club shall be kept by the Treasurer who shall report to every Executive Committee meeting, the state of the club finances.

15. Two honorary auditors shall be appointed annually at the annual general meeting. They shall audit all club accounts prior to the annual general meeting and shall present a report thereon to the treasurer. Two trustees shall also be appointed annually at the annual general meeting their duties are defined in Rule 18

16. The financial year of the club shall run from 1st January to 31st December inclusive.

17. The accounts of the club shall be kept at a bank approved by the Executive Committee. Signatories for the accounts shall be the Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary. Cheques drawn shall be signed by 2 of the signatories.

18. All funds or other property of the club shall not be paid or distributed among members of the club but shall be applied towards the furtherance of the club's aims or for any charitable purpose. In the event of dissolution, the funds remaining shall devoted to aims similar to those of the club and to other purposes approved by the Commissioner of the Customs and Excise of the Trustees approved by the club.

MEETINGS Annual General Meeting

19. The annual general meeting of the club shall be held during the month of June each year. The date of the meeting shall be fixed by the Executive Committee, and the secretary shall post a notice on the club notice board at least 14 days before the meeting is due to be held. This notice shall specify the time, date and place of the meeting and shall also list the agenda. The persons who may attend are those specified in Rule 6 and, by agreement of those at the meeting, any other person.

20. The agenda shall include:

1. Apologies for absence

2. Minutes of the previous annual general meeting

3. Matters arising 4. Reports from: 1. Chairman 2. Secretary 3. Treasurer

4. Chief Coach

5. Election of the Executive Committee

6. Appointment of 2 honorary auditors, and also 2 trustees

7. Affiliation to other swimming associations

8. Code of conduct

9. Proposed rule changes

10. Any other business

21. Copies of the minutes of the previous annual general meeting, the auditors' report and any proposed changes to the code of conduct or to the rules of the club shall be made available for inspection from the date of posting the notice of the annual general meeting.

22. Any proposed changes to the code of conduct or the rules of the club shall be given in writing to the secretary or chairman of the club no later than 1st May each year.

23. The quorum shall be the number, of those eligible to be members of the governing body, which exceeds 8% of the current membership of the club.

Executive Committee Meetings

24. The executive committee normally shall meet on a monthly basis at a venue convenient to the committee. The quorum shall be 6.

25. Any member of the executive committee absent from 3 consecutive meetings without sufficient reason shall be deemed to have resigned from the committee.

26. Vacancies may be filled by appointments made by the executive committee. The term of these appointments shall end at the next annual general meeting.

27. The minutes of the club shall be open to inspection by any member of the committee at all reasonable times upon 14 days written notice to the secretary.

28. Any person wishing to be appointed as instructor shall submit their application in writing to the secretary. The executive committee in consultation with the chief coach shall decide the outcome of the application and the secretary, in writing, shall inform the applicant. The executive committee in consultation with the chief coach may, at their discretion, terminate the appointment of any instructor.

29. The chairman of the executive committee shall appoint a disciplinary sub-committee to hear allegations of contraventions of the code of conduct. The composition of the sub-committee and the investigation procedure shall be determined by the code of conduct, a copy of which shall be kept posted on the club notice board at all reasonable times.

30. The president and any vice presidents shall be elected annually by the executive committee at the first meeting after each annual general meeting. Any person who has previously been president will only be eligible for re-election if there has been a period of at least 1 year in the previous 2 years when they were not president of the club.

31. The executive committee shall the power to create sub-committees for any purpose pursuant to the declared aims of the club.

32. The executive committee shall have the power to replace a member of the committee or sub-committee if such a member fails to carry out their committee duties, provided at least two thirds of the committee members attending the meeting at which this proposal is discussed, vote in favour.

Other Meetings

33. The secretary shall call a special general meeting on receipt in writing of a request, signed by at least 25 persons eligible to be part of the governing body of the club (as defined in Rule 6). The request shall also specify the matter or matters to be discussed. The meeting shall be held at a time and in a place, which the executive committee considers to be reasonable. In any event, the minimum period which must elapse between the secretary receiving the written request and the date of the meeting shall be 1 month, and the maximum time shall be 3 months. The quorum shall be the number of those eligible to be on the governing body which exceeds 8% of the current membership of the club.

DUTIES OF MEMBERS 34. All members are bound by the terms of the code of conduct

35. All JUNIOR members must have in writing the consent of their parents or guardians before being accepted by the club.

CODE OF CONDUCT INTRODUCTION

1. The aim of this code of conduct is to provide a framework for the standards of behaviour expected of all members of the club. It is recognised that almost all members are usually sensible, courteous and considerate, and do follow the instructions and advice given by instructors, coaches and other club officials. This behaviour is essential if accidents are to be avoided. It is also important to appreciate that regular attendance is necessary if members are to develop fully their swimming skills. On those occasions when these standards are not met, then the procedure which will be followed, is contained in this code.

INFRINGEMENTS OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT 2. There are 3 categories of infringement:

1. Poor attendance record

2. Serious infringement; and

3. Significant infringement.

Poor Attendance Record

3. A poor attendance record is deemed to have occurred when a member has failed to attend, without good reason, for 6 consecutive weeks of Sunday or Monday sessions.

Serious Infringement

4. A serious infringement is deemed to have been committed by any member who has endangered the life of themselves or others by their action, or who has been violent towards anybody, has been bullying others, has committed unauthorised removal of property, or who has wilfully damaged equipment or property.

Significant Infringement

5. A significant infringement is either a single event or a series of less serious events which, although not regarded as a serious infringement, contravenes the normal standard of conduct expected of members.

REPORTING OF INFRINGEMENTS By Members

6. Members shall report forthwith to the coach or instructor any infringement which occurs at the pool. If the infringement occurs elsewhere within the pool building, then members should seek anybody from the executive committee or, failing this, inform a coach or instructor.

By Instructors or Coaches

7. Any infringement reported to, or observed by, instructors or coaches should be dealt with as promptly as possible by giving the information to the chief coach or, in their absence, any designated officer of the executive committee as soon as is reasonably practicable.

By the Executive Committee

8. Any infringement reported to, or observed by, any member of the executive committee shall be recorded in writing at the earliest opportunity. This record shall specify.

1. Who is making the allegation

2. The time, date and place that the allegation was made

3. Who is the subject of the allegation

4. The circumstances which caused the allegation to be made

5. The names of any witnesses.

ACTION ON RECEIPT OF AN ALLEGED INFRINGEMENT By Instructors or Coaches

9. If Instructors or coaches receive information or observe behaviour which at that time they believe constitutes an infringement, they are empowered to require the relevant member to leave the pool and change into their normal clothes and report to a member of the executive committee. The instructor or coach should inform the chief coach or, in their absence, a member of the executive committee as soon as possible - without prejudicing the safety of other members still at the poolside or in the pool.

By a Member of the Executive Committee

10. The written information obtained at the reporting stage should be passed to the chairman or, in their absence, the vice-chairman at the earliest opportunity.

By the Chairman or, in their absence, the Vice-Chairman

11. On receipt of the written information about an alleged infringement, the chairman or, in their absence, the vice-chairman shall appoint a disciplinary sub-committee to decide what action to take. If in the opinion of the chairman or, in their absence, the vice-chairman there is, or appears to be prima facie evidence of a serious infringement, then they are empowered to suspend the subject of the allegation for 2 weeks pending the outcome of the disciplinary sub-committee.

THE DISCIPLINARY SUB-COMMITTEE Composition

12. The disciplinary sub-committee shall comprise the President and 2 other persons eligible to be on the governing body of the Club. These persons shall be appointed by the chairman or, in their absence, the vice-chairman at the earliest opportunity. In the event of the president not being available, a member of the executive committee should be appointed to lead the sub-committee.

Procedure to be Followed

13. The sub-committee shall arrange to deal with the alleged infringement promptly, and shall seek information from all relevant persons, including the subject of the allegation and the person making the allegation. The conduct of the hearing shall be determined by the sub-committee. The sub-committee shall produce a detailed report of their findings which shall be passed to the chairman or, in their absence, the vice-chairman. The subject of the allegation, and the person making the allegation shall be informed in writing of the decision of the sub-committee. The decision of the sub-committee shall be binding on all parties and is final.