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PRESIDENT: HRH THE PRINCE OF WALES KG KT
PRESTON SUB-AQUA CLUB
BRANCH 870 OF THE BRITISH SUB-AQUA CLUB
CONSTITUTION AND RULES – 2009
As adopted on 25th January 1982, and updated and amended last on 15th February 2009.
1. The name of the Club shall be "Preston Sub Aqua Club" (hereafter known as PSAC). The Club shall be affiliated to the British Sub Aqua Club (hereafter known as BSAC).
MEMBERSHIP
2. Full Diving Membership shall be open to all persons of fourteen years of age and over, subject to the approval of the Branch Committee and the BSAC.
3. Associate Membership shall be open to ex-full diving members, subject to the approval of the Branch Committee. These members are not entitled to take part in any aqualung activities of the Club. All Associate members may be entitled to vote at any AGM or EGM except on aqualung diving related matters.
4. Provision shall be made for Social Membership. These members are entitled to take part in all Non-diving activities of the Club without prejudice, but shall not have voting rights.
5. Prospective Full Diving Members may attend as trainees, all pool meetings of the Club for a maximum of one month. At the end of that time they must join or opt out.
6.
- New/Rejoining Full Diving Members.
All members of PSAC must complete a "Next of Kin" form, and take responsibility for keeping the information up to date, before being allowed to partake in diving activities.
i) Upon joining a minimum payment of £50 must be paid. (To the Committee's discretion).
ii) The full membership fees, less the deposit, may be paid by standing order. Otherwise they must be paid within 3 months of joining as the appropriate BSAC membership fees may not be sent until full payment is received. (To the Committee's discretion).
iii) If such fees are not paid within the 3 months the member shall be deemed to have resigned and any payments made cannot be returned. If any rejoining member then wishes to rejoin the club at a later date within a year of their original rejoining date then their fees will be equal to the full BSAC fees plus the full PSAC fees which will take them to the club's common renewal date (To the Committee's discretion).
iv) Cancellation of the standing order will be interpreted as resignation from the club.
- Renewing Full Diving Members.
i) A minimum payment of £30 must be paid on/before the renewal date. (To the Committee's discretion).
ii) The full membership fees may also be paid by standing order, otherwise they must be paid within 2 months of renewing as the appropriate BSAC membership fees may not be sent until full payment is received. (To the Committee's discretion).
iii) If such fees are not paid within the 2 months the member shall be deemed to have resigned and any payments made cannot be returned. If any renewing member then wishes to rejoin the club at a later date within a year of their original renewal date then their fees will be equal to the full BSAC fees plus the full PSAC fees, which will take them to the club's common renewal date (To the Committee's discretion).
- Associate Membership Fees to be paid as the Branch Committee decides.
7. Any new member who joins the Club from any other training organisation (e.g. PADI, SAA) must pay the cost of the relevant training crossover pack on top of the normal Full Diving membership fees.
8. All Club members shall accept and abide by the Club Disciplinary Procedure.
a) Any member, who in the opinion of the current serving Committee brings the Club into disrepute by their actions, will be subject to the Club's Disciplinary Procedure
9. Any member suspended from the Club shall forfeit all rights and benefits that accrue to members of PSAC. Any member expelled from the Club shall additionally forfeit any monies previously paid to the club.
10. Any member who resigns from the Club shall forfeit all rights and benefits accruing to members of the Club.
ELECTION OF BRANCH COMMITTEE
11.
a) The Branch Committee shall be nominated and seconded at each Annual General Meeting (AGM) or at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM).
b) Any such nominations arising out of an EGM shall be taken from the Branch Committee only.
c) Any Full Diving or Associate Member may be nominated and stand for one Committee post only at each election. (Rule 12 & 13 applies).
d) Nominations must be made two weeks before an AGM/EGM. If any posts are still vacant at this time the nominations will be re-opened only at the AGM/EGM.
12. The Branch Committee should consist of twelve (7) Full Diving/Associate Members of PSAC, nominated and seconded at each AGM or EGM and then voted into office. (Rule 13 applies).
The Branch Committee should comprise:
- Executive Committee Members:
Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary (Including Membership Secretary duties), Diving Officer.
- Committee Members:
General Committee Member, Equipment & Boat Officer, Marine Conservation Officer
13. Any Associate Member may be entitled to hold any of the following Branch Committee positions ONLY if these positions have NOT been filled by a Full Diving Member at any AGM or EGM.
Secretary (Membership Secretary), Treasurer, Equipment & Boat Officer, Marine Conservation Officer, General Committee Member.
14. Voting shall be taken by a simple majority of Full Diving and Associate members present at the AGM or EGM. Proxy votes (committee nominations only) given to the Secretary at or before the AGM/EGM will be accepted.
a) If a committee position is contested then all members eligible to vote will receive a voting paper by post, before the AGM takes place and in time to return the said voting paper by post, if necessary.
b) Voting papers will NOT be available at the AGM.
c) Replacement voting papers will NOT be provided.
d) Voting is restricted to those members aged 14 years and over.
BRANCH MANAGEMENT
15. At monthly Committee Meetings voting shall be taken by a simple majority of those members of the Branch Committee who are present (quorum of 50% plus one required at the start of the meeting). If a hung vote is achieved the Chairman can exercise a casting vote.
16. Any Associate Member who holds any of the Branch Committee Positions referred to in Rule 13 may be allowed to vote at any monthly Committee Meeting except on aqualung diving matters.
17. The Branch Committee shall have the power to enforce the following :-
a) To co-opt any member that they deem necessary to the functioning of the Club. A co-opted Committee Member will not be allowed to vote at any bi-monthly Committee meetings. [Rule 11a applies].
b) To authorise expenditure (in excess of £100) of the Club providing:
i) such expenditure be covered by Club funds
ii) a quorum be present of at least half the Branch Committee Members plus one.
18. No one member shall have the power to spend/pledge Club funds in excess of £100 unless authorised by the Branch Committee. (Rule 17b applies).
19. Any expenditure exceeding Club funds shall require the consent of 80% of the membership.
20. Expenses incurred by Officers in the pursuance of their duties may be paid at the discretion of the Committee by prior arrangement.
21. At monthly Committee Meetings, (which shall be open to all Club Members), any Club Members who are not Committee Members may bring up matters for discussion under "Any Other Business", and may address the Committee at any time by raising their hand and being given their turn by the Chairman.
22. An EGM must be brought to the Club's members notice at least four (4) weeks prior to the meeting and any proposals must be in writing to the Secretary at least two (2) weeks prior to the meeting. An EGM can only be announced by either the Branch Committee or by a minimum of 25% of the Club's Membership via the Secretary.
23. The PSAC 50 Club be run under the control of PSAC, its Rules and Constitution.
DIVING
24. All diving shall be undertaken under the rules of the BSAC.
25. a) On all PSAC dives a Dive Marshal must be appointed before the dive. All divers must follow the BSAC 'Safe Diving Practices' and PSAC rules. Any breach of these rules may be subject to disciplinary action being taken by the Club Diving Officer and/or Branch Committee.
b) Any member who puts their buddy or other members of a dive party at risk by ignoring or going against the instructions of the Diving Officer/ Marshall/Organiser or appointed Cox, will be liable to, suspension or expulsion from the Club (see rule 8).
26. This Club strongly recommends against diving in groups of three or more.
27. All members of PSAC, including visitors, should wear a buoyancy aid whilst involved in open water boating activities.
28. The Club boats can only be used on PSAC insured activities. The cox must possess a boat handling certificate to the approval of the Committee. (Rule 27 applies).
29. Any Associate Member may be entitled to Cox the Club boats only if they possess a BSAC boat handling certificate. At all times Full Diving Members will take precedence over these members.
30. On a normal Club dive if a member finds an article it is the members decision whether or not to keep the article or give it to the Club.
31. On a specially organised search dive, or by prior agreement before the dive, any article found shall be deemed the property of the Club or shared between members of that expedition.
32. Any Club equipment when on loan or hire shall be repaired at the borrowers expense, subject to the discretion of the Committee.
33. A deposit and loan charge on all Club training equipment shall be payable for open water use, (after achieving Ocean Diver.) The fees to be decided on by the committee from time to time.
34. Any equipment purchased using moneys from grants shall, in the event of default of repayment by the Club, become the property of the Club members who agreed to act as guarantors for the loan. In order that they may recover the debt, any remaining money is to be returned to the Club.
35. All moneys for diving trips are to be kept separate from the main Club accounts.
36. Boats may only be booked with the permission of the Chairman and/or the Diving Officer.
37. The dive trip organiser must ensure that the boats and necessary auxiliary equipment are seaworthy well before any diving trip so as to avoid any disappointments.
38. The boats must be returned clean, and any losses/damage must be reported to the Boat Officer on your return otherwise charges will be made.
39. Anyone owing money for the use of the Club boats will not be allowed to use them until the bill is settled in full.
40. Trips must be open to all suitably qualified Club members and must be advertised on the Club Notice Board.
DISSOLUTION OF THE CLUB
41. a) The Executive Committee shall call an EGM for such a purpose.
b) The decision shall require at least an 80% majority of all Full Diving Members present at the EGM. (Rule 3 applies).
c) The remaining assets of the Club shall be sold by public tender and after all outstanding debts are paid the remaining moneys shall be donated to the Diving Diseases Research Centre, or some other such agreed organisation for the benefit of divers.
ALTERATION AND / OR AMENDMENT OF THE RULES
42. a) Shall be executed at an AGM.
b) Notice of intention to prepare an alteration or amendment on the part of any member shall be given to the Secretary in writing at least fourteen (14) days before any such meeting and the member shall attend in person to explain the same.
c) Amendments to any such motion may be proposed at the meeting without prior notice being given.
d) In the event of an amendment of an amendment to the motion, the vote upon shall be taken before the vote on the motion.
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