Chilwell Blades Club Constitution
The name of the Club will be CHILWELL BLADES FENCING CLUB.
The Club shall be affiliated to Chilwell Olympia and the British Fencing Association
The object of the club is to provide facilities for and promote participation of the whole community in the sport of fencing, and to provide opportunities for junior and adult fencers by instruction and competition, and to provide trophies for competitions.
Membership of the Club shall be open to all persons irrespective of ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or beliefs; or of age, sex or disability except as a necessary consequence of the requirements of fencing as a particular sport. For example, children under 8 will not normally be allowed to join the Club due to the need to ensure the safe and efficient running of the Club.
Membership will normally be granted on payment of the appropriate subscription, subject to:
a: The Club Committee may refuse membership, or remove it, only for good cause such as conduct or character likely to bring the Club or sport into disrepute. Appeal against such a decision may be made to the Club’s members and decided by a majority vote.
b: Persons who have not previously fenced will normally be required to complete a Beginner’s Course and attain an achievement award of an accredited Fencing Association.
Subscriptions will be paid on a term basis. Subscriptions shall normally be set for each year at the AGM of the preceding year.
Visitors shall be charged a session fee.
Juniors are those persons under the age of fifteen (15) years at the start of the Club's financial year (which is 1st September). All junior members must be accompanied by a responsible adult during club activities.
The Officers of the Club shall be: President, Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Club Captain, Armourer and up to three (3) other committee members.
Any elected Officer of the Club failing to attend three (3) Committee meetings in succession, without good cause, will automatically forfeit their place on the Committee. The elected Officers have the right to co-opt a club member onto the Committee to fill any vacancies which may arise.
The Annual General Meeting shall be held in July each year. All Members have the right to vote. A quorum shall be one quarter of the paid up Members.
Nominations for Officers and Committee should be handed to the Chairman before the Annual General Meeting, signed by the proposer, seconder and nominee. Nominations will also be accepted from the floor at the Annual General Meeting.
Amendments or additions to the rules can only be made at the Annual General Meeting, or at an Extraordinary General Meeting, which can be called by one quarter of the membership or by the Committee.
Members of more than one years’ standing shall normally be expected to provide their own equipment, but Club equipment may be available. Weapons and other equipment must be in good condition.
No freeplay unless correctly equipped.
Members shall observe the rules of the British Fencing Association and Chilwell Olympia, including observing appropriate safety precautions. In addition members will observe the BFA equality policy.
All surplus income or profits are re-invested in the Club. In the event of the Club’s activities being terminated, the Club’s assets will be disposed of to the British Fencing Association or to another Community Amateur Sports Club registered with the Inland Revenue, at the discretion of the Committee. No surpluses or assets will be distributed to members or other third parties.
18. An inventory of club equipment shall be carried out annually.
As adopted at the AGM held on Wednesday 29 July 2015.