Names

The name of the club shall be known as the ‘Turtles Swimming Club’

Objects

To encourage, promote and develop the art of swimming and provide respite for disabled persons.

Membership
1. Membership shall be open to: -
(a) All persons suffering from a disability
(b) All persons who undertake to give instruction on behalf of the Club and/or assist in the running of the Club
2. Persons will be admitted to membership by decisions of a Sub-Committee of:- The Chairman, Secretary & Chief Instructor.
3. Persons admitted under clause1 (a) shall be required to complete a membership form, which will include a declaration of suitability to undertake pool activities.
4. Each disabled member shall be entitled to bring two relatives/friends to each session. These relatives/friends are not entitled to be present in the absence of the disabled member, or if the disabled member is unable to swim. These relatives/friends shall be enrolled as club members.
5. (a) Juniors (16 years or under in the year of payment) shall at all times be accompanied by, or be under the supervision of a responsible adult.
(b) Helpers may not bring visitors.
6. Concessions to Clauses 4/5 may be granted on application to the Committee. The decision of the Committee shall be final. On approval, visitors may attend pool sessions on payment of the appropriate fee.
7. All persons admitted under Clause 6 above, shall be enrolled as temporary members of the club for insurance purposes.


Officers & Committee Members
1. The officers shall consist of: -
a. Chairman
b. Vice Chairman
c. Secretary
d. Treasurer
e. Assistant Secretary
f. Chief Instructor
g. Competition Secretary
All Officers shall serve in an Honorary capacity.
Officers to be elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) by ballot if necessary.
2 The Committee shall consist of the Officers, together with six other members – of whom at least three shall be disabled – to be elected at the AGM, by ballot if necessary.
3 A Quorum for the Committee shall be fifty percent (50%) of its members.
4 Each member of the Committee shall have one vote. The Chairman shall have ONE vote only, that being the casting vote.
5 The Committee shall have the power to fill vacancies and appoint such other members as they deem necessary. Such members shall have no vote.
6 The Committee shall have the power to discipline club members for any reported and proven offence including contravention of: -
a. The rules and regulations of the Council and pool
b. The rules of the Club
c. The pool Manager
d. The Club’s Officers
e. Unruly conduct contrary to the general safety of club members.

Disciplinary Procedure
1.  If any Club member considers that another member(s) should be disciplined or expelled they must inform the Chairman as soon as practicable, in writing, stating the reasons why that action should be taken.
2.  On receipt of an allegation the Chairman will appoint a Reviewing Sub-Committee, consisting of three members not involved as witnesses, who will consider the evidence. The Reviewing Sub-Committee shall report their findings to the Committee as soon as practicable. The decision of the Committee shall be final.
3 If the Reviewing Sub-Committee is not satisfied that the evidence is sufficient to support an offence under ‘Committee, Clause 6’ this shall be recorded in the minutes.
4 If the Reviewing Sub-Committee is satisfied the evidence is sufficient they may recommend that: -
a. The member(s) is expelled from the Club.
b. The member(s) appear before the Committee to be cautioned at its next meeting.
c. The case is considered at an Extra-ordinary General Meeting (EGM).
5 If the Reviewing Sub-Committee is unable to agree a unanimous recommendation, the case shall be considered at an EGM.
6 Having made their recommendations, the Reviewing Sub-Committee will have no further involvement in the proceedings.
7 The Chairman must inform the member(s) directly involved in writing, of the Reviewing Sub-Committee’s findings. The chairman must also inform the accused member(s) of the details of the allegation together with a summary of the evidence.
8 Should the Reviewing Sub-Committee recommend action as at 4.(a) or (b) above, the accused member(s) may ask for their case to be considered at an EGM instead.
9 If an EGM is to be held the Chairman must notify the accused member(s) of the date, time and place of the meeting. This notification must be delivered personally to the last known address of the member(s), which will be accepted as Proof of Notification. This must be done within one month of the Reviewing Sub-Committee making their recommendations. These arrangements must be mutually convenient.
10 An EGM will be presided over by the Chairman, or by another member appointed by the Chairman, to act in his capacity. Members may put questions to witnesses provided they are put through the Chairman of the meeting.
11 At the EGM, the accused member(s) may be accompanied by a friend to assist in cross examining witnesses. If the accused member(s) fail to appear before the EGM the case may be heard in their absence, providing the Chairman of the meeting is satisfied that the accused member(s) had been properly informed of the date, time and place of the meeting.
12 The EGM will consider the evidence of witnesses and decide:-
a. On the balance of probabilities, by majority vote, if the member(s) committed the offence accused of; and
b. If they are so satisfied, decide whether the member(s) be dealt with as at Clause 4a or Clause 4b.
13 As Far as practicable, hearsay evidence will not be admissible at the EGM
14 The EGM’s decision shall be final.

Annual General Meeting
1 The Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall be held on the second (2nd) Saturday in May, or at such time and place as may be determined by the Committee, provided that every General Meeting except the first, shall be held not more than fifteen months after holding the last preceding meeting.
2 The Notice of the Meeting shall be publicly posted at least twenty-one (21) days before the Meeting.
3 In the absence of the Chairman or Vice-chairman, the Meeting may elect a Chairman from the members present at the meeting.
4 The business at the AGM shall include:-
a Minutes of the last Meeting.
b Approval of the Annual Accounts and Treasurer’s Report.
c Officers Reports.
d Election of Officers & Committee.
e Election of an Auditor.
f Any Other Business.
5 Every member, including Officers shall address the Chairman. When more than one member wishes to speak, the first to signify shall be given preference. The decision resting with the Chairman
6 A Quorum for the AGM shall be twenty (20) members personally present, three (3) or more of whom shall be Committee members.

Extra-Ordinary General Meeting
1 An Extra-Ordinary General Meeting (EGM), other than as described in ‘Disciplinary Procedure’ may be called at the discretion of the Committee, or at the request of ten (10) members of the Club. The Meeting shall discuss only the business for which the meeting was called.
Finance
1 The Treasures shall present at the AGM an audited account of the state of affairs of the Club, made up to the 31st of March.
Subscriptions
1 Subscriptions, for membership of the Turtles Swimming Club, are to be set at the Annual General Meeting, for implementation on the first (1st) day of April following the date of the Annual General Meeting.
2 (a) A Visitor Fee shall become payable under Clause 6 of the Membership, as set at the AGM.
(b) The Visitors Fee shall not apply to persons who are, members of other NASCH affiliated swimming clubs.

Alterations to the Constitution
1 Subject to the following provisions of this clause, the Constitution may be altered by a resolution passed by not less than two thirds of the Members present and voting at an Annual General Meeting. The Notice of the Annual General Meeting must include Notice of the Resolution, setting out the terms of the alteration proposed.
2 No amendment may be made to Name, Objects, Dissolution nor this Clause without the prior consent, in writing, of the Charity Commissioners.
3 No amendment may be made which would have the effect of making the Charity cease to be a charity in law.

Dissolution
1 If the Committee decide that it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the Charity it shall call a Meeting of all the members of the Charity, of which not less than 21 days notice (stating the Terms of the Resolution to be proposed) shall be given. If the Proposal is confirmed by a two-thirds majority, of those present and voting, the Committee shall have the power to realise any assets held by or on behalf of the Charity.
2 Any assets, remaining after the satisfaction of any proper debts and liabilities, shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institutions, having objects similar to the Objects of the Charity, as the Members of the Charity may determine, or failing that, shall be applied for some other charitable purpose. A copy of the Statement of Accounts, or Account and Statement, for the Final Accounting Period of the Charity shall be sent to the Charity Commissioners.