Wootton Bassett Cricket Club Constitution

1. CLUB NAME
The name of the club shall be WOOTTON BASSETT
CRICKET CLUB

2. OBJECTS
To encourage the playing of cricket in accordance
with the Laws of Cricket and in the best traditions of Sportsmanship.

3. MEMBERSHIP
There shall be the following classes of membership:
3.1 FULL MEMBERSHIP
3.1.1 The President
3.1.2 Vice Presidents
(Vice Presidents to be appointed by the General Committee in recognition of a genuine interest for Cricket in general and the Wootton Bassett Cricket Club in particular.
3.1.3 Honorary Life Members
Life membership may be granted by the General Committee.
There shall be no limit to the number appointed but such appoints shall be rare and made for long and distinguished service to the Wootton Bassett Cricket Club.
3.1.4 Senior Playing Members
(defined as being 16 or over on 1st September).
3.2 ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP
3.2.1 Patrons
3.2.2 Social Members
3.2.3 Junior Playing Members
(defined as being 15 or under on 1st September).

4. ELECTION of MEMBERS
4.1 The General Committee shall have absolute discretion in electing prospective persons as members of the Club and shall not be required to give their reasons for refusing to admit any persons to membership. All FULL members shall be entitled to attend and vote at all General meetings of the Club.
4.2 Any person wishing to become a member of the Club must be proposed and seconded by a FULL member of the Club. A period of at least 48 hours must elapse between proposing and election of such new members.

5. SUBSCRIPTIONS
The rates of annual subscription shall be decided at the Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting called for that purpose. Such subscription must be paid by the last Saturday in May. Should subscriptions not have been paid by the relevant date, membership will have deemed to have lapsed. The General Committee shall have the power to reduce the subscription for both a new member joining after 31st may and in cases of genuine hardship.

6. OFFICERS
The Officers of the Club shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting and will consist of the following:
President
Chairman
Vice Chairman
Secretary
Treasury
Chairman of Playing
Fixture Secretary
Ground Co-ordinator
Youth Manager
Assistant Youth Manager
Social & Fund Raising Co-ordinator
Publicity Officer
Sponsorship Officer
Captains
Vice Captains
Indoor League Officer

7. MANAGEMENT
7.1 The management of the Club shall be vested in the GENERAL COMMITTEE which shall consist of the Officers of the Club plus additional committee members agreed by the Annual General Meeting. The Secretary shall notify all Committee members of the date and venue of all meetings. Seven Committee members shall form a quorum.
7.2 Casual vacancies may be filled by the committee by co-option. Persons so co-opted shall server only for the period which the person whose place he takes, would have served.
7.3 The GENERAL COMMITTEE is empowered to form such sub-committees as may be required.

8. FINANCE
The Treasurer shall keep an account of all income and expenditure and shall present accounts duly audited at the Annual General Meeting.

9. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
9.1 The Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held in December of each year and the following business shall be transacted:
Minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting.
A report from either the Chairman or Secretary.
The presentation and approval of the Annual Accounts.
Reports from Officers.
Election of Officers.
Resolutions to alter the Constitution.
Any other business that is relevant.
* Matters raised for the first time at any A.G.M. shall not be resolved at that meeting.
9.2 The Secretary shall give 21 clear days notice to all members entitled to attend.
9.3 At the Annual General Meeting at the chair will be taken by the Chairman or in his absence by the Vice Chairman.
9.4 Nominations for Officers of the Club shall be forwarded to the Secretary by the date stated in the letter to members calling the Annual General Meeting. This will not preclude the acceptance of nominations at the meeting.
9.5 Voting shall be by show of hands except in the case of elections which shall be by ballot. A ballot slip placed on the chairman’s table during the meeting by a member who unavoidably has to leave the meeting early is acceptable.
9.6 SENIOR PLAYING MEMBERS only shall elect the Playing Officers of the Club.
9.7 PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENTS, LIFE MEMBERS and SENIOR PLAYING MEMBERS only shall elect the NON-PLAYING OFFICERS of the Club.
9.8 Fifteen members shall constitute a quorum at the Annual General Meeting.
9.9 Interested members of the Public are welcome to attend and may not speak except by invitation.

10. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
A Special General Meeting of the Club may be called at any time by the General Committee or upon the request of 15 members of the Club. Only the business for which the meeting is called shall be discussed. A notice specifying the business, the time, and the place of meeting shall be sent to each full member at least 14 days before the date fixed for the meeting.

11. CONSTITUTION
A copy of the Constitution shall be given to each member of the Club on election. The Constitution may be altered at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting convened solely for that purpose. At least two-thirds of the votes cast is required for an alteration. Not less than 14 days notice shall be given to the Secretary of any proposed alteration.
The General Committee shall have the power to decide any matters not covered by the constitution and any such decision shall be final.

12. ASSETS
On dissolution any assets remaining shall not be distributed among members but will be given in trust to the Wootton Bassett Sports Association for the use of Cricket in particular.

13. DISCIPLINE
The General Committee shall have the power to expel or suspend any member whose conduct shall be deemed to be contrary to the spirit of the game and the well-being of the Club.

14. EQUITY POLICY STATEMENT
This club is committed to ensuring that equity is incorporated across all aspects of its development. In doing so it acknowledges and adopts the ECB “Safe Hands – Welfare of Young People in Cricket” policy and Sport England definition of sports equity
Sports equity is about fairness in sport, equality of access, recognising inequalities and taking steps to address them. It is about changing the culture and structure of sport to ensure it becomes equally accessible to everyone in society.
The club respects the rights, dignity and worth of every person and will treat everyone equally within the context of their sport, regardless of age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, religious belief, sexuality or social/economic status.
The club is committed to everyone having the right to enjoy their sport in an environment free from threat of intimidation, harassment and abuse.
All club members have a responsibility to oppose discriminatory behaviour and promote equality of opportunity.
The club will deal with any incidence of discriminatory behaviour seriously, according to club disciplinary procedures.