Constitution

Glasgow Hillwalking and Mountaineering Club Constitution

(November 2009)

NAME:          

1. The club shall be known as the ‘Glasgow Hillwalking and Mountaineering Club’ (hereinafter referred to as the Club.)

OBJECTIVE:  

2. The objective of the Club is to promote the enjoyment of hillwalking and mountaineering, and to encourage members to develop the skills and expertise associated with these activities. The club is a non-profit making organisation.

MEMBERSHIP:         

3. Membership shall consist of full ‘Ordinary members’ accepted into the Club at the discretion of the committee.

4. Club membership is open to all aged eighteen and over, with the emphasis on those in their twenties to forties.

5. Disputes arising between members of the club shall be mediated using the laws of natural justice. The committee shall appoint a minimum of two members to consider disputes and recommend appropriate action.

6. The annual subscription shall be decided at each Annual General Meeting. Each financial year will be considered as running from 1st April to 31st March inclusive. Members admitted to the Club after 31st December of any financial year shall be required to pay an appropriate amount in line with MCofS subscription fees.

7. On Payment of the current subscription a member becomes entitled to participate in all activities of the club. Paid-up members of the club shall be entitled to vote at General Meetings.

8. All members joining the Club shall be deemed to accept the terms of this constitution and any Bye-Laws published by the Club from time to time.

9. The Club shall support the aims of the Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) and is a Club Member of the MCofS. The contact details of members of the club are forwarded to MCofS for registration and insurance purposes, and in joining the club, members agree to their details being used this purpose and in doing so are entitled to a range of benefits provided by MCofS.

MANAGEMENT:

10. The management of the Club shall be vested in a committee consisting of up to eight members including the following office bearers:

• Chairperson
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Programme Development
• Skills Officer
• Webmaster

the remainder being ordinary committee members.

11. Elections for the committee shall be held at the AGM. All committee members shall retire after one year but shall be eligible for re-election.

12. Should a vacancy occur, the committee shall have the power to co-opt a member to act until the next AGM.

13. The chairperson shall hold the casting vote at meetings in the event that there is no majority.

14. All office bearers shall submit a report on Club progress in the preceding year to the committee at each AGM. The Secretary will be responsible for recording and conducting the affairs of the committee and for preparing the minutes of the AGM, which will be circulated to members. In addition, the Treasurer shall publish the audited accounts in time for the AGM.

15. The AGM shall take place as soon as possible after 31st March, allowing time for the year end accounts to be finalised and audited. Motions for consideration at the AGM must be submitted in writing to the Secretary, with at least one proposer and one seconder, a minimum of 5 weeks before the meeting. Motions will be circulated in the notice calling the meeting.

16. An Extraordinary General Meeting can be called by the committee subject to the notice stated in the preceding clause being given to members. Any ten members may call an Extraordinary General Meeting by giving written notice to the Secretary signed by them all, which gives details of the motion or business they wish to discuss.

17. The income of the Club shall be solely used for furthering the aims of the Club and for no other purpose.

COMMITTEE:

18. All members are encouraged at all times to communicate ideas and any issues to committee members for discussion at a committee meeting.

19. Four members shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of the committee.

20. The committee shall have the discretion to make rules to regulate the organisation of outings and the conduct of members at meetings of the Club.

CONSTITUTION:

21. Changes to the constitution can only be made as a result of a vote in favour of a motion to do so which is supported by no less than 75% of those present at an AGM or EGM where at least 75% of total club membership are in attendance.

22. The committee shall have discretionary powers to deal with any matter not provided for in the constitution, other than disputes and matters of misconduct which shall be dealt with as stated in clause 5.

DISSOLUTION OF THE CLUB:

23. In the event of the Club winding up or the dissolution of the Club, any surplus assets shall be donated to MCofS.

RULES ON OUTINGS:

24. Members of the Club shall be expected to follow the Club’s Guidelines, as issued to all members.

25. Climbing and Mountaineering are activities with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants in these activities should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions and involvement.