1.0 TITLE:
The Association shall be called the East Devon County Netball Association.
2.0 CONSTITUENT COUNTY NETBALL ASSOCIATION:
The County shall comprise of any netball league, within the county boundary, that affiliates to England Netball.
3.0 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
3.1 To carry out the administrative plans made by England Netball.
3.2 To serve as a forum to co-ordinate activities within the County and to organise technical courses and tests.
3.3 To plan and assist in the growth and development of netball within the County.
3.4 To keep a watching brief on netball facilities within the County.
3.5 To be consistent with the furthering of equal opportunities for all groups in netball.
4.0 MEMBERSHIP OF THE COUNTY
4.1 Membership shall comprise:
4.1.1 The Chairman and the Secretary, or their accredited deputies.
4.1.2 A nominated representative of Devon Schools Committee.4.2 Membership of the Association shall be open and not unreasonably restricted on the grounds of sex, race or of political, religious or other opinions, to any person in the area who is prepared to accept and support the objectives of the Association.
4.2.1 All members shall be members or England Netball Registered Participants.
4.2.2 The Honorary Officers
5.0 HONORARY OFFICERS:
The Honorary Officers of the Association shall be the President, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Umpiring Secretary, Coaching Secretary, Development Officer, Minutes Secretary, Publicity Officer, and Affiliation Officer.
6.0 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
6.1 The business of the County Association shall be managed by the Committee comprising:
6.1.1 The Honorary Officers or their accredited deputies:
6.1.2 A nominated representative of the County Schools Committee:
6.1.3 A nominated representative of each league.6.2 Six members present and entitled to vote, who shall include not less that three officers, shall form a quorum.
6.3 A simple majority only of those present and entitled to vote shall be required to pass any resolution. The Chairman of the meeting shall have a second and/or casting vote in the case of an equality of votes.
6.4 The County Committee may fill any vacancy that may occur during the year, except in the case of league representatives, who shall be appointed by the league concerned.
6.5 Members elected at an AGM and co-opted members shall remain in office until the end of the next AGM: all other members shall continue until such time as their successors are appointed.
6.6 The County Committee shall meet at least three times a year.6.7 The County Committee may form sub-committees and working parties as may be deemed necessary and determine their membership and terms of reference.
6.8 The County Committee shall appoint coaches to all of the teams that represent the County each year.
6.9 The interpretation of the County Constitution shall be vested in the County Committee, who shall decide all questions relating to the Association, save those specified in or involving an amendment to the Constitution.
6.10 The County Committee shall be responsible for considering any application for membership and financial assistance and shall decide if the application should be accepted. This decision shall be in accordance with the non discriminatory policy specified in 4.2.
7.0 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS
7.1 An annual General Meeting shall be held in every calendar year on a date to be fixed by the County Committee.
7.2 The date of the AGM shall be set at the previous years AGM and be notified to all members of the County Committee again, not less than 21 days in advance; audited accounts, written reports from officers and formal resolutions in writing shall reach the Secretary not less than 14 days in advance, the agenda and papers shall be despatched to all Leagues and all other members of the County Committee not less than 10 days in advance. Leagues shall be responsible for notifying their nominated representatives and others within their area of all relevant matters.7.3 The Chairman shall continue to act as the chairman at all General Meetings, in their absence the Vice-Chairman shall act as chairman or, if neither is present, the chairman shall be elected from among those present at the meeting.
7.4 Eight members present and entitled to vote shall form a quorum.7.4.1 All members shall be entitled to vote at general meetings of the Association and shall have equal voting rights.
7.5 Business transacted at the Annual General Meeting shall be:-
7.5.1 To receive reports and to receive and adopt an audited statement of accounts for the past year.
7.5.2 To consider any formal resolution proposed and seconded by two members entitled to vote, which has been received by the Secretary in writing not less than 28 days before the date of the AGM.
7.5.3 To approve the recommendations of the County Committee for the annual County fee per affiliated member.
7.5.4 To elect the Honorary Officers.
7.5.5 To appoint an auditor.7.6 Extraordinary General Meeting (Hereinafter called “EGM”).
7.6.1 An EGM shall be convened by the Secretary at any time by order of the County Committee or upon written request to the Secretary from six or more members entitled to vote at a General Meeting.
7.6.2 Each requisition shall state the purpose for which a General Meeting is required and shall set out any resolution, which it is desired to propose.
7.6.3 The General Meeting shall be held within 28 days of the receipt of the requisition by the Secretary and notice of the meeting and of any resolution proposed shall be despatched by the Secretary 21 days in advance to those persons as specified for an AGM in clause 8.2.
7.6.4 The business of the meeting shall be confined solely to the matter(s) within the arising from the requisition and resolution(s) therein.
7.6.5 Eight members present and entitled to vote shall form a quorum.7.7 Each member as defined in clause 4 shall be entitled to attend and vote at General Meetings.
7.8 Participants registered with a League are entitled to attend and speak at general meetings but are not entitled to vote unless they are members as defined in clause 4.
7.9 Except as provided in clause 7.10 each person present and entitled to vote shall have one vote only. There shall be no proxy voting.
7.10 Except as provided in clause 8.1 a simple majority only of those present and entitled to vote shall be required to pass any resolution. The Chairman of the meeting shall have a second and/or casting vote in case of an equality of votes.
7.11 Bona fide amendments to formal resolutions appearing on the agenda paper may be taken without prior notice at a General Meeting.
8.0 AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
8.1 This Constitution shall be reviewed on a five yearly basis.
8.1.1 No alteration or addition to the Constitution shall be made except by formal resolution passed at a General Meeting of the East Devon County Netball Association with not less than 75% of the votes cast being in favour.
8.2 Proposals to alter or add to the Constitution shall be received by the Secretary not later than 14 days before the date of the AGM, by order of the County Committee or as provided in clauses 7.5.2, or by means of an EGM as provided in clauses 7.6.1 to 7.6.5 inclusive.
9.0 FINANCE
9.1 All monies raised by or on behalf of the Association shall be applied to further the objects of the Association and for no other purpose.
9.2 The Association Treasurer is responsible for the finances of the Association.
9.3 The Financial Year shall commence on 1 June and end on the following 31 May.
9.4 Each League Club shall pay an annual affiliation fee as determined within clause 7.5.3.
9.5 All funds or other property of the County Association shall be used only for the furtherance of the objects of the County Association.
9.6 Any payment to individuals, or the outlay of expenses for the County cause exceeding £50.00, shall be sanctioned by the County Committee.
10.0 INDEMNITY
Any member of the County Committee as defined in clause 6.1.1, 6.1.2 and 6.1.4 shall be indemnified by the County Association against all costs and losses which he/she may incur or sustain in relation to the execution of the duties of his/her office or by reason of any duty performed for or with the authority of the County Committee.
11.0 DISCIPLINARY POWERS, PROCEDURES AND APPEALS
11.1 The County Committee shall have power to take appropriate disciplinary action against any member, in respect of conduct considered by the County Committee to be disgraceful or prejudicial to the interests of the East Devon County Netball Association, or its Leagues and/or the game of netball or in breach of the Memorandum, Articles and Byelaws of England Netball and/or the Constitution of the County Association. The power to discipline shall include power to recommend to the appropriate authority the suspension or cessation of membership of a particular body.
11.2 The County Committee shall act at all times in accordance with Article 5 of the England Netball Articles of Association.
12.0 ARBITRATION AND MATTERS NOT PROVIDED FOR:
12.1 If any dispute arises on the interpretation of this Constitution or the need arises to deal with any matter not provided for in this Constitution, reference shall be made to the Secretary who shall refer the same to the County Committee whose decision shall be binding upon all parties.
12.2 In reaching its decision in respect of a particular matter, the County Committee shall have close regard to all relevant clauses in the Memorandum, Articles, Byelaws and terms of Reference of England Netball.
13.0 DISSOLUTION
13.1 In the event of dissolution, any assets remaining after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities shall be dealt with in a manner to be determined by resolution of a General Meeting so as to promote the objects of the County Association or of some organisation with kindred aims or to some other purposes approved by the Charity Commissioners. In the event of there being a deficit, the general meeting shall decide how it shall be met.
