Irish Surf Rescue Club Constitution

CONSTITUTION

SECTION 1 – TITLE & OBJECTIVES

ARTICLE 1 TITLE:

The organisation shall be called the “Irish Tow Surf Rescue Club”.

ARTICLE 2 OBJECTIVES:

To serve as the official representative of tow-in surfing and big wave paddle-in surfing and supply rescue services.
To encourage the sport of surfing among the members with a specific emphasis on safety and fun.
To communicate the views of members to national and international authorities and to the public, as and where required.
To maintain and actively encourage good relations between the surfers, the club representatives, the public, and the authorities under whose jurisdiction members of this club find themselves.
To protect and respect the surfing environment and access to that environment.
To participate in surfing competitions.
To arrange surfing competitions, where agreed.
To encourage training amongst personal rescue water craft operators
Support big wave paddle in surfing and Tow-in surfing sessions or Events/contests wih PWC Rescue Craft back up.

10. Support ISA surfing events with PWC Rescue Craft back up

SECTION 2 – MEMBERSHIP

ARTICLE 3 ELIGIBILITY

Membership will be open to members of the public who show an active interest in the surf club.
Honorary membership may be granted from time to time at the discretion of the executive committee of the surf club.
Any member under the age of 18, on the 1^st of January in the given year, will be considered a junior member.
Any Junior member who is under the age of 16 on the 1^st of January in the given year must be accompanied by a participating adult member on surfing trips and while surfing, as prescribed by the ISA Child Protection Policy. It is preffered that they are Trained by a Parent or Guardian.
A membership is obtained by payment of an annual membership fee levied by the committee of the Club.

ARTICLE 4 CLASSIFICATION

Different classes of membership may be agreed from time to time, e.g. environment, social etc.

ARTICLE 5 Membership PRIVILEGES

Full Membership has both Senior and Youth levels. To vote on PWC and RWC issues you must own a PWC/ RWC
It is illegal to operate a PWC under 16 years of age.
1. 1. 1. To compete in all contests throughout the membership
    2. To be included in club sponsorships, discounts, and other social events
    3. To vote in club functions
    4. To become an elected official
    5. To attend meetings, speak, and present motions.
Social Membership
1. 1. 1. To be included in club sponsorships, discounts, and other social events
    2. To vote in club functions
    3. To attend meetings, speak, and present motions.

ARTICLE 6 EQUALITY

This club does not and will not discriminate on the basis of gender, marital status, family status, sexual orientation, religious belief, political opinion, age, disability, nationality or ethnic or national origin, or membership of the traveller community, in accordance with the EQUAL STATUS ACT, 2000. and S75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998).

SECTION 3 – MANAGEMENT

ARTICLE 7

The affairs of the ‘Irish Tow Surf Rescue Club’ shall be managed by a committee subject to the provisions of this constitution and may adopt its own procedures provided that it is in the best interests of the membership and the pursuit of the objectives of the club.

ARTICLE 8 AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

This constitution may be altered by resolution passed by ¾ of the voting membership of the Irish Tow Surf Rescue Club at AGM.

ARTICLE 9

The Committee shall consist of a Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary, Event Director, ISA rep, Children’s Officer and a Safety/ Environment Officer.

ARTICLE 10

Should more than one person stand for any office then a vote by secret ballot will be employed to establish the successful candidate.

ARTICLE 11

A members who provides a written apology and confirmation of willingness to stand for office at an AGM may be proposed for a committee position (and duly elected) in his/her absence.

ARTICLE 12

The Committee may establish such Sub Committees as it sees fit. Sub-committees may include a small portion of specialists who are not members of the Committee. The Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary shall be ex- officio members of all Sub-committees with full voting rights.

SECTION 4 – MEETINGS

ARTICLE 13

Monthly meetings shall be held unless in the opinion of the Officers there is insufficient business.

ARTICLE 14

Meetings at other times will be decided upon at the direction of the Chairperson or at the request of two-thirds (2/3) of the regular membership.

ARTICLE 15

The quorum for meetings is one-fifth (1/5) of the regular membership with a two-thirds (2/3) majority required to pass motions. Votes in absentia will be allowed if accompanied by written apology and notification to the committee in absence of his/her position on the motion.

ARTICLE 16

Notice of meetings shall be given 21 days prior, items for discussion shall reach the secretary 7 days prior.

ARTICLE 17

When circumstances dictate, special meetings of the Committee may be held at short notice in which case every effort shall be made to obtain by letter or telephone the opinion of those representatives unable to attend.

The Irish Tow Surf Rescue Club shall, where possible, reach decisions by consensus. All business shall be decided by a majority of the Members present and/or voting by show of hands. In the case of an equal division of votes, the Chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.

ARTICLE 18 MOTIONS

Every notice of motion shall relate to the function of the Irish Tow Surf Rescue Club and shall be in writing signed by the member or members giving the notice and be delivered to the secretary at least ten clear days before the next meeting. The secretary shall date it and enter it onto the agenda, which shall be issued to every member seven clear days in advance of the meeting.

SECTION 5 – APPOINTMENTS

ARTICLE 19

All appointments to the Irish Tow Surf Rescue Club Committee shall be for one calendar year.

ARTICLE 20

Elections may be made by anonymous written ballot sheets at the AGM. The Secretary shall be responsible for advertising the date, time and venue of the AGM 21 days in advance.

SECTION 6 – OFFICERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES

ARTICLE 21 THE CHAIRPERSON

1. Shall act as spokes person for the Club articulating the views of the members as and when required.
2. Shall Chair meetings and in the case of a tied vote shall have the casting vote.

ARTICLE 20 THE SECRETARY

Shall minute meetings and produce written copies of same within a reasonable time thereafter.
Shall write letters on behalf of the Association, unless others are specifically nominated.
Shall table the above documents at all committee meetings.
Has responsibility for advertising and notifying members of meetings and arranging meetings and club events.

ARTICLE 21 THE TREASURER

Keeps Club accounts, the main document of which shall consist of a record which shall include full details of all monies raised and expended by the club and shall be kept up to date and be available for inspection by the members on request and tabled at all Meetings.
Shall keep up-to-date records of the financial status of the club as above.
Shall keep a database of all members Names and contact details
Shall present a financial report of the club at the AGM.

ARTICLE 22 THE ISA REP. & CHILDREN’S OFFICER

1. Shall act representative and advocate on behalf of all junior members’ needs.

1. Ensures strict adherence to the ISA Child Protection Policy.

1. Shall keep up-to-date with all junior events and issues and inform the junior members in the club of same.

1. Shall attend all ISA committee meetings and report back to the club’s committee.

ARTICLE 23 SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT OFFICER

1. Shall promote safety among club members.

1. Shall promote the protection and sustainability of the surfing environment and access to that environment.

ARTICLE 24 EVENTS DIRECTOR

1. Shall oversee the running of all events undertaken by the club.
2. Shall organise all sponsorship to run said events and ensure events do not run at a financial loss to the club..
3. Shall work in conjunction with the club secretary to promote club events through the media and other avenues of communication.

ARTICLE 25 ATTENDANCE

The Secretary shall enter in the minutes the names of all Committee Members present at meetings of the Irish Tow Surf Rescue Club. If a committee member fails to attend three consecutive meetings during any rolling period, their case shall be referred for consideration on removal from office.

SECTION 7 - AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE 26

A 2/3 majority of those present at any meeting shall be required for the adoption of any amendment to the Constitution.

SECTION 8 - RULES AND REGULATION

ARTICLE 27

The “Irish Tow Surf Rescue Club” shall follow the rules and regulations as set out by the Irish Surfing Association with particular adherence to Irish Surfing Association Anti-Doping Policy and Child Protection Policy.

ARTICLE 28

As required a disciplinary committee shall be formed, composed of three of the five members from the Executive committee, to deliberate on any disciplinary matters that may arise within the club.

SECTION 9- DISSOLUTION

ARTICLE 29 DISSOLUTION

1. The Irish Tow Surf Rescue Club may be dissolved by a unanimous decision of the members at a meeting called for the purpose.

1. Assets remaining at the dissolution shall be divided among surfing associations, clubs or charities by unanimous decision of the meeting called for the purpose.