1.1. The Association shall be called Langstone Harbour Water Skiers Association, hereafter to be referred to as "the Association" and shall be affiliated to British Water Ski Federation (British Water Ski).
2.2. The objects of the Association are to:
2.2.1. Preserve, actively assist in the control of and promote the sport of water-skiing an associated disciplines as defined by BWS Federation Ltd in Langstone Harbour
2.2.2. Provide and maintain facilities and other equipment for the use of Association members.
2.2.3. Govern and represent all skiing activity in Langstone Harbour, subject to the direction of the Harbour Board.
3.1. Membership of the Association shall be open to any person completing a membership application form and paying the relevant subscription/joining fee as determined by the General Committee of the Association. All Full Members of the Association shall be members of the British Water Ski Federation Ltd. (British Water Ski) and British Water Ski membership fees will be included in the relevant subscription fee.
3.2. Additionally, membership shall be subject to signature of an undertaking that the applicant absolve the Association, its officers and members, from liability for any injury or damage to themselves or their property from any cause whatsoever, whilst engaged in activities of the Association. This undertaking is found on the membership application form.
3.3. It is a condition of membership that the rules of the association, which are published with the membership application forms and on the Association's web-site, are abided by at all times.
3.4. There shall be eight classes of membership available. These are:
3.4.1. Family Member.
3.4.2. Boat Owning Member
3.4.3. Associate Member.
3.4.4. Non Boat Owning Member
3.4.5. Junior Member (Under 18 years of age, or in full time education).
3.4.6. Independent Junior Member (Under 18 years of age, or in full time education).
3.4.7. Weekend Member
3.4.8. Honorary Member.
3.5. Honorary Members. The Committee are empowered to elect persons who have been of particular service to the Association and persons of distinction to the sport as Honorary members.
3.6. The membership categories 'Family Member' (but only of age 16 or above), 'Boat Owning Member', 'Associate Member', 'Non Boat Owning Member' and 'Honorary Member' shall hereafter be referred to as 'Full Members'.
3.7. Expulsion and Suspension of Members
3.7.1. If at any time the Committee shall be of the opinion that the interest of the Association so require, they may, by registered letter, invite any member to resign from the Association within a time specified in such letter. In default of his resignation the question of his expulsion shall be submitted to the Committee, whose decision shall be final, but for the purpose of this rule the vote of a least two thirds of the whole committee shall be necessary.
3.7.2. The Committee shall have the right at its absolute discretion to suspend any Member.
3.7.3. Members may be suspended or asked to resign by the Committee at their discretion following any enquiry arising from complaints received from Members, the Harbour Board, Harbour Master or any other Harbour user.
3.8. Forfeit of Rights
3.8.1. Any person, on ceasing to be a member of the Association, shall forfeit all right to and claim upon the Association, its property and funds.
4.1 The Officers of the Association shall be as follows:
President Non-Executive
Officer - usually an Honorary position
Chairperson }
Membership Secretary }
- Executive Officers
Treasurer }
5.1 All Officers shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Association, from, and by, the Full Members of the Association.
5.2 All Officers are elected for a period of one year, but may be re-elected to the same office or another office the following year.
5.3 Members may elect a President, to mark appreciation for outstanding services to the Association. The election shall take place annually at the Annual General Meeting.
5.4 Honorarium. The Officers of the Association shall be eligible for honorarium payment. This shall be set and agreed by majority vote at the Annual General Meeting.
6.1 The affairs of the Association shall be controlled by a General Committee comprising of the Executive Officers of the Association and up to 12 other Committee Members elected from, and by, the Full Members of the Association.
6.2 Committee Members shall be elected to serve 1 year and have one vote on the General Committee.
6.3 Casual Vacancies on the Committee. In the event of a casual vacancy on the committee the committee shall have the power to elect any Full Member of the Association to fill such vacancy. The person so appointed shall hold office for such period only as the person in whose place he is appointed would have held office if no such vacancy had occurred.
6.4 The General Committee shall meet at agreed intervals and not less than three times per year.
6.5 The duties of the General Committee shall be:
6.5.1 To control the affairs of the Association on behalf of the Members.
6.5.2 To keep accurate accounts of the finances of the Association through the Treasurer. These should be available for reasonable inspection by Members and should be independently reviewed before every Annual General Meeting. The Association shall maintain a bank current account and the following Officers shall be authorised to sign Association cheques: two from the Chairperson; Treasurer and Secretary. Additionally the Association shall maintain such deposit accounts as necessary. Transfers between this deposit account and the current account shall require one signature from either Chairperson, Treasurer or Secretary.
6.5.3 To co-opt additional members onto the Committee as the Committee feels is necessary, up to a maximum of three co-opted members.
6.5.4 To make decisions on the basis of a simple majority vote. In the case of equal votes, the Chairperson shall be entitled to an additional casting vote. The committee shall be considered quorate when a minimum of five Committee members, including at least one Officer, are present.
6.5.5 Review and set Association subscription rates annually.
6.6 Any member of the Committee who does not attend at least two meetings in any year, without reasonable and proper excuse, shall automatically cease to be a member of the Committee.
6.7 Sub Committees. The Committee may appoint from time to time from their number such Sb-Committees as they deem necessary and may depute or refer to them such powers and duties as the Committee may determine, such Sub-Committee may co-opt any Members of the Association to serve with them. The convenor of any such Sub-Committees should normally be a member of the Committee of the Association and as such responsible to the Committee for the activities of his Sub-Committee.
7.1 The Annual General Meeting of the Association shall be held not later than the end of November each year. Twenty One (21) clear days written notice shall be given to Members of the Annual General Meeting by circulating a copy of the notice to every member at their home address. Members must advise the Secretary in writing of any business to be moved at the Annual General Meeting at least Fourteen (14) days before a meeting. The Secretary shall circulate or give notice of the agenda for the meeting to Members not less than Seven (7) days before the meeting.
7.2 The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be to:
7.2.1 Confirm the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting and any General Meetings held since the last Annual General Meeting.
7.2.2 Receive the reviewed accounts for the year from the Treasurer.
7.2.3 Receive the annual report of the Committee.
7.2.4 Elect an auditor, accountant or independent review body, if deemed appropriate by the committee, for annual review of the accounts of the finances of the Association.
7.2.5 Elect the Officers of the Association (i.e. President; Chairperson; Membership Secretary; Treasurer and other General Committee Members).
7.2.6 Transact such other business received in writing by the Secretary from Members Fourteen (14) days prior to the meeting and included on the agenda.
NOTE: The agenda could provide for "Any Other Business", but Members should be encouraged to refer other items to the General Committee. Members must give the required notice for "Any Other Business" for Annual and General Meetings.
7.3 Special General Meetings may be convened by the General Committee or on receipt by the Secretary of a request in writing from not less than Eight (8) Full Members of the Association. At least 21 days notice of the meeting shall be given.
7.4 Nomination of candidates for election of Officers shall be made in writing to the Secretary at least 14 days in advance of the Annual General Meeting date. Nominations can only be made by Full Members and must be seconded by another Full Member.
7.5 At all General Meetings, the chair will be taken by the Chairperson or, in their absence, by a deputy appointed by the Association or by Full Members attending the meeting.
7.6 Decisions made at a General Meeting shall be by a simple majority of votes from those Full Members attending the meeting. In the event of equal votes, the Chairperson shall be entitled to an additional casting vote.
7.7 Voting. All Voting at the Annual General Meeting and at a Special General Meeting shall be by a show of hands unless a ballot is demanded by not less than one fifth of the Members present and qualified to vote.
7.8 A quorum for a General Meeting shall be Fifteen (15) Full Members and Two (2) Officers of the Association,
7.9 Each fully paid up Full Member of the Association shall be entitled to one vote at General Meetings.
8.1 Any proposed alterations to the Association Constitution may only be considered at an Annual or Special General Meeting, convened with the required written notice of the proposal. Any alteration or amendment must be proposed by a Full Member of the Association and seconded by another Full Member. Such alterations shall be passed if supported by not less than two-thirds of those Full Members present at the meeting, assuming that a quorum has been achieved.
9.1 If at any General Meeting of the Association, a resolution be passed calling for the dissolution of the Association, the Secretary shall immediately convene a Special General Meeting of the Association to be held not less than one month thereafter to discuss and vote on the resolution.
9.2 If, at that Special General Meeting, the resolution is carried by at least two-thirds of the Full Members present at the meeting, the General Committee shall thereupon, or at such date as shall have been specified in the resolution, proceed to realise the assets of the Association and discharge all debts and liabilities of the Association.
9.3 After discharging all debts and liabilities of the Association, and taking into account any special donations received by the club within the last 24 months, the remaining assets shall be distributed amongst the Full Members of the Association pro-rated according to the membership subscription paid, agreed at the time by a General meeting of the Association members.
(Consitution adopted 22 November 2003 at AGM).