BURRATOR FLY FISHERS ASSOCIATION
CONSTITUTION
FEBRUARY 2016
(Latest version)
1. TITLE
1.1 The Club shall be called the Burrator Fly Fishers
Association
2. OBJECTS
2.1 To facilitate and
encourage the practice of fly fishing at Burrator Reservoir and elsewhere with
due regard to the environment.
2.2 To foster the
interest of adult and junior anglers wishing to develop their fly fishing
skills and to improve their sport.
2.3 To liaise and
co-operate with South West Lakes Trust and work with them to improve fishing
and facilities at Burrator Reservoir.
2.4 To enable social
contact between members who share an interest in fly fishing.
3. MEMBERSHIP
3.1 Membership is open
to anyone who is genuinely interested in fly fishing, wishes to take part in
the club activities and is prepared to abide by the rules of the Association.
3.2 Applications are
to be made to the Treasurer in the first instance.
3.3 Members must hold
a valid Environment Agency licence before fishing.
3.4 There shall be
three classes of membership available. These are:
Full Member - Adults over the age of 18 years.
Junior Member - (Under 18 years of age) Junior members up to the age of 16 years
shall always be in the company of and the responsibility of either his/her
legal guardian or an adult member designated
by his/her legal guardian when attending association events. Members aged
16 to 18 years may attend without their legal guardian.
Honorary Member - The members at an AGM may from time to time decide to offer
Honorary Membership to someone who is considered to merit it. This would
normally only be applied where the member is too elderly or frail to continue
fishing and/or has given outstanding service to the Association.
3.5 New members will
be issued with a copy of the Constitution, a copy of the Burrator Fishing Boat
Regulations and a member’s badge. New members will be introduced to the
waters and made fully aware of the fishing etiquette and limitations.
4. OFFICERS
4.1 The Officers of
the BFFA shall be as follows:
Chairman - who will chair all meetings of the Association and take the lead
role in any discussions/negotiations with other agencies. The membership,
at their discretion, may also elect a Chairman Designate.
Secretary - who will minute all official meetings and circulate these to
members. He/she will also receive and deal with all correspondence to and from
the Association with the exception of membership matters and club insurance.
Treasurer - who will deal with all routine membership matters and club
insurance and keep fair and accurate records of the Associations finances.
Social &
Competition Secretary - who will plan
and organise the monthly competitions, monthly raffles and other events.
4.2 Officers shall be
elected/re-elected at the AGM each year by a majority of members present.
4.3 In case of illness
or other unforeseen circumstances Officer roles can be filled by co-opting an
appropriate adult member of the Association. This co-opted status can
last only to the next subsequent AGM or EGM.
4.4 No Officer shall
be re-elected to the same role for more than three successive years.
5. SIGNING CHEQUES
& PAYING BILLS
5.1 All cheques and
other bank transactions will be authorised by the Treasurer and one other of
the Officers named above. Two signatures will be required.
6. MEETINGS
6.1 Annual General
Meeting (AGM) - is to be held in January each year. Members shall be given
21 days’ notice of the date. Members will be invited to submit items for
the agenda and that agenda will be circulated to all members at least seven
days before the meeting. This will include proposals (with seconders) for
any Officer role. All matters at the AGM will be decided by majority vote
of those present. In the case of a tied vote the Chairman will have a
casting vote. The AGM will receive reports from the Officers including a
Statement of Accounts on the basis of which subscription levels for the coming
year will be agreed.
6.2 Emergency
General Meeting (EGM) - will only be held in exceptional circumstances
when, for example, the Association needs to decide on an urgent matter which
cannot wait until the next AGM. A
majority of members must vote in favour of calling an EGM.
6.3 Monthly General
Meetings - will be held eight or nine times throughout the year.
Normally there will be no meeting in August, the meeting in December will be
the Christmas social event and the meeting in January will be the AGM.
These can be changed by a majority vote of the members.
7. BOATS UNDER THE
SUPERVISION OF THE ASSOCIATION
7.1 During the period
in which the Association has access to boat fishing at Burrator and helps SWLT
to manage these boats. The rules and conditions for their use will be
reviewed annually by BFFA and SWLT representatives and updated as
necessary. These will be issued/re-issued to all BFFA members wishing to
use the boats.
8. DISCIPLINARY
MATTERS
8.1 Should any member
seriously and/or persistently breach the Association rules or jeopardise its
continuance, the member may be asked to leave the Association and their
membership fee returned.
8.2 The said member
will be entitled to receive in writing from the Chairman the reason for the
discontinuance of membership and be given at least two weeks to respond. They
will be entitled to put their case to the membership, either by letter or in
person, and have a fair hearing.
8.3 Throughout the
process Principals of Natural Justice will be adhered to.
9. DISSOLUTION OF THE
ASSSOCIATION
9.1 The Association
will only be dissolved at either an AGM or an EGM called for that purpose.
9.2 For dissolution to
take place two thirds of those present must agree.
9.3 On dissolution the
Officers in post at that time will realise all assets and discharge all debts.
9.4 The members
present at the dissolution meeting shall decide by a simple majority how to
dispose of any remaining monies by, for example, donation to an appropriate
charity/organisation.
February 2016
