Northants Constitution

1. Name

   1. The name of the club shall be the Vixins, (Visually impaired XI Northamptonshire and Surrounds).

2. Club's Aims and Objectives
   

1. The aims of the club are:

1. to offer coaching and competitive opportunities in blind cricket,
2. to promote the game of blind cricket within Northamptonshire and Surrounds and beyond, and
3. to ensure, so far as it is reasonable to do so, a provision of services fair to all members or prospective members.
2. Further, and in respect of current members at any given time, the club shall guarantee:
   1. fair and equal treatment of members save in any matter where it is agreed that the management committee members shall take priority, and
   2. To owe a duty to safeguard members from personal injury whilst in the course of any club activity to the extent indicated by statute and/or common law.
3. Membership
   1. Members are either:
      1. ordinary members, or
      2. officers of the club, who form the management committee by due appointment.
   2. By joining the club in any capacity whatsoever, a person is subject to and deemed to have accepted the articles of this constitution (including any later amendment to the same) alongside any code of conduct the club has adopted or may adopt pursuant to article 6(5) of this constitution.

4. Membership Fees
   Every member shall pay an annual membership fee at a level set annually by the management committee, which processes should in the ordinary course of things be completed at the club's annual general meeting; provided that the arrangements contained herein may be altered by mutual agreement between the management committee and any member.

5. Officers of the Club.
   1. The officers of the club shall be:
      1. Chairman,
      2. Vice-chairman,
      3. Club Secretary,
      4. Publicity Officer, and
      5. Treasurer.
   2. All officers shall be elected at every annual general meeting, each member in attendance (or if absent, having agreed with the chairman to cast his vote by prior arrangement) having one vote for each position.
   3. An officers term of office shall be deemed to commence at the close of the annual general meeting immediately following his election in accordance with subparagraph 2 , and shall be deemed to have expired at the end of the following calendar year's annual general meeting.
   4. Any former officer may stand for reappointment if he wishes to do so.

6. Management Committee's Role and Jurisdiction
   1. The club shall be run by the management committee which shall be formed in accordance with article 5 of this constitution.
   2. Only the holders of those posts set out in article 5(1) shall have the right to vote at any meeting of the management committee.
   3. The management committee shall be convened by the club secretary and shall hold no fewer than two meetings per year.
   4. For a meeting of the management committee to be deemed such a meeting, no less than one third of those eligible to attend, and vote, at such meetings must attend and vote.
   5. The management committee shall be responsible for adopting, modifying or dispensing with any rules, policy or codes of conduct that affect the organisation and/or running of the club, save where otherwise provided in this constitution.
   6. The management committee may by a bare majority of officers appoint subcommittees and/or advisors to the management committee as it thinks fit that it may fulfil its business.
   7. The management committee shall be responsible for any disciplinary hearing following the breach by any member of the club's constitution, or any rule or regulation or code of conduct agreed to under subparagraph 5, and shall have the absolute discretion to discipline any member found to be in contravention thereof.
   8. The management committee shall unanimously agree upon rules to govern the conduct of a disciplinary hearing, which shall be made available to all members.
   9. In all matters governed by this article the management committee's decision is final.

7. Finance
   1. All club monies shall be banked in an account held in the name of the club.
   2. The Club Treasurer shall be responsible for the finances of the club.
   3. The financial year of the club shall begin on 1st September and end on 31st August the following calendar year.
   4. A statement of the most recent certified club's accounts shall be presented by the treasurer to the members at each annual general meeting.
   5. All cheques drawn on the club's accounts must hold the signatures of two officers from chairman, vice-chairman, secretary and treasurer.

8. Annual and Extraordinary general Meetings
   1. The club secretary shall give notice of the annual general meeting to all members no fewer than 21 clear days, inclusive of weekends, before the date on which it is due to take place.
   2. Every officer of the management committee must place his officer's report before the members in attendance at the annual general meeting.
   3. All nominations for club officers must be received by the secretary no later than fourteen clear days, inclusive of weekends, prior to the annual general meeting, and the secretary must acknowledge all nominations received in writing.
   4. The quorum for each annual general meeting to be effective as such shall be 25 percent of the membership on the date of that annual general meeting.
   5. The management committee has the right to call an uncapped number of extraordinary general meetings outside the annual general meeting, to be governed by the same procedures save the requirements of notice where impractical.
   6. The annual general meeting must take place after the club's final match of the season has ended and before the end of November the same calendar year.
   7. All proposals must be submitted to the secretary no later than seven clear days, inclusive of weekends, before the date on which any annual general meeting (Or extraordinary general meeting for which the requirements of notice have not been dispensed with in accordance with subparagraph 5) is to take place, and the secretary must by the said date produce and circulate an agenda for that meeting.

9. Discipline and Appeals
   1. A person who wishes to complain about the conduct of one or more members must submit his complaint, stating full particulars, to the secretary in writing.
   2. The management committee must convene a disciplinary hearing within fourteen days of the secretary's receipt of the complaint.
   3. The hearing shall follow the format set out by rules agreed under article 6(8) of this constitution.
   4. The management committee's decision must be communicated in writing to the complainant and the subject of the complaint within fourteen days of the final decision's having been reached.
   5. No complainant has the right to appeal.
   6. The subject of the complaint has the right to appeal against culpability, disciplinary action, or both, and must submit his appeal in writing to the secretary within fourteen clear days of receiving written communication of the management committee's decision.
   7. The committee shall consider the appeal within fourteen clear days of its receipt.

10. Dissolution
    1. A resolution to dissolve the club can only pass following a 75-percent vote of all members at either an annual or extraordinary general meeting.
    2. In the event of dissolution, all the club's assets, including but not limited to any membership fees, shall become the property of the Northamptonshire association for the blind, and both legal and equitable title in the entirety of the said assets shall pass to that association with every member foregoing his legal and beneficial entitlement, or purported entitlement, thereto.

11. Amendments to the Constitution
    1. Any proposed amendment must be communicated to the secretary in writing, including reasons.
    2. An amendment is not ratified unless agreed by a two-thirds majority of the members voting at an annual or extraordinary general meeting, or by referendum.

12. Referenda
    1. A referendum may not be called unless approved by at least 2 of the management committee.
    2. A referendum may contain one or more proposals.
    3. A referendum may be called at any time, provided there is good cause to do so.
    4. A member in a referendum may vote by:
       1. E-mail,
       2. Letter in print or braillle, or
       3. Direct oral communication of his voting intention to at least two officers of the management committee.
    5. All members must be fully informed of any referendum.
    6. only votes received up to fourteen clear days, inclusive of weekends, after the date upon which all members have been fully informed of the referendum shall be valid.
    7. no referendum shall be valid unless 25 percent or more of all members vote therein.

13. Declaration
    VIXINS hereby adopts and accepts this constitution operating guide regulating the actions of members.