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Kyles of Bute Sailing Club is located in the village of Tighnabruaich, Argyll. While only having a small number of members KoBSC has an active racing calendar.
There is a fleet of 'H' Boats which are fierce competitors along with handicap yachts from Flying Fifteens to Westerly's.
The Club Constitution is set out below.
If you are not a member why not join us!
Constitution
(1996)
1.1 The Club shall be called the Kyles of Bute Sailing Club.
1.2 The objects of the Club are the encouragement of sailing and racing in the waters of and adjacent to the Kyles of Bute and the association of ladies and gentlemen interested in sailing.
1.3 The burgee
of the Club shall be a Blue pennant with the capital letter 'K'
represented on it in
1.4 The Officers of the Club, elected at an Annual General Meeting, shall consist of -
Commodore (Flag officer)
Vice Commodore (Flag officer)
Rear Commodore (Racing) (Flag officer)
Rear Commodore (Cruising) (Flag officer)
Hon. Secretary
Hon. Treasurer
1.5 The management of the Club shall be vested in a Committee of no more than eleven persons, consisting of the Officers plus a number of eligible Members elected at an Annual General Meeting. Five will form a quorum except as stated in Rule 1.13 or 5.2.
1.6 The Committee shall meet not less than six times a year, at such times and places as best suits the Members of the Committee.
1.7 In performing its duties of managing the Club's activities, the Committee
a) will assume responsibility for all Club property and moneys.
b) may make bye-laws and issue sailing instructions.
c) may set or vary a joining fee.
d) may seek financial aid from appropriate sources.
e) may form sub-Committees, chaired by a Flag Officer, to report on special matters to the Committee. The Commodore shall be an ex-officio Member of all sub-committees.
f) may co-opt any person for any specific purpose. Such persons shall not vote in Committee nor count towards a quorum unless, being an eligible Member, that person is co-opted onto the Committee to fill a vacancy.
g) may on behalf of the Club, join or affiliate to any organisation judged to be of benefit to the Club's interests.
h) may distribute a Newsletter to Members to keep them informed of Club events and Committee deliberations.
1.8 The Annual General Meeting for the election of Officers, Committee Members and Auditor, consideration of Reports, Accounts, Subscriptions and other business, shall be held after the end of the Club's financial year (2.1) but not later than the third Saturday in November.
1.9 A Special General Meeting of the Club may be called by the Committee, or by written request to the Secretary signed by five Members and stating the subject of the proposed meeting.
1.10 The quorum for General Meetings shall be twelve eligible Members including the Chairman, except that if the Club has less than sixteen eligible Members the quorum shall be not less than three quarters of that Membership.
If a quorum does not attend a properly called Annual General Meeting then no formal business may take place. The existing Committee will remain in authority and will call a Special General Meeting for a date not later than 30 April in the same financial year. If a quorum still does not attend such a Special General Meeting, the Members present must initiate the Winding up process for the Club (Section 5).
1.11 The Notice and Agenda for General Meetings shall be sent to the last known address of every Member by second class post, fax or by hand to arrive not less than fourteen days before the date of the meeting. Failure of a minority of notices to arrive in time shall not invalidate the Meeting.
1.12 Voting at all meetings of the Club and Committee shall be by simple majority of those eligible Members present, except:
a) at a Meeting to consider changes to the Constitution when the required majority shall be not less than two-thirds
b) as provided in 1.13 or 5.2
The Chairman shall have a Casting Vote.
1.13 Conduct of a Member which in the opinion of the Committee is either unworthy of that Member or otherwise injurious to the interests of the Club shall render that Member liable to suspension or expulsion by the Committee. The Committee shall provide an opportunity for the Member to explain his (her) conduct and defending himself (herself) or to resign. The quorum for this hearing shall be eight Committee members, voting on a resolution to suspend or expel shall be by ballot and the majority required shall be not less than three quarters of the attending Committee.
If an Officer or Committee Member is the subject of the discussion of misconduct then he (she) shall take no part in the Committee deliberations or subsequent ballot and shall not be counted towards the quorum.
1.14 The Constitution shall not be changed except at an Annual General Meeting. Proposals to make such alterations, with the proposed rewording shall be notified to the Secretary in good time to be included in the Agenda sent out to all Members (1.11) and preferably in time for discussion at an earlier Committee meeting.
2.1 The Financial Year of the Club shall run from 1 October to the following 30 September inclusive.
2.2 Membership subscriptions shall be due on 1 January and remain valid until 31 December in the same calendar year. This period is called the Subscription Year hereafter.
The subscription for the subsequent Subscription Year required from each category of Membership shall be proposed by the Committee at each Annual General Meeting and, if approved by the Meeting, shall thereby rank as a Rule of the Club until superseded.
2.3 A person whose Application for Membership is accepted by the Committee after 31 August shall not be required to pay a further subscription in the immediately following Subscription Year, except that any increase in subscription for that year shall be due for payment.
2.4 A Member whose subscription remains unpaid on 1 May shall not take part in Club events or activities, make use of Club property or vote at Club Meetings until the subscription has been paid.
2.5 A Member whose subscription remains unpaid on 1 October shall be deemed to have resigned from the Club and shall not be eligible for re-admission to the Club except at the discretion of the Committee. A general reminder may be issued but it is the Member's responsibility to ensure that the subscription has been paid.
2.6 The Treasurer shall account for all moneys received and disbursed in the Club's name, shall provide an up to date summary for Committee Meetings and present the audited accounts for approval at each Annual General Meeting.
2.7 Money in excess of immediate requirements shall be kept in appropriate account(s) as agreed in Committee.
Cheques shall require the signature of any two of the Commodore, Hon. Treasurer and Hon. Secretary provided that specimen signatures have been delivered.
2.8 No Member of the Club may make any purchase on behalf of the Club or cause the Club to be liable for payment, without prior and specific authority from the Hon.Treasurer, a Flag Officer, or a Committee decision except for essential acquisition of fuel for a Club rescue boat.
2.9 An Auditor shall be appointed by the Annual General Meeting for the current Financial Year.
3.1 Membership shall be open to all without discrimination, in accordance with the Objects of the Club (1.2), except that the Committee shall have the power to refuse any application without giving reasons.
3.2 Persons applying for Membership shall submit a completed application form, together with the appropriate subscription and current joining fee, to a Committee Member for consideration at the next Committee Meeting. By so doing they signify their willingness to be bound by the Constitution of the Club.
3.3 There shall be eight categories of Membership
1)
Full Membership shall be open to all adult persons who wish to own or helm a boat taking part in any of the Club's organised events or who wish to enjoy the benefits of Full Membership. Such Members shall have voting rights at all Club meetings and shall be eligible for election to Office and Committee.
2) FAMILY MEMBER
Family Membership shall be open to all couples or single parents, together with any or all of their children under the age of 16 years on 1 August in the subscription year. Adult Members shall have the same rights as the Full Member and their children shall be considered to be Junior Members.
3) YOUNG MEMBER
Young Membership shall be open to all Junior Members who are continuing in full-time education in the Subscription Year following their 16th birthday and for subsequent years until they cease full-time education or are over 21 years, when they shall transfer to Full Membership. Such Members shall have all the rights of the Full Member.
4) ASSOCIATE MEMBER
Associate Membership shall be open to any person interested in the activities of the Club. Such Members shall not have voting rights nor may they own or helm a boat in any of the Club's organised events unless a Full Member is on board. They are not eligible for election to Office or the Committee.
5) JUNIOR MEMBER
Junior Membership shall be open to all
persons under the age of 16 years on 1 August in the subscription year.
Such Members may own or helm a boat in any of the Club's organised
events but shall not have voting rights nor be eligible for election to
Committee.
6) TEMPORARY MEMBER
Temporary Membership, valid for a maximum of four weeks in any one subscription year, shall be open to visitors to the Kyles of Bute who wish to own or helm a boat in the Club's organised events. Such Members shall not have voting rights nor be eligible for election to Office or Committee.
7) AFFILIATED MEMBER
Affiliated Membership is open to organised Groups under terms which are to be agreed by the Committee. At least one adult leading Member of the Group shall be a Full or Family Member of the Club who can exercise one vote (in addition to their own) on behalf of the Group. Other Members of the Group (the Affiliated Members) shall not have voting rights nor be eligible for election to Office or Committee except when they are a Member of the Club in their own right. Affiliated Members may helm boats belonging to the Group in the Club's organised events.
8) HONORARY
Persons who have been benefactors or who have given noteworthy service to the Club or to sailing may be admitted Honorary Life Commodore. Such appointments shall only be made at the Annual General Meeting and shall be limited to a total of four at any one time. Such individuals if Members of the Club at the date of their appointment shall retain their voting rights and may participate in the management of the Club, but without right to be elected to the office of Commodore, Vice Commodore or Rear Commodore.
3.4 Membership may be terminated by the Member giving notice to the Hon. Secretary or as provided in Rule 2.5. No subscription or part thereof is refundable except at the discretion of the Committee. All rights and privileges of Membership shall cease on resignation and Club Property, including any Trophies held, shall be returned to an Officer of the Club. A person ceasing to be a Member of the Club shall have no claim to Club Property, Effects or Moneys.
4.1 Any Club Trophy presented to a Member will be signed for on the occasion of the presentation and that Member will then be responsible for its safe keeping and return in good order. The Member should be satisfied that the Trophy is covered by an appropriate insurance policy, or be otherwise prepared to pay for a replacement in the event of loss. Trophies may be retained for a maximum of one year and must be returned to an Officer of the Club in good time for the subsequent presentation occasion. A receipt acknowledging its safe return will be issued to the Member.
Trophies which have been legitimately won by a Temporary Member may only be retained if signed for by an appropriate Member who then takes on the responsibility for its safe keeping and return.
Trophies presented at the Tighnabruaich weekend to Temporary Members will be treated as special cases where more detailed information must be obtained on the membership or race entry form.
4.2 If a Trophy winner so desires, the name of the winning boat and helmsman may be professionally engraved at the Member's own expense, ensuring that it is carried out in keeping with previous inscriptions.
5.1 The Club will be wound up and cease to exist if:
a) the Membership subscription income falls below the level needed to maintain the Club facilities and cannot be increased by any action the Committee may take
b) the level of interest shown by Members falls to such an extent that a quorum does not attend properly convened General Meetings or that no Club event has been supported during the year
c) unforeseen events which make the Club financially insecure
5.2 If the Committee considers that one or more of the above circumstances applies then it shall call a Special General Meeting to discuss the Winding up of the Club. The quorum for this Special General Meeting shall consist of those Members present. A motion to wind up the Club will only be carried on a majority of three-quarters of the eligible Members present but any other motion at this meeting will be carried on a two-thirds majority.
The Committee shall have the authority to instigate a postal ballot of Members if deemed appropriate
5.3 Upon a motion to wind up the Club being carried, the Members present shall decide how the Property, moneys and other effects of the Club shall be disposed of. Specific decisions shall be made regarding the special responsibility to any Grant providing body for the return of moneys arising from the sale of Club Properties originally purchased with the benefit of a Grant or Grants.
6.1 Each year the Club will organise and hold a number of events for the enjoyment of its Members and others. In no circumstance can the Club, its Officers or Committee be held liable for the safety of any participant, boat or gear. The decision to take part (or continue to take part) rests solely with individuals who must satisfy themselves that they, their boats and crew are capable of safe participation. Owners must satisfy themselves that they are adequately insured in accordance with current racing/sailing instructions.