The Romney Marshland
Metal Detecting Club
Constitution
1. NAME AND OBJECTS OF THE CLUB
A) The Name of the club shall be "Romney Marshland Metal Detecting Club.
B) The objects of the club shall be to promote fellowship between members, to develop, encourage and provide facilities for metal detecting activities.
2. MEMBERSHIP
A) The Club will consist of a limited number of members. The ceiling being determined by the Committee. This information will be published as BY-LAW No 1.
B) Persons requesting membership, shall apply in writing (Membership Application Form.
See Appdx '). Acceptance by the Committee and on the payment of the first Annual Subscription, they shall be entitled to all the facilities and privileges of the club. See BYE LAW No 6 re Junior Membership.
C) The Secretary will issue a club membership card to all paid up members. This membership card should be carried to all Club activities, and when visiting club sites.
D) VISITORS
Members shall be entitled to introduce visitors to the club. Members will be responsible for the conduct and behaviour of their guests.
3. FINANCIAL
A) Subscriptions.
The annual subscription for members shall be as recommended by the committee, and agreed at the Annual General Meeting
This information will be published as BY-LAW No 2.
B) VISITORS FEES
A fee will be charged per visitor, for each meeting or activity attended. On the payment of the fee, the visitor will be entitled to the privileges and facilities of the club.
C) The financial year shall be from the 1st April until the 31st March.
D) The clubs bankers will be Abbey National, 104 Sandgate Road, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 2BS.
E) Drawing of Cheques; Every cheque drawn on the clubs bank account shall be signed by any two of the following,
Treasurer, Secretary or Chairman.
F)
The accounts of the club made up to the 31st March in each year shall be examined annually.
4. MEETINGS
A) The club meeting shall be held on the Second Wednesday of each month at the club premises (The Clubhouse, Marlie Farm Holiday Village, Dymchurch Road, New Romney, Kent.)
Timings; 7-30 pm until 10pm.
B) ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Annual General Meeting will be held on the Second Wednesday of April each year, for the;
i. Presentation and (if accepted) the passing of the accounts for the financial year ending 31st March
ii The election of officers and committee.
iii. Any other business, which should have been communicated to the secretary, and included in the notice of meeting sent by him to members.
5. C) QUORUM
i. Committee Meetings; At least 3 officers of the club and two committee members.
ii. Annual General Meeting; At least 3 (Three) officers of the club and 8 (Eight) members.
iii. If no Quorum is present within 30 (Thirty) minutes of the appointed time, the meeting will be adjourned to a later date.
6. OFFICERS OF THE CLUB
A) The officers of the club shall consist of;
Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer
B) The affairs of the club shall be managed by a committee consisting of, the officers of the club and five ordinary members. The increase from three ordinary members was amended at AGM dated 14th April 1999, Minute number 10.
C) The positions of; Public Relation Officer, Club Site Officer and Programme Secretary will normally be undertaken by members of the committee.
D)ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE
i. The club Officers and Committee shall be nominated and voted for at the Annual General Meeting, and shall hold office for one year.
ii. Any casual vacancy occurring, may be filled by the committee, and any person so selected shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting.
7. OFFICERS DUTIES
A) CHAIRPERSON;
The chairperson shall be the final authority on all matters relating to the conduct of a meeting.
B) SECRETARY;
The Secretary will be responsible for;
I. The preparation of minutes of all meetings.
ii. Notification to members of all meetings.
iii.
iv. Membership Register and Application Forms.
C) TREASURER;
The Treasurer will be responsible for;
i. The preparation of the Annual Accounts.
ii. The Income and Expenditure Account.
iii. All financial business, on behalf of the club.
VOTING
A) Every member present shall have one vote. In the event of equality of votes, the Chairperson of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.
B) A motion shall be deemed to be carried by a majority vote.
C) All motions must be proposed and seconded.
8. CONSTITUTION
A) At least one copy of the constitution must be available at any meeting.
B) Each club member shall be issued with a copy of the constitution at the time of his acceptance by the club.
C) No alteration of, deletion from or addition to the Club Constitution shall be mad except by resolution carried by a majority vote of the members present at an Annual
General Meeting. Notice of which shall have contained particulars of the proposed alteration, deletion or addition.
9. CONDUCT
A) Members and their guests will at all times, abide by the Code of Conduct as published by;
i. The National Council for Metal Detectorists...NCMD
See Appdex..B
B) Members will respect the Country Code
C) Members will familiarise themselves with the following;
i. The Law relating to Archaeological Sites
ii. Scheduled Ancient Monuments
iii. Sites of Scientific Interest
iv.The Treasure Bill; and The Code of Conduct relating to this Bill
10.EXPULSION
A) A member may be expelled from the club for bringing the club or hobby into disrepute, or any breach of club rules.
B) A proposal for expulsion will be considered by the committee.
C) A member must be advised of the consideration for expulsion, and be given the right to reply.
11.INSURANCE
The club will be a member of the National Council for Metal Detectorist (NCMD), and therefore be covered by the Council Insurance.
12.AMMENDMENTS TO RULES
A) The committee shall have the power from time to time to make such BY-LAWS (not inconsistent with the club rules) as they shall think expedient for regulating the conduct and affairs of the club.
B) All such BY-LAWS shall be binding upon members of the club until replaced by the committee or set aside by resolution of a General Meeting of the club
13.DISSOLUTION
In the event of dissolution, all monies and properties of the club shall be divided equally between members whose subscriptions are fully paid.
ROMNEY MARSHLAND METAL DETECTING CLUB
BYE LAWS
The following Bye Laws, in support of the Constitution, have been agreed by the committee. These Bye Laws will be binding upon members until replaced. or set aside. See rule 12b.
1) Membership; With reference to Rule 2A, Membership of the club will be limited to 25 detecting members. The Secretary will maintain a waiting list of potential members.
Minute 5. Date 16th June 1993.and Minute 6. Date 11th August 1993
1A) The Membership of the club will be increased to 30 detecting members.
Minute 3, Date 16th March 1994.
1B) The Membership of the club will be increased to 35 detecting members.
Minute 3, Date 10th August 1994
1C) The membership of the club will be increased to 45 detecting members
Minute 3, Date 17th May 1995
Membership will be reviewed once per year, at the first Committee Meeting after the AGM.
1D) The membership of the club will be increased to 50 detecting members.
Minute 4, Date 17th January 1996
1E) The membership of the Club will be increased to 55 Full Members.
Minute 3, Date 2nd February 1999.
1F) The membership of the Club will be increased to 65 Full Members.
Minute AGM Date 12th April 2000
2) Subscriptions; With reference to Rule 3A, The annual subscription will be £10 (Ten) per member.
Minute 6A. Date 16th June 1993.
The Annual Subscription will be increased to £12 (Twelve) per Full Member
Minute 8. AGM dated 9th April 1997
The Annual Subscription will be increased to Full Members £14-00.
Minute 4. Date 2nd February 1999.
3) Visitors Fees; With reference to Rule 3B, The charge per visitor for each meeting will be £1 (ONE POUND).
Minute 6B. Date 16th June 1993.
4) Visitors; With reference to Rule 2D, Members will be entitled to invite visitors to club evenings, and other club activities excluding detecting on club land.
5) Associate Membership; Non detecting members may join the club as Associate Members. They will enjoy all the benefits of the club except being allowed to detect on club sites.
The annual subscription will be £5 (Five) per member.
Minute 6. Date 11 August 1993.
The Annual Subscription will be £7 (Seven) per Associate Member
The Annual Subscription for Associate Members will be increased to £8-50.
6) Junior Membership;
i) In order to promote and encourage Junior detectorists, the lower age limit for Full membership will be 12 years old. Junior applicants (aged 12 to 16) will apply for full membership in accordance with the existing rules and will be entered on the current waiting list.
ii) Junior Members can, whilst on the waiting list join as an Associate member of the club.
iii) When a Junior member is accepted as a Full member, he or she must be the responsibility of an adult full member when attending club activities.
7) FID MEMBERSHIP Membership of the Federation of Independent Detectorists, will be a requirement of all Full members, with effect from 1st APRIL 1995.
This Bye Law has been cancelled.
Minute 8. AGM dated 9th April 1977.