CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERATION OF NORTH-WESTERN CROQUET CLUBS
1. NAME AND OBJECTIVES
The Federation shall be named the Federation of North-Western Croquet Clubs. Its objects shall be to promote the game of Croquet in the North West of England by the promotion of new clubs, by organizing tournaments and other events, by organising croquet leagues and by assisting existing clubs in all appropriate ways. The Federation shall be run under the auspices of the Croquet Association and shall be responsible to that body.
2. OFFICERS
a) The Officers of the Federations shall be a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and the Federation Croquet Association Council Representative who must be a full individual associate of the Croquet Association. Any two offices may be represented by the same person. All shall be honorary.
b) The Officers shall be elected at the Autumn meeting each year and hold office until the next Autumn meeting, but shall be eligible for re-election with no limit on the total length of service, except for the Chairman. The maximum continuous term of service for the Chairman shall be three years. A Chairman may serve more than one connected term provided there is a break of at least one year between connected terms.
c) The duties of the Officers shall be as follows:-
i) The Chairman shall chair meetings of the Federation and be generally responsible for the activities of the Federation.
ii) The Secretary shall keep minutes of all Federation meetings, maintain a register of affiliated clubs and act as directed by the business meetings.
iii) The Treasurer shall keep the accounts of the Federation and be responsible for all monies belonging to, due to or payable to the Federation except as provided under 2(e) below. The Treasurer shall at the Autumn meeting each year present an audited annual statement of accounts incorporating all grants made from the Croquet Association, and from any other sources. At the Spring meeting the Treasurer shall present a statement of accounts showing the financial status of the Federation.
d) The Federation may also elect at the Autumn meeting a League Manager who shall be responsible for all League competitions run under the auspices of the Federation. He shall present an account of League activities at the Autumn meeting of the Federation. He may appoint deputies to assist in the conduct of the regional leagues within the Federation.
e) The Federation shall also elect a Coaching Officer and a Development Officer. These Officials shall be responsible for the finances relating to their activities and shall present reports on their activities to the business meetings of the Federation. The Officers may appoint Committees as appropriate to assist them in their duties.
3. MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the Federation shall be open to all clubs in the North West of England and other areas as deemed appropriate in which croquet is played. Registration shall be by application to the Secretary of the Federation and payment of the current subscription. All member clubs must be affiliated to a National Croquet Association.
4. FEDERATION MEETINGS
a) There shall be two regular business meetings each year, to be known as the Spring and Autumn meetings. Extra meetings may be called at the joint discretion of the Chairman and Secretary, or at the written request of at least three Secretaries of registered clubs.
b) Each registered club shall be entitled to send one voting delegate to attend business meetings. The elected Officers of the Federation, the League Manager, Coaching Officer and Development Officer shall also be entitled to attend and vote. Other interested persons may attend in a non-voting capacity.
c) The fee for the registration of clubs will be decided at the Autumn meeting and be due for immediate payment to the Treasurer. Any club failing to pay within one calendar month of this meeting shall no longer be deemed a Federation member.
d) A quorum shaIl consist of six voting members.
e) Motions shall be duly proposed and seconded by any club member or Federation Official present. A simple majority shall be sufficient to carry a motion, except as specified under 4(g) below. In the event of a tie, the Chairman may exercise a casting vote.
f) Notices of motions to amend the constitution or to wind up the Federation shall be sent to the Secretaries of all registered clubs at least fourteen days before the meeting at which they will be put.
g) An amendment to the constitution shall be carried if more than two-thirds of the votes are cast in its favour.
h) A Finance and General Purposes sub-committee shall be formed which shall be made up of the officers of the Federation, the Coaching Officer and the Development Officer.
i) The quorum of the Finance and General Purposes sub-committee shall be three members.
j) The Federation may make bye laws to meet its objectives and in regard to the conduct of any sub-committee.
5. DISSOLUTION
If there ceases to be a need for the continuing existence of the Federation it shall be formally wound up on the written agreement of a simple majority of affiliated clubs. The Administrative Secretary of the Croquet Association shall be informed and all assets sent to him for disposal.
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Dated: November 1989 as amended on 20.2.93, 3.12.94, 2.12.95, 6.12.96, 8.03.08, 8.11.2008.
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