- Title
The title of the club shall be the “Basingstoke Model Aero Club”. - Aims
The aim of the club shall be to promote interest in all forms of model aircraft operation and to provide facilities for use by members with common modelling interests. - Membership
Membership shall be open to all over the age of 12 years, subject to the approval of the committee, and in accordance with clause 11 of these rules regarding insurance. Members under the age of 18 on 1 January qualify for junior membership. - Officers
The officers of the club shall consist of a chairman, secretary and treasurer, all of whom shall be fully paid members of the club.
They shall be elected at the annual general meeting each year (or as provided in clause 7 of this constitution), and shall retire at the annual general meeting the following year.
Officers shall not normally hold office for more than 13 months without re-election. They may stand for re-election upon retirement.- Chairman
The chairman shall preside at all general and committee meetings.
In his absence at committee meetings a chairman shall be chosen from those present to serve for that one meeting only. The chairman shall only have one casting vote. - Secretary
The secretary shall be responsible for keeping accurate and proper records of all meetings and proceedings of the club. They shall also attend to all correspondence and communications. - Treasurer
The treasurer shall be responsible for keeping accounts of the club in the correct manner and shall present a financial statement at each annual general meeting. This statement shall be independently audited by two persons who are not members of the committee. A statement must also be supplied when requested by a special general meeting.
The club may have a bank account and cheques drawn shall be signed by the treasurer. Decisions authorising any expenditure of club funds shall only be made by the committee or annual or special general meetings. - Safety Officer
The committee shall appoint a safety officer. - Membership Secretary
The Committee shall appoint a membership secretary. - Vacancies
The committee shall have the power to fill any vacancies in the offices of the club occurring between general meetings.
- Chairman
- Committee
The affairs of the club shall be conducted by a committee consisting of the officers and at least three other elected members. committee members shall be elected at the annual general meeting and the committee shall be dissolved at the end of each year. Serving members may stand for re-election, except where said members have resigned from the committee during the year for whatever reasons.
meetings of the committee shall be convened at least six times per year to enable the business of the club to be transacted. Any two committee members may request the secretary to call a committee meeting and at least seven days notice shall be given to members.
A quorum for committee meetings shall be five and shall include at least one officer of the club.
The committee shall be empowered to act in all matters concerning the conduct of the club’s affairs not specifically covered in these rules.
No decision made under these circumstances shall conflict with the general rules of the club. - Subscriptions
Subscription shall be decided at the annual general meeting held each year. Under exceptional circumstances, and with the majority approval of committee members present at any committee meeting, the committee shall have the power to modify the subscription structure when it is deemed to be in the best interest of the club. Subscriptions shall become due for renewal on the first day of January each year, and must be paid before the last day of January to ensure continuity of membership, or the membership concerned shall be considered terminated (see clause 9 of these rules). - General Meetings
- Annual General Meetings
The annual general meeting shall be held each year, normally during the month of December. The interval between annual general meetings shall not exceed thirteen months. At least fourteen days notice shall be given to members. - Special General Meetings
A special general meeting may be called at any time by the committee and must be called by the secretary if requested to do so by not less than 25% of the voting membership. At least fourteen days notice shall be given to the members and the business for which the meeting is being called stated. A quorum for special general meetings shall be 40% of the club membership. - Voting
All fully paid up members shall have one vote at committee, annual and special general meetings, except the chairman, who shall only have the casting vote.
- Annual General Meetings
- Affiliation
The club may become affiliated to the respective model organisations with aims and interests compatible with the interests of the club.
Control of the club’s affairs must remain vested in the club committee and general membership. - Termination of Membership
Any membership not renewed by payment of subscription within the time stated in rule 6 shall be considered terminated. Subsequent renewal shall be subject to approval as a new membership. Payment of arrears shall be at the discretion of the committee.
The committee shall also be empowered to recommend suspension or expulsion from the club of any member found guilty of a serious breach of the club rules or whose actions are in any way detrimental to the interests of the club.
In all cases the member concerned shall have the right of appeal.
If an appeal is lodged the Secretary shall call a special general meeting to allow the appeal to be heard and a majority decision of the meeting shall be final. - Amendments to Constitution
Amendments to or additions to the constitution shall only be made by an affirmative vote from a majority of members of the club present at the annual general meeting or at a special general meeting called for the purpose. - Insurance
All members will be insured by the BMFA. Cover is required for public liability to at least £5 000 000. This may be arranged by the club or by individual members. Proof of cover will be required at periodic checks.
The membership will automatically cease (irrespective of any monies paid) if the member’s cover lapses. The club shall not be held responsible for any activities of the ex-members and he/she will forfeit any rights to fly on the club’s flying fields.
The member may be reinstated, at the discretion of the committee when new covering insurance is obtained.
Non-active honorary members may be exempt from the above rule by a decision of the committee. - Noise emissions
No aircraft shall exceed 82dB as measured in the BMFA guidelines. - Flying Control
The power to vary and enforce flying control regulations shall be vested in the committee, and the elected safety officers shall be the agents of the committee in enforcing these regulations. - Prospective Members and Guests
- Prospective members, pending their membership being approved by the committee, may use the facilities provided by the club when sponsored by a full member. During this period the prospective member shall be subject to all the club’s normal rules.
- Visitors may be invited to use the club’s facilities by any full member who shall be responsible for the guest during his/her visit. Guests will be required to comply with all club rules during the visit.
Issue 06 04/12/2009