RULE 1 NAME. The club will be called Blackhill Bounders and will be affiliated to UK ATHLETICS.

The Club will base its headquarters at the site of Consett Sports Centre.

The Club colours will be Black with a double yellow stripe diagonally across the Vest.

RULE 2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES. The aims and objectives of the club will be to :

            Offer coaching and competitive opportunities in athletics.

            Promote the club within the local community and athletics.

            Ensure a duty of care to all members of the club.

            Provide all its services in a way that is fair to everyone.

            Ensure that all present and future members receive fair and equal treatment.

RULE 3. MEMBERSHIP. Membership will consist of officers and members of the club. All members will be subject to the Rules of the Constitution and by joining the club will be deemed to accept these Rules and codes of conduct that the club has adopted.

Members will be enrolled in one of the following categories :

         Senior member. Senior membership is available to anyone aged 18 years and over.

Associate member. Associate membership will be offered to those individuals who do not engage actively in competition but who are prepared to assist in the coaching of athletes or in the various administrative duties within the club.

Junior member. Junior membership is available to young persons aged between 9 and 17 years.

Life member. Life membership may be granted to one who, in the opinion of the AGM has made an outstanding contribution to the benefit of Blackhill Bounders

RULE 4. MEMBERSHIP FEES . Membership fees will be set annually by the Annual General Meeting. Fees will be paid annually.

The committee have the right to terminate the membership of any member whose annual membership fee has not been received by the 31 January following the AGM, providing one month's notice in writing has been sent to the last known address.

ULE 5. OFFICERS OF THE CLUB. The officers of the club will be :

            Chairman

            Honorary Secretary

            Treasurer

            And up to 10 other elected members.

Officers will be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. All officers will retire each year but will be eligible for re-appointment. Election shall be by a show of hands unless the Chairman, in his discretion, deems a ballot will be necessary.

Elective posts which fall vacant between AGMs may be filled by co-opted members.

The CLUB PRESIDENT will hold an honorary position. He will be elected at an Annual General Meeting and will retain his position without election until a new election is proposed and seconded at an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting.

RULE 6. COMMITTEE. The club will be managed through the Management Committee consisting of those officers and members elected and co-opted under Rule 5.

The Management Committee will be convened by the Secretary of the club and held monthly according to business.

The quorum required for business to be agreed at Management Committee meetings will be five, of which at least one must be from the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.

The Management Committee will be responsible for adopting new policy, codes of conduct and rules that affect the organisation of the club.

The Management Committee will have powers to appoint sub-committees as necessary and appoint advisors to the Management Committee as necessary to fulfil its business.

The Management Committee will be responsible for disciplinary hearings of members who infringe the club rules/regulations/constitution. The Management Committee will be responsible for taking any action of suspension or discipline following such hearings.

RULE 7 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. This Executive Committee will consist of the following:

Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.

The Executive Committee will deal with any emergency concerning the club or club members. In case of a tied vote the Chairman's vote will be the deciding vote.

RULE 8. FINANCE. All club monies will be banked in an account held in the name of the club. Club bank accounts will be restricted to one general account and one race account.

The club Treasurer will be responsible for the finances of the club.

Monthly bank statements should be sent by the bank to the Club Chairman for inspection and transfer to the Treasurer.

The financial year of the club will end on 31 July.

An audited statement of annual accounts will be presented by the Treasurer at the Annual General Meeting.

Cheques drawn against club funds should hold the signatures of the Treasurer plus any one of two other officers as decided by the Management Committee.

RULE 9. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS. Notice of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be given by the Club Secretary. Not less than 21 clear days' notice to be given to all members.

The AGM will receive a report from officers of the Management Committee and a statement of the audited accounts.

Nominations for officers of the Management Committee will be sent to the Secretary prior to the AGM.

Election of officers are to take place at the AGM.

All members aged 14 years and over have the right to vote at the AGM.

The quorum for AGMs will be 15% of the voting membership.

The Management Committee has the right to call Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs) outside the AGM. Procedures for EGMs will be the same as for the AGM.

RULE 10. DISCIPLINE and APPEALS. All complaints regarding the behaviour of members should be submitted in writing to the Secretary.

The Management Committee will meet to hear complaints within 14 days of a complaint being lodged. The committee has the power to take appropriate disciplinary action including the termination of membership.

The outcome of a disciplinary hearing should be notified in writing to the person who lodged the complaint and the member against whom the complaint was made within 7 days of the hearing.

There will be the right of appeal to the Management Committee following disciplinary action being announced. The committee should consider the appeal within 14 days of the Secretary receiving the appeal.

RULE 11. DISSOLUTION. A resolution to dissolve the club can only be passed at an AGM or EGM through a majority vote of the membership.

In the event of dissolution, any assets of the club that remain will become the property of UK Athletics or some other club with similar objectives to those of the club.

RULE 12. AMENDMENTS to the CONSTITUTION. The constitution will only be changed through agreement vote at an AGM or EGM.

DECLARATION.

Blackhill Bounders hereby adopts and accepts this constitution as a current operating guide regulating the action of members.

SIGNED : Joy Bell DATE : 29 September 2004

Name : Joy Bell

Club Chairman

SIGNED : Donald Kent DATE : 29 September 2004

Name : Donald Kent

Club Secretary