Club Constitution

Please note that the Junior Club is no longer in operation and thus reference to it and associated Child Welfare Officers below is moot.

1      Club name and affiliation

The club is called Reading and Country Badminton Club, and is affiliated to BADMINTON England.

2      Aims and Objectives

The aims and objectives of the club are to:

3      Finance and Accounts

All club monies are banked in an account held in the name of the club. The accounts are kept by the Treasurer, and audited annually. The financial year of the club will end on 31st May. Any cheques drawn against club funds will be signed by the Treasurer.

Should Reading and Country Badminton Club no longer be viable and the accounts need to be wound up then any residual funds, after all creditors have been satisfied, shall be donated to a club or organisation with similar aims and objectives.

4      Running of the Club

The club is run by a committee consisting of:

There is also a Child Welfare Officer and a Shuttle Controller.

These roles are clarified in Appendix I to this Constitution.

Reading and Country Juniors is a subsidiary of Reading and Country Badminton Club and as such has adopted and agreed to abide by all the Club's policies and procedures. For ease of administration, the Junior Club has its own Treasurer, who abides by the agreed procedures for Finance and Accounts. The financial year for the Junior Club ends on 31st July. (See Appendix II - Protocols relating to Junior Club and Appendix III - Health and Safety).

At the AGM each year, the committee resigns but is then eligible for re-election if they so choose.

5      Membership

Membership shall consist of:

Prospective members may be offered Temporary membership for one season only or part of a season, in which case they will be required to apply for full membership the next season. The election of members shall be at the discretion of the committee.

All members are subject to the constitution and codes of conduct adopted by the club. Subscriptions, Match fees and Visitors fees are set and reviewed annually by the committee and approved at the AGM. Match fees are set at a level which ensures that match play is self funding.

6      Child Protection

Reading and Country Badminton Club agrees to adopt the BADMINTON England Child Protection Policy and Implementation Procedures (see Appendix V). All individual members are deemed to have assented to the BADMINTON England Child Protection Policy and Code of Ethics and Conduct and as such recognise and adhere to the principles and responsibilities embodied in these documents.

All adults having contact with the Junior Club must undergo CRB checks, which must be updated every three years. Child Welfare Officers must undergo Safeguarding Training, as required by BADMINTON England. Records are kept by the Junior Club Leader. The cost of these checks, and any training, is met in full by the Club.

7      Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting is normally held by the end of June each year. At least fourteen days notice will be given to members, and the Agenda circulated in advance of the meeting. A quorum is considered to be 25% of the number of members of Reading and Country Badminton Club.

The Agenda includes:

All members have the right to vote at the AGM.

Members have the right to call for an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM). It shall be held at the request of at least 25% of members. Notice for an EGM will be the same as for an AGM.

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 BADMINTON England or some other club with similar objectives to those of the club.

8      Team Selection

Teams are selected by a Selection Committee made up of members spanning the Clubs' teams, who have knowledge of the play of a number of individuals. The Club Chairman does not sit on the Selection Committee. This Committee follows the agreed rationale, which is made available to all club members, and is included as Appendix IV. Three members of the Selection Committee shall form a quorum.

9      League and Friendly Matches

Members taking part in league and friendly matches pay a match fee for home and away matches at an amount as shall be agreed from time to time by the Management Committee. These fees should fund in full the cost of shuttles and court hire for matches

10      Guests and Attendance of Members

Club members shall be entitled to bring guests in but members must obtain the permission of the Secretary or other member of the Committee. A guest is required to pay a visitors' fee at such amount as shall from time to time be fixed by the Committee.

Visitors may usually only attend six club-night sessions. Membership to the Club is considered by the Committee after three attendances.

11      Club Evenings

After gaining access to the court, club members are asked to enter into their game as soon as possible in order to enable the maximum number of games to be played during each club session.

A peg board system is used: members whose name is at the front may select their game from the next six pegs only, and then inform the next person to select the following game if sufficient pegs are available. Members are expected to use this system fairly; any concern arising must be brought to the attention of a Committee member as soon as possible.

12      Membership of the Leagues

The Chairperson and Secretary shall be the Club's official representatives at general meetings of Leagues and shall have the power to vote on all matters affecting the Club's interest. If unable to attend or act in these capacities the Management Committee shall have the power to appoint another member of the management committee or club member to officially represent the Club at such meetings.

13      Club Entries in Leagues

The Committee shall make a decision as soon as possible following the Annual General Meeting as to the type and number of entries to be submitted for entry into any League for the following season.

This decision will be based on the existing playing membership and match play court time available.

14      Waiting List

If necessary the Secretary shall maintain a 'waiting list' and have authority to invite potential new members to three club sessions respectively. After three attendances the Management committee shall decide whether or not to accept the application for membership.

The waiting list for the Junior Club is managed by the Junior Club Leader.

15      Club Tournaments

Club tournaments shall be arranged annually with the object of affording the opportunity to all members to compete, where there is sufficient interest from the members of the Club. The Committee has the power to deal with the arrangements for the holding of such tournaments in whatever manner they think fit and shall also have power to co-opt members, if necessary, solely for the purpose of organising such tournaments. The main trophies shall remain the property of the Reading and Country Badminton Club at all times.

16      Summer Club

A Summer subscription is paid by all summer members, as agreed by the Committee. Visitors and guests pay a visitors fee. Attendance at Summer Club does not give automatic membership to the Club.

Should the number of visitors restrict court playing time; this will be addressed as soon as possible by Committee members present.

17      Constitution Changes

This Constitution can be changed only by majority vote at an AGM.