Manchester Triathlon Club

Rules and Constitution

Object

1. The object of the Club is to promote and encourage the sport of triathlon through:

a) providing an environment in which people can meet to train for and compete in triathlons and duathlons irrespective of age, ability and sex, by organising regular training sessions in all three disciplines, and competitions;

b) maintaining a club register whereby members can contact training companions;

c) providing access to specialist advice in all aspect of the sport;

d) developing membership of the Club, and

e) organising social events to benefit the Club and encourage an atmosphere in which people of similar ideals and interests can meet to discuss any aspect of the sport.

Membership

2. Anyone interested in triathlon or duathlon shall be eligible for membership.

3. Members shall be admitted at the discretion of the Committee.

4. Full members shall be entitled to attend all Club meetings, training sessions and social events, to receive the Club newsletter and to:

a) vote at the Annual General Meeting (AGM),

b) apply for BTA membership at a concessionary rate, and

c) compete in the Club's annual championships.

5. The committee reserves the right to expel any member acting, in it's opinion, in a manner prejudicial to the interests of the Club.

Members terms and conditions are available here .

Annual Subscriptions

6. The amount of the annual subscriptions for each class of membership shall be decided by the Club at the AGM and shall become payable on admission.

7. When a member joins the Club as a gold member partway through the year, the rate of gold membership is reduced quarterly.

8. No member shall, in any year, be entitled to exercise any rights or privileges of membership until his or her subscription for that year has been paid.

Officers Of The Club

9. The Officers of the Club shall be Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Press/PR Officer and New Member Contact. The Officers shall be elected at the AGM each year to hold office until the conclusion of the next AGM. The retiring Officers shall be eligible for re-election.

The Committee

10. The Committee shall consist of the Officers of the Club.

11. The Committee shall manage all the affairs of the Club according to the Rules and Constitution and shall apply the funds of the Club to the Objects of the Club.

12. The Committee shall make such by-laws and regulations as they think fit. These shall be subject to ratification at the next AGM.

13. The Committee shall be convened by the Chair not less than twice a year. The Chair shall exercise a casting vote, if necessary.

14. An officer of the committee may resign from his or her office by giving 14 days notice in writing to the chairman of the committee. Each committee officer must, on relinquishing his or her office, promptly hand to his or her successor in office or to the chairman, all official documents and records belonging to the club together with any other property of the club which may be in his or her possession, and must complete ay requirements to transfer authority relating to control of the club's bank accounts or other financial affairs.

15. To the extent permitted by the law taking into consideration existing British Triathlon Insurance cover, every officer of the committee, volunteers on club business, and club coaches are indemnified by the club against all costs, charges, losses, expenses and liabilities incurred by him or her in the execution or discharge of his or her duties as officers of the committee, except in the event of gross negligence or wilful misconduct of the officer or club coach.

Honorary Auditor

16. At each AGM a member who is not a member of the Committee shall be appointed as Honorary Auditor. The duty of the Honorary Auditor is to audit the accounts of the Club for the following year and to report to the next AGM.

Meetings

17. The Club shall hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM). Notice of the date of the AGM shall be sent to members at least twenty-eight days before the AGM. The notice shall include:

a) details of existing Officers willing to stand for re-election,

b) details of nominations for positions of Officers of the Club,

c) a reminder of the members' rights to move propositions, and

d) details of business to be transacted.

18. The Committee may, on giving fourteen days notice, call an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of the Club for any specific business, the nature of which shall be stated on the summons convening the meeting. The meeting shall be empowered to decide matters relating to and arising out of the stated business.

19. The Committee shall also convene an EGM of the Club upon the written request of not fewer than ten full members. The meeting shall be held within twenty-eight days of the request being received by the Secretary. The request shall state the business to be transacted.

Notice

20. Notice of any additions or amendments to the Rules and Constitution intended to be proposed by a member of the Club, and nominations for the posts of Officers of the Club, shall be seconded and given to the Secretary in writing at least one week before an AGM or EGM. The Committee may waive this requirement at their discretion.

Voting At General Meetings

21. All proposed additions or amendments to the Rules and Constitution, and nominations for the posts of Officers of the Club, together with any other propositions put forward by members, shall be put to the vote of the meeting. Provided that, on a show of hands or, if demanded, a poll, a majority of the votes of those members present and voting is cast in favour of that proposition or nomination then it shall be deemed carried. Minor changes to proposals for additions or amendments to the Rules and Constitution may be introduced at General Meetings, so long as the spirit of the proposal is not substantially changed.

Safety

22. All reasonable steps will be taken to ensure the safety of Club members while training and racing. Those over thirty-five with no immediate sporting background are encouraged to have a medical check-up before embarking on a training programme. However, subject to any relevant provision in law, and to the terms of BTA insurance for those who are BTA members, the Club accepts no liability for the ill-health or injury of its members whilst racing or training.

23. Helmets of a design approved by the BTA are compulsory on Club cycle rides. Members who do not own a helmet are exempt from this rule although, as helmets are compulsory when competing, it would not be acceptable to use this exemption indefinitely.

General

24. The Club will affiliate annually to the British Triathlon Association (BTA), the Road Time Trials Council (RTTC) and British Cycling (BC).

CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS

25. The Regional Championships at triathlon, sprint triathlon and duathlon shall be designated as the Club Championships unless a an alternative is agreed at a General Meeting. Awards will normally be made to males and females in the following categories (using BTA rules to determine an individual's category):

a) TriStar Start (8)

b) TriStar 1 (9/10)

c) TriStar 2 (11/12)

d) TriStar 3 (13/14)

e) Youth (15/16)

f) Junior 1 (17/18)

g) Junior 2 (19/20)

h) Senior (21-39)

i) Veteran (40-49)

j) Super-vet (50+)

However, the Committee reserves the right to increase or reduce the number of age group awards according to the numbers participating. Subject to demand, race(s) complying with BTA rules will be designated as the Club's Junior championships for members aged 16 and under.

Profits

26. Any profits made by the Club shall be used for the benefit of its members in accordance with the Rules and Constitution. No distribution of profits to the members shall take place other than in accordance with paragraph 27.

Dissolution Of The Club

27. If the Club shall cease to exist, or is wound up, then its assets shall be realised and its liabilities discharged in such a manner as the Committee shall direct. Any surplus funds shall be divisible amongst the members on a pro-rata basis which is related to the current year's subscription paid by the various classes of membership.

28. In the event of the realised assets being insufficient to meet the debts the difference shall be realised by a levy on the members on the pro-rata basis described in Paragraph 26.

Last updated 02/03/08 by Kat Copsey