CONSTITUTION
CLEVEDON & DISTRICT FRESHWATER ANGLING CLUB
CONSTITUTION
1. Name:
The Club shall be known as the Clevedon and District Freshwater Angling Club (“the club”).
2. Object:
The object of the club is to provide facilities for and promote participation of the whole community in the sport of angling.
3. Membership:
3.1 Membership of the Club shall be open to all persons who complete an application form and pay the current annual subscription, irrespective of ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or beliefs; or of age, sex or disability except as a necessary consequence of the requirements of angling as a particular sport. Completion of the application form constitutes an agreement to abide by the Constitution and Rules of the Club.
3.1.1 The Annual General Meeting may agree by majority vote to elect a Life Member in appreciation of services to the Club beyond normal expectation and shall issue said member with a complimentary membership card/fishing permit each year for life.
3.1.2 The Annual General Meeting may agree by majority vote to elect an Honorary Member for a period specified at the Annual General Meeting in appreciation for service to the Club and shall issue said member with a complimentary membership card/fishing permit for the period of his honorary membership.
3.2 The Club may refuse membership or expel from membership only for good and sufficient cause, such as conduct or character likely to bring the Club or sport into disrepute. Appeal against such a decision may be made to the Club’s members and decided by a majority vote.
3.3 The Management Committee of the Club may refuse membership or expel from membership only for good and sufficent cause, such conduct or character likely to bring the Club or sport into disrepute. Appeal against such a decision may be made to the Club's members and decided by majority vote.
3.4 All complaints concerning members must be in writing and signed by the complainant(s) and submitted to the Honorary Secretary for submission to the Management Committee.
3.5 Any member of the Club shall have the right to represent himself or herself or be represented at a Management Committee meeting provided that at least one weeks advance notice of the wish to make such representations is given to the Honorary Secretary. The Chair retains the right to exclude any such member from the meeting or any part thereof in order to discuss confidential matters not pertaining to the member, or to discuss in private a decision of the Management Committee affecting the member. He/Her may be present to hear any decision of the Management Committee and such decision should be confirmed in writing.
3.6 The voting rights of members shall be dependant upon their having paid the annual subscription.
4. Management:
4.1 The Club shall be managed by a Management Committee elected by its members in Annual General Meeting. All members of the Management Committee shall be elected for a period of twelve months but shall be eligible for re-election at the following Annual General Meeting.
4.2 The Management Committee shall have the power to co-opt members to fill vacancies arising during any period between Annual General Meeting and any members so co-opted shall serve until the next Annual General Meeting when they shall be eligible for election.
4.3 The Management Committee shall consist of a maximum of sixteen members who following election shall elect from amongst their numbers the following officers.
The Chair
Vice Chair
Honorary Treasurer
Honorary Secretary
Match Secretary
Head Water Keeper
4.4 Membership of the Management Committee shall be limited to members of two years consecutive standing. Owners and representatives of Angling Tackle and Bait Suppliers, Private Fisheries and Officials of other Angling Clubs, Associations or Match Groups will not be eligible to serve on the Management Committee of the Club not withstanding two years consecutive membership.
5. Powers and Duties of the Management Committee
5.1 The Management Committee shall have the power to take all actions necessary for the efficient running of the Club to achieve the aims of the Club. The Committee shall have the power to appoint sub-committees of itself and where necessary the right to co-opt onto these committees additional members, and that such additional members shall not be entitled to vote on any sub-committee decision.
5.2 The Management Committee shall meet monthly or on such dates, as it shall agree. The Chair may arrange Extraordinary Meeting as deemed necessary. All Management Committee meetings shall be open to fully paid up members of the Club, although there may at the discretion of the Chair be closed business as the last items of the agenda.
5.3 Five members of the Management Committee excluding the Chair shall be deemed to form a quorum.
5.4 Each member of the Management Committee shall have a single vote with the exception of the Chair or person acting as Chair, who, in the event of a tie, shall cast a vote to maintain the status quo.
5.5 The Management Committee shall have the power to make byelaws for regulating the conduct and affairs of the Club provided the same are not inconsistent with these rules. Such byelaws when made shall be brought to the attention of members in whatever way the Management Committee deems to be most effective in the circumstances.
5.6 The Management Committee shall have the power to alter this constitution but no such alteration shall take effect until the same has been confirmed at the Annual General Meeting or at any Special General Meeting convened for the purpose.
6 Assets:
6.1 There shall be no less than two or more than three Trustees who shall be chosen by the Management Committee and ratified at the next Annual General Meeting.
6.1.1 The Trustee shall hold office until death or resignation or until removed from office by a resolution of the Management Committee which shall be ratified at the next Annual General Meeting.
6.2 The Assets of the Club including real or leasehold property shall be held on trust by the Trustees of the Club for the benefit of the membership of the time being of the Club and not for their own individual benefit and be controlled by them as the Management Committee from time to time shall direct.
6.3 The Trustees shall be indemnified out of the assets of the Club against any risk in expense incurred by the pursuance of the office and shall be so insured.
6.4 Upon dissolution of the Club the assets shall be applied in discharge of the expenses of the dissolution and of all debts due by the Club to its creditors. To the extent that the assets are insufficient to meet those debts creditors who would in the case of the winding up of a company registered under the Companies Act 1985 (as amended from time to time) be preferential creditors shall be paid first followed by ordinary creditors and loans by members. In the event of an insufficiency of assets to pay any class of creditor in full such creditors shall be paid ratably in the proportion which their debt bears to the totality of the debts of the same class.
6.5 Any surplus of assets remaining after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities shall not be paid to or distributed amongst the members of the Club, but shall be given or transferred to The Children’s Hospice South West – Registered Charity 1003314.
7 Powers and Duties of Officers:
7.1 The Chair shall preside over all meetings whether of the Management Committee or of the Club. In the absence of the Chair the Vice Chair shall preside. If neither are present a Chair shall be elected by the meeting for that meeting and he/she shall have a casting or additional vote in the event of an equality of votes.
7.2 The Vice Chair shall be available and able to carry out the position of the Chair in his or her absence.
7.3 Honorary Treasurer:
7.3.1 The Honorary Treasurer shall keep accurate financial records and prepare the annual financial statement for each Annual General Meeting. At every Management Committee Meeting he/she shall be in a position to advise the Management Committee of the current financial situation.
7.3.2 The Treasurer shall ensure that the funds of the Club are invested as approved by the Committee and no financial liability shall be incurred. The income and property of the Club shall be applied solely towards promoting the Club’s objects as set forth in this constitution and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred, directly or indirectly, to Members of the Club. He/She shall maintain the Clubs Asset Register.
7.3.3 No payments should be made except under special or general authorisation of the committee except between Management Committee meetings when the Honorary Treasurer shall with the permission of the Chair have authority to spend without prior approval of the Committee such sum as shall have been decided at the previous Annual General Meeting. The spending to be ratified at the Management Committee meeting immediately following its expenditure.
7.3.4 Cheques written on behalf of the Club shall have two signatories from amongst the Chair, Honorary Treasurer or Honorary Secretary.
7.3.5 On retiring from office he/she shall hand to the successor or President all books being audited, papers and monies belonging to the club.
7.4 Honorary Secretary:
7.4.1 He/She shall conduct all correspondence and keep all minutes of meetings books and other documents as directed by the Management Committee. Minutes of meetings to be distributed to individual members of the Management Committee at least one week prior to the next meeting.
7.4.2 He/She may receive subscriptions to pass on to the Honorary Treasurer.
7.4.3 On retirement from office he/she shall hand over to his successor or to the President all books and papers appertaining to his office.
7.5 Match Secretary:
The Match Secretary shall be responsible for presenting to the Management Committee a proposed Match Calendar. He/She shall be responsible to the Management Committee for the efficient organization and running of all fixtures and events as agreed by the Management Committee. In addition he/she shall be responsible for the safe keeping of all monies accrued during the course of his or her duties and maintain accurate accounts of income and expenditure for presentation to the Honorary Treasurer.
7.6 Head Water Keeper:
The Head Water Keeper shall be responsible for the policing of waters owned, leased or managed by the Club and report to the Management Committee any breaches of regulations and rules pertaining to those waters for a disciplinary decision.
8. Financial Year:
The Financial Year of the Club shall be from 1st of January to the 31st of December in each year notwithstanding that the Club membership year shall be deemed to be from the 1st of April in one year to the 31st of March in the next year.
9. Meetings:
9.1 An Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held not later than 1st April in each year to transact the following business.
9.1.1 To receive and, if approved, to adopt a statement of the Club’s accounts to the end of the preceding financial year.
9.1.2 To consider and, if approved, sanction any duly made alteration of the rules.
9.1.3 To appoint the Officers and other members of the Management Committee.
9.1.4 To ratify the Trustees as referred to in clause 6.1.
9.1.5 To set the maximum sum referred to in clause 7.3.3.
9.1.6 To appoint an Auditor or Auditors.
9.1.7 To deal with any special matter which the Committee desires to bring before the members and to receive suggestions from the members for consideration by the Committee.
9.2 Notice convening the Annual General Meeting shall be sent to the members not less than 14 days before the date of the meeting and shall specify the matters to be dealt with.
9.3 Any items for the Agenda for the Annual General Meeting must be submitted in writing to the Honorary Secretary at least one month prior to the date of the meeting
9.4 With the exception of a proposal to amend these rules where a majority of two thirds of the votes cast must be in favour of the proposal, a simple majority shall be sufficient to pass any proposal. In the event of an equality of votes the Chair shall cast a vote to maintain the status quo.
9.5 A Special General Meeting may be convened at any time by the Management Committee and shall be convened within 6 weeks from the receipt of a requisition in writing signed by not less than 12 members (or if the number of members for the time being is less than twelve, one third of the membership at the time of the requisition) specifying the object of the meeting for any of the following reasons.
9.5.1 To consider and, if approved, sanction any duly made alteration to the rules.
9.5.2 To deal with any special matter which the Committee may desire to place before the members including the expulsion of a member.
9.5.3 To receive the resignation of the Committee or to remove any member or members thereof from office and to fill any vacancy or vacancies caused thereby.
9.5.4 To deal with any special matter which the members requiring the meeting may desire to place before the Club in general meeting.
9.5.5 Notice convening a Special General Meeting shall be sent to the members not less than 14 days before the meeting and shall specify the matters to be dealt with.
Amendment 3 - Approved and Adopted at EGM 24th Jul 2008
Rules
CLEVEDON& DISTRICT FRESHWATER ANGLING CLUB
RULES
General
1. Anglers are required to comply with the Environment Agency Bye-Laws and with the restrictions and conditions laid down for the fishing of individual stretches of water.
2. The use of freshwater fish for live or dead bait is strictly prohibited. The use of gorge tackle or use of a Gaff is prohibited on all waters.
3. Where a keepnet is permitted, this must be not less than the minimum size as follows:
Finished length 8ft (2.45M) Diameter 18 inches (500mm)
Nets should be dry when arriving to fish, as dry nets do not spread diseases.
Fish must never be handled with gloves or towels
4. Coaches, motor cars, motor cycles or pedal cycles are not allowed on the river banks or on private land adjoining the waters. Car parks to be used where provided.
5. Dogs, firearms and radios are prohibited on North Somerset Association of Anglers waters.
6. No angler shall fish within 20 yards of another except with that anglers permission.
7. The only method of fishing allowed is by fair rod and line, and anglers may use no more than two rods at any one time.
8. Anglers must not damage fences, mowing grass or other crops, banks or property near the water nor trespass on land adjoining, and are required to prevent as far as possible, such damage being done by other persons.
9. No camping or lighting of fires allowed. No boating or bathing permitted.
10. Access to the water only by approved entrance points, any angler found gaining access by breaking down fences or hedges may be expelled immediately.
11. Prohibition of lead shot.
b. The use of lead shot No 8 or smaller or one ounze or larger is allowed
12. No night fishing on any NSAA water between one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise, when all banks have to be vacated with the exception of Walrow Ponds when booked and paid for in advance.
13. Fishing is prohibited from any bridge or construction.
14. Juniors fishing the Old River Kenn and Black Ditch must be accompanied by an Adult Season Permit holder at all times.
15. The Environment Agency Rod Licence and Club Fishing Permit are to be carried at all times.
16. Matches approved by the Club are held and these sections are closed. It is the responsibility of Permit holders to ensure that they do not fished closed Waters/Sections.
Only matches approved by the Club are permitted. Any permit holder found to be fishing non-approved matches is liable to expulsion from the Club or North Somerset Association of Anglers.
17. The Management Committee shall have the Right to Fine, Suspend or Expel and withdraw the Permit of any person who infringes any Rule or any person whose conduct it considers to be injurious to the Club or its members.
Match Rules
1. All matches will be pegged down by the Match Secretary or his Assistant.
2. The draw for pegs will take place on the morning of the match
3. No competitor can change their peg/section without prior approval of the Match Secretary before the match commences. Any angler fishing at the wrong peg will be disqualified.
4. Any angler may use a caddy to help carry their tackle to their peg.
5. No competitor will have live or dead fish in their possession before the match.
6. The signal to commence and cease fishing will be given by the Match Secretary or his Assistants.
7. The duration of the match will be promulgated prior to and at the draw for pegs.
8. Before the starting signal no competitor must on any account ground bait or loose feed the swim but will be allowed to wet a line, plumb the depth and test the float, mix or wet ground bait, clear his/her fishing ground or weed or obstructions and position his/her equipment. On no account must a feeder be used prior to the starting signal. For use of lead shot see General Rule 11 above.
9. A competitor may wade provided that the water does not extend above the knees, unless they can touch the bank with their fingertips, in which case the water can extend above the knees. When platforms are used the water must not come over the anglers knees when standing on the river/lake bed.
10. Every competitor must fish within one metre either side of their designated peg.
a. On flowing water they will fish from their position in the direction of the flow as far as the next peg.
b. On still waters they may fish as far as half the distance between their peg and the peg on the other side
c. When competitors are drawn on opposite banks, the limit of the swim will be the middle line between either bank and be defined as either a. or b. above
The competitor will restrict their activities completely to these boundaries, neither their person, tackle, bait, ground bait or hooked fish may intrude into their neighbours swim. In extreme situation, e.g. snagged tackle or a snagged fish an angler must seek permission from their neighbour/neighbours before moving from their designated peg to try and remedy the situation.
11. A competitor must not cause annoyance to, or seek to interfere with another competitor.
12. A competitor shall have in use one rod or pole, one line and single hook at any one time, but may have other poles or rods and tackle assembled in a position behind them, if possible, providing such other tackle is baited.
13. Maximum length of poles, 16 metre. Floating poles are not permitted.
14. Any bait, subject to local rules of the venue appertaining at the time of the match may be used, except live or dead fish, spinning baits and artificial lures.
15. The use of electronic fish finders are forbidden.
16. No competitor shall present their baited hooks into their swim by any means other than the pole or rod to which the line is attached.
17. All feed shall be thrown in by hand, or use of one or two handed catapults, throwing sticks, swim feeders, bait droppers, bait cups and bait shuffles, but no other mechanical means of projecting feed is allowed. No bait shall be introduced with a pole or bait dropper attached to an extra pole or rod whilst continuing to fish.
18. Competitors must strike, play and land their own fish from the confines of their peg (see Rule 10). Hand lining fish is not permitted; this includes hand lining elastics and line. Also not allowed is the practice of trapping stretched elastic with the hand down the length of the pole. Fish should never be bullied like this.
19. Competitors must retain all fish in a keepnet that complies with the relevant Environment Agency Bylaws. (See General Rule 3 above)
20. All fish caught are eligible for weighing except Game Fish, Pike, Zander and Crustaceans.
21. Competitors must, if practicable, keep all fish caught alive. If for any reason competitors cannot keep fish alive, the Scales Man shall have the power to weigh in during the match and return the fish alive to the water.
22. Competitors must cease fishing at the end signal. Should a competitor still be playing a fish hooked before the finishing signal is given, they will be permitted no more than 15 minutes after time has been called to land the fish.
23. Competitors are responsible for ensuring their pegs are clear of litter and no competitor shall have their catch weighed in who has litter on the banks of their swim.
24. The correct procedure for transferring fish from keepnet to weigh net and weigh net back to the water is to be followed. Under no circumstances must the keepnet be removed from the water and fish tipped down from bottom to top. Either, swim the fish to the top of the keepnet whilst in the water gathering the lower rings as necessary or collapse the net and pull the lower rings through the top ring.
25. Each competitor will be responsible for ensuring that the Scales Person correctly records the weight of their catch on their Peg Card.
26. Any objections are to be lodged with the Match Secretary/Match Organiser no later than one hour from the end of the match.
27. Any competitor not holding or unable to produce an Environment Agency Rod Licence or the necessary Permit to fish shall be deemed to be in contravention of the rules and shall be disqualified. All pools, entry fees etc in respect of the said competitor relating to the match shall be forfeited.
28. Any competitor proved to be in contravention of these rules will be disqualified.
29. Any individual angler deemed to be bringing the sport into disrepute will be severely dealt with by the Management Committee.
Dated: 1st April 2008
