Constitution

Thornbury Rambling Club

(Affiliated to The Ramblers)

CONSTITUTION

1. Name

The name of the organisation shall be “The Thornbury Rambling Club”.

2. Objects

The objects of the Club shall be (i) To produce a regular walking programme for its members. (ii) To bring enjoyment to its members through an appreciation of the countryside. (iii) To endeavour to preserve footpaths and means of access to the countryside.

3. Subscription

The annual subscriptions shall be determined at the Annual General Meeting and will be due on the 1 November each year.

4. Committee and Officers

(i) The affairs of the Club shall be overseen by a committee of paid-up members.

(ii) The Committee shall consist of: (1) Elected officers: Chair Treasurer Secretary Walks Organiser and Footpath Officer (combined role) (2) Co-opted members: Newsletter Editor A social activity representative

(iii) The Committee may co-opt to fill a vacancy not filled at the AGM and may co-opt to fill vacancies occurring between AGMs. The members or the Committee may also co-opt up to one other Club member to the Committee at any time for any purpose.

(iv) All Club Officers and co-opted committee members shall be appointed until the end of the next AGM, and shall be eligible for re-election except where they will exceed the time-limits for holding office.

(v) Members may ordinarily only hold a Club Officer role for a maximum of three years in succession, after which time they cannot be a member of the Committee for a period of at least one year. At the AGM, the members may waive this rule for exceptional reasons to permit an Officer to remain in the same or a different Committee role for a fourth year. After serving for a fourth additional year, the member must stand down from the Committee for at least one year.

(vi) Co-opted members, while retiring from the Committee at every AGM, may retain their position on the Committee indefinitely if the members continue to support their nomination each year. A co-opted member shall be eligible to stand for election as an officer. (

vii) Members may nominate themselves or other members for a Committee position ahead of an AGM in writing to the Secretary, or otherwise make a nomination at the meeting. All nominations are required to be seconded by two other members.

(viii) The Chair has the casting vote.

(ix) The Committee shall set up such sub-committees it deems necessary. All sub-committees shall be ultimately responsible to the main Committee and send a non-voting representative to committee meetings. A representative from the main Committee shall also be invited to attend sub-committee meetings.

5. Annual General Meeting

In the last quarter of each year an Annual General Meeting shall be convened. All members of the Club shall be entitled to attend and vote. This constitution may be amended at any Annual General Meeting (or Extraordinary General Meeting should one be called) in accordance with the approval of at least a two-thirds majority of members present and voting.

6. Quorums

(i) A quorum at a Committee meeting shall be a majority of Committee members. (ii) A quorum at an AGM or EGM shall be 25% of all TRC members.

7. Finance and accounts

(i) All monies raised by and on behalf of the Club shall be applied in furtherance of the objects of the Club, which may include a donation to suitable Charities if funds permit. All donations are subject to the approval of the Committee.

(ii) The Treasurer shall maintain proper financial accounts and keep the Committee informed as to the position thereof.

(iii) A person shall be appointed to examine, vouch and verify the books and financial records of the Club.

(iv) The Club shall insure its members and Committee against all public and other legal liability arising from the activities of the Club.

8. Winding up

(i) The Club may only be wound up by the agreement of at least 70% of those members attending an Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting. Notice of the meeting must be promulgated and circulated to all members at least two weeks prior to the date of the meeting.

(ii) In the event of the Club being wound up in a solvent condition any monies held or raised from assets should be returned to the current members on a pro rata basis.

(iii) In the event of the Club being wound up in an insolvent condition, the current members would be responsible for paying sufficient pro rata to redeem the Club’s Liabilities.

APPROVED 9 JANUARY 2022