CLUB RULES
Rules of Exeter City Water Polo and Swimming Club as at March 1st 2022.
1. Name
1.1 The name of the club shall be Exeter Water Polo and Swimming Club hereinafter referred to as the ‘Club’.
2. Objects
2.1 The objects of the Club shall be teaching, development and practice of water polo and swimming for its members and shall, where appropriate, be to compete. In the furtherance of these objects:
2.1.1 The Club is committed to treating everyone equally within the context of its activity and with due respect to the differences of individuals. It shall not apply nor endorse unlawful or unjustified discrimination and shall act in compliance with the protections afforded by the Equality Act 2010.
2.1.2 The Club shall endeavour to implement the Swim England Equality Policy (as may be amended from time to time) insofar as it determines it is able to do so given the context of its activities.
2.2 The Club shall be affiliated to Swim England South West Ltd, and shall adopt and conform to the rules of Swim England South West Ltd, and to such other bodies as the Club may determine from time to time.
2.3 The business and affairs of the Club shall at all times be conducted in accordance with the Articles, Regulations and Technical Rules of Swim England (“Swim England Regulations”) and in particular:
2.3.1 All competing members shall be eligible competitors as defined in Swim England Regulations; and
2.3.2 The club shall in accordance with Swim England Regulations adopt Swim England’s Child Safeguarding Policy and Procedures (“Wavepower”) and shall recognise that the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility and that all children and young people have a right to have fun, be safe and be protected from harm.
2.3.3 Members of the Club are expected to act in accordance with Swim England Regulations and with Wavepower
2.4 By virtue of the affiliation of the club to Swim England South West Ltd, the Club and all members of the Club acknowledge that they are subject to the Regulations, rules and constitutions of:
2.4.1 Devon County ASA.
2.4.2 Swim England South West Ltd.
2.4.3 Swim England to include the Code of Ethics); and
2.4.4 British Swimming (in particular it’s Anti-Doping Rules and Judicial Code)
2.4.5 LEN, the European governing body for the aquatic sports; and
2.4.6 FINA, the world governing body of sport of swimming in all its disciplines (hereinafter defined as “Rules of a Governing Body”)
2.5 In the event that there shall be any conflict between any rule or by-law of the Club and any of the Governing Body Rules then the relevant Governing Body Rule shall prevail.
3. Membership
3.1 The total membership of the club shall not normally be limited. If however the Committee considers that there is a good reason to impose any limit from time to time then the Committee shall put forward appropriate proposals for consideration at a General Meeting of the Club. The members shall have the right to impose (and remove) from time to time any limits on total membership (or any category of membership) of the Club.
3.2 Club membership consists of four parts all or some of which may have annual fees. The four parts with applicable fees to be paid by the due date are Club, County, region and Swim England Membership.
3.3 All persons who assist in any way with the club’s activities shall become members of the club and hence of Swim England and the relevant Swim England membership fee shall be paid. Assisting with the Club’s activities shall include, but not be restricted to, voluntary instructors, teachers and coaches, Committee members, helpers, Officers, verifiers or tutors of Swim England’s educational certificates.
3.4 Paid individuals who are not members of the club must be members of a body which accepts that its members are bound by the Swim England’s Code of Ethics, Swim England Regulations relating to Wavepower those parts of the Judicial Regulations and procedures necessary for their implementation and whilst engaged in activities under the jurisdiction of Swim England shall be subject to all the constraints and privileges of the Judicial Regulations
3.5 Any person who wishes to become a member of the Club must submit a signed application to the secretary (and in the case of a junior member the application must be signed by the member’s parent or guardian). The Membership Officer shall determine election of membership.
3.6 The Secretary shall be required to give written reasons for the refusal of any application for membership to any member of the Club or to any judicial official of the Amateur Swimming Association. Any person refused membership may seek a review of this decision before a review panel appointed by the Committee (“Review Panel”) comprised of not less than three members of the Committee). The review panel shall wherever practicable, include one independent member nominated by the Swim England South West Ltd. The person refused membership shall be entitled to make representations to the Review Panel. The procedures for review shall be at the discretion of the Review Panel whose decision shall be final and binding and provided to the Committee and the applicant in writing.
3.7 The Club shall not refuse membership on the basis of a protected characteristic as defined within the Equality Act 2010.
3.8 The Club may refuse membership only for good and sufficient cause, such as conduct or character likely to bring the Club or the sport into disrepute, or, in the case of a swimmer, being unable to achieve the entry standards as laid down and provided by the Club to the applicant for membership
3.9 Membership is not transferrable. This includes the transfer of membership rights from a child under 18 years of age to a parent or guardian.
4. Subscription and Other Fees
4.1 The annual membership fees and all other fees payable to the Club shall be determined from time to time by the Committee and the Committee shall in so doing make special provision for different classes of membership as it shall determine.
4.2 The annual Swim England Region and County fees (if any) shall be due on joining the Club and thereafter on the 10th January each year.
4.3 The subscription and entrance fee (if any) shall be due on joining the Club and thereafter by the 1st of December each year. Where members do not reside in Devon and are not required by the Committee to pay subscriptions in the usual way, such members shall be required to pay an annual subscription, which shall fall due on joining the club and thereafter by the 1st December each year.
4.4 Any member whose subscription is unpaid by the date falling 30 days after the due date for payment may be suspended by the Committee (or the Club Chairman, Coach or Membership Secretary acting on behalf of the Committee) from some or all Club activities until such payment is made.
4.5 The Committee shall, from time to time, have the power to determine the annual membership subscription and other fees. This shall include the power to make such increases in the subscription as shall, where the club pays the individual Swim England membership fee to Swim England on behalf of members, be consequential upon an increase in individual Swim England membership fees. Any increase in subscriptions shall be advised to the members in writing with the reasons for any increase to be reported to the members at the next Annual General Meeting.
4.6 The Executive Officers (or the Committee) shall have the power in special circumstances to remit the whole or part of the subscription or fees, including the Swim England membership fees, to address issues of social inclusion
5. Resignation
5.1 A member wishing to resign membership of the club must give to the Secretary written or electronic notice of his resignation. A member’s resignation shall only take effect when this (Rule 5.1) has been complied with.
5.2 The member who resigns from the Club in accordance with Rule 5.1 above shall not be entitled to have any part of the subscription fee or any other fees returned.
5.3 Notwithstanding the provisions of Rule 5.1 above a member whose subscription is more than two months in arrears shall be deemed to have resigned. Where the membership of a member shall be terminated in this way he shall be informed in writing that he is no longer a member by notice handed to him or sent by post to his last known address or by electronic means.
5.4 The Swim England Membership Department and the relevant Swim England Region shall be informed should a member resign when still owing money or goods to the Club.
6. Expulsion and other Disciplinary action
6.1 The Committee shall have power to expel a member when, in its opinion, it would not be in the interests of the Club for the individual to remain a member. The Club in exercising this power shall comply with the provisions of Rules 6.3 and 6.4 below.
6.2 Upon expulsion the former member shall not be entitled to have any part of the subscription or membership fee refunded and must return any Club or external body’s trophy or trophies held forthwith. Clubs in exercising this power are required to comply with the provision of Rules 6.3 and 6.4 below.
6.3 The Club shall comply with the relevant Judicial Regulations (150-155inc) for handling Internal Club Disputes Procedures as the same may be revised from time to time. (A copy of the Procedures may be obtained from the Swim England website, Swim England Handbook or from the Office of Judicial Administration).
6.4 A member may not be expelled or (subject to Rule 6.5 below) be made the subject of any other penalty unless the panel hearing the complaint shall unanimously vote in favour of the expulsion of (or other penalty imposed upon) the member.
6.5 The Officers of the Club (or any person to whom the Committee may delegate this power) may temporarily suspend or exclude a member from particular training sessions and/or wider club activities, when in their opinion; such action is in the interests of the Club. Where such action is taken the incident or matter will thereafter be dealt with in accordance with the appropriate Judicial Regulations.
6.6 Swim England shall have the power to temporarily suspend members for a specified term in accordance with the Judicial Regulations an Child Safeguarding Regulations as the same may be revised from time to time.
7. Committee
7.1 The Committee shall consist of the Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Welfare Officer (together “the Executive Officers of the Club”) and at least 5 elected members all of whom must be members of the Club. All Executive Officers and Committee members shall have the power to exercise one vote, but must be not less than 18 years of age though the Committee may allow younger member(s) to attend their meetings without power to vote.
7.2 The Committee shall appoint a member of the Club as Welfare Officer who must be not less than 18 years of age, who should have an appropriate background and who is required to undertake appropriate training in accordance with Wavepower. The Welfare Officer shall not be related to or in a relationship to any one of the ‘Executive Officers of the Club’ or The Club’s Coachers or Teacher
7.3 The Welfare Officer will have the right to attend Committee meetings without the power to vote (unless they are a member of the committee). Attendance at meetings will be for the purpose of sharing or addressing matters relating to Welfare.
7.4 The Executive Officers and Committee members shall be proposed, seconded and elected at the Annual General Meeting. Election to an Executive Post or Committee shall be for a period of three years. The newly elected Executive Officers and Committee members will take office when the Chairman has closed the meeting. One third of those holding an Executive post and the members of the Committee shall retire annually but shall be eligible for re-election. The members so retiring being those who have been longest in office. Any casual vacancy occurring by resignation or otherwise may be filled in by the Committee but any member so chosen shall retire at the next Annual General Meeting but shall be eligible for re-election at the Meeting.
7.5 Committee meetings shall be held not less than once a quarter (save where the Committee itself shall by a simple majority resolve not to meet), and the quorum of that meeting shall be such number as shall represent not less than a simple majority of the Committee members (to include not less than two Executive Officers). The Chairman and the Secretary shall have discretion to call further meetings of the Committee if they consider it to be in the interests of the Club. The Secretary shall give all the members of the Committee not less than five days oral or written notice of a meeting. Decisions of the Committee shall be made by a simple majority (and in the event of equality of votes the Chairman (or the acting Chairman of that meeting) shall have the casting or additional vote. The Secretary, or in his absence a member of the Committee, shall take minutes.
7.6 In the event that a quorum is not present within thirty minutes of the published start time, a meeting shall stand adjourned to the time and date falling seven days after the meeting, or such other date and time as may be determined by the Chairman. If a quorum is not present at the adjourned meeting then those Committee members attending may act for the purpose of calling a Special General Meeting of the members, to which the provisions as to minimum notice contained in Rule 11.1 shall not apply.
7.7 In addition to the members so elected the committee may co-opt up to 5 further members of the Club who shall serve until the next Annual General Meeting. Co-opted members shall be entitled to vote at the meetings of the Committee and shall be counted in establishing whether a quorum is present.
7.8 The Committee may from time to time appoint from among their number such sub-committees as they may consider necessary (and to remove (in whole or in part) or vary the terms of reference of such sub-committees) and may delegate to them such of the powers and duties of the Committee as the Committee may determine. All sub-committees shall periodically report their proceedings to the Committee and shall conduct their business in accordance with the directions of the Committee.
7.9 The Committee shall be responsible for the management of the Club and shall have the sole right of appointing and determining the terms and conditions of service of employees of the Club. The Committee shall have power to enter into contracts for the purposes of the Club on behalf of all the members of the Club. The Committee shall be responsible for ensuring that the Accounts of the Club for each financial year be examined by an independent examiner to be appointed by the members in General Meeting.
7.10 The members of the Committee shall be entitled to an indemnity out of the assets of the Club for all expenses and other liabilities properly incurred by them in the management of the affairs of the Club.
7.11 The Committee shall maintain an Accident Book in which all accidents to club members at water polo/swimming related activities shall be recorded. Details of such accidents shall be reported to the insurers in accordance with the Accident/Incident Notification guidelines. The Club shall make an annual return to the Swim England Membership Department indicating whether or not an entry has been made in the prescribed online form. A copy of entries should be kept for a period of six years or in respect of an injury to a children they should be kept for six years after they attain 18 years of age.
7.12 The Committee shall have power to make regulations, create by-laws (see Rule 13.1) and to settle disputed points not otherwise provided for in this Constitution.
7.13 The Committee shall retain for a minimum period of six years all financial records relating to the club and copies of Minutes of all meetings
8. Ceremonial Positions and Honorary Members/Life Members
8.1 The Annual General Meeting of the Club, if it thinks fit, may elect a President and Vice-Presidents. A President or Vice-President need not be a member of the club on election but shall, ex officio, be an honorary member of the Club and must be included in the Clubs Annual Return of Members to Swim England.
8.2 The Committee may elect any person as an honorary member of the Club for such period as it thinks fit and they shall be entitled to all the privileges of membership except that they shall not be entitled to vote at meetings and serve as officers or on the Committee unless any such person shall have retained in addition his ordinary membership of the Club. Such honorary members must be included in the Club’s annual return of membership.
8.3 Once created by the Committee, honorary and/or Life membership categories may only be removed (notwithstanding that persons may hold these categories of membership) at an Annual General Meeting of the Club, when it shall be properly proposed in accordance with these Rules.
8.4 A minimum of 21 days in advance of the Annual General Meeting, the Committee shall write to all holders of honorary and/or Life membership effected by the above proposal drawing the proposal to his/her/their attention and inviting him/her/them to attend the Annual General Meeting.
8.5 Where the effected holder or holders of the honorary and/or Life membership do not attend or are unable to attend the Annual General Meeting, the Chairman may allow the matter (in so far as it relates to the absent person(s)) to proceed directly to vote, which shall be by show of hands.
9. Annual General Meeting
9.1 The Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held each year on a date in February, the date, time, venue or zoom, for the Annual General Meeting shall be fixed by the Committee.
9.2 The purpose of the Annual General Meeting is to transact the following business:
9.2.1 To receive the Chairman’s report of the activities of the Club during the previous year.
9.2.2 To receive and consider the accounts of the Club for the previous year and the report on the accounts of the and the Treasurer’s report as to the financial position of the Club;
9.2.3 To elect the Executive Officers and other members of the Committee;
9.2.4 To decide on the dissolution of existing honorary and/or Life membership categories;
9.2.5 To decide on any resolution this may be duly submitted in accordance with Rule 9.6.
9.3 For the Annual General Meeting the Secretary shall personally be responsible for the handing out or sending to each member at his last known address or electronic address, a written agenda giving notice of the date, time and place of the General Meeting together with the resolutions to be proposed there at least 14 days before the meeting. The Notice of the Meeting shall in addition wherever possible be displayed on the Club notice board where one exists.
9.4 Nominations for election of members to any office or for membership of the Committee shall be made in writing by the proposer and seconded to the Secretary not later than the 9th of September. The nominee shall be required to indicate in writing on the nomination form his willingness to stand for election. Notice of any resolution proposed to be moved at the Annual General Meeting shall be given in writing to the Secretary not later than 9th September.
9.5 Any member shall be entitled to put any proposal for consideration at an Annual General Meeting provided the proposal in writing is received by Secretary not later than 21 days prior to the published date of the meeting.
9.6 No less than 14 days before the published meeting date, together with the resolutions to be proposed, a list of nominees for the Committee posts and a copy of the examined accounts will be circulated to all club members.
10. Special General Meeting
10.1 A Special General Meeting may be called at any time by the Committee, at a committee meeting.
10.2 A Special General Meeting shall be called by the Committee within 28 days of receipt by the Secretary of a requisition in writing signed by not less than 7 members entitled to attend and vote at a General Meeting or (if greater) such numbers as represents (one-tenth) in number of such members stating the purposes for which the meeting is required and the resolution proposed.
10.3 For the purpose of participation in voting at a Special General Meeting of the Club, all persons shall have been a member as at the membership deadline day which is the date that the requisition for the meeting was made by the committee or members.
10.4 In the case of a Special General Meeting the Secretary shall be responsible for sending to each member at his/her last known postal or electronic address a written agenda giving notice of the date, time and venue no later than 21 days prior to the date agreed by the Committee following the requisition submitted stating the purposes for which the meeting is required and the resolutions proposed
11. Procedure at the Annual and Special General Meeting
11.1 The Committee can decide to hold the Annual or Special General Meeting virtuallty, using such electronic and video technology as it sees fit.
11.2 The quorum for the Annual and Special General Meetings shall be 7 members entitled to attend and vote at the Meeting or (if greater) such number as represents (1/10) in number of such members.
11.3 The Chairman, or in his absence a member selected by the Committee, shall take the chair. Each member present shall have one vote and resolutions shall be passed by a simple majority. In the event of an equality of votes the Chairman shall have a casting or additional vote.
11.4 Only paid up members who have reached their 16th birthday shall be entitled to be heard and to vote on all matters. (Members who have not reached their 16th birthday shall be entitled to be heard and vote only on those matters determined by the Chairman as matters concerning juniors, such as the election of club captains.
11.5 The Secretary, or in his absence a member of the Committee, shall take minutes at the Annual and Special General Meetings.
11.6 The Chairman shall at all General Meetings have unlimited authority upon every question of order and shall be, for the purpose of such meeting, the sole interpreter of the Rules of the Club.
12. Alteration of the Rules and other Resolutions
12.1 The rules may be altered by resolution at an Annual or Special General Meeting provided that the resolution is carried by a majority of at least 2/3 of members present and entitled to vote at the General Meeting. No amendment(s) to the Rules shall become effective until such amendment(s) shall have been submitted to and validated by such person as is authorised to do so by the Swim England South West Ltd.
12.2 Any member shall be entitled to put any proposal for consideration at any General Meeting provided the proposal in writing shall have been handed to or posted to the Secretary of the Club so as to be received by him not later than 9th September in the case of the Annual General Meeting or, in the case of a Special General Meeting, 18 days before the date of the meeting and thereafter the Secretary shall supply a copy of the proposal of the resolution to the members in the manner provided in Rule 9.5.
13. By- Laws
13.1 The Committee shall have power to make, repeal and amend such by-laws as they may from time to time consider necessary for the well being of the Club which by-laws, repeals and amendments shall have effect until set aside by the Committee or at a General Meeting.
14. Finance
14.1 All monies payable to the Club shall be received by the Treasurer and deposited in a bank account in the name of the Club. Any monies not required for immediate use may be invested as the Committee in its discretion think fit.
14.2 The income and property of the Club shall be applied only in furtherance of the objects of the Club and no part thereof shall be paid by way of bonus, dividend or profit to any members of the Club, (save as set out in Rule 17.3).
14.3 The Committee shall have power to authorise the payment of remuneration and expenses to any officers, member or employee of the Club and to any other person or persons for services rendered to the Club.
14.4 The Treasurer in such manner shall record the financial transactions of the Club as the Committee thinks fit.
14.5 The financial year of the Club shall be the period commencing on 1st October and ending on 30th September with the opening date a day later). Any change to the financial year shall require the approval of the members in a General Meeting.
15. Borrowing
15.1 The Committee may borrow money on behalf of the Club for the purposes of the Club from time to time at their own discretion up to such limits on borrowing as may be laid down from time to time by the General Meeting for the general upkeep of the Club or with the (prior) approval of a General Meeting for any other expenditure, additions or improvements.
15.1 When so borrowing the Committee shall have power to raise in any way any sum or sums of money and to raise and secure the repayment of any sum or sums of money in such manner or on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit, and in particular by mortgage of or charge upon or by the issues of debentures charged upon all or any part of the property of the Club.
15.3 The Committee shall have no power to pledge the personal liability of any member of the club for the repayment of any sums so borrowed.
16. Property
16.1 The property of the club, other than cash at the bank, shall be vested in not less than two but not more than four Custodians. They shall deal with the property as directed by resolution of the Committee and entry in the minute book shall be conclusive evidence of such a resolution.
16.1 The Custodians shall be elected at a General Meeting of the Club and shall hold office until death or resignation unless removed by a resolution passed at a General Meeting.
16.2 The Custodians shall be entitled to an indemnity out of the property of the Club for all expenses and other liabilities properly incurred by them in the discharge of their duties.
17. Dissolution
17.1 A resolution to dissolve the Club shall only by proposed at a General Meeting and shall be carried by a majority of at least 75% of the members present and entitled to vote. A specific date for the dissolution shall be included in the resolution.
17.1 The dissolution shall take effect from the date specified in the resolution and the members of the Committee shall be responsible for the winding-up of the assets and liabilities of the Club.
17.2 Any property remaining after the discharge of the debts and liabilities of the Club shall be given to a Waterpolo Club based elsewhere in the South west of England or in the absence thereof any other Waterpolo Club in the UK as nominated by the last Committee.
18. Acknowledgement
18.1 The members acknowledge that these Rules constitute a legally binding contract to regulate the relationship of the members with each other and the Club.
18.2 This constitution must be readily available to all club members. This may be via posting on the Club website or shared with members annually at the time of membership renewal.
18.3 The following statement must appear on Club membership forms and is to be signed by the member. It must also be countersigned by the parent, or a person having parental responsibility for the member, if under 18 years of age.
“I acknowledge receipt of the rules of Exeter City Water Polo and Swimming Club and confirm my understanding and acceptance that such rules (as amended from time to time) shall govern my membership of the Club. I further acknowledge and accept the responsibilities of membership upon members as set out in these rules.”
