1860 Rifle Club CONSTITUTION

1.       The registered title of this club shall be The 1860 Rifle Club.

2.       The object of the club shall be to encourage skill in rifle shooting by providing instruction and practice in the use of rifles.

3.       Affiliations: The club shall be affiliated to such bodies as the management team and members deem necessary and appropriate.

4.     The management team (‘officers') of the club shall be vested in a Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer[AE1]  and any other positions deemed necessary for the efficient running of the club

5.       The officers shall have the power to make any rules necessary to the good running of the club. No such rules shall contravene any part of this constitution. All rules formulated by the officers shall be published and issued to all club members.

6.       No business shall be transacted by a single officer.

7.       A quorum of the management shall consist of no less than two club officers.

8.       The club officers shall be elected from the members of the club at an A.G.M.

9.       No individual shall hold more than one office at the club, except under conditions of extreme emergency. Under such conditions it would be acceptable for an individual to hold two offices, but such dual holdings shall only be permitted until a suitable individual is elected to that position.

10.   The management shall meet as and when necessary to conduct affairs of the club.

11.   Formal meetings must be held at least every six months, and minutes taken as a record of events

12.   The officers shall all keep their positions permanently unless opposed at an AGM or the resignation from a role is submitted. In the event of this occurring, a vote of members will take place.

13.   The members shall have the power to form a sub-committee as may be desired. Such sub-committees shall report their actions and conclusions promptly and fully to the committee. The Chairman, Secretary and treasurer shall be ex-officio members of all sub-committees with full voting powers. The committee shall have the power to co-opt full members, in good standing, onto the committee if beneficial to the club.[AE2] 

14.   Application for membership of "The 1860 Rifle Club' shall be made on a membership application form.  All applicants shall come before club officers and shall be approved or rejected at the discretion of the officers in conjunction with Range Safety Officers, all members are encouraged to pass comment to the club officers.

15.   Categories of membership.

15.1.                     FULL MEMBERSHIP shall be available to those suitable who hold an FAC and who are aged EIGHTEEN and above. Full members of the club are entitled to voting powers in the conduct of the affairs of the club and are eligible for election to the committee and to become officers of the club.

15.2.                     YOUNG MEMBERSHIP (Fourteen to Eighteen) shall be available, such members have no voting powers in the conduct of the club and are ineligible for election to an officer role until the age of eighteen, when at such time full membership will be offered and full membership fees will be required.

15.3.                     ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP shall be available to suitable persons who wish to be associated with "The 1860 Rifle Club' and to shoot on occasions with the club but who do not propose to attend formal shoots on an official basis.  Such members shall pay such annual subscription and fees as shall be determined by the committee and shall have no voting powers in the affairs of the conduct of the club nor shall they be eligible for election. The frequency of attendance at formal shoots that qualifies a member to be an associate member shall be determined at the discretion of the officers.

15.4.                     PROBATIONARY MEMBERSHIP Applicants for any grade of membership in the 1860 Rifle Club are required to undertake a probationary term.  This minimum term shall be no less than 3 attendances in a 5-month period, this term maybe waived by the club officers for soeone who is already a full member of another Home Office approved club. The applicant must be known and referred by a current member of no less than 12 months membership.

16.   The annual subscription fee and/or any other fees relating to membership shall be decided each year at the AGM following a recommendation by the treasurer. The annual membership renewal shall be paid before the 31st of November allowing time for NRA registration and paperwork to be completed.

*If a member has paid for the coming year but fails to meet minimum visits for the prior year their fees shall be refunded, and membership terminated.

17.   Members with outstanding fees may not enter any club competition or have a vote during any club meeting.

Members of the club whose annual fees are not up to date shall cease to exercise the privileges of membership and their name erased from the club records.

18.   All monies received on behalf of the club shall be paid into the club bank account, withdrawals shall be signed with two signatures; those persons authorised being the Chairperson, Treasurer & Secretary.

19.   The records of receipts and expenditure of the club monies shall be audited each year by the Treasurer.  They shall examine the club’s financial records, together with bills and vouchers etc. and shall issue a true statement on the results of those examinations at the relevant AGM.

20.   The members of the club shall, individually and collectively indemnify in equal shares the Officers of the club against all actions, claims, costs and demands which may be against them while they are acting in their official duties or acting on behalf of the club.

21.   Formal records shall be kept by the Secretary of all resolutions of general meetings, all minutes of the club meetings shall be submitted for a formal approval by the club chairperson at the earliest opportunity, usually at the subsequent meeting, before they may be considered to form a part of the formal records of the club.

22.   Simple majority shall decide voting on any matter on a show of hands. Each member apart from the chairperson shall have only one vote. The chairperson shall not have a vote apart from in the case of equal numbers of votes being cast for and against the matter in question.

23.   The Chairperson shall preside over each meeting. If at any duly constituted meeting the chairperson is not present fifteen minutes from meeting opening the members present will select a chairman from their midst.

24.   SHOOTING PRACTICE

Shall be on such occasions as is decided, times and dates being notified to members.

25.   Entrance to any club competitions is optional but is restricted to members (of all grades). Probationary members are not entitled to enter formal club competitions.

26.   General Meetings:

26.1.                An AGM shall be held annually. At this meeting the club officers will make their reports. [GU7] [cc8]  The secretary will communicate the time and location giving notice of at least 21 days, requesting from the members any matters for inclusion on the AGM agenda, of details of any topics that they may wish to discuss.

Any topics submitted by members for discussion must bear the signature of the proposing member Such notices may be served upon the membership either personally electronically or by postal services utilising the last known address of each club member as shown in the records. Notices sent by post shall be deemed to have been served 48hrs after the date of posting.

26.2.                SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING The Secretary shall convene a special general meeting by giving at least 21 days’ notice, in writing, to all members of the club of the date, time and place and the subjects for discussion once he has received either:

a)       Instructions from the officers.

b)      A written request from the membership stating the business for discussion and signed not less than eight members in good standing.

c)       A special meeting shall not transact any business other than that for which it was convened.

d)      Such notices may be served electronically, personally or by postal means using the last known address of each member as shown in club records.

27.   VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE

A vote of no confidence in the management of the club shall be treated as a matter for a special general meeting. Such a meeting may be convened as detailed above.

28.   PROXY VOTES.

Any member entitled to a vote at a general meeting may appoint a proxy vote on their behalf by notifying the secretary in writing within at least seven days prior to the commencement of the meeting and stating the name of their proxy.

29.   VOTING AT GENERAL MEETINGS.

This is done by a show of hands; each member is entitled to a vote, plus proxy votes. The chairman shall be entitled to a casting vote, as described earlier.

30.   AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.

The constitution of the club may only be amended by the authority of a special general meeting. Such authority consists of a minimum of 75% of those present and entitled to vote, plus eligible proxy votes received being in favour of the proposed amendments. Any amendments approved by the SGM shall be subject to confirmation (or rejection) by a simple majority of the members present and entitled to vote at a subsequent SGM convened specially for this purpose, not less than one calendar month before and not more than six calendar months after the afore said meeting.

31.   DISSOLUTION OF THE CLUB.

If at any general meeting of the club, a resolution for the dissolution of the club should be passed by a simple majority of the members present, and entitled to vote, and such a resolution shall be confirmed by not less than two thirds of the members present (that are entitled to vote) at an SGM held no less than one calendar month before and no more than six calendar months thereafter, then the whole of the property and assets of the club shall be distributed equally amongst members and officers, or donated to charities. In this clause the word 'member' refers to fully paid members aged eighteen years and over but does not include those who have joined during the period of dissolution.

32.   INSURANCE.

In accordance with the Ministry of Defence requirements governing the use of MOD/TA or VR ranges by civilian clubs, the club shall affect insurance approved by the bodies or other authority administering the Altcar Rifle Ranges and such other ranges as the club may use. 

33.   This constitution shall be printed, and a copy shall be issued to each member of the club. Each member, on receiving their copy of the constitution, shall sign a declaration to the effect that they have read and fully understood the constitution and will, endeavour to comply with it. The signed declaration shall be returned to the Secretary and shall be retained with '1860 Rifle Club' records.