Callan united club constitution proposals

PROPOSAL DISSOLUTION AND ADOPTING OF CALLAN UNITED AFC CONSTITUTIONS INVITE TO MEMBERS FOR FEEDBACK

Dear Callan United Club Members, Parents and Supporters, Following the clubs 2015 AGM, The following publications have been proposed for dissolution and adoption respectively. This is for reasons of club governance best practice in line with FAI and NGB recommendations.

One month’s consultation will take place from todays date. Members are invited to examine both documents and provide feedback, amendments, corrections and ommisions to callanunitedafc@gmail.com, not later than 3rd December 2015, after which the amended constitution will be adopted as per your recommendations following the committee’s approval.

Please refer to Old/New Sections and Subsections when making reference to a particular section which you may have issue with.

Yours in Sport,

Dom Griffin, Callan United Chairman.

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Current Callan United Club Constitution – Proposed dissolution of the following document 1. Any person becoming a member of Callan United shall agree to abide by the club rules 2. Membership subscription to be set each year at AGM enforced from August 1 st each year 3. A reduced subscription must always be set for the unwaged and OAPs 4. No player is allowed start a competitive game without subscription paid 5. Adequete public liability insurance must be purchased before the start of each season 6. All players playing football for Callan United do so at their own risk 7. Callan United or its officers are not responsible for for the loss of earnings or damages incurred while playing for the club 8. Any Callan united player injured while representing the club will have their hospital appointment and first doctors bill paid for only 9. When members of Callan United are found to be bringing the club into disrepute, the following sanctions can be imposed by the committee i. Expulsion from the club for life ii. Suspension from the club for a period of time to be decided by the committee iii. An appropriate fine not exceeding £50.00 (Pounds) iv. In the case of a schoolboy bringing the club into disrepute their parents are to be informed immediately and the committee will decided to 1. Reprimand 2. Expell 3. Suspend 10. Any damage maliciously caused to any property belonging to Callan United or surrounding property or on transport used by Callan United will result in expulsion from the club.

11. Any players who do not train or play football for Callan within the rules of the game will be sanctioned in the first instance by the manager of the team. If a manager feels he cannot bring an adequate sanction the club will decide what sanction to take 12. Before the start of each season, a detailed inventory is to be carried out on all club property by the club secretary 13. All managers in possession of club property, (footballs, kits, nets) are responsible for it and if any of this equioment is lost through negligence, the manager shall be helf responsible 14. Any manager playing ineligible players on his team will be found to be bringing the club into disrepute and be sanctioned

15. All matches friendlies or competitive must be sanctioned with the appropriate secretary as per K&DL rules 16. All club trips must be cleared by the club secretary as per K&DL rules 17. All fundraisers must be cleared by the committee and managed by the club secretary 18. Any club officer who resigns during his or her term for reasons other than ill health will be ineligible to seek reappointment for at least 3 years 19. In the event of any officer being removed form his office by the committee will be ineligible to seek reappointment for at least 5 years 20. In the event of club members requiring a club meetinga qourum of seven will be needed be needed to call the same 21. Only club chairman or secretary can call an AGM or EGM and all members notified 7 days in advance 22. Each year, the AGM will appoint a. Chairman b. Secretary c. Treasurer d. PRO e. Schoolboy Secretary f.

Treasuer

g. Development Treasurer h. And six other committee members 23. Nominated Trustees of Callan United may borrow ÂŁ25000 (pounds) for club development 24. The club trustees are allowed to borrow from Bank Of Ireland, Green Street, Callan.

25. Callan United dressing rooms and pitches are to be maintained by a groundsman. This person controls the use of the pitches. If pitches are waterlogged, they are deemed unplayable as per K&DL rules.

26. From the 1st August 1997, any person becoming a member of Callan United will be issued with a membership card on full receipt of their membership.

Proposed Callan United Club Constitution which will replace the previous document 1. NAME The Club shall be called Callan United AFC. (Hereinafter referred to as the Club) and it shall seek affiliation to and be bound by the rules of the Football Association of Ireland and the Kilkenny and District Football League (K&DL).

2. OBJECTS i. The object of the Club shall be to arrange football matches and training for each of the playing members of the Club. ii. The Club is committed to encouraging the highest ethical standards. All individuals involved in the Club should conduct themselves with integrity, transparency, accountability and in a fair and equitable manner in line with the direction set out in the clubs Code of Ethics. iii. The Clubs colours are red and black hoops. iv. The club premises are situated at The Fair Green, Callan in the county of Kilkenny 3. RULES AND REGULATIONS i. The Club shall have the status of an Affiliated Member Club of The Football Association of Ireland. ii. The Club will abide by The Football Association of Ireland’s Child Protection Policies and Procedures, Codes of Conduct and the Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discrimination Policy. iii. The Club will abide by The K&DL policies and procedures. In the event where an issue cannot be resolved by the club constitution, the K&DL constitution, the Leinster FA constitution and subsequently the FAI Constitution will be enacted.

4. MEMBERSHIP i. The membership shall consist of the following categories: Player Member, Juvenile Player Member, Committee Member, Non-Player Member, Honorary Member, Life Member.

ii. Members in each category shall pay Membership fees as fixed at each Annual General Meeting.

The Club in General Meeting may also require Members to contribute to the funds of the Club by way of a special levy. Membership of the club is open to any person who subscribes to the rules and ideals of the club and who on application is admitted to membership by a simple majority vote of the clubs general committee and who shall pay. iii. All members joining the Club shall be deemed to accept the terms of this Constitution and any Bye-laws from time to time adopted by the Club. They will also be required to conduct themselves in accordance with the Club's ethical framework and the bye-laws as to discipline set out therein. iv. Any person seeking to join the Club may be required to submit an application in writing to the Executive Committee. v. Members shall be admitted by the Executive Committee. Membership is open to all and no application for membership will be refused on other than reasonable grounds. There will be no discrimination on grounds of race, occupation or gender. vi. The Treasurer shall keep a Membership Register. In the event of a member’s resignation or expulsion, his or her name shall be removed from the Membership Register. vii. Honorary Membership of the club may be conferred at the discretion of the general committee. viii. If any member willfully refuses or neglects to comply with the rules or bye-laws of the club or shall be guilty of any conduct unworthy of a member of the club as the case may be, or detrimental to or likely to endanger the welfare of the good order of the club, such a member may be liable to expulsion by a resolution of the general committee, provide that at least one week before the meeting at which such resolution is passed he or she shall have had notice thereof and of the intended resolution of his or her expulsion have had an opportunity of giving orally or in writing an explanation of defence he or she shall think fit. ix. Any member wishing to resign membership shall give notice in writing to the secretary. Any member resigning from the club cannot be elected to the committee for 3 years after that date.

Should a member be expelled, they cannot be elected to the committee for 5 years from that date. x. The general committee shall have the power at its discretion to post in the premises of the club a list of members on or after the 1st December in each year, specifying those whose subscriptions for the current year have been paid 5. THE COMMITTEE i. The Club Committee shall consist of the following Club Officers: Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary (Minutes Secretary), plus up to 5 other members, elected at an Annual General Meeting. The Officers of the Club who shall be honorary (non-paid) shall be the Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary. All Committee members must be members of the Club. ii. Committee Members shall hold office from the date of appointment until the next Annual General Meeting unless otherwise resolved at a Special General Meeting. One person may hold no more than two positions of Club Officer at any time. iii. The Club Committee shall be responsible for the management of all the affairs of the Club. iv. Decisions of the Club Committee shall be made by a simple majority of those attending the Club Committee meeting. The Chairperson of the Club Committee meeting shall have a casting vote in the event of a tie. v. Meetings of the Club Committee shall be chaired by the Chairperson or in their absence the Secretary. vi. The quorum for the transaction of business of the Club Committee shall be half of the elected committee plus one. vii. Decisions of the Club Committee of meetings shall be entered into the Minute Book of the Club to be maintained by the Club Secretary. viii. Any member of the Club Committee may call a meeting of the Club Committee by giving not less than 4 days’ notice to all members of the Club Committee. The Club Committee shall hold not less than four meetings a year.

ix. An outgoing member of the Club Committee may be re-elected. Any vacancy on the Club Committee which arises between Annual General Meetings shall be filled by a member proposed by one and seconded by another of the remaining Club Committee members and approved by a simple majority of the remaining Club Committee members. x. The Club Committee shall have the power to decide all questions and disputes arising in respect of any issue concerning the Club Rules.

6. GENERAL MEETINGS i. The Club shall hold an Annual General Meeting not later than the end of the month of July to: • Approve the minutes of the previous year’s AGM. • Receive reports from the Chairperson and Secretary.

• Receive a report from the Treasurer and approve the Annual Accounts.

• Dissolve current and elect incoming Executive Committee.

• Appointment of Trustees • Appoint someone responsible for certifying the Club’s accounts.

• Fix the subscription for the ensuing year.

• Consider changes to the Constitution.

• Review and consider any Bye-laws.

• Deal with other relevant business. iia. Nominations for election of members as Club Officers shall be made in writing by the proposer, who must be an existing member of the Club, to the Club Secretary not less than 14 days before the AGM. Notice of any resolution to be proposed at the AGM shall be given in writing to the Club Secretary not less than 21 days before the Meeting. iib. In the event that nominations are not received, in a case where an Officers position is vacant, nominations can be taken from the floor. Should a position remain vacant without nomination, an officer can be elected at the first meeting of the new committee iii. A Special General Meeting (SGM) may be called at any time by the majority of the Committee.

10% of the Club Members may also call such a meeting. The meeting must take place within 21 days of the Secretary receiving notice of the request. Business at an SGM may be any business that may be transacted at an AGM. iv. The Secretary shall attempt to send to each member at their last known postal address, email address or phone, notice of the date of a General Meeting together with the resolutions to be proposed at least 14 days before the Meeting. Local Newspapers notes and social media will be deemed acceptable should contact information be unavailable. v. The quorum for a General Meeting shall be seven. vi. The Chairman, or in their absence a member selected by the Club 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 Chairperson of the Meeting shall have a casting vote. vii. The Club Secretary, or in their absence a member of the Club Committee, shall enter Minutes of General Meetings into the Minute Book of the Club. viii. Juvenile members may be represented by one nominated parent or guardian for voting purposes. They will be entitled to one full vote. ix. Life members will be permitted to attend but not vote.

7. FINANCE AND ACCOUNTS i. The financial year shall run from July 1st to 30th June each year. ii. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the preparation of Annual Accounts of the Club. iii. The Accounts shall be certified by an appropriate independent person elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. (Ensure that the AGM date leaves sufficient time for certification of the Accounts An independent Auditor is essential to protect the interests of the Club’s members. The

Auditor should be a reasonably independent person and may be a Club member with a knowledge of accountancy and who is not a member of the Executive Committee. iv. All cheques drawn against the Club’s funds shall be signed by the Treasurer and one of two other nominated office-bearers. v. All members of the Club shall be jointly responsible for the financial liabilities of the Club with the exception of junior members.

8. CLUB TEAMS i. At its first meeting following each AGM, the Club Committee shall appoint a Club member to be responsible for each of the Club’s football teams. The appointed members shall be responsible for managing the affairs of the team. ii. The appointed members shall present to the Club Committee at its last meeting prior to an AGM a written report on the activities of the team. iii. The general committee shall have the power to appoint the selectors of the various teams representing the club and the appointment and number of the selectors shall solely be at the discretion of the general committee. iv The general committee shall have the power to appoint the Vice captains of the various teams representing the club. v The general committee shall have the power to appoint any sub committee as it sees fit and also any other officers of the club as it thinks fit including the Public Relations Officer.

9. DISSOLUTION i. The Club is a non-profit making organisation. All profits and surpluses will be used to maintain or improve or develop the Club's facilities or to carry out the objects of the Association to which it is affiliated. No profit or surplus will be distributed other than to another non-profit making body on a winding-up or dissolution of the Club. ii. If, upon the winding up or dissolution of the Club there remains after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities any property whatsoever, the same shall be transferred to some other organisation or organisations having objects similar to the objects of the Club, such organisation or organisations to be determined by the members of the Club by Resolution passed at a General meeting or in the absence of such a resolution (or that the extent to which it cannot be given effect) to the Football Association of Ireland 10. TRUSTEES i. A minimum of three Trustees shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting. ii. Trustees shall sign a declaration of Trust. iii. All the real and leasehold property of the club shall be bested in the Trustees who shall have custody of all documents relating thereto. iv. The Trustees shall have the following powers and duties, viz.

(1) to purchase, lease or otherwise acquire land or buildings, (2) to hold same and to develop them in the interests of the Club, (3) to raise funds by way of mortgage, loan or debentures, (4) to manage and control the finances of the Club, (5) if and when the Trustees consider it desirable to incorporate the Club as a limited Company under the Companies Act. (6) to lease the property of the Club or any part thereof for any period not exceeding one year if and when they are directed to do so by a resolution of the Committee of which resolution an entry in the Minute Book of the Committee shall be sufficient evidence.

(7) to sell the property of the Club or any part thereof if and when they are directed so to do by a resolution of the Club passed at a General Meeting of which resolution an entry in the Club’s Minute Book shall be sufficient evidence. v. A sum equivalent to one year’s gross rent, rates and interest may be retained on deposit in the names of the Trustees as long as the Trustees shall continue to act. This fund is to be a guarantee fund for the payment of rent, rates and interest. vi. No order or contract shall be valid or binding on the Club unless it is sanctioned by the Trustees and all inquiries for tenders are to have this rule endorsed hereon. Provided always that the Committee shall have power to order goods or make contracts not exceeding in value €1,000 or such greater sum as the Trustees may from time to time authorise, without first getting the prior consent of the Trustees. vii The Trustees shall be a sub-committee and shall meet at least once a year. Two Trustees shall be a quorum. viii. Should any Trustee be absent from the Club through illness, or any other reason, such Trustee may appoint, in writing, an Ordinary member of the Club to act in his/her absence, and such proxy shall, during the period of his/her appointment, be considered as a member of the Committee. ix.The current Tresurer may not act in the role of Trustee to avoid conflict of interest. Any trustee may be asked to resign should any public or private conflict of interest be proven in carrying out their duties. ix Each Trustee shall be indemnified against all expenses and liability incurred by him/her, by reason of his/her position as Trustee by the members for the time being of the Club.

Signed Print Name

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Position _________________________ _________________________ Date Accepted on behalf of the Club _____________

Club Non-Discrimination & Equality Policy The aim of this policy is to ensure that everyone is treated fairly and with respect and that Callan United AFC is equally accessible to all. Callan United AFC is responsible for setting standards and values to apply throughout the club at every level. Football belongs to, and should be enjoyed by, anyone who wants to participate in it.

Our commitment is to confront and eliminate discrimination by reason of gender, sexual orientation, marital status, ‘race’, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or belief, ability or disability and to encourage equal opportunities.

This policy is fully supported by the club officers who are responsible for the implementation of this policy. Callan United AFC, in all its activities, will not discriminate, or in any way treat anyone less favourably, on grounds of gender, sexual orientation, marital status, ‘race’, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or belief, ability or disability. This means that Callan United AFCwill ensure that it treats people fairly and with respect and that it will provide access and opportunity for all members of the community to take part in, and enjoy, its activities.

Callan United AFC will not tolerate harassment, bullying, abuse or victimisation of an individual, which for the purposes of this policy and the actions and sanctions applicable is regarded as discrimination. This includes sexual or ethnicity (‘racial’) based harassment or other discriminatory behaviour, whether physical or verbal. Callan United AFCwill work to ensure that such behaviour is met with appropriate action in whatever context it occurs.

Callan United AFC is committed to taking positive action where inequalities exist, and to the development of a programme of ongoing training and awareness-raising events and activities in order to promote the eradication of discrimination and promote equality in football.

Callan United AFC is committed to a policy of equal treatment of all members and requires all members to abide by and adhere to the policies and the requirements of the relevant legislation: Equal Status Act, 2000-2004; Employment Equality Act, 1998 and 2004; Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act, 1989 as well as any amendments to these acts and any new legislation Callan United AFC commits itself to the immediate investigation of any claims, when it is brought to its attention, of discrimination on the above grounds and where such is found to be the case, a requirement that the practice stop and sanctions imposed as appropriate. (Further information on the FAI

Anti Discrimination Rules 70 and 91 can be found in the FAI rule book)