Constitution

CONSTITUTION OF THE YEOVIL AND SHERBORNE ANGLING ASSOCIATION

 

The Association shall be known as the Yeovil and Sherborne Angling Association. 

 

1. PURPOSE
   1. To provide freshwater angling for trout and coarse fish within the local area.  To obtain fishing rights where possible in local rivers and still waters and where it is not possible to obtain leases for such fishing to negotiate for rented or other permission for members to fish.
   2. It shall be the purpose of the Association wherever possible to maintain existing fish stocks or subject to the landowners’ consent and Environment Agency byelaws to improve them by restocking.
2. MEMBERSHIP
   1. Membership of the Association shall be open to members of the public and shall be secured by payment of an annual subscription.
   2. The rates of subscription shall be decided at the AGM on the recommendation of the committee.
   3. Membership of the Association does not confer the right to fish in Sherborne Lake for which membership of the Lake Section is necessary.
   4. All members must hold the appropriate Rod Fishing Licence available online. Rod Fishing Licence – England and Wales (www.gov.uk)
   5. Life Membership may be conferred upon members by the Annual General Meeting on recommendation by the Committee, where it is considered that a particular member has performed an exceptional service to, or on behalf of the Association.  The number of life members shall not exceed 10 at any one time.
   6. There shall be no restriction on members belonging to other angling bodies.
   7. Junior membership to be available to those under the age of 16 years.
   8. Intermediate membership to be available to those between 16 – 18 years.
   9. Adult membership to be available to those over the age of 18 years.
   10. The Committee reserves the right to refuse membership.
   11. Where a member is in breach of the Association Rules the matter shall be considered by the Committee who shall decide whether or not disciplinary action should be taken.  The defaulting member shall be invited to attend any disciplinary hearing and may be represented.  Where a member fails to appear before the Committee any decision shall be communicated to the member within 7 days of the hearing.
   12. Members shall have the right to appeal to the AGM, Notice of Appeal to be lodged three weeks prior to the date of the AGM.
3. OFFICIALS
   1. The association officials shall comprise:
      1. President
      2. Chairperson
      3. Vice Chairperson
      4. Secretary
      5. Association Waters Secretary
      6. Membership Secretary
      7. Treasurer
      8. Minutes Secretary
      9. Match Secretaries
      10. Club Water Bailiffs
      11. All officials shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting and must have been a member of the club for a minimum of 3 years.
   2. The office of President shall normally extend for the lifetime of the person elected.
4. FUNCTIONS
   1. President – They are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting if they wish and if in attendance, they will be called upon to take the Chair when it is vacated by the retiring Chairperson.
   2. Chairperson – It is the duty of the Chairperson to preside over all meetings.  The Chairperson is responsible for ensuring the fair hearing of all matters to be considered, to formally open the meeting at the outset and to formally announce its closure on completion.  In the event of a tied vote the Chairperson will cast the deciding vote. He/she will also endeavour to foster a good relationship with landowners and tenants who lease or rent waters to the Association.  He/she is responsible at committee meetings for presenting and signing the minutes of the previous meeting.
   3. Vice Chairman – In the absence of the Chairperson from a meeting or function the Vice Chairperson shall be called upon to perform the duties normally performed by the Chairperson.  He/she will also support the Chairperson in the performance of his/her duties.
   4. Secretary – It is his/her duty to receive and deal with all correspondence addressed to the Association. and developing good working relations with the Sherborne Castle Estates regarding the fishing access and rights to Sherborne Lake. He/she is to be responsible for arranging meetings ensuring that interested parties are aware of the date, time and place of meetings and producing an Agenda upon which the conduct of the meeting is to be based. He /She will be responsible for the filing and safe keeping of all correspondence, communications and documents appertaining to the management and affairs of the Association.  Such correspondence etc., to be kept for a period of 10 years. The Secretary may hold a cash float, as in agreement with the committee, this is to cover the incidental costs of his/her post.
   5. Association Waters Secretary – It is his /her duty to establish and manage good relationships with association waters landowners and to seek new opportunities for obtaining fishing rights in the local area and bring this to the committee for further consideration.
   6. Membership Secretary – It is his /her duty to manage the full membership database for both Association & Lake section. They will work closely with the Secretary to vet new applicants and once approved they allocate the appropriate license to the new applicant. The Membership Secretary will liaise with Sherborne Castle Estates, keeping them up to date on the assignment of valid access cards to members and those cards that need to be withdrawn.
   7. Treasurer – The Treasurer is required to manage the Associations financial business ensuring that water rents and subscriptions to landowners and other agencies are paid. He/she is responsible for compiling and presenting the annual accounts at the AGM and for ensuring that Association funds are handled in such a manner as to gain interest wherever possible. He/she shall with the Chairperson and other persons nominated to be responsible for signing Association cheques or authorising any payments.  He/she shall be responsible for assisting and advising the committee on the need for insurance in respect of the Association, its activities and its members.
   8. Minutes Secretary – It is his/her task to record minutes of the business enacted at all meetings. Minutes of meetings are available to be viewed at the discretion of the committee.
   9. Match Secretary – It is their task in co-operation with the committee and other officials to arrange for the Association match and venues.  They are responsible for liaising with landowners, and the organisation and advertising matches, but not for arranging the pools.
   10. Committee – Shall consist of 9 members, including officials detailed above, some roles may be held the same individual.  It is their task to meet regularly and to manage the Associations affairs. Meetings will normally take place on the second Tuesday of each month at the agreed venue. The Committee shall be empowered to co-opt members where necessary but no decision concerning any matter shall be taken unless at least 5 members of the Committee is present. The Committee shall consider all disciplinary matters and make such recommendations to the AGM as may be deemed necessary.  All members shall sign the attendance book at meetings and any members who fail to attend two consecutive meetings and does not ensure that the reason for the failure is conveyed to the meeting may at the discretion of the Committee be required to surrender their place on the committee. The Committee will co-opt extra members, when necessary, but co-opted members will have no vote, in Association matters. The Committee shall make such recommendations as it sees fit to the AGM and shall hear and decide upon disciplinary matters.  Committee members will be issued with official identity cards.
   11. Club Bailiffs – Bailiffs will be selected at the AGM for service as Environment Agency Bailiffs and Association B The number to serve as the former is specified from time to time by the Environment Agency.  The number of those to serve the Association shall be decided at the AGM. The duties of Bailiffs serving the Association will be to ensure that members adhere to Association rules and to check licences and memberships cards or tickets.
5. RULES
   1. Association rules will be available on the club’s website.  Rules may be changed as determined and recommended by the Committee at the AGM.  Any proposal effecting Rules must be discussed and agreed by the Committee in advance of the AGM.  A similar ruling will apply to any proposed change in the constitution, any changes will only be made by a majority vote at the AGM.
6. TRUSTEES
   1. The Committee shall act as Trustees of the association.  In the event of the Association ceasing to exist the Trustees will be responsible for the disposal of the Associations assets and monies.
7. WINDING UP
   1. The decision to wind up the affairs of the Association can only be taken at the AGM or at a special meeting.  All members of the Association will be notified by post of any decision to wind-up, and informed of the time and date of the relevant meeting.  The final decision will rest on the outcome of a simple majority vote. 

 

19th January 2023