St. Matthew’s Rambling Club Rules
Revised& reprinted December 2009
1. Name The name of the club shall be St. Matthew’s Rambling Club.
2. Objectives The objectives of the club shall be the provision of rambling and social activities.
3. Walks
i Booking is essential for all trips; this can be done in the St. Matthew’s lounge on ticket night, or by telephone enquiry to the Treasurer. [or other committee member responsible for ticket sales]
ii All walks must have previously been reconnoitred by the walk leaders on the ground ahead of the scheduled walk.
iii Any member may volunteer to lead a walk subject to rue 3ii.
Iv Details and a brief description of the walk must be published ahead of the walk.
4. Responsibility
All members take part in walks at their own risk, and are responsible for their own health and safety. The club or the committee cannot be held responsible for any accident, injury or loss of property however incurred.
5. General information
All walkers must obey the instructions from walk leaders.
Do not walk ahead of the leader; they cannot direct or control the pace of the party if others are in front.
No member to get behind the whipper- in without permission.
No member to leave the walk without the permission of the walk leader.
The committee gives authority to walk leaders to refuse ill-equipped people in their party.
Weatherproof clothing should always be carried.
Stout boots or shoes should be worn on all walks [ordinary footwear is totally inadequate fro cross country walking]
First –aid kits provided by the club will be carried by the whippers-in on all walks.
6. Government
The affairs of the club, except in those matters reserved under the rules for the club in general meeting, shall be managed by a general committee. The committee shall exercise the powers given to it by these rules and shall consist of a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and other members all of whom have been elected in accordance with these rules. Four members shall forma quorum of the committee.
7. Members
a. Every applicant for membership shall be proposed and seconded by two members and shall pay in full the annual subscription fro the current year at the time of the application being accepted. Applications are also accepted via the club website at the committee’s discretion. People under the age of 18 years may be accepted as associate members at no charge if proposed and seconded by two members.
b. Any applicant for membership who has previously been a member of the club, but whose membership has ceased under rule 8 shall not again be considered as a candidate for membership unless all arrears due at the time of previously ceasing membership accompany the application.
c. every duly elected member will receive a copy of the rules.
d. Any member must notify any change of address and ‘phone number immediately to the secretary.
8. Subscriptions
The annual subscription shall be determined by the club each year in General Meeting. All annual subscriptions shall be payable in advance without demand within one month of the AGM in each year. Any member whose subscription is not paid within two months of the AGM shall cease to be a member. Each member’s subscription shall be deemed to be a debt to the secretary.
9. Suspension
Each person by holding membership to St. Matthew’s Rambling Club shall conduct themselves in accordance with the rules so as not to bring the club into disrepute. The committee may reprimand, suspend for such period as they think fit, or expel from membership any member wilfully disobeying any of the rules or guilty of any conduct rendering such member unfit in the opinion of the committee to be a member of the club.
10. Election of Officers & Committee
i. The election of office of Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Committee shall be held at the AGM and each such officer shall hold office until the next AGM subject to rule 6 and 7c.
ii. every officer shall be proposed and seconded by two members of the club.
iii. Any officer or member of committee failing to attend three consecutive meetings without a satisfactory reason being given, the committee shall have the power to declare the position vacant, and to elect any member of the club to fill such position.
iv. The committee shall from time to time appoint sub-committees as they may deem necessary or expedient and may depute or refer to them such powers and duties of the committee as the committee may determine. Such sub-committee shall periodically report their proceedings to the committee and shall conduct their business in accordance with the direction of the committee.
11. General Meeting
a. The AGM of the club shall be held on a day and time to be fixed by the committee in the month of October each year for the following purposes:
i To receive a report and statement of accounts for the preceding year.
ii To elect and announce officers and committee members of the club.
iii To determine the annual subscription for the following year.
iv. To decide upon any resolution, proposal or matter and transact any other business which shall duly be submitted to the committee.
b. At the AGM, the decision at the meeting shall [except as provided by these rules] be ascertained by a show of hands. Every member not in arrears with their subscription shall be entitled to be present at such meeting and vote thereat; in the event of an equality of votes the Chairman shall be entitled to a second or casting vote.
12. Financial Year
The financial year of the club shall end on the 30th September each year on which date the accounts of the club shall be balanced.
13. Duties of the Treasurer
i. Maintain all monies of the club safely.
ii. Maintain accurate records of the clubs financial affairs and present a statement of accounts to the AGM.
14. Duties of the Secretary
i. Maintain accurate written records of all meetings.
ii. Maintain an up-to-date record of members.
iii. Engage in all matters of correspondence between the club and other bodies.
iv. Perform any other duties assigned by the committee with his agreement.
15. Profits of the Club
The money or property of the club or any gain arising from the carrying on the club may be applied by decision of the committee in any of the following ways:
i. To the benefit of the club as a whole.
ii. For any charitable or benevolent purposes.
16. Auditors
At every AGM auditors shall be appointed.
OBSERVE THE COUNTRY CODE AT ALL TIMES