RULES of the WEST WITTERING SAILING CLUB

As amended 1983,1985,1988,1992,1993,1994,1995,1996,1998 ,1999 & 2000

Name and Objects

1.      The name of the Club is the West Wittering Sailing Club and the Club Burgee shall be White with a Blue Border and Red device on each side.

2.      The objects for which the Club is formed are:

1. to promote the spirit of comradeship and the furtherance of all forms of small boat sailing and to provide sailing facilities at all levels for the benefit of West Wittering families when in residence;
2. to establish and maintain either alone or jointly with other Federation associations, Clubs or persons, Regattas and sailing matches and events of a like nature.
3. to offer, give or contribute towards prizes and awards therefore;
4. to promote and give support to social functions connected with sailing.

the club is a non-profit making organisation.  All profits and surpluses will be used to maintain or improve the club facilities.  No profits or surpluses will be distributed other than to another non-profit making body or to members on winding up or dissolution of the club.

Management

3.      The Club shall be managed by a Committee constituted in accordance with Rules 16 to 19

Membership and Voting Rights

4.      (a)  The following classes of membership shall be recognised:

                                (i)            Full members

                                (ii)           Temporary members

                                (iii)          Honorary members

                                (iv)          Honorary Life members

                                (v)           Junior Members

                                (vi)          Student Members

                         Classes (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) shall include the following categories viz. “Single”,         “Husband and Wife” and “Family”.

(b)                  Applications for membership will be considered if the applicant qualifies as a resident or owner of property within the parish boundary of West Wittering or of a caravan on the Snow Hill site but no other caravan site in West Wittering in each case used primarily for occupation by the owner’s family.

(c)                  Exceptions may be made under Rule 8(b) to cover non-residential members who retain an interest in West Wittering and have been of service to the Club or have previously enjoyed long-standing membership.

(d)                  Temporary members are admitted at the discretion of the Committee for periods totalling less than one year but only while qualifying residentially; they shall enjoy all facilities (but not voting rights) of a Full Member but subject always to the availability of space on the beach.

1.           Honorary members may be elected by the Club in General Meeting.  They shall be

entitled to all the rights and privileges enjoyed by Full Members except the right to vote at meetings of the Club.

(f)                   On the recommendation of the Committee any person may be elected an Honorary Life member at any General Meeting of the Club and shall thereafter be entitled to all the rights and privileges of a Full Member but will no longer be required to pay an annual subscription.

(g)                  A family may apply for collective membership subject to the same conditions as in (b)               and (c) above.

1.           Renewal of membership may at the discretion of the Committee be refused to any

person persistently in breach of Club Rules or acting in any way contrary to the interests of the Club.

(i)                                   Junior members shall be those under 18 years of age on 1^st January prior to the

                      forthcoming season, admission being subject to conditions (b) and (c) above.

1.                 At General Meetings, Full and Honorary Life members shall have voting rights.    

Family members shall be entitled to not more than two votes and Husband and Wife membership to one vote each.

1.           Student members shall be 18 years of age on 1^st January prior to the forthcoming

          season but under 25 years and still in full-time education.

Election of Members

5.      Every candidate for Membership of the Club shall normally be proposed by two members of two years or more standing to whom the candidate shall be personally known.

6.      The application of each candidate must be made to the Secretary and be:

         (a)  in writing on the form prescribed by the Committee;

         (b)  signed by the candidate and the proposer and seconder;

(c)  accompanied by a letter from both the proposer and seconder showing their knowledge of the candidate; and confirming residential qualifications under Rule 4(b);

(d)  accompanied by the appropriate entrance and annual subscription monies (returnable in the event of non-election)

7.       The application Form and documents will be laid before the Committee which is the body

         empowered to elect new members and which has the power to reject the proposal of any

         candidate without giving a reason.

Resignation of Members

1. (a)   A member may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Secretary, but                              any resignation shall take  effect without the prejudice to the member’s liability to pay                                    subscription in respect of the period in which the resignation takes place.

             (b) Any member ceasing to qualify under Rule 4(b) must notify the Secretary without delay                              and shall be deemed to have resigned from the Club.  Such members may be re-elected                         at the discretion of the Committee as provided in Rule 4(c).

Subscriptions

1. Subscription rates and other fees shall be approved at each Annual General Meeting.

10.    Annual Subscriptions shall be for the period 1^st January to 31^st December and shall be payable on 1^st January each year.

1. Any Member whose Annual Subscription is unpaid on 1^st February in any year shall be notified in writing of the fact. Any member whose subscription shall still be unpaid by 1^st March in any year shall cease ipso facto to be a member of the Club.  The Committee may  re-instate a member in its absolute discretion on payment of all arrears of subscription together with a fine to cover

         administrative expenses.

12.    Entrance Fees shall be at a rate decided by the Committee from time to time and fall due together with the first year’s Annual Subscription at date of entry.  Any member admitted between 30^th

         September and 31^st December will be required to pay the appropriate Entrance Subscription but will not be required to pay an Annual Subscription until 1^st January following.

General Meetings

13     The Club shall hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) in each calendar year to:

         (a)  consider and pass financial accounts for the previous year;

         (b)  approve Subscription rates and other fees;

         (c)  amend Club rules and transact any other business as may be determined;

         (d)  appoint Honorary and Honorary Life Members

         (e)  elect Honorary Officers and Committee Members for the period  to the next AGM.

14.    Extraordinary General Meetings may be called at the discretion of the Committee or following a joint application in writing to the Secretary by a minimum of 20 voting members for any reason.

15.    All General Meetings shall be notified to all members by at least 21 days written notice given by the Secretary.

Election of Officers

1. (a)  The Honorary Officers shall be: Commodore, Vice-Commodore, Rear-Commodore 

                  Administration, Rear-Commodore (Sailing),  Treasurer,  one or two Sailing Secretaries                             and Social Secretary.

            (b)  The Secretary shall be appointed by the Committee.

1. The Honorary Officers shall be elected at the AGM.  They shall hold office until their successors have been elected.  They shall retire at each AGM but shall be eligible for re-election provided that no member shall serve as Commodore, Vice-Commodore or Rear-Commodore for more than three years consecutively in the same capacity.

Election of Committee

18.    The Committee shall consist of: The Honorary Officers, Committee Members, not exceeding six, elected at the AGM, and one Junior Member who shall be under 18 years of age.

19.    At each AGM those Committee Members (not being the Honorary Officers) who have served 3 years shall retire and not be eligible for re-election until after a period of one year.  

Committee Procedure

20.    At meetings of the Committee five members shall form a quorum.

21.    The Committee shall agree its own procedure and shall have the power to co-opt.  Such co-opted members shall have the right to vote at Committee Meetings.

Club Facilities

22.    (a)                  Members are entitled to the use of the Club Hut for the purpose only of storage of sailing                          gear and outboard motors at the owner’s risk.  Such gear and motors must be removed                    from the hut by the 30^th November in each year; any gear or motors remaining after this                         date is liable to be taken away and sold, the proceeds going to Club funds.

(b)                                  The car park is provided for members only and the Club will not be held responsible for any loss or damage.  All cars must display the current Car Park Plaque at all times.  Members are asked not to leave cars in the car park for more than a reasonable time.

1. Boats, trolleys and trailers may not be stored in the car park except as may be

                       specifically notified by the Committee as being permitted.    The issue of boat plaques               shall be at the discretion of the Committee and subject to available space on the chains.

1. Members are asked to use the chains provided along the foreshore to the South of the beach access for securing boats, the use of stakes in the bank being prohibited by the       Parish Council.  No member’s boat may be attached to these chains unless it has been                registered with the Club and carries the current Club Boat plaque which must be displayed in a clearly visible position when the boat’s cover is on.  Members’ boats must be removed from these chains at the end of each season.

(e)                  Members shall comply with any Code of Practice for the use of the beach and other Club          facilities as may be approved by the Committee and displayed on the Club Hut Notice       Board.

Statutory Requirements

23.    Members are reminded that all craft using the Harbour must display a current Harbour Plaque.

24.    The attention of members is drawn to the Parish Council Bye-Laws displayed on Snow Hill Green.