Club Constitution

Midland Model Flying Club

Boora,  Kilcormac,  County Offaly.

www.midlandmodelflyingclub.org

12/03/2014

  1. The primary objective of the Midland Model Flying Club shall be to foster and encourage the building and flying of model aircraft.
  2. An A.G.M. shall be held annually in March. At least two weeks’ notice will be given to all Members. All Members shall be entitled to attend and vote at the A.G.M. Any Member present may hold one proxy vote in writing from another Member provided that Member is not themselves present.
  3. The officers shall consist of Chairperson, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer, a Safety Promotion Officer and a Webmaster, as long as the Club has a Website. The role of the Safety Promotion Officer shall be one of advising the Committee on all aspects relating to safety awareness and procedure, and to advise pilots whenever he deems them to have broken a Club Flying Rule. No one person may fill more than one office. The Committee may also co-opt not more than three other persons to it to fill any post it may deem necessary.
  4. This Constitution may only be modified at an A.G.M. or E.G.M. summoned for the purpose, and then only on a two-thirds majority of the eligible votes cast. Proposals for such changes must be submitted in writing by the proposer and seconder to the Hon. Secretary three weeks before the A.G.M. Proposals may not be modified during the discussion, except in minor points at the discretion of the Hon. Chairperson of the meeting.
  5. The various registration and affiliation fees shall be decided at the A.G.M.
  6. On a petition signed by five registered Members, the Hon. Secretary shall call an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Club, giving four weeks’ notice to Members. The reason for calling the meeting must be stated and only items notified may be discussed.
  7. (a) That Trustees may only be appointed for and on behalf of the Club at the A.G.M. or E.G.M.  
  8. (b) That in the event of the Trustees deciding that insurance cover is or has become inadequate, that, they may close the flying field forthwith and without notice of any kind.           
  9. New applications for Membership shall be proposed and seconded by Club Members of at least one years’ standing. Said proposer and seconder shall undertake to monitor their proposed person in the spirit and implementation of Club practices and procedures for a period of one year and that the new Member will be on probation for one year.
  10. It shall be mandatory for all Members of the Club to hold current M.A.C.I. Insurance.
  11. The Committee shall take such action as is appropriate to ensure the safety of all Members and third parties at all flying meetings and events, with particular regard to the requirements of its insurance policy. All Members shall be duty bound to treat safety in a responsible manner.
  12. The Club shall meet as often as is deemed necessary but should have at least two General meetings a year. In the absence of the Chairperson, the meeting shall elect a Chairperson who shall preside for the duration of the meeting.
  13. Where a decision of the Club is required urgently and before the next planned meeting, the Hon. Secretary or Chairperson may make such a decision on condition they have the other Officers of the Club and also on the condition they have made every reasonable effort to obtain a consensus of the Clubs views on the subject, and that the decision made is in keeping with such views. Any such decision must be recorded at the next meeting of the Club.
  14. The Club shall make rules and regulations herein called “The Flying Rules” covering the different classes and types of aero modelling.
  15. The Club shall keep an up to date list of The Flying Rules, which shall be available to all Members.
  16. The Club shall have the power to make byelaws limiting and regulating the conduct of Members, and to vary these from time to time. A list of byelaws shall be kept and be available to all Members.
  17. Where in the opinion of the Committee, a Member of M.M.F.C. has acted in a manner which was or is in breach of this Constitution or byelaws made hereunder, the Committee may, through a Disciplinary Committee duly appointed for the purpose and consisting of five Members of M.M.F.C. of whom one shall be the Chairperson, no one of whom shall in any way be concerned in the alleged breach, cause an enquiry to be made into the alleged breach, for that purpose shall, prior to the imposition of any penalty, notify the person of their intention to hold an enquiry into such alleged breach, specifying the nature thereof and giving not less than fourteen days’ notice of the time, place and date upon such inquiry shall take place, giving such Member the right to appear with or without legal representation, and notifying them of the steps which may be taken in their absence and the penalties which may be applied arising from the enforcement of any authorised penalty in respect of such alleged breach.

This Constitution was drawn up on the 12th March 2014 and is in effect from that date onwards.