Constitution

THE OXFORDSHIRE BADMINTON ASSOCIATION

(Incorporating the Oxfordshire Schools' Badminton Association)

Affiliated to Badminton England

CONSTITUTION

1. Name

The Association shall be called The Oxfordshire Badminton Association (hereinafter referred to as the Association) and will incorporate The Oxfordshire Schools' Badminton Association.

2. Aims

The aims of the Association are to encourage and develop Badminton in the county and in particular by:

• Promoting mental, moral and physical development through the medium of Badminton.

• Arranging and organising (a) Inter-county Badminton matches at all levels.

(b) Inter-club and county league competitions at all levels.

(c) Exhibition games.

(d) Open and Restricted Tournaments.

(e) Coaching.

3. Affiliation to Badminton England

The Association will be affiliated to Badminton England and will conform to all such rules of that body.

4. Membership

The Association shall be confined to Badminton Clubs having their halls within the county border as defined by the Local Government Act 1974, all Oxfordshire schools and/or pupils resident in Oxfordshire or in attendance in Oxfordshire schools.

5. Officers of the Association

The structure of the Association is shown in Appendix 1.

An Executive Committee will manage the affairs of the Association and will be responsible for sub-committees.

• The officers of the Association will be the Honorary Chair, the Honorary Secretary and the Honorary Treasurer.

• The Executive Committee will consist of an Honorary Chair, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer, Development Officer (who will sit on the County Sports Partnership), a representative from Badminton England (non-voting) and a representative to Badminton England and the Chair (or appointed Deputy) of the Coaching, Matchplay,Tournaments and External Liaison Committees.
• A Vice-Chair will be selected by the Executive Committee and will be one of the Chairs of the sub-committees.

The Executive Committee will be responsible for liasing with the County Sports Partnership and thenceforth directing the following sub-committees, who will have their own particular remit:

• Coaching
• Matchplay
• Tournaments
• Finance and Administration
• External Liaison

• A Child Protection and Equity Officer will be appointed by, and report to the Executive Committee and will be responsible for ensuring statutory child protection legislation and the policies and procedures of Badminton England will be followed throughout all the activities of the Association.

The officers will retire at the Annual General Meeting (hereinafter referred to as the AGM) but will be eligible for re-election. No member of the Executive Committee will hold more than one position on that committee at any one time. The Executive Committee and sub-committees will have the authority to co-opt and appoint as are deemed necessary and desirable. The Executive Committee has the power to grant honorary membership of unspecified length to any person who has served the Association over many years.

Retiring officers should give at least 28 days notice of their intention not to stand for re-election to the Secretary of the Association. Those wishing to be considered for election to office should give 28 days notice to the Secretary of the Association of their intent; their nomination should be supported by a proposal from an affiliated club and seconded by a member of an affiliated club.

6. Affiliation to the Oxfordshire Badminton Association.

All applications by clubs for affiliation to the Association must be made in writing to the Secretary of the Association and signed by the Secretary of the club concerned. The acceptance or otherwise of such an application will rest entirely with the committee of the Association. Only clubs affiliated to the Association may participate in activities organised by the Association.

Each club must report immediately to the Association if a Secretary of an affiliated club resigns and forward the name and address of the new secretary as soon as possible.

7. Membership Fees

• The annual subscription for each club will be the amount specified by Badminton England (which may be per court or per capita) plus an amount specified by the County Association per playing member. The number of playing members for the current season will be used to calculate the amount of subscription due. This will be due on 1st October of each year, or on joining. If fees are not paid by 1^st October then the Finance Committee shall have the power to take such action as they deem necessary.
• Each member school or individual shall pay an annual fee to the Association for the current season. The amount of the fees will be approved at the AGM of the Association.

8. General rules of the Association

The Annual General Meeting

(a) The AGM of the Association will be held not later than the end of May. The Secretary will notify all committee members, clubs, squads and affiliated schools of the date of the AGM, agenda and accounts of the past season not less than fourteen days before the meeting. An Honorary Auditor, who will be appointed each year at the AGM, will audit the accounts.

A quorum for the AGM will be eight and ten at an extraordinary General Meeting (hereinafter referred to as EGM).

(b) The business of the AGM will be:

to approve the minutes of the AGM and to discuss matters arising thereof

to receive correspondence

to receive and adopt the annual report from the Executive Committee and sub-committees, including the statement of accounts

to appoint officers as listed in 5.

To set the fees for membership, affiliation, county matches and tournaments organised by the Association

To discuss matters raised by members. Items for discussion should be sent to the Secretary in writing no less than 14 days before the AGM.

to discuss any other business

to decide the place and date of the next AGM

Voting Rights

(c) The following have the power to vote at General Meetings:

Each affiliated club shall be entitled to send one representative who will, in all cases, be a member of the club they represent.

One parent/carer will represent each junior squad. This parent/carer will be elected by parent/carers of juniors in the squad and their name must be given to the Honorary Secretary 14 days before an AGM or an EGM to qualify for voting rights.

One representative of each affiliated school.

One representative from each squad.

One representative from each league.

Each person has equal voting rights and the Chair of the Association will have the casting vote in the event of a tied vote from the members. Votes by proxy are not valid.

Calling an Extraordinary General Meeting

(d) The Secretary shall call an EGM of the Association at the request of the Executive Committee or upon receipt of a written request stating the purpose of the meeting from not less than five affiliated clubs/schools or a sub-committee. The Honorary Secretary will give 14 days notice of any such meeting and will specify the purpose for which it is called. The business of an EGM will be strictly confined to the purpose stated in the notice.

Alterations or additions to the constitution of the Association

(e) Alterations or additions to the constitution of the Association can only be made at an AGM or an Extraordinary GM, when all members will be given notice of the proposed change on the agenda. Proposals to amend the constitution must be made to the Secretary not less than 28 days before the meeting. Any alterations shall require two-thirds of the votes of those present. The Chair of the Executive Committee will have the casting vote.

Committee Meetings

(f) The Secretary will call a meeting of the Executive Committee at least once every two months during the Badminton season or upon written request by 20 members of the Association, stating their reason,

(g) The sub-committees will meet as need determines as identified by the Chair of the relevant sub-committee or as instructed by the Executive Committee but at least twice per season.

Child protection and Equal Opportunities

(h) The Association is committed to the principles of equal opportunities and has adopted the Badminton England Equal Opportunities and Child Protection Policies and procedures, aims and objectives. The Association has adopted the aims and objectives of the Badminton England Equity Policy. The Executive Committee will appoint a Child Protection Officer and an Equity Officer to ensure that relevant legislation, policies and procedures are followed. These officers will report to the Executive Committee.

9. Dissolution of the Association

If the Association ceases to function then all monies that remain after debts are paid will be donated to some other body, or bodies, that have similar aims to the Association. This decision will be determined by the members of the Association at, or before, the time of the dissolution.

In the event that the Association becomes bankrupt then all clubs, affiliated schools, members of committees, co-opted members, honorary members, coaches and team managers shall be asked to contribute towards payments of debts.

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