2016
1)
Name of the Club
2)
Object of the Club
3)
Club Organisation
4)
Club Membership
5)
Voting
6)
Club Meetings
7)
Club Funding
8)
Club Rules
9)
British Model Flying Association
10)
Insurance
11)
Dissolution of the Club
12)
Changes to the Club Constitution
13)
Annex A – Duties of the Trustees
14) Annex B – Duties of Committee Members
15)
Treasurer
16) Club rules
2
2
2
3
3
4
5
5
5
6
6
6
6
6
7
8 to 12
Trustees:
Len Jackson, C Bashford, P Careless, B Cooper
President:
Chris Bashford
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1.
2.
Ivel Model Aircraft Club Constitution
Name of the Club
The name of the Club is ‘Ivel Model Aircraft Club’
Object of the Club
The object of the Club is to provide members with facilities for all activities associated with the flying of radio controlled model aircraft through Club ownership of the freehold or long lease of a permanent model flying site.
3. Club Organisation
a. Trustees *
(i) Four Trustees are to be appointed by resolution of an Annual General Meeting (AGM) or Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of the Club. They are to hold office until they wish to retire. Any vacant
Trustee post is to be filled by resolution of an AGM.
(ii) The duties of the Trustees are at Annex A.
(iii) The Trustees are indemnified by the Club against any personal financial commitment, jointly or indi
vidually, in connection with their position & duties as Trustees.
(iv) Any property purchased by the Club shall be vested in the Trustees, who may deal with such property
by way of sale, mortgage, charge, lease or otherwise.
b. Officers
The Officers of the Club shall be the Chairman, the Secretary & the Treasurer, who are to be appointed
by resolution of an AGM except that in the case of a casual vacancy, the Committee has the power to
fill such a vacancy on a temporary basis until the next AGM.
c. Committee
(i)* A Committee is to be appointed to conduct the day-to-day management of all Club matters. Committee
members are to be elected or, if willing to serve again, re-elected at each AGM, except that the Committee has the power to fill any casual vacancy until the next AGM.
(ii)* The Committee is to consist of the Officers (see 3.b above) & at least four other members. The Com
mittee must comprise an odd total number of Officers / members & shall not exceed a total of eleven.
(iii)* The duties of the Committee members are at Annex B.
(iv)* The Committee is to meet as often as is required, but a meeting will only be deemed to be valid when
four or more Committee members are present.
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v)
Each member shall have one vote, except the Chairman. In the case of an equality of votes the
Chairman shall only have a casting vote (not a second vote).
(vi)* The Committee is empowered to use funds on behalf of the Club & to authorise expenditure of Club
funds for any purpose which will be to the benefit of the Club members, except that any borrowing or
expenditure of more than £500 on a single item is to be approved by the trustees.
4. Club Membership
a. Types of Membership
(i) Full Membership – for all flying members except as in (ii) below.
(ii) Junior Membership – for those aged below 18 as at 1 January, or in full-time education.
(iii) Social Membership – free membership for the spouse or partner of a Full member.
b. Membership cards
Membership cards or pegs are to be issued to Full & Junior members following payment of their annual
subscription. Members are to carry their card or peg on their person when using Club facilities.
c. Total Membership Limit
This is to be defined to comply with Trustee recommendations.
d. Acceptance of the Constitution & Rules
All members will be deemed to have accepted & agreed to be bound by the terms & conditions of this
Constitution & the Club Rules upon joining.
5. Voting*
(i) Voting shall take place at a General or Monthly meeting by a show of hands of eligible members on
each proposition. Eligible members unable to attend a General or monthly meeting may vote by proxy
on official proxy forms, which will be published with the agenda for the meeting.
(ii) A proposition will be carried by a majority vote of the eligible members present. The Chairman has
only the casting vote on any proposition.
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6. Club Meetings
a. Annual General Meetings
(i) An AGM is to be held before the end of each subscription year. All members are to be notified of the
date, time & place at least 21 days before the meeting.
(ii) The agenda for an AGM is to include:Approval of the minutes of the last AGM & any EGM held since the last AGM.
Matters arising from the minutes of previous meetings.
Presentation of reports from the Secretary & Treasurer on the year’s activities.
Election of Officers, Committee members.
Annual subscription rates.
(iii) Any member who wishes to make a proposal, which would, if approved, alter the Club’s Constitution,
is to notify the Secretary at least 21 days before the date of the meeting & any such proposals are to be
included in the published agenda. Such proposals are to be in writing & seconded by another member.
b.
Extraordinary General Meetings
An EGM may be called by the Committee or by 20% of members notifying the Committee that they
jointly wish to make a proposal, which would, if approved, alter the Club Constitution. Notification of
an EGM to members is to be as for an AGM.
c.
Monthly Committee Meetings
Monthly Committee meetings are to be held, normally on the second Monday of each month, to discuss
Club business. Changes to the Club Rules may be approved by a majority of the members present, but
such proposals should be submitted to the Committee at least 14 days before a meeting, so that members can be notified of the proposal through use of the Newsletter or a notice board at the flying sites.
d.
Monthly Members Meetings
Monthly members meetings are to be held, normally on the first Monday of each month. The meetings
may be of an informal nature with discussion of Club business, talks, demonstrations & other activities
taking place. At least 4 Committee members should attend each monthly meeting & a Committee member is to act as Chair for the meeting in the Club Chairman’s absence. Four members constitutes a quorum.
e.
Nomination of Officers
Nomination of Officers & Committee members shall be proposed & seconded by 2 members of the
Club, with the consent of the nominee & submitted to the Secretary 21 days prior to the AGM. Failure
of the nominee, proposer or seconder to attend the AGM, without prior tendering of apologies in writing, shall render such nominations ineligible.
Committee members will only be considered from those that have been IVEL MAC members for at
least two consecutive years prior to the nomination.
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Constitution (cont)
7) Club Funding *
Club funds will be derived from member’s subscriptions, loans to the Club by members & any other funding source which may be found.
b. Subscriptions *
(i) The subscription year is to begin on 1st January annually.
(ii) Subscriptions are to be paid by each Full & Junior member within 30 days of the beginning of each
subscription year.
(iii) New members shall pay 1/12 of the annual subscription for each month remaining for the year starting
from the month of their application. (To be rounded to the nearest pound).
(iv) Subscription rates for each category of membership are to be approved for the following year at each
AGM.
(v) There will be a £50.00 joining fee for all new members.
c. Club Accounts *
(i) Club funds are to be held in a bank account in the Club’s name at a bank to be nominated by the Committee. Two nominated Officer’s signatures are required to authorise expenditure from the account.
(ii) An account of all Club income & expenditure is to be maintained by the Treasurer, which is to be independently audited annually.
8. Club Rules *
Club rules, which cover day-to-day flying & other activities at the Club flying sites, are to be
issued to all Club members by the Committee.
The Committee will decide upon any action to be taken in the event of infringement of the rules by
members & guests. *
9.Affiliation to the British Model Flying Association (BMFA)
The Club is to be affiliated to the BMFA & therefore all Full & Junior members are individual members of
the Association. Club subscriptions are to include that part required by the BMFA. Alternative insurance
will be permissible for visitors, but such insurance must be at least equivalent to current BMFA insurance.
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10. Insurance
The Club is to maintain public liability insurance against third party claims. Normally, this insurance cover
is provided by the Club’s affiliation to the BMFA. *
11. Dissolution of the Cub
In the event that the Club is to be dissolved, the trustees will dispose of assets at the best available prices.
The proceeds of such disposal & any cash in Club accounts are to be used to settle any outstanding debts
owed by the Club & then to repay outstanding loans to the Club members. Any remaining funds are to be
distributed in accordance with the wishes of the Trustees.
12. Changes to the Club Constitution
Any change to this Constitution is only to be made by resolution of an AGM or EGM of the Club.
Annex A – Duties of the Trustees
(i) The Trustees are to act jointly on behalf of the Club in any property purchase, sale, mortgage, lease or
other transaction as directed by the Club & in accordance with the Trustee act 1925.
(ii) The Trustees are jointly to be responsible for any legal or business matter which may arise in connection with the Club’s ownership of any property & are to exercise this authority in the best interests of the
Club membership as a whole & in accordance with any direction given by the Club at a duly convened
meeting.
(iii) Trustees are to liaise with the Club Committee whenever appropriate.
Annex b – Duties of Committee Members
1. Chairman
The Chairman is to be responsible for the conduct & control of all Club & Committee meetings & the coordination of Committee activities.
2. Secretary The Secretaries duties are to include:
(i) Maintaining an up-to-date record of Club membership & issuing membership documentation.
(ii) Assisting the Chairman with general Club business.
(iii) Convening the AGM & any EGM which may be required.
(iv) Ensuring that a record is kept of decisions taken at monthly & general meetings.
(v) Reporting on the year’s activities to the membership at the AGM.
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3. The Treasurer’s duties are to include:
(i)
Maintaining accurate records of all Club income & expenditure supported by relevant invoices, receipts & bank statements.
(ii)
Controlling day-to-day expenditure by holding the Club bank cheque book & banking all money
received.
(iii) Reporting the Club’s financial position to the Committee on a regular basis.
(iv) Arranging for the Club’s accounts to be audited annually by an independent auditor.
(v)
Presenting a summary of the Club’s accounts to the members at an AGM.
(vi) Paying BMFA fees when due in conjunction with the Secretary.
(vii) Act as membership Secretary, collecting all money due by members.
4. Other Committee Members
Other Committee members are to carry out duties allotted at Committee & Club meetings as required.
5. Behaviour
The Committee is empowered to caution, suspend or expel any member who, in the opinion of the committee, has acted in an inappropriate manner. This, for example, may take the form of threatening behaviour,
violation of constitution/club rules or acting in a manner against the spirit of the club. A refund of club
subscription is to be discretionary. The member shall have the right to appeal at the next AGM.
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Club Rules
1)
General
2)
Care and protection of children and vulnerable adults.
3)
Radio Frequencies
4)
Reverse Pegboard System
5)
Noise Control
6)
Car Parking
7)
General Safety
8)
Flying site rules
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Ivel Model Aircraft Club Rules *
1. General
(i) All members & guests shall conform to the published Constitution & Rules.
(ii) All Club members shall be given a copy of the Constitution & Rules upon joining the Club.
(iii) Club membership identification must be carried by Club members on all sites at all times.
(iv) Amendments to the Club Rules can be made by the Committee at any time.
2. Care and protection of children and vulnerable adults.
(i) All club members to duly observe procedures as shown in the BMFA handbook and the BMFA
website.
ii) A parent or guardian must accompany all children under the age of 16 at all times.
No child is allowed on the flight line unless under instruction and/or supervision
3. Radio Frequencies
(i) Only those frequencies permitted by the BMFA for the operation of radio controlled aircraft..
(ii) Members using 35Mhz shall hall display numbered or coloured pennants on their transmitter aerials
indicating the operating frequency being used.
(iii) The ‘Reverse Pegboard’ system shall be used to control 35 Mhz transmitter usage at all Club sites.
4. Reverse Pegboard System (applies to 35 Mhz only)
(i)
Each member shall equip his/her self with a peg or pegs, which will be either colour coded or numbered to indicate the frequency to be used & bearing the member’s name.
(ii) Only 1 peg per member will be allowed on the board at any one time & only that member with their
peg on the board covering a frequency slot will be allowed to switch on their transmitter using that
frequency.
(iii) Time slots for occupying frequencies shall be restricted to 20 minutes when others are waiting to fly
on the same frequency. Pegs will be removed from the board as soon as possible at the conclusion of
flying & only by the pilot involved.
(iv)
The pegboard will be provided by the Club & will be placed adjacent to the pit area.
5. Noise Control
Model aircraft engine noise emissions shall not exceed the parameter guidelines laid down by the
BMFA & will comply with any local legislation & bylaws. In the case of I.C. engined aircraft, a
noise level of 78db at a distance of 7M from the model shall not be exceeded.
6. Car Parking
Cars shall be parked in the designated areas as described in the Club Rules.
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7. General Safety Rules
(i) All members shall be aware of the dangers associated with model flying as outlined by the BMFA guidelines—especially the
use of a model restraint in the pits.
(ii) Should any injury occur, the Executive Officers must be informed within 24 hours of the occurrence and recorded in the
accident book as soon as practicable.
(iii) Pilots shall not fly under the influence of alcohol
8. Flying site Rules
(i) Uncertificated pilots are not permitted to fly unless supervised by a certificated pilot.
(ii) Flying times are from 10:00 until dusk. Except no IC models after 19:00 and no IC models on Sundays
(iii) The owner/groundsman will be treated with respect at all times; any instruction given by them must be
complied with. Flying will cease during grass cutting.
(iv) Any rubbish must be taken away when leaving the field.
(v) The gate must be closed when leaving. The last person to leave the field will assume responsibility for
closing the gate.
(vi) All pilots will fly from the Pilot’s Box. Its position will be decided according to wind direction, field
layout, pits location and any other contributory factors.
(vii) For safety & observation purposes it is recommended that there be at least one other person present
during flying operations.
(viii) No gas turbine jets at any time.
(ix) To avoid killing the grass, IC models MUST USE A DRIP TRAY IN THE PITS
(ix) At Wilden
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
Cars are to be parked between the nets and the pavilion. They must not be taken onto the close-mown
area.
No person or model shall be allowed onto the wicket.
The cricket team has priority. Modellers must stop flying if match or practice commences.
Models must not be flown past the boundary line on the Pavilion side or over the roadway.
I/C helicopters and electric types larger than ‘450’ size shall not be flown at Wilden.
FPV models shall not be flown at Wilden.
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