1.      NAME

The name of the Club shall be the SHROPSHIRE MODEL FLYING CLUB

2.      AIMS

The aims of the Club shall be:

a)       To provide facilities for the sport of model aircraft construction and flying.

b)      To assist members to improve their standards of building and flying and to require strict observance of all rules in the interests of safety.

c)       To encourage Club social activities.

d)      To abide by and promote the national policies and rules of the governing body for the sport by affiliation to the British Model Flying Association (Society of Model Aeronautical Engineers Ltd.).

3.      MEMBERSHIP

a)       ORDINARY MEMBERSHIP- There shall be two classes of Ordinary Membership viz. SENIOR and JUNIOR. Persons seeking membership who are aged 18 or over on the date of application for membership shall be required to join as SENIOR.  Those under the age of 18 on the date of application, or who are in full time education to the age of 21, may join as Junior members for the remainder of the current Club year.

b)      FAMILY MEMBERSHIP- for parent+ junior(s)

c)       HONORARY MEMBERSHIP - Honorary membership shall be conferred at the discretion of the Committee.

d)      In the event of it being necessary to limit the number of members admitted to the Club (for lease considerations or other reasons) the membership limits shall be decided at the Annual General Meeting.

e)       Membership of the BMFA/SMAE is a condition of membership of the Club.

4.      SUBSCRIPTIONS

a)       Annual Subscriptions and the amount of any initial "joining" fee shall be determined at the Annual General Meeting.

b)      The annual subscription shall be payable on 1 January and shall cover membership for the calendar year.

c)       New members who are not existing members of the British Model Flying Association (The Society of Model Aeronautical Engineers Ltd.) will be required to join the BMFA/SMAE as a condition of membership of the Club and pay the BMFA/SMAE fee together with the Club subscription.  Following payment of the fee the Club will issue the requisite BMFA/SMAE Certificate of Insurance, which is required by all members flying under Club rules.

5.      OFFICERS

a)       The principal Office-Bearers shall be Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer, and such other posts that the club shall decide. Any two of these posts may be combined.

b)      All Office-Bearers shall retire annually but shall be eligible for re-election.

c)       The club may appoint a President who need not be a committee member .The role of the president is to offer additional and experienced advice to the committee if required

6.      COMMITTEE

a)       The business of the Club shall be managed by a committee of 5 or more Including the Office-Bearers,

b)      The Committee shall have the authority to co-opt further members at their discretion.

c)       The Committee shall be responsible for the production and maintenance of Club Rules which shall be binding on all members operating on any site being used officially by the Club.

d)      The Committee, during their term of office, may vary Rules and Advice at their discretion and may also create rules relating to other aspects of the Clubs activities.

e)       A quorum of any Committee meeting shall consist of a majority of Committee members including co-opted members.

f)        The Committee shall meet not less than three times in a year).

g)      All Committee members shall retire annually but shall be eligible for re-election.

h)       INDEMNITY- If a Club Committee member engages or becomes involved in Court Proceedings, whether criminal or civil in his representative capacity on behalf of the Club, as opposed to in his capacity as a private individual notwithstanding that he is taking part in club activities but in circumstances where it would be unreasonable for the Club as a whole to ratify his actions then In the former Instance i.e. in his representative capacity the Club will indemnify the Committee member In respect of any fines or damages or costs awarded against the Committee member.  In the event of a Committee member being awarded damages or costs in the course of proceedings taken by him in representative capacity such damages or costs will belong to the Club and not the Committee member personally and forthwith upon receipt by the Committee member that Committee member will pay them to the Club Treasurer.

7.      ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

a)       An ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING shall be held in October to December each year for which 14 days notice shall be given.  The meeting shall consider the reports of the Secretary and Treasurer and Chairman, and elect Committee members and Office-Bearers for the ensuing year.

b)      Each Ordinary member shall be entitled to one vote.

8.      FINANCE

a)       Accounts shall be audited by a non-committee member.

b)      The funds of the Club shall be lodged in a bank account approved by the Committee.

c)       Money may be drawn from the Club's account on the signature of the Chairman, Secretary or Treasurer as agreed with the Bank.

9.      CLUB RULES

a)       The "Club Rules" shall be subject to annual review and ratification by the Annual General Meeting.

b)      Any behaviour by a Club member, which is either prejudicial to the continued use of the Club’s facilities or is in flagrant disregard of club rules will be considered by the Committee and after one written warning may result in the expulsion of the offender from the Club.

10. CONSTITUTION

a)       Changes to this constitution can only be affected at an AGM when the proposed changes must be in the hands of the Secretary 6 (six) weeks before said meeting in order that the nature of the proposed changes can be circulated with the notice of the meeting.

11. WINDING UP OF THE CLUB

a)       The Club can only be dissolved at an Emergency General Meeting called for that purpose. In the event, the assets, after settlement of all liabilities shall be distributed at the discretion of that meeting to the current adult membership of three consecutive years, including current year.

file: smfc_constitution_100305.doc