EDEN VALLEY MOUNTAINEERING CLUB
CONSTITUTION
1. Name
1.1 The name of the Club shall be the EDEN VALLEY MOUNTAINEERING CLUB …. hereinafter referred to as “the Club”.
2. Aims and Objectives of the Club
- To promote the interests of climbing, hill-walking and mountaineering amongst members of the Club.
- To provide an opportunity for members of the Club to meet and participate in climbing, hill-walking and mountaineering activities together.
- To act on behalf of and in the interests of Club members.
- To promote awareness of the need to maintain access, conservation and protection of the cliff and mountain environment.
- To take part in and support the work and activities of the British Mountaineering Council (BMC).
3. Membership of the Club
3.1 Membership of the Club shall only be open to
- individuals who recognise that climbing, hill-walking and mountaineering are activities with a danger of personal injury or death. Members shall be aware of and accept these risks and agree to be responsible for their own actions and involvement hereinafter referred to as “the Members”.
- the Club is based in the Eden Valley but open to anyone from other areas as well.
- 18 and over .
3.2 The Members acknowledge and agree that they will become Club Members of the BMC and that the Club shall pay the appropriate subscription on behalf of each Member included in the return filed by the Club with the BMC, and, in the event of the BMC being wound up, shall pay the sum of not more than £1 on behalf of each Member included in a return filed by the Club with the BMC at any time within the preceding period of one year pursuant to the guarantee comprised in the Articles of Association of the BMC. The Members further acknowledge and agree that upon the Club being affiliated to the BMC and each becoming a Club member of the BMC that they will each be bound by the Articles of Association of the BMC.
- All members will be subject to the regulations of the constitution and by joining the Club will be deemed to accept these regulations and codes of practice that the Club has adopted.
- Members will pay membership fees, as determined at the Annual General Meeting.
3.6 The Club respects the rights, dignity and worth of every person and will treat all Members equally within the context of Club activities and mountaineering activities, regardless of age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, religious belief, sexuality or social/economic status.
3.7 The Club is committed to all Members having the right to enjoy mountaineering in an environment free from threat of intimidation, harassment and abuse. Members should be respectful and polite when engaging in club group communication.
3.8 All Members have a responsibility to oppose discriminatory behaviour and promote equality of opportunity.
3.9 The Club will deal with any incidence of discriminatory behaviour seriously, according to club disciplinary procedures.
3.10 The members recognise that climbing, hill walking and mountaineering have a wide range of impacts on the upland and mountain environment and acknowledge their responsibility to act to help safeguard the mountain environment for both present and future generations.
4. Committee of the Club
4.1 The Management of the Club shall be entrusted to the Club Committee, hereinafter referred to as “the Committee”.
4.2 The Committee shall all be Members of the Club.
4.3 The Committee shall be composed of the Officers of the Club and only these posts are entitled to vote.
4.4 The Officers of the Club shall be the –
- President,
- Secretary,
- Treasurer,
- Meets Secretary
- Safeguarding Officer
- Any other category of officer agreed to and appointed at an AGM
… hereinafter referred to as “the Officers”.
4.5 All officers will retire each year but will be eligible for re-election.
4.6 Voting for the election of Officers shall take place at the AGM. If the post of any Officer should fall vacant after such an election, the Committee shall have the power to fill the vacancy until the succeeding Annual General Meeting
4.7 The Committee shall have the power to co-opt additional non-voting members.
4.8 A quorum for a meeting of the Committee shall be half of the elected voting members.
4.9 The Committee will be responsible for adopting new policy, codes of practice and rules that affect the organisation of the club.
4.10 The Committee will have powers to appoint any advisers to the Committee as necessary to fulfil its business.
4.11 The Committee will be responsible for disciplinary hearings of members who infringe the club rules/regulations/constitution. The Committee will be responsible for taking any action of suspension or discipline following such hearings.
4.12 The decision of the Committee on the interpretation of this constitution and of club rules shall be final and the Committee is empowered to deal with any matters not covered.
5. Annual General Meeting (AGM)
5.1 The AGM shall be held in November/December each year and notified to Members with 14-days’ notice.
5.2 The AGM will:
- Receive reports from the president
- Receive a report from the Treasurer and approve the Annual Accounts
- Elect the Officers on the Committee
- Agree the membership fees for the following year
- Consider any proposed changes to the Constitution
- Consider the environmental sustainability of the club
- Deal with other relevant business
5.3 All Members present in person have the right to vote at the AGM. Each Member will have one vote and all matters shall be determined by a simple majority except any proposal pursuant to clause 10.1 or to clause 11.1.
5.4 The quorum for AGMs will be 10% of the membership.
5.5 The President of the Club shall chair the AGM and be entitled to vote on all matters and in the event of a tie shall have a casting vote at general meetings.
5.6 An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) shall be called by an application in writing to the Secretary supported by at least 10% of the Members. The Committee shall also have the power to call an EGM by decision of a simple majority of the Committee members.
5.7 All procedures for an EGM shall follow those outlined above for AGMs.
6. Club Subscriptions and Financial Matters
6.1 Subscriptions will be set annually and agreed by the Members at the AGM.
6.2 The Club treasurer will be responsible for the finances of the Club.
6.3 The financial year of the Club will run from 1st November to 31st October.
6.4 All club monies will be banked in an account held in the name of the Club.
6.5 A statement of annual accounts will be presented by the treasurer at the Annual General Meeting.
6.6 Any cheques drawn against club funds should hold the signatures of the treasurer plus up to two other officers or other authorised members of the Club.
6.7 The club will use Bank of Scotland business internet banking. The treasurer will be the primary user and therefore able to make payments solely. The treasurer will keep records to confirm all payments are approved by at least one other committee member.
6.8 All members of the Club shall be jointly and severally responsible for the financial liabilities of the Club.
7 Discipline and Appeals
7.1 All complaints regarding the behaviour of Members should be presented and submitted in writing to the Secretary.
7.2 The Committee will meet to hear complaints within 21days of a complaint being lodged. The Committee has the power to take appropriate disciplinary action including the termination of membership.
7.3 The outcome of a disciplinary hearing should be notified in writing to the person who lodged the complaint and the member against whom the complaint was made within 14 days of the hearing.
7.4 There will be the right of appeal to the Committee following disciplinary action being announced. The Committee should consider the appeal within 14 days of the Secretary receiving the appeal.
7.4 There will be the right of appeal to a specially formed sub-committee following disciplinary action being announced. The sub-committee should consider the appeal within 14 days of the Secretary receiving the appeal.
8 Effect of ceasing to be a member
8.1 On ceasing to be a Member a person forfeits all right to and claims upon the Club and its property and funds.
8.2 A person who has been expelled from the Club shall not be entitled to participate in any subsequent activity of the Club nor to visit the Club’s premises.
9. Rules of the Club
9.1 The Committee has the power to set Club Rules. Such rules shall be in accordance with the articles of the Club’s Constitution and the policies of the BMC.
10. Dissolution of the Club
10.1 The Club can only be dissolved by two-thirds majority vote at an AGM. Any liabilities at the time of dissolution shall be the joint responsibility of all Members if the assets of the Club are not sufficient. The Committee will arrange to discharge any remaining assets by donating to Charity (e.g. Mountain Rescue) or to another organisation with similar aims and objectives (e.g. a local club) or to the British Mountaineering Council or to the Access and Conservation Trust (ACT).
11. Amendments to the Constitution of the Club
11.1 This Constitution can only be amended by a two thirds majority of those Members attending the AGM. Notice of any amendment must be delivered to the Secretary at least 14 days prior to the AGM.
Declaration
This Constitution was approved and adopted by the Club on 19-11-2025