Name
1.1 The name of the club shall be the ‘Manchester Prairie Dogs Line Dancing Club’, hereafter referred to as “the club”
1.2 The club may affiliate to any other non-political organisation that furthers its aims, objectives, and interests.
Aims and Objectives
The club shall hold the following as its aims and objectives:
2.1 Provide weekly line dance sessions primarily, but not exclusively, for the LGBTQ+ community.
2.2 To organise additional social activities appropriate to its membership.
2.3 To provide the equipment and venue for weekly line dancing sessions.
2.4 From time to time make charitable donations to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender organisations.
Membership
3.1 Membership is open to all regardless of sexual orientation, ethnic origin, age, gender, ability or gender identity.
3.2 All members shall pay an annual subscription to join the club. The membership fee and criteria shall be decided by the club committee and reviewed on an annual basis.
3.3 Membership subscriptions shall become payable in February of each year.
3.4 Pro-rata membership fees shall be at the discretion of the Treasurer.
3.5 The club may, at its discretion, bestow “Honorary” membership upon any individual members who have rendered outstanding service.
Exclusion
4.1 The club committee shall have the power to suspend, for a fixed period, or expel any member whose conduct shall, in the opinion of the club committee, prejudicially affect the club or render them unfit for membership of the club.
The Club Committee
5.1 The committee shall consist of the following voting members:
Chair
Treasurer
Secretary
2– 8 ordinary members
5.2 All committee members must be full members of the club.
5.3 No committee member shall hold more than one post during each year, except under clause 9.7
5.4 Office shall be held for the period of one calendar year.
5.5 No person may hold the post of Chair for more than 3 consecutive years.
5.6 The committee shall have the right to co-opt non-voting additional members onto the committee when it is clearly determined that such a co-option would bring with it specialist skills not otherwise identified.
Management and Job Descriptions
6.1 The Chair shall be responsible for ensuring that the club is run according to the club constitution, so far as is reasonably practicable.
6.2 The Chair shall preside over all meetings of the club committee, except where these responsibilities are delegated by the Chair to another Officer.
6.3 The Treasurer shall carry out the day-to-day financial duties of the club.
That is:- handling and recording membership and session fees, paying invoices and keep accurate records of income and expenditure.
6.4 The Treasurer is responsible for controlling the club’s spending.
6.5 The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping the club’s records in good order as well as carrying out publicity and club communication duties.
6.6 The Secretary shall keep an up-to-date list of names and contact details of all members.
6.7 The General Committee members shall assist in setting up and running sessions and special events, as well as giving an independent viewpoint as voting members of the committee.
Committee Meetings
7.1 The Management of the club shall be vested in the club committee.
7.2 Committee meetings shall be called on an ad hoc basis to deal with the day to day and strategic operation of the club.
7.3 A quorum of the committee shall be one half of the elected committee, at least 2 of whom must be officers.
7.4 Voting at committee meetings shall be by simple majority.
General Meetings
8.1 A General Meeting may be called by the Chair, quorum of the committee or by 9 full members of the club. This must be submitted to the Chair in writing and must be held within 14 days of receipt of the proposal.
8.2 At least 7 days’ notice of a General Meeting must be given to the club membership.
8.3 Only full members of the club may vote at General Meetings.
8.4 A quorum of the meeting shall be 9 voting members of the club, at least 2 of whom must be officers.
8.5 Decisions shall be reached by a simple majority of the voting members present.
The Annual General Meeting
9.1 The Annual General Meeting shall be held in February each year and shall have as its main business:
The presentation of the Officers’ Reports for the past year.
The election of the Officers and General Committee for the forthcoming year.
9.2 Notification of the Annual General Meeting should be given to members at least 21 days before the meeting is set to take place.
9.3 Nominations for Officers and the General Committee must be posted no later than 7 days before the commencement of the Annual General Meeting.
9.4 Each nomination shall require one proposer and one second, who shall be full members of the club.
9.5 No one who has been a member of the club for a period of less than 12 months may be nominated.
9.6 A quorum for the Annual General Meeting shall be 9 members of the club.
9.7 In the event that no person is voted into a post or of resignation from a post, the Chair shall undertake the duties until such time as the post is filled. Elections to fill such a vacant post should take place at a General meeting and shall be subject to the same rules as per the Annual General Meeting.
Finance
10.1 The financial year of the club shall operate from 1st February to 31st January each year.
10.2 The club shall charge entrance fees to members and non-members for each session.
10.3 Entrance fees shall be reviewed by the club’s Officers and General Committee on an annual basis.
10.4 The Treasurer shall provide detailed income and expenditure accounts as required.
10.5 Budgets and items of expenditure shall be determined by the Officers and General Committee, except where they choose to delegate such powers to the discretion of the Treasurer.
10.6 No person shall receive at the expense of the club any commission, percentage, honorarium, or similar payment.
Health and Safety
11.1 The club recognises its duty of care to its members and shall do all that is reasonably practicable to provide a healthy and safe environment.
11.2 The club shall take out annual Public Liability Insurance.
The Constitution
12.1 The Constitution shall only be altered by consent of two-thirds majority of the full members of the club present at an Annual or other General meeting.
12.2 The Constitution shall be binding on the club’s Officers and members from 15th February 2022.
12.3 From 15th February 2022 all other Manchester Prairie Dogs Line Dance Club Constitutions are hereby revoked.
This Constitution has been approved in accordance with 12.1 above and accepted as the Constitution for the Prairie Dogs Line Dance Club.
Signed ………………………………………………. Chair
Signed ………………………………………………. Secretary
This 15th Day of February 2022.
Changes from the previous Constitution (March 2013)
2.1 “for the LGBTQ+” replaces “for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender”
3.1 added “gender identity”
3.2 added “membership criteria”
4.1 “them” replaces “him or her”
6.6 the club will no longer keep member’s addresses
12.2/12.3 15th February 2022 replaces 5th February 2013