Club Rules

The current Harrogate Rambling Club Rules are listed below. For a printable copy, click here (opens in a new window).

1. Name

2. Objects

3. Constitution

4. Membership

5. Subscription

6. Finance

7. Management

8. Election of Committee

9. Annual General Meeting

10. Extraordinary General Meeting

11. Rambles and Social Events

12. Alteration of Rules

13. Dissolution of the Club

1. NAME

The name of the Club shall be the "Harrogate Rambling Club".

2. OBJECTS

To organise Rambles, Social Events, etc of interest to Members; to support the activities of the Ramblers Association, The National Trust and similar bodies concerned with the enjoyments and preservation of the countryside.

3. CONSTITUTION

The Club shall be controlled by a Committee elected by the Members and managed in accordance with these Rules. A copy of these Rules shall be available to any Member upon application to the Secretary.

4. MEMBERSHIP

Membership of the Club shall be open to all who are in sympathy with its objects, and shall take effect on payment of the appropriate subscription.

Members who have a record of meritorious service rendered to the Club by serving on Committee or in other ways or have had continuous membership for not less than 20 years shall, having reached the age of 80, be granted honorary lifetime membership.

The Committee shall have the power to terminate the membership of any Member without giving any reason for so doing. Written notice of such decision shall be sent to the Member.

Persons attending programmed walks either prior to taking out full membership or during a visit to the area shall automatically become Temporary members. Temporary membership shall apply for a period covering the first two walks to intending Members and two weeks for Visitors.

Non-members are welcome at any of the Club's other activities, eg social functions, during which time they shall automatically become Temporary members. Payment of a contribution to costs shall be made when appropriate Priority shall be given to Members when numbers are limited.

5. SUBSCRIPTION

The amount shall be determined by Members at the Annual General Meeting and shall be payable on 1^st January in each financial year or in the case of new members at the date of joining, except that in the case of Members joining between 1^st November and 31^st December in any year, the first subscription shall be deemed to cover the period from the date of joining to 31^st December in the following year.

Any membership not renewed by 31^st January of the same year shall be deemed to have lapsed

Application from new and lapsed Members shall be subject to a joining fee, the amount of which shall be determined by Members at the Annual General Meeting.

6. FINANCE

The financial year of the Club shall end on 31^st August in each year.

The Membership Secretary shall maintain a record of all Members and subscriptions received and shall forward all subscription payments to the Treasurer. The Treasurer shall keep accounts of all monies received and paid and these shall be audited or examined and presented to the Members at the Annual General Meeting in each year.

The funds of the Club shall be deposited in an account with a High Street bank and/or a recognised Building Society, each to be approved by the Committee.

Payments are to be made by cheque, which must be signed by any two from the President, Vice President, General Secretary and Treasurer.

The Treasurer shall be authorised to view the Club's account via the Internet.

Reimbursement shall be made, should they so wish, of bona fide expenses incurred by the organiser and up to three walk leaders for Coach Rambles, Holidays and Club functions other than programmed walks. Claims for telephone calls, photocopying, postage, printing and stationery, fuel, parking and maps, if not held in the Club Library (which will become Club property), should be supported by receipts, wherever possible.

An additional contribution may be made to the organiser of Club Holidays, subject to the President's advance agreement, for the following: PR material/guides and/or services of local leaders and overnight accommodation should the organiser need to travel a day early to facilitate arrangements.

7. MANAGEMENT

The affairs of the Club, including Finance, shall be conducted by a Committee of eleven Members, consisting of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Programme Secretary, Membership Secretary (all of whom are hereafter referred to as the Officers) and five other Members.

The President shall act as Chair of all meetings of the Club or Committee, or in his/her absence, the Vice President or a Members selected by those present. Six Members of the Committee shall form a quorum.

The Committee shall have the power to co-opt other Members as deemed necessary.

Committee meetings shall be held on dates fixed by the Committee and all resolutions shall be decided by a majority vote of Members present. In the event of a tie, the Chair shall have the casting vote.

All Members of the Committee, including the Officers, shall retire each year at the Annual General Meeting. Members who have served for three consecutive years will not be eligible for re-election Notwithstanding that they have served a continuous three year period, any member of the Committee, including the Officers, shall be eligible to be elected to the post of President. Any Members of the Committee, excluding the officers, shall be eligible to be elected to the posts of Secretary, Treasurer, Programme Secretary or Membership Secretary, which offices then shall not be held for more than three consecutive years.

8. ELECTION OF COMMITTEE

Any two Members of the Club shall be entitled to nominate a Member to serve as an Officer or Committee Member.

The name of any Member so nominated shall be sent in writing to the Secretary at least thirty days before the date of the Annual General Meeting, accompanied by an assurance that the candidate will consent to act if elected.

If more than one nomination is received for any Office or more than five are received for Committee Members, an election shall be held by secret ballot at the Annual General Meeting.

In the event that insufficient nominations are received in writing before the Annual General Meeting, Chair may accept verbal nominations from Members present at the Annual General Meeting

9. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held in October each year on a date fixed by the Committee and published in the August to November Programme.

The business to be transacted at such meeting shall include

· Receiving the reports of the Secretary, Treasurer, Programme Secretary and the Membership Secretary on the year's activities,

· Receiving the audited or examined accounts of the Club for the financial year ended on 31st August and to determine the subscriptions payable by Members for the following year,

· Electing an Auditor or Examiner for the following year;

· Electing the Officers of the Club and five other Committee Members for the ensuing year,

· Any other business. Items for inclusion in the Agenda must be received by the Secretary, in writing, at least thirty days before the date of the Annual General Meeting.

10. EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING

An Extraordinary General Meeting of the Club shall be called

by a Resolution of the Committee.

or,

on the request of any ten Members, in writing, to the Secretary

In either case the business to be discussed shall be specified.

Notice of such meeting shall be sent to every Member within twenty eight days of receipt of such requisition, giving at least fourteen days' notice of the date of the Meeting and only the business specified in such notice shall be considered.

11. RAMBLES AND SOCIAL EVENTS

The Programme Secretary shall be responsible for the preparation of the syllabus of events which, after approval by the Committee, shall be printed and circulated to all Members Leaders of Rambles and organisers of Social Events shall be responsible to the Committee for the efficient conduct of those activities. Every Member shall receive a copy of the Club's activities and all other communications authorised by the Committee.

12. ALTERATION OF RULES

These Rules shall only be amended by a Resolution from Members present and voting at an Annual General Meeting or an Extraordinary General Meeting called for the purpose Notice of suggested alterations must be given to the Secretary in writing at least twenty eight days before the date of the General Meeting. The Secretary must give at least fourteen days' notice of such General Meeting to all Members, specifying the alterations proposed.

13. DISSOLUTION OF THE CLUB

In the event of the dissolution of the Club, all remaining funds and/or assets should pass to the Ramblers’ Association.

Rules adopted at the Annual General Meeting held on 22 October 1974

Amendments made at Annual General Meetings on 10 October 1997, 13 October 2000, 5 October 2001 and 10 October 2005

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