Constitution
IUSA Constitution
1. Name
The name of the association shall be the Irish Universities Sailing Association (IUSA).
2. OBJECTS
The objects of IUSA shall be the promotion and development of student sailing, the organising of championships and qualifying competitions and the selection and administration of national teams.
3. CONSTITUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION
(a) The association shall consist of the following:
1. The Officers
The President
2. The Officers of IUSA all of whom must be full time students at the time of their initial election.
The Chairman
The Team Racing Co-ordinator
The Publicity Officer
The Honorary Treasurer
All Officers of IUSA will be ex-officio members of all committees.
3. Men's and Women's Teams Captains
4. Committee members
5. The Clubs in full membership
6. Associate members
(b) Offices will be held for the following periods:
President, Senior Treasurer: 2 years
All other positions will be subject to annual election.
4. MEMBERSHIP
(a) Membership of IUSA shall be confined to sailing clubs of Higher Education Establishments (HEE) or constituent colleges, hereinafter grouped under the heading "Sailing Clubs".
(b) The term constituent college shall be deemed to mean those colleges, which the governing body of the HEE regards as having the status of a full HEE.
(c) The interpretation of 4b and acceptance or rejection of application of membership shall be determined by the General Committee of IUSA. The IUSA committee students may allow a number of smaller colleges to sail under one banner
(d) Full membership shall entitle a club to participate in each and all of the activities of IUSA.
(e) Associated membership of IUSA shall be confined to ex-students who are past members of an HEE sailing club and former Senior Officers of IUSA.
5. FINANCIAL REGULATIONS
(a) The income of IUSA shall be used solely for the furtherance of the objects of IUSA as outlined in clause 2.
(b)
(i) In the event of disabandement of IUSA, all available assets after discharge of all liabilities shall be distributed among its members in such a manner and subject to such conditions as the General Committee may, in its sole discretion, deem to be fair and reasonable.
(ii) In the event of disabandemant and there being insufficient funds to meet liabilities, such deficit shall me met by the members, again in such a manner as the General Committee shall determine.
(c) No officer shall be liable for a bona fide debt incurred on behalf of IUSA and shall not be liable for any loss or damage incurred by IUSA in the execution of his office or in relation thereto.
(d) Sailing clubs shall pay an entrance fee of such a sum, as members in the general meeting shall from time to time prescribe. The entrance fee may waived at the discretion of the General Committee in the case of members rejoining IUSA after a period of absence.
(e) Annual subscription shall be payable on joining and on the first day of October each year, the amount being set by the Annual General Meeting, proposed by the Hon. Treasurer.
(f) The General Committee is authorised to levy such additional charges as may necessary to cover IUSA's liability to tax.
(g) Any sailing club that has not paid their subscription by December 31st shall be requested to pay within one month and failure to do so shall mean their name being removed from the list of members.
(h) A sailing club's name shall be restored at the discretion of the IUSA General Committee.
(i) No member in any year shall be entitled to exercise any rights of membership until the entry fee and subscription for that year and all arrears ( if any) are paid.
6. MANAGEMENT OF IUSA
The management of IUSA shall be vested in the officers of the General Committee and regional committees and shall be conducted in accordance with the constitution and attached standing orders.
7. GENERAL COMMITTEE
(a) The General Committee shall consist of:
The Officers
The co-opted Chairmen / Co-ordinators Co-opted members of whom there shall be no more than four at any one time.( Normally, one will the Chairman of the Championships Organising Committee).
Club captains and Secetary's/Tresurer/Vice-Captain
(b) No more than three officers or members of the General Committee shall be from the same club.
(c) The General Committee shall meet at least three times in every year, preferably in September, January and April, or as decided by the General Committee.
8. CONDUCT OF GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETINGS
(a) The place of the next meeting for the General Committee shall be decided at each meeting.
(b) The quorum for the General Committee shall be five members including one Officer.
(c) The General Committee may at any time convene a special General Meeting of IUSA and shall do so upon the request of not less than five members as defined in clause 4 to consider such matters as shall be stated in the notice of requisition provided that in either case one months notice shall be given.
(d) Observers may attend the General Committee meetings at the invitation of the General Committee, but shall only be accorded speaking rights if this is agreed by the voting members prior to commencing with the agenda. The meeting reserves the right to enter closed session at any time.
9. ALTERATION OF THE CONSTITUTION
No amendment or addition to this constitution shall be made unless it appears on the agenda and is passed by a simple majority of the representatives present at the AGM and in the case of amendments relating to finance there shall be a four fifths majority of representatives present and entitled to vote.
10 AREAS AND LEAGUES
(a) The championships and areas will be defined from time to time by the General Committee and ratified by the members at the AGM.
(b) Each regional committee will prepare a constitution that will be approved by the AGM. This will include the local events to be supported and financial arrangements for the region.
(c) Election of regional officers shall be held prior to the IUSA AGM for the year.
(d) It shall be the business of the regional committees to:
i) undertake the organisation of their regional championships.
ii) ensure that results are returned to the Publicity Officer by dates set by the General Committee.
iii) provide the General Committee with an annual report to include details of matches completed and the region's financial position.
11. OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS
(a) The laws of the constitution shall be binding on the members and membership shall be deemed to be an acceptance of the constitution and the rule and regulations governing Championships and Leagues organised by IUSA.
(b) Every member of a club in membership with IUSA undertakes to comply with any regulations made by the General Committee and a refusal or neglect to do so or any conduct which in the opinion of the General Committee is either unworthy or injurious to the interest of IUSA shall render that person liable to exclusion by the General Committee form any IUSA event, providing that before excluding them, the committee shall call upon them to give an explanation of their conduct and shall give them an opportunity of defending themselves.
(c) The vote of a resolution of exclusion shall only be carried if not less than two thirds of the General Committee present vote in favour of the resolution.
12. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
(a) The Annual General Meeting shall be held at the IUSA Team Racing Championships.
(b) The Officers and all the members of IUSA shall have the right to speak at the AGM, but only the President, the Officers and the representatives of sailing clubs in full membership shall be entitled to vote.
(c) Each sailing club shall be entitled to two votes. However only if at least two members of that club are present.
(d) The Officers shall be entitled to one vote.
(e) The Presidant shall be entitled to a casting vote when necessary.
(f) The quorum for the AGM shall be 12 representatives or 25% of sailing clubs, whichever is lesser.
(g) Any article for discussion or inclusion on the Agenda shall be sent in writing to the secretary by the end of February, or two months prior to the meeting.
(h) The agenda shall be sent to all members at least 14 days before the meeting.
(i) Emergency business - items must be submitted to the Chairman before commencing the meeting. Decisions will only be made on this business if the voting members agree to this by a two thirds majority of those present and voting.
(j) Voting on any matter than elections shall be by show of hands with tellers appointed by the Chairman.
(k) Candidates shall be elected by ballot. A simple majority of the members attending the meeting shall be necessary for the election of a candidate.
(l) The General Committee shall submit proposals for the format of the following years Championships ( Team, Match, Yacht, and Dinghy Racing). These proposals shall be accepted unless counter proposals are put forward as in clause 12g.
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