Good Afternoon Gentlemen
We would like to propose the following rule changes at the AGM 2024.
The proposed rule changes will be read out and the members can comment on before a vote on each proposed change.
The proposed changes reflect an increase in Honorary and Life Members failing to visit the club at all and/or not picking up their new yearly membership cards. The only way we can truly check if these members wish to remain a member of the club is to request that they must pick up their new membership card annually themselves or arrange for it to be picked up by another.
Current rule:
(6) Honorary Members. The Committee shall have the right to elect as Honorary Members any Member who they consider has rendered special service to the Club. Honorary Members shall not be liable to pay subscriptions under the Rule 8 but shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges of the Club Membership including the rights to attend meetings, vote at election and be nominated for Committee or any other Office.
Proposed rule:
(6) Honorary Members. The Committee shall have the right to elect as Honorary Members any Member who they consider has rendered special service to the Club. Honorary Members shall not be liable to pay subscriptions under the Rule 8 but shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges of the Club Membership including the rights to attend meetings, vote at election and be nominated for Committee or any other Office. Honorary Members must still collect their new membership card each year to prove they would like their Membership to continue. Honorary Members cards can be collected by an appointed other. Failure to collect the Membership Card will result in non membership.
Current rule:
(7) Life Members. Life membership shall be automatically granted to any current member who, on the 1st January enters the top 25 current members with the longest continual membership. Life Members shall not be liable to pay subscriptions under the Rule 8 but shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges of the Club Membership including the rights to attend meetings, vote at election and be nominated for Committee or any other Office.
Proposed rule:
(7) Life Members. Life membership shall be automatically granted to any current member who, on the 1st January enters the top 25 current members with the longest continual membership. Life Members shall not be liable to pay subscriptions under the Rule 8 but shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges of the Club Membership including the rights to attend meetings, vote at election and be nominated for Committee or any other Office. Life Members must still collect their new membership card each year to prove they would like their Life Membership to continue. Life Members cards can be collected by an appointed other. Failure to collect the Membership Card will result in non membership.
Rule change to allow an increase the Membership Fees as and when needed, by Committee approval.
Current Rule:
8. SUBSCRIPTION. Every Member of the Club (other than Honorary and Life Members) shall pay a Subscription of £25 or such lesser amount as has been decided by the Members at a General Meeting of the Club. The Subscription becomes due on the first day of January annually. There will be no Subscription payable by Honorary or Life Members. A £5 charge for late payment of a Subscription (or Subscription Renewal) will be applied after 31st January 2018
Proposed rule:
8. SUBSCRIPTION. Every Member of the Club (other than Honorary and Life Members) shall pay a Subscription of £50 or such lesser amount as has been decided by the Members at a General Meeting of the Club. The Subscription becomes due on the first day of January annually. There will be no Subscription payable by Honorary or Life Members. A £5 charge for late payment of a Subscription (or Subscription Renewal) will be applied after 31st January 2018
The following rule needs to be suspended until such time that the committee deem an external auditor is required. As you may recall, at last years membership it was proposed that we look at alternatives to having an external auditor. No objections were noted at that time.
Suspend the following rule:
21. AUDITOR. (1) The Club shall in each year of account, appoint a qualified Auditor. For the purpose of this Rule “qualified Auditor” means a person who is qualified under Section 36 of the Friendly Societies Act 1974. (2) Save as provided in paragraph (3) of this Rule, every appointment of an Auditor shall be made by resolution of a General Meeting of the Club.
(3) The Committee may appoint an Auditor to fill any casual vacancy occurring between General Meetings of the Club.
(4) A qualified Auditor appointed to audit the accounts of the Club and its balance sheet for the preceding year of accounts (whether by a General Meeting or by the Committee) shall be re-appointed as Auditor of the Club for the current year of accounts (whether or not any Resolution expressly appointing him has been passed) unless:
(a) A Resolution has been passed at a General Meeting of the Club appointing somebody instead of him or providing expressly that he shall not be re-appointed
or
(b) He has given to the Club notice in writing of his unwillingness to be re-appointed
or
(c) He is ineligible for appointment as Auditor of the Club for the current year of account or
(d) He has ceased to act as Auditor of the Club by reason of incapacity
Provided that a retiring auditor shall not be automatically re-appointed by virtue of his notice of an intended resolution to appoint another person in his place has been given in accordance with Paragraph 5 of this rule and the resolution cannot be proceeded with because of the death, incapacity or ineligibility of that other person.
(5) A Resolution at a General Meeting of the Club
(i) Appointing another person as an Auditor in place of the retiring Qualified Auditor
or
(ii) Providing expressly that a retiring Auditor shall not be re-appointed, shall not be effective unless notice of the intention to move it has been given to the Club not less than twenty eight days before the Meeting at which it is moved. On receipt by the Club of notice of the intention to move such Resolution, the Club shall give notice of a Resolution to the Members in accordance with Section 34 of the Friendly Societies Act 1974. The Club shall also give notice to the retiring Auditor in accordance with Section 35 of the Friendly Societies Act I974 and shall give notice to the Members in accordance with that section of any representation made or intended to be made by the retiring Auditor.
(6) None of the following persons shall be appointed as Auditor of the Club:
(a) An Officer or Servant of the Club
(b) A person who is a partner of or in employment of or who employs an Officer or Servant of the Club
(c) A Body Corporate
(7) The auditor shall, in accordance with Section 38 of the Friendly Societies Act l974 make a report to the Club on the accounts examined by him and on the revenue account or accounts and the balance sheet of the Club for the year of accounts to respect of which he is appointed.
Change required to remove the auditor note.
Current Rule:
22. ANNUAL RETURNS. Every year before the 1st June the Secretary of the Club shall send to the Registrar an Annual Return relating to its affairs for the period required to be included in the Return. The Return shall be made up for the period beginning with the 1st January of the year preceding the year in which the Return is required to be sent and ending with the 31st December than last inclusively.
The Return must be made in the form prescribed by the Chief Registrar and contain such particulars as may from time to time be required by the form. A copy of the Report of the Auditor on the accounts and balance sheet contained in the Return must be sent with the Annual Return. The Secretary shall supply gratuitously to every Member or Persons interested in the Funds of the Club on application either a copy of the last Annual Returns or a balance sheet or other documents duly audited containing the same particulars relating to the affairs of the Club as are contained in the Annual Return together with a copy of the Report of the Auditor on the Annual Return or his Report on the balance sheet or other documents supplied in lieu of the Annual Return.
Proposed Rule:
22. ANNUAL RETURNS. Every year before the 1st June the Secretary of the Club shall send to the Registrar an Annual Return relating to its affairs for the period required to be included in the Return. The Return shall be made up for the period beginning with the 1st January of the year preceding the year in which the Return is required to be sent and ending with the 31st December than last inclusively.
The Return must be made in the form prescribed by the Chief Registrar and contain such particulars as may from time to time be required by the form. The Secretary shall supply gratuitously to every Member or Persons interested in the Funds of the Club on application either a copy of the last Annual Returns or a balance sheet or other documents containing the same particulars relating to the affairs of the Club as are contained in the Annual Return and his Report on the balance sheet or other documents supplied in lieu of the Annual Return. **** End of proposed rule changes ****
That's All For Now!!
Kind Regards
Dave Alder
Club Secretary | 
