Constitution

Constitution

  1. Name

    The name of the organisation shall be Sei-Do-Kan Karate hereinafter referred to as the ‘Club’.

  2. Objectives

    The Club is established to pursue the following objectives:

    1. Participation in the sport of martial arts, particularly karate, hereinafter referred to as the ‘sport’.
    2. The organisation, management and development of Sei-Do-Kan Karate for all members of the Club.
    3. The provision of training facilities for its members.
    4. Promoting and maintaining the highest standards of technical competence and safety in karate.
    5. Upholding the rules of karate.
    6. Providing equal opportunities for successful participation by all sections of the community.
    7. The promotion of the martial arts.

  3. Affiliation

    The Club shall be affiliated to the English Karate Federation (the EKF) which is the National Governing Body (the NGB), through the British Karate Association (the BKA).

  4. Membership

    All members are subject to the Constitution of the Club and the regulations of the National Governing Body.

    1. Membership of the Club is open to all individuals provided they comply with this Constitution.
    2. No person shall be refused membership on the grounds of race, colour, creed, religion, sex, sexual preference, impairment or disability.
    3. All completed application forms for membership shall be accompanied by the appropriate annual membership fee, which shall thereafter be payable on demand.
    4. Each fully paid up member shall be entitled to attend and vote at General or Annual General Meetings.
    5. Fully paid up members may be elected and serve on the Management Committee.
    6. All members will have access to a copy of the relevant Code of Conduct, a copy of the Club’s Child Protection Policy and a copy of the Constitution.
    7. Members shall be enrolled in one of the following categories:
      Full Member
      Junior member
      Honorary Member
      Interim Member
    8. All new students must become members of the club within four weeks and pay the relevant membership fee. The fee is determined at the AGM by the membership.
    9. No individual member or group of members will take any form of payment for their services to the Club; all work done is to be done on a Voluntary basis. Reasonable expenses will be reimbursed subject to the approval of the Committee.
    10. All ‘Non Members’ of the club voted onto the committee by the membership will immediately become honorary members of the club. Note A membership form MUST be completed, but no fee will be given. This membership shall be forfeit upon leaving the committee.
    11. All New Members of the club are considered ‘Interim Members’ until they have received their first licence. Interim Members are not able to vote at General Meetings. Any Full Members not present at the club for a period of six months shall revert to ‘Interim Member’ status until the following Annual General Meeting.

  5. Officers

    1. The executive officers of the club shall be as follows:
      • Chief Instructor – Honorary Post
      • Club Welfare Officer
      • Club Secretary
    2. The Club Welfare Officer shall have been CRB checked.
    3. The Technical Committee shall consist of the Chief Instructor and two senior instructors. The Technical Committee may, by vote, appoint more members to the Technical Committee as long as they hold a minimum grade of 1st Dan. The Technical Committee shall be responsible for ALL aspects of training and assessment within the club.
    4. There shall be a Non-Executive officer to fill the role of Librarian who will be responsible for maintaining a record of relevant reference resource material owned by Club members.

  6. Election of Officers

    1. The Chief Instructor shall be an honorary post and be awarded to the highest grade applicable, unless decided by a majority decision of members.

  7. General Committee

    1. The Chief Instructor shall be an honorary post and be awarded to the highest grade applicable unless decided by a majority decision of members.
    2. The duties of the General Committee shall be:
      1. To Control the affairs of the club on behalf of the Members.
      2. To keep accurate accounts of the finances of the club through the Treasurer. These should be available for reasonable inspection by Members and should be checked before every Annual General Meeting.
      3. To co-opt additional members to the committee as the committee feels this is necessary. Co-opted members shall not be entitled to a vote on the committee.
      4. To make decisions on the basis of a simple majority vote.

  8. General Meetings

    1. The Annual General Meeting of the club shall be held annually. 21 clear days notice shall be given to Members at training sessions and by posting the notice on the club website. Members must advise the Club Secretary in writing of any business to be moved at the Annual General Meeting at least 14 days before a meeting. The General Secretary shall circulate or give notice of the agenda for the meeting to Members not less than 7 days before the meeting.
    2. The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be to:
      1. Confirm the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting and any General Meetings held since the last Annual General Meeting.
      2. Health and Safety.
      3. Receive the accounts for the year from the Treasurer.
      4. Receive the annual report from the Club Secretary.
      5. Receive the annual report for the year from the Chief Instructor.
      6. Elect the Officers of the Club.
      7. Review Club rates and agree them for the forthcoming year.
      8. Transact such other business received in writing by the Club Secretary from members 14 days prior to the meeting and included on the agenda.
      9. Any Other Business.

  9. Licences

    1. All new Club members must hold a valid EKF recognised Licence within 10 lessons or 10 weeks (whichever is sooner) of becoming Club Members.
    2. Each member must hold a valid up to date licence which includes 3rd Party Insurance cover with the EKF at all times.
    3. Club Members are responsible for renewing their own licence with the designated Karate Governing Body or its affiliated subsidiary.
    4. The Club does not issue licences directly, though it reserves the right to do so.

  10. Liability

    1. Neither the club nor its members shall be liable for any loss of or damage to any property belonging to its members, or any event not covered by the applicable members insurance in force at that time.

  11. Complaints and disagreements

    1. All disagreements and complaints regarding any member will be brought to the attention of the Club Committee as soon as possible.
    2. No member will enter into discussion with an outside party without first advising the Club of the same, and will not bring the Club into disrepute, or make agreements with outside bodies concerning the same. Anybody raising a complaint or issue for discussion will also adhere to the same.

  12. Alterations to the Constitution

    1. Any proposed alterations to the Club Constitution (this document) may only be considered at an Annual or Special General Meeting, convened with the required written notice of the proposal. Any alteration or amendment must be proposed by a Full Member of the Club and seconded by another Full Member. Such alterations shall be passed if supported by not less than two-thirds of those Full Members present at the meeting, assuming that a quorum has been achieved.

  13. Dissolution

    1. If at any General Meeting of the Club, a resolution be passed calling for the dissolution of the club, the Club Secretary shall immediately convene a Special General Meeting of the Club to be held not less than one month thereafter to discuss and vote on the resolution.
    2. If at that Special General Meeting, the resolution is carried by at least two-thirds of the Full Members present at the meeting, the General Committee shall thereupon, or at such date as shall have been specified in the resolution, proceed to realise the assets of the Club and discharge all debts and liabilities of the Club.
    3. After discharging all debts and liabilities of the Club, the remaining assets shall not be paid or distributed amongst the Full Members of the Club, but shall be given or transferred to some other voluntary organisation having objects similar to those of the club or approved sporting or charitable purposes.

  14. Declaration

  15. It is hereby certified that this document represents a true and most up to date version of the Constitution of Sei Do Kan Karate Club. Approved and signed by Chief Instructor and Chairman on behalf of the Committee.

The above statements are seen to be accepted by ALL members upon joining the Club.
THIS CONSTITUTION IS MADE TO MAINTAIN THE MARTIAL ARTS SPIRIT