The name of the club shall be "The South Coast Garda Sailing Club” (hereinafter referred to in the rules as "the club").

The object for which the club is formed is to promote and facilitate the sport of sailing within An Garda Siochana. Also to provide social and other facilities for members as may be from time to time determined.

That the club will foster through the venture sport of sailing the qualities of character building, leadership and team playing.

While primarily for members of all ranks of An Garda Siochana, the club shall also be open to non members of An Garda Siochana.

Officers shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting in each year, and shall hold office for one year, retiring at the termination of the Annual General Meeting in each year. Members shall not stand for and be elected as Commodore for more than two terms. Members shall not stand for and be elected as an Officer of the Club for more than three terms and a member shall not serve as an Officer or as a committee member for more than 5 years before standing down for at least one term. Notwithstanding this rule, an outgoing Commodore who having served 5 years on the Committee, may stand for one additional term only as Commodore. The position of Vice Commodore will be elected from a member of the Committee and will serve until the termination of the next following Annual General Meeting.

2.1.1

Commodore.

2.1.2

Vice Commodore.

2.1.3

Honorary Secretary.

2.1.4

Honorary Treasurer.

2.2.1

Keep a register of club member's names and addresses.

2.2.2

Conduct the correspondence of the club.

2.2.3

Keep custody of all documents.

2.2.4

Keep full minutes of all meetings of the Club, the committee and sub-committees which shall be confirmed and signed by the appropriate chairman upon the agreement of the club, the committee or sub - committee at the next following meeting of the club, the committee or subcommittee.

2.2.5

Administer such insurance policy or policies as may be needed to fully protect the interest of the club, its officers or members.

2.3.1

Cause such books of account to be kept as are necessary to give a true and fair view of the state of the finances of the club.

2.3.2

Cause returns as may be required by law in relation to such accounts to be rendered at the due time.

2.3.3

Prepare an Annual Balance Sheet in each year and cause such balance sheet (and account as necessary) to be audited at least once annually, and thereafter cause it to be communicated to the members of the club, at least 14 days prior to any General Meeting.

2.4.1

Be full members of the club, but not either an Officer or member of the Committee.

2.4.2

Audit the accounts of the club when called upon to do so, and give such certificate of assurance as to the accuracy of the said accounts as shall be required by law or the committee.

2.4.3

If either is unwilling or unable to act, inform the committee who shall appoint a substitute to hold office until the termination of the next Annual General Meeting.

Membership.

There shall be the following categories of membership

Full Member

Family Member

Honorary Member

Associate Member

Temporary Member

Membership of the South Coast Garda Sailing Club shall be open to all members of An Garda Siochana (the term member of An Garda Siochana shall also include retired members of An Garda Siochana) and their families. Membership is also open to non-members of An Garda Siochana provided that, the proportion of non-Garda members shall not exceed one third of the membership at any one time.

Persons applying for Full Membership of the club must submit an application form to the Hon. Secretary which will be put forward for proposal, seconding and approval at a meeting of the Committee

A Full Member being a person either Garda or non-Garda who has been appointed a member of the Club at the AGM, is over the age of eighteen and shall have one vote.

A Family Member - which expression shall include one or two parents (as may be) and all children less than 18 years of age or who are in full time education. The family unit shall have one vote

An Honorary Member - who shall be nominated and elected in the manner described in rule 10.10 and shall have one vote.

An Associate Member - applicants for full membership shall initially be appointed Associate members. An associate member shall have no vote at a meeting of the club.

The Committee may nominate for approval as Full Member such Associate Members as it feels appropriate at the AGM, subject to the conditions of rule 3.2 being satisfied.

A Temporary Member - who shall have no vote. A temporary member shall only be a member of the club for the duration of a voyage

Membership entrance and subscription fees.

The rate of Entrance, Subscription and sailing fee for each category of Membership shall be proposed by the committee to the members at the Annual General Meeting in each year. Any proposed change shall be approved by a majority of those present and entitled to vote and shall become operative at a date determined by the committee.

Members shall also pay to the treasurer or his agent prior to any voyage any sailing fee. Such payment to be entered on the relevant log aboard the clubs yacht.

Every member shall furnish to the Hon Secretary with an up to date address which shall be recorded in the register of members and any notice sent to such address shall be deemed to have been duly delivered.

Every candidate for membership (except candidates for honorary membership) shall be proposed and seconded for election by a full or family member of the club both of whom must be personally aquatinted with the candidate.

An application for membership shall be in the form from time to time prescribed by the committee and shall include the name, address and occupation of the candidate and the signatures of the proposer and seconder.

Upon receipt of an application for membership, the Secretary shall bring such application to the notice of the Committee at the next Committee meeting. The election of all classes of membership is vested in the committee. On the application for membership being successful the secretary shall furnish to such candidate a copy of the club Constitution and rules. He shall also make a request for such payments as are necessary.

Upon election a candidate shall pay within one calendar month such entrance fee as shall be requested. In default of such payment the election shall be void, unless sufficient cause for delay be shown.

A member who, for any reason anticipates inability to use the club or its facilities for the whole or part of any one year, may be excused payment of the annual subscription or other annual fee, or portion of the subscription or fee as may be decided by the Committee, provided that notice is given to the Hon Secretary in writing.

A member desirous of retiring from membership shall give notice in writing to the Hon Secretary and shall not then be liable to pay the subscription. Upon re-application by a past member the committee, may at its discretion, excuse payment of an entrance fee.

The committee may cancel, without notice being given, the membership of any member whose annual subscription and other annual fee are more than three months in arrears provided that the committee may at its discretion, re-instate such member upon receipt of arrears. No member whose annual payments are in arrears may vote at any meeting.

Every member, upon election and thereafter, is deemed to have notice of, and implicitly undertakes to comply with, the club rules and the current Byelaws and regulations of the club.

Any refusal, or neglect, or any conduct which in the opinion of the committee, is either unworthy of a member or otherwise injurious to the interests of the club, shall render the member liable to expulsion or other such sanction as may be decided by the committee. Provided that, before expelling a member, the Committee shall call upon such member for a written explanation of the members conduct and shall give the member full opportunity of making explanation to the committee, or of resignation. A resolution to expel a member shall be carried by a simple majority of the Committee present and voting on the resolution. Notice of expulsion will be issued by the Secretary to the member to be expelled by registered post.

In any situation where the Committee invokes the terms of paragraph 6.2 of this constitution, the member to be expelled may appeal the decision of the Committee to a General Meeting of the Club. The General Meeting will be called under the terms of paragraph 11.4 of this constitution. The member to be expelled will submit the written request referred to in paragraph 11.4 to the Secretary within 10 days of the date of the issue of the notice of expulsion.

The club vessel or vessels may not leave any berth unless it is under the command of a qualified Skipper. A qualified Skipper is a person who is the holder of a "Yacht Master Coastal Certificate" or higher qualification, and who has been approved to command the club vessel or vessels by the Committee.

Guests and notices.

Members shall enter the names of all guests who will hold the status of temporary membership in the form as laid down from time to time by the committee. The same guest or temporary member may not be introduced for more than 3 times in any calendar year except with the permission of the committee.

A member shall not cause any communication in whatever form to be exhibited on club property without the permission of the club committee or the Captain of the vessel while she is under his command.

Members, their guests and visitors are bound by the following rules, which shall also be exhibited in a prominent place on the clubs property. Members of the club, their guests or visitors may use the club premises and any other facility of the club, entirely at their own risk and implicitly accept that:

8.1.1

The club will not accept any liability for any damage to or loss of property belonging to members their guests or visitors to the club.

8.1.2

The club will not accept any liability for personal injury arising out of the use of the club premises, yacht, ferry and any other facility of the club, either sustained by members, their guests or visitors or caused by the said members, their guests or visitors, whether or not such damage or injury could have been attributed to negligence of any of the Officers, Committee, or servants of the club.

The Committee shall consist of the four Officers and not less than five full or family members of the club elected at the Annual General Meeting or Committee meeting as the case may be.

Members of the Committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting in each year and shall hold office for one year, retiring at the termination of the Annual General Meeting in each year. Members shall not stand for election as a committee member for more than 5 years before standing down for at least one term.

Candidates for election to the Committee, (not being Officers of the club) shall be those members of the retiring Committee, eligible to offer themselves for re-election. Such other Full or Family members whose nomination (duly proposed and seconded in writing by full or family members of the club) with their consent shall have been received by the Hon Secretary at the beginning of the AGM.

If the number of candidates for election is greater than the number of vacancies to be filled then there shall be a secret ballot. Simple majority shall determine the result.

If the number of candidates for election is equal to or less than the number of vacancies to be filled then all candidates shall be deemed to be elected if two thirds of those present at the Annual General Meeting, and entitled to vote, vote in favour of such election.

In the event of the ballot failing to determine the members of the Committee because of an equality of votes the candidate or candidates to be elected from those having an equal number of votes shall be determined by lot.

If for any reason, a casual vacancy shall occur, the Committee may co-opt a full or family member until the next Annual General Meeting.

A retiring Commodore may serve as an ex officio member of the committee in the year immediately following his retirement.

The Committee shall meet at least every two months making such arrangements as to the conduct, place of assembly and holding of such meetings as it may wish. The Commodore or in his absence the Vice Commodore shall preside. In the absence of both Commodore and Vice Commodore the Committee will elect from among its members a Chairperson.

Voting (except in the case of a resolution relating to the expulsion of a member) shall be by show of hands. In the case of equality of votes the Commodore or in his absence the Vice Commodore or a chairman (as the case may be) shall have a second and casting vote.

Five members personally present shall form a quorum at a meeting of the Committee.

The Committee shall manage the affairs of the club according to the rules and shall cause funds of the club to be applied solely to the objects of the club or for any other purpose as decided by the AGM.

The Committee shall make such Byelaws and Regulations, as it shall from time to time think fit and shall cause same to be available on the Clubs yacht and furnished to members. Such Byelaws and Regulations shall remain in force until approved or set aside by a vote at the next AGM of the club.

The Committee may appoint such sub-committees as it may deem necessary and may delegate such of its powers as it may think fit upon such terms and conditions as shall be deemed expedient and /or require by the law. Such sub-committees shall consist of such members of theCommittee or of the club, as the Committee may think fit. Officers of the Club shall be exofficio members of all such Committees.

A member of the Committee, or a sub-committee or any officer of the club, in transacting business for the club, shall disclose to a third party that he is so acting.

The Committee, or any person or sub-committee delegated by the committee to act as agent for the club, or its members, shall enter into contracts only, so far as expressly authorised, or authorised by implication, by the members. No one shall, without the express authority of the membership in General Meeting, pledge the credit of the membership.

In pursuance of the authority vested in the Committee by members of the club, members of the Committee are entitled to be indemnified by the members of the club against any liabilities properly incurred by them or any one of them on behalf of the club wherever the contract is of a duly authorised nature or could be assumed to be of a duly authorised nature and entered into on behalf of the club. The limit of a an individual members indemnity in this respect shall be a sum equal to one years subscription at the then current rate for that category of membership unless the committee has been authorised to exceed such limit be a General Meeting of the Club.

The Committee may nominate for election at an AGM such Honorary Members, as the Committee may think fit. The total of such Honorary Members shall not however exceeds five percent of the total number of members nor shall the number of Honorary Members exceed at any one time four in number. The election of honorary members shall be put to the vote at the AGM each year and suchHonorary Members shall be duly elected for one year if two thirds of those present, and entitledto vote, vote in favour of election.

An AGM of the club shall be held each year before the 1st of May on a date to be fixed by the Committee. The Honorary Secretary shall at least fourteen days before the date of such meeting or of any General Meeting as hereinafter mentioned post, deliver or send by electronic mail to each member notice thereof and of the business to be brought forward thereat.

No business, except the passing of the accounts and the election of the Officers, Committee, Trustees and Honorary Auditors, and any business that the Committee may order to be inserted in the notice convening the meeting shall be discussed at such meeting unless notice thereof be given in writing by a member to the Honorary Secretary at least 10 days before the date of the Annual General Meeting.

The Committee may at any time, upon giving twenty-one days notice in writing call a General Meeting of the club for any special business, the nature of which shall be stated in the summons convening the meeting, and the discussion at such meeting shall be confined to the business in the notice sent to members.

The Committee shall similarly call a General meeting within 30 days upon a written request addressed to the Honorary Secretary by at least ten members. The discussion at such meeting shall be confined to the business stated in the notice sent to members.

At every meeting of the Club the Commodore or in his absence a Vice Commodore shall preside. If both are absent a chairman elected by those present shall preside.

Ten members entitled to vote and personally present shall form a quorum at any meeting of the club. Only, Full, Family and honorary members shall vote at any General meeting of the Club. Other members may attend but are not entitled to vote.

Voting, except upon the secret ballot to elect members of the Officer or members of the Committee shall be by way of a show of hands.

In the case of an equality of votes the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote, on any matter other than the election of members of the Committee.

On any resolution properly put to the Annual General Meeting relating to the creation, repeal, amendment of any Rule, Bylaw or regulation of the club such Rule, Bylaw or regulation not be created, repealed or amended except by a majority vote of at least two thirds of those present and entitled to vote.

The present rights and privileges of each category of membership shall be as follows. A full, member shall have the full use of all of the club facilities. A Family member, his/her spouse and all children under the age of 18 years or any child in full time education shall have the full use of all of the club facilities. An Honorary member shall have the full use of all the club facilities. A Temporary member shall have the full use of the club facilities for the duration only of the voyage and:

12.1.1

Shall not have a vote.

12.1.2

Shall have no right to introduce visitors to the club or the facilities thereof.

12.1.3

Shall have no right to take part in the management of the club.

12.1.4

Shall conduct themselves at all times in keeping with the rules and aspirations of the South Coast Garda Sailing Club.

12.1.5

Is deemed to have notice of and implicitly undertakes to comply with the Club Rules, Byelaws and regulations as if he or she were a member of the club and so far as the said rules, Byelaws and regulations may be deemed to apply to such Temporary Member.

12.1.6

Shall be liable to expulsion from Club property or prohibited from using Club facilities, in the opinion of the Hon Secretary or in his absence the Captain of the Clubs Yacht while on board (including going to or coming from), if, in the opinion of the said Hon Secretary or Captain he or she shall not have reasonably complied with the conditions.

A Ships Log is located on board the Club Boat; the log is to be maintained during every voyage:

13.1.1

All events of note on a voyage are to be entered in the Ships Log.

13.1.2

Any incident occurring on board the Club Boat during a voyage is to be noted in the Ships Log and committee notified of same.

Any Skipper for the duration of a voyage, and or any Club Member, may be required to report, either orally or in writing as directed, to the Committee or a properly constituted Sub- Committee, to account for the activities which lead to an incident referred to at 13.1(b).