1. The Club shall be called LEOAS SOTAVENTO Netball Club (LSNC).

2. LSNC is affiliated to Netball Portugal

3. Aims & Objectives

To promote the personal development for all club members, participants, volunteers and officials of LSNC in relation to netball and, where appropriate, provide routes to opportunities to enhance and increase individual skills.

The aims and objectives of LSNC shall be to:

• Promote netball and LSNC within the local community

• To offer coaching and competitive opportunities in netball

• Manage training sessions and seek to improve the level of netball skills

• To work in partnership with other netball teams to promote netball in Portugal

• LSNC recognises the diversity in its membership and the netball community. It aims to provide a safe environment free from discrimination where all individuals are treated fairly, with dignity and appropriately to their needs. The club recognises that equality impacts on all aspects of its activities and expects all members to uphold these principles.​

 

4. Membership

4.1  LSNC shall consist of the officers and the members.

4.2  Membership of LSNC shall be open, and not unreasonably restricted on the grounds of race, political or religious

        opinions to any person in the area prepared to accept and support the objectives of LSNC.  No club member,

        participant, volunteer or official will receive less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, marital status,

        social class, colour, race, ethnic origin, creed or disability, or will be disadvantaged by conditions or requirements

        which cannot be shown to be relevant to their participation in LSNC.

4.3  In accepting membership a person agrees to abide by the constitution of LSNC and the rulings of LSNC Executive

        Committee.

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5. Fees

5.1  LSNC does not exist to make a profit. Fees will be paid weekly, by attending playing participants. Any Excess                     money, will be retained and managed by LSNC committee.
5.2  Fees will be paid weekly in cash.
5.3  LSNC Executive Committee may decide upon other charges or subscriptions at its discretion.

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6. Executive Committee - composition

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6.1  The Executive Committee shall comprise both Elected and Appointed officers.  Other than the Appointed Officers

        of Chair of the Club, who Chairs the Committee and the remaining officers shall be chosen by election by the

         ‘Active’ membership.

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6.2  Elected Officer responsibilities shall be: Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Running Team Captain, Walking Team

        Captain, Social and Fundraising Officer, Social Media Officer, Liaison officer, Membership Co-ordinator.  The size

        of committee is limited to 9 members.

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6.3  Elected officers shall hold for a period of 12 months, being elected annually at LSNC AGM.  Officers shall retire

        annually but shall be eligible for re-appointments.  In selecting individuals for appointment as Committee members

        voters must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the                  Club.

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6.4 Where a vacancy arises on the Committee for any reason other than expiry of a term of office the Committee shall

        be at liberty either:

6.4.1 to leave the seat vacant until the next scheduled elections

6.4.2 Co-opt a replacement for the remaining term if shorter than 4 months.  (Someone can be co-opted

onto a committee without a quorum being present for the initial co-option decision. A quorum is required to conduct formal business and make decisions, but the co-option process itself, as the appointment of a new member, can be initiated even if a quorum isn't available. The newly co-opted member would then have the right to participate in committee meetings so long as a quorum was then established (ie: the co-opted member made up the quorum).

6.4.3 to call an election to fill the remainder of the unexpired term of office if longer than 6 months.

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7. Executive Committee – Purpose

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7.1    Adminstration and promotion of LSNC will be managed through the Executive Committee consisting of, Chair,

Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Running Team Captain, Walking Team Captain, Social and Fundraising Officer, Social Media Officer, Liaison officer. Only these posts will have the right to vote at meetings of LSNC Committee.

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7.2    Meeting of the Executive Committee shall be convened by the Secretary and the Committee shall meet as

required but not less than 4 times a year.

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7.3    The quorum for the transaction of business at Executive Committee meetings shall be 5.

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7.4    Every decision at a meeting of the Executive Committee shall be determined by a majority vote of the members

present and every voting member having one vote.  In the event of an equality of votes the Chair of the meeting shall have a casting vote.

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7.5    The Executive Committee may delegate some or all of its powers and making to a sub-committee.  Any sub

-committee must act only in accordance within the authority delegated to it by the Executive Committee.

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8. Finance

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8.1   LSNC Treasurer will be responsible for the finances of LSNC.

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8.2   The financial year of LSNC will end on 31st March.

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8.3   Membership renewal is the 1st September each year.

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8.4   The Treasurer will supply the financial position at each club meeting and the AGM

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9. Annual General Meeting and other Meetings

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9.1    The Chair and the Secretary shall have discretion to call emergency meetings of the ‘Club Committee’ if they

consider it to be in the interests of the Club.

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9.2    EGM can only be called by the Committee and are typically convened to address urgent or specific issues.

Written notice to the membership must be provided 14 days prior to meeting date and should clearly state:

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• The purpose of the meeting

• Any resolutions to be discussed

• Quorum requirement.

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9.3    Notice of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be given by the Chair; and usually not less than 28 clear days’

notice to be given to all members.

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9.4    Nominations for officers of the Executive Committee will be sent to the Secretary prior to the AGM.

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9.5    Elections of officers are to take place at the AGM.

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9.6    In the event that the election of a new committee member is uncontested (uncontested being only one valid

nomination received) the Chair will declare the nominee candidate to be elected and no voting will be necessary.

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9.7    All ‘Active’ members shall be entitled to vote at general meetings of LSNC and shall have equal voting rights.

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9.8    The quorum for AGM & EGM meetings shall be 15% members present and eligible to vote.

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10. Voting Elegibilty & Procedures

 

10.1  Each active member shall be elegible to one vote.  ‘Active Member’ is defined as being players/umpires/first

aiders who has attended at least 12 training session over the previous 12 months.  Voting eligibility will be varified against registration records so members should make sure they register each time they attend a session.  Exceptions due to injury are at the discretion of the Committee. Application for injury to be taken into account should be submitted to the Chair in writing within 7 days of being notified of a meeting to vote.

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10.2  A motion shall be carried by a single majority of those present and voting, except when the motion is a

constitutional amendment which shall require a two thirds majority.

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10.3  Proxy voting will not be allowed due to the opportunity it presents for tactical voting.

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10.4  The Chair shall have a casting vote in addition to a deliberative vote.

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11. Property and Staff

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11.1 Responsibility for all property owned by LSNC rests with the Executive Committee.

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12. Discipline and Appeals

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12.1 The Executive Committee shall have the power to take disciplinary action against any member and shall have the

authority to terminate the membership of any member guilty of conduct deemed to be detrimental to LSNC.

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12.2 There shall be the right of appeal to the Executive Committee, against any decision made by an officer of LSNC.

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12.3 The appeal shall normally be considered within 14 days of it being received by the Chair.

 

13. Dissolution Procedures

 

13.1  A resolution to dissolve LSNC can only be passed at an AGM or EGM through a majority vote of the membership.

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13.2  In the event of dissolution, any assets of LSNC that remain will become the property of a charity to be agreed.

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14. Review of the Constitution

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14.1  The constitution shall be reviewed on a yearly basis.

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14.2  The constitution will only be changed through agreement at an AGM or EGM. Any alteration to the constitution

shall require two-thirds majority of members present and voting.

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14.3  Additions to, or alterations of the constitution shall be submitted to the Chair not less than 21 days before the

date of the AGM or EGM, or with a request for a special meeting of Club members.  No resolution involving an amendment to the constitution may be proposed or amended from the floor of a meeting.

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14.4  In the event of a proposal for amending the constitution being submitted, the Chair shall inform the membership

of the proposed motion not less than 14 days before the AGM.

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14.5  In the event of any question or matter arising, which is not provided in the constitution, shall be dealt with by the

Executive Committee, whose decision shall be final.

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Declaration
LEOAS SOTAVENTO Netball Club hereby adopts and accepts this constitution as a current operating guide regulating the actions of members.