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Cheshire Hell-E-Cats

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Club No. 0634

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Constitution and Rules

Contents

 

Annual Fees

TITLE

OBJECT

CONSTITUTION AND RULES

1. CLUB AFFILIATION

2. MEMBERSHIP OF THE CLUB

3. MEMBERSHIP IDENTITY

4. ELIGIBILITY FOR MEMBERSHIP

    4.1. FULL MEMBERSHIP

    4.2. JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP

5. GENERAL

6. MANAGEMENT

    6.1. AUTHORITY

    6.2. COMMITTEE

7. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION

8. GENERAL MEETINGS OF THE CLUB MEMBERSHIP

    8.1. QUORUM

    8.2. AGENDA

    8.3. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

    8.4. EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING

 

ANNEX A to the constitution of Hell-E-Cats

1. CONDITIONS OF ENTRY TO THE FLYING SITE

2. RESPONSIBILITIES

3. INSURANCE

4. NOISE LIMITATIONS

5. MODEL TYPE LIMITATIONS

6. CLUB PROPERTY

7. OPERATION OF RADIO CONTROL EQUIPMENT

8. PRE-FLIGHT PROCEDURE

9. FLYING MODEL HELICOPTERS

TITLE

The model aircraft club membership shall be known as “The Cheshire Hell-E-Cats” hereinafter referred to as “the club”. The club may be referred to by the acronym: Hell-E-Cats.

OBJECT

The object of the Club is to further interest and activity in constructing and flying Model Helicopters.

CONSTITUTION AND RULES

The clauses of the constitution of the Club contained herein were agreed by a majority vote of the Members, at a General Meeting of the Members of the Club, held on a date signified by the last issue number in the heading of this document. The rules of the Club contained in Annex A, may be amended by a majority vote of the committee.
These agreed clauses and rules are binding on ALL Members of the Club.

CONSTITUTION

CLAUSE

1. CLUB AFFILIATION

1.1.   The Club is affiliated to the British Model Flying Association (BMFA).

1.2. The BMFA Club Affiliation Number is 0634.

2. MEMBERSHIP OF THE CLUB

2.1. The title of “Member” of the Club applies to those persons who operate model helicopters.

2.2. Two classes of “Member” shall exist; Full Member and Junior Member

2.2.1. “Full Member” is open only to a person age 16 years and over.

3. MEMBERSHIP IDENTITY

3.1. ALL Members shall be issued with a membership card. The membership card remains the property of the Club and must be surrendered on cessation of membership

4. ELIGIBILITY FOR MEMBERSHIP

4.1. FULL MEMBERSHIP

4.1.1. Application for membership shall be in writing from the applicant.

4.1.2. Applications for new membership will be considered by the committee at meetings held during their term of office.

4.1.3. Membership may be terminated if in the opinion of the committee, the Member has not satisfactorily supported the club’s activities.

4.1.4. The committee shall be empowered to expel any Member considered to have infringed the constitution or rules or who, in the opinion of the committee, is guilty of misconduct prejudicial to the interests of the Club in particular, or the hobby in general.

4.1.5. Application to renew a lapsed membership will be considered for renewal only at the next meeting held by the committee. Only in special extenuating circumstances will a membership be renewed before the next committee meeting.

4.2. JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP

4.2.1. Junior membership is open only to persons under 18 years of age supervised by a Full Member. A Junior Member is a non fee paying Member.
4.2.2. Junior Members become Full Members on attaining the age of 18 years.
4.2.3. Junior Members are bound by the rules applicable to Full Members regarding insurance and conduct on the airfield.
4.2.4. Juniors have no right of vote in Club affairs.

5. GENERAL

5.1. The committee shall be empowered to set a maximum number for Full membership of the Club.

5.2. A joining fee for new Members shall be agreed annually at the AGM.

5.3. The full joining fee will be applicable at all times.

6. MANAGEMENT

6.1. AUTHORITY

6.1.1 The authority and responsibility for the transaction of the business of the Club and for its management, shall be vested in a committee which, in addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred on it by the “constitution and rules of the Club”, may exercise all powers and do all acts in furtherance of the object for which the Club is established, other than those hereby expressly directed or required to be done by the Club in a general meeting.

6.2. COMMITTEE

6.2.1. The committee shall consist of six Full Members; Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Safety Representative and Public Relations Officer. The committee shall be elected by the Members of the Club at each AGM and remain in office until the next AGM or EGM, subject to termination of office by resignation.

6.2.2. The committee shall have the power to co-opt other Full Members onto the committee as they deem necessary to fill positions as they become vacant during their term of office or for specific tasks associated with promotion of the Club.

6.2.3. The committee may elect a non-voting representative from the Junior Members if deemed necessary or requested by the Junior Members.

6.2.4. Four elected committee Members shall be required to form a quorum.

7. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION

7.1. The annual subscription rate shall be agreed at the AGM.

7.1.1. The Club year shall run from 1 January in any year to 31st December of the same year.

7.2. All Full Members shall pay the same annual subscription rate.

7.3. Subscriptions become due 1st January each year. Members wishing to continue membership in the following year shall forward the subsequent years fees to the Membership secretary elected at the AGM held in December of the current calendar year. Subscriptions are to be received by the membership secretary before the 31st December in that year.

7.3.1. If subscriptions are not received by the 15th January, membership will have deemed to have lapsed and a new application for membership will be required.

7.3.2. Any new membership commencing between the 1st January and the 30th September shall be deemed to attract the Full subscription rate for that year.

7.3.3. Any new membership commencing between the 1st October and 31th December will attract a Joining Fee for that Year and a subscription fee which will be carried over to the following year.

8. GENERAL MEETINGS OF THE CLUB MEMBERSHIP

8.1. QUORUM

8.1.1. 33% of the Full membership shall be required to form a quorum

8.2. AGENDA

8.2.1. The text of any matter requiring discussion at a general meeting shall be submitted to the Secretary at least fourteen days before the meeting for inclusion in the Agenda.

8.2.2. The agenda giving notice of the meeting is to be distributed in such a manner as to reasonably ensure receipt by the Members at least seven days prior to the meeting

8.2.3. Non receipt of the agenda by any Member or Members will not invalidate the proceedings.


8.3. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

8.3.1. The annual general meeting (AGM) shall be held in November of each year and shall carry out the following:

  • Receive an audited statement of accounts.

  • Receive reports on the Club activities.

  • Elect the officers and committee for the forthcoming year

  • Agree the annual subscription rate.

  • Deal with any other items on the agenda.

8.4. EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING

8.4.1. An Extraordinary General Meeting may be convened by direction of the committee or on written request from at least one third of the Full Members.

 

Cheshire Hell-E-Cats
ANNEX A to the constitution of Hell-E-Cats
RULES OF THE CLUB

1. CONDITIONS OF ENTRY TO THE FLYING SITE

1.1. All Members must be in possession of their valid membership card. This must be produced on demand to any Full Member or the landowner during attendance at a flying site.

1.2. Each member may be provided with, and should be in possesion of, a Flying Site map (scale of 1:1250 or 1:2500) for each flying site used by the club. This should identify:

  • the pits

  • the flying area

  • the flying site perimeter

  • the locations and/or direction of noise-sensitive premises

  • the car parking area

1.3. Guests are not permitted at the flying site except when accompanied by their introducing Member.

1.4. Members shall enter and leave the flying site and proceed to the agreed flying area only by the agreed route.


2. RESPONSIBILITIES

2.1. The club cannot be held responsible for any loss, injury or damage to Members or their property or to third parties for any reason whatsoever.

2.2. Full Members, shall accept responsibility for the observation of all Club rules by Guests who accompany them at the flying site.

2.3. Members shall accept Full responsibility for the control, behaviour and safety of children accompanying them whilst on the flying site.


3. INSURANCE

3.1. All Members will be insured through BMFA (reference Constitution clause 1.1).

3.2. A valid insurance certificate must be produced if requested by any Full Member during attendance at the flying site.

4. NOISE LIMITATIONS

4.1. Effective silencers must be fitted to all engines such that any noise produced by the model meets, or is preferably lower than, the level recommended by the Department of the Environment Code of Practice (as of the date of this Annex) has been identified by the BMFA as 82dB(A) at 7m.

4.2. In the event of a model complying with the above being considered too noisy by any Member, a jury of three other Members is to be elected by and from those Members present to decide on the action to be taken.


5. MODEL TYPE LIMITATIONS

5.1. Control line flying is not permitted.

5.2. Free flight is not permitted.

5.3. Other forms of models are allowed exceptionally by prior agreement with the committee.


6. CLUB PROPERTY

6.1. Club property may be used only by Members and only for club purposes.

6.2. Upon dissolution of the club the net assets shall be equally distributed amongst the Full Members.


7. OPERATION OF RADIO CONTROL EQUIPMENT

7.1. Operation of radio control equipment

Operation of radio control equipment is NOT permitted from any place other than the agreed model flying area at the time.

7.2. Frequency Peg-Board

7.2.1. The frequency peg-board should be used whenever any radio control equipment is operated on 35 MHz.


8. PRE-FLIGHT PROCEDURE

8.1. It is ESSENTIAL that the following procedure be rigorously followed prior to any flying activities commencing.

8.1.1. Ensure strict compliance with ALL parts of Rule 1 to 8 inclusive.


9. FLYING MODEL HELICOPTERS

9.1. Model Helicopters shall be flown only from the agreed area.

9.2. Model Helicopters shall be operated well away from any building and dwelling.

9.3. Flying of model aircraft by an under 16 years of age Junior Member is permitted only in the presence of a Full Member.

9.4. Full Members are empowered to request evidence of a valid certificate of insurance from any Member actively engaged in model flying at the flying site. Failure to produce such evidence is considered to be a breach of Rule 3, and in such circumstances the said Member must not continue with flying activity until evidence of insurance cover is demonstrated.

9.5. No loading or unloading of cars shall take place on the flying strip, only in the designated car parking area.

9.6. Do not over-fly any buildings, dwellings or public roads at any time.

Version 4.2 Page  1 17 February 2000

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