Constitution

The name of the Club is the "University of Western Australia Boat Club (Inc.)"
The colours of the Club will be those of the University of Western Australia; i.e. Royal Blue, Emerald Green and Gold.
The objects of the Club are:
1. to promote competitive sport among the students of the University of Western Australia and between students of that University and the other students of the other Universities in Western Australia and elsewhere within Australia in the field of rowing.
2. to carry on its activities for the benefit of such students generally and not for the profit of any individual.
3. to provide all necessary equipment for the use of such students in the sport of rowing.
4. to encourage and support the participation of members of the Club in all levels of amateur rowing.
5. to become affiliated with, or subscribe to, the Amateur Rowing Association of Western Australia (A.R.A.W.A.).
6. to promote social intercourse between past and present members of the Club.
7. to do all things as are incidental or conducive to the attaining of the above objects.
Membership of the Club shall comprise of:
1. Ordinary Membership: which is restricted to persons who are students or graduates of the University of Western Australia or who are members of staff of that University.
2. Associate Membership: which is restricted to persons who are Associates of the University of Western Australia Sport and Recreation Association (Inc.).
3. Honorary Membership: In recognition of services rendered or about to be rendered, persons ineligible for Ordinary or Associate Membership by reason of the above conditions, may be admitted to Honorary Membership and will enjoy all the privileges of ordinary members, except that they will have no vote at General Meetings and will be ineligible for election onto the committee of the Club.
4. Life Membership: Any Ordinary, Associate or Honorary member may for services rendered be elected to Honorary Life Membership by a two thirds majority of the members present at an Annual General Meeting of the Club. Honorary Life Members will enjoy all the privileges of Ordinary Members.
5. Social Membership: Will be restricted to past Ordinary or Associate Members of the Club who are no longer actively involved in the sport of rowing. Social Members will pay an annual subscription to be determined by the last preceding Annual General Meeting which will not be less than Ten Dollars ($10.00)
6. Visitors: The Committee may on such terms as it thinks fit permit the use of the Club Premises and property:
  1. by members of visiting teams from other Universities,
  2. by members of other clubs or associations of the University of Western Australia,
  3. by members of other clubs affiliated to the A.R.A.W.A and the Committee shall fix the rights and privileges of any such body.
7. Ordinary, Associate, Honorary, Social Members and Visitors will be elected by the Committee.
The Committee will have the power to expel any member from the Club if in its opinion the member has by his or her conduct, forfeited the right to remain a member. Before making such a decision the Committee will communicate with the offending member, informing that member and giving him or her the option of resigning from the Club. At any time within thirty (30) days of his or her expulsion the member may appeal to a Special General Meeting called as provided in Rule 17 and the decision of such Special General Meeting will be final. Should the member not request a Special General Meeting, the member shall have the right of appeal to the next subsequent General Meeting, provided that the request is supported by at least seven (7) financial members of the Club.
Any member wishing to resign from the Club shall give seven (7) days notice to the Honorary Secretary to that effect before the last day of the second month of the current regatta season, or will be liable for the ensuing year’s subscription. Upon giving notice the member will cease to have any right, title or interest in the property of the Club or any part thereof, as from the date of notice, provided the resignation shall not relieve the member of the payment of any subscription or from any liability whatsoever incurred by him or her prior to the receipt of notice of the Honorary Secretary.
The Officers of the Club will be:
1. Patrons,
2. President,
3. A maximum of ten (10) Vice-Presidents,
4. Captain,
5. Two (2) Vice-Captains (one (1) male and one (1) female),
6. Honorary Secretary,
7. Assistant Honorary Secretary,
8. Honorary Treasurer,
9. Assistant Honorary Treasurer,
10. Registrar,
11. Boat Officer,
12. Two (2) Committee persons (one male and one female both being 1st year novice members of the Club).
The Committee
The business and affairs of the Club will be conducted by a Committee which will consist of the Captain, Two(2) Vice-Captains, Honorary Secretary, Assistant Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer, Assistant Honorary Treasurer, Registrar, Boat Officer and Two (2) Committee persons. The Committee will have the power to co-opt such members as it deems advisable.
Election of Officers
The Officers and Members of the Club Committee will be elected at the AGM, with the exception of the Committee persons who will be elected at the first General Meeting. They will hold office until the conclusion of the AGM held next after their election. They will be eligible of re-election.
Nomination of Officers
All candidates for election must be nominated in writing, by two members of the Club, before the commencement of the meeting. Where no nomination is received prior to the meeting, nominations will be called for from the floor.
Absence of Committee Persons
Any member of the Committee (other than the President or Vice-Presidents) who fails to attend three (3) consecutive ordinary meetings of the Committee without giving the Committee a satisfactory reason for his or her absence will be deemed to have vacated his or her position and the Honorary Secretary will notify him or her to that effect.
Eligibility of Holding Office
The Positions of Captain, Vice-Captain, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer and the Committee persons shall be restricted to Associate and Ordinary members of the Club.
Duties and Powers of the Committee
In addition to all other powers, the Committee shall have the power to do all or any of the following acts:
1. to make By-Laws as may be necessary for the management of the Club and of its own proceedings, provided that no By-Laws shall be made which are inconsistent with these Rules. In the event of any By-Laws being made which is Ultra Vires of the Committee, it will notwithstanding remain in force until disallowed by a resolution of a General Meeting.
2. to administer the finances of the Club, to receive moneys due to the Club, to receive subscriptions, donations and other funds and to order the disbursement of the money received, provided that no mortgage or charge over the property of the Club shall be given without the consent of a General Meeting of the Club.
3. to appoint Sub-Committees and to delegate to those Sub-Committees such powers as the Committee deems necessary.
4. to employ or dismiss or accept the resignation of any servant of the Club.
5. to fill and vacancy occurring in the list of officers during the year.
6. to perform all other acts as may be necessary for the management of the Club.
Duties of Officers:
The duties of the officers will include the following:
1. Captain: The duties of the Captain will be to take charge of and to control the Club affairs and in particular, with the assistance of the Vice-Captains, to settle disputes and to report back to the Committee.
2. Vice-Captains: The Vice-Captains’ duties will be to assist the Captain, in his or her absence to take similar authority, to assign boats to crews and to investigate and report damage to the Committee.
3. Honorary Treasurer: The duties of the Treasurer will be:
  1. to receive all accounts due to the Club and to pay the same into the accounts of the Club.
  2. to pay all account passed by the Committee by cheque in accordance to the procedure of the University of Western Australia Sport and Recreation Association (Inc.).
  3. to enter a proper record of all receipts and payments in such books as the Committee shall direct him or her to keep.
  4. to present at the AGM a duly audited statement of Receipts and Expenditure, a Revenue Account for the financial year, correspondence to that of the University of Western Australia Sport and Recreation Association (Inc.) and a Balance Sheet showing Assets and Liabilities of the Club as at that date.
4. Honorary Secretary: The Duties of the Honorary Secretary will be:
  1. to attend all meetings of the Club and keep a record of those meetings in the minute book.
  2. to conduct correspondence and to take charge of all documents and papers belonging to the Club.
  3. to perform all other secretarial work necessary to carry out the objectives of the Club.
  4. to submit to the AGM the Committee report and to affix a copy of that report in the minute book.
5. Assistant Honorary Secretary: The duties of the Assistant Honorary Secretary will be to assist the Secretary, especially in the matter of correspondence and in his or her absence to take similar authority.
6. Honorary Registrar: To keep a correct role of the Club.
Annual General Meeting
The AGM of the Club shall be held within eight (8) weeks of the last regatta of the season in each year at a time and place to be determined by the Committee. The following will be the order of business at an AGM:
1. to confirm the minutes of the last AGM and of any Special General Meetings held during the year.
2. to receive Committee Report, Treasurers Report and Balance Sheet.
3. to elect Officers and Committee for the ensuing year.
4. to transact such other business as shall have been brought forward of which seven (7) days notice has been given to the Honorary Secretary.
5. to transact General Business.
General Meetings
At least one (1) General meeting shall be held as near as practicable to the beginning and middle of the current regatta season. The order of business shall be:
1. to confirm the minutes of the previous General Meeting.
2. to receive the Treasurers Report.
3. to transact Special Business of which seven (7) days notice shall be given to the Honorary Secretary.
4. to transact General Business.
Special General Meeting
A special general meeting shall be called by the Honorary Secretary at any time at the direction of the Captain or Committee or on the request in writing of any seven (7) financial members of the Club. The meeting shall be held within fourteen (14) days of the direction or such a request at such a time and place as the Honorary Secretary may determine. All requests for Special General meetings shall specify the business for which that meeting is to be held and no other business may be discussed. If the Honorary Secretary fails to call the meeting within fourteen (14) days any one of the requisitioners may do so.
Notice of General Meeting
The Honorary Secretary shall at least seven (7) days before any General Meeting post on the board at the Clubhouse a notice specifying the time, place and nature thereof.
Quorum
One-third of the financial members of the Club present at any General Meeting of the Club shall constitute a quorum. Unless a quorum is present within thirty (30) minutes of the time specified for the commencement of the meeting, the meeting may be adjourned by the Chairperson to such a time and place as the Chairperson thinks fit or move into a Committee of the Whole. All decisions made by the Committee of the Whole must be ratified by the following Special or General Meeting.
Committee Meetings
The Committee shall meet at least once in every calendar month except in the period during long vacation and minutes of the proceedings thereof shall be entered in a book provided for that purpose. Three (3) clear days notice of all Committee Meetings shall be given to members of the Committee. Six (6) members of the Committee present at a Committee Meeting shall constitute a quorum.
Chairperson
At all meetings of the Committee the Chair shall be taken by the Captain of the Club; failing him or her, one of the Vice-Captains; and in the event of their absence or refusal to act, the meeting will elect a Chairperson. At all General and Special Meetings of the Club the Chair shall be taken by the President of the Club; failing him or her the Captain; and in the event of his or her absence or refusal to act the meeting shall elect a Chairperson.
Voting
Every question submitted to any meeting will be decided by a show of hands unless a ballot is demanded by three (3) members present when voting will be preferential ballot. In case of an equality of votes the Chairperson will have a casting vote in addition to that which he or she is entitled to as a member. At the AGM only those members may vote who were Ordinary, Associate or Life members of the Club before the last day of May last past.
Selection Committee
The Selection Committee will be appointed at the discretion of the Club Committee and will in general consist of the Captain, Vice-Captains and the coaches appointed by the Club Committee. It will be the duty of this Committee to submit to each coach a list of members eligible to row in the grade for which the coach is responsible.
Finance
The financial year of the Club will coincide with the financial year of the University of Western Australia Sport and Recreation Association (Inc.). The entrance fee (if any) and the subscription of the Club will be fixed by the Committee subject to ratification at the next General Meeting. All money due to the Club will be received by the Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer or Vice Captains only and must be paid to the Treasurer within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt. All receipts must be signed by the Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer.
Colour Awards
It will be the responsibility of the Committee to nominate Club members for colour awards within the Club’s By-Laws.
Income and Property
The income of the Club, however derived, shall be applied solely towards the promotion of its objects as set forth above and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise howsoever to the members provided that nothing herein shall prevent the payment in good faith or remuneration to any officer or servant of the Club for services actively rendered to the Club.
Alteration to the Rules
Any member wishing to move a recision of, alteration to or an addition to the Rules of the Club shall give fourteen (14) days notice in writing thereof to the Honorary Secretary who shall exhibit a copy of the same on the Club Boards, for at least seven (7) days immediately preceding the date of the meeting at which the amendment is to the considered. No recision, alteration or addition to the rule of the Club shall be deemed carried unless three-quarters (¾) of the members present at the General meeting shall vote in favour thereof.
Dissolution
On application in writing to the Committee by twenty (20) or one half (½) of the financial members, whichever is the lessor, signifying their desire that the Club be dissolved, a Special General Meeting will be called to consider the question, the meeting to be held after thirty (30) days and within sixty (60) days of the receipt of the petition. Notice of the Meeting must be advertised in three (3) consecutive issues of a Perth daily newspaper. A majority of three-quarters (¾) of the financial members of the Club must be obtained to carry the proposal of dissolution. If upon the dissolution or winding up of the Club there remains after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities any property whatsoever, that property shall not be paid or distributed among the members of the Club but will vest in the University of Western Australia Sport and Recreation Association (Inc.).
Common Seal
The Club shall have and use a Common Seal inscribed with the name of the Club which shall be held in the custody of the President and it shall be used or affixed to any document after authority has been given by the Committee. The affixation of the Seal shall be witnessed by the President.
Auditor The Auditor shall be appointed by resolution of the AGM to audit the accounts and shall not be a member of the Committee. The Auditor may attend the AGM and take part in discussions.