GUERNSEY AERO CLUB RULES

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GUERNSEY AERO CLUB RULES

1. NAME

The name of the Club shall be the Guernsey Aero Club.

2. OBJECT

The object of the Club shall be to foster an interest in aviation.

3. RULES

(a) Every Member of the Club shall be bound by the Rules and By-laws of the Club for the time being in force.

(b) Every Member on joining the Club shall be issued with a copy of the said Rules and By-laws, but failure to receive a copy of the Rules and By-laws shall not absolve a Member from obligation to obey them.

4. MEMBERSHIP

(a) Full Club Members:

(i) Any person who has paid the Entrance Fee and the Annual Subscription for the time being due, and who has completed an application form which has been duly accepted by the Executive Committee shall be deemed to be a Full Club Member.

(ii) Every Full Club Member shall be entitled to attend and vote at any General Meeting of the Club.

(b) Ex Officio Club Members:

(i) The Executive Committee may grant Ex Officio Membership of the Club to any employee of the Club or to any other person connected with aviation in Guernsey who is, in the opinion of the Executive Committee, of benefit to the Club provided that any such Membership granted by the Executive Committee under this provision shall be subject to any conditions which the Executive Committee may determine and such Membership may be terminated upon one month’s notice in writing.

(ii) Any person who is granted Ex Officio Membership of the Club shall not be liable to pay any Entrance Fee or Annual Subscription provided that any Ex Officio Member whose Membership of the Club is terminated by the Executive Committee may apply for Full Club Membership which application shall be regarded as a new application for Membership.

(iii) Any Ex Officio Member shall not be eligible for election to the Executive Committee.

(i) Honorary Life Membership of the Club may be conferred upon any person whose services to the Club are, in the opinion of the Executive Committee, worthy of such recognition and approved by the Club in General Meeting.

(ii) Honorary Life Members shall have the same rights as full Club Members.

(d) Overseas Club Members:

(i) Any person residing permanently outside the Channel Islands may apply for an Overseas Membership, provided that the applicant is accepted by the Executive Committee and shall pay the Entrance Fee and Annual Subscription for the time being due.

(ii) The Entrance Fee shall not be payable by any applicant who at the time of the application is a member of any Aero Club not based in Guernsey.

(iii) For the purpose of an application for Overseas Membership any applicant who is ordinarily resident in Guernsey but who is, at the time when the Annual Subscriptions are due, resident outside the Channel Islands for the purpose of obtaining educational qualifications, and is likely to be resident outside Guernsey for at least six months in each year, shall be deemed included in the words “residing permanently outside the Channel Islands”.

(e) Temporary Monthly Members:

(i) Temporary Membership may be granted to a person for some specific reason approved by the Executive Committee, on three occasions in any one year, whether on separate or consecutive occasions on payment of a Fee determined by the Executive Committee.

(ii) No Temporary Monthly Member shall attend or vote at any General Meeting of the Club or participate in any distribution of Club assets.

(f) Airport Social Members:

Airport Social Membership may be granted to a person employed at the States Airport of Guernsey on payment of a fee determined by the Executive Committee. No Airport Social Member shall attend or vote at any General Meeting of the Club or participate in a distribution of assets.

(g) Social Members:

Social Membership may be granted to any person acceptable to the Executive Committee upon the payment of a fee determined by the Executive Committee. No such Social Member shall attend or vote at any General Meeting of the Club or participate in a distribution of assets.

(h) Visiting Members:

(i) Any Member of any Aero Club not based in Guernsey.

(ii) Any Aircrew Member on the Active List of any of the three Branches of Her Majesty’s Services or of any foreign government.

(iii) Any Aircrew Member of any Airline not based in Guernsey.

(iv) Any Member of the Guernsey Society of aviation enthusiasts.

(v) Visiting Members shall be bound by the Rules and By-laws of the Club, but shall not be entitled to attend any General Meeting of the Club.

(i) Spouse and Children of Members:

(i) Membership of the Club shall include the spouse of that Member upon payment of an additional Annual Subscription or in the case of Life Members an additional Subscription both as defined by the Club in General Meeting from time to time.

(ii) The spouse of any Ex Officio Club Member or Honorary Life Club Member shall be deemed to be included in any grant of Membership under these Rules to any person unless the contrary is specified in the grant.

(iii) Membership of the Club shall include the right of the Members to bring their children into the Club at any time until their children leave school or reach the age of 18, whichever is the greater, provided that no such right of entry shall be deemed to be Club membership.

5. LIFE MEMBERSHIP

(a) Any person who has completed an application form which has been duly accepted by the Executive Committee and who has paid the Subscription for Life Members shall be deemed to be a Life Member.

(b) Life Members shall have the same rights as Full Club Members.

6. ELECTION OF MEMBERS

(a) Any person who wishes to become a Club Member shall complete an “Application for Membership” Form and:-

(i) In the case of an application for Full Membership, Social Membership or Overseas Membership, the Application Form shall be signed by a Proposer and a Seconder who must be Full Club Members, Honorary Members or Life Members and shall be signed by a Member of the Executive Committee who personally knows the Applicant or who has met the Applicant after the Application has been made and is satisfied that the Applicant is a fit person to be a Member of the Club.

(ii) In the case of an application for Temporary Membership or Airport Social Membership, the Application Form shall require the signature of a Proposer only who shall be a Full Club Member, Ex Officio Club Member, Honorary Member or Life Member. Applications for Temporary Membership and Airport Social Membership shall be deemed to have been accepted immediately that a completed Application Form, duly signed by a Proposer, together with the appropriate fee have been handed to a Full Club Member, Ex Officio Club Member, Honorary Member or Life Member.

(iii) Where any Applicant is under the age of 18 the appropriate details on the Application Form must be completed by the Guardian who shall be held responsible for any liabilities which may be incurred by that Applicant, if the application for Membership is granted.

(b) The Secretary shall ensure that all Fees due are paid before the Application is placed before the Executive Committee.

(c) The “Application for Membership” Form shall be displayed on the Club Notice Board for a minimum of seven days before presenting same to the Executive Committee, and any Club Member wishing to offer comment on or objection to the Application must do so in writing to the Chairman within the aforementioned period.

(d) The Executive Committee shall have the right to consider the acceptance of each Application by Ballot and shall be empowered to refuse Membership.

(e) Any person whose Application for Membership has been refused shall not reapply until the expiration of six months.

(f) Notice in writing shall be sent to each person whose application has been rejected, and all Fees paid will be returned.

(g) Until the Executive Committee has approved the Application, the Applicant will be entitled to enjoy the privileges of a Temporary Club Member. Each Full and Ex-Officio Member will be issued with a Membership Card which should be carried at all times when visiting the Club.

(h) Failure to produce the Membership Card on the request of the Secretary, a Committee Member or any person empowered to do so, may be refused entry into the Club until the Card is produced.

7. SUBSCRIPTIONS

(a) The Annual Subscription payable by Full Club Members and Overseas Members shall be fixed at the Annual General Meeting and shall be payable on the first day of April in each year.

(b) Subscriptions shall be paid by the last day of April and any person whose subscription is in arrears on 1 May shall cease to be a member of the Club, subject to the Executive Committee having the power to decide otherwise.

(d) The Subscription payable by someone wishing to become a Life Member shall be fixed by the Club in General Meeting from time to time.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of these rules, the Executive Committee may, on behalf of the Club, accept a loan from any Full Member in such sum as may be approved by the Club in General Meeting from time to time on terms that such loans shall not bear interest, shall be unsecured and shall be repayable within 12 months of demand. For as long as the Club remains indebted to any Full Member by virtue of a loan pursuant to this Rule 7(e), that Full Member shall not be obliged to pay any Annual Subscription to remain a Full Member and to enjoy all the privileges of such membership. Loans made to the Club pursuant to the provision of this Rule shall also be repayable at any time at the instance of the Executive Committee. Full Members who have their loans repaid to them either following their demand or at the instance of the Executive Committee after the first day of April in any year shall be deemed to have paid their subscriptions in full for that year. Loans made pursuant to this rule shall be preferred to the unsecured and ordinary creditors of the Club.

8. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

(a) The management and control of the Club shall be vested in an Executive Committee elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.

(b) The Executive Committee shall consist of nine Members formulated as follows:

Chairman

Treasurer

Seven Club Members.

(d) The Executive Committee shall set up the following Sub-Committees:

(i) Recreational Flying Sub-Committee 4 Members

(ii) Rally Sub-Committee 10 Members

(iii) Social Sub-Committee 6 Members

(iv) Catering and Bar Management 2 Members

(v) Newsletter and Personnel 3 Members

(vi) Building and Maintenance 3 Members

(vii) Treasury Sub-Committee 2 Members

and in addition any other Sub-Committee as considered necessary.

(e) The Executive Committee may appoint from amongst their number a Vice Chairman.

(f) The Executive Committee is empowered to appoint an Assistant Secretary for the purpose of holding the Club Licence, and not as a Member of the Executive Committee.

(g) The Executive Committee may co-opt Club Members to assist the various Officers when expedient, but that such co-opted persons would not be expected to attend Committee Meetings except to act as Spokesman for the Officer whom they represent, in the event of the latter being unavoidably prevented from attending a Committee Meeting.

(h) The Executive Committee may appoint an International Air Rally Manager, not necessarily from amongst their numbers.

(i) The Executive Committee shall meet at least once a month, and in addition when convened by the Chairman.

(j) The quorum of the Executive Committee shall be five.

(k) The Executive Committee is empowered to fill any vacancy on the Committee which may occur during the year.

(l) No Member shall be elected to the Executive Committee of the Club until he has been a Full Club Member, Honorary Member or Life Member of the Club for not less than 12 months.

(m) The Executive Committee may invite a Flying Instructor who is employed by the organisation appointed by the Club to provide flying instruction to attend Executive Committee Meetings to discuss flying matters but that Flying Instructor shall not have any of the powers of an Executive Committee Member.

9. BY-LAWS

The Executive Committee is empowered to make such By-laws as are from time to time considered necessary for the good management of the Club.

10. EMPLOYEES OF THE CLUB

(a) The Executive Committee is empowered to appoint or dismiss any employee of the Club and to lay down conditions of service.

(b) No person who is in the regular employment of the Club or any organisation appointed by the Club to provide flying instruction shall be eligible for election to the Executive Committee.

11. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

(a) The Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held in the month of February for the undermentioned business:

(i) to receive the Annual Report

(ii) to receive the Treasurer’s Report and Financial Statement for the year

(iii) to decide on the Annual Subscription and Fees for the ensuing year

(iv) to elect Officers and Committee for the ensuing year

(v) to consider any other business mentioned in the Agenda.

(b) A Quorum for the Annual General Meeting shall be 12 Full Club Members, Honorary Members or Life Members.

(c) A Preliminary Notice of the Annual General meeting shall be posted on the Club Notice Board for twenty-eight days prior to the date of the Meeting.

(d) A printed notice of the Annual General Meeting shall be sent by post to each Club Member at least 14 days prior to the date of the Meeting and shall give details of the Agenda.

(e) Any Club Member who may have a proposition to make at the Annual General Meeting shall deliver a copy thereof to the Secretary at least three weeks prior to the date of the Meeting.

(f) The Executive Committee shall cause to be exhibited on the Club Notice Board for a period of 14 days, which shall be from the twenty-first day to the seventh day (inclusive) immediately prior to the date fixed for the Annual General Meeting, a Notice for the nomination of Officers and Members of the Executive Committee. The Notice shall show:

1. Nominated Appointment

2. Name of Person Nominated

3. Name of Full Club Member, Honorary Member or Life Member proposing and seconding nomination

4. Signature of Nominee agreeing acceptance of the nomination

(g) Only those matters detailed in the Agenda may be considered at an Annual General Meeting.

(h) No person other than Full, Ex Officio, Honorary or Life Members may attend any General Meeting of the Club.

(i) Minutes of the Annual General Meetings shall be kept together with a copy of the Annual Report and Treasurer’s Report.

12. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

(a) A Special General Meeting may be convened by the Chairman or Vice Chairman.

(b) A Special General Meeting shall be convened by the Secretary on receipt of a written request to be signed by not less than 10 Full Club Members, Honorary Members or Life Members provided that the requisition states the purpose for which the Meeting is to be convened. A Meeting so requisitioned shall be held within 14 days of the receipt of the request.

(c) The Secretary shall forward a convening notice to each Club Member at least seven days prior to the meeting, such a notice shall give precise details of the Agenda.

(d) Notice of all Special General Meetings shall be posted on the Club Notice Board at least 10 days prior to the date of the meeting.

(e) Only subjects specified in the Agenda shall be discussed at a Special General Meeting.

(f) A Quorum for a Special General meeting shall be 12 Full Club Members, Honorary Members or Life Members and voting at a Special General Meeting shall be by Ballot.

(g) Minutes of Special General Meeting shall be kept.

13. SUB-COMMITTEE

(a) The Executive Committee shall appoint such Sub-Committees as may be considered necessary.

(b) The Executive Committee shall determine the number of Club Members to serve ona Sub-Committee and shall elect an Executive Committee Member to each Sub-Committee.

14. AUDITORS

Two Auditors shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting, excepting where a professionally qualified Auditor is appointed in which case he shall be capable of acting alone.

15. AUDIT

The Annual Statement of Accounts shall cover the preceding year’s business and a certified copy of the statement of accounts shall be available to each Member prior to the Annual General Meeting.

16. BAR LICENCE

The Club Committee shall appoint a person as the designated official for the operation of the licence as prescribed by the Law.

17. PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF 18

No person under the age of 18 may consume alcohol on any part of the Club premises and must be under the continuous supervision of the introducing Member.

18. MISCONDUCT OF A MEMBER ON CLUB PREMISES

In the event of any Member found illegally gambling or under the influence of drink or misconducting himself or herself in any way, then the responsible Member of the Executive Committee on such other person empowered to do so may demand that the Member leave the Club Premises and that he or she shall be requested to go before the Executive Committee when the circumstances will be investigated.

19. EXCLUSION FROM CLUBHOUSE

The responsible Member of the Executive Committee or such other person empowered to do so has the right to exclude any person from the Clubhouse whom he or she considers to be unfit for entrance for any reason.

20. DAMAGE

Members shall be liable for any breakages or damages caused by themselves or their guests to Club property.

21. GUESTS

(a) All Club Members other than Temporary Members and Airport Social Members over the age of 18 years shall be entitled to introduce Guests to the Club, but no Guest may visit the Club on more than 12 occasions in each calendar year.

(b) Such Guest may be accompanied at all times by the introducing Member.

(c) Guests must enter their full names and addresses in the Visitors’ Book and such Member shall sign his or her name in the prescribed place.

(d) In the case of breakages or damages, the person responsible for the Guest concerned shall be held responsible.

(e) No person who has been refused Membership or who has been expelled may be introduced as a Guest of the Club.

22. VISITING MEMBERS

Visiting Members shall enter their full names and addresses in the Visitors’ Book on each occasion that they visit the Club provided that if Visiting Members visit the Club on more than one occasion in any one day it shall only be necessary to enter their full names and addresses in the Visitors’ Book once on their entry on the first occasion.

23. DRINK

No person shall be allowed to bring to the Club any form of alcoholic drink apart from the duly authorised officials concerned in the public of the stocks.

24. BAR HOURS

(a) The permitted bar hours shall be between the following hours:

Monday to Saturday inclusive 1000-0045 hours
Sundays (other than Christmas Day) 1200-0045 hours
Christmas Day and Good Friday (i) 1100-1430 hours (ii) 1900-2230 hours

Note: The closing times of the Bar are the times after which any intoxicating drink cannot be consumed.

(b) The actual bar opening hours will be promulgated in the Club House. The designated official or other Member of the Committee may direct that the bar be closed on any day or for any of the opening hours of a particular day without notice.

24A. CLUB PREMISES NON-SMOKING

Smoking is not permitted in any part of the Clubhouse.

25. TRESPASS

Members must not trespass beyond the precincts of the Club on to the property of any neighbour.

26. NOTICES

(a) No notices shall be displayed in the Club’s premises without the permission of a Member of the Executive Committee.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of these Rules wherever notices of any kind are required to be served on any Member by the Club where the Member has previously indicated in writing (including by electronic writing) to the Club that the Member is willing to accept notices by electronic mail any notice or other communication sent by the Club to the Member shall be deemed to have been validly served if sent to the last known electronic mail address of the Member.

27. CLUB PROPERTY

Newspapers, books, pamphlets, etc or other property of the Club shall not be removed by Members.

28. PARKING OF CARS

(a) Members are requested to park their cars without hindrance to any entrance to or exit from the Club House or Hangar.

(b) All vehicles are parked at the owners’ risk and the Club shall not be held responsible for any loss or damage.

(c) Parking on Club Premises is reserved for Members and their Guests. Members are reminded that the Club car park is terre mises a l’amende and the owners of cars parked on Club Premises without (i) displaying evidence of current membership or (ii) in the case of Guests and Temporary Members, notifying a member of the Executive Committee or other Club official of the registration are liable to be fined.

GENERAL

29. ALTERATIONS TO THE RULES

These Rules may be altered, added to, or deleted at any General Meeting of the Club, provided that the requisite notice has been given to the Secretary.

30. INTERPRETATION OF RULES

Any question which may arise as to the interpretation of these Rules shall be decided by the Executive Committee.

31. POWERS OF SUSPENSION AND EXPULSION

The Executive Committee shall have the power to reprimand, suspend, expel or fine any Member who shall infringe any Rule or By-law or whose conduct shall, in its opinion, render such Member unfit for Membership. No Member shall be suspended or expelled without first being summoned before the Executive Committee to explain his or her conduct, and an opportunity given to advance a defence. Every Member so summoned shall receive at least one week’s notice in writing from the Secretary: such Notice shall contain a statement of the charge(s) brought against him or her.

32. MANAGEMENT OF PROPERTY OF CLUB

The Executive Committee shall have the following powers:

(a) To acquire and hold property, real and personal, as Trustees for the Club and to borrow and raise money by way of debentures or otherwise for Club purposes.

(b) To charge all or any of the real property held in the Trust for the Club as securing for the payment of monies so raised and interest thereon.

(c) To lend Club funds or monies to organisations or bodies corporate which have been approved by the membership in General Meeting from time to time. The terms on such loans are to be the responsibility of the Executive Committee save that the maximum sum or sums to be lent to each such organisation or body corporate and the duration of such loan or loans shall be as resolved by the members in General Meeting from time to time. Provided, however, that the powers conferred on the Executive Committee by 32(a) and (b) of this Rule shall only be exercised if and when the Club in General Meeting has so directed and in accordance with such direction.

33. DELEGATION

The Executive Committee shall have the power to delegate to Sub-committees consisting of such Members of the Executive Committee as that Committee may appoint, all or any of the powers of the Executive Committee and to revoke any such delegation.

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AMENDMENT RECORD

13/02/07 inserted AGM approved changes to Rule 16 & 24 (Bar License and hours)