Constitution
1. Title

The Club shall be known as ‘Hoylake Flyfishers Club’ (hereinafter called “The Club”).


2. Objects

The objects of the Club shall be:
(a) The Club shall be a non-profit making organisation dedicated to the promotion of game angling for all without discrimination as to race,creed, sex, age or any other reason which cannot be justified in law.
(b) The provision of game angling facilities for Club Members.
(c) The promotion of game angling generally.
(d) The fostering of good sportsmanship
(e) The furtherance of friendship between fellow anglers and Angling Clubs


3. Management and Committee


(a) The Club shall be managed by a Committee consisting of the following officers:-
President
Chairman
Treasurer
Secretary
Water Secretary
Outings Secretary


Membership Secretary

(Additional Members may be co-opted on to the Committee as circumstances require)
The Committee following each AGM shall appoint a member to act as Vice Chairman for the period until the next AGM

(b) The Committee shall be the governing body of the Club and shall have the power at its meetings to decide the policy of the Club in all matters pertaining to the Club’s affairs. Any matter not provided for in these Rules shall be decided by the Committee whose decision shall be binding on all members.
(c) The Committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting and will hold Office until the annual subscription has been approved at the following Annual General Meeting. Retiring Committee members shall be eligible for re-election. **see note below
Once elected the position of President shall not be subject to annual re-election, with the Member serving until they decide to resign or are removed by a majority decision of the Committee. A new president will then be elected at the next AGM
(d) The Committee shall meet on the third Tuesday in every month or more or less frequently as required and may act notwithstanding any vacancy. In the absence of the Chairman or Vice-Chairman, the Committee Members shall elect a Chairman from those present.
(e) A quorum for Committee Meetings shall consist of four Members.


4. Membership

a) There shall be the following classes of membership
(i) Senior Members who have attained the age of 18 years on the 1st November.
(ii) Junior Members who have not attained the age limit for Senior Members. (Junior Members must be accompanied by a Senior Member when fishing Club waters)
(iii) Honorary Members at the discretion of the Committee.
(iv) Associate Members who will be allowed to attend Club meetings and to fish the Club outings. They will not be allowed to fish Club waters and will not be allowed to vote at the AGM. Their rate of subsciption shall be established by the committee.
(b) Application for membership must be made in writing to the Membership Secretary and if approved by the Committee an enrolment fee at the appropriate rate as determined by the Committee from time to time shall be payable in addition to the annual subscription. The enrolment fee shall be applied at the same rate for both Senior and Junior applicants.
(c) Membership shall run from the 1st January to the 31st December. Members renewing subscriptions before the 1st January may receive a discount for early payment as determined at the AGM. Members may not fish Club waters from the 1st January without having paid their annual subscription.
(d) The annual subscription must be paid by 1st January failing which membership shall lapse.
(e) Any individual whose membership has lapsed shall cease to be a Member of the Club and may not participate in any activity of the Club or fish Club waters. Lapsed Members who renew within two months of lapsing will not be subject to a rejoining fee.
(f) After the two months period of lapsing a lapsed member may apply to the Committee to rejoin the Club and if approved shall pay the appropriate enrolment fee.
(g) The Committee shall have the power to vary the application of Rule (f) above in cases of hardship or at their discretion.


5. Subscriptions

All Members other than Honorary Members shall pay an annual subscription at the rate determined at the Annual General Meeting. The subscription rate for Junior Members shall be set at half the rate payable by Senior Members.


6. Resignation

Any Member may resign at any time by giving notice in writing to the Secretary. Annual subscriptions and enrolment fees shall not be refunded either in whole or in part unless the Committee in any particular case decides to the contrary.


7. Suspension or Expulsion

Any Member may be subject to a period of suspension from the Club activities or may be expelled from the Club by a resolution of the Committee if in the opinion of the Committee such member has been guilty of a misdemeanour or of conduct likely to bring the name of the Club into disrepute. Before taking such action, the Committee shall enquire into the circumstances and shall give the Member the opportunity to address the Committee in his defence.


8. Meetings

(a) Monthly Meetings. The Club will meet on the first Tuesday of the Month at the premises of the Hoylake Rugby Club or as otherwise notified from time to time.
(b) AGM The Annual General Meeting will be held on the first Tuesday in October or as soon as is practicable thereafter to deal with the following business:-
(i) The minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting and Matters Arising.
(ii) The Chairman’s report.
(iii) The Treasurer’s report and the Adoption of Accounts.
(iv) The approval of the Membership Subscription Rate for the coming year.
(v) The Water Secretary’s report and any changes to Club Waters.
(vi) The approval of any changes to the Constitution.
(vii) The election of the new Committee.
(viii) The election of signatories for signing cheques.
(ix) The election of an Auditor for the coming year.
Please note, any proposal to be considered at the AGM must be delivered to the Secretary no later than 28 days before the date of the AGM and must contain the names of the proposer and seconder

Following the election of the Auditor the Annual General Meeting will close.

The usual monthly meeting will follow the AGM.

(c) Extraordinary Meetings Extraordinary Meetings of the Club may be called at any time by a resolution in writing signed by at least fifteen Senior Members. Only the business specified in the resolution shall be considered at such meetings which shall be held on the occasion of the next ordinary Club Meeting following the expiry of one month from the date of the resolution provided that at least 25% of the membership are present.
(d) Postal Voting In the event of a Member who is eligible to vote at the AGM being unable to attend the meeting because of local or national restrictions beyond his/her control the Member may submit a vote by email or post on items on the agenda. Any such vote must be received by the Club Secretary at least two days before the date of the AGM. Such members voting in this way will count towards the quorum needed at the AGM.
(e) Postponement of the AGM If the AGM is postponed and cannot be reconvened within a reasonable time then an agenda for the AGM together with reports and any motions should be circulated to all members who are eligible to vote. Votes must be submitted to the Club Secretary by post or email to arrive before the date set by the Committee.


9. Finance

(a) The financial year of the Club shall run from 1st September to 31st August.
(b) A Statement of the Club’s financial position shall be submitted by the Treasurer to the members at the Annual General Meeting.
(c) The Committee shall have full power to borrow either by way of overdraft or loan or under any agreement for the purposes of the Club.
(d) Any monies constituting Club funds shall be held in one or more of a Bank Account, Building Society Account or other investment as decided by the Committee from time to time.
(e) All cheques must be signed by two of the authorised signatories.
(f) The Club’s current account should have the facility to send and receive BACs payments.
(g) The Club’s treasurer should be able to manage the Club’s current account by telephone and over the internet.
(h) The Club’s current account should be provided with a debit card.
(i) The Committee is empowered to select and establish a bank account with a bank that provides the most suitable facilities to meet the requirements of the Club.


10. Provision for Dissolution of the Club

The Club may be dissolved at an Extraordinary Meeting by Special Resolution which has been passed by a two thirds majority of the votes cast at that meeting. The rules for Extraordinary Meetings will apply.
In the event of the Club being dissolved its assets shall not be distributed among the members but shall be paid to a charity as agreed at the meeting.


**Note; the following members were duly elected to the committee at the AGM of October 2023:-
President – Ken Hopkins
Chairman – Steve Rogers
Treasurer – Mike Grundy
Secretary – Position vacant
Water Secretary – Dave Humphreys
Membership Secretary – Ron Collier

Paul Hughes was re-elected as Auditor