CDBA Future Events

CDBA Constitution

Here is the constitution for Chesham & District Bridleways Association as adopted at the 2004 AGM.

CONSTITUTION TITLE

The Association shall be known as ·CHESHAM AND DISTRICT BRIDLEWAYS ASSOCIATION·

2. OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the Association shall be:

To champion the cause of horseriders in their use of safe(preferably off-road) rights of way
To investigate the subject of bridleways and rights of way with a view of opening those that have been closed and maintaining and more clearly defining those that are in existence
To encourage riding as a recreation, to promote good fellowship amongst riders and to improve and maintain the safety standard of riding
To organise instructional meetings, lectures and competitive events and other activities deemed to further the objectives
To concern itself with any objective which will benefit the horse and the horse user in the district

3. MEMBERSHIP

This shall consist of persons who have paid the due subscription for the current period. Honorary membership may be conferred by the Committee upon any person deemed by them to have rendered notable service to the Club.

Anyone wishing to become a member must complete a membership application form (to be renewed annually) and comply with the stated conditions of membership.

The annual subscription shall be payable on the first day of the Club·s financial year (January 1st). Any member whose subscription is more than three months in arrears shall have his or her name removed from the Membership List after written notice to that effect has been sent to him or her.

The Committee may expel from membership of the Association any member who has not complied with the rules of the Association or who has, in the opinion of the Committee, been guilty of any conduct derogatory to the character or prejudicial to the interests of the Club, provided that before expelling him or her the Committee shall call upon him or her for an explanation of his or her conduct and give him or her a proper opportunity of answering the allegations against him or her.

4. ADMINISTRATION

The Committee

All powers of management shall be vested in the Committee consisting of the Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and all other Committee members, four shall form a quorum.

At the Annual General Meeting each year, one third of the members of the Committee shall retire, the members to retire being those who have been longest in office and as between those who have been in office for the same length of time the members to retire shall be determined by lot. Retiring members shall be eligible for re-election.

The Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected annually by the Committee from among their number.

The decision of the Committee shall be final unless over-ruled at a General Meeting

The Committee shall be the sole authority for the interpretation of the rules or for anything relating to the Association not provided therein and their decision shall be final and binding on the members.

The Committee may formulate bye-laws for the detailed running of the Association and elect sub-committees for any special activities of the Association which the Committee may authorise.

The Committee shall have the power to fill any casual vacancy arising amongst members of the Committee, but any person so co-opted shall retain office only until the next Annual General Meeting and shall then be eligible for re-election.

The financial year of the Association shall commence on the 1st January in each year.

The annual subscription shall be £10.00 or such other sum as shall from time to time be determined by the Committee.

The Annual General Meeting shall be held within the first quarter of the following year to transact the following business:

To receive and if approved to adopt a Statement of the Club·s Accounts to the end of the preceding year.
To fill vacancies on the Committee
To appoint an auditor
To deal with any special matter which the Committee may desire to bring before the members and to receive suggestions from the members for consideration by the Committee. Notice convening the Annual General Meeting shall be sent to the members not less than 21 days before the meeting and shall specify matters to be dealt with

A Special General Meeting may be called by the Committee, or by a request signed by not less than five members specifying the business to be discussed. The Secretary shall give all members 10 days notice of such a meeting and shall specify in such notice matters to be dealt with.

The accounts of the Association shall be audited each year by the person appointed at the previous Annual General Meeting.

Notice may be given to any member by sending it by post to him or her at his or her address in the United Kingdom registered in the records of the Club. The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting or the non-receipt of a notice of a meeting by any member shall not invalidate the proceedings.

These rules may be added to, repealed or amended by resolution at any Annual or Special General Meeting, provided that no such resolution is passed unless carried by a majority of two thirds of the members present and voting, and provided that prior notice has been sent to all members stating the proposed amendment.

The Club, its Committee or persons acting on their behalf will not be held responsible for claims for anything which may happen to participants, their helpers, onlookers, horses, vehicles or property in connection with, or arising from, any Association event and it shall be a condition of entry that each entrant shall indemnify the Committee against legal action arising from any accident.

Members shall be correctly turned out at all Association events and hard hats and body protectors should conform to the standards detailed in the ·rules and condition of entry· for that year.

5. REVENUE

The revenue of the Association shall not be available for dividend, but shall be used solely to further the objectives of the Association as detailed under 2. In the event of dissolution or winding up of the Club, whether voluntary or by order of the court, any net assets remaining after settlement of all due liabilities shall be donated to a cause that will benefit horses and their welfare.

6. DATA PROTECTION AND PRIVACY

The Data Protection Act currently exempts private clubs but the Association will follow best practice guidelines as follows: The Membership Secretary holds a simple electronic database of the information provided by members on their membership application form including e-mail addresses where supplied. This information is provided to other Committee Members as necessary. Member contact details will be used for mailing newsletters, renewal reminders and other Association information the Committee deems appropriate. E-mail addresses will only be used if the member has given permission via the membership form and will only be used for Association business. From time to time, the Association may allow third party material to be included with mailings to offset the costs of Association mailings but undertake to not pass contact details to any third party at any time. Committee Members undertake to treat any member contact details as confidential and for the use of Association business only. Membership records will be kept for at least five years, or at the discretion of the Committee. Any member who has any concern regarding the use or holding of their contact details at any time should contact the Membership Secretary in writing giving details of the nature of their concern.