CONSTITUTION

OF

THE GREATER WELLINGTON

MUZZLE-LOADING CLUB

INCORPORATED.

 

 

 

1.         NAME

 

The name of the Incorporated Society will be:

"The Greater Wellington Muzzle-Loading Club Incorporated"  In this constitution it will be referred to as "the club".

 

 

2.         OBJECTS

 

The objects of the club shall be:

 

2.1       To initiate and foster the practice of target shooting and to hold meetings, trials and shooting competitions.

 

2.2       To promote safety, responsibility and proficiency in the care and handling of firearms.

 

2.3       To protect the interests of member shooters and promote the establishment and maintenance of members rights to own, possess, carry and shoot lawful firearms.

 

2.4       To foster interest in the history and use of muzzle-loading firearms and in the preservation of such firearms.

 

2.5       To do all such things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objects.

 

 

3.         POWERS

 

The powers of the club shall be:

 

3.1       Make, alter or rescind the constitution of the club by resolution in General Meeting, subject to clause 15.

 

3.2       Make, alter or rescind shooting rules and regulations, bylaws and operating procedures of the club.

 

3.3       Make, amend and implement annual management plans.

 

3.4       Apply funds to purposes in accordance with the objects and powers of the club .

 

3.5       Purchase, lease, hire or otherwise acquire real or personal property and any rights or privileges which the club may think necessary and convenient for the purpose of these objects.

 

3.6       Sell, lease, exchange or otherwise dispose of any property or interest in any property, rights, concessions or privileges belonging to the club for such consideration or upon such terms as the club may think fit, subject to clause 16.

 

3.7       Construct, maintain, alter, pull down, remove or replace any building or works which the club  considers likely to advance the club's interests directly or indirectly.

 

3.8       Fund raise by subscriptions, levies, donations and other means as from time to time may be required to administer the affairs of the club.

 

3.9       Borrow or raise money and secure payment of same, or to secure payment of any money owing by the club for the satisfaction for performance of any obligations or liabilities incurred by the club.

 

3.10     Invest any money of the club not required for immediate use in the manner following:

 

3.10.1      On any form of security which is or may be approved for trustees under any Public Act of New Zealand.

 

3.10.2      On any real securities in New Zealand provided that the amount advanced on any one security does not exceed the amount recommended by the club's valuer, such amount being not more than two-thirds of the value placed on the whole security by the valuer.

 

3.10.3      On deposit either at interest or on current account at any bank carrying on business in New Zealand under authority of Act of the General Assembly.

 

3.11                     Withdraw, suspend or terminate membership of any individual financial member, associate member or honorary/honorary life member subject to para 14.

 

3.12                     Implement disciplinary procedures and impose sanctions and penalties on any individual financial member or associate member subject to para 14.

 

3.13                     Establish tribunals, conduct hearings and hear appeals.

 

3.14                     Enter into and/or terminate contracts with competitors, staff, members, sponsors media and other persons, agencies and organisations.

 

3.15                     Develop job descriptions and appoint and terminate the appointment of staff (casual, contract other).

 

3.16                     Delegate duties, co-opt, appoint and dismiss sub-committees in accordance with 11.1 and 11.2.

 

3.17                     Disseminate private or other information about members with their consent, via written declaration, and subject to the purpose being in accordance with the objects and powers of the club.

 

3.18                     Subscribe to, affiliate to and co-operate with the New Zealand Pistol Association Incorporated and kindred or other organisations, including internationals.

 

3.19                     Promote the club and its activities.

 

3.20                     Develop, organise, deliver and participate in programmes of education, training and coaching.

 

3.21                     To do such thing or things which, not being unlawful or inconsistent with the Incorporated Societies Act, in the opinion of the club are conducive to the attainment of the objects and the powers of the club.

 

 

4.                         MEMBERSHIP

 

There shall be six (6) classes of membership:

 

                            (1)   Ordinary membership

                            (2)   Junior membership

                            (3)   Family membership

                            (4)   Honorary membership

                            (5)   Honorary life membership

                            (6)   Associate membership

 

4.1                       Any person eighteen (18) years of age and over shall be an ordinary member after committee approval of application to join the club and on payment of the current subscription fee.

 

4.2                       Any person up to and including seventeen (17) years of age shall be a junior member after committee approval of application to join the club and on payment of the current subscription fee, and if not a firearms licence holder, so long as supervised by an appointed firearms licence holder.

 

4.3                       The member of a family and his or her spouse and children under eighteen (18)  years of age shall be eligible for family membership on application and payment of the current subscription fee.

 

4.4                       Any person may be elected an honorary member of the club by the committee and shall remain an honorary member at the pleasure of the committee.  An honorary member shall be entitled to take part in the activities of the club but shall have no vote at meetings.

 

4.5                       Any member who has given outstanding service to the club may be elected as an honorary life member as laid out in rule 4.5.1.  Honorary life members shall have all the privileges of an ordinary member.

 

4.5.1        Nominations for honorary life membership must be delivered to the Secretary or President before the A.G.M. and accompanied by a resume of the nominee and signed by the proposer and seconder who must both be current members of the club.  A secret ballot will be conducted by either the Secretary or President and one seconded scrutineer.  A two-thirds majority of the financial membership present in favour is required and a positive outcome only shall be announced at the ensuing AGM.

 

4.6                       Any person may be an associate member of the club by approval of the committee and on payment of the current subscription fee, and shall remain an associate member at the pleasure of the committee.  An associate member shall be entitled to take part in the activities of the club but shall have no vote at meetings.

 

4.7                       Each applicant for membership may be required to serve a period of probation of not less than six (6) months, during which time the applicant may take part in such activities as the committee has determined.  The committee may at its discretion refuse to admit any applicant to any class of membership of the club.  The committee need not assign any reason for its refusal or the imposing of a period of probation.

 

4.8                       Any member may resign from membership by giving to the Secretary in writing notice to that effect and every such notice shall take effect as from the next committee meeting which must be within two (2) months following notification.  No such resignation shall relieve or discharge the member from any subscription or other debts due and payable by the member to the club.

 

4.9                       Membership may be suspended or cancelled by the Disciplinary Committee at any time, with or without forfeiture of any subscription moneys which may have been paid subject to para 14.

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.                         SUBSCRIPTIONS

 

5.1                       The annual subscription for all members, as recommended by committee, shall be set twelve (12) months in advance at the Annual General Meeting.

 

5.1.1        Where circumstances dictate, the subscriptions may be reviewed at a Special General meeting called for that purpose.

 

5.2                       Subscriptions shall be paid by the Annual General Meeting.

 

5.3                       Any member whose annual subscription is more than (6) months in arrears will be  removed from membership of the club and may be re-admitted on payment of all arrears.

 

5.4                       In the case of an application part way through the year the club fee shall be divided by twelve (12). The fees payable will be based on the remaining months in the financial year pro. rata .

 

6.                         LEVIES

 

6.1                       Every financial member, other than an honorary life member, shall, by way of levy, pay to the club a sum or sums not exceeding in any one (1) financial year an amount not exceeding two(2) times the subscription paid for that year by the member.  Such levy shall be imposed by resolution in general meeting and only on the grounds that a levy is considered necessary to further the interest of the club or to ensure that, in cases of extreme emergency, the club may continue operating.

 

6.2                       Any such levies shall be payable to the club on the day fixed by the committee which in addition, may allow that the levy be paid in instalments.

 

 

7.                         FINANCIAL YEAR

 

7.1                       The financial year of the club shall end on 31st March.

 

 

8.                         ANNUAL AND SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

 

8.1                       A quorum at Annual and Special General Meetings shall be 20% of the current financial voting membership.  The date of meetings shall be fixed by the committee and at least twenty-one (21) days notice thereof shall be given to all members by the Secretary in writing.  Honorary and associate members will have the right to attend any general meeting of the club but will have no vote and will not have the right to speak except with the consent of the chairperson.

 

8.2                       The club shall hold an Annual General Meeting within two (2) months of the end of the financial year.

 

8.3                       The main business of the Annual General Meeting shall be the presentation of the financial Report and the President's Report in respect of the immediate past financial year, the fixing of the rate of annual subscriptions as per paragraph 5 and the election and induction of club officers for the ensuing financial year and properly presented notices of motion.  Other business may be dealt with as deemed appropriate by the meeting.

 

8.4                       All other general meetings of the club shall be Special General Meetings and will be convened at any time by resolution of the committee or, the Secretary will call a Special General Meeting on the requisition in writing of not less than eight (8) financial members stating the purpose of the meeting.

 

8.5                       Voting will be by show of hands, or  unless requested by a financial member a secret ballot.  Each financial member shall have one (1) vote.

 

                            8.5.1            The Club President shall be the Chairperson.

 

8.5.2  The Chairperson shall appoint two (2) scrutineers from members present to conduct ballots.

         

 

9.         COMMITTEE MEETINGS

 

9.1                   Meetings of the  Committee shall be held as the business of the club dictates, except that at least six (6) such meetings must be held during any one (1) financial year.

 

9.2                   A quorum at committee meetings shall be four (4) members.

 

9,3       The committee shall meet within thirty (30) days of election.

 

 

10.       OFFICERS OF THE CLUB

 

10.1     The office bearers of the club shall be:

 

            (1)       Patron (optional)

 

            (2)       Executive Committee:

                       

                                    President

                                    Vice President

                                    Immediate Past President

                                    Club Captain

                                    Secretary

                                    Treasurer

                                    Range Officer

                                    Armourer

                                    Elected members as required to total a committee of ten (10).

            The committee may appoint any person to the committee as per para. 3.16.

 

10.2     All committee members must be financial members of the club.

 

 

11.       SUB-COMMITTEES

 

11.1     The committee shall have power to appoint sub-committees for any purpose pertaining to the legitimate business of the club and to delegate to such sub-committees such powers as the committee sees fit.

 

11.2     The President or Vice President may ex-officio be a member of a sub-committee.

 

 

12.       AUDITOR

 

           

12.1     An auditor will be appointed when required.

            The auditor, who shall not be a member of the committee but may be a financial member of the club eligible for such appointment, shall examine the books and accounts and certify to the correctness of the annual statement of receipts and payments and the balance sheet of the club when required.

 

 

13.       EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

 

13.1     The Executive Committee shall have all of the powers of the club detailed in Rule 3 of this constitution.  The Executive Committee shall not have authority to exercise any power in Rule 3 of this constitution that expressly requires a resolution at a General Meeting.

 

 

13.2     The Chairperson may, in lieu of calling a formal meeting, seek the opinion of the Executive Committee by:

 

            (a)        Facsimile

            (b)       Conference telephone call;  or

            (c)        Any other means of communication.

 

13.2.1      The Chairperson shall act in accordance with the general views obtained provided such opinion is supported by the majority of executive committee members.  Such action will be formally ratified at the next meeting of the executive committee.

 

13.3                     Each committee member will have one (1) vote.  The chairperson will have a casting vote.

 

13.4                     The Chairperson shall be the Club President or Vice President in the president's absence. If both are absent, the meeting shall elect a chairperson from those present.

 

14.                       DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE

 

14.1                     The Disciplinary Committee shall be appointed by the Executive Committee if required.

 

           14.1.1       The Disciplinary Committee shall number five (5).

 

           14.1.2       A Chairperson shall be elected from those present for the term of any one (1) dispute.

 

14.2    Any member of the Disciplinary Committee who has an interest in any matter before the committee must declare that interest, and be precluded from any participation in the hearing.

 

14.3    The procedures for hearing a formal appeal or complaint will be as determined by the Executive Committee.

 

14.4    The Disciplinary Committee shall have jurisdiction over all membership.

 

           The Disciplinary Committee shall:

 

14.4.1       Hear formal complaints from any individual member.

 

           14.4.2                 Hear formal appeals from any individual financial member.

 

           14.4.3                 Investigate and hear any matter that comes to the attention of the Disciplinary Committee from any individual financial member.

 

14.5    If a complaint is proved to its satisfaction, the Disciplinary Committee shall have the power to impose on an individual financial member , family member,  associate member, associate life member, honorary or honorary life member concerned, one (1) or more of the following penalties:

 

14.5.1       Suspension either indefinitely or for a stated period from either competing or taking part in any other capacity in any event sanctioned by the club.

 

 

14.5.2       Written censure in respect to conduct.

 

 

14.5.3        Any other penalty deemed appropriate.

 

14.6     The Disciplinary Committee chairperson shall have with the support of the disciplinary committee have the power to impose interim suspension covering the period from the alleged breach of rule, regulation or conduct until the disciplinary procedure shall have been completed.  Where an individual has been suspended, any period of suspension imposed at a final hearing shall commence from the date of the interim suspension.

 

15.       ALTERATION OF CONSTITUTION

 

15.1     The constitution of the club may be altered, added to or rescinded by a two-thirds majority vote at any Special or Annual  General Meeting of which twenty-one (21) days notice of the place, date and business to be conducted has been given in writing to all members.

 

15.2     No addition to, alteration or recession of this constitution shall be made without written approval from the Inland Revenue Department if it affects this clause, clause 20 (Liquidation) or clause 16 (Payments To Members).

 

16        PAYMENTS TO MEMBERS

 

16.1     No part of the clubs income or other funds is to be used by or be available for the personal use of any member or an associated person of any member.

 

16.2     The club may make reasonable payment to a member for services, or reimbursement or pay any reasonable costs incurred by a member on behalf of the club.

 

16.3     No member of the club or any person associated with a member shall participate in or materially influence any decision made by the club in respect of the payment to or on behalf of that member or associated person of any income, benefit, or advantage whatsoever.

 

16.4     Any such income paid shall be reasonable and relative to current market values.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17.       SEAL

 

The seal of the club shall be in the custody of the Secretary but shall not be affixed to any document except by the order of the Executive Committee and in the presence of the Secretary and two (2) committee members.

 

 

18.       RETURNS

 

The Secretary shall cause to be made any Returns required by the Incorporated Societies Act 1908 or such other statutory provisions for the time being in force and shall comply with all the requirements of the Statutes and Regulations.

 

 

19.       MATTERS NOT PROVIDED

 

If any matter shall arise which is not, or in the opinion of the Executive Committee is not, provided for by or under these Rules, the same shall be determined by the Executive Committee in such manner as it shall deem fit, consistent with the Statutes, and every such determination shall be binding upon the club and its members unless and until set aside by resolution of a Special or Annual General Meeting of the club.

 

 

 

20.       INDEMNITY

 

20.1     The Executive Committee and other members of the club shall be indemnified by the club against all losses and expenses incurred in or about the discharge of their duties, except as such happen by their own wilful act, neglect or fault.

 

20.2     No member of the Executive Committee shall be responsible for any other member of the Executive committee or for any officer, clerk or servant of the club, or losses caused through or by the insufficiency or deficiency of value of, or title to, any property or security acquired or taken on behalf of the club.

 

 

21.       LIQUIDATION

 

21.1     The procedure leading to the liquidation of the club will be in accordance with the Incorporated Societies Act.  The resolution requiring the club to be placed into liquidation shall be passed by a majority vote of those present at a General Meeting.

 

21.2     If upon the liquidation or dissolution of the club there remains any property whatsoever after payment of the club's liabilities and debts, it shall not be paid to or distributed among the members, but such property will be given to some other institution or association having objects similar to the club.  Such institution or association to be determined by a majority vote at a general meeting of the club or, failing such a decision, in such a manner as the registrar of the Incorporated Societies may determine.

 

 

 

 

 

THIS CONSTITUTION WAS

ADOPTED BY THE

GREATER WELLINGTON MUZZLE-LOADING CLUB

BY RESOLUTION PASSED AT A MEETING HELD ON

19th day of May 1999

 

 

 

 

 

            .......................................    President

 

 

            .......................................    Vice-President

 

 

            .......................................     Secretary