NAAS TRIATHLON CLUB CONSTITUTION
Voted on and Ratified on [01-March-2010]
0.0 Definitions
0.1 In this constitution:
NTC means ‘NaasTriathlon Club’;
TI means ‘Triathlon Ireland’
AGM means ‘Annual General Meeting’;
EGM means ‘Extraordinary General Meeting’;
Committee means the ‘main NTC governing committee containing all three Principal Officers’;
and Principal Office Bearers (or Principal Officers) means ‘Chairman, Treasurer, and Secretary’.
1. Name
a. The name of the Club shall be Naas Triathlon Club
b. The Club’s colours shall be orange and blue
2. Objects
a. The objects of the Club shall be to:
i. encourage the practice and development of triathlon in Naas and Newbridge,
County Kildare and surrounding areas.
ii. provide coaching for club members and to organise and promote competitions.
iii. organise teams to represent the club in triathlon and multisport events, national
championships, international championships and in such other competitions as the
committee shall decide.
3. The club shall cater for:
i. Triathlon
ii. Multisports involving the individual sports of running, cycling and swimming (duathlons, aquathons and other variations)
iii. The individual sports of running, cycling and swimming.
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4. Membership
a. Membership shall be open to all persons either amateur or professional. The amateur
status of non-professional club members shall be protected.
b. It is mandatory for members of Naas Triathlon Club to be either full or
associate members of Triathlon Ireland, the national governing body for the sport of
triathlon in Ireland. Failure to maintain a membership of Triathlon Ireland (in accordance
with the membership policies of Triathlon Ireland), or the withdrawal of membership of
Triathlon Ireland from a member of Naas Triathlon Club automatically results in
an immediate loss of membership of Naas Triathlon Club.
c. Participants in training sessions, club competitions and other club activities must be current
members of Naas Triathlon Club. The Club Secretary may permit the
involvement of guest participants at his / her discretion; such guest participants must,
however, be members of Triathlon Ireland or other national governing body.
d. Each applicant for membership must complete the official application form. An application
for membership is valid for the calendar year in which it is signed, and to continue
membership, members are required to renew their membership for each new calendar year
no later than [28 February].
e. Approved persons remain members of the club until the earlier of
a) such time as they tender a resignation as per Article 10 of this constitution or
b) they fail to renew their membership as per Article 4.d. of this constitution or
c) they fail to pay any subscription validly approved under this constitution in accordance
with Article 9.b. of this constitution.
f. The Committee of Naas Triathlon Club are empowered to withdraw
membership from any member of Naas Triathlon Club.
Equality and Children’s Rights
Naas Triathlon Club
5. shall carry out all functions in a manner that promotes equality of opportunity between:
a. Naas Triathlon Club shall carry out all functions in a manner that promotes
equality of opportunity between:
i. Persons of different religious belief, political opinion, racial group, age, marital
status or sexual orientation;
ii. Men and women generally;
iii. Persons with a disability and persons without;
iv. Persons with dependants and persons without.
b. Naas Triathlon Club aims to promote the participation of children by:
i. Creating a culture of safety and fun;
ii. Fully subscribing to the following international standards: “Children have the right
to be protected from all forms of violence; they must be kept safe from harm.
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They must be given proper care by those looking after them” (Article 19; UN
Convention on the Rights of the Child)”
iii. Asserting the right of Children to be safe. Club officials must ensure that this
Fundamental principle takes precedence over all other considerations;
iv. Fully subscribing at all times and without variation to Triathlon Ireland’s Code of
Ethics for Children.
6. Management
a. The management of the Club shall be vested in a committee, comprising members elected
to the positions of Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and Child and Vulnerable Adult
Protection Officer, together with up to [five] additional members validly elected to the
committee, with or without specific functions. These positions are defined below:
i. Chairperson
The Chairperson is responsible for ensuring the committee operates in the best
interest of the club and its members. Their role is to co-ordinate committee activity
to achieve this. Alongside chairing committee and general meetings, the
chairperson will also help out the other committee members where required.
ii. Secretary
The role of the Secretary involves maintaining the database of members, providing
information bulletins to members, and circulating meeting minutes from AGMs and
committee meetings as required.
iii. Treasurer
The Treasurer is responsible for accurately recording all financial transactions
made by the club and presenting this record in a recognised format to members of
the club at the AGM.. The role will involve collecting and recording cash payments
from members and sponsors and for issuing and recording payment to suppliers
and others as agreed by the committee. The Treasurer is automatically a cosignatory
on any bank or credit card account held in the name of the club.
iv. Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Officer
The Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Officer shall be responsible for ensuring
that all aspects of the Triathlon Ireland Code of Ethics for Children are
implemented fully in the club, and to act as point of liaison between the club and
Triathlon Ireland and other Voluntary or Statutory Agencies where appropriate or
required by Statute.
A functioning committee may be formed once each of the above positions are filled by members validly elected to the position in accordance with this constitution. In addition to the above four positions, up to five additional members may be elected to serve on committee. It is recommended that additional members be elected for the following roles.
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v. Public Relations Officer
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) is responsible for external communications
including the club website, promotional posters, issuing local community notices,
issuing press releases and race reports to local media, etc. The PRO will also be
the official point of contact for the club (with other clubs, Triathlon Ireland, etc.).
vi. Training Co-ordinator
The Training Co-ordinator will be responsible for organising group training,
including ability groups, pacing, routing and scheduling.
vii. Social Officer.
The Social Officer will be responsible for organising official club social events
including post-race celebrations, the Christmas party and other events through the
year.
viii. and 2 other members.
b. At least one of the committee should represent the interests of female triathletes.
c. At least one of the committee should represent the interests of new triathletes.
d. All of the forgoing shall be elected. All positions are filled by election at the Annual General
Meeting, with each member of Naas Triathlon Club present having one vote
per position.
e. Any club member can declare their interest in a position, whereupon they must be
proposed and seconded by two members of Naas Triathlon Club.
f. Where more than one person nominated for a position, the person deemed elected is the
person who receives the most votes. Where there is only one nomination for election, that
person is deemed elected if there is a simple majority of votes in favour of their election
over votes against their election.
g. The elected committee shall remain in office until the Annual General meeting of the
following year.
h. The Committee shall have the power to fill vacancies if and when they arise.
i. The Committee shall have the power to co-opt members from time-to-time and for specific
projects but co-opted members shall not have a Committee vote. Co-opted members may
attend Committee Meetings upon invitation by the Committee Chairperson or Secretary.
j. The Committee shall meet at regular intervals as decided by the Chairperson but not less
frequently than once in every 3 months in a venue to be decided.
k. Copies of the minutes of committee meetings should be available to members on request
from the Secretary.
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7. Annual General Meeting
l. The Annual General Meeting shall be held no later than the [1 March] for the purpose of:-
i. receiving the annual report of the committee for the preceding season
ii. receiving the statement of accounts for the preceding season
m. electing the officers and committee for the ensuing year
n. considering any amendments to the Constitution and Rules of the Club of which due notice
has been given to all members. Any proposed change to the Constitution Rules by a
member must be received by the chair or secretary at least 14 days prior to the date of the
Annual General Meeting in order that members shall have sufficient notice of the proposal.
At the discretion of the Chairperson, amendments not submitted at least 14 days prior to
the AGM may be proposed by any member present at the AGM and voted upon.
o. At least 28 days notice (in accordance with Article 14 of this constitution) shall be given to
members of the date, proposed venue and draft agenda items for the Annual General
Meeting. Notice of the final agenda, incorporating any proposed or amended agenda item,
proposed motions, financial statements and a confirmed venue for the AGM shall be given
to members at least 48 hours prior to the proposed AGM, and will be available in printed
form at the proposed AGM. The accidental omission to give notice of an AGM to or the
non-receipt of notice by any member shall not invalidate the proceedings at that meeting.
p. Each fully signed up member present at the meeting shall have one vote. No proxy votes
will be accepted.
q. All motions proposed and voted on, and the election of committee members is by simple
majority. Voting will ordinarily be by a show of hands (two ordinary members will be
charged with counting hands) except in the case where a member or group of members
request a secret ballot.
8. Affiliations and Sponsorships
a. The club shall be affiliated to Triathlon Ireland and to such other sporting bodies as the
Committee consider appropriate in order to carry out the objects of the Club.
b. The committee, at their absolute discretion, may approve commercial sponsorship
arrangements including the placement of commercial logos on club equipment, clothing,
racing kit, the club website, and any other Club collateral in return for financial or other
support given by sponsors to the Club. Any agreements made in respect of same and
signed by the Chairperson and Treasurer acting as agents for the Committee shall be
binding on the club.
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9. Subscriptions
a. Subscription to Naas Triathlon Club is by means of:
i. An annual membership fee structure, the amount of which to be proposed annually
by the outgoing Treasurer and carried by majority vote at the AGM.
Where an annual membership fee is mandated by the AGM in accordance with this
constitution, failure to pay such annual fee at the later of [1 May], or within [60 days] of
membership application / renewal will result in the loss of membership of Naas
Triathlon Club
10. Resignations
a. Any member wishing to resign, must do so in writing, addressed to the Chair or Secretary.
The resignation will be considered by the Committee within one calendar month of receipt
and will be held as effective on the date of tendering. Resignations will not be accepted if
the member is financially indebted to the Club, and acceptance will be withheld until the
debt has been discharged.
11. Extraordinary General Meetings
a. An Extraordinary General Meeting shall be called by the Chair or Secretary within one
month of the receipt of a requisition signed by at least [9] members stating the purpose of
the meeting. At least [14] days notice shall be given to all fully signed-up members of the
date, venue and purpose of an Extraordinary General Meeting. No other business shall be
conducted at such a meeting.
12. Constitution Amendments
a. No Constitution Rule may be altered, added to, or deleted except at an Annual General
Meeting or an Extraordinary General Meeting called for that purpose and then only by a
majority of those present and voting.
13. Financial Year
a. The Club’s financial year ends each [December 31st].
14. Quorum
a. For Committee meetings the Quorum shall be not less than four members.
b. For an Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting, the Quorum shall be not
less than ten members.
15. Notices
a. A notice required to be given under this Constitution shall be sufficiently given if
i. Published on the website of Naas Triathlon Club or
ii. Announced in at least one local newspaper.