Club Membership Rules

(Approved at AGM 15th July 2025)

The Club, being a non-profit making organisation, aims and objectives are;-

1. To provide League Badminton for its Members within a Safe and Friendly Environment.
2. To provide Academy Coaching for Juniors
3. To support Equal Opportunities as defined in The Equality Act 2010 which requires the Club not to discriminate because of Disability, Race and Sexual Orientation.
4. To support and adopt the Badminton England policies on ‘Equality and Diversity’, ‘Ethics and Conduct’, ‘Trans People’ and ‘The Protection and Safeguarding of Children and Vulnerable Adults’ (see Rule 7.1 for details)

A copy of BADMINTON England’s Equality & Diversity policy is available on: http://www.badmintonengland.co.uk/equality

1. Club Management

1.1 The Club will be Managed by an Executive Committee made up of the following Officers:-
Chairman, Club Captain, Fixture Secretary, Secretary, Treasurer, Team Selector, Assistant Team Selector, ’75’ Club Promoter, Social Secretary/ Coaching & Development Officer, Club Member Representative, Welfare Officer.

1.2 Each Officer will be elected at the Annual General Meeting.

1.3 The Executive Committee will meet on at least four occasions each season and the proceedings will be recorded. Sub-Committees will be convened as necessary and will report back to the Main Committee.

1.4 At a Meeting of the Executive Committee six Members will form a quorum. At a Sub-Committee meeting four will form a quorum.

1.5 The property and assets of the Club will be vested in the Executive Committee.

1.6 The Executive Committee will have the power to suspend or expel any Member deemed guilty of conduct prejudicial to the good name of the Club.

1.7 The Executive Committee will, when required, have the power to fill vacancies on the Committee between AGMs.

1.8 The Executive Committee will have the power to declare a seat vacant should a member be absent from three consecutive Committee Meetings without a satisfactory explanation.

1.9 The retiring Committee Members will be eligible for re-election at an AGM.

1.10 Nominations for Executive Committee Members will only be accepted from existing Playing Members and must be passed to the Secretary prior to the AGM in writing. No nominations will be accepted at an AGM unless supported by 75 per cent of those attending and voting at the AGM.

2. Playing Membership

2.1 Playing Membership will consist of Members who attend Tuesday club-nights.

2.2 It will be expected that players who participate in the Club’s League Teams should try and attend Tuesday Club nights. The Committee will have discretion to decide in this matter.

2.2 Candidates for Tuesday Playing Membership will be invited as a Guest until the Executive Committee decide whether they be accepted as a Permanent Club Member.

2.3 Tuesday Club night playing Members should where possible make a commitment to play in the Club’s League Teams. If this commitment is not given the Committee will still have the power to accept Membership.

2.4 The election of non-playing Honorary Members should be decided at an AGM. Honorary Members will be invited to attend all club events but shall have no voting rights at an AGM.

3. Annual General Meeting

3.1 The AGM will be held at a date fixed by the Executive Committee each year. One-third of Playing Club membership will form a quorum.

3.2 The Secretary will give at least fourteen days notice of such meeting.

3.3 The end of the Club’s Financial Year will be 31st August each year.

3.4 Executive Officer reports will be received by the AGM Meeting, which will also elect the Executive Officers of the Committee, by ballot if necessary, and appoint an Auditor.

3.5 A special Extraordinary General Meeting may be called by the Executive Committee or by written request of at least ten members.

4. Finance

4.1 Members who play in matches will be required to pay a Match fee. This sum to be agreed by the Executive Committee annually after the AGM.

4.2 All Club Members will be required to pay an Annual Membership Fee towards Club expenses, plus the annual fee charged by Badminton England and Essex County BA, if applicable.
This fee will be fixed annually by the Executive Committee at their first meeting after the AGM.

Club-night Membership fees can be paid in two half’s,50% by 30th September and 50% by 31st January each year. The Badminton England & Essex County BA fee must be paid in full by 30th September)

Guest fees and Match Fees will also be decided separately.
This fee will also be fixed annually by the Executive Committee at their first meeting after the AGM.

4.3 There will be a 50% reduction in the Annual Club Membership Fees for Members under 18 in full time education, and a 25% reduction for part time students over 18 who will then pay 75% of the full fee
(There will be no reduction in Match fees)

4.4 All monies received must be regularly banked and cheques must be signed by the following officers-: Treasurer, Chairman.

4.5 The Club shall run a ’75’ Club with a separate Bank Account being maintained. All monies held must be regularly banked and cheques may be signed by any of the following Officers: Club Treasurer, Chairman and 75 Club Promoter.

Prize ratios, and the Rules of the ’75’ Club will be fixed by the Executive Committee taking into account the requirements of the Local Councils Small Lotteries and Gaming Act.

Club Members who have elected to purchase shares in the ’75 Club’ will be expected to pay their donation in one sum along with their Annual Membership Fee on or before 30th September each year. All monies collected will be paid into the ’75 Club’ Account.

5. Team Selection

5.1 Team selection will be made by a Selection Committee that will be chaired by the Club’s appointed Team Selector’s and will include the nominated Team Captains, who will be appointed by the Executive Committee prior at the start of each playing season.

5.2. A selection report will be submitted by the Selectors to all Playing Members before the commencement of any new playing season and will include a list of all the matches to be played and the Players who will be expected to represent the club in these matches.

5.3 The Team Selector/Match Secretary will report to each Executive Committee Meeting on the results of matches played and the Players who have played in these matches.

5.4 The Team Selector will have the discretion to call a Selection Meeting whenever it may become necessary.

6. Alteration of Club Rules

6.1 No alteration to these rules will be made except at an Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting.

6.2 Notice of proposed alterations must be given in writing to the Secretary prior to the AGM.

6.3 All Club Members will be able to obtain a copy of the Clubs Rules from the Clubs Website: http://www.fitzwimarc.co.uk/.
Members will also, at the commencement of each playing season be supplied with a copy of these Rules as approved at an AGM.

7. Protection & Safeguarding of Young Children, Adults & Vulnerable Persons.

7.1 Safeguarding means the measures that are put in place, and the actions that are taken, to support `the physical and emotional welfare of everyone in our club and protect them from harm.

Fitzwimarc Badminton Club take this responsibility seriously.

The Club’s appointed Executive Committee will ensure everyone receives education on safeguarding appropriate to their role.

Members will also be made aware that the club has a Welfare Officer and how to contact that person to share any concerns.

The Clubs Welfare Officer appointed in July 2015 is currently the Clubs Chairman Mr Michael Worship email: worships@talktalk.net

The Welfare Officer will follow the Badminton England required procedures and ensure that anything shared is dealt with appropriately and passed on to those who know how to provide the best support possible.

All matters will be dealt with using the utmost discretion and confidentially.

If any concern relates to the Welfare Officer, advice can be sought from the Badminton England Safeguarding Team.

https://www.badmintonengland.co.uk/about-us/safeguarding/

If there is a belief that someone is in immediate risk of harm then the appropriate authorities should be contacted without delay (Police and/or Social Services

8. Any other Business

8.1 Any other matters not covered by these rules will be dealt with by the Club’s appointed Executive Committee.

8.2 At any Extraordinary or Annual General Meeting any Playing Member may vote by proxy, these being sent to the Secretary before the Meeting.

8.3 The Executive Committee shall ensure that the Clubs Web-site is regularly updated

9. Dissolution

9.1 In the event of the Dissolution of the Club, the assets of the Club, which include cash balances will be distributed equally amongst the ‘paying members’ listed, at the time of the dissolution.
Cash balances held at the time of dissolution, that represent donations received from Sponsors, will be returned to these Sponsors, before any equal distribution is made.