The Lothian Oval Racing Club Constitution
1. Title
The club shall be known as Lothian Oval Racing Club (Also known as ‘The Club’ and ‘LORC’)
2. Objectives
(a) To promote the construction and competition of radio-controlled cars.
(b) To facilitate the exchange of information and ideas relating to the sport.
(c) To set rules and standards for construction and competition.
(d) To encourage Local & National competition within a yearly calendar.
3. Membership
Membership shall be open to all and shall be deemed to commence when the club issues the appropriate membership documentation.
All members have the right to attend and vote on issues at the club AGM.
Proposals can be submitted up to two weeks prior the AGM.
All valid proposals will be published on the LORC Members Group at least one week prior to the AGM.
4. Membership
The subscription period shall be one year running from the 1st January to the 31st December of the same year. Membership subscriptions shall be reviewed and fixed annually at the AGM.
5. Resignation
Any member wishing to withdraw from club membership must notify the secretary by email.
6. Cessation Of Membership
Any member failing to renew his/her membership as required or any member notifying his/her resignation shall forfeit all right to claim on the club, its property or its funds.
7. Committees
The committee shall be established within the club to administer for the individual needs of the members racing interests. The committee shall comprise of a Chairman, a Secretary, Treasurer and up to two ordinary committee members. Minutes from Committee meetings to be published and made available for all LORC Members.
Founding committee members will hold each post for 2 years with annual election thereafter. Current committee members may stand for re-election at subsequent AGM’S. To be eligible for election to the committee, members must have held a club membership one full year prior.
8. Powers Of The Committee
The Committee shall manage all concerns of LORC upholding the clubs Constitution, and shall have powers to settle all points of interpretation of the club rules, providing such powers shall not overrule a resolution of the AGM.
The committee may, from time to time, fill any vacancy in its number which may arise for the remaining period of office. If the conduct of any member, in or out of club events, shall in the opinion of the Committee, or member of it, be injurious to the character or interest of the club then membership can be suspended until the matter is dealt with by the full club committee. The club committee can require said person to attend such meeting as is required to explain their actions, they shall have the power to expel such member or call upon them to resign and will there upon cease to be a member of the club, this decision will be ratified by the Committee.
In every case of expulsion or required resignation of a member the decision of the Committee shall be final and the excluded member shall have no remedy against the club or Committee, or any further right of appeal.
A minimum of two thirds majority shall be necessary to order an expulsion.
9. Rule Changes
The committee has the power to delete, amend or change any existing rule(s) or add any new rule(s) to the Constitution to accommodate any changes in legal or fiscal requirements, or changes in recognised or legally required safety procedures. These actions can take place at any time within the clubs year without the need for an EGM or AGM. Any action of this nature will be made known to the membership.
10. Voting
1. Proposal for change of the club Constitution shall require a two thirds majority of votes cast (excluding any abstentions) at an AGM.
The majority must be at a ratio of 2:1 in favour vs against.
2. Proposals for change to club rules shall require an overall majority (min. 51%) of those votes cast (excluding any abstentions). If there is an equal vote, then the Chairman at his/her discretion may use a casting note. If an overall majority is not achieved, then the amendment/rule is not adopted.
11. Finance
All matters relating to the spending of club funds shall be referred through the Treasurer to the Committee. The Treasurer shall make an annual financial statement to the AGM offering all relevant documents for inspection at the meeting.
12. Financial Year
AGM to AGM year on year
13. Annual General Meeting
The AGM shall be held as soon before the end of the financial year as is practical and in any event not later than the month of January following.
The following business shall be transacted at the AGM:
(1) Reports on the general working of the club.
(2) Representation of the club accounts.
(3) Election of committee
(4) Review and agree the annual membership fee.
(5) Discussion of any proposals of which due notice has been given.
(6) Arrange a provisional date for the next AGM which shall in any event be held within thirty days of the provisional date.
14. Extraordinary General Meeting
A club EGM may be called at any time if the Committee so decide, The Secretary shall also call a meeting on receiving written request to that effect, signed by no less than 50% of the club members. Such a general meeting shall take place within 28 days of the written request being received and all members shall receive 14 days notice of the meeting, but without the necessity for detailing any further particulars.
15. Minutes Of Meetings
Minutes of an AGM, EGM or annual meetings shall be published as soon as convenient thereafter and in any case before the next similar meeting. Minutes of committee meetings shall be available to all committee members, including ex-officio members, before the next similar meeting. Copies of all minutes shall be kept indefinitely by the Secretary.
16. Deficiency Of Funds
In the event of insolvency, the deficit shall be made good by an equal payment from each member or in such manner as an AGM or EGM shall decide.
17. Members Addresses & E-mail addresses
Each members address shall be recorded in their membership form, the member MUST keep this updated and correct at all times.
18. Constitution Rules
A copy of the constitution shall be forwarded to each member on joining and thereafter annually in the yearly LORC membership Handbook. These rules so presented shall be binding on every member. No member shall be absolved from the effect of these rules on allegation of not having received them.
19. Interpretation Of Rules
The committee shall be the sole authority for the interpretation of these rules and the decision of the committee upon any question of interpretation, or upon any other matter affecting the Association not provided for by these rules, shall be final and binding on the members.
20. Alteration Of Constitution
The Constitution defines the rules for government of the club. All alterations or additions to the Constitution may only be adopted by resolution at an AGM or EGM convened according to the Constitution.
Such resolution must receive a two thirds majority vote.
21. Dissolution Of Club
If at any general meeting a resolution for the dissolution of the club be passed by a two-thirds majority of the membership present, and such resolution be confirmed at an EGM, held not less than one month thereafter at which not less than half the members are present, by a majority of two-thirds of the members the committee shall thereupon or at such date as shall be specified in the resolution, proceed to dissolve the club. The committee shall proceed to realise the property of the club, and after discharge of all liabilities, shall divide the same amongst all the members according to the proportions decided at the EGM. Upon the completion of such division the club shall be dissolved.
22. Obligation Of Members
(a) To uphold the Constitution of the club.
(b) LORC must keep the Association informed of their details and their club profile up to date at all times.