EASTERN COUNTIES GYMNASTICS ASSOCIATION

  CONSTITUTION

1. TITLE

The name of the Association shall be the Eastern Counties Amateur* Gymnastics Association.  The Regional boundary shall be as defined by B.G. which area comprises of the following counties; Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, hereinafter referred to as "The Region".

2. OBJECTS

The objects of the Association shall be to regulate, advice, develop and safeguard the interests of the sport of gymnastics (which in these rules includes Artistic gymnastics, Sports Acrobatics and Modern Rhythmic gymnastics) for the benefit of the community and particularly but without affecting the general objects referred to :-

(a) The affiliation to the Association of all Amateur County Associates and Clubs who are willing to abide by the rules of the Region and to British Gymnastics (B.G.)

(b) The promotion and organization of championships and other competitions in the Region

(c) The promotion and organization of courses for Coaches, Judges and Gymnasts in the Region

(d) The provision of Judges for Regional competitions

(e) To co-operate or affiliate with any organization whose objects support but do not conflict with those of the Association

(f) Generally, to do such acts, matters and things in connection with, or incidental to, the effective carrying out of any of the objects mentioned in the previous sub-clauses hereof

3. MEMBERSHIP

This shall be open to any Club in the Region  which applies for affiliation, is accepted by the County Association and affiliates all their gymnasts to the Region.

4. MANAGEMENT

 (a) The Association shall be managed by an Executive Committee which shall consist of the following voting members who must be members of B.G.

(i) The Officers who shall comprise the Chairman, Hon. Treasurer and Hon. Secretary

(ii) The men's, women's, Rhythmic, Sports Acro General Sports Aerobics and Trampolining Committee Representatives

(iii) The Associations Policy Board Member (B.G.)

(iv) Overall Competitions Secretary

(v) County representatives as elected by their own County Association

(vi) Non-voting members; ex-officio members of outside organizations Invited by the Management Committee

(vii) The Executive Committee shall meet at least six times per year

(b) Such sub-committees as are necessary to carry out the work of the Association shall be appointed such manner as the Executive Committee shall from time to time determine

(c)    The Executive Committee may until the next Annual General Meeting enlist by co-option for any special purpose the services of any person or persons not members of the Executive Committee

(d)   The work and decisions of all sub committees shall be submitted to the Executive Committee before taking effect

5. APPOINTMENTS

 The Executive Committee shall make the following appointments immediately after the A.G.M.

(i) Policy Board Member

(ii) Regional Coaches for Women's Artistic, Men's Artistic, Sports Acro, Rhythmic, General, Sports Aerobics and Trampolining

(iii) Regional Competition Secretaries for Women's Artistic, Men's Artistic, Sports Acro, Rhythmic, General, Sports Aerobics and Trampolining

All these appointments will be for one year

6. FINANCE

(a) The Management Committee shall employ the funds of the Association for purposes and objects of the Association in such manner as shall be deemed to be in the best interests of the Sport.

(b) In the event of dissolution of the Association its property shall be place in the custody of B.G.

7. CHAIRMAN OF A.G.M. OR SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING

The Chairman shall preside at the Annual General Meeting of the Association or at any Special General Meeting thereof.

In the absence of the Chairman, a chairman for the meeting shall be elected from among the members present, by a majority vote on a show of hands.

8. BUSINESS OF A.G.M.

The following business shall be transacted at the Annual General Meeting :-

(a) Approval of Minutes of last A.G.M. and any Intervening General Meeting

(b) Chairman's Report

(c) Hon.Secretary's Report

(d) Policy Board Representatives Report

(e) Joint Technical Committee Report

(f) Women's Technical Committee Report

(g) Men's Technical Committee Report

(h) Sports Acro Technical Committee Report

(i) Rhythmic Technical Committee Report

(j) General Gymnastics Technical Committee Report

(k) Sports Aerobatics Technical Committee Report

(l) Trampolining Technical Committee Report

(m) Hon.Treasurer's Report

(n) Election of Officers

(o) Election of Overall Competitions Secretary

(p) Appoint Auditors

(q) Fix membership fee - individual

(r) Notices of Motions

9. NOTICE OF A.G.M. AND SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING

(a) The Annual General Meeting shall be held prior to the B.G. A.G.M., notice convening the A.G.M. shall be issued at least 60 days before the A.G.M.  Copies of the Management Committee's report and Statement of Account for the previous year shall  be circulated to all the officers, members of the Management Committee and its sub-committees, affiliated clubs and organizations at least 7 days before the meeting

(b) Nominations for office and notices of other relevant business for inclusion on the agenda must be received by the Hon.Secretary at least 28 days before the date of the Annual General Meeting. Nominations and notices duly proposed and seconded may only be submitted for and on behalf of affiliated clubs or the Executive Committee

(c) A Special or Extraordinary General Meeting may be summoned at any time by the Chairman or on a requisition signed for and on behalf of not less than six affiliated clubs who shall submit therewith the reason for such a meeting, suggesting a venue within the Region, a time and a date.

Not less than 28 days notice of such meeting shall be given and no business other than the business specified in the notice of meeting shall be dealt with at the meeting.

10. VOTING

(a) Where two or more nominations are received from one office the voting shall be by ballot unless the meeting and nominees agree to a show of hands. The person presiding may, at his discretion, direct a ballot t be taken and shall direct if required to do so by a simple majority.

(b) At Annual General Meetings and Special General Meetings each affiliated club shall be entitled to two votes. Clubs who affiliate by name and following with ARTISTIC, RHYTHMIC OR SPORTS ACRO shall be entitled to a total of two votes only, not per discipline.

(c) At meetings of the Executive Committee each voting member shall have one vote only

(d) At all Executive Committee Meetings, the person presiding shall be a casting, as well as a deliberate vote.

11. QUORUM

(a) No business shall be transacted at a meeting of the Executive Committee unless a quorum of five of the voting members is present and this must include two officers

(b) No business shall be transacted at a meeting of any sub-committee unless at least one half of the whole number of the sub-committee is present, provided that in no case shall the quorum be less than three members of which at least one must be a voting member of the Executive Committee

12. ALTERATIONS TO RULES

 No alterations or additions to the Constitution shall be made except at an A.G.M. or S.G.M. and only by 2/3rds of the members present which shall include not less than 50% of the members of the Executive Committee

Notice of any such proposal must be sent to the Regional Secretary at least 42 days prior to any General Meeting and the proposal shall be set out on the notice convening such a meeting.

The procedure in respect of Special General Meetings is set out in Rule 9(c)

*The word 'Amateur' was removed from the Association's title at the Annual General Meeting held 25th September 2005