Constitution

Name

The Club will be called Ipswich Ravens Volleyball Club (‘Ravens’) and will be affiliated to Volleyball England.

Aims and objectives

• to offer coaching and competitive opportunities in Volleyball
• to promote Volleyball within the local community 
• to ensure a duty of care to all Members of Ravens
• to allow Members to play volleyball
• to ensure that all present and future Members receive fair and equal treatment

Membership

All Members will be subject to the regulations of the constitution and by joining Ravens will be deemed to accept these regulations and codes of conduct that Ravens has adopted.

All Members must complete a Membership (Registration) Form annually to participate in Ravens activities.

Membership fees

To be set annually and agreed by the Ravens Executive Committee. 

Ravens Executive Committee (‘Committee’)

Elected by the Members at the Annual General Meeting:

• Chairperson: Chris Giles
• Treasurer: Amy Scrivener
• Secretary: Izabela Newman

Selected by Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary based on experience:

• Welfare / Safeguarding Officers: Georgina Greenham, Steve Hicks
• Head Coach: Chris Giles

Optional and dependent on the needs of Ravens and availability of volunteers. The following are selected by Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary:

• Social Media Officer
• Junior Development Officer
• Vice Chairperson
• Volunteer Coordinator
• Social Secretary
• Fixtures Secretary
• Membership Secretary

All officers will retire each year, but will be eligible for re-appointment.

Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary must be held by different Members.

Where a Member holds multiple positions, their vote will not carry more weight than that of a Member holding one position.

• Committee meetings will be convened by the Secretary of Ravens when required.
• The quorum required for votes at meetings will be 50% of the Committee.
• The Committee will be responsible for adopting new policy, codes of conduct and rules that affect the organisation of Ravens.
• The Committee will have powers to appoint sub-committees as necessary and appoint advisers as necessary to fulfil its aims and objectives.
• The Committee will be responsible for disciplinary hearings of Members who infringe Ravens rules/regulations/constitution. The Committee will be responsible for taking any action of suspension or discipline following such hearings.

Finance

All money will be banked in an account held in the name of Ravens. The Treasurer will be responsible for the finances of Ravens. The financial year of Ravens will end on the 30th of June of each year. A statement of annual accounts, that has been checked by someone other than the Treasurer, will be presented by the Treasurer at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Any cheques drawn against Ravens funds should hold the signatures of at least two officers. Bank transfers also require two signatures.

Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Notice of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be given by Ravens Secretary with not less than 21 days’ notice to all Members. The AGM will receive a report from the Chairperson, Treasurer and comments from the Committee. Nominations for officers of the Committee will be sent to the Secretary prior to the AGM. Elections of the Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary are to take place at the AGM. All Members have the right to vote at the AGM and be nominated to join the Committee. The quorum for AGMs will be five Members (5 people must attend). The Committee has the right to call Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs) outside the AGM. Procedures for EGMs will be the same as for the AGM.

Discipline and Appeals

All complaints regarding the behaviour of Members should be submitted in writing to the Secretary. The Committee will meet to hear complaints within fourteen days of a complaint being lodged. The Committee has the power to take appropriate disciplinary action including the termination of membership. The outcome of a disciplinary hearing should be notified in writing to the person who lodged the complaint and the member against whom the complaint was made within seven days of the hearing. There will be the right of appeal to the Committee following disciplinary action being announced. The Committee should consider the appeal within fourteen days of the Secretary receiving the appeal.

Dissolution

A resolution to dissolve Ravens can only be passed at an AGM or EGM through a majority vote of the membership. In the event of dissolution, any assets of Ravens that remain will become the property of: the Suffolk Volleyball Association.

Amendments to the constitution

The constitution will only be changed through agreement by majority vote at an AGM or EGM.

Declaration

Ravens hereby adopts and accepts this constitution as a current operating guide regulating the actions of Members.