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SHEFFIELD STEELERS SUPPORTERS CLUB
 

CONSTITUTION

 

 

 

1. Name

 

The club shall be called Sheffield Steelers Supporters Club which may be abbreviated to SSSC (“the Club”).

 

2. Objectives

 

2.1 To promote and support the best interests of Sheffield Steelers ice hockey team (“the Team”).

 

2.2 To support Sheffield Steelers Ltd or any other company promoting or managing the Team (“the Company”) in such manner as may be thought fit.

 

2.3 To promote and encourage good fellowship between members of “the Club”.

 

2.4 To promote and encourage good fellowship and understanding between “the Club”, “the Company”, “the Team”, all supporters of “the Team”, other clubs, companies, teams and their supporters and third parties with whom they should come into contact.

 

3. Members

 

3.1 “The Club” shall consist of adult members, junior members and child members (“the Members”). There shall be no limit to the number of members.

 

3.1.1 Adult membership shall be open to any person who is aged 18 or over on the date that the Annual Subscription is due (refer to clause 6.1).

 

3.1.2 Junior membership shall be open to any person who is aged under 18 on the date that the Annual Subscription is due (refer to clause 6.1).

 

3.1.3 Child membership shall be open to any person who is aged under 4 on the date that the Annual Subscription is due (refer to clause 6.1)

 

3.2 Honorary membership of “the Club” is open to coach and players of the team and to their partners and to their children.

 

3.3 All members of “the Club” shall be deemed to accept and be bound by these rules.

 

 

4. Committee

 

4.1 “The Club” will be managed by a committee (“the Committee”) which will include a minimum of seven members elected by “the Members”. “The Committee” may recommend to “the Members” an increase or reduction in the size of “the Committee” as it deems necessary so as to enable it to best serve the interests of “the members”. “The Committee” shall consist of the following nine roles:-

 

· Secretary (whose responsibilities include those of Editorial Secretary)

· Treasurer.

· Membership Secretary

· Away Travel Secretary

· Social and Fund Raising Secretary.

· Web & Media Secretary

· Junior Section Secretary

· Representative of “The Company” (“the Company” Representative, i.e. a representative from    the off-ice staff of “the Company”).

· Representative of “the Team” (“the Team” Representative, i.e. a representative from the registered players and coach).

 

If for any reason an elected member of “the Committee” is unable to fulfil his term of office, a temporary appointment may be made at the discretion of the Chairperson and remaining committee for the remainder of the period to the next Annual General Meeting.

 

However, in the situation where “the Company” or “the Team” should not exist, “the Committee” shall call a Special General Meeting to decide its next course of action.

 

4.2 “The Committee” shall elect from its members a Chairperson and a Vice Chairperson.

 

4.3 “The Committee” (other than “the Company” Representative and “the Team” Representative) shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting in each year and, subject to termination of office by resignation or otherwise, shall remain in office until their successors are elected at the next Annual General Meeting following their election. “The Committee” shall have the power to fill any casual vacancy (other than “the Company” Representative and “the Team” Representative) that may occur. The retiring members of “the Committee” shall be eligible for re-election.

 

4.4 Every candidate for membership of “the Committee” (other than “the Company” Representative and “the Team” Representative) shall be proposed by one adult member of “the Club” and seconded by another. All such nominations shall be made in writing and shall be signed by the candidate, the proposer and the seconder and shall be submitted so as to reach the Secretary or other nominated committee member no later than seven days before the Annual General Meeting.

 

4.5 “The Company” may, at any time, appoint “the Company” Representative. Such appointment shall continue until revoked, by “the Company”, or until “the Company” Representative resigns. “The Company” Representative need not be a member of “the Club”.

 

4.6 “The Company” may, at any time, appoint a member of “the Team” to be “the Team” Representative. Such appointment shall continue until revoked, by “the Company”, or “the Team” Representative resigns. “The Team” Representative need not be a member of “the Club”.

 

4.7 The current Committee shall be deemed to stand down at the close of the Annual General Meeting and pass on responsibility to the newly elected officers immediately. A hand over period as may be required to continue to best serve the interest of “the Members” and “ the Club” and to ensure continuity in the task and as should be agreed by the incoming and outgoing committee members as appropriate.

 

4.8 The current Committee shall have the power to appoint a legal advisor, not being a member of “the Committee”, to advise “the Committee” and “the Members” of their legal position with regard to any issues that may arise in conduct of normal committee business.

 

5. Application for Membership

 

5.1 Application for membership shall be made, in writing, to “the Committee” in such form and providing such information as “the Committee” may from time to time require.

 

5.2 “The Committee” shall not elect any applicant to membership or can revoke existing membership if “the Committee” has received from “the Company” written intimation setting out sufficient grounds that “the Company” does not wish the applicant to become a member of “the Club”. In such circumstances any subscriptions paid by the member shall be considered for refund at the discretion of “the Committee”.

 

5.3 Membership of “the Club” ends on 31 August each year.

 

6. Annual Subscriptions

 

6.1 The annual subscriptions shall be payable from the 1st of September each year.

 

6.2 The subscription for membership shall be determined by “the Committee”. The following members may be discounted for membership (all listed groups should refer to clause 6.1).

 

6.2.1 Adults who have attained the age of sixty on or before the date the annual subscription becomes due.

 

6.2.2 Adults who are registered disabled on the date that the Annual subscription becomes due.

 

6.2.3 Adults in full-time education on the date that the Annual subscription becomes due.

 

6.2.4 Persons aged seventeen or less on the date that the Annual subscription becomes due.

 

6.2.5 Persons aged under four on the date that the Annual subscription becomes due.

 

6.3 Membership subscriptions must be paid with application.

 

6.4 Members applying to join “the Club” will be asked to sign a declaration to consent to their information being held for the purposes of membership administration and for internal marketing purposes only.

 

7. Committee Meetings

 

7.1 “The Committee” shall meet as often as it deems necessary and shall regulate the conduct of its business as it sees fit.

 

7.2 Meetings of “the Committee” may be cancelled by any two Committee members.

 

7.3 When seeking election to “the Committee”, candidates should commit to being available to run “the Club” desk at 80% of home games unless otherwise agreed by “the Committee” where there would be sufficient committee members to effectively run the desk. All committee members should also be available to attend 80% of Committee Meetings.

 

8. Sub-committees

 

8.1 “The Committee” may, from time to time, form such sub-committees and delegate to them such functions as it sees fit, except that “the Committee” may not delegate to such sub-committees its power under Rules 4.2, 4.3, 6.2, 9, 10, or 12.

 

8.2 The powers of such sub-committees may be revoked at any time by “the Committee”.

 

9. Bye-laws

 

9.1 “The Committee” may, from time to time, make, alter, and repeal bye-laws regulating the affairs of “the Club”, provided that such bye-laws are not inconsistent with this Constitution and as such bye-laws shall be binding on all members of “the Club” as if they were part of this Constitution (subject to 9.2) 

 

9.2 Such Bye-Laws shall be publicized in a notice in two consecutive home match night programmes of “the team”, the latter of such programmes to be issued no later than two home match days before the date the bye-law is to be introduced or; posting notices using “the Clubs” website, social media (suggested but not limited to Twitter and Facebook) and on posters behind the nominated club desk no later than two home games before the bye-law is to be introduced or; by giving notice via email in the first instance, should an email address be provided by the member at application or by post at least two weeks before the date the bye-law is to be introduced.

 

10. Expulsion

 

10.1 “The Committee” shall have power to expel any member(s) who shall offend against the rules of “the Club” or whose conduct shall, in the opinion of “the Committee”, render him unfit for membership of “the Club”. Before any such member is expelled, the Secretary shall give him seven days written notice to attend a meeting of “the Committee” and shall inform him of the complaints made against him. No member shall be expelled without first having the opportunity of appearing before “the Committee” and answering complaints made against him nor unless at least two thirds of “the Committee” then present vote in favour of his expulsion.

 

10.2 “The Committee” shall give due consideration to the expulsion of a member under Rule 10.1 if requested to do so in writing by “the Company”, such written request to set out “the Company’s” grounds for so requesting.

 

11. Resignation

 

11.1 A member may resign from membership of “the Club” at any time by giving the Secretary notice in writing. Any member retiring without having paid his subscription for the then current year shall be liable for that subscription.

 

11.2 A member of “the Committee” may resign as a member of “the Committee” at any time by giving notice, in writing, to “the Committee” to that effect but may be asked to remain on “the Committee” until their position can be filled or until the remaining committee members feel that their role can be absorbed by the remaining committee members ensuring the effective running of “the Club”. However if more than 1 member resigns which would leave “the Committee” in a position where it could not operate effectively, the vacant Committee positions would be advertised and a Special General Meeting would be called in order to either elect new members to “the Committee” or if no applicants came forward decide on the next course of action.

 

12. Alteration of Rules

 

12.1 “The Committee” shall have power to alter these rules, but no such alteration shall take effect until the same has been confirmed at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting convened for the purpose.

 

13. General Meetings

 

13.1 An Annual General Meeting of “the Club” shall be held in every year not later than 15 months after the date of the previous Annual General Meeting.

 

13.2 The Annual General Meeting shall be convened in any one or more of the following ways:

 

13.2.1 Notice of the Annual General Meeting will be given to “the Members” not later than 42 days before the Annual General Meeting. The notice may be sent via email to the address that was supplied on the membership form to the Membership Secretary. Members with no email address will be contacted by post. Where more than one member lives at the same address only one letter will be sent. Or:

 

13.2.2 by publishing via social media (suggested but not limited to Twitter and Facebook) and on “the Club’s” website not later than one month before the date of the Annual General Meeting. Or:

 

13.2.3 by giving notice at least 42 days before the date of the Annual General Meeting by such means as is, in the reasonable opinion of “the Committee”, likely to come to the attention of “the Members”.

 

13.3 The Annual General Meeting shall be convened to transact the following business:-

 

13.3.1 to receive reports on the activities of “the Club” from “the Committee” and to receive and, if approved, adopt a statement of “the Club’s” accounts to the end of the preceding year.

 

13.3.2 to consider and, if approved, sanction any duly made alteration of the Rules. Such proposed alterations shall be made in writing and shall be signed by the proposer and seconder and shall be submitted so as to reach the Secretary no later than 21 days before the relevant Annual General Meeting, and shall be made available to “the Members” not less than five days before the meeting, in the same manner as for notification of the meeting.

 

13.3.3 to appoint the members of “the Committee” (other than “the Company” Representative and “the Team” Representative).

 

13.3.4 to deal with any special matter which “the Committee” desires to bring before “the Members” and to receive suggestions from “the Members” for consideration by “the Committee”.

 

14. Special General Meetings

 

14.1 A Special General Meeting of “the Club” may be convened at any time by “the Committee” and shall be convened by “the Committee” within 28 days from the receipt of a requisition, in writing, signed by not less than 20 adult members, specifying the object of the meeting for any of the following purposes:

 

14.1.1 to consider and, if approved, sanction any duly made alteration to the Rules,

 

14.1.2 to deal with any special matter which “the Committee” may desire to place before “the Members”,

 

14.1.3 to remove any member or members of “the Committee” (other than “the Company” Representative or “the Team” Representative) from office and to fill any vacancy or vacancies caused by such removal.

 

14.1.4 to deal with any special matter which the members requiring the meeting may desire to place before “the Club”.

 

14.2 A Special General Meeting shall be convened in the same manner as an Annual General Meeting as set out in clause 13.2.

 

15. Attendance and Voting at Meetings

 

15.1 At Committee meetings and General Meetings the Chairperson, or if he is not present, the Vice Chairperson, elected under Rule 4.2, shall preside. If neither are present, those Committee members present shall elect a Chairperson to preside at the meeting. In the event of an equality of votes, the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, or other person presiding at the meeting, shall not have a casting vote.

 

15.2 All members shall be entitled to attend at General Meetings. At the General Meetings, only adults aged 18 and over shall have one vote.

 

15.3 At General Meetings, the only members entitled to a vote shall be those present and in possession of their own membership card, subject to rule 15.2.

 

16. Quorums

 

16.1 At a Committee Meeting, of “the Committee” forming a quorum, 4 of them should be elected members.

 

16.2 At General Meetings, 20 voting members shall form a quorum.

 

17. Finance

 

17.1 The Treasurer shall keep an account of all income and expenditure and submit accounts, duly audited, at the Annual General Meeting.

 

17.2 Bank accounts shall only be opened with the full approval of “the Committee”. “The Club” may have as many bank accounts as “the Committee” think necessary.

 

17.3 Committee members will be considered to become signatories on the bank accounts upon their appointment to “the Club” and should “the Committee” feel that this is necessary to fulfil their role effectively (subject to clause 17.14).

 

17.4 Where appropriate, card holders for the bank accounts will be agreed by “the Committee” with the Treasurer and at least one other committee member holding a card for the accounts.

 

17.5 Card payments to pre-agreed parties and for pre-agreed purposes shall be deemed as approved.

 

17.6 The following is a list (although not exhaustive and this should be agreed by “the Committee”) of the parties which may be deemed as pre-agreed:- other teams and/or their nominated box office; travel companies; hotels.

 

17.7 The following is a list (although not exhaustive and this should be agreed by “the Committee”) of the purposes which may be deemed as pre-agreed:- group booking match tickets ordered and pre-paid through the Club’s Away Travel, group arrangements for transport to away games ordered and pre-paid through the Club’s Away Travel; group bookings for overnight stays (where necessary) for away games ordered and pre-paid through the Club’s Away Travel.

 

17.8 “The Committee” may vote and decide on other pre-agreed parties and/or purposes as they may deem as appropriate for the efficient running of “the Club”.

 

17.9 All other expenses shall be agreed by a quorate of “the Committee” prior to them being incurred.

 

17.10 “The Committee” members and their partners and assistants shall pay at the going rate for all events providing they are partaking in the product, entertainment or other being offered. On such occasions “the Committee” shall be expected to cover any out of pocket expenses being incurred by “the Club” on their behalf.

 

17.11 An expenses form shall be completed and submitted to the Treasurer for any out of pocket expenses incurred by “the Committee” in fulfilling their role. This shall be agreed by the Treasurer and one other Committee Member before being reimbursed.

 

17.12 Following the completion of any event run by “the Committee” whether this be tickets and/or travel for an away game or social event, an income and expenditure account showing all monies received and paid out together with all receipts shall be submitted to the treasurer within 30 days. The income and expenditure account shall be provided to “the Committee” upon request.

 

17.13 An Auditor or Auditors, not being members of “the Committee”, shall be appointed annually at the Annual General Meeting to audit the accounts and books of “the Club”, (subject to clause 17.14).

 

17.14 No two people being voted signatories of “the Club” or auditors of “the Club” shall be married to each other, related to each other or cohabiting under the same roof.

 

18. Dissolution

 

18.1 If “the Club” shall be dissolved, all money and other property or assets owned by or held on behalf of “the Club”, after payment of the costs of dissolution, shall be disposed of as determined by resolution of “the members” at a General Meeting.

 

19. Interpretation

19.1 In these Rules, "he" shall, where appropriate, mean "she", "him" shall, where                                            .       appropriate, mean "her", and "his", shall, where appropriate, mean "hers".

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