1 Title
The Association shall be called the Derbyshire Hockey Association (herein “the DHA”). The Association shall be affiliated to England Hockey (herein “EH”) and the Midland Region Hockey Association ( herein “the MRHA”) and shall be bound by the constitution, regulations and bylaws of these bodies.
2 Constituent Body
The boundaries of the DHA shall be the administrative County of Derbyshire and the Unitary Authority of the City of Derby. Where historically clubs or schools outside these boundaries have affiliated to Derbyshire this will continue to be permitted with the approval of the DHA. Herein the “constituency” will be “the County”
3 Aims and Objectives
3.1 To represent the interest of all hockey within Derbyshire.
3.2 To actively encourage, support, promote and develop hockey at all levels throughout the County by ensuring equal opportunities regardless of age, gender, race, ethnic origin, religion or disability at a level appropriate to needs and aspirations.
3.3 To allow players, umpires, coaches, managers and official to develop their potential.
4 Membership
Membership shall be by affiliation and shall be open to Clubs and Schools within 2 above.
Honorary Life Membership may be conferred at the AGM on any person that has rendered exceptional service to the Association.
Life Members and Vice-Presidents of the preceding Derbyshire Hockey Associations will automatically be granted Honorary Life Membership of the Association.
No Affiliate Member shall:
4.1 be accepted as a member unless its name clearly distinguishes it from any other Affiliated Member.
4.2 change its name or incorporate any sponsorship reference without the prior permission of the Association and EH.
5.Structure of the DHA
The DHA will be governed by an Executive Council (EC) and various Sections and Cross-Functional Teams as necessary, the composition of which will be as follows:
Executive Council (EC)Officers – President
Vice –President
Secretary
Treasurer
President of each Section (or designated substitute if unavailable)
Midlands Region Council Representative
Disciplinary Representative
Umpires Representative
Chairperson of the Development Team.
Sections
Men’s Section
Women’s Section
Youth (Boy’s) Section
Youth (Girl’s) Section
Teams, as required
Development Cross Functional Team (Permanent)
e.g. Derbyshire Women’s Hockey League.
Two officers and three members shall constitute a quorum for the Council.
The Executive Council shall have power to co-opt members but these may not vote. A co-opted member shall not serve beyond the termination of the AGM next following the member’s co-option but may be co-opted again thereafter for a further term, unless a General Meeting resolves otherwise.
The Officers shall be elected at an Annual General Meeting and shall hold office until the conclusion of the next following Annual General Meeting. The President may hold office for 3 consecutive years and shall then be ineligible for re-election for a year. There shall be no limit on the time for which any other Officer may serve in an office.
The President shall be the chairman of the Executive but in the President’s absence, the Vice –President shall fulfill the role, otherwise the Executive shall elect some other member to chair that particular meeting.
Role of the DHA Council
6.1 To lay down the policies of the Association.
6.2 To control finance of and agree budgets for sections and teams and the Association.
6.3 To control communication between the County, Region and EH.
6.4 To manage the sections and their work.
6.5 To define need for and tasks of cross-functional teams, as required.
6.6 To make decisions regarding affiliation to / disaffiliation from outside organizations.
6.7 To approve certain appointments to Sections and Cross Functional Teams.
6.8 To nominate representatives to regional (and other) associations.
6.9 To approve remits for Officers and Sections of the Association.
6.10 To approve long term planning of the Association.
6.11 To ratify decisions made by the Executive Council.
7.Affiliation
Each club or School shall pay an affiliation fee to the DHA, the amount of which shall be determined each year at the AGM and shall be due by 1st October. Affiliation fees shall also be payable to EH and MRHA at levels and dates set those bodies.
Every Club will pay an AGM Attendance Bond Fee. The fee will be due at the time of all other affiliation fees. Each season the fee will be reimbursed after the season’s DHA AGM only if the club has been represented at that AGM. The minimum Bond fee will be 50 pounds per Club. Its level can only be changed by vote at the AGM.
8.General Meetings
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall be held in May or before the MRHA AGM.
Notice of the AGM with a copy of the agenda will be sent to every affiliated hockey club and school at least 21 days before the date of the meeting. The business of the AGM will consist of
a. Presentation of reports and accounts.
b. Election of officers to the Council.
c. Election of Section Presidents.
d. Election of County Representatives to Regional and other associations.
e. Appointment of Honorary Auditor(s).
f. Setting the affiliation fees.
g. Amendments to the constitution.
h. Any other items of business notified in advance (see 9b below).
9. Guidelines for the running of Meetings.
a) Applicable to the Council, all Section Meetings, groupings and meetings convened by the Association.
b) Applicable in addition to the AGM
10. Special General Meeting
The Secretary to the Council shall convene a Special General Meeting (“SGM”) at any time by order of the Council or on receiving a written requisition to do so signed by or on behalf of the officers of no fewer than seven Affiliated Members. The written request should state the reason for such a meeting.
Within fourteen days of the receipt of such a request the Secretary to the Council shall give 28 days notice to all members of the meeting and the business to be discussed.
No other business shall be transacted at an SGM.
Business transacted at a SGM shall be on the terms applicable to the AGM.
11.Finance
12. Dissolution
A resolution to dissolve the Association may be made at an AGM or SGM only by the affirmative vote of at least three quarters of those present entitled to vote and voting. If agreed, all assets remaining, after the satisfaction of any proper debts and liabilities, shall be given or transferred to such other Associations having objects similar to the DHA as the members of the DHA may determine, or failing that shall be applied for some other sporting purpose.
13. Construction of Rules
The DHA Council shall determine any question on the interpretation of the constitution and anything relevant to the DHA not provided for in the Constitution.
14. Indemnity
Any person serving on any committee or subcommittee of the Association or appointed by and acting on behalf of the Association shall be indemnified by the Association against any costs, claims, damages or other expenses which may arise from any action taken with the authority of the Association other than any such arising from the willful act or default of such person. For the avoidance of doubt the Executive Council acting on behalf of the Association may take out such insurance as it considers reasonably necessary to cover any such matters or the conduct of the same and may pay the premiums thereon out of its general funds.
15.Discipline
15.1The disciplinary measures laid down from time to time by EH and MRHA shall apply. Subject thereto, the Executive Council (EC) may make and apply additional disciplinary measures that shall apply in the County. The EC shall appoint such persons, as it thinks fit, to administer the disciplinary measures.
15.2The EC shall have power (after due investigation) to suspend, fine or expel any Affiliated Member or Personal Member who has been found by the EC to its reasonable satisfaction to have infringed the Constitution (including any regulations or bylaws made under it). In exercising these powers the EC shall have due regard to the law and the rules of natural justice as well as any procedures laid down by EH and the MRHA.
15.3 Any offender penalised by the Association shall have a right of appeal to the President of MRHA or any person nominated by such President.
The above Constitution was ratified at the Annual General Meeting held on 18th May 2006.
Chris. Gough, Secretary, DHA
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