Constitution
1  

 NAME

The Club shall be called ‘Loreburn Archers’ (Hereinafter referred to as the Club) and is affiliated to and be bound by the rules of the Grand National Archery Society (GNAS) and Scottish Archery Association (SAA).
2   OBJECTS

2.1       The objects of the Club shall be to encourage the promotion and provide facilities for the practice of the sport of Target Archery, but all members will assist anyone who wishes to pursue any other archery disciplines of archery such as Field, Clout and Flight.

2.2       The Club is committed to encouraging the highest ethical standards. All individuals involved in the Club should conduct themselves with integrity, transparency, accountability and in a fair and equitable manner.
3 MEMBERSHIP

3.1       The membership shall consist of the following categories:

  • Ordinary Members
  • Honorary members
  • Junior Members

3.2       Members in each category shall pay Membership fees as fixed at each Annual General Meeting. The Club in General Meeting may also require Members to contribute to the funds of the Club by way of a special levy.

3.3       All members joining the Club shall be deemed to accept the terms of this Constitution and any Bye-laws from time to time adopted by the Club, in particular without prejudice to the foregoing generality, the requirement to conduct themselves in accordance with the Club's ethical framework and the bye-laws as to discipline set out therein.

3.4       Any person seeking to join the Club shall submit an application to the Executive Committee. Members shall be admitted by the Executive Committee. Membership is open to all and no application for membership will be refused on other than reasonable grounds. There will be no discrimination on grounds of race, occupation, sex or religious, political or other opinion.
4  MANAGEMENT

4.1       The affairs of the Club shall be conducted by an Executive Committee which shall consist of the Officers of the Club plus 2] ordinary members, all of whom shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.

4.2       The Officers of the Club who shall be honorary shall be the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary. If the post of any officer or ordinary committee member should fall vacant after such an election, the Executive Committee shall have the power to fill the vacancy until the succeeding Annual General Meeting.

4.3       All Executive Committee members must be members of the Club.

4.4       The said Officers shall also be the trustees ex officiis of the Club who shall hold any property belonging to the Club in their name and shall further be entitled to sue and be sued on behalf of the Club as trustees ex officiis. They shall all be entitled to personal indemnity out of the funds of the Club where they are acting bona fide in their capacity as Officers of the Club.

4.5       The Executive Committee shall have full power to deal with all matters relating to the Club not reserved to a General Meeting in terms of this Constitution, including power to make public and enforce such byelaws as the Committee feel necessary to govern the activities of the Club [including bye-laws relating to discipline].
5         

 GENERAL MEETINGS

5.1       Annual General Meeting

The Club shall hold an Annual General Meeting once a year before the start of the indoor season to:-

  • Approve the minutes of the previous year’s AGM.
  • Receive reports from the Chairman and Honorary Secretary.
  • Receive a report from the Honorary Treasurer and approve the Annual Accounts.
  • Receive a report from those responsible for certifying the Club’s accounts.
  • Elect the Executive Committee.
  • Appoint someone responsible for certifying the Club’s accounts.
  • Fix the subscription for the ensuing year.
  • Consider changes to the Constitution.
  • Review and consider any Bye-laws.
  • Deal with other relevant business.

5.2       Extraordinary General Meeting

An Extraordinary General Meeting shall be called by an application in writing to the Secretary supported by at least 10% of the members of the Club. The Executive Committee shall also have the power to call an Extraordinary General Meeting by decision of a simple majority of its members.

5.3       Notices 

At least 14 days’ notice and the Agenda shall be given to all voting members of any General Meeting. No business shall be conducted unless fair notice thereof is contained in the Agenda.

5.4       Voting

5.4.1    With the exception of changes to the Constitution, decisions put to a vote shall be resolved by simple majority at General Meetings.

5.4.2    The Chairman of the Club shall hold a deliberative as well as a casting vote at general and committee meetings, in each case at the time the meeting commences its business.

5.5       Quora

The quorum at General Meetings shall be 20% of the members and the quorum for Committee Meetings shall be 40% of the members.

5.6       Changes to the Constitution

5.6.1    Any change to the Constitution shall require a two thirds’ majority of those present, eligible to vote and voting at a General Meeting.

5.6.2    A proposal to change the Constitution must be submitted in writing to the Secretary who shall circulate the proposal to all members and allow seven days for submission of any amendments before calling a meeting in accordance with rule 5.3 above.

5.6.3    All proposals for changes to the Constitution shall be signed by two members eligible to vote at a General Meeting.

 
6

 FINANCE AND ACCOUNTS

6.1       The financial year shall run from …………. to ………….. each year.

6.2       The Honorary Treasurer shall be responsible for the preparation of Annual Accounts of the Club.

6.3       The Accounts shall be certified by an appropriate independent person elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.

6.4       All cheques drawn against the Club’s funds shall be signed by the Treasurer and one other nominated office-bearer.

6.5       All members of the Club shall be jointly and severally responsible for the financial liabilities of the Club.
7   DISSOLUTION

7.1       The Club is a non-profit making organisation. All profits and surpluses will be used to maintain or improve or develop the Club's facilities or to carry out the objects of the Association to which it is affiliated. No profit or surplus will be distributed other than to another non-profit making body on a winding-up or dissolution of the Club.

7.2       If, upon the winding up or dissolution of the Club there remains after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities any property whatsoever, the same shall be transferred to some other organisation or organisations having objects similar to the objects of the Club, such organisation or organisations to be determined by the members of the Club by Resolution passed at a General meeting or in the absence of such a resolution (or that the extent to which it cannot be given effect) to the Association to which the Club is affiliated.

 

Loreburn Archers Club Rules
1 All club members and visitors shall strictly observe all rules of shooting as laid down by the club.
2 Anyone who does not abide by the rules of shooting will be dealt with accordingly.  This may result in dismissal from the club without any compensation with regards to their membership fees.
3

All shooting at club meetings will be under the control of a Field Captain
4 The Field Captain should be a member of the club committee or an experienced member of the club.
5 The Field Captain should signify the start and finish of shooting by means of a whistle.  It is only after the finish of shooting that an archer can cross the shooting line to approach the targets.
6 The Field Captain is responsible for ensuring the Rules of Shooting are adhered to.

The following rules are an abstract and restatement of Bow Safety from the GNAS Rules of Shooting:-

  • Each member of the Club has a duty of care to ensure that his actions do not compromise the safety of himself or others.
  • No archer may draw his bow, with or without an arrow, except when standing at the shooting line or peg. If an arrow is used, the archer shall aim toward the targets but only after being satisfied that the field is clear both in front of and behind the targets.
  • When drawing back the string of the bow an archer shall not use any technique which, in the opinion of the judges, could, if accidentally loosed, allow the arrow to fly beyond a safety zone or safety arrangements (overshoot area, net, wall, etc). If an archer persists in using such a technique, he will, in the interest of safety, be immediately asked by the Judge to stop shooting and to leave the area.
  •  If anyone present where archery is taking place becomes aware that shooting should be halted for safety reasons, that person must call “FAST”. On hearing this call, all archers must immediately stop shooting, returning all unshot arrows to the quiver. If necessary, the call of “FAST” should be repeated by other archers to ensure that everyone has heard and stopped shooting. Shooting will recommence only on the instruction of the field captain.
  • The target captain, in consultation with another committee member is empowered to require any individual who is considered to be jeopardising the safety of the tournament to immediately leave the shooting ground.
  • On the grounds where the public have a right of access, there must be a minimum of two people present each being a minimum of 18 years of age when any shooting is in progress, one of whom may be a non-archer to act as a lookout. The archer is responsible to inform the lookout of all safety aspects applicable. Where two adult archers are present and shooting together they will alternate on the shooting line so that the non-shooting archer can act as the lookout.
  • Solo shooting by senior archers (ie archers 18 and over) is permitted on private land which is fenced all round and where the public has no legal right of access. A warning notice must be displayed at all entrances and points of access. Any member shooting on their own is doing so at their own risk in respect of personal injuries.
  • When junior archers (ie archers under 18) are shooting individually or in groups they must be supervised by an adult member of the Club
7 The Field Captain is responsible for ensuring that Archers are aware of and conform to Shooting Etiquette.

The following are an abstract and restatement of Shooting Etiquette from the GNAS Rules of Shooting.

A Good Archer:-

  • Does not talk in a loud voice whilst others are shooting.
  • Does not talk to another archer who obviously prefers to be silent.
  • Does not make any exclamation on the shooting line that might disconcert a neighbour in the act of shooting.
  • Does not touch anyone else’s equipment without permission.
  • Does not leave litter.
  • If he breaks another’s arrow through his own carelessness, pays for it in cash on the spot.
8 All juniors under eighteen years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and it up to the parent or guardian to assume responsibility for the conduct of the junior during practise sessions.  There is a copy of the GNAS child protection policy that can be accessed through the club secretary by any member, parent or guardian wishing to read it.
9 Club membership fees for the year are due by 1st October.  As an alternative to paying the fees in a single payment for the year, a member may elect to pay by a monthly standing order.  Anyone who does not pay their fees or elect to pay by standing order within four weeks will cease to be a club member.
10 After the six weeks beginners course all new members have to be affiliated through GNAS for public liability insurance purposes.  This fee has to be paid by October every year.  If a member fails to pay before the appropriate date then that member will not be allowed to shoot until the outstanding fee has been paid.  There is a copy of the GNAS public liability insurance held on file and can be accessed through the club secretary by any member wishing to read it.
11 If a club member has entered by the club for a competition but has failed to pay their entry fee then that member will not be allowed to take part in any further competitions until the outstanding fee has been paid back to the club in full.
12 When shooting outdoors, carbon arrows may not be used since they can prove to be extremely difficult to detect with a metal detector.
13 Club members starting to shoot outdoors should start with a target at the shortest distance and not proceed to more distant targets until they can hit that target consistently.
14 Only glass fibre bows belong to the club are to be used at come and tries as these are the only bows that are covered by GNAS at these events.
Child Protection Policies
This document is the club guidelines for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults whilst participating at any club venue and supports the SAA Child Protection Policy. This is to protect these vulnerable members and also protect the members who supervise and coach them from false allegations.

The club has adopted the guidelines set out in the draft from the Scottish Archery Association and the Grand National Archery Society and all club members must comply with these guidelines. These club policy guidelines are held by the club’s Child Protection Officer and are available to any member.

The following has been agreed by the Club Committee/ Club membership:
1 The club will appoint a designated child protection officer to deal with the child protection matters and also someone to deputise in their absence. Both parties must receive an enhanced Disclosure Scotland check.
2 All committee members, coaches and helpers working with children and/or vulnerable adults must be vetted through Disclosure Scotland to the enhanced level.
3

Disclosure applications are applied for through the Scottish Archery Association.
4 Anyone failing the disclosure checks may not hold a position on the club’s committee.
5

Ensure that all members are aware of the club’s position on child protection by distribution of guidelines pertaining to this policy.
6 Keep parents and juniors informed about the coaches/volunteers action, encourage an open and friendly environment within the club and to develop an ethos where all people matter and are treated equally and with respect and dignity.
7 To protect all club members a minimum of two senior club members should be present at the club at all times.
8 As with the club constitution, no child (under the age of 18) or vulnerable adult is allowed to attend without the supervision of a parent or guardian at all times. The clubs minimum ratio is one parent/guardian to three children.
9 The club shall keep a record of any medical conditions which may affect the junior and vulnerable adult and any medication they require. No club member is allowed to administer medication unless they are the parent/guardian of the child.
10 The club shall obtain consent from parent/guardian to, if necessary, seek emergency medical treatment which will be administered by authorised medical personnel and the parents will be advised of this. Also if appropriate, consent will be obtained from the parent/guardian to transport the child by 2 members of the Club to hospital
11 The club shall keep an accident book and record all injuries, however slight, with details of any treatment given.
12 No photographs or videos may be taken without the consent of all parents/guardians and only then by supervision of a member of the committee.
13

All members will adhere to the procedures set out in “Responding to Concerns or Allegations”.
  Link to GNAS Child Protection Policies:-

Grand National Archery Society Ltd.

(Requires Acrobat Reader)

 Link to SAA Child Protection Policies:-

Child Protection Policy
Fees
Club Meetings
Coaching
Come and Tries