Please find below the Constitution of the Midland Rocketry

Amendment Status
DRAFT ISSUE 1.0 1st September 2006
ISSUE 1.0 17th September 2006

ISSUE 1.1 10th December 2007

Article 1 - Club Name
(i) The Club shall be called "Midland Rocketry" and hence forth will be known as "Club" in this document.

Article 2 - Aims of the Club
(i) The Club is formed for the purpose of safe flying of Low Power Rockets, Mid Power Rockets, High Power Rockets and Hybrid Rockets under the United Kingdom Rocket Association Safety Code for its members.
(ii) To promote safe rocketry in a friendly environment.
(iii) To promote safe rocketry via the Internet
(iv) To promote team build projects.

Article 3 - Important Notices To Members
(i) This Document will not be published annually. Alterations or amendments to its contents will be issued as necessary via the Club Web Site after any changes are agreed at a Annual General Meeting or a Extra Ordinary General Meeting.

Article 4 - Constitution of the Club
(i) A private club is defined as one with a constitution (This Document) that regulates admission to membership so that it is not open to all members of the public.

Article 5 - The Club's Obligations
(i) The Club shall provide everything reasonably necessary for carrying out the Club's Aims.

Article 6 - Rights and Liabilities of Members
(i) Every member of the Club shall be subject to this Constitution and be entitled to use and enjoy in common with other members of the Club the flying sites including the club equipment provided by the Committee for the use of the Club but shall not by reason of his/her membership be under any financial liability except for payment of their annual subscription, flying fee's and any breakages of club equipment they have borrowed.

Article 7 - Membership
7.1 Application for Membership
(i) Every candidate for membership of the Club must ask via the club Invite Me application on the club web site, and if granted then must fill in a membership form giving all particulars required by the Club with an undertaking to be bound by this Constitution, Web Site disclaimer and bye-laws of the Club. The decision as to whether membership is granted shall be at the sole discretion of the Committee whose decision shall be final and no reason need be given by the Committee for their failure to accept membership.

7.2 Membership Type
(i) Full Membership, grants full access to the facilities offered by Midland Rocketry including, ability to vote, right to stand for election to any office within the Club. Minimum age for Full Membership is 18 years of age.
(ii) Junior Membership, grants full access to the facilities offered by Midland Rocketry including, ability to vote, but not the right to stand for election to any office within the Club. Maximum age for Junior Membership is 17 years of age.
(ii) Membership selection is not based on any discrimination (racial, disability or other) factors

Article 8 - Member Conduct At Club Flying Meetings
(i) All flying at Club meetings shall be in accordance with the UKRA Safety Code.
(ii) All members who fly at Club meetings shall be in insured. Members may be asked to provide evidence of current insurance cover and where appropriate Certification level before flying.
(iii) All members must abide by the bye-laws. Please refer to the bye-laws document for the bye-laws and any disaplinary actions associated with said bye-laws.

Article 9 - Membership Subscriptions
9.1 Subscription Type
(i) The annual subscription for members shall be due and payable on the first day of January and will run to the end of that current year, Subscriptions shall be paid to the Committee or person designated by the Committee as acting on their behalf.
For Subscription fees, please refer to the Club Subscription Document.
(ii) The annual subscription is reduced by 50% after July 1st and will then run to the end of that current year. Subscriptions shall be paid to the Committee or person designated by the Committee as acting on their behalf.
For Subscription fees, please refer to the Club Subscription Document.

Article 10 - Expulsion of Member for Misconduct
(i) The Committee may expel from the Club any member whose conduct has broken any article of this Constitution, any of the Clubs bye-laws, breaking any UK law whilst at a Midland Rocketry meeting, inciting anyone to break a UK law relating to rocketry, be injurious to the character of the Club or whose conduct is directly or indirectly threatening, insulting, rude or offensive to the Committee, Club members or Non-Club members.
(ii) Before a member is expelled, his/her conduct shall be enquired into by the Committee and he/she shall be given full opportunity to defend himself/herself and to justify or explain his/her conduct. If the Committee is of the opinion that the member has been guilty of such conduct and that the member has failed to justify or explain it satisfactorily, the Committee shall call on the member to resign and if he/she does not resign shall expel him/her.
(iii) An expelled member shall forfeit all the privileges of membership and all rights against the Club. An expelled member shall not be entitled to any refund of his/her subscription and shall remain liable for his/her subscription for the year he/she was expelled.

Article 11 - Guests
11.1 Guest Flyers
(i) Members may be entitled to bring guest flyers to the Club, at the discretion of the Committee.

11.2 Non Flying Guests
(i) Members will be entitled to bring non-flying guests to the Club (Family members/friends).

Article 12 - General Meetings
12.1 Annual General Meetings
(i) An Annual General Meeting (hence forth known as AGM) of the Club shall be held once at the end of every year for such business as the Committee may consider appropriate. The membership will be notified via verbal, electronic or via the Club Web Site with 2 calendar months notice of the AGM.

12.2 The following shall be entitled to be present:
(i) Committee Members including Elected Officers
(ii) Full Members
(iii) Junior Members
(iv) Invited guests.

12.3 Notice of AGM and Business to be transacted.
(i) The Agenda for the AGM shall provide for:
(ii) Chairman's Remarks.
(iii) Receive the Minutes of the previous AGM.
(iv) Receive the Chairman's Annual Report.
(v) To consider the Audited Financial Statements, Balance Sheet, and the Report of the Auditors.
(vi) To receive the Result of Elections to Committee if there is a position open.
(vii) To appoint Auditors.
(viii) To appoint a Solicitor.
(ix) To consider Constitution Alterations.
(x) To consider General Business
(xii)To consider any other business not specifically provided for in the Agenda.

12.4 Agenda of AGM.
(i) The Club shall issue the AGM Agenda with one calendar month notice.
(ii) Constitution Alterations - Notice of any proposed alterations to this Constitution must be submitted in writing via written letter, email or via the Club Web Site by the proposer to the Club one calendar month before the AGM to be included on the Agenda.
(iv) General Business - Notice of any General Business must be submitted in writing via written letter, email or via the Club Web Site by the proposer to the Club one calendar month before the AGM to be included on the Agenda.
(v) General Voting. Each person qualified to attend the AGM shall have one vote. All voting shall be by show of hands, and a majority of votes cast shall decide all matters, except any proposed alteration to the Constitution of the Club which must be supported by at least two-thirds of those who voted. Qualified persons unable to attend the AGM may submit a vote in writing via written letter, email or via the Club Web Site one calendar week before the date of the AGM or nominate a person to act as his/her proxy at the AGM
(vi) Election to Committee. All Full members are entitled to stand for election to Committee.

12.5 Extra Ordinary General Meeting
(i) An Extra Ordinary General Meeting (hence forth known as EOGM) may be called for at any time to discuss matters that need addressing during the year where the membership needs to be in attendance. The membership will be notified via verbal, electronic or via the Club Web Site with at least 2 calendar weeks notice of the EOGM.

12.6 The following shall be entitled to be present:
(i) Committee Members including Elected Officers
(ii) Full Members
(iii) Junior Members
(iv) Invited guests.

12.7 Notice of EOGM and Business to be transacted.
(i) The Agenda for the EOGM shall provide for:
(ii) To consider the Reason for the EOGM.
(iii) To consider Constitution Alterations.
(iv) To consider General Business
(v)To consider any other business not specifically provided for in the Agenda.

12.8 Agenda of EOGM.
(i) The Club shall issue the EOGM Agenda with 1 calendars weeks notice.
(ii) Consitution Alterations - Notice of any proposed alterations to this Constitution must be submitted in writing via written letter, email or via the Club Web Site by the proposer to the Club one calendar week before the EOGM to be included on the Agenda.
(iv) General Business - Notice of any General Business must be submitted in writing via written letter, email or via the Club Web Site by the proposer to the Club one calendar week before the EOGM to be included on the Agenda.
(v) General Voting. Each person qualified to attend the EOGM shall have one vote. All voting shall be by show of hands, and a majority of votes cast shall decide all matters, except any proposed alteration to the Constitution of the Club which must be supported by at least two-thirds of those who voted. Qualified persons unable to attend the EOGM may submit a vote in writing via written letter, email or via the Club Web Site one calendar week before the date of the EOGM or nominate a person to act as his/her proxy at the EOGM.
(vi) Election to Committee. All Full members are entitled to stand for election to Committee.

Article 13 - Solicitor
(i) The Club may appoint a Solicitor who shall be nominated and elected at each AGM/EOGM. The Solicitor may only attend meetings of the Club when specially invited by the Committee.

Article 14 - Auditors
(i) The Club shall appoint Auditors. Such Auditors shall be nominated and appointed at each AGM/EOGM. No Officer of the Club or member of the Committee shall serve as Auditor.

Article 15 - Officers Of The Club
15.1 Executive Officers.
(i) The Executive Officers of the Club shall consist of a Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary.
(ii) Nomination. The Executive Officers of the Club will be selected by a vote at the AGM/EOGM.
(iii) Rotation of Executive Officers. The period of elected service will be classed as "For Life"
(iv) If an elected committee member resigns his position, a new election to fill that position will take place either at an EOGM or AGM

15.2 Removal of Executive Officers
(i) Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary may be removed from office upon a motion to that effect being passed by Committee with a 75% majority of all Committee members. The AGM/EOGM must ratify the removal motion

Article 16 - Club Committee
16.1 The Club shall be governed by a Committee, which shall be constituted as follows and consist of at least 3 members:
(i) Elected Executive Officers of the Club
(ii) Elected Committee Members
(iii) Co-opted Committee Members are full members recruited to the Committee by elected Committee members to fill non-Executive Officer Committee vacancies.
(iv) The Committee shall manage the affairs of the Club in accordance with the Constitution and shall have such administrative powers as may be necessary to properly carry out the objectives of the Club. Any financial decisions must have at least 2 executive officers approval.
(vi) The Committee (With approval of at least 2 Executive Officers) can purchase or otherwise acquire any property of any on behalf of the Club from Club funds which shall be considered for the benefit of the Club.
(vii) The Committee (With approval of at least 2 Executive Officers) can give direction to improve, develop, manage, sell any property of the Club and to turn the same to profit and advantage, in any way that the Committee may deem desirable

16.2 Attendance At Committee Meetings
(i) Should any member of the Committee be absent from five (5) consecutive meetings of the Committee without reasonable excuse the committee shall have power to declare the seat vacant.
(ii) Should any member of Committee be unable to attend a Committee meeting, the member should inform the secretary of such in advance of the meeting.

16.3 Committee Quorum
(i) Each meeting of the Committee must have a quorum of two (2) members in attendance before the business of the Committee can be proceeded with.

16.4 Committee - Delegation Of Powers
(i) The Committee shall have power to appoint such Committees or Commissions as may considered necessary, and delegate all or any of its powers to such Committees or Commissions.

16.5 Committee - Emergency Committee
(i) The Executive Officers of the club shall have full delegated powers to act for and on behalf of the Committee in matters of an urgent nature arising between meetings of the Committee, and where they have so acted they shall report the circumstances to the next meeting of the Committee.

Article 17 - Committee Meetings
17.1 The Chairman shall determine the dates on which the Committee shall meet, and he/she shall be empowered to vary such dates or to call additional Meetings, as he/she deems necessary.

17.2 Record Of Attendance
(i) A record shall be kept of the attendance of Members at each Meeting.

17.3 Notice Of Meetings
(i) The Chairman/Secretary shall give at least fourteen days clear notice to each member of every meeting of the Committee together with an Agenda of the business to be transacted.

17.4 Notice Of Motion
(i) That notices of all intended motions shall be given in writing to the Secretary 21 clear days previous to the meeting, and such notices shall be placed on the agenda in the order received. In the absence of the member in whose name it stands, the motion shall not be proceeded with unless he/she has given written authority to some other member to proceed with it.

17.5 Order Of Proceedings
(i) The business before the meeting as stated on the Agenda shall be proceeded with in such order as the Chairman may decide.

17.6 Mode Of Discussion
(i) The Mode of Discussion is at the Chairman's discretion.

17.7 Mode Of Procedure
(i) The Mode of Procedure is at the Chairman's discretion.

17.8 Objectionable Business
(i) If the Chairman is of the opinion that any motion proposed to be made is of an objectionable character he may at once put it to the vote (on which there shall be no discussion) whether it shall be entertained or not. If two-thirds of the members present decide not to entertain such a motion the matter is disposed of for that meeting.

17.9 Mode Of Voting
(i) All voting shall be by show of hands, and a majority of votes cast shall decide all matters. At any time during a discussion any member can propose and any other member second the following motion. i.e. "That the question be now put". This motion shall at once be put from the chair and voted upon without any further discussion. If carried the Chairman shall ask any member having a right to reply for their comments and after such comments the question shall be carried without any further discussion. If the vote is equally divided the Chairman is entitled to a casting vote.

17.10 Day to Day running of the Club
(i) This will be via the Club Web Site and if any decisions need to be made then the built in voting system will be used. The decision of the vote will be the majority of those who voted during the allocated voting time, these voting deadlines will be used for the urgency of the discussion. These will range from 5 days to 4 weeks. If the vote is equally divided the Chairman is entitled to a casting vote.

17.11 Procedure Of Investigation
(i) During investigations of complaints, reports of Executive Officers, or other matters in which witnesses are admitted into the Committee Room, every member who wishes to question the person under examination may only do so through the Chairman.

17.12 Retracted Resolutions
(i) A Resolution shall not be retracted at the meeting of the Committee at which it has been passed unless the motion to retract is carried by the majority of the members present. . If the vote is equally divided the Chairman is entitled to a casting vote.

Article 18 - Complaints By Members
(i) Any complaint made by an individual shall be in writing to the Chairman with a duplicate copy sent to the Secretary. In the event of a frivolous or vexatious complaint being made, the Committee shall have power to request the complaining individual to pay such expenses as may be deemed fit. No barrister or solicitor shall represent an individual at the hearing of a complaint unless he is the individual concerned.

Article 19 - Bye-laws
(i) The Committee may from time to time make, vary or revoke bye-laws for the regulation of the membership. All such bye-laws shall until revoked by the Committee be binding on members. Please refer to the bye-laws document for the bye-laws and any disaplinary actions.

Article 20 - Liability
(i) The Club or it's Committee shall not be liable for any loss or damage caused to any property belonging to or brought to the Club by a Member, guest or any other persons. Nor shall the Committee be liable to refund any subscription due to being unable to provide the facilities at the Club due to circumstances beyond the control of the Committee.

Article 21 - Dissolution
(i) In the event of the Club being unable to run the for a period of 3 months, then the Club shall be closed and all memberships cease with immediate effect at that point in time and the Committee nor any other person shall be liable to refund any subscription or anything else.

Article 22 - Accounts Of The Club
22.1 The Treasurer shall keep the following accounting records.
(i) Profit and Loss of the Club which shall contain all Income and Expenditure.
(ii) The Club being a non-profit making body shall not distribute to its members any Surplus.
(iii) All transactions will be Cash based as the Club does not hold a banking account.