1.       Name

1.1     The amalgamation of the teams will be termed the ‘Bury Rounders League’. Hereinafter referred to as ‘The League’.

2.       Purposes of the League

2.1     The purpose of the League is to promote the amateur sport of Rounders for women and girls in/around the Bury area.

2.2     The game of Rounders will be played by women and girls.

3.       Permitted means of advancing the purposes

The Committee has the power to:

3.1     Acquire and provide equipment, coaching, training and playing facilities, transport, medical and related social and other facilities.

3.2     Take out public liability insurance for league officials, contractors, players, guests and third parties.

3.3     Raise funds by subscriptions, donations, charges and appeals.

3.4     Set aside or apply funds for special purposes or as reserves.

3.5     Deposit or invest funds in any lawful manner.

3.6     Employ and engage staff and others and provide services.

3.7     Co-operate with or affiliate to firstly any bodies regulating or organising the sport, secondly any team, club or body involved in it and thirdly with government and related agencies.

3.8     Do all other things reasonably necessary to advance its purposes.

None of the above powers may be used other than to advance the purposes consistently with the Constitution, Rules and Laws below and the general law.

4.       Membership

4.1     The League consists of properly constituted teams approved by the Management Committee, whose grounds and/or headquarters are situated within the Metropolitan Borough of Bury.

4.2     Membership of the League is made annually from the date of the AGM.

4.3     Membership of the league shall be open to anyone interested in the sport on application regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or other beliefs.  However limitation of membership according to available facilities is allowable on a non-discriminatory basis.

4.4     The League will keep subscriptions at levels that will not pose a significant obstacle to people participating.

4.5     The League Committee may refuse membership, or remove it, only for good cause such as conduct, outstanding debts, or character likely to bring the League or sport into disrepute.  Appeal against refusal or removal may be made to an appointed panel consisting of league members.

5.       All League Meetings

5.1     All members may attend League meetings in person.

5.2     Such meetings are held on a regular basis throughout the year.

5.3     A quorum for all League meetings is 75% of the total membership.

5.4     The Chair or (in his/her absence the Vice Chair), shall preside.

5.5     A fine will be levied for teams not represented at the meetings.

5.6     Teams failing to send a representative to 3 league meetings will be expelled from the League and must seek re-admission to the waiting list at the AGM.

5.7     Team representatives arriving late/departing early must ensure that they are brought up to date with matters discussed at the meeting.  The Management Committee are not responsible for keeping individuals up to date.

5.8     Resolutions shall be decided at a league meeting by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast at a league meeting.

5.9     The principle of ‘one team, one vote’ shall apply.

5.10   Formalities in connection with League meetings (such as how to put down resolutions) shall be decided by the Committee and publicised to League members through the Team Secretary.

6.       Annual General Meeting (AGM)

The League will hold an AGM once in every calendar year and not more than 15 months after the last AGM.  At every AGM:

6.1     The League Secretary shall give each team at least 7 days’ notice of the place, date and time of the meeting, together with a printed balance sheet certified by the accountant.

6.2     The members will elect a Committee including a Chair, Treasurer and Secretary to serve until the next AGM.

6.3     The Treasurer will produce accounts of the League for the latest financial year checked as the Committee shall decide.

6.4     The Committee will present a report on the League’s activities since the previous AGM.

6.5     The Committee will appoint a suitable person to check the accounts.

6.6     The members will discuss and vote on any resolution (whether about policy or to change the Rules of the League and Laws of the Games) and deal with any other business put to the meeting.

7.       Extraordinary General Meetings (EGM)

7.1     An EGM shall be called by the Secretary within 14 days of a request from the Committee, or on the written request of 21 (or more) members.  The EGM shall be held within 30 days at a place decided upon by the Chair.

8.       The Committee

Role

8.1     Subject to these Rules the Committee shall have responsibility for the management of the League, its funds, implementation of the Rules of the League and the Laws of the Games as set by its members.

Property

8.2     The property and funds of the League cannot be used for the direct or indirect private benefit of members.

8.3     The League may provide sporting and related social facilities, rounders equipment, coaching, courses, insurance cover, medical treatment, event expenses and other ordinary benefits as provided for in the Finance Acts 2002 and 2010.

8.4     The League may also:

a.       Sell and supply food, drink and related sports clothing and equipment;

b.       Employ members and remunerate them for providing goods and services, on fair terms set by the Committee without the person concerned being present;

c.       Pay for reasonable hospitality for visiting teams and guests;

d.       Indemnify the Committee and members acting properly in the course of the running of the League against any liability incurred in the proper running of the League.

8.5     The Committee will have due regard to the law on disability discrimination and child protection.

8.6     The Committee shall consist of at least three and not more than 13 members (including officers).

8.7     The Committee members may co-opt team members (up to the maximum permitted number) to serve until the end of the next AGM.

8.8     Any Committee member may be re-elected or re-co-opted without limit.

8.9     A Committee member ceases to be such if he or she ceases to be a member of the League, resigns by written notice, or is removed by the Committee for good cause after the member concerned has been given the chance of putting his/her case to the Committee with an appeal to the league members, or is removed by team members at the league meeting. The Committee shall fairly decide time limits and formalities for these steps.

Committee meetings

8.10   Whenever a Committee member has a personal interest in a matter to be discussed, he/she must declare it, withdraw from that part of the meeting (unless asked to stay), not be counted in the quorum for that agenda item and withdraw during the vote and have no vote on the matter concerned.

8.11   The Committee may decide its own way of operating.  Unless it otherwise resolves, the following rules apply:

a.       At least seven members must be present for the meeting to be valid;

b.       Committee meetings shall be held face to face;

c.       The Chair, or whoever else those present choose, shall chair the meeting;

d.       Emergency decisions shall be by simple majority of those voting;

e.       A resolution in writing signed by every Committee member shall be valid without a meeting;

In the event of voting being even, the Chair shall have the casting vote.

Delegation

8.12   The Committee may delegate any of their functions to sub-committees but must specify the scope of its activity and powers; the extent to which it can commit to the funds of the League; its membership; its duty to report back to the Committee.  The Committee may wind up any sub-committee at any time or to change its mandate and operating terms.

Disclosure

8.13   Annual reports and statements of account must be made available for inspection by any member and all league records may be inspected by any Committee member.

9.       Amendments

9.1     The Constitution, Rules and Laws may be amended at a league meeting by two-thirds of the votes cast but not (if relevant) so as to jeopardise the league status, its purpose or winding up provisions.

9.2     Proposed alterations must be put in writing, signed by the secretaries of the proposing and seconding teams and received by the League Secretary at least 14 days prior to the League Meeting.

10.     Winding up the League

10.1   The members may vote to wind up the League if not less than three quarters of those present and voting support that proposal at a properly convened league meeting.

10.2   The Committee will then be responsible for the orderly winding up of the League’s affairs.

10.3   After settling all liabilities of the League, the Committee shall dispose of the net assets remaining to one or more of the following:

a.       To another League with similar sports purposes

b.       To the National Governing Body for use by them for related community sports.

c.       To be divided equally between present member teams.

d.       To be divided equally between nominated charities.