Council Of Southern Caving clubs

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF SOUTHERN CAVING CLUBS

1. The name shall be ‘The Council of Southern Caving Clubs’.
2. The objects shall be:: a. To encourage the exchange of information between caving clubs in the South of England.
b. The safeguarding of the interests of those clubs and individual cavers.
c. Maintaining friendly relations with similar bodies with a view to promoting and achieving objects of mutual interest.
3. Guiding principles shall be:: a. Respect for the autonomy and independence of action of all caving clubs. ‘Live and let live’.
b. The owners and tenants of property containing cave have the right to grant or withhold access. In certain cases caving clubs, singly or jointly, have the control of cave access delegated to them by owners. In such cases access for cavers should be granted as freely as possible throughout the country within the terms of those agreements. When forced to make new agreements the appropriate body should ensure this freedom.
4.: a. The Council shall consist of the delegates from member clubs. It shall meet not less than once a year to transact business.
b. An ordinary meeting of the Council shall be called by the Honorary Secretary or when ordered by a previous Council meeting.
c. The Annual General Meeting shall be called for May. An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called at the request of at least six member clubs. A quorum for the Annual General Meeting and the Extraordinary General Meeting shall be twenty five percent of the paid up member clubs of the Council.
5. A club becomes a member club by signifying its wish to do so and paying the current subscription.
6.: a. The Officers shall be a Chairman, Honorary Secretary, Treasurer, and such others as the Council shall decide.
b. Officers shall be elected by Council to serve for a year and shall be eligible for re-election.
7. An Ordinary Meeting of the Council shall consist of the Council Officers and the nominee of each club wishing to serve. It shall regulate its own business.
8. At all meetings each paid up club shall have one vote and the right to veto. An Ordinary Council Meeting can not approve changes to the Constitution.
9. The annual subscription shall be determined at the Annual General Meeting. The Council’s financial and subscription year shall start on the 1st January.
10. In the event of a dissolution, the assets of the Council shall be given to other organisations of a similar nature. A motion for dissolution, if passed by a two thirds majority at a Council Meeting shall not be subject to veto.
11. Motions for amendment to the Constitution must be received by the Secretary at least six weeks before the meeting, and be circulated to member clubs at least four weeks before the meeting with the agenda. Amended 19th May 1979, 8th May 1982, 17th May 1997 and 16th May 1998.