1. Name of Organisation: The club will be called "Katsumushi Karate Club" (hereafter referred to as "The Club") and may be known as Dalry Katsumushi Karate Club. The club will be affiliated to the Dalry Community Sports Club (hereafter referred to as DCSC) and the North Ayrshire Sport Karate Association (hereafter referred to as NASKA).
2. Aims & Objectives of the club: The aims and objectives of the club will be:
- To study karate and develop the spirit of Karate as a traditional Japanese Martial Art within a safe and controlled environment - To establish an environment of mutual respect and appreciation - To provide opportunities, knowledge and facilities to the local community without discrimination to study, train and practice karate - To ensure all activities are undertaken in a safe manner (as far as is reasonably practicable in relation to "contact" sports) through continued supervision, explanation, demonstration and practice the importance of control and ability. - To promote self aspiration by providing a ratified syllabus that members will train to in order to progress through the grades. - To ensure that all costs to members (License, insurance & training fees) are kept as low as is practically possible. - To offer coaching & competitive opportunities in Karate - To work closely with DCSC and other groups to promote the club within the local community - To ensure a duty of care to all members of the club - To provide all its services in a way that is fair to everyone
3. Membership:
(a) Membership of the club is open to anyone interested in promoting, coaching, volunteering or participating in Karate, regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or other beliefs.
(b) The membership shall consist of the following categories: Full Member - Instructors and Students aged 16 and over; and Junior Member - Students from 5 to 15 years of age.
(c) All members will be subject to the regulations of the constitution and by joining the club will be deemed to accept these regulations and codes of practice that the club has adopted.
(d) Members in each category will be expected to take out membership of NASKA within 12 weeks of starting training with the club.
(e) Individuals shall be eligible to take part in the business of the Club, vote at general meetings or be eligible for the selection of any Club team unless the applicable subscription has been paid by the due date and/or membership has been agreed by the Club committee.
4. Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
(a) The Club respects the rights, dignity and worth of every person and will treat everyone equally regardless of age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, religious belief, sexuality or socio/economic status.
(b) The Club is committed to everyone having the right to enjoy their sport in an environment free from threat of intimidation, harassment and abuse.
(c) All Club members have a responsibility to oppose discriminatory behaviour and promote equality of opportunity.
(d) The club will deal with any incidence of discriminatory behaviour seriously, according to club disciplinary procedures.
5. Committee and Officers
(a) The affairs of the Club shall be conducted by a Committee of Black Belt Instructors, headed by the Senior Instructor.
(b) Attainment of a Black Belt grade will automatically result in Committee status and will qualify for all voting rights.
(c) The Committee will be responsible for adopting new policy, codes of practice and rules that affect the organisation of the Club.
(d) The Committee will have powers to appoint advisers to the Committee as necessary to fulfil its business.
(e) The Committee will be responsible for disciplinary hearings of members who infringe the club rules/regulations/constitution. The Committee will be responsible for taking any action of suspension or discipline following such hearings.
6. Meetings
(a) Normal committee meetings will be held no less than twice per year, in August and December, to discuss any ongoing business and agree Club grading dates.
(b) The quorum required for business to be agreed at Normal Committee meetings will be 25% of the committee members.
(c) The AGM will be held annually in April to:
- Approve the minutes of the previous year's AGM - Receive reports from the Chairman & Secretary - Receive a report from the Treasurer and approve the Annual Accounts - Agree the membership and training fees for the following year - Consider any proposed changes to the Constitution. - Deal with any other relevant business
(d) The quorum required for the AGM will be 25% of the adult members of the club.
7. Rules of Procedure
The rules of the club are detailed within the Student Handbook and on the Club website and must be observed by all members.
8. Gradings:
(a) Club gradings for 1st Kyu and below will be conducted locally by Club Black Belts and will be held twice yearly. Only students who are considered to be ready for the grading will be permitted to participate.
(b) Black Belt gradings will be conducted by a panel convened by the North Ayrshire Sport Karate Association (NASKA)
(c) There is no appeals process for failure at a grading and the panel's decision is final.
9. Finances:
(a) The Club is non-profit making and fees & funds collected by, or on behalf of the club, are reinvested in full (100%) back into the club.
(b) Club Instructors operate on a purely voluntary basis and receive no fees/commission/stipend for this activity.
(c) All club monies will be banked in an account held in the name of the club
(d) A statement of general accounts will be presented by the Treasurer at the Annual General Meeting (AGM)
(e) Any cheques drawn against Club funds should hold the signatures of the Treasurer plus one other officer.
10. Changes to the Constitution: Any proposed amendments to the constitution should be forwarded in writing to the Chief Instructor for consideration by the Committee. Any formal changes will be accepted in writing and incorporated into the constitution within one month of acceptance.
11. Review
The Constitution will be reviewed annually at the AGM and will be formally reissued if there are any amendments.
12. Dissolution
If a meeting, by simple majority, decides that it is necessary to close down the club it may call a Special General Meeting to do so. The sole business of that meeting will be to dissolve the group.
If it is agreed to dissolve the club, all remaining monies and other assets, once any outstanding debts have been paid, will be donated to a club or charitable organization with a matching ethos/goals. The organization chosen is to be agreed at the meeting which agrees the dissolution. No monies will be distributed to any members of the club.
13. Agreement
This constitution was initially agreed at the Inaugural General Meeting of Katsumushi Karate Club and will be reviewed annually at the AGM.