Fellowship of Cycling Old-Timers

FELLOWSHIP OF CYCLING OLD TIMERS

DRAFT CONSTITUTION

The Fellowship of Cycling Old Timers is an independent club affiliated to the Cyclists' Touring Club. Both these bodies are hereafter referred to as the 'FCOT' and the 'CTC'.

1. OBJECTS
The object of the FCOT will be to enable cyclists to keep in touch with one another and the world of cycling even if their active days are over. To this end a quarterly magazine (Fellowship News) will be published in which members will be able to reminisce over past events, give and seek news of old acquaintances, discuss current facts and fancies and generally air their memories, opinions and fears on any subject they care to raise.

2. MEMBERSHIP
1) Membership will be open to active or former cyclists, men and women, aged 50 or above. All members will be subject to the regulations of the constitution.
2) There will be no set membership subscription but each member will be expected to make an annual donation. A suggested minimum annual donation will be set annually by the committee, who will publish the per capita annual running costs of the FCOT.

3. MANAGEMENT
1) Subject to the directions of any Annual or Special General Meeting on the exercise of powers, management and control of the FCOT will be vested in a committee which will consist of the Honorary Officers and as many members of the FCOT as the Annual Meeting will from time to time decide. All members will retire annually, but will be eligible for re election.
2) The committee will meet annually before the Annual General Meeting; during the remainder of the year members of the committee will be consulted by the General Secretary by post and should reply within a fortnight. Any members who fail to reply within that time will be regarded as having failed to attend a meeting, and any member who fails to respond on two occasions may be removed from the committee.
3) Five members. including three officers, will form a quorum.
4) The committee will have the power to co opt additional members, such additions to be approv ed by the AGM at its next meeting.
5) It will have the power to fill vacancies, such vacancies to be approved by the AGM at its next meeting.
6) A special meeting of the committee will be called by the General Secretary without undue delay at the request of the Chairman or not fewer than five members of the committee.

4. OFFICERS
1) The Honorary officers of the FCOT will be a Chairman, a Treasurer, a General Secretary, a Membership Secretary, an Editor and such other officers as the FCOT in General Meeting may determine, to be elected at the Annual Meeting.
2) They will retire at the Annual Meeting following their election, but will be eligible for re election.
3) The committee will have the power to fill vacancies.
4) The longest serving member of the FCOT will be invited by the Membership Secretary to become President for one year only and will preside at the Annual General Meeting. Should the President be unable to attend that meeting his chair will be taken by the Vice-President.

5. FINANCE
The Treasurer will be responsible for the finances of the FCOT and will keep proper financial records.
1) All moneys will be banked in an account held in the name of the FCOT.
2) The financial year will end on 31 December.
3) Any cheques drawn against FCOT funds will hold the signatures of the Treasurer and up to two other nominated officers.
4) An audited statement of the annual accounts will be presented by the Treasurer at the Annual General Meeting.

6. RESIGNATIONS OR RETIREMENT
Any member of the committee will vacate his/her office if:
1) He/she gives notice of his/her intention to resign and his/her resignation is accepted.
2) He/she fails to respond within two weeks, on two occasions, to any discussion papers circulated to the committee by the General Secretary during the year without a reason approved by the committee.

7. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
In the first four months of each financial year the committee will convene an Annual General Meeting of the FCOT; not fewer than 14 days notice will be given in writing to each member of the FCOT, and which all members will be eligible to attend, to:
1) Consider the Annual Report of the committee and the FCOT income and expenditure accounts for the preceding financial year; a balance sheet showing the assets and liabilities at the end of that year and the auditor's certificate.
2) Appoint the Honorary Ofters.
3) Elect the Committee.
4) Appoint an auditor or auditors.
5) Disci.iss and consider motions, notice of which will have been given in writing to the General Secretary.
6) Vote on any proposals to amend. this constitution.

8. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
The Chairman or the General Secretary may at any time, and will within 21 days of receiving a request to do so, signed by not less than one-twentieth of the members of the FCOT with a minimum of ten members, and giving reasons for the request, call a Special General Meeting, of which fourteen days' notice will be given. The notice of the meeting will contain notice of the matters to be discussed and the terms of any motion which it is intended to move.

9. DISSOLUTION
A resolution to dissolve the FCOT can be passed only at an AGM or SGM through a majority vote of the total membership. In the event of dissolution the disposal of assets will be handled by a working party appointed by the AGM or SGM and acting according to the decision reached at the AGM or SGM.

10. NOTICE
The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting or the non receipt of a notice of a meeting by any mernber will not invalidate any proceedings or resolutions at any meeting of the FCOT or any committee.

Alterations to the Fellowships Constitution may be made by a majority vote at the AGM