North Kildare Cricket Club Constitution

The name of the Club is North Kildare Cricket Club (herein NKCC), hereafter to be referred to as "the club". The North Kildare Cricket Club is a section of the North Kildare Club and is affiliated to Leinster Cricket Union.

2. Values, aims and objectives

Our values

Cricket more than any other sport has traditionally been associated with the virtues of honesty, integrity, fair play and team work. The spirit of cricket objective (Appendix 1) is to uphold and promote the positive values associated with the spirit of cricket, and promoting the positive aspects of the game - 'play hard, play fair'. NKCC embraces and promotes the values underpinning the spirit of cricket.

NKCC is fully committed to safeguarding the wellbeing of its members. Every individual involved in organised cricket should, at all times, show respect and understanding for their rights of safety and welfare, and conduct themselves in a way that reflects the principles of the organisation and the guidelines contained in the Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s Sport in Ireland.

Aims and objectives

To foster and promote the sport of cricket at all levels within the community and within the sport, providing opportunities for recreation, coaching and competition.
To ensure that all members, playing and non-playing, abide by the NKCC Code of Conduct (Appendix 2), Leinster Cricket Union Code of Conduct (Appendix 3) and to encourage the upholding of the Laws of Cricket and the Spirit of the Game.
To manage and maintain the cricket grounds within the Maws complex during the cricket season
To ensure a duty of care to all members of the club and in particular to youth members by adopting and implementing the. Irish Sport Council’s, Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s Sport in Ireland’ and Cricket Ireland’s Codes of Conduct and Good Practice for youth cricket as reflected in the NKCC Youth Guidelines. (Appendix 6)
To encourage all members to participate fully in the activities of the club.

3. Colours

The official colours of the club shall be cerise and blue.

The cricket players will wear white/cream trousers and a white/cream top during matches.

3. Membership

(a) Membership of the club shall be open to anyone interested in the sport of cricket on application regardless of marital status, family status, sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or other beliefs or membership of the travelling community. However, limitation of membership according to available facilities is allowable on a non discriminatory basis.

(b) Application for membership of the club shall be by completion of a membership application form and by payment of the relevant subscription/joining fees as determined by the Annual General Meeting of the club. The NKCC reserves the right to request information from other cricket clubs in relation to potential members (this includes verifying their subscription payment history).

(c) No person shall be eligible to take part in the business of the club or eligible for selection (as outlined in the selection policy – Appendix 5) for any club team unless the appropriate subscription has been paid by the specified date or membership has been agreed by the Committee.

(d) The club Committee may refuse membership, or remove it, for good cause such as conduct or character likely to bring the club or cricket into disrepute, non payment of subscriptions to NKCC or a club affiliated to the Irish Cricket Union constitutes a reason for refusing or removing membership. Appeal against refusal or removal may be made to the Committee who shall appoint an Appeals Committee to hear the appeal.

(e) All members will be subject to the regulations of the Constitution and by joining the club will be deemed to accept these regulations and any Codes of Conduct that the club has adopted. The Constitution shall identify those members eligible to vote at any General Meetings.

4. Categories of Membership

There shall be 3 categories of membership available. These are:

Full adult membership
Student membership (3rd Level)
Junior Member (Primary) or (2nd Level school)

A list of members in each category shall be maintained by the Treasurer or another designated officer of the club.

5. Officers

The Officers of the club shall be as follows:

1. President

2. Vice president

3. Secretary

4. Treasurer

5. Team secretary

6. Youth Coordinator

7. Women’s secretary

8. Main club representative

9. Coaching coordinator

6. Election of Officers

The Officers shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the club from, and by, the members of the club. In the event, that an AGM fails to fill an officer position, it will be the responsibility of the incoming committee to appoint a suitable person.

Captains for each team will also be elected at the AGM by members. In the event, that no suitable person is elected at the AGM, it will be the responsibility of the incoming committee to appoint a suitable person to the role.

Holding office:

a) President: Ordinarily, the person elected will have carried out the role of Vice-president prior to standing for this position. Following election the President will hold office for up to 2 years but must be elected by the membership at the AGM for each of these. Having held the office of President, a person may not be re-elected to this position until a period of 6 years has passed.

b) Vice-president: The person elected will hold office for up to 2 years but must be elected by the membership at the AGM each year.

c) All other officers (with the exception of coaching coordinator and captains) shall be elected for a period of one year, but shall be eligible for re-election to the same office up to a maximum of 3 consecutive years. After serving in the same officer role for 3 years, a person must not hold the position for a minimum of one year. However, they may hold a different officer role.

d) Coaching coordinator and Captaincy roles –while rotation of responsibilities is encouraged, these roles will not be subject the limitations on holding office as set out in point (c)

e) New officer roles can only be created by the membership through the AGM

7. Management Committee

The affairs of the club shall be conducted by a Management Committee (the Committee) comprising the Honorary Officers of the club and the captains of each adult team. All will have an equal vote at committee meetings.

The Committee will be convened by the Secretary and shall meet at agreed intervals and not less than six times per year. The quorum required for business to be agreed at Committee meetings shall be 5.

The duties of the Committee shall be:

a) To co-ordinate the affairs of the club on behalf of the members.

b) The committee shall keep minutes of all meetings held and be able to produce all minutes of such meetings duly signed and duly vouch an account of all monies received and disbursed.

c) To keep accurate accounts of the finances of the club through the Treasurer. These should be available for reasonable inspection by members and should be presented at the Annual General Meeting. The club shall maintain a bank current account and the following Officers shall be authorised to sign club cheques: any two from the President, Treasurer and Secretary.

d) To co-opt additional members of the Committee as the Committee feel is necessary. Co-opted members shall not be entitled to a vote on the Committee and shall serve until the end of the next Annual General Meeting. A co-opted member may be an adult, student, youth member or a parent of a youth member.

e) Shall not permit any person who has not been duly elected a member of the club or whose membership has lapsed to take part in its activities.

f) To make decisions by consensus in the interests of the membership. It will be the duty of the president to facilitate inclusive discussions to promote a consensus approach to decision making. In the case of non agreement, decisions may be made by simple majority. Where votes are equal, no decision may be made without consultation with the membership of the club.

The Committee shall have powers to appoint sub-committees as necessary and to co-opt advisers who may be non club members invited to advise on specialist subjects.

An elected Committee member ceases to be such if he or she ceases to be a member of the club, resigns by written notice, or is removed by the Committee for good cause after the member concerned has been given the chance of putting their case to the Committee. In such case the Club disciplinary procedure (Appendix 4) must be followed.

The Committee has the responsibility, on behalf of the membership to:

(a) Provide and maintain equipment, coaching, training and playing facilities, (this must be done in accordance with the main club rules)

(b) provide coaching, training, and related social and other facilities, this must be done in accordance with the main club rules)

(d) open bank accounts

(e) set aside funds for special purposes or as reserves

(f) engage 3rd parties to provide services

(g) co-operate with or affiliate firstly to any bodies regulating or organising the sport of cricket and secondly any club or body involved with cricket

(h) do all other things reasonably necessary to advance the aims and objectives of the club.

(i) Ensure appropriate measures are in place to reasonably safeguard member and visitor safety (safety statement Appendix 7)

NONE of the above powers may be used other than to advance the aims and objectives in a manner consistent with the Rules and the general law.

8. General Meetings

The Annual General Meeting of the club shall be held not later than the end of October each year. (21) clear days notice of the Annual General Meeting shall be given to members by circulating a copy of the notice to every member by email and posting the notice on the club website and notice board. Members must advise the Secretary in writing of any other business to be moved at the Annual General Meeting at least 7 days before a meeting. The Secretary shall circulate or give notice of the agenda for the meeting to members not less than 7 days before the meeting.

The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be to:

a) Confirm the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting and any General Meetings held since the last Annual General Meeting

b) Receive the Secretary’s Report

c) Receive the Treasurer’s Report

d) Elect the Officers of the Club

e) Review club subscription rates and agree them for the forthcoming year

f) Transact such other business received in writing by the Secretary from members 7 days prior to the meeting.

Nominations of candidates for election of Officers shall be made in writing to the Secretary at least 7 days in advance of the Annual General Meeting date. Nominations can only be made by paid up members aged 16 years and above and must be seconded by another such member. (From herein such member will be known as a Voting Member)

Extraordinary General Meetings may be convened by the Committee or on receipt by the Secretary of a request in writing from not less than 10 paying Members of the club. At least 21 days notice of the meeting shall be given.

At all General Meetings, the Chair will be taken by the President or, in their absence, by the vice president (or another appropriate officer). Decisions made at a General Meeting shall be by a simple majority vote from those voting members attending the meeting. In the event of equal votes, the Chair of the meeting shall be entitled to an additional casting vote.

A quorum for a General Meeting shall be 10 paid up Voting Members and Officers of the Club including at least (1) from the President, Secretary and Treasurer.

Each Voting Member of the Club shall be entitled to one vote at General Meetings.

9. Alterations to the Constitution

Any proposed alterations to the club Constitution may only be considered at an Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting, convened with the required written notice of the proposal. Any alteration or amendment must be proposed by a Voting Member of the club and seconded by another Voting Member. Such alterations shall be passed if supported by not less than two-thirds of those Voting Members present at the meeting, assuming that a quorum has been achieved.

10. Finance

All club monies shall be banked in an account in the name of the club.

The Treasurer shall be responsible for the finances of the club and shall be answerable to the committee in such regard including the provision of a bimonthly report on the financial position or as otherwise required by the Committee.

The financial year will end on 31 August.

The Treasurer will present a statement of annual accounts at the Annual General Meeting.

Any cheques drawn against club funds should hold the signatures of any two of the authorised signatories. Authorised signatories will be Treasurer, President, Secretary and up to two other officers.

11. Property and Funds

(i) The property and funds of the club cannot be used for the direct or indirect private benefit of members other than as reasonably allowed by the Rules and all surplus income or profits shall be reinvested in the club.

(ii) The club may also in connection with the sports purposes of the club

a. sell and supply food, drink and related sports clothing and equipment

b. engage members or 3rd parties 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 club against any liability incurred in the proper running of the club (but only to the extent of its assets).

12. Grievance and Discipline

Where possible, issues (including alleged bullying) will be resolved and dealt with at a local level in an informal low key manner in the interests of all concerned. Matters that are raised early with captains or members of the committee can often be resolved quickly to the satisfaction of all concerned, However, this is not always the case and indeed it may not be appropriate depending on the nature and seriousness of the issue.

The club grievance, disciplinary and appeals procedures (Appendix 4) will be followed where informal approaches have either been exhausted or are inappropriate given the seriousness or nature of the issue being dealt with. These procedures will be followed in relation to alleged breaches of the various codes of conduct that govern the club activities. However, in line with Irish Sport Council, Code of Ethics and good practice in children’s sport, if the complaint involves suspected abuse or a criminal offence the children’s officer/designated person or a member of the committee will contact the statutory bodies.

13. Dissolution

a) If at any General Meeting of the club, a resolution be passed calling for the dissolution of the club, the Secretary shall immediately convene a Special General Meeting of the club to be held not less than one month thereafter to discuss and vote on the resolution.

b) If at that Special Meeting, the resolution is carried by at least two-thirds (three quarters) of the Full Voting Membership present at the meeting, the Committee shall thereupon, or at such date as shall have been specified in the resolution, proceed to realise the assets of the club and discharge all debts and liabilities of the club.

c) The Committee will then be responsible for the orderly winding up of the club’s affairs.

d) After settling all liabilities of the club, the Committee shall dispose of the net assets remaining to one or more of the following:

e) to another club with similar sports purposes which is a registered charity and/or

f) to another club with similar sports purposes which is a registered Community Amateur Sports Club and/or

g) to the club’s governing body for use by them for related community sports.

The Constitution was passed at the AGM held on 11th November 2010