MIDDLESEX SQUASH & RACKETBALL ASSOCIATION

CONSTITUTION

Published: 18 July 2013 Amended 24 Sept 2023

NAME

The association shall be called the Middlesex Squash and Racketball Association.

AIMS

The aims of the Association shall be to:

2.1

Promote the interests of squash and racketball and to maintain the rules of the games and the rules of the SRA in the County.

2.2

Arrange, regulate and manage County Leagues, Championships, Inter-County matches and other competitions.

2.3

Act as liaison between the SRA and clubs in the County and generally to advise on points arising from the games and their administration.

Membership

Membership of the Association shall be open to clubs and other organisations in the County which are affiliated to the SRA, to officers serving on the Committee and to individuals accorded honorary membership status.

Management

The Association shall be managed by a Committee of Officers, comprising a Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, the three League Secretaries (Mens/Womens Winter league, Veterans league, Summer league), a Junior Representative, Mens and Womens Team Co-ordinators and any Co-optees. Four officers shall form a quorum.

Powers of the Committee

The Committee shall have the following powers:

5.1

To act in all matters relating to the Association and to employ the funds of the Association in such manner as they shall deem to be in the best interests of the Association.

5.2

To deal with all questions and to make, repeal or amend regulations consistent with this Constitution, or the rules of the SRA.

5.3

To add to their numbers by co-opting other individuals.

5.4

To nominate a representative on the SRA Council.

5.5

To adjudicate, if requested by a member, on any matter arising from the games, or, at their discretion, to refer such matters to the SRA.

5.6

To select the teams to represent the County in its matches.

5.7

To allow the players such travelling expenses as the Committee shall deem expedient.

5.8

To appoint Honorary Members.

Suspension or expulsion

The Association shall have power to suspend or expel a member, but shall exercise that power only after consultation with the SRA. Any member suspended or expelled from membership of the SRA may also be suspended or expelled similarly from membership of this Association.

Annual General Meeting

This shall be held within six months of 1st May to receive the Annual Reports, to receive and approve the duly audited Annual Accounts, and to elect the Committee and appoint the Hon. Auditor for the ensuing year. The Meeting shall consider any business of which notice in writing has been given to the Secretary not less than fourteen days beforehand and may consider other business at the discretion of the Chair.

Extraordinary General Meeting

Such a Meeting may be convened by the Committee, or shall be called by the Secretary within twenty-eight days of the receipt of a notice signed on behalf of at least twelve other members, stating the business for which the Meeting is to be convened.

General Meeting

A club or organisation, being a member of the Association, may appoint one representative (who may be in addition to a member of the Committee) to attend and vote at a General Meeting. Such representatives shall, on request at the Meeting, produce their appointment in writing by the Secretary of their club or organisation. Five members or representatives, excluding the Committee, shall form a quorum. If there is no quorum present, the Meeting shall be adjourned for fourteen days, and the members or representatives present at the adjourned Meeting shall form a quorum. Notice of a General Meeting shall be sent out at least twenty-one days before the Meeting, stating the business to be transacted. Each question shall be decided by a show of hands unless a ballot is directed by the Chair or demanded by three persons present. On a ballot being demanded, each member present shall have one vote. In the event of an equality of votes, the Chair shall have the casting vote.

Nomination for Committee

A member or representative may nominate, fourteen days before an Annual General Meeting, one candidate for the Committee. Only one candidate can be nominated by any member in any one year.

Alteration to the Constitution No addition or alteration shall be made unless passed by a two-thirds majority at a General Meeting.

Dissolution clause

If the membership of the Association shall at any time fall below twenty or if at any time the Association shall pass in General Meeting by a majority comprising two-thirds or more of the members present and entitled to vote a resolution of its intention to dissolve the Association, the Committee shall take immediate steps to convert into money all the properties of the Association with power however to postpone or delay the conversion of any particular property. Out of the proceeds of such conversion, the Committee shall discharge all debts and liabilities of the Association, including the expenses of such conversion, and any balance remaining in their hands shall be disposed of by them as the Association in General Meeting shall resolve, provided that in no circumstances shall any assets or surplus funds be distributed to any member or other person, nor to any organisation which is not itself either constituted as non-profitmaking or a charity.

Amendment 24 Sept 2023

The Association adopts the England Squash 12 good Governance requirements. In particular, the need for a Governance Committee and other specific requirements contained within it.