Heart of Midlothian Disabled Supporters Club Constitution
- Name:
The name of the organisation is the Heart of Midlothian Disabled Supporters Club (from now on referred to as HDSC).
- Objectives:
2.1 To enable its members to share a common interest in Heart of Midlothian Football Club (from now on referred to as Hearts) and any matter concerning Hearts supporters.
2.2 To promote the welfare of Hearts supporters and in particular Hearts supporters who are disabled, by the following means: by promoting and encouraging (1) the sharing of information and (2) good practice in relation to disabled people attending association football matches and by representing and promoting the views of members to appropriate individuals and bodies to influence in a positive way future developments which may affect those with some form of disability.
- Membership:
3.1 Membership is open to any person with a disability or any individual who feels that they may be able to contribute to the objectives of the HDSC and support disabled people.
3.2 Honorary Presidents may be proposed and seconded by fully paid up members of the HDSC. Election of such memberships requires a simple majority of the members at any meeting.
3.3 Applications for membership will be considered by the Management Committee (from now on referred to as the MC).Applications will be dealt with at the earliest possible MC meeting. The MC has the right to refuse applications if the applicant is deemed not to be suitable as far as the interests of the HDSC are concerned. The closing date for new memberships will be 31st March each year.
3.4 Members may be subject to disciplinary action or have their membership terminated if it is deemed that he or she has brought the HDSC into disrepute or that their continued membership is not in the interests of the HDSC. Disciplinary action short of expulsion will be dealt with by the MC. A member may only be expelled from the HDSC by a decision of an extraordinary general meeting of the members after affording the individual concerned the right to be heard.
3.5 The annual membership fee for the HDSC will be determined by the Members voting at the AGM having regard to the recommendation by the appointed Treasurer as to the appropriate fee.
3.6 Membership of the HDSC means you automatically will be made a life member of the Scottish Disabled Supporters Association unless you advise you do not wish to join. The cost is £1 which will be collected in due course or added to your membership fee.
- Management Committee:
4.1 The MC shall comprise of a minimum of 9 members who will be elected at the AGM and where possible include the following office bearers.
- Chairperson - Vice-Chairperson
- Secretary - Minute Secretary
- Treasurer
From the MC two representatives to the Federation of Hearts Supporters Clubs shall be elected who may or may not be officer bearers.
In addition an Away Ticket Co-ordinator shall be elected who may or not may be a member of the MC.
The term of office for each post will be one year however any member of the MC may see re-election at the AGM providing the secretary has been advised of their intention to do so a minimum of 14 days before the date of the AGM. Candidates seeking election for the first time should notify their intention to the secretary a minimum of 14 days before the date of the AGM. All candidates for the MC shall be proposed and seconded by fully paid up members.
4.2 An auditor will also be elected at the AGM for the coming year.
4.3 The MC shall have the authority to co-opt replacements onto the committee if needs arise before the next AGM. Such co-opted members will have the same voting rights as those elected at the AGM.
4.4 In the event that less than six members are available to serve on the MC members may hold more than one post with the exception of the Chairperson.
4.5 Due to the nature of the organisation certain members may be restricted in terms of being able to act as an office bearer in all aspects due to, but not restricted to, mobility, verbal communication, written communication, time taken etc. It is perfectly acceptable therefore that two members may “job share” the posts of Secretary, Minute Secretary & Treasurer.
4.6 The election of office bearers at the AGM may also allow and include assistants for all posts, with the exception to the chairperson and vice chairperson, to provide continuity and ease of replacement for whatever reason in the future.
- Meetings & Events:
5.1 HDSC will hold monthly MC meetings at times and venues to be agreed by those elected and published in advance by the Secretary.
5.2 The AGM of the HDSC be held in May or June each year at a date and time to be set by the MC. The Secretary will set the agenda in conjunction with the Chairperson which will be received by members a minimum of 7 days in advance. It is expected at the AGM that the Chairperson will present a report on the club activity for the previous year and also give an indication on the future direction and development of the HDSC. The Treasurer will also present the accounts with the financial year being 1st April to 31st March, with added comments from the elected auditor as to whether the accounts were found to be in good order or otherwise.
5.3 The quorum for MC meetings of the HDSC will be 4.
5.4 A decision on any matter arising will be based on proposals submitted which must be seconded with any subsequent vote decided by a simple majority with the exception of items covered by sections 10.3 and 12.1
5.5 The Chairperson, vice- Chairperson or Acting Chairperson at any meeting will not vote on any matter however will have a casting vote in the event of the number of votes cast being tied.
5.6 An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called at any time upon a written signed request by four HDSC members sent to the Secretary stating the nature of the business to be discussed.
5.7 In addition the HDSC will endeavour to hold social events every year, which where
practical will include a Player of the Year Function.
- Minutes:
6.1 The Secretary shall ensure that minutes are kept of every meeting which will be distributed as soon as possible after the meeting to all members by mail or email.
6.2 Members may have sight of any business transaction carried out by the HDSC upon written request to the Secretary.
7 Sub-Committees:
7.1 The MC may appoint one or more Sub-Committees from members of the HDSC to deal with specific issues concerning the HDSC from time to time. These said Sub-Committees will be directly accountable to the MC and any such decision of such sub committee shall be subject to ratification by
the MC.
- Finance:
8.1 The Treasurer shall ensure that suitable financial records are kept and that the HDSC receipts and payment are correctly entered therein.
8.2 The Treasurer shall ensure that one or more Bank accounts be opened in the name of the HDSC and the signatures of at least one of the office bearers namely the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson or Secretary shall also be required in order to draw funds from HDSC accounts.
8.3 The HDSC statement of account should be presented at each MC meeting.
8.4 The HDSC annual statement of account shall be subject to audit, the auditor to be appointed at the AGM.
8.5 With the exception of recognised running costs and award purchases, the MC’s prior approval of any expenditure shall be required.
8.6 In the event that the HDSC has purchased a ticket for one of the members and that he/she is not able to attend the relevant match for any reason, the HDSC will do everything in its power to re-sell the ticket. However in the event that this is not possible the member will become liable for the full cost of the ticket (See Rule 2).
- Record Keeping.
9.1 The secretary and treasurer will retain all correspondence and in the case of non-financial those records will be kept for a minimum of 3 years with financial documents kept for a minimum of 5 years.
- Alteration to the Constitution.
10.1 Any individual member’s proposal to alter the constitution which must be seconded must be delivered in writing to the Secretary of the HDSC not less than twenty eight days before the date of the AGM. Alternatively an Extraordinary General Meeting may be requested to consider an alteration to the Constitution.
10.2 The MC may propose to alter the constitution providing it has already been approved in principle at a MC meeting not less than twenty eight days before the date of the AGM.
10.3 Any alteration will require the approval of a two thirds majority of members present before being implemented.
10.4 The wording of any proposed alteration shall be received by members a minimum of 7days
in advance of meeting at which it is to be considered.
11 Awards:
11.1 The HDSC will present two awards annually, the Player of the Year and the Young Player of the Year. Each recipient will receive a replica of the relevant trophy as a memento. Voting will be open to all members as per Rule 1. Player/young player of the year voting will only be valid if at least 2/3 of the membership cast votes.
12 Dissolution:
12.1 If the MC decide at any time that on the grounds of expense or otherwise it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the HDSC it shall call a meeting of all HDSC members giving not less than twenty eight days notice. Such a decision must be confirmed by a two thirds majority of those voting members present.
12.2 Any property or funds belonging to the HDSC will be distributed based on the most appropriate
method as decided at the dissolution meeting.
Heart of Midlothian Disabled Supporters Club Rules
RULE 1 - PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS VOTING
Voting on each award will be carried out at the AGM based on the following process:-
- a) Members not attending the meeting will be allowed to submit a postal/email vote with a first and second choice by a closing date which will usually be 24/48 hours before the date of the AGM.
- b) Members attending the meeting will each vote for one player which when counted will be added to the postal votes received. If one player receives more than 50% of the vote he will be declared the winner.
- c) If no player receives more than 50% of the votes cast the player/s with the least votes will be eliminated and the process will be repeated until one player has received more than 50% of the votes cast. Second and postal/email votes will only apply once first choice players are eliminated. Second choice postal/email votes will not count if the player did not receive votes in the first count.
- d) In the event of a tie the player with the most first choice votes will be declared the winner. If still a tie the chairman will have a casting vote to decide who is the winner.
RULE 2 – UNUSED MATCH TICKETS
Sometimes members cannot go to an away match due to illness, unfortunate emergencies, work commitments etc…
This usually happens very late in the day. The HDSC wish to make every effort to avoid members losing money as a result.
There are four scenarios with regard to gaining access to away games:-
- Your name is on a list
- You are in possession of tickets
- You have to collect and pay for tickets at the away stadium
- You have to collect and pay for tickets via away ticket co-ordinator or a HDSC office bearer
In each case please do NOT contact the away ticket co-ordinator or secretary by email. Use text or call the away ticket co-ordinator or secretary’s mobile so the following can be carried out:-
- Inform the home club out of courtesy to take your name of the list
- If you have the tickets we can discuss ways of disposing of them
- Inform the home club out of courtesy that your tickets are not required
- If the away ticket co-ordinator or another HDSC office bearer still have the tickets we can discuss ways of disposing of them
- Decide what happens to the complimentary personal assistant ticket
However please note that in all cases the member is liable for the cost of the tickets if all efforts to dispose of them are unsuccessful.
RULE 3 - MISUSE OF TICKETS
When purchasing tickets for away fixtures or games at neutral venues the accessible ticket purchased can only used by the person with the disability. These tickets are not transferable and if the disabled person is unable to attend rule 2 should be adhered too.
Any member found to be in breach of this rule and rule 3 will be subject to section 3.4 of the constitution
(3.4 Members may be subject to disciplinary action or have their membership terminated if it is deemed that he or she has brought the HDSC into disrepute or that their continued membership is not in the interests of the HDSC. Disciplinary action short of expulsion will be dealt with by the MC. A member may only be expelled from the HDSC by a decision of an extraordinary general meeting of the members after affording the individual concerned the right to be heard.)