W.A.A. Constitution (est. 1894)

1. Title The club shall be called Whittlesey Angling Association, also known as” WAA” and shall be affiliated to the Angling Trust/Fish Legal Governing Body.

2. Objectives To make Whittlesey Angling Association the most successful angling club in the east of England in the eyes of our members, visitors and committee.

3. Membership The following are eligible for membership.

3.1 Membership of the club shall be open to any person paying the relevant subscription/joining fee as determined by the Annual General Meeting of the club members.

3.2 There shall be seven classes of membership available, these are.

3.3 Full Adult Member season ticket.

3.4 Junior member season ticket (18 years and under).

3.5 Whittlesey Senior Citizen season ticket (over 65 years).

3.6 Concessionary season ticket

3.7 Day ticket member

4. Expulsion of members Members of the club whose conduct is inappropriate or who decline to  abide by any of the club rules may be expelled or suspended by a resolution of the committee where their entrance fee and subscriptions will be forfeited. Members shall have the right to appeal in person to the committee with regard to any decision affecting themselves, provided that notice of appeal be submitted to the secretary in writing within 14 days of notification of the decision.

Whittlesey Angling Association yearbooks remain the exclusive property of the Club. Members at the request of a club official or bailiff must allow their yearbook to be inspected.

5. Officers The officers of the club shall be as follows.

President-non executive officer-usually an honorary position.
Vice President- non executive officer-usually an honorary position
Chairperson- executive officer.

Vice Chairperson- executive officer
Secretary- executive officer.
Treasurer-executive officer.
Vice Chairman-executive officer.

6 Election of officers. All officers shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the club, from, and by, the members of the club upon showing a valid club membership card/book.
In the event of unforeseen circumstances executive officers can be elected by means of an additional committee meeting.

7. General Committee. The affairs of the club shall be controlled by the general committee comprising of the executive officers of the club and seven other members elected from, and by the full members of the club, the general committee shall meet not less than six times per year not including the Annual General Meeting.

7.1 The duties of the general committee.

7.1.1. To control the affairs of the club on behalf of the members.

7.1.2. To keep accurate accounts of the finances of the club through the treasurer, these should be available for reasonable inspection by the members and should be audited before every AGM. The club shall maintain a current account and the following officers shall be authorised to sign club cheques, two from the chairman, treasurer, secretary.

7.1.3. To co-opt additional members of the committee as the committee feels this is necessary.

7.1.4. To make decisions on the basis of a simple majority vote, in the case of equal votes, the chairperson shall be entitled to a casting vote

7.1.5. Rule on attendance, prior apology counts as an attendance at meetings, 3 meetings follow without either attendance or apology and the member is automatically deposed from the committee.

7.1.6. The committee are empowered to close any portion of water for fishing competitions.

7.2.9. A quorum for a committee meeting shall be five committee members of the club.

General meetings.

8.1 The Annual General Meeting of the club shall be held on the last Friday in March, unless this is a Good Friday. In this case it shall be held on the first Friday on April.

8.1.2 Members must advise the secretary in writing of any business to be moved at the AGM at least 14 days before a meeting.

8.2. The business of the AGM shall be to:

8.2.1. Confirm the minutes of the previous AGM and any general meetings held since the last AGM.

8.2.2. Receive the audited accounts for the year from the Treasurer.

8.2.3. Elect the officers of the club (i.e., President, Vice President, Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, and other General committee members and Match secretary) as required.

8.2.4. Transact such other business received in writing by the secretary from members 14 days prior to the meeting and included in the agenda.

8.3. Special general meetings may be convened at any time by giving seven days’ notice in writing, signed by seven members and stating the object of such a meeting.

8.4. Nomination of candidates for election of officers shall be made at the AGM. Nominations can only be made by Full members and must be seconded by another Full member.

8.5. At all general meetings, the chair will be taken by the Chairperson or, in their absence, by the Vice Chairperson of the club or by a Full member attending the meeting.

8.6. Each Full member of the club shall be entitled to one vote at General meetings.

8.8. All voting to be by showing of a current membership/yearbook card.

9. Alterations to the Constitution Any proposed alterations to the Club constitution may only be considered at an AGM or Special General meeting, convened with the required written notice of the proposal. Any alteration or amendment must be proposed by a Full member of the club and seconded by another full member. Such alterations shall be passed if supported by not less than two-thirds of those Full members present at the meeting, assuming that a quorum has been achieved.

10. Dissolution

10.1. 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 resolution.

10.2. If at that Special General meeting, the resolution is carried by at least two-thirds of the Full members present at the meeting, the General 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.

10.3. After discharging all debts and liabilities of the club, the remaining assets shall not be paid or distributed amongst the Full members of the club but shall be given or transferred to some other voluntary organisation having objects similar to those of the club, at the decision of the Committee.