THE WEST LONDON

MOTOR CRUISING CLUB

CONSTITUTION AND RULES

MOORINGS: GRAND UNION CANAL,

CLIFFORD ROAD, ALPERTON, MIDDX.

The Club was formed on October 20th, 1938, and is known as the West London Motor Cruising Club. The Club pennant shall have a red cross of St. George on a white ground with a clear anchor in black at the hoist.

2.1 The Club is formed to promote interest in the inland waterways and canal cruising in particular.

2.2 The Club is formed to make available to members facilities, premises and equipment as means will allow, and at the discretion of the Committee, to permit these premises, facilities and equipment to be used by recognised members to further the objects of the Club and to negotiate the provision of suitable berthing sites for members' craft on the British Waterways system.

3.1 Members other than associate members, may be elected at any meeting of the Committee, duly convened for that purpose. Candidates may and shall, on the request of any one member of the Committee, be elected by vote, a majority vote to decide.

3.2 Any member elected who fails, without cause within fourteen days of election to pay all fees, subscriptions and licence monies due shall, on the decision of the Committee, have his/her membership annulled.

3.3 The Club may in General Meeting and on the recommendation of the Committee, elect honorary members.

3.4 Every member on joining the Club explicitly undertakes to comply with all the Club rules by giving a signature to that effect, and any refusal or neglect to do so, or any conduct which in the opinion of the Committee is either unworthy of a member or otherwise injurious to the interests of the Club, shall render a member liable to expulsion by the Committee, provided that before expelling a member, the Committee shall call upon him/her for an explanation of his/her conduct, and shall give him/her an opportunity of defending himself/herself or of resigning his/her membership. The vote on a resolution for expulsion shall be by ballot, and the resolution shall only be carried if no less than three-quarters of the members of the Committee are present to vote in favour of the resolution.

3.5 Every member of the Club undertakes to do all in his or her power to further the objects of the Club and at all times to keep the following injunctions in mind:-

Always act in a friendly and courteous manner to all members and visitors.

Always to abstain from discussion which might produce bad feeling, quarrels, disputes or other lack of harmony among members.

Always take his or her fair share, whether requested or not, in any work or routine duty carried out for the benefit of the West London Motor Cruising Club in particular.

Always to keep his or her boat in as good a condition as possible, and to be ready and keen to take a full part in all Club activities.

3.6 All members are hereby given clearly to understand that whilst reasonable precautions will be taken by the Club to safeguard life, limb and property, the Club cannot accept responsibility for any accident however caused, or to the safety of persons' property on the Club's premises, or whilst boating. Members join the Club and use its facilities and premises entirely at their own risk. Every member is strongly advised to wear a life-jacket whilst on the water. Every member is strongly urged to see that their boat and equipment is adequately covered by an insurance policy.

3.7 All boats in the water must have displayed a current British Waterways licence. All members shall purchase said licence through the Club Secretary. As the Club is partly financed through a discount on waterway licences, boats kept on the bank for a long time may, at the discretion of the Committee, have a charge levied on diem.

3.8 Any member contravening the rules and bye-laws of British Waterways thereby bringing the Club into disrepute shall be liable to account for his actions before the Committee.

3.9 In no circumstances may members use their craft or the Club premises as a business address, nor as a means of carrying on a business.

3.10 The Committee shall have the right to reject any application for membership without the obligation of giving either a written or verbal reason.

3.11 'Me use of the Club's pennant is restricted solely to craft registered with the Club.

4.1 There shall be an entrance fee of such sums as the committee may from time-to-time prescribe, and the Committee may vary the annual subscription and other fees payable from time-to-time as circumstances dictate.

4.2 An individual member shall be entitled to the full amenities of the Club.

4.3 Keys will be issued against a deposit to boat owners only. These keys must be surrendered at the request of the Committee. They must be kept in the custody of the person to whom they were issued.

4.4 Any member who has not paid the subscription due shall in the name of the committee be requested to do so within fourteen days. Failure to comply with this request shall result in his name being removed from the list of members A member's name may be restored as a result of a majority vote of the Committee whose decision shall be final.

4.5 A member elected during the year shall pay a proportionate fee.

4.6 Cessation of membership shall be as follows:-

A. By non-payment of subscription.

B. By expulsion.

C. By resignation.

4.7 Associate members shall be bound by the rules of the Club and his or her behaviour be the responsibility of the introductory full member.

4.8 The Club bank account shall be placed at the discretion of the Committee. No payments whatever shall be made without the full approval and authority of the Committee.

4.9 No responsibility will be accepted by the Committee or Club or both, for any commitment or obligation entered into or contracted by any member or members or any other person whether on behalf of the Club or not, without written consent authorised by the Committee.

5.1 Each member having a mooring allocated to him/her shall be responsible for the state of same whether his/her craft be moored permanently or not. Persistent failure to keep same in an orderly fashion may, on the discretion of the Committee, have this facility withdrawn.

5.2 The moorings being a facility of the Club, no member shall under any circumstances offer his/her boat for sale using the berth as an incentive to a likely purchaser. The right to moor a craft is vested only in the Club, and change of ownership of a vessel will not automatically transfer membership of the Club.

5.3 Each member shall be entitled to moor one boat only in his/her mooring. All tenders to be stowed on main vessel.

5.4 The Club through its Committee, reserves the right in the interest of all members, to allocate or re-allocate moorings.

5.5 All boats must be moored close to the bank, and no stakes, mooring irons, etc., shall be so placed as to cause a hazard to members or their vehicles.

5.6 Under no circumstances shall a visitor be entitled to bring his/her vehicle onto the moorings. No vehicle shall cause an obstruction. Unless a vehicle can be parked on a member's own mooring, it shall be left outside the premises.

5.7 Visitors will be admitted only if accompanied by a full member who will be responsible for their general behaviour whilst on Club premises.

5.8 It is the duty of all members to challenge any person on the moorings not known to them, and to ask for an expatiation of their presence. In the event of an explanation being unsatisfactory, they should be requested politely but firmly to leave.

5.9 Any member of the Committee may ask a visitor whose behaviour is in question, to leave the premises forthwith.

5.10 No member shall keep a boat on the Club premises or moored to the bank which, in the view of the Committee is in a derelict state. Owners of such craft will be asked to remove same at their own expense, or alternatively the Club will ask permission to facilitate the destruction of same.

5.11 In the interest of safety, young children should not be left to their own devices on the moorings. Parents and guardians of children have a duty to the Club and its members to see that other persons' property is treated with respect, and that no nuisance is caused to other members.

5.12 All animals, dogs etc., brought onto the moorings shall be kept in the control of their owner. Dogs should not be allowed to foul the pathways or green verges.

5.13 The Crane. Boats may be lifted out of the water by means of the crane only at the discretion of the Club engineer. The Club will in no way be responsible for the safety of persons or boats using said crane. All boats are lifted entirely at the express wish of the owner and at his own risk. A fee set by die Committee will be charged for each use of the crane. No member has the right to use the crane area or any other part of the bank for more time than is necessary to effect repairs or renovations. An area adjacent to the crane shall be kept clear for use in an emergency. The Committee reserves the right in the interest of all members, to fix a time limit for boats to be on the bank, at the crane area or any other part of the moorings. They will in these circumstances take into account prevailing conditions. Members using these facilities will be expected to give an approximate time needed for the work in hand.

5.14 In die interest of safety and expedience, the Committee has the right to move any vessel and/or gear at its discretion and at the owner's sole risk.

6.1 The principal officers of the Club shall consist of a Commodore, two Vice Commodores and an Honorary Secretary, who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting in each year, to hold office until the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting. The retiring officers shall be eligible for re-election.

6.2 No candidate for election to office, other than the retiring officers, shall be proposed unless the name of such candidate and his proposer shall have been sent to the Hon. Secretary at least fourteen days before the Annual General Meeting. All candidates for election to office must give to the Hon. Secretary their written consent to stand for election.

6.3 'Me principal officer may appoint other Club members to offices as seems to him desirable, to a maximum of four persons, to assist in the proper running of the Club. Such appointments shall be valid until the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting.

6.4 The duties of the officers are set out in an appendix to these rules.

7.1 The Committee shall consist of the Commodore, two Vice Commodores, the Hon. Secretary and four members of the Club. The committee shall meet as often as is necessary to manage the Club's affairs, but not less often than quarterly. The Committee will hold office until the end of the next Annual General Meeting.

7.2 Four members of the Committee form a quorum. Any two principal officers and any other two Committee members can form a quorum.

7.3 The Commodore is chairman of all Committee meetings and of all sub-Committee meetings of the Club. In his absence a Vice-Commodore will act in his stead, or a substitute designated by the Commodore.

7.4 Candidates for election to the Committee shall be those members of the retiring Committee who shall offer themselves for re-election in accordance with these miles, and such other eligible members of the Club whose nominations duly proposed and seconded by members of the Club in writing, shall have been sent to the Hon. Secretary at least fourteen days before the Annual General Meeting.

7.5 If a casual vacancy occurs by death or resignation, the Committee may co-opt a member to fill the vacancy.

7.6 If the number of candidates duly proposed and seconded exceeds the number of vacancies to be filled, the election shall be by vote.

7.7 The Committee shall manage the affairs of the Club according to the rules, and shall apply the funds of the Club to the objects of the Club.

7.8 The Committee shall make such bye-laws, rules and regulations as they think fit for the management of any Club property and premises.

7.9 In all cases where decisions in Committee or subcommittee are not unanimous, decisions shall be made by simple majority vote, each member having one vote and the chairman having an additional casting vote to be used only in cases where the vote is evenly divided.

7.10 Any number of life Vice-Commodores may be elected by and at the discretion of the Committee in recognition of a member's services to the Club.

8.1 An Annual General Meeting shall be held at some place in London to be named, and on a date fixed by the Commodore. The Hon. Secretary shall, at least fourteen clear days before the date of such meeting, post or deliver to each member notice thereof, and of the business to be brought forth thereat.

8.2 No business, except the passing of the accounts and the election of the officers and Committee, and any business that the Committee may order to be inserted in the notice convening the meeting, shall be discussed at such a meeting unless notice thereof be given to the Hon. Secretary fourteen days prior to such meeting.

8.3 The Committee may on giving fourteen days notice, call an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Club for any specific business, the nature of which shall be stated in the summons convening the meeting, and the discussion at such meeting shall be confined to that business only.

8.4 At an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Club and at the Annual General Meeting, each member other than an associate member shall have one vote. Associate Members are entitled to attend meetings but have no vote. In the case of an equality of votes, the chairman shall have a second or casting vote. Under no circumstances may a non-member be present on these occasions.

9.1 New rules, amendments to rules or alterations of rules will be considered at three yearly intervals, except that any matter considered by the Committee to be or great urgency and importance can form the subject of a special resolution for consideration at the next Annual General Meeting.

1.1 The Commodore is the head of all the Club's affairs. It is his duty to lead and direct the Club and to take such action with the support of his officers and the Committee, as will best enable the Club to achieve its objects. He and the Committee must at all times abide strictly by the rules of the Club, and he must take special care that all members do likewise. He must strive to maintain and improve die high reputation of die club, and must ensure that every member receives his due.

1.2 Once in each year of office he must report on the state of the Club, and this shall best be done at the Annual General Meeting.

1.3 When the Hon. Secretary has read the minutes of any meeting, and the minutes have received the assent of the members present, it is the Commodore's duty when acting as chairman to sign those minutes in confirmation.

1.4 Rules, regulations or bye-laws made by the Committee shall be typed out by the Secretary and signed by the Commodore before posting on the committee notice board. They become effective from the moment of posting unless some other relevant time be stated.

1.5 The Commodore is empowered to make 'on-the-spot' decisions on all matters affecting the running or welfare of the Club or the comfort or safety of members. Such decisions will where necessary be brought before the next Committee meeting for review or confirmation.

1.6 The Commodore must at all times be an example to Club members.

2.1 The vice Commodores will at all times loyally support and assist the Commodore in the execution of his duties. They are especially charged to assume all the duties and responsibilities of die Commodore during the absence of the latter.

3.1 It is the duty of the Hon. Secretary to carry on the correspondence of the Club and to maintain its records fully and completely. He must prepare and deliver the summons and agenda of all meetings and record the transactions and decisions of all meetings of die Committee and the Annual General Meeting. These minutes will be preserved in a minute book provided for that purpose which must be produced at each successive meeting. It is his duty to see that the decisions of the Committee are promulgated and implemented. At the request of the Committee he shall hand over to the Commodore all Club books, papers, receipts, monies, documents or other property which may have come into his keeping.

4.1 Appointed officers will be instructed in their duties by the Commodore at the time of their appointment.