Thunder Storm – The Gateshead Thunder Supporters’ Association
Constitution

1 Name

1.1 The name of the Association shall be “Thunder Storm – The Gateshead Thunder Supporters’ Association”, hereafter referred to as “Thunder Storm” or “the Association”.

2 Aims

2.1 The aims of Thunder Storm shall be:

• To represent the membership in communications with the Gateshead Thunder RLFC Board of Directors.
• To collaborate with all interested parties towards ensuring a successful Gateshead Thunder RLFC team.
• To collaborate with all interested parties towards the furtherance of the sport of Rugby League in the North East of England.
• To focus and co-ordinate the activities of supporters of Gateshead Thunder RLFC.
• To establish and maintain high quality services and communications with and for Thunder Storm members.

3 Membership

3.1 Membership is open to all supporters of the Gateshead Thunder RLFC team. Membership fees will be £5 for adult members and £1 for under-sixteen members. Subsequently membership fees will be determined by members at the Thunder Storm Annual General Meeting.

3.2 Only adult members of Thunder Storm may vote at General Meetings.

4 Officers

4.1 The Officers of the Association shall be:

• Chair
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Transport & Events Secretary
• Publicity Officer
• Match Day Liaison

4.2 Further, one of the above Officers shall, by a separate ballot, be elected to represent Thunder Storm in Gateshead Thunder RLFC management meetings.

4.3 Officers shall hold office for a period of one year commencing on the date of the Annual General Meeting.

4.4 Officers are not barred from seeking re-election at the next Annual General Meeting.

5 Election of Thunder Storm Officers

5.1 Nominations for the Officers of the Association shall be proposed by one and seconded by another member of Thunder Storm and shall be submitted in writing to the Secretary to be received by him/her no less than seven days before the date of the Annual General Meeting.

5.2 In the event of a contested election, the contested Offices shall be elected by a ballot of all eligible members of Thunder Storm in attendance at the Annual General Meeting.

5.3 In the event of an uncontested election, the candidate(s) for Office(s) concerned shall be declared elected unopposed at the Annual General Meeting.

5.4 In the event of no nomination for one or more Offices to which this Rule refers, nominations shall be sought at the Annual General Meeting.

5.5 Any casual vacancy for the Offices to which this Rule refers shall be filled by ballot in accordance with the procedures set out in this Rule as though the next General Meeting was the Annual General Meeting. The exception to this is in the case of the Chair becoming vacant, in which case Rule 7 applies.

5.5 Should such a vacancy apply to the Association’s representative in Gateshead Thunder RLFC management meetings., a new representative shall be elected from the Executive Committee as though the next General Meeting was the Annual General Meeting.

6 Election of Thunder Storm Representative

6.1 Following the election of Officers at the Annual General Meeting, those Officers shall be invited to stand as Thunder Storm Representative in Gateshead Thunder RLFC management meetings. The Representative shall be decided at that same Annual General Meeting.

6.2 In the event of a contested election, the Representative shall be elected by a ballot of all eligible members of Thunder Storm in attendance at the Annual General Meeting.

6.3 In the event of an uncontested election, the Representative shall be declared elected unopposed at the Annual General Meeting.

7 Chair

7.1 In the event of a casual vacancy for Chair, the Executive Committee shall elect a replacement from among the remaining Officers of the Association. This replacement shall assume the office of Chair until the next Annual General Meeting. The casual vacancy so caused shall be filled in accordance with the procedure set out in Rule 5.

8 Treasurer

8.1 The treasurer shall cause adequate financial records to be kept and shall be responsible for the proper administration of the Association’s financial affairs.

8.2 The funds of the Association shall be kept in an account opened in the name of the Association at a Bank, Post Office or Building Society. Withdrawals from the account shall be under the signature of at least two duly appointed Officers of the Association.

8.3 The Treasurer shall submit a statement of balances and an income and expenditure account to the Association at the Annual General Meeting.

8.4 The Treasurer shall supply a record of the Association’s financial transactions and a statement of balances and an income and expenditure account to elected auditors at the end of the financial year. The Association’s financial year commences on 1 January.

9 Thunder Storm Representative

9.1 The Representative shall report to the membership on his/her activities regarding contact with Gateshead Thunder RLFC. These reports shall be made at General Meetings.

9.2 The Representative shall, to the best of his/her ability, inform the Gateshead Thunder RLFC Board of Directors of the views of the Thunder Storm membership and the Association’s Executive Committee regarding any relevant issue(s).

9.3 In the case of the Representative expressing the views of Thunder Storm members as part of his/her duties, the Representative shall be entrusted to use their own discretion. The Representative shall bear in mind the views of the Association’s membership and Executive Committee in making such decisions, but need not seek the Association’s mandate on specific issues.

10 Executive Committee

10.1 The Executive Committee shall consist of the Officers of the Association who shall hold office for the period of one year commencing on the date of the Annual General Meeting referred to in Rule 5.

10.2 The Executive Committee shall have full power and authority to take such action as it deems necessary for the conduct of the Association’s affairs and the realisation of the aims stated in Rule 2.

10.3 The Executive Committee may appoint additional Officers from the Association’s members as it sees fit.

10.4 There shall be no less than six Executive Committee Meetings each calendar year.

10.5 Any member of the Executive Committee who fails to be present at three consecutive meetings of the Committee without having notified the Secretary shall be deemed to have resigned.

10.6 Three members shall constitute a quorum at an Executive Committee Meeting.

11 Annual General Meeting

11.1 The Annual General Meeting shall be held in the month of January each year.

11.2 Notice of the Annual General Meeting shall be sent to all members not less than fourteen days before the date of the Annual General Meeting.

11.3 The Executive Committee shall report on its work during the preceding year to the Annual General Meeting.

11.4 The quorum shall be 15 members or 1% of the adult membership of the Thunder Storm, whichever is greater.

12 General Meetings

12.1 Including the Annual General Meeting and any Emergency General Meetings, there shall be no less than six General Meetings each calendar year.

12.2 The quorum shall be 15 members or 1% of the adult membership of Thunder Storm, whichever is greater.

13 Extraordinary General Meeting

13.1 An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called:

• By agreement of the Executive Committee or
• By members constituting 20% of the adult membership of Thunder Storm submitting written notice to the Secretary of their desire for such a meeting.

13.2 The Secretary shall send notice of and the agenda for the Emergency General Meeting to all members of Thunder Storm not less than fourteen days before the date of the Emergency General Meeting.

13.3 The quorum shall be 15 members or 1% of the adult membership of the Thunder Storm, whichever is greater.

14 Amendments to these Rules

14.1 Any amendment to these Rules shall be submitted to the Secretary in writing not less than one calendar month prior to the date of the Annual General Meeting or the Extraordinary General Meeting called for the purpose.

14.2 Amendments may be proposed by:

• The Executive Committee
• Members constituting not less than 20% of the adult membership of Thunder Storm.

14.3 An amendment to these Rules shall require a two thirds majority of those present and voting at the Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting.