Club Rules

Crystal Palace Fun Runners – Club Rules

Title and objective

1. The Club name is “Crystal Palace Fun Runners” and the colours of the club are blue, red, and white.
2. The objective of the club is to promote running for people of all standards in a friendly atmosphere.

Management of the Club

3. The Executive Officers shall consist of the Chairman, the Secretary and the Treasurer.
4. All Executive Officers shall be proposed, seconded and elected by a simple majority vote at an Annual General meeting (AGM). They shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting when they shall retire but shall be eligible for re-election.
5. Executive Officers may only serve for a maximum of 3 consecutive years. They can however remain part of the management committee if elected.
6. The entire management of the Club shall be vested in a ‘Management Committee’. This will consist of the Executive Officers & Ordinary Officers (not more than 15% of all members).
7. The Ordinary Officers shall be proposed, seconded and elected by a simple majority vote at the AGM if more than one candidate is forthcoming, otherwise Ordinary Officers may be appointed by the Executive Officers. They shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting when they shall retire but shall be eligible for re-election.
8. Seven members of the Management Committee (including at least 1 Executive Officer) shall form a quorum.
9. The Executive Officers, by a simple majority vote, have the power to fill any vacancy that may arise within the Management Committee or establish new/additional positions on the Management Committee or within the Club as required.
10. The Management Committee, by a simple majority vote, have the power to remove any of the Ordinary Officers on the Management Committee if it is deemed that their involvement is not conducive to the running and/or objectives of the Club.
11. Neither the Club nor the Management Committee shall be liable for injuries incurred by Club members running on official Club nights or in their own time.

Membership

12. Membership of the club is open to all persons aged 18 years and over.
13. An application for Membership of the Club (and each renewal) must be made on a form provided for the purpose and accompanied by the appropriate subscription fee.
14. Honorary membership of the Club may be conferred upon any member by a majority vote of those members present at an Annual General Meeting (AGM) or an Special General Meeting (SGM) in recognition of someone who has performed an outstanding service, or who has made an outstanding contribution to the Club.
    
    1. Honorary membership requires that the member concerned is not obliged to pay the usual annual subscription charges, although can do so if they wish. Should an honorary member wish to affiliate to the chosen governing body, they will be required to pay the affiliation charge as required by that body.
    2. There will be two levels of Honorary membership:
       
       1. Lifetime Honorary Membership
       2. Fixed Period Honorary Membership.
    3. The total number of Lifetime Honorary Members is not limited, but only two Lifetime Honorary Memberships may be granted in one membership year.
    4. Honorary members shall be entitled to receive notice of, attend and vote at general meetings of the Club.
15. Members shall be admitted following satisfactory completion of the application process in respect of Rule 19 and subject to Rule 24.
16. Every member shall be bound by and adhere to both the Club and Safety Rules. Failure to do so will result in the member being dealt with in accordance with Rules 27 through to 32.
17. The Executive Officers reserve the right to refuse new and/or renewal of any application for membership.

Welfare of Members

18. The Club shall not tolerate the physical or mental abuse, harassment, discrimination or defamation, of any of its members. All incidents of abuse should be reported to the Welfare Officers.
19. Reported incidents will be investigated by the Welfare Officers, and if substantiated will be dealt with under the Misconduct rules.

Subscriptions

20. The annual subscription of the Club is payable on the 1st April of each year. For new members joining after 1st October the annual membership shall be reduced to 50% for the remainder of the year. For new members joining in March, the annual Membership will be extended to a 13 month period at the annual fee.
21. All subscriptions must be paid on or before the 3rd occasion of running with the Club.
22. The annual subscription of the Club shall be decided at the AGM.
23. All subscriptions shall be paid online directly to England Athletics further to completing the online membership form.
24. The Management Committee are entitled to suspend any Member whose subscription is four weeks in arrears

London Marathon Places

25. Club Volunteering Places: The Club may receive a place or places for the London Marathon, provided by London Marathon Events in return for help provided by volunteers from the Club at various race events each year. Any such places will be allocated to Club members by holding a ballot. In order to be eligible for this ballot, members must meet the following criteria:

• • have entered the main London Marathon ballot, been rejected and be able to produce a rejection email upon request; and
  • MUST NOT already have a place in the London Marathon; and
  • have been a member of any type at the club for at least 1 full membership year that runs from April 1 through to March 31 prior to applying; and
  • have not been the recipient of a club volunteering or EA place for the preceding 2 years; and
  • have volunteered at least one London Marathon Event (London Marathon, Big Half, and Westminster Mile) during the preceding 12-month period at the time of the ballot; or
  • served or serving as a volunteer at the Club in any of the roles below in the 12 months prior to November 1st
    • Committee Member – Executive and Ordinary Officers
    • Race Director for Dino Dash, Assembly League or any other run or race events hosted by the Club
    • Coach who has led at least 10 track/hill sessions
    • Run Leader who has led groups at least 10 times

These places are non-transferable and any disputes will be resolved by the Executive Committee.    

26. EA/UKA Places: The Club may also receive a British Athletics Club entry or entries for the London Marathon from England Athletics, this is based on the number of first-claim members at the club who are registered with England Athletics when entries are allocated by London Marathon organisers. Any such places will be allocated to Club members by holding a ballot. In order to be eligible for this ballot, members must meet the following criteria:

• • have entered the main London Marathon ballot, been rejected and be able to produce a rejection email upon request; and
  • MUST NOT already have a place in the London Marathon; and
  • be a current first-claim member of the club registered as an athlete with England Athletics; and
  • have been a member of any type (Competitive or Social) at the Club for at least 1 full membership year that runs from April 1 through to March 31 prior to applying; and
  • have not been the recipient of a club volunteering or EA place for the preceding 2 years

These places are non-transferable and any disputes will be resolved by the Executive Committee.

Misconduct

27. The Club reserves the right to discipline or expel from the club any member, whose conduct is not conducive to the aims or interests of the club or its members, or whose behaviour is likely to bring the Club into disrepute or fails to abide by the rules laid down by the Club. These rights shall be exercised by the Executive Officers on behalf of the club.
28. Reports or allegations of misconduct will be investigated by the Executive Officers with relevant evidence obtained from the member(s) concerned.
29. The appropriate penalty will be set by the Executive Officers.
30. The member will be informed of the decision as soon as possible.
31. The member disciplined or expelled may appeal against the Executive decision in writing within 7 days of being notified of the decision.
32. The appeal will be dealt with by the Management Committee subject to rule 8.

Finance

33. The Club Treasurer will be responsible for the general finances of the Club.
34. Club monies will be banked by the Treasurer in the account held in the name of the Club.
35. Any cheques drawn against club funds should hold the signature of authorised signatories only.

Annual General Meeting

36. An Annual General Meeting shall be held during the month of February each year to receive the Committee’s report and financial statement, elect Executive Officers and deal with any other matter specified on the agenda. Ordinary Officers will be selected according to Rule 7. The Secretary will give at least 28 days notice of the meeting. Notice of any business which is desired be placed on the agenda must be given in writing to the Secretary at least 7 days prior to the meeting.
37. At the close of each year, a balance sheet shall be drawn up by the Treasurer and presented at the Annual General Meeting. The Secretary will keep and distribute minutes of the meeting.

Special General Meeting

38. A Special General Meeting can be called by the Executive Officers or if the Secretary receives a requisition in writing signed by not less than ten members of the Club stating the business to be discussed. Only the requested business shall be discussed.

Alterations to the Rules

39. No alteration or addition to the rules may be made except at the AGM or a Special General Meeting called for that purpose. Notice of any proposed alteration or amendment must be given as provided in Rule 36. The rules will be amended by a simple vote of the Management Committee subject to Rule 36.