ADOPTED ON:        28 October  2021

1)      Name and Emblem

1.1       Bournemouth University Boat Club Alumni Association shall be more commonly known as “Bourne Alumni”.

1.2       Bourne Alumni‘s emblem is shown immediately below. [To be added when someone creates one - any takers?]

2.1       The aims & objects of Bourne Alumni shall be: 

a. To Promote, foster and maintain links between Bourne Alumni, its members and the Bournemouth University Boat Club (“BUBC”)

b.   To encourage members of the Bourne Alumni to take an active interest in the life of the BUBC, with a particular focus on engaging Bourne Alumni members in active programmes relating to the BUBC’s aims and objectives, from time to time; and

c.   improving BUBC’s rowing fleet

d.   To promote the interests of the BUBC and to support its development; and

e.   To encourage philanthropic support for BUBC.

                        (together the Aims and Objects).

3.1       In order to achieve its aims & objects, Bourne Alumni shall, inter alia:  

a.   promote among its members the above Aims and Objects;  

b.   organise, co-ordinate and control activities arising out of the Aims and Objects amongst the Members;

c.   promote and encourage membership of Bourne Alumni; 

d.    Support BUBC’s rowing programs;

e.   identify potential coaches for BUBC from the Bourne Alumni;

f.    raise such monies as may be required for the above purposes;

g. identify potential work placements for BUBC members

(together the Purposes).

4.1       There shall be two kinds of membership Bourne Alumni which shall be as follows:

a.   active membership of Bourne Alumni (each person who is admitted in accordance with this clause 4.1(a) shall be referred to throughout this constitution as an Active Member) to which the following conditions shall apply:

i.   any person who has graduated from Bournemouth University and/or Art University Bournemouth and/or Bournemouth Chiropractic College (‘The Institutions’), who has paid at least one terms membership to BUBC, is no longer enrolled as a student at one of the Institutions and accepts the Aims and Objects shall be eligible for active membership of Bourne Alumni;

ii.  any person meeting the criteria set out in clause 4.1(a)(i) above who wishes to be considered and admitted to active membership of Bourne Alumni must pay the Membership Fee to be decided by the Board annually at the AGM.

b.   Affiliated membership of Bourne Alumni (each person who is admitted in accordance with this clause 4.1(b) shall be referred to throughout this constitution as an Affiliated Member) to which the following conditions shall apply:

i.   any Person, who is a non-graduating former student of one or more of the Institutions;

ii.  has paid the Bourne Alumni Membership Fee; and 

iii.  has been accepted as an Affiliate Member by the Board.  

(the Active Members and the Affiliate Members being referred to throughout this constitution as the Members or Membership (as the context so requires).

4.2       For the avoidance of doubt, no student currently enrolled in an undergraduate or post-graduate course at one of the Institutions will be eligible to join Bourne Alumni.

4.3       Any Member may resign from membership by providing notice in writing to the Secretary, for the time being, such resignation taking effect immediately upon the acceptance of the resignation.  No refund of capitation, joining fees and/or membership fees shall be provided on termination.

4.6       Any Member shall automatically cease to be a member of Bourne Alumni:

a.   where he has failed to pay his subscription or membership fees on the due date for payment and he remains in arrears for a period of 30 days.

4.7       Any Member may be removed from membership at any time for disregarding any rule or regulation of Bourne Alumni or in circumstances where he is guilty of conduct which, in the opinion of the Board is inimical to the interests of Bourne Alumni.  Any proposal to remove a member of Bourne Alumni from the membership shall be moved at a duly convened and quorate meeting of the Board and will require two thirds of those present at the meeting to vote in favour of the removal, provided that prior to the resolution having been moved:

a.   a full investigation and debate of the reasons for the resolution to remove the member has been undertaken and a ‘good and justifiable’ reason has been duly established; and

b.   the member has been given the opportunity to make written and/or verbal representations to the board.

4.8       In the event that any member of Bourne Alumni is removed pursuant to a resolution duly passed in accordance with clause 4.7 his/her membership shall terminate with immediate effect.

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5.1       Bourne Alumni shall have a committee consisting of not less than 3 Active Members elected in accordance with clause 6 below, such members taking up the following roles:

a.   Chair;

b.   Vice-chair

c.   Treasurer; and 

d.   Secretary.

(together the Board)

5.2       The day-to-day management of Bourne Alumni will be conducted by the Executive.  

5.3       The Purposes shall be exercised by the Executive and, except where this constitution or any policy states otherwise, all powers, rights and duties vested in or imposed on Bourne Alumni shall be exercised or performed by the Executive.

5.4       The Executive shall meet not less than once in every four months and any member of the Executive shall be entitled to call a meeting of the Executive by providing not less than 5 calendar days’ notice to all other Executive members.

5.5       No business shall be transacted at a meeting of the Executive unless a quorum is present.

5.6       A quorum for a meeting of the Executive shall be 2 members of the Executive who are present and who are entitled to vote on the business to be conducted at the meeting, For the avoidance of doubt, a meeting shall be validly held in accordance with this clause 5.6 in circumstances where all of the participants can speak to and hear each other (for example by telephone and/or video call).

5.7       If within 30 minutes from the time appointed for a meeting of the Executive a quorum is not present, or if during the meeting a quorum ceases to be present, the meeting shall be adjourned until such other date, time and place as those present at the inquorate meeting of the Executive shall determine. If at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within 30 minutes from the time appointed for the meeting, those members of the Executive who are present and who are entitled to vote shall be a quorum.

5.8       The member holding the post of Chair shall chair all meetings of the Executive or, in circumstances where the Chair is absent but a quorum is present, the member holding the post of vice-chair shall chair the meeting. 

5.9       A vote on a resolution proposed at a meeting of the Executive shall be decided by a show of hands, by way of a simple majority of the members of the Board present.  In the event of an equality of votes, the Chair, for the time being, shall have a casting vote.

5.10     Notwithstanding the powers conferred on the Executive by this constitution, the Executive may defer any resolution proposed at a meeting of the Executive to be decided at the next meeting of the membership of Bourne Alumni as a whole.

5.11     All decisions made by the Executive shall be reported to the Members at the next general meeting to occur following the decision made by the Executive.

6.1       Any person who qualifies for Active Membership of Bourne Alumni notwithstanding the payment of the membership fee may apply to be elected to a role within the Executive. Any such Active Member wishing to apply for election to a role within the Executive must submit their interest to the existing Executive in writing on or before the date of the Annual General Meeting (as defined below).

6.2       Any Active Member who declares an interest for election to a role within the Executive pursuant to clause 6.1 and is eligible to hold such role shall be announced at the Annual General Meeting.

6.3       Where only one Active Member has declared an interest in being elected to a specific role on the Executive, the other Active Members shall vote and he shall be appointed to that role on the Executive upon receipt of a simple majority of votes.

6.4       Where more than one Active Member has declared an interest in being elected to a specific role an election process shall take place by secret ballot of the Active Members.  Each Active Member shall have one vote and the prospective committee member who receives the most votes during the secret ballot shall be appointed to that role on the Executive.

6.5       No member shall be capable of being elected to and hold more than one role on the Executive concurrently in a single calendar year.

6.6       Subject to the provisions of clause 6.10, any member appointed to a role on the Executive in accordance with this clause 6 shall hold office for a period of 3 years from 31st September in the calendar year in which they are elected (Executive Term).  

6.7       Each member of the Executive shall automatically retire from their role on 1st September on the third anniversary of their term of office, although nothing shall prohibit any retiring member of the Executive from standing for re-election to the Executive in any subsequent three year period.

6.8       Notwithstanding the provisions of clause 6.7 above, the role of Chair shall not be capable of being held by the same member for a period of more than 6 years.  In the event that a member has held the role of Chair for 6 years consecutive calendar year, he/she shall not be eligible for re-election to the role of Chair until he has ceased to hold that role for a period of 12 months or more.

6.9       Any member holding a role on the Executive may resign from that role at any time by providing notice in writing to the other members of the Executive from time to time, such resignation taking effect immediately upon the acceptance of the resignation at the next meeting of the Executive.

6.10     In the event that any role on the Executive becomes vacant at any point during a Executive Term, whether by virtue of resignation in accordance with clause 6.9 or otherwise, the remaining members of the Executive shall be entitled to invite any person who has been a member of Bourne Alumni for not less than 12 months to fill that vacant role, save that where the vacant role is the role of Chair, the vice-chair will fill the role of Chair and the vacancy to be filled by invitation under this clause 6.10 shall be the role of vice-chairman.

6.11     Notwithstanding the provisions of this clause, the Secretary shall be appointed by the other members of the Board by way of simple majority. The Treasurer will be a member of BUBC coaching staff employed by Sport BU.

7) Meetings of the Members of Bourne Alumni

7.1       The Members shall collectively meet not less than once in every calendar year (such meetings being referred to in these articles as general meetings).  Any member of the Executive shall be entitled to call general meetings by providing not less than 5 calendar days’ written notice to all of the Members.  Any Member may invite a guest to any general meeting of Bourne Alumni.

7.3       The Annual General Meeting of Bourne Alumni shall be held in the month of September every calendar year and shall be called by the Executive by providing not less than 21 calendar days’ written notice to the Members.

7.4       No business shall be transacted at any meeting of the Members unless a quorum is present.

7.5       The quorum for any meeting of the Members shall be the greater of:

a.   5 Active Members; or

b.   fifty percent of the total number of Active Members;

in each case who are present and who are entitled to vote on the business to be conducted at the meeting. For the avoidance of doubt, a meeting shall be validly held in accordance with this clause 7.5 in circumstances where all of the participants can speak to and hear each other (for example by telephone and/or video call).

7.6       If within 30 minutes from the time appointed for a meeting of the Members a quorum is not present, or if during the meeting a quorum ceases to be present, the meeting shall be adjourned until such other date, time and place as those present at the inquorate meeting of the Members shall determine. If at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within 30 minutes from the time appointed for the meeting, those Active Members who are present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall be a quorum.

7.7       The member holding the post of Chair shall chair all meetings of the Members or, in circumstances where the Chair is absent but a quorum is present, the member holding the post of Vice-Chair shall chair the meeting.  If neither the Chair nor the Vice-Chair is present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the meeting and a quorum is present, the Active Members who are present at the meeting shall elect one of their number to chair the meeting.

7.8       A vote on a resolution proposed at any meeting of the Members, including any resolution deferred to the Members by the Executive, shall be decided by a show of hands, by way of a simple majority of the Active Members present.  In the event of a deadlock of votes on a particular resolution, the Chair (or the person holding post of chairman of the meeting at which the deadlock arises) shall have a casting vote.

7.9       In the event that two thirds or more of the Members present at any meeting of the Members disagree with a decision made by the executive (which has been reported to the meeting of the members of Bourne Alumni in accordance with clause 5.11), such decision shall automatically be deferred for a vote by the Active Members and any such decision made by the Active Members in respect of such deferred resolution shall be final and binding on the Members and the Executive. 

7.10        Meetings of the Bourne Alumni will include but are not limited to: 

a.     Reporting to the Members on the financial statements of Bourne Alumni for the academic year.

b.     Providing a platform for Members to put questions to the BUBC and Bourne Alumni leadership teams.

c.     The Bourne Alumni and BUBC Executive reporting to the Membership on their activities for the previous academic year.  

8.1       All monies held by Bourne Alumni shall be capable of being administered by the Board via the Treasurer.  

8.2       The Executive shall have the ability to sanction expenditure of Bourne Alumni funds by way of simple majority at a meeting of the Executive.

8.3       Each Member shall pay to Bourne Alumni a membership fee, such membership fee to be determined by the Executive from time to time.  The membership fee shall be utilized by Bourne Alumni to achieve its Aims & Objectives.

8.4       Each Member acknowledges and accepts that they are volunteers and as such Bourne Alumni will not pay expenses or reimburse any costs to any Member without prior written approval of the Executive.

8.5       The Treasurer shall arrange for a full set of financial accounts for Bourne Alumni to be produced in each calendar year (Annual Accounts). For the avoidance of doubt, Bourne Alumni’s financial year shall commence on the 1st September and end on 31 August.  The Annual Accounts shall be presented to the meeting of the Board taking place immediately prior to the Annual General Meeting, where the Annual Accounts and Financial Report shall be reviewed, scrutinised and either adopted or rejected by the Executive. Following their adoption, the Annual Accounts shall be presented to the Annual General Meeting for scrutiny by the members of Bourne Alumni, as required.

9.1        A list of members shall be maintained by the Secretary to Bourne Alumni, along with details of their category of membership and profession if they choose to disclose it;

9.2       The list of members shall be made available to relevant BUBC staff and to officers and members of the Bourne Alumni in support of the work of the Bourne Alumni, within the terms and conditions of the relevant data protection legislation in force from time to time.

10.1.      Neither politics and/or religion shall be discussed at any meeting of the Members and/or any meeting of the Executive.

 11.1     This Constitution may be altered, amended or added to by a duly proposed resolution passed by three-quarters of the Active Members present and entitled to vote at a general meeting, provided that notice of any proposed amendments or additions to the constitution shall have been circulated to all Members in writing not less than 14 days prior to the general meeting at which the resolution to alter, amend or add to the constitution is moved. 

11.2     Any additional policies and/or Standing Orders relating to the governance and running of Bourne Alumni may be created, altered, amended or added to by a duly proposed resolution passed by three-quarters of the Members present and entitled to vote at a general meeting, provided that notice of any proposed creation of, alterations, amendments or additions to such policies and/or Standing Orders shall have been circulated to all Members in writing not less than 14 days prior to the general meeting at which the resolution to create, alter, amend or add to such policies and/or Standing Orders is moved.  

This constitution was adopted at a general meeting of Bourne Alumni on

14 November 2021.

Signed by  

Chair:  

Name: Annabel Laity

Date:  14 November 2021