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NORTH MIDDLESEX REFEREES SOCIETY RULES

1. NAME

The Society shall be called the NORTH MIDDLESEX REFEREES SOCIETY. (The Society)

2. OBJECTS AND AIMS

The objects and aims of the Society shall be to improve, promote, train, and assist the interests of its members.

3. STATUS OF RULES

(a) These rules (the Society Rules) form a binding agreement with each member of the Society.

(b) No alteration to these rules shall be made except at the Annual General Meeting, or at a Special General Meeting called for the purpose thereof and then only if two thirds of the members present are in favour. Each member present shall be entitled to one vote.

4. RULES AND REGULATIONS

(a) The Society shall have the status of an Affiliated Society of The Referees Association. The Rules and Regulations of The Referees Association shall be deemed to be incorporated into the Society Rules.

(b) The Society will also abide by The Football Association's Child Protection Policies and Procedures, Codes of Conduct and the Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discrimination Policy.

5. ELIGIBILITY FOR SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP

(a) The members of the Society from time to time shall be those persons listed in the register of members (the Membership Register).

(b) Any registered referee; formerly registered referee; or trainee referee approved by the Training Centre shall be eligible to apply for membership. Election to membership shall be at the sole discretion of the Society Council. Membership shall become effective upon an applicant's name being entered in the Membership Register, and payment of the appropriate subscription.

(i) Those members who pay their Referees’ Association subscription through the Society shall be known as Full Members.

(ii) Those members who pay their Referees’ Association subscription through the Society, and aged under 18 and still undertaking full time school education shall be known as Junior Members. Their Annual Subscription shall be set at 50% of the Full Members Subscription.

(iii) Those members who pay their Referees’ Association subscription through another Society shall be known as Associate Members.

(d) In the event of a member's resignation or expulsion, his or her name shall be removed from the Membership Register.

(e) The Referees Association shall be given access to the Membership Register on demand.

6. ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEE

(a) An annual fee payable by each member (exclusive of any Referees Association Membership Fees) shall be determined from time to time by the Society Council, such fee to be ratified by the Membership at the Annual General Meeting, or Special General Meeting, and following receipt and approval of the reports of the Society Treasurer and Honorary Auditors. Fees shall be payable annually, and shall be non-refundable.

(b) The Society Council shall have the authority to propose further subscriptions from the members as are reasonably necessary to fulfil the objects and aims of the Society, subject to notice being given to the members and agreement by a simple majority of members present at the next available meeting.

7. RESIGNATION AND EXPULSION

(a) A member shall cease to be a member of the Society if, and from the date on which, he/she gives notice to the Society Council of their resignation. A member whose annual membership fee is unpaid as at 31 October in any year shall cease to be a Member of the Society.

(b) The Society Council shall have the power to expel a member when, in their opinion, it would not be in the interests of the Society for them to remain a member.

8. SOCIETY OFFICERS AND COUNCIL

(a) The Honorary Officers of the Society shall be elected at an Annual General Meeting and consist of the following persons: - President; Chairperson; Vice Chairperson; Secretary, Treasurer, Magazine Editor, Training Officer, Social Secretary, Supplies Officer, and Society Mentoring Officer, all of whom, except the President, shall retire annually, but be eligible for re-election. A President’s term of office shall not exceed three consecutive years, nor shall any former President be re-elected to the post within six years of holding office. In the event of a contested election, such elections shall be undertaken by means of a written ballot.

(b) The Society Council shall consist of the Officers specified above, together with the two representatives to the County Referees Association, and the delegate to the County Referees Association Recruitment and Retention Committee, together with three other members elected at the Annual General Meeting.

(c) Each Society Officer shall hold office from the date of appointment until the next Annual General Meeting unless otherwise resolved at a Special General Meeting. One person may hold no more than two positions of Society Officer at any time. The Society Council shall be responsible for the management of all the affairs of the Society. Decisions of the Society Council shall be made by a simple majority of those attending the Society Council meeting. The Chairperson of the meeting shall have a casting vote in the event of a tie. In the absence of both the Chairperson and the Vice-Chairperson, the Officers present shall elect a Chairperson for the duration of the Meeting. The quorum for the transaction of business of the Society Council shall be not less than fifty percent of those members of the Society Council entitled to be present.

(d) Decisions of the Society Council meetings shall be entered into the Minute Book of the Society to be maintained by the Society Secretary.

(e) Any member of the Society Council may call a meeting of the Society Council by giving not less than 7 days notice to all members of the Society Council. The Society Council shall hold at least four meetings a year.

(f) Any vacancy on the Society Council, which arises between Annual General Meetings, shall be filled by a member co-opted and approved by a simple majority of the remaining Society Council members present. Similarly, the Society Council may co-opt up to three non-voting members for specific purposes.

(g) The Society shall have the power to elect Life Vice-Presidents and Vice Presidents at the Annual General Meeting. A member may be considered for election as a Vice President after a period of valuable service to the Society, likely to have been at least five years, and shall be elected for a term of three years. A member may be considered for election as a Life Vice President after a period of considerable service to the Society, likely to have been at least twelve years. Life Vice Presidents shall have their membership subscription and affiliation fee to the Referees’ Association paid by the Society.

9. ANNUAL AND SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

(a) An Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall be held not later than the end of May in each year to:

(i) Confirm the Minutes of the previous AGM

(ii) Receive a report of the activities of the Society during the year under review

(iii) Receive a report of the Society's finances for the year ended 31 March previous, together with a report from the Auditors

(iv) Receive any reports from Officers and Society Council

(v) Elect the Society Council

(vi) Consider any Resolutions or Rule Changes

(vii) Consider any other pertinent business

(b) The Society Secretary shall give not less than 42 days notice of the AGM.

(c) Nominations for election of members of the Society Council shall be made in writing by the proposer and seconder, both of whom must be members of the Society, to the Society Secretary not less than 21 days before the AGM. Any such nomination shall be duly assented by the nominee.

(d) Notice of any resolution or rule change to be proposed at the AGM shall be given in writing to the Society Secretary not less than 21 days before the Meeting.

(e) A Special General Meeting (SGM) may be called at any time by the Society Council, and shall be called within 42 days of the receipt by the Society Secretary of a requisition in writing signed by not less than twenty-five members, stating the purposes for which the Meeting is required, and the resolutions proposed.

(f) The Secretary shall send to each member, at their last known address, written notice of the date of a General Meeting together with an Agenda, and any resolutions to be proposed, at least 5 days before the Meeting.

(g) The quorum for a General Meeting shall be twenty members.

(h) Each member present shall have one vote, and ordinary resolutions shall be passed by a simple majority, excepting Changes to Rules (see Rule 3b above), and Dissolution (see Rule 12a below). In the event of a tie the Chairperson of the Meeting shall have a casting vote.

(i) The Minutes of General Meetings shall be entered into the Minute Book of the Society.

10. ORDINARY MEETINGS

(a) Ordinary meetings shall be held at monthly intervals during the period September to April on the third Thursday of each month at an agreed venue, as determined by the Society Council.

(b) The Society Council reserves the right to change the date, time, or venue of the meeting if circumstances demand.

(c) All members are entitled to one vote in business matters of the Society, which shall be by show of hands, except that the associate members shall not be entitled to vote on Referees Association matters. No postal or proxy voting shall be permitted.

11. SOCIETY FINANCES

(a) A bank account (s) shall be maintained in the name of the Society (the Society Account(s)). Designated account signatories shall be the Society Chairperson, the Society Secretary, and the Society Treasurer.

(b) All cheques drawn on the account shall be signed by one of the Chairperson, Society Secretary, or Society Treasurer, save for those in excess of £150, (One hundred and fifty pounds), which shall be signed by any two of the aforementioned Officers. All monies payable to the Society shall be received by the Society Treasurer and deposited in the Society Account(s) as soon as is practicable following receipt.

(c) The Society may also maintain a Benevolent Fund Account to provide financial assistance as is deemed appropriate by the Society Council.

(d) The Society Council may create a Benevolent Fund sub-committee to deal with complex requests for

assistance. The sub-committee shall consist of any two Life Vice Presidents, plus the Secretary. The Society Council shall ratify any decisions relating to donations.

(e) The Financial Year of the Society shall be from 1 April until 31 March next following.

(f) The income and assets of the Society shall be applied only in furtherance of the objects of the Society.

(g) The Society Council shall have power to authorise the payment of expenses incurred by any member of the Society and to any other person or persons for services rendered to, or on behalf of, the Society.

(h) The Society shall prepare an annual Financial Statement in such form as is deemed appropriate.

12. DISSOLUTION

(a) A resolution to dissolve the Society shall only be proposed at an Annual or Special General Meeting called for the purpose and shall be carried by a majority of at least three-quarters of the members present.

(b) The dissolution shall take effect from the date of the resolution, and the members of the Society Council shall be responsible for the winding up of the assets and liabilities of the Society.

(c) Any surplus assets remaining after the discharge of the debts and liabilities of the Society shall be transferred to the Referees Association who shall determine how the assets shall be utilised for the benefit of Referees. Alternatively, such assets may be disposed of in such other manner, as the members of the Society, with the consent of the Referees Association, shall determine.