Registered Charity No 297006

1. The name of the society is "The Sussex Otters" (hereafter known as "The Club").

2. The object of the Club shall be to relieve sickness by aiding physical, emotional, and social development, through the provision of recreational swimming facilities for people with disabilities (physical and mental), regardless of the severity of their disability or of their age.

3. In furtherance of the said object but not further or otherwise the Club through it’s Executive Committee shall have the following powers;

(1) to provide moneys, goods or services either alone or in association

with any other body or persons;

(2) subscribe or affiliate to or become a member of any other institutions

having charitable objects similar to those of the Club or providing

assistance of any kind to those persons who would be beneficiaries

of the Club;

(3) to co-operate and work with, including the sharing of expenses, any

body or organisation itself being a charity or public authority or having

the support of a public authority;

(4) to raise funds and to invite and receive contributions from any person

or persons whatsoever by way of subscription, donation and otherwise

provided that the Club shall not undertake any permanent trading

activities in raising funds for it’s charitable object;

(5) to borrow money or enter into other contracts on behalf of the Club

and subject to such consents as may be required by law charge all or

any of the property of the Club;

(6) to do all such lawful things as shall further the object of the Club.

4. (a) The officers of the Club shall be a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Honorary

Secretary, and Honorary Treasurer.

(b) Full Membership is open to a) any handicapped person over the age of 17,

who can produce a doctor’s certificate stating that the person is fit to take

part in recreational activities in the water, b) any regular helper approved by

the Executive Committee, c) the parent of a handicapped person under the

age of 17, and d) the spouse of a handicapped member.

Family Membership is open to any named members of the immediate family

of a full member who are accepted as such by the Executive Committee.

Group Membership is at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

Honorary Membership. In recognition of voluntary service to the Club, the

Executive Committee may appoint persons whether handicapped or not, to

be honorary members and such persons will not be liable to pay either

membership subscriptions or pool entry fees.

Associated Membership where, at the discretion of the Executive Committee,

members of the Club and their relatives who can no longer swim regularly can

become members, to enjoy the social aspects of the Club, but only entitlement

to swim at the guest entry rate.

(c) The Executive Committee shall have the right, for good and sufficient reason,

to terminate the membership of any individual or organisation and may by

resolution communicated to any member in writing and stating concisely the

grounds for which it proposes to act call upon that member to resign from

the Club. The member in question shall have the right to attend and be heard

by the Executive Committee before a final decision is made. If the member

does not attend and will not resign within forty-eight hours after being so called

upon the Executive Committee may by resolution terminate the membership.

5. There shall be an Executive Committee of the Club consisting of not more than ten

persons, including all the Officers of the Club. Among their other powers the

Executive Committee may:-

(a) co-opt members for special assistance, and fill any vacancies which

may occur during the term of office of such co-opted members, but

the persons or bodies so filling the vacancies shall retire at the Annual

General Meeting next following his or her co-option and shall be

eligible for election;

(b) determine any question as to the interpretation of this constitution and

such decision shall be final;

(c) determine the amount (if any) of any Annual Subscription to be paid

by members of the Club.

6. All the Officers of the Club and all members of the Executive Committee shall be

elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Club. Both the Officers of the Club

and the Executive Committee shall retire annually, but shall be eligible for

re-election by the Club.

7. The Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held in the month of May in

each year, and every full member shall receive not less than fourteen days’ notice

of such meeting. Special meetings may be convened by the Secretary upon

request by the Executive Committee or by any six members upon a similar notice

which shall state the business to be considered at the meeting.

8. At the Annual General Meeting every full member including the Chairman shall have

one vote and in the case of equality of votes the Chairman shall have a second or

casting vote. There shall be a quorum at any meeting of the Club when the number

of full members present is ten or one tenth of the number of members for the time

being.

9. The Executive Committee shall meet once in every month provided there is business

to despatch and additionally as required and shall appoint a Chairman to preside at

such meetings. Each member including the Chairman shall have one vote and in the

case of an equality of votes the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote. At

least five members present shall be a quorum plus the Chairman or his deputy for the

time being.

10. All sums collected or donated to the Club shall be handed over to the Treasurer who

shall pay the same into a Bank Account in the name of the Club. Cheques shall be

signed by at least two persons so authorised by the Executive Committee, which

persons shall be members of the Executive Committee.

11. Alterations to this constitution shall receive the assent of two-thirds of the full

members present and voting at an Annual General Meeting or a Special General

Meeting. A Resolution for the alteration of the constitution must be received by the

Secretary of the Club at least 21 days’ before the meeting at which the Resolution is

to be brought forward. At least 14 days’ notice of such meeting must be given by

the Secretary to the membership and must include notice of the alteration proposed.

Provided that no alteration shall be made to Clause 2 (Object), Clause 12

(Dissolution) or this clause, until the approval in writing of the Charity

Commissioners or other authority having charitable jurisdiction shall have been

obtained; and no alteration shall be made which would have the effect of causing the

Club to cease to be a charity in law.

12. The Club may be dissolved by a Resolution passed by two-thirds majority of those

present and voting at a Special General Meeting convened for the purpose of which

21 days’ notice shall have been given to the full members. Such Resolution may give

instructions for the disposal of any assets by or in the name of the Club provided that

if any property remains after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities such property

shall not be paid or distributed among the members of the Club but shall be given or

transferred to such other charitable institution or institutions having objects similar

to some or all of the objects of the Club as the Club may determine and if and in so

far as effect cannot be given to this provision then to some other charitable purpose.

13. The Financial Year of the Club shall be from 1st January to the 31st December in

each year.

Revised 15th December 2001