welcome to the home of mountain biking and real ale drinking in the Clara Vale area

The Constitution

Aims & Objectives

The club shall pursue and promote all aspects of mountain bike cycling in and around the Wylam and Prudhoe areas. The club shall be run on a ‘not for profit’ basis.

Membership

The club shall be open to all mountain bike riders aged 16 and over regardless of ability, disability, sex, race, marital status, age, ethnic background, disabilities, religion or sexual orientation. Subscription fees of £8 are required from all members participating in the Tuesday evening rides (this covers cycling essentials - beer and crisps).

The club reserves the right to refuse or terminate membership to any individual on its own jurisdiction. Grounds include, but are not limited to:

Club Officials

The club shall appoint two officers elected at the Annual General Meeting to serve for one year. These positions shall be the Chair and Treasurer. The Chair shall be responsible for the general organisation of the club. The Treasurer shall keep a book of accounts of the financial transactions of the club. Other volunteer positions may be created by the Committee. One of these volunteer positions will be the Safety Officer who shall be responsible for ensuring the safety of the club members is not compromised and for the upkeep of the club first aid.

Club Rides

Rides take place every Tuesday evening throughout the year with the exception of rides falling within the Festive Period. Members should meet at Clara Vale Village Hall at 6pm prompt. Members not residing in Clare Vale may apply for variation in the meeting point but this must be approved by the Committee.

Weekly Business Meetings

Business meetings will take place in the Boathouse, Wylam following each Tuesday evening ride commencing at approximately 8.30pm. Members not participating in the ride may attend the business meeting but this has no bearing on whether a fine should be imposed.

Meetings require the attendance of at least three members for a quorum. The general rule for decision making shall be consensus but if a vote is deemed necessary a simple majority shall win. The Chair holds the casting vote in the event of a tied vote. Members must declare any conflict of interest prior to a vote and in such a situation must remove themselves from the vote.

Finance

The general running costs of the club shall be financed by 'the kitty', using subscriptions, fines and other donations. The Treasurer will manage all financial matters.

Safety

All club members shall when participating in any club-associated activity shall ensure that they act in a safe manner that does not put themselves, their fellow club members or the general public at risk. All members will be required to wear a helmet during rides along with suitable apparel. Bikes should be kept well maintained.

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of the club shall be held in the pub in December of each year and notice will be given to members at least two weeks beforehand. A quorum for such a meeting shall be three, and three shall be the quorum. Never shall it be four, and five is right out.

Management Committee officers serve a one-year period of office and are eligible for re-election when their period of office expires. A vote may also be taken on any motion relevant to the club and its activities put forward in writing by a club member. Only members will be entitled to vote. Simple majority voting will apply to all decisions of the AGM and the Management Committee. Emergency AGMs may be called by a majority decision on the Management Committee.

Fines

Any member failing to participate in a Tuesday evening ride will be automatically liable for a £2 fine. The only exceptions to this are:

Constitution as agreed at January 2007