1. The Association shall be called The Somerset County Netball Association.

2. It’s aim shall br to promote and further the availability of netball throughout the County.

3. Somerset County Netball Association shall consist of the elected officers, affiliated clubs, schools, individual members who have paid the agreed Somerset fee and Vice Presidents who have paid.

4. Officers
The Officers of Somerset County Netball Association shall be as follows:
(a) President
(b) Honorary Life Active Vice Presidents (persons who are still active in netball in Somerset and have been so elected at an AGM for their services to netball)
(c) Honorary Life Non-Active Vice Presidents (persons previously elected as (b) above but are no longer active in netball in Somerset).
(d) The Executive Officers-Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, County Secretary, County Treasurer, Fixtures Secretary, Umpiring Secretary, Team Manager Coordinator.

5. Executive Committee
There shall be an Executive Committee comprising of the following:
(a) The Executive Officers;
(b) County Coaches, Regional Representative, Development Officer, Coaching Secretary, Publicity Officer, Junior League Officer;
(c) One representative from each county team;
(d) Five other members (as elected at the AGM)
(e) A representative from each club (the County Secretary must be informed of the name and address of each representative by 31 July).
The executive Committee shall meet not less than 4 times a year.
7 members shall form a quorum
Clubs not sending a representative to a meeting will be fined £10 per team.
The Executive Committee shall have the power to co-opt and replace any officer resigning during the year.
Membership of the Executive Committee shall automatically lapse if a member fails to attend for 2 consecutive meetings without reasonable excuse or apology (vote will be lost in this case).
Members of the executive Committee shall be entitled to send a substitute to any Executive meeting, if they are unable to attend themselves. The substitute will take on the voting rights of the Executive member.

6. Rules of Play
Rules governing play shall be the current rules of England Netball.

7. Finance
(a) clubs and individual members may be affiliated on payment of a fee decided upon at the AGM.
(b) The financial year for Somerset County Netball Association shall end on 31 March. The accounts shall be audited and presented at the AGM.
(c) reasonable expenses should be paid, wherever possible for any duty undertaken for the Committee, ie; testers, umpires, except for the case of county coaches who will receive reimbursement of traveling expenses. In the case of selectors the question of payment will be considered each year.

8. General Meeting
(a) The Annual General meeting shall be held in May/June (before the West regional Council AGM). Any necessary amendments to the constitution must be sent in writing to the County Secretary 21 days prior to the meeting and 10 days notice of the meeting must be sent to all members stating the matters to be discussed.
(b) An extraordinary general meeting may be convened upon written request to the Chairman or Secretary. The meeting must be called within 21 days of receipt of the request and give 10 days notice of the meeting to all members stating the reason for the meeting.
(c) Voting at the Annual general Meeting or Extraordinary general meeting.
One vote will be allowed for
(1) The President
(2) The Honorary Vice Presidents
(3) Each officer as shown in 5 (a) – 5 (d)
(4) Each affiliated team
(5) Any school that has paid the agreed subscription
(6) Any individual member who has paid the agreed fee.
Any person or team or club who has not paid their subscriptions will not be entitled to participate or vote on any resolution concerning changes to the constitution.
Any team not attending a General meeting will be fined £10.
(d) only persons in attendance at such meetings will be allowed to vote.
(e) The President (or Chairman of the meeting) shall have the casting vote if necessary.

9. Presentation/league Meeting
(a) A presentation/league meeting shall be held each year during June at which all presentations shall be made and league and knock out details will be handed out to Club representatives for the forthcoming season. All teams must send a representative to this meeting – failure to do so will result in a £10 fine being imposed.
(b) League and Knock Out Entry Forms must be returned at this meeting together with the Somerset affiliation fees.
(c) failure to pay any fine or affiliation may mean elimination from the League/Knock Out Cup.

10. Alterations to the Constitution or Rules
(a) The constitution may only be changed at the annual General Meeting or a General Meeting (see 8a).
(b) Rules may be changed at an Executive Committee meeting. A simple majority would be required to pass any alteration. The chairman of the meeting will have the casting vote if necessary.

11. Indemnity
Any honary Officer, Executive or any member of the Executive Committee shall be indemnified by the Somerset County Netball Association against all costs and losses which she/he may incur or sustain in relation to the execution of the duties of her/his office, or by reason of any duty performed for or with the authority of the Executive Committee.

12. Disciplinary Powers, Procedures and Appeal
The Executive Committee shall have the power to discipline in such a manner that they see fit, but subject to paragraph 12 (b), a member or constituent of the County Association who has been guilty of conduct considered by the Executive Committee to be disgraceful or prejudicial to the interests of the Association of the game of netball or in breach of the memorandum, articles and bylaws of the England Netball association and/or the Constitution of the West Region Netball Council. The power to discipline shall include the power to recommend to the Regional Council and/or the England Netball Association’s National Executive to suspend or remove a member from membership of the All England Netball Association. On receipt or notification of the facts or circumstances that the member or constituent of the Association may have been guilty of such conduct, the Executive Committee shall have the power to:
(a) make such terms of reference and regulations as it considers necessary for the conduct and proceedings of such Disciplinary Committee.
(b) A member or constituent of the Association who has been the subject of disciplinary action by the Executive Committee has the right of appeal to an Appeal Committee consisting of Executive Officers of the Association who have not served on the Disciplinary Committee concerned with the subject of the appeal and who agreed to serve on an Appeal Committee. Such as Appeal Committee may affirm, vary or rescind any action decided by the Executive Committee and substitute therefore any other decision as it’s absolute discretion considers appropriate.
(c) The Executive Committee may appoint or constitute a Disciplinary Committee and/or an Appeal Committee jointly with the Executive Committee of another County Association in circumstances which involve members or constituents of both associations.

13. Procedure for Complaints, Grievances and Discipline
Any club, team or individual with a legitimate complaint concerning the interpretation of any of the County Constitution or rules should:
(a) Contact in writing the County Secretary and the appropriate sub Committee
(b) The County Secretary and the person receiving any such complaint shall report any action taken or recommendation by them and their sub committee to an Executive Meeting and inform the person, team club concerned of such action.
(c) Only the Executive Committee can approve any recommendation.
(d) If the complaint has not received a reply within 10 days or feels the recommended action by the Sub Committee is not satisfactory, they should contact the County secretary who will bring the matter to the Executive Committee.

14. Serious Complaints
Any serious complaint that a person, team or club wishes to bring to the Executive Committee shall be made in writing to the Chairman with copies going to the County Secretary and the Sub Committee’s Secretaries. On receiving such a complaint the Chairman or Secretary must call a meeting of the Executive Officers who shall either.
(a) Take any action they wish including suspension of a person, team or club until a decision is reached at an Executive Committee
(b) If the complaint concerns another individual or club they must inform that person or team or club of the detail of the complaint to allow them to respond.
(c) Recall the Executive Officers, if necessary, for a meeting with those involved.
(d) report to the Executive Committee or call a special Executive Meeting before any final decision is made. Once a decision is made the only right of appeal will be to the West regional Netball Council and the England Netball Association.

15. Dissolution
In the event of dissolution the remaining funds shall be devoted to other organisations whose objectives are similar to those of the Somerset County Netball Association, preferably the West Region ESNA

16. Trophies, Property etc – possession of and fine for loss, damage etc
Any person, team, club who receives a trophy or property belonging to the Somerset County Netball Association is responsible for its safekeeping and ensuring it is returned in good condition by the agreed dates (see rules). Failure to do so may result in that person, team, club paying for a replacement or repair. A fee of £5 may be imposed in addition to any value for replacement or repair. It is the responsibility of the person, team, club to make sure that trophies are insured during the time they are in their possession.

17. Failure to pay or return property
Any person, team or club who fails to pay fees imposed on them by the Somerset County Netball Association or under the Constitution and/or rules of the Association, or failing to return property belonging to the Association, or failing to pay subscriptions that may be due,may, at the discretion of the Executive Committee be suspended from taking part in any further netball activity arranged by the Somerset County Netball Association until such times as the money is paid or the property returned or as the Executive Committee decide otherwise.

CLUBS ARE REMINDED OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATIONS

A. That all clubs should have an elected Committee of Management

B. That any Bank of Building Society account is in the name of the Club and not an Individual

C. That all clubs should hold their AGM before the County AGM