RULES OF THE MIDDLE NENE SAILING

RULES OF THE MIDDLE NENE SAILING CLUB

including Code of Conduct and Good Practice Guide

MIDDLE NENE SAILING CLUB IS AN RYA AFFILIATED CLUB AND
GUIDANCE FROM THE RYA AND ITS POLICIES WITH REGARD TO
A CODE OF ETHICS AND CONDUCT WILL BE SOUGHT.

1. NAME
The name of the Club shall be the "Middle Nene Sailing Club." Its colours shall be White Ground, Two Red Chevrons and Blue Star. The Club shall be an 'Affiliated Club Member' of the Royal Yachting Association.

2. OBJECTS
The objects of the club shall be:
a. To foster the interests of small boat and board sailing and racing
b. To provide facilities for members for their enjoyment, convenience and safety.
c. To secure the future of the club for the benefit of its members.

3. MEMBERSHIP
The Club shall consist of Trustees, Officers of the Club, Committees and ordinary members. All classes of membership are considered to be Sailing Membership except Social and Angling Only Membership.

4. TERMS OF ADMISSION
Membership can be achieved by two routes, the first by using the Online WebCollect Membership tool via the MNSC website, or the completion of a Membership Application form that can be submitted at the club to the Membership Secretary, both routes will require a current contact e-mail address and the setting up of a direct debit mandate for the payment of fees.

The Membership Secretary will validate the membership application. If the candidate is rejected their payment will be refunded. Keys can be collected via the Membership Secretary from the club.

5. PROOF OF MEMBERSHIP
Members shall produce proof of membership on the request of the General Committee or any person authorised by the General Committee.

6. JUNIOR MEMBERS
An applicant for membership who is over the age of eight years and under the age of nineteen years at the date of his or her application, and who is also under the age of nineteen years on the 31st March in the subscription year in which their application is made, may be admitted to junior membership. Children of members are not required to pay membership fees until the age of twelve years. Under 18’s must be supervised on site as all times by an identified adult member.

Youth Groups shall be admitted to membership on the following basis.

(a) A Group shall consist of adult members of the group who are members of the Club, or Complimentary members and children who are eligible as Junior Members (under Rule 6).

(b) The Group Leader shall nominate to the Membership Secretary: -
    (1) The members of the Group.
    (2) An adult member of the Group who shall be responsible for payments
          of the Group subscription, boat and board fees and any other monies
          due and to act as the boat/board fee paying member on behalf of the
          group.
    (3) The proposed dates and times of the Group's visits.

(c) Youth Group Junior Members shall have no voting rights.

(d) Youth Group Members shall comply with the Rules and Bye-laws of the Club.

(e) The Group shall include at least two adult members who are Members or Complimentary Members of the Club.

7. YOUNG ADULT MEMBERS
An applicant for membership who is over the age of eighteen years or is twenty-one years of age and will be under the age of twenty two years on the 31st March of the subscription year in which their application is made, may be admitted to young adult membership. Junior members will become Young Adult members from the 1st April after attaining the age of Eighteen years.

8. SOCIAL MEMBERS
Social Members may be admitted to the Club to use the land-based facilities other than angling subject to approval of the General Committee.
Any Social Member wishing to change to sailing membership must have paid or shall pay the current applicable entrance fee and balance of the current year's subscription.

9. ANGLING ONLY MEMBERS
Angling Only Members may be admitted to the Club’s estate to use the water margins and certain land-based facilities subject to the approval of the General Committee.
Any Angling Only Member wishing to sail or Sailing Member wishing to fish shall become a Combined Sailing/Angling Member and pay the balance of the current year’s subscription.

10. TEMPORARY MEMBERS
Members of R.Y.A. recognised Yacht Clubs may be admitted to temporary membership upon application to the Membership Secretary. Other applicants for Temporary Membership must be about to undergo or are undergoing an Adult Training Course. Temporary membership shall cease upon the expiration of the period covered by the last subscription paid. Temporary membership shall not be granted for a period to exceed one month in any one year. Temporary members shall not be entitled to receive notice to attend a General Meeting of the Club.

Notwithstanding these provisions, visiting helms and their crews who are visiting the Club's waters in connection with an Open Meeting or Frostbite Series sailing, shall be admitted to temporary membership for the duration of the fixture without payment of subscriptions.

11. HONORARY MEMBERS
Honorary Membership, without the payment of membership fees, is conferred on members and their spouses, and others, for exemplary service to the Club. Honorary Members shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting provided written notice of any such nomination is given to the Secretary by the preceding 31st day of August.

12. OUT-PORT MEMBERS
Out-Port membership is open to a member who after two or more years with the Club, moves to reside permanently beyond a seventy-five-mile radius from the Club, and who does not continue to use a boat or board
on the Club's waters. Out-Port members shall have no voting rights and shall not sail on more than four occasions a year so as not to conflict with rule 21.

13. COMPLIMENTARY MEMBERS
Complimentary Members shall be elected by and at the discretion of the General Committee.

14. AFFILIATION
Members shall automatically be affiliated members of the Middle Nene Cruising Club. Members of the Middle Nene Cruising Club are affiliated members of the Club.

15. SAFETY
All persons afloat on the Clubs waters, shall wear a properly fitting and fastened buoyancy aid complying as a minimum with European Standard CEN reference EN 393 (Buoyancy aids – 50N).

16. KEY HOLDERS
Junior, Temporary, Lapsed, Resigned, Expelled or Affiliated members may not be issued, hold, or use an access key.

17. SUBSCRIPTIONS
The Annual Subscriptions shall be paid via the On-line system. Any issues should be refereed to the Membership Secretary. The annual subscription of members shall be due and payable on the 1st April each year for the twelve months expiring on 31st March.

18. CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP
Members shall cease to be members: -
(a) By non-payment of subscription. Any person whose membership has ceased from this cause shall not again be nominated for membership unless he or she previously pays all arrears due from him or her at the time of his or her ceasing to be a member.

(b) By expulsion under Rule 33

(c) By resignation, but any member wishing to resign must send written notice to the Membership Secretary and the notice must be accompanied by any outstanding subscriptions and fees.

19. LAPSED OR RESIGNED MEMBERS
Any member, who has not paid their subscription or part payments, by the 1st May, shall cease to be a member, and their name shall be erased from the list of members.

Lapsed, resigned, or expelled members, may not take part in the Club’s affairs, have no right of access to the Club, and may only enter the Club as provided under Rule 21 – Club Guests. A member whose membership has ceased shall return all access and or locker keys together with any Club property. A lapsed, or resigned, member who desires to rejoin the Club will required to follow the New Member process and will be liable for an entrance fee, current at the time of re-joining.

20. PROPERTY OF LAPSED OR FORMER MEMBERS
If at any time subscription or other fees payable to the Club by any member or former member is more than one month overdue.

(a) The General Committee shall be entitled, upon giving one month's notice to the member or former member at their last known address and e-mail shown in the register of members, to sell any boat or property of such member or former member and to deduct any monies due to the club (whether by way of subscriptions or fees, or such storage charges as the General Committee shall consider appropriate to impose, or otherwise), from the net proceeds of sale before accounting for the balance (if any) to the member or former member.

(b) Alternatively, any boat or property which in the opinion of the General Committee cannot be sold, may upon such notice as aforesaid, be disposed of in any manner the General Committee think fit, and the expenses recovered from the member or former member.

(c) Further, the club shall at all times have lien over members or former members' boats or boards parked or moored on the Club's premises or club moorings and over members or former members' property in respect of all monies due to the Club whether in respect of arrears of boat or board fees, subscriptions, or for storage or otherwise.

21. CLUB GUESTS
Members may introduce a maximum of three guests, at any one time, to the Club, subject to such restrictions and regulations as the General Committee may make. The member introducing the guests shall be responsible for all liabilities incurred by the guests on their behalf. The guests, and the members introducing them, shall sign their names in a book kept for that purpose, immediately on entry to club property. The same visitor may not be brought to the Club site on more than four occasions during the Season, except for organised social functions as defined below.

Persons other than members and their guests may be admitted to the club premises and purchase and consume on such premises intoxicating liquor at organised functions, which organised functions shall not exceed nine in any one year where persons other than members and their guests are permitted.

22. CLUB MANAGEMENT
The affairs of the Club shall be directed and managed by the General Committee. In addition, there shall be a Sailing Committee, a House Committee and a Training Committee subordinate to the General Committee, which are responsible for all sailing, racing and board sailing activities, social and domestic, and training activities respectively.

22(a) Powers of the General Committee
Management of the Club
The General Committee shall manage the affairs of the Club according to the Rules and shall cause the funds of the Club to be applied solely to the purposes of the Club or for a benevolent or charitable purpose nominated by General Meeting.
In particular the General Committee shall ensure that the property and funds of the Club will not be used for the direct or indirect private benefit of Members other than as reasonably allowed by the Rules and that all surplus income or profits are re-invested in the Club.

Appointment of sub-Committees
The General Committee may appoint such sub-Committees as it may deem necessary and may delegate such of its powers as it may think fit upon such terms and conditions as shall be deemed expedient and/or required by the law. Such sub-Committees shall consist of such Members of the Committee or of the Club as the Committees may think fit. Officers of the Club shall be ex officio Members of all such sub-Committees.

Disclosure of interest to third parties
A Member of the General Committee, of a sub-Committee or any officer of the Club, in transacting business for the Club, shall disclose to third parties that they are so acting.

Limitation of General Committee's authority
The General Committee, or any person or sub-Committee delegated by the Committee to act as agent for the Club or its Members, shall enter into contracts only as far as expressly authorised, or authorised by implication, by the Members. No one shall, without the express authority of the Membership in General Meeting, borrow money or incur debts on behalf of the Club or its Membership.

Members’ indemnification of the General Committee
In pursuance of the authority vested in the General Committee by Members of the Club, Members of the Committee shall be indemnified by the Members of the Club out of the assets of the Club from and against any liability, costs, expenses or payments whatsoever which may be properly incurred or made by them or any one of them in the exercise of their duties on behalf of the Club wherever the contract is of a duly authorised nature or could be assumed to be of a duly authorised nature and entered into on behalf of the Club.

Contractual Liability
The General Committee shall endeavour to ensure that the following clause is incorporated in every contract, lease, licence or other agreement entered into by the Committee and/or Trustees of the Club, as appropriate.
“The liability of the General Committee/Trustees for the performance of any contractual or other obligation undertaken by them on behalf of the Club shall be limited to the assets of the Club.”

Nomination of Honorary Members by the General Committee
The Committee may nominate for election at an Annual General Meeting such Honorary Members as the General Committee may think fit.
The election of Honorary Members shall be put to the vote at the Annual General Meeting each year and such Honorary Members shall be duly elected if two thirds of those present, and entitled to vote, vote in favour of election.

22(b) The Officers of the Club shall consist of: -
1. President
2. Commodore - Flag Officer
3. Vice Commodore - Flag Officer
4. Rear Commodore Sailing - Flag Officer
5. Rear Commodore House - Flag Officer
6. Rear Commodore Training - Flag Officer
7. Immediate Past Commodor - Flag Officer
8. General Secretary
9. Treasurer
10. Membership Secretary
11. Sailing Secretary
12. Race Secretary
13. House Secretary
14. Training Secretary
15. Harbour Master
16. New Member Representative
17. Public Relations Secretary
18. Safeguarding and Equality Officer

With the exception of the President and the Immediate Past Commodore all the Officers shall be elected each year at the Annual General Meeting.

22(c) The General Committee shall consist of three members elected each year at the AGM together with the General Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Harbour Master and New Member Representative. Six members form a quorum.

22(d) The Sailing Committee shall consist of three members together with the Sailing, Race and Public Relations Secretaries elected each year at the Annual General Meeting together with the Fleet Captains as defined in the Bye Laws. Four members form a quorum

22(e) The House Committee shall consist of three members and House Secretary elected each year at the Annual General Meeting. Three members form a quorum.

22(f) The Training Committee shall consist of three members and Training secretary elected each year at the Annual General Meeting. Three members form a quorum.

22(g) The Flag Officers are the Commodore, the Vice Commodore, the Rear Commodores, and the Immediate Past Commodore.

22(h) No member shall be eligible to hold the office of Commodore for more than two successive years, except by special approval of the Annual General Meeting.

22(i) The Commodore shall Chair the General Committee, the Rear Commodore Sailing shall Chair the Sailing Committee, the Rear Commodore House shall Chair the House Committee and the Rear Commodore Training shall Chair the Training Committee.

22(j) The President and Flag Officers shall be ex-officio to all Committees and Sub Committees.

22(k) The above Committees shall have the power to co-opt and co-opted members shall have the right to vote, at their respective committees.

22(l) The President shall chair any meetings, as are required, of the Trustees.

22(m) In cases of any casual vacancy in the above Committees, the Committee concerned may appoint any member to act until the next Annual General Meeting.

23. REGISTER OF MEMBERS
The General Secretary shall keep minutes of proceedings of the General Meetings and other records of the Club and the Treasurer shall keep such books of account as the General Committee may from time to time direct. The Membership details will be held on the On-line system, and accessible by the Treasurer and Membership Secretary to the General Committee.

24. MEMBERSHIP LIST
The General Committee shall in the event of intoxicants being consumed in the Club House, keep thereat a list of the names and addresses of the members, as required by the Licensing Acts. Every member shall within 14 days give notice to the General &/or Membership Secretary of any change in their address and e-mail.
25. THE GENERAL COMMITTEE
The General Committee shall manage the affairs of the Club in accordance with these rules and make or repeal bye-laws for the good conduct of the Club. Such bye-laws shall, provided they are not inconsistent with these rules for the time being, be binding on all members and be construed as part of these rules until they are rescinded. The General Committee shall be responsible for the purchase of drinks and other supplies and their sale from the bar.

26. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Annual General Meeting shall be held at a convenient date in September and could have hybrid options to allow remote access if required.

27. EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETINGS
The General Committee may at any time and shall on the requisition of any ten members stating the business for which it is required, convene an extraordinary general meeting for any special purpose.

28. NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS
The General Secretary shall, at least fourteen days before any general meeting send to every member at his or her e-mail as held in the membership system. Notice of such meeting will the time, place, format and the business that will be brought before it. No business, other than that of a formal nature, shall be brought forward at any General Meeting unless notice thereof shall have been duly given as herein provided.

29. VOTING
At all General Meetings, every question shall be decided by a majority of votes. Every member, excluding junior, social (unless they are an incumbent officer of the club), angling only, temporary, complimentary, outport and affiliated members, shall have one vote and in the case of equality of votes the Chair shall have a casting vote. The quorum at a general meeting shall be twenty members (entitled to vote) present or attending the hybrid meeting.

30. RESOLUTIONS
At any meeting a declaration by the Chair that a resolution has been carried or carried by a particular majority, or lost or not carried by a particular majority, shall be conclusive.

31. CLUB PROPERTY
There shall be not less than three or more than four Trustees of the Club.

The Trustees shall hold office until death or resignation or until removed from office by a resolution of the General Committee passed at a meeting of the Committee by a majority [comprising two- thirds] of the members present and entitled to vote. Should it become necessary to appoint a new or additional trustee the General Committee shall by resolution nominate the person or persons to be appointed as new trustee or trustees. For the purpose of giving effect to such nomination the President of the Club is nominated as a person to appoint new trustees of the Club within the meaning of the Trustee Act 1925 Section 36 and they shall by Deed appoint the person or persons so nominated by the Committee as the new trustee or trustees of the Club and the provisions of the Trustee Act 1925 shall apply to any such appointment.

The Trustees shall in all respects act, in regard to any property of the Club held by them, in accordance with the directions of the Committee and shall have power to sell, lease, mortgage or pledge any Club property so held for the purpose of raising or borrowing money for the benefit of the Club in compliance with the Committee's directions (which shall be duly recorded in the Minutes of the proceedings of the Committee) but no purchaser, lessee or mortgagee shall be concerned to enquire whether any such direction has been given.

In pursuance of the authority vested in the Trustees by the members of the Club, the Trustees shall be indemnified by the members of the Club out of the assets of the Club from and against any liability, costs, expenses or payments whatsoever which may be properly incurred or made by them or any one of them in the exercise of their duties or relation to any property of the Club vested in them, or in relation to any legal proceedings, or which otherwise relate directly or indirectly to the performance of the functions of a Trustee of the Club

32. CLUB ACCOUNTS
The General Committee shall cause to be prepared by a qualified accountant every year a statement of receipts and expenditure made up to 31st March which shall be submitted to the members at the then next Annual General Meeting.

33. CONDUCT OF MEMBERS AND DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE
a. Every member on joining the Club, by implication, undertakes to comply with these rules and the current Byelaws. Any refusal or neglect to do so, or any conduct which, in the opinion of the General Committee, is either unworthy of a member or otherwise injurious to the interests of the club, shall render a member liable to expulsion by the General Committee. Minor disciplinary matters will usually be dealt with informally involving discussions between a General Committee member(s) and the member(s) in question. If these do not bring about an improvement or there is a further disciplinary offence the following formal procedure will be used. It shall be the duty of the General Committee, if in their opinion the interests of the Club so require, to invite by letter, such member to withdraw from the Club within a time specified in such letter, and, in default of such withdrawal to submit the question of their expulsion to a General Committee Meeting to be held within six weeks after the date of such letter. At such meeting, the member whose expulsion is under consideration shall be allowed to offer an explanation of their conduct verbally or in writing, and if thereupon two thirds or more of the committee members present shall vote for his or her expulsion, he or she shall thereupon cease to be a member of the Club. It shall be in the power of the General Committee to exclude such member from the Club premises until such General Committee Meeting shall be held. A member expelled under this rule shall forfeit all right and claim upon the Club and its property. A notice under this rule shall be held to have been duly given if sent by pre-paid post to the address of the member appearing in the Register of Members. Appeal against expulsion may be made to the members in an Extraordinary General Meeting.

b. Complaints of any nature relating to the management of the club and its premises shall be addressed in writing to the General Secretary. Under no circumstances shall a servant of the club be personally reprimanded by a member.

c. If any General Committee Member is the subject of rule 33 then they should withdraw from any meetings held thereupon.

34. RULE OBSERVANCE
All members shall observe the rules of the river and sailing water, and the rules and Bye-Laws of the Environment Agency.

35. RULE CHANGES
These rules may not be altered or repealed, or new rules made except at the Annual General Meeting, or at an Extraordinary General Meeting duly summoned for the purpose, except that the permitted hours fixed under

rule 36 shall be within the control of the General Committee subject to notice to the local Licensing Authority.

36. PERMITTED BAR HOURS
The club has a 24-hour bar licence, but the bar will only be open under the supervision of a committee member.

37. DISCLAIMER
The Trustees, Officers and Committees of the Middle Nene Sailing Club cannot accept responsibility for any injury to persons or, effects to persons resulting from contaminated water, or loss of or damage to property while on Club premises or water.

38. RULES
Every member has access to an on-line copy of these Rule, which can be downloaded and printed. All Member will be bound thereby.

39. FINANCIAL GAIN
No member shall make any financial gain from any activity on Club premises unless authorised by the General Committee.

40. CODE OF CONDUCT
It is the policy of Middle Nene Sailing Club that all participants, coaches, instructors, officials, parents and volunteers show respect and understanding for each other, treat everyone equally within the context of the sport and conduct themselves in a way that reflects the principles of the club. The aim is for all participants to enjoy their sport and to improve performance. Abusive language, swearing, intimidation, aggressive, over familiar or inappropriate behaviour, bullying and harassment in all forms or lack of respect for others and their property will not be tolerated and may lead to disciplinary action. Guidance from RYA policies will be sought.

41. SAFEGUARDING ADULTS AND CHILD PROTECTION.
Middle Nene Sailing Club is committed to safeguarding, from physical, sexual or emotional harm, neglect or bullying, of Adults at Risk or children taking part in its activities. We recognise that the safety, welfare and needs of these individuals are paramount and that all Adults at Risk or children, irrespective of age, disability, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual or gender identity or social status, have a right to protection from discrimination and abuse. For the purposes of this anyone under the age of 18 should be considered as a child. All members of the Club should be aware of the policy on Safeguarding and Adults at Risk and Child Protection. All suspicions and allegations of inappropriate behaviour will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately by the new Safeguarding and equality officer who will oversee any investigation.

42. CHARITABLE DISSOLUTION
In the event of the dissolution of the Club any assets remaining after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the club, but shall be given or transferred to one or more of the following approved sporting or charitable bodies:
(a) Another sailing club with similar aims or objectives.
(b) Another club which is registered as a community amateur Sports Club.
(c) The RYA who shall use them to further interests in the sport

43. CAMPING
Camping is permitted on a limited basis and subject to GC Approval. Units should not be left unoccupied for more than a few nights or on site longer than a maximum of fifteen consecutive days. Camping units other than tents will be treated as additional vessels from a membership perspective and charged accordingly as either first or second boat fees. Any stay over 15 consecutive days will be subject to additional charges via the General Committee.

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Middle Nene Sailing Club - Code of Conduct

It is imperative that all participants, coaches, instructors, officials, parents and volunteers show respect and understanding for each other, treat everyone equally within the context of the sport and conduct themselves in a way that reflects the principles of the club.

· The aim is for all participants to enjoy their sport and to improve performance. Abusive language, swearing, intimidation, aggressive behaviour, or lack of respect for others and their property will not be tolerated and may lead to disciplinary action. Participants - young sailors, windsurfers and powerboaters.

· Listen to and accept what you are asked to do to improve your performance and keep you safe.

· Respect other participants, coaches, instructors, officials and volunteers.

· Abide by the rules and play fairly.

· Do your best at all times.

· Never bully others either in person, by phone, by text or online.

· Take care of all property belonging to other participants, the club or its members Parents.

· Support your child’s involvement and help them enjoy their sport .

· Help your child to recognise good performance, not just results.

· Never force your child to take part in sport.

· Never punish or belittle a child for losing or making mistakes.

· Encourage and guide your child to accept responsibility for their own conduct and performance.

· Respect and support the coach.

· Accept officials’ judgements and recognise good performance by all participants.

· Use established procedures where there is a genuine concern or dispute.

· Inform the club or event organisers of relevant medical information.

· Ensure that your child wears suitable clothing and has appropriate food and drink.

· Provide contact details and be available when required.

· Take responsibility for your child’s safety and conduct in and around the clubhouse/event venue/ water etc.

Middle Nene Sailing Club - Good Practice Guide

This Good Practice Guide is for Instructors, Coaches and Volunteers. This guide only covers the essential points of good practice when working with children and young people. You should also read the organisation’s Child Protection Policy and Procedures which are always available for reference on our website.

• Avoid spending any significant time working with children in isolation

• Do not take children alone in a car, however short the journey

• Do not take children to your home as part of your organisation’s activity

• Where any of these are unavoidable, ensure that they only occur with the full knowledge and consent of someone in charge of the organisation or the child’s parents

• Design training programmes that are within the ability of the individual child

• If a child is having difficulty with a wetsuit or buoyancy aid, ask them to ask a buddy to help, first.

• If you do have to help a child, make sure you are in full view of others, preferably another adult

• Restrict communications with young people via mobile phone, e-mail or social media to group communications about organisational matters. If it’s essential to send an individual message, copy it to the child’s parent or carer.

You should never:

• engage in rough, physical, or sexually provocative games

• allow or engage in inappropriate touching of any form

• allow children to use inappropriate language unchallenged or use such language yourself.

• make sexually suggestive comments to a child, even in fun

• fail to respond to an allegation made by a child; always act

• do things of a personal nature that children can do for themselves.

It may sometimes be necessary to do things of a personal nature for children, particularly if they are very young or disabled. These tasks should only be carried out with the full understanding and consent of the child (where possible) and their parents/carers. In an emergency situation which requires this type of help, parents should be fully informed. In such situations it is important to ensure that any adult present is sensitive to the child and undertakes personal care tasks with the utmost discretion.

Risk Assessments

Risk Benefit Assessment for MNSC Grounds and Buildings 2025
Risk Assessment for the Use of the Water 2025
Risk Assessment for Workshop and Maintenance Equipment 2025
Risk Assessment for the use of the Kitchen 2025