CONSTITUTION OF ST. FINBARR’s AC (2025)
- NAME
The club will be called ST. FINBARR’S ATHLETICS CLUB and will be affiliated to Athletics Ireland (AI) or its successor in title.
All Club members, including committee members and coaches, shall register annually with AI and will be subject to the rules and regulations of AI, which can be found on the Athletics Ireland website: https://www.athleticsireland.ie/ .
The Club shall register club colours with AI, which shall conform with World Athletics / AI rules.
The Club will be affiliated to Cork Athletics County Board and the Munster Council of Athletics Ireland.
- AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The aims and objectives of the Club will be:
- To participate and compete in the sport of Athletics, including but not limited to track and field, cross country, road running, mountain running and race walking.
- To offer coaching and competitive opportunities in Athletics.
- To promote Athletics within the local community.
- To ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, a duty of care to all members of the Club.
- To provide all its services including coaching and competitive opportunities in a manner that is fair and ethical to everyone.
- To ensure that all present and future members receive fair, equal and impartial treatment.
- MEMBERSHIP
Membership will consist of officers and members of the Club.
All members will be subject to the Constitution of the Club and by joining the Club all members will be deemed to accept this Constitution together with all and any codes of conduct that the Club has adopted.
Any application for membership may be rejected by the Club Committee who also have the right to suspend or expel any member whose conduct merits such action.
All members shall be registered with AI.
- MEMBERSHIP FEES
Membership fees will be set annually by the Club Committee. The rate of membership fees will be notified to Club members and the Club Committee will also arrange to have the membership fees noted at each Club AGM.
Fees will be paid annually.
- CLUB COMMITTEE
The Officers of the Club shall consist of:
- Chairperson
- Vice Chairperson
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Competition Secretary
- President
- Welfare Officer
- Public Relations Officer
- Women in Sport Officer
All Officers and Club Committee members will be elected annually at the Club’s AGM.
All Officers, Committee Members and other Members occupying Club management roles will retire at the Club’s AGM each year but will be eligible to stand for re-election.
The ruling of the Club Committee shall be final in all matters relating to Club members. No Committee member shall act on his / her own initiative on behalf of the Club. The Committee must be in a position to provide answers at the AGM to any matters which may have arisen in the period prior to the AGM.
Club Committee members are required to attend a minimum of four Committee Club meetings annually. Failure to attend the minimum number of meetings may lead to a Club Committee member being excluded from the Club Committee unless the member concerned can demonstrate to the Club Committee that there were / are extenuating circumstances for him / her failing to do so.
- CODE OF CONDUCT
The Club’s Code of Conduct applies to all members and is deemed to be the basic level of agreement between the Club and its participants, coaches, officials, supporters and others who may be involved or associated with the Club.
Link to club Code of Conduct: https://www.stfinbarrsac.com/code-of-conduct/
- MEETINGS
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Club’s AGM will be held annually. Club members will be given 21 days’ notice in advance of such meeting.
Any registered Club member may propose an amendment of this Constitution on foot of a motion. Any such amendment / motion should be notified, in writing, addressed to the Club secretary at least 7 (seven) days before the AGM to allow for such amendment / motion to be circulated to all registered Club members.
EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING (EGM)
A request for an EGM must be submitted, in writing, addressed to the Club’s secretary and the management Committee of the Club, at its discretion decide if such request should be granted.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
There shall be at least 6 (six) meetings of the Club Committee each year. These meetings will be arranged at the discretion of the Chairperson of the Club.
Voting at Club Committee meetings shall consist of those present at such meetings
In the case of a tied vote at any AGM, EGM Committee meeting, the Club Chairperson has the deciding vote.
- FINANCE
The finances of the Club shall be lodged in a bank (appointed by the Club Committee) in the name of St. Finbarr’s Athletics Club. All accounts of €1 (one) or over shall be paid by cash to a maximum value of €100 (one hundred Euro), signed by the authorised Club signatories.
The Club Treasurer shall be responsible for keeping a record of the Club’s receipts and payments. All payments from the Club’s finances shall be made with the prior sanction of the Club’s Committee. The Club Treasurer shall present to each AGM a Financial Report for the previous year.
In the event of a dissolution of the Club any excess Club funds will be given to Cork Athletics County Board.
- AMENDMENTS
This Constitution shall only be changed at a properly constituted general meeting of the Club by a two thirds majority of those present at such meeting and are entitled to vote.