DEREHAM & DISTRICT ANGLING CLUB CONSTITUTION
1. OBJECTIVES: To promote social and sporting activities for the benefit of the members. In furtherance of said
objectives, but not otherwise, the Club through its Executive Committee shall have the following powers:
a. To raise funds by means of such lotteries, draws and other events as are permitted and conducted in
accordance with the law. Promoter’s decision to be final on all lotteries draws etc.
b. To receive subscriptions from members.
c. To hold meetings, social functions and sporting events, not of a political or sectarian nature.
d. To rent or purchase waters / real estate to provide facilities for the members.
e. To expend funds to improve Club’s facilities e.g. Hire plant, Purchase materials, Procure fish stocks. Spending
shall not jeopardise next season’s predicted out goings e.g. mortgage / loan repayments, rents for waters, nor
be expended to prejudice Club’s capital reserves unless otherwise authorised by the members. All
expenditure to be pre-authorised by the Executive Committee.
2. If agreed by two-thirds majority vote of those members attending a Special or Annual General Meeting of the Club
the Committee shall be authorised to:
a. Acquire by purchase or otherwise real estate on behalf of the Club.
b. Borrow money for the purposes of the Club from commercial or private sources secured on the Club property.
c. Current limitation of borrowing power; one hundred and thirty thousand pounds (£130,000).
3. MEMBERSHIP: Shall be open to anglers on payment of the annual subscription, and will be valid for the period:
16 June to 15 June inclusive. A condition of membership is that the individual agrees in full the benefits and
limitations of the Club’s Constitution and Rules.
4. Honorary Membership to be proposed by the Committee and granted only at the discretion of AGM. Can be
revoked, is not permanent.
5. Life Membership to be proposed by the Committee and granted only at the discretion of AGM.
6. Members shall pay a yearly subscription as determined by the Executive Committee and approved by two-thirds
majority of members attending a SGM or AGM of the Club.
7. SUBSCRIPTIONS: Note: There is a £20 Admin Fee for replacing lost membership booklets and a 2 Rod ticket
maximum for all new members for their first season.
a. Adult (19 yrs to 64 yrs)…...............................……………………….…………. £70-00
b. Senior Citizen (65 yrs & over), Teenager 17-18 yrs,….………………………. £50-00
c. Juniors 15 and 16 yrs………………………………………..………….…….……£10-00
d. Assist & Juniors 14 yrs and under (must be adult accompanied) ………….. £10-00
e. Third Rod Permit: (Limited availability) In additional to above, an extra….... £30-00
f. Sea section only - Senior (17 yrs & over)............…………………………….... £ 7-00
g. Sea section only - Junior (16 yrs and under) …..............................…………. £ 2-00
Guest Day Tickets - Members are permitted to pre-book 2 guest day tickets per season. Member responsible for
guest’s actions and must fish same or adjacent swim. Guest ticket must be displayed in car window as normal
membership booklet. Cost £10 per ticket dawn-to-dusk only.
8. MEMBERSHIP RIGHTS: The members shall have full rights to vote at all AGM and SGM of the Club and enjoy
the facilities of the Club. Members not attending the Meeting and who have not arranged in writing proxy vote(s),
agree to forfeit their voting rights for the business conducted at that Meeting. In light of this condition, all members
are strongly advised to attend the Club’s SGM and AGM.
9. The Club facilities may be withheld at the Committee's discretion if any member contravenes rules or is considered
guilty of gross misconduct prejudicial to the comfort of other members or the goodwill of the Club. In the case of
bans, no reimbursement of subscriptions will be made.
10. AMENDEMENT OF CONSTITUTION or RULES: The Club’s Constitution and Rules may be added to, repealed
or amended by a resolution passed at an AGM or SGM of the Club by a majority of at least two-thirds of the members
voting on it. Extant Rules ratified at each AGM.
11. Without prejudicing the overarching authority vested in the Trustees, the following cannot be otherwise changed
without an 80 percent agreement of Club members: In order for the Club to voluntarily dispose of its valuable real
estate / property / asset(s), at least 80 percent of all Club members must first agree the disposal.
12. MEETINGS: The AGM of the Club shall be in March or as otherwise notified. The AGM shall be called by giving
not less than 2 months notice, and business to be discussed at the AGM shall be provided to the Club’s Secretary in
writing at least 14 days prior to that AGM. SGM of the Club shall be called if the need arises, at least 14 days notice
shall be given for a SGM. Five members personally present shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of the Club,
providing two of those present shall be officers of the Club. All meetings shall be considered confidential Club
business, visible to Club members only.
13. Due to the uniqueness of membership of the Club; No postal notification for Meetings or Meeting’s business shall
be given. Postal ballots will not be conducted or accepted. Non attending members may register their proxy vote(s)
for a meeting’s business, in writing to the Club’s Secretary or Chairman prior to that meeting. Timely receipt of written
proxy vote(s) is member’s responsibility.
14. NOTICES: Any notification or temporary ruling required to be given to the members shall be deemed to be duly
given if displayed on Club’s notice board at Swanton Morley Fishery entrance and, when possible secondary
notification will be promulgated on the Club’s Web Site; http://www.ddac.info and or Facebook page.
15. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: An Executive Committee of members shall be responsible for the management
and administration of the Club and its assets. The Committee shall consist of the Officers, Representatives, and the
Committee Members.
The Officers shall consist of:
Chairman. Vice-Chairman. Club Treasurer. Club Secretary.
The Representatives shall consist of:
Minute Secretary. Coarse Match Secretary. Sea Match Secretary. Membership Secretary
Pest Control Rep. Health & Safety Rep. Club Bailiffs.
16. The Committee shall have the power to co-opt further members. Officers, Representatives, and Committee shall
be elected at the AGM and nominations will be accepted from the floor. If nominations exceed number of vacancies,
a ballot shall take place in such a manner as shall be determined. Election of Officers shall be completed before
election of Representatives and Representatives prior to election of Committee members. Eligibility to serve as
Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer or Vice Chairman of the Club, an individual must have been a DDAC member for two
consecutive years and live within ten miles of Dereham town centre (war memorial). Officers, Representatives, and
Committee members shall not be members of any other angling club’s or syndicate’s committee, and must be
members of DDAC. Eligibility to serve on Club’s Executive Committee, an individual must have been a DDAC
member for the last two consecutive years.
17. The Executive Committee shall have the right to fill casual vacancies occurring amongst the Officers,
Representatives, and Committee of the Club. Officers and Representatives are automatically members of the
Executive Committee. An Executive Committee member missing 3 consecutive meetings without submitting prior
apology is deemed to have resigned from the Committee.
18. The Committee shall meet on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Matters discussed will be treated sensitively and
not disclosed to any third party outside of the Club’s meetings unless authorised by Committee.
19. The Committee shall have the power to close any of the Club’s waters at the Committee's discretion, notably for
work parties, maintenance and matches. Advance notice given where possible.
20. SUB-COMMITTEES: The Executive Committee shall constitute such sub-committees from time to time as
deemed necessary for such purposes as required. The Chairman and Secretary of each sub-committee shall be
reported to and be confirmed by the Executive Committee as soon as possible. Members of the Executive
Committee may be members of a sub-committee and membership of a sub-committee shall be no bar to appointment
to membership of the Executive Committee. Sub-committees shall be regulated or dissolved by the Executive
Committee.
21. TRUSTEES: The Club shall appoint not less than two (2) and not more than four (4) Trustees. Being a Trustee
is no bar from being a member of the Club’s Executive Committee, however the two appointments are held in
isolation. The Trustees will have no executive power other than those legally required of Trustees, but include:
a. To have vested in their names all property and assets of the Club to hold for and on behalf of the Club.
b. The Trustees must deal with the property / assets of the Club as directed by resolution of the Club’s AGM /
SGM.
c. Should the Club develop an inability to repay its mortgage or loan, the Trustees will have the authority to
compel the Club to dispose its property / assets in order to pay off outstanding sums.
d. The Trustees will be indemnified by the Club against risk and expense out of the Club property / assets.
e. Name address and contact details of the Trustees are to be registered with the Club Secretary and recorded at
the Land Registry.
f. On the resignation or death of a Trustee, the Executive Committee shall seek a replacement.
22. ACCOUNTING ARRANGEMENTS: The financial year of the Club shall end on 31 December.
23. The Club shall maintain Bank Account(s) in the Club’s name. All interest earned will be paid into earning account.
Cheques drawn require the signature of the Club Treasurer and, either the Club Secretary or Chairman. All invoices
require the signature of the Club Treasurer as authority for payment.
24. Nomination of any signatories to sign for a formal / legal loan and / or mortgage on behalf of the Club shall be by
agreement of two-thirds majority of those members attending a SGM or AGM of the club so called to authorise such
activity.
25. The Club Treasurer shall keep accurate records and accounts of the Club's financial transactions and present
these for auditing annually at the end of the Club's financial year and prior to the AGM. Audited accounts shall be
presented at the AGM.
26. In pursuance of the authority vested in the Committee by the members of the Club, the members of the
Committee shall be indemnified by the members of the Club against any liabilities properly incurred by them on behalf
of the Club where the contract is of a duly authorised nature or could be reasonably assumed to be of a duly
authorised nature and is entered into on behalf of the Club.
27. COVENANTS (Covenants on the Club may never be altered or deleted).
a. Dissolution of Club: If the Club should fold, its real estate and all other assets must be sold on the open
market at commercial value. All proceeds from the sale together with all assets in the Club’s bank account(s)
shall be used to satisfy any outstanding mortgage, loan or other debt. All residual funds to be given over to a
charity, or held in trust to restart club if necessary. This covenant of the club can never be altered.
b. Stocking: On purchasing Swanton Morley Fishery a legal agreement was signed stating the SMF must remain
a mixed species fishery, and never become a carp fishery or any of its waters dominated by carp. This
covenant of the club can never be altered.
28. MINUTES: The Club Secretary shall keep minutes of all SGM and AGM of the Club. He/she shall maintain the
Club's correspondence, keeping adequate records as necessary. The Minute Secretary will keep minutes of all
Executive Committee Meetings.
29. TEMPORARY MEMBERS: Match guests and Guest Day Ticket members shall be bound by the rules that apply
to the Club waters, but will not be entitled to full Club membership rights and will not qualify for match or specimen
fish awards.
30. MEMBERSHIP AND AFFILIATION: The Club is a member of the Angling Trust and Fish Legal.
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31. CLUB WATERS: The Club’s fisheries comprise:
a. TG18189 Swanton Morley Fishery, Worthing Rd, Swanton Morley, Dereham, Norfolk, NR20 4QD.
b. TG026178 River Wensum, Castle Farm, Swanton Morley, Dereham, Norfolk, NR20 4JT. - J. Carrick.
32. MATCH SPONSORSHIP Adult club matches are not sponsored from Club funds! Coarse Junior matches will
have a prize money purse of ten pounds (£10-00) for each match (maximum of 3). To be distributed by Match
Secretary.
33. CHALLENGE CUPS AND AWARDS: The Club has a number of perpetual trophies, to hold one of these for
twelve months the angler must satisfy the following criteria:
a. Any fish qualifying for an award must be caught by fair means and in accordance with Club rules, during the
period 15 March to 14 March.
b. Must be verified by two responsible persons/witnesses (who are not related to the claimant) whose names and
addresses must be supplied with the claim. Second witness not required if Club official witnesses fish.
c. The Committee have the right to test the scales on which the fish was weighed and amend the recorded weight
if necessary.
d. Entry must be made within 14 days of capture, and any person entering a fish for an award must have been a
Club member for a minimum of 7 days.
e. The fish must have been caught in the County of Norfolk in a water that is freely available by open Club
membership, Day ticket, or free fishing. Fish caught in Club matches may be entered and will qualify.
f. Where two fish of the same weight are entered, the first one entered will qualify.
g. In any dispute the Committee's decision shall be final
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34. CUPS AND TROPHIES: All Club perpetual Cups and Trophies shall be lightly cleaned with silver polish and
returned by the 1st March each year, to the Club's Chairman or any of the Club's Committee Members. Miniature
keepsake trophies shall be awarded to all Junior winners.