INCLUDES

• Amendments recommended by Barr Ellison on 5th December 1994 and adopted by the CRA Delegates at a meeting held on 9th February 1995
• Also amendment to rule 4.5 concerning rowing at night passed at a CRA EGM on 25th June 2003 with additional recommendation passed at a delegates meeting 13th October 2004.

1. The name of the association shall be Cambridgeshire Rowing Association (hereinafter called "the Association")

OBJECTS

2. The objects of the Association shall be to provide or assist in the provision of facilities for rowing and the organisation of events in connection therewith.

MEMBERSHIP

3. Any rowing or boat club situated in the County of Cambridgeshire (as at 1992), not belonging to Cambridge University may be affiliated, upon making application to the secretary and on being elected by a majority of two-thirds at a general meeting of the Association

4. The members of any club affiliated to the Association shall be members of the Association

5. Each affiliated club shall pay to the Association an annual affiliation fee, of an amount to be agreed at the annual general meeting, by 31st January following the meeting

6. Any local rowing or boat club may be co-opted into the Association upon making application to the secretary

7. Each co-opted club shall pay to the Association, before rowing in an event organised by the Association, a co-option fee of an amount to be agreed each year at the annual general meeting

8. The Secretary of each affiliated and co-opted club shall send their own name and address, together with the names and addresses of the president and the two delegates of the club, to the secretary of the Association within one week of their election and annually thereafter

ORGANISATION

9. The officers of the Association shall be a president, vice presidents, secretary, treasurer, open events chairman, boathouse management committee chairman and a secretary for each competitive event organised by the Association.

10. The Association shall be managed by a "delegates committee" comprising the officers of the Association, two delegates appointed by each affiliated club and two representatives of the co-opted clubs belonging to Cambridge University

11. Any event run under the rules of any body outside the Association shall be organised by an "open events committee" comprising the open events chairman, the treasurer and the secretary of the relevant event, together with as many co-opted members as they so wish

12. A finance committee, comprising the treasurer, one of the trustees and three elected members of the Association, shall, upon advice from the delegates committee, have control over the funds of the Association, subject to resolutions passed at any general meeting of the Association

13. A boathouse management committee, comprising an elected chairman, the treasurer, the trustees and one member from each affiliated club using the boathouse, shall organise the day to day running of the boathouse.  One member from each other affiliated club may also attend meetings. The committee shall appoint a secretary who shall keep minutes of all business

14. A bumps committee comprising the bumps secretary and four elected members, not more than one from any club, shall run the bumping races in accordance with rules agreed by the delegates meeting

15. If any property shall be purchased by the Association the same shall be vested in the trustees, who shall only act with regard thereto upon a formal resolution of a general meeting of the association.  The trustees shall be no less than two in number and no more than four in number and shall be elected for a period of four years

16. All committees shall have power to appoint Sub-committees and to co-opt members who shall be members of an affiliated club

17. The delegates committee may appoint a successor for any office, other than that of president.  The successor shall serve until the next annual general meeting

18. The president shall be an ex-officio member of all the committees of the Association

FINANCE

19. The financial year shall end on 30th September

20. Banking accounts shall be opened in the name of the Association and all cheques above £500 shall be signed by two persons from the following namely the treasurer the President of the Association and two other authorised members

21. The income and property of the Association shall be applied solely towards promoting the objects of the Association and no portion thereof shall be transferred either directly or indirectly to any member or members of the Association, except where clubs organise events on behalf of the Association under agreed financial arrangements

22. In the event of the winding-up of or dissolution of the Association any remaining assets, after liabilities have been discharged, shall not be paid or transferred to any member or members of the Association but shall be transferred to an organisation whose objects are similar to those of the Association and whose rules preclude the distribution of income and assets among its members
 

GENERAL MEETINGS OF THE ASSOCIATION

23. General meetings of the Association shall be open to all members of affiliated clubs for discussion and voting.  Members of co-opted clubs may attend but may not vote.  The President shall take the chair at all meetings at which he is present.  In his absence the senior vice-president present shall take the chair.  The chairman's decision on points of order arising at the meeting shall be final.  The chairman shall have a casting vote.

24. The quorum for general meetings of the Association shall be at least one third of the affiliated clubs represented.
 No club may cast more than 25% of the total votes cast.
 

25. Fourteen days notice of any general meeting, twenty eight days in the case of the annual general meeting, shall be given by the secretary to the officers of the Association and the secretary and delegates of each affiliated club

26. The decisions of general meetings of the Association shall stand unless and until the same shall be changed by a further decision of a general meeting of the Association
 

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS

27. The Association shall hold an annual general meeting for the election of officers, trustees and members of the finance and bumps committee for the ensuing year, and for any other business.  The retiring officers are eligible for re-election

28. All nominations for president, additional vice-presidents, trustees and members of the finance committee shall be approved by the delegates committee before their submission to the annual general meeting

29. Any member of the Association may propose a motion for discussion at the annual general meeting, provided that twenty one days notice have been given to the secretary, who shall send a copy fourteen days before the meeting to each member entitled to notice of a general meeting

30. Reports shall be submitted to the annual general meeting by the secretary and at least one member of the finance, open events, boathouse management and bumps committees

31. Two auditors shall be appointed at the annual general meeting to examine and report upon the Association's annual accounts
 

SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

32. A special general meeting may be asked for by the delegates of at least five affiliated clubs, or by the president of the Association.  At such meetings only the business specified in the notice shall be transacted
 

MEETINGS OF THE DELEGATES COMMITTEE

33. All meetings shall be called by the secretary, who shall give at least seven days notice to all those entitled to attend, with the exception of vice-presidents who have not attended for at least one year

34. The president shall take the chair at all meetings at which he is present.  In his absence the senior vice-president present shall take the chair.  The chairman's decision on points of order arising at the meeting shall be final.  The chairman shall have a casting vote.

35. Each delegate appointed by an affiliated club shall have one vote.  An officer may only vote if acting as a delegate.  A delegate who is unable to attend a meeting of the committee may appoint a deputy so that the club is represented

36. The quorum for a delegates committee shall be eight voting members with at least one quarter of the affiliated clubs represented.  If there is not a quorum present the meeting shall proceed, but only urgent matters may be discussed and no formal decisions taken

37. A special delegates committee meeting may be summoned at 24 hours notice on a requisition signed by five members of the committee, or by the president of the Association.  At such a meeting only the business specified shall be transacted

38. The secretary of the Association shall keep a minute book recording the business at all meetings of the committee
 

EVENTS ORGANISED BY THE ASSOCIATION

39. The delegates committee, who may appoint a sub-committee to run the event, shall determine the regulations, dates and entrance fees of all closed events

40. The dates of all closed events shall be announced at least one month before the event

41. All challenge trophies and any other properties of the Association shall be vested in the trustees for the time being

42. When, for a special occasion, a trophy is taken by a club, a responsible member of that club shall accept, on behalf of the club, the responsibility for the safe custody of the trophy and guarantee the return thereof to its place of safekeeping within the time limits required by the Association's insurance company.

43. All competitors in all rowing events organised by the Association shall be amateurs as defined by the rules of the Amateur Rowing Association

44. Members of "Head of the River" crews (past and present), shall be entitled to wear a cap composed of Pembroke blue with a half-inch light blue binding and the letters C.R.A. with crossed oars and the year of rowing in the same colour.  They shall also be entitled to wear a tie or scarf of similar colour and design
 

ROWING BY MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION

45. All clubs should conduct their rowing and sculling activities in accordance with the ARA Water Safety Code. At all times in poor visibility; (e.g. after sunset and early morning) craft shall be fitted with white lights showing fore and aft and visible through 360 degrees. In addition an optional red light can fitted at the stern to indicate direction of travel.
 

AMENDMENTS

46. The constitution may be amended by a two thirds majority of the members present at an annual or special general meeting provided that fourteen days notice of the proposed amendment has been sent to all members entitled to receive such notice and provided that the amendment shall not effect the restriction with regard to the distribution of the funds of the Association