b). The objects of the Association shall be to improve the status and standing of Referees and to protect members from injustice or unfair treatment and to provide the opportunities for social activities for its members.

2. MEMBERSHIP

The membership of the Rotherham Referees Association shall be made up as follows.

a). LIFE MEMBERS

Any person being or having been an Ordinary Member of the Association who due to age or incapacity retires from Refereeing shall be eligible for Life Membership at the discretion of the Committee.

b). PRESIDENT

A President may be appointed at the Annual General Meeting and they shall continue in office until the next Annual General Meeting where they will be eligible for re-election without further nomination.

Any new nominations for President shall be made in writing by two members to the Secretary no later than 14 days prior to the date fixed for the Annual General Meeting.

c). VICE PRESIDENTS

Vice Presidents may be appointed at the Annual General Meeting and they shall continue in office until the next Annual General Meeting where they will be eligible for re-election without further nomination.

The Committee shall each year look for any member with 25 years consecutive membership of our Association who has not previously stood for election as a Vice President. The Committee shall have the authority if they feel that member’s contribution toward our Association has been overlooked to then nominate that person to stand for election as a Vice President at the next Annual General Meeting.

Any new nominations for Vice Presidents by the membership shall be made in writing by two members to the Secretary no later than 14 days prior to the date fixed for the Annual General Meeting.

Names of those nominated shall be circulated with the Notice of the Annual General Meeting.

Any Vice President not attending a meeting for 3 years, other than through illness, may be transferred to the list of Honorary Former Vice Presidents at the discretion of the Committee at the last Committee meeting before the Annual General Meeting. Any Vice President not re-elected at the Annual General Meeting will also be placed on that list.

d). FORMER VICE PRESIDENTS

Former Vice Presidents may still attend general meetings but will not be allowed to vote unless they have paid the current seasons subscription. They will be eligible for election again as a full current Vice Presidents at any Annual General Meeting, if so nominated.

e). ORDINARY MEMBERSHIP

Any registered Referee shall be eligible for Ordinary Membership of the Association

f). ASSOCIATED MEMBERSHIP

Full members of other Referees’ Associations or Societies together with any person other than a registered Referee interested in Refereeing or Association Football in general shall be eligible for Association Membership of the Association at the discretion of the Committee.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Committee shall have the power to remove from membership at any time any person deemed as unsuitable due to misconduct.

The Secretary will keep a list of all Honorary Former Life Members, Presidents, Vice Presidents and Committee members which the Committee will review periodically and they may remove the name of anybody from that list who they consider has subsequently done a disservice to the Association.

3. MEETINGS

GENERAL MEETINGS

a). A General meeting of the Association shall normally be held on the first Thursday in each month from September to April inclusive.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

b). The Annual General Meeting shall be held in May each year at which the presentation of the accounts will take place together with the fixing of the membership subscriptions and the elections of the President, Vice Presidents, Officers, Training Officer, Football Team Manager(s) and Elected Members. Nominations for the Officers, Training Officer, Football Team Manager(s) and Elected Members may be made at the Annual General Meeting. All new nominations must be made by two members. At least 7 days notice of the meeting shall be given to all members stating the nature of the business to be transacted there at. No other business shall be introduced.

SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING

c). The Secretary shall convene a Special General Meeting of the Association by order of the Committee at any time, or on receiving a request to do so signed by five members stating the purpose for which the meetings is required. At least 7 days notice of a Special General Meetings shall be given to all Members stating the nature of the business to be transacted there at. No other business shall be introduced.

VOTING

d). Questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. Voting shall be by show of hands unless the majority of members present request a paper ballot to be taken The President, Life Members, Vice Presidents, Ordinary Members and Associate Members shall have one vote. In the case of equality of votes the Chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.

4. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

MANAGEMENT

a). The affairs of the Association shall be managed by a Committee consisting of the Officers of the Association, President, Life Members, Vice Presidents, Training Officer, Football Team Manager(s) and Elected Ordinary Members.

OFFICERS

b). The Officers of the Association shall be the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer. Officers are to be elected at the Annual General Meeting and shall continue in office until the next Annual General Meeting where they will be eligible for re-election without further nomination. The Assistant Secretary shall perform the duties of Social Secretary.

REFEREES TRAINING OFFICER

c). A suitably qualified person will be selected to act as the Rotherham Referees training officer at the Annual General Meeting and shall continue in office until the next Annual General Meeting where they will be eligible for re-election without further nomination.

FOOTBALL TEAM MANAGER(S)

d). Suitably qualified person(s) will be selected at the Annual General Meeting and shall continue in office until the next Annual General Meeting where they will be eligible for re-election without further nomination.

ELECTED ORDINARY MEMBERS

e). Up to 7 Ordinary Members shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting, and they

shall continue in office until the next Annual General Meeting when they will be eligible for re-election without further nomination.

VACANCY

f). Any vacancy occurring amongst the Officers, Referees Training Officer, Football Team Manager(s) or Elected Ordinary Members may or may not be filled at the discretion of the Committee. Any person so elected shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting where they will be eligible for re-election without further nomination.

MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE

g). Meetings of the Committee shall take place not less frequently than once in every two months.

h). At meetings of the Committee 5 members shall constitute a quorum.

i). Any Officer or Elected Ordinary Member absenting themselves from three consecutive Committee meetings without notification directly to the Secretary and acceptance by the Committee shall be deemed to have resigned.

SUB - COMMITTEES

j). The Committee may appoint sub committees as they consider necessary to deal with such matters as may from time to time arise. They may co-opt any other person who may not be on the Committee but whose qualification in serving on such a Sub-committee is considered desirable.

5. FINANCIAL MATTERS

FINANCE & AUDITORS

a). The financial year shall be from 1st January to 31st December each year. The accounts shall be audited by two elected Auditors and a Balance Sheet shall be presented to the Annual General Meeting immediately following the end of the financial year. The Auditors who shall not hold any other office in the Association will be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting where they will be eligible for re-election without further nomination.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

b). Subscriptions for membership of the Association will be fixed each year at the Annual General Meeting. Subscriptions fixed will be due for payment on the 1 April following the Annual General Meeting and if not paid by the 30 June then such member shall be deemed to have resigned from the Association.

c). Subscriptions for members under 18 years old on the 1 April will be half the appropriate full rate.

6. GENERAL RULES

REPRESENTATIVES TO DISTRICT FA

a). Two Committee members shall be appointed annually at the Annual General Meeting to represent the Association on the Council of the Rotherham & District FA.

REPRESENTATIVE TO COUNTY RA

b). The Secretary and one other Committee member shall be appointed annually at the Annual General Meeting to represent the Association at the County RA Committee. Two other Committee Members shall also be appointed to act as reserves.

ALTERATIONS TO RULES

c). Notice by Members of any proposed alteration to these rules shall be sent in writing, to the Secretary by the proposing and seconding Members at least 21 days prior to the Annual General Meeting. Each proposed alteration together with any alteration proposed by Committee shall be notified in such manner as the Committee directs at least 7 days prior to the Annual General Meeting. No alterations shall be made to these rules except at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting. All new rules come into force once they have been past by the majority of members attending these meetings.

COMMITTEE’S POWER TO DEAL WITH MATTERS

d). The Committee shall have the power to deal with any matter not already provided for in these Rules.

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Rule Amendment History

Amended AGM 3.5.7 (2. Membership c). Vice Presidents d). Former Vice Presidents).

Amended AGM 5.5.5 (4. Management Committee e) Elected Ordinary Members).

Amended AGM 2002