1)             The name shall be “KSSA”, hereinafter known as “the Association”

2)             The objectives of the Association shall be to promote and encourage sailing and allied activities for young people

3)             Membership shall be open to:

a.       Young people living in SE England and associated with organisations within the County of Kent; individual membership of others would be at the discretion of the Executive Committee

b.       All people actively involved in supporting the Association, including parents/guardians of registered youth sailors

c.       Group membership shall be open to all educational establishments, recognised youth groups or national youth organisations within Kent

4)             The Executive Committee may invite a President and Vice Presidents to be Honorary Members of the Association. The Executive Committee may offer Honorary Life Membership to longstanding contributors to the Association. The Executive Committee shall put proposals to the Annual General Meeting for approval

5)             The Officers of the Association shall consist of Flag Officers – Commodore, Vice Commodore, Rear Commodore, together with a Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary and Sailing Team Manager

6)             Officers and Committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting and shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting.

a)       The Officers and members will be elected for a period of one year but will be eligible for reelection. The Commodore will not normally serve for more than three years

b)       The Officers and Committee will be the officers of the Association

c)       The Committee may refer any part of its business to sub-committees or a working party as deemed necessary

d)       The Committee may from time to time co-opt persons who may be specially qualified or have special knowledge and experience available and valuable to the furtherance of the aims of the Association. At no time shall such co-options exceed one third of the total

e)       Only individuals or representatives from organisations who have served on the Executive Committee shall be eligible for election to Flag Officer positions

f)        The Executive Committee shall consist of the Officers together with a minimum of six other people from the Membership, at least one of which shall be a young person – five members shall form a quorum

7)             The Annual General Meeting shall be held during the month of November each year

8)             The Government of the Association shall rest with the Annual General Meeting to which individual members and representatives from each member organisation are welcome

9)             The management of the Association shall be vested in the Elected Executive Committee

10)         The Executive Committee shall subject to the general direction offered at the Annual General Meeting:

a)       Meet not less than three times a year

b)       Appoint sub-committees as they deem necessary

c)       Exercise control over all financial affairs of the Association

d)       Arrange for vacancies in the Executive Committee to be filled

e)       Appoint representatives to other bodies as necessary

f)        Make regulations governing competition

g)       Select representative individuals and teams for Regional, National and International Competition

h)       Control the condition and maintain records of the Association silverware/trophies

i)         Liaise with the Association partners and contribute to the management of the jointly owned equipment

j)         Promote, award and report upon Memorial Awards held by the Association.

11)         The proposals for membership categories and collection of subscriptions for the coming year will be proposed by the Treasurer and ratified by the Annual General Meeting

12)         Membership will be renewed on 1^st January in each year

13)         Voting eligibility at Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting shall require voters to be classified under 3) above. Each person will have one vote; recognised organisations will have one vote. A register of eligible voters can be available on request to verify eligibility. The meeting will be considered quorate with a minimum voting strength present of 20 votes

14)         No alterations to or deletions from these, rules shall be made except at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting called for that purpose, and then only by a majority votes of two-thirds of those present an voting. Notice of any proposed alterations, deletions or additions to these Rules must reach the Secretary in writing 21 days before the advertised date of the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting in order to appear on the general notice convening the meeting

15)         The Secretary shall convene a special General Meeting at any time by order of the Executive Committee or on receiving a requisition to that effect signed by three member organisations or fifteen individual members

16)         Voting at an Annual General Meeting or a Special general Meeting will be taken by a show of hands. In the event of equal numbers of votes being recorded for any motion, the Chairperson will have a casting vote

17)         Finance –

a)       At the end of each financial year, a report on the accounts shall be prepared, reviewed and a copy provided at the Annual General Meeting

b)       The accounts will be reviewed by a suitable person appointed annually by the Executive Committee

c)       Decisions regarding the distribution of funds for Association awards will be made by the Executive Committee

d)       The Treasurer will be responsible for keeping proper accounts and for all the monies received or payable by the Association. All outgoing payments will be reviewed and approved by the Officers of the Association

18)         In the event of any question arising as to the correct interpretation of this Constitution or any other question not herein provided for, such question shall be referred to the Executive Committee for decision

19)         This Constitution may be amended in any respect by a resolution passed by a majority vote at the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting. All notification of amendments must be received by the Honorary Secretary in writing 28 days prior to the meeting at which the proposals are to be presented and that the members of the Association have received details of proposed amendment not less than 14 days prior to the event

20)         Dissolution: The Association may, at any time, be dissolved by a resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at a meeting of the Association at which at least 21 days clear notice shall have been sent to all members of the Association, specifying that this is the purpose of the meeting.

Such resolutions, may give instructions for the disposal of any assets held by or in the name of the Association, provided that, if any property remains after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, such property shall be paid to or transferred to the RNLI or such charitable institutions or institutions having objectives similar to some or all of the objects of the Association as the meeting may determine.