PAA UK & IRELAND
Constitution
The Professional Arm-wrestling Association UK & Ireland (which may also be known as PAA &/or PAA UK&IRE) is a non profit organisation operated for the benefit of the members. All profits & surpluses will be used to maintain, improve or develop the associations facilities or to carry the aims & objectives.
Aims and Objectives
- To promote the sport of arm wrestling in a safe & fair manner to all.
- Provide structure for pullers to achieve their potential via coaching & competition.
- Produce a team to contest & win international competitions.
Membership
Membership is open to anyone over the age of 18 interested in promoting, coaching, supporting, volunteering or participating in arm-wrestling. Any person seeking to join shall apply to the Executive Committee. No membership will be refused without reasonable grounds.
Members participate at their own risk & agree to assess their individual capability against the possibility of injury occurring due to the physicality of the sport.
There are three classes of membership: Day members, Associates & Full members. Paying entry to a PAA event constitutes a day membership to fulfil participation requirements. Paying an associate membership gives a discount for PAA nationals, PAA training events & entry into the members draw which may be organised from time to time. Full members qualify after a year of associate membership subject to approval of the Committee & additionally are entitled to vote at the AGM. Membership fees will be set by the committee at an AGM.
Committee
The Association is managed by a Committee elected at an AGM consisting of President, Vice President, Treasurer, & at least two other officers or members who may be titled as required.
- All committee members must be members of the association.
- The term of office shall be for one year, and members shall be eligible for re-election.
- If the post of any Committee member should fall vacant after election, the Committee shall have the power to fill the vacancy until the succeeding AGM or to appoint any advisers to the Committee as necessary to fulfil its business.
-The Committee will be responsible for adopting new policy, codes of practice and rules that affect the organisation of the association.
- The Committee will determine the day to day details of competition & events.
-The Committee will have powers to appoint any advisers to the Committee as necessary to fulfil its business.
-The Committee will be responsible for disciplinary hearings of members who infringe the association rules/regulations/constitution & for taking any action of suspension, discipline or expulsion following such hearings.
-The Club Treasurer will be responsible for the finances of the association with the financial year running from January 1st and ending on December 31st.
- The association monies will be banked in an account held in the name of the association.
-Annual accounts will be presented by the treasurer at the Annual General Meeting.
-Any cheques drawn against association funds should hold the signature of the treasurer plus up to two other officers.
Meetings
The association shall hold the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in the month of January to:
-Approve the minutes of the previous year’s AGM.
-Receive reports from the Officers & approve the Annual Accounts.
-Elect the officers on the committee.
-Agree the membership fees for the following year.
-Consider any proposed changes to the Constitution.
-Deal with other relevant business.
28 days notice of the AGM will be given by the committee to all members.
Nominations for officers & proposed changes to the constitution must be sent to the committee 14 days prior to the AGM, who shall circulate them at least 7 days before the meeting. Only full members have the right to vote at the AGM.
The quorum for all meetings will be 3.
The President of the association shall hold a deliberative as well as a casting vote at general and committee meetings.
An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) can be called by an application in writing to the committee supported by at least 40% of the members of the association. The committee shall also have the power to call an EGM by decision of a simple majority of the committee members.
All procedures shall follow those outlined above for AGMs.
-The Committee meetings will be convened by the President of the association and be held at such a time as appropriate.
-Only the posts determined each year at the AGM will have the right to vote at committee meetings.
Meetings may be held using technology such as zoom or other similar technology due to distances involved between members of the committee.
Amendments to the constitution
The constitution will only be changed through agreement by majority vote at an AGM or EGM.
Discipline and appeals
All concerns, allegations or reports of poor practice/abuse relating to the welfare of children and young people will be recorded and responded to swiftly and appropriately. The President is the lead contact for all members in the event of any child protection concerns.
All complaints regarding the behaviour of members should be presented and submitted in writing to the Committee. The Committee will meet to hear complaints within 14 days of receipt. The committee has the power to take appropriate disciplinary action including the termination of membership. Both parties will be notified of the decision. An appeal must be submitted within 14 days to be reconsidered, after which the matter will be deemed closed.
Dissolution
A resolution to dissolve The Club can only be passed at an AGM or Committee Meeting through a unanimous vote of the members. In the event of dissolution, all debts should be cleared with any of The Associations funds. Any assets of The Association that remain following this will be transferred to (an)other non profit making organisation(s) of similar objectives as determined by resolution at the dissolving meeting.
This constitution was adopted on 9th January 2022 at the AGM.