Proposed Constitution for

WESTERN RIDING SCOTLAND

TITLE

1. The Association’s name (hereinafter called "the Association") shall be

 

Western Riding Scotland

 

OFFICES

2. The office of the Association shall be situated in Scotland.

 

OBJECTIVES

3. The objectives of the Association shall be:­

 

(a) to act as an “umbrella” organisation for those parties, within Scotland, interested in Western Riding (hereinafter called "the Sport")This shall include those involved and those interested in competitive and recreational western riding;

(b) to obtain full membership of the Scottish Equestrian Association;

           

(c) to run an Internet based website for the benefit of the Association and the Sport in Scotland;

 

(d) to foster, encourage, promote and develop the sport of western riding in all its forms and to uphold the rules of the Sport that may be in force;

 

(e) to provide vision, leadership and guidance for western riding interests in Scotland and to provide a focal point for representing western riding issues, both within and outside the equestrian community;

 

(f) to make representations as appropriate to the Scottish Equestrian Associations, other statutory and non-statutory bodies and any other organisations or individual as may be required in the interests of the western riding enthusiasts and Scottish equestrian interests in general;

 

(g) to act as a consultative and advisory body for any other organisation, group or individual as may be considered appropriate;

 

(h) to promote championships and any other events and competitions;

 

 

(i) to foster, encourage and promote the breeding of better Scottish horses for all disciplines within western riding;

 

(j) generally to advance and safeguard the interests of the Sport in Scotland and those of the Association, and to do all such acts and things as may from time to time be deemed necessary or expedient for or in connection with the Sport in Scotland and the Association.

 

RULES AND REGULATIONS

4. The Association shall have without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, power to do all such lawful things as will further the foregoing objectives and in particular:­

 

(a) To obtain, collect and receive money and funds by way of contributions, subscriptions, affiliation fees, donations, legacies, awards, grants, covenants or by organising functions or events or by any other lawful method and to accept and receive gifts of property of any description (whether subject to any special trust or not);

 

 

(b) To promote or procure the teaching of the Sport and to encourage or make arrangements for the training and accreditation of coaches, instructors, judges, and officials;

 

(c) To co-operate with education authorities, universities and generally the tertiary education system in the promotion of the Sport and of appropriate courses for riders, coaches, teachers, and officials;

 

(d) To print, publish, issue, circulate and commission papers, periodicals, books, circulars and other literary works and to commission or make films or video tapes, wall charts and any other forms of visual aid in connection with the Sport;

 

(e) To institute, establish, contribute towards and administer scholarships, bursaries, grants, awards and other benefactions;

 

(f) To promote and encourage research and to collect and publish and procure the publication of the useful results thereof;

 

(g) To layout, manage, equip and maintain or assist in the laying out, management, equipment and maintenance of facilities or accommodation (whether vested in the Association or not) to be used for the teaching, coaching or participation in the Sport;

 

(h) To purchase lease or by any other means acquire interests in or take options over any property whatever, and any rights or privileges of any kind over or in respect of any property; and to grant indemnities where appropriate to those from whom any such property is acquired.

 

(i) To improve, manage, construct, repair, develop, exchange, let on lease or otherwise, mortgage, charge, sell, dispose of, turn to account, grant licences, options, rights and privileges in respect of, or otherwise deal with all or any part of the property and rights of the Association;

 

 

(j) To invest and deal with the moneys of the Association not immediately required in such manner as may from time to time be determined and to hold or otherwise deal with any investments made.

 

 


(k) To draw, make, accept, endorse, discount, negotiate, execute and issue cheques, bills of exchange, promissory notes, bills of lading, warrants, debentures, and other negotiable or transferable instruments.

 

 

 

(l) To enter into any arrangements with any government or authority (supreme, municipal, local, or otherwise) that may seem conducive to the attainment of the Association's objects or any of them, and to obtain from any such government or authority any charters, decrees, rights, privileges, and concessions.

 

 (m) To control, manage, finance, subsidise, co-ordinate or otherwise assist any Association or companies in which the Association has a direct or indirect financial interest, to provide secretarial, administrative, technical, commercial and other services and facilities of all kinds for any such Association or companies and to make payments by way of subvention or otherwise and any other arrangements which may seem desirable with respect to any business or operations of or generally with respect to any such Association or companies.

 

(n) To promote any other Association for the purpose of acquiring the whole or any part of the business or property or undertaking or any of the liabilities of the Association, or of undertaking any business or operations which may appear likely to assist or benefit the Association or to enhance the value of any property or business of the Association, and to place or guarantee the placing of, underwrite, subscribe for, or otherwise acquire all or any part of the shares or securities of any such Association as aforesaid.

 

(o) To sell or otherwise dispose of the whole or any part of the business or property of the Association, either together or in portions, for such consideration as the Association may think fit, and in particular for shares, debentures, or securities of any Association purchasing the same.

 

(p) To act as agents or brokers and as trustees for any person, firm or Association or in any appropriate manner, and to undertake and perform sub-contracts.

 

(q) To remunerate any person, firm or Association rendering services to the Association either by cash payment or otherwise as may be thought expedient; to give or award pensions, annuities, gratuities, and superannuation or other allowances or benefits or charitable aid and generally to provide advantages, facilities and services for any persons who are or have been employed by, or who are serving or have served the Association.

 

(r) To pay all or any reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the promotion and formation of the Association.

 

(s) To support and subscribe to any charitable or public object and to support and subscribe to any institution, society, or club which may be for the benefit of the Association. ;

 

 

 (t) To do all such other things as may be deemed incidental or conducive to the attainment of the Association's objects or any of them.

 

AND so that:­

 

(1) None of the objects set forth in any sub-clause of this Clause shall be restrictively construed but the widest interpretation shall be given to each such object, and none of such objects shall, except where the context expressly so requires, be in any way limited or restricted by reference to or inference from any other object or objects set forth in such sub-clause, or by reference to or inference from the terms of any other sub-clause of this Clause, or by reference to or inference from the name of the Association.

 

(2) None of the sub-clauses of this Clause and none of the objects therein specified shall be deemed subsidiary or ancillary to any of the objects specified in any other such sub-clause, and the Association shall have as full a power to exercise each and every one of the objects specified in each sub-clause of this Clause as though each such sub-clause contained the objects of a separate Association.

 

 

5. The income and the property of the Association shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objectives set forth in this Constitution. No portion of the income or property of the Association shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend, bonus or profit share to any person or organisation.

 

 

 

6. If upon the winding up or dissolution of the Association there remains after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities any property whatsoever it shall not be paid to or distributed to any person or organisation unless they  have objectives similar to the objects of the Association and prohibit the distribution of its or their income and property to an extent as great as is imposed on the Association.

 

7. MANAGEMENT of the ASSOCIATION

 

(a)All powers of management shall be vested in a Council herein referred to as “the Council”. 

(b)The Council shall consist of up to 9 members, 4 of these Council members shall be appointed by the members of the Western Equestrian Society in Scotland, 1 Council member will be appointed by the members of British Reining in Scotland, 1 will be appointed by the Western Breeds in Scotland and 3 will be elected during the Association’s Annual General Meeting from Western Riding enthusiasts whether they are  or are not a member of any of the fore mentioned Organisations.

 

(c)The Council shall each year elect a Chairperson and a Secretary/Treasurer..

 

(d)If membership of the Council falls below its maximum of 9 then Council can, if they so wish co-opt any person(s) onto the Council. The appointee shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting whereupon they shall stand down and may offer themselves for election or appointment.

 

(e) At the Annual General Meeting in each year one of the three elected Council members shall retire, the member to retire being he/she who has served longest in office, and as between those who have served in office for the same duration the members to retire shall be determined by lot. Retiring elected members may offer themselves for re-election.

 

(f) Those standing for election to a position on the Council, except retiring members standing for re-election, shall submit, no less than 28 days prior to the meeting, brief details of their experience and reasons for their application for the position, to enable the information to be presented prior to the meeting.

 

(g) Council members are charged to meet at least two times per year on a day and at a time and place mutually convenient in order to discuss the proper running of the Association for the benefit of the Sport in all matters appertaining to the Association. Additional meetings shall be convened by the Secretary at the request of the Chairperson, or of a quorum of the Council, and no less than 10 days notice shall be given.

 

(h) A minimum of four Council members present are required for a quorum, and the Chairperson shall preside (or in his absence any other member of the Council so appointed by the members present) and shall hold an additional casting vote.

 

(i) Any member of the Council may be removed from office by a Resolution carried by a majority vote at any meeting of the Council or at any General Meeting.

 

(j) All Association accounts must have at least three signatories, any two of whom must be used for any withdrawal.

 

(k) The Council shall have power to make, amend, revoke and implement, the  Rules and By-laws for regulating the conduct and affairs of the Association, provided the same are consistent with this Constitution. A copy of such Rules shall be published on the Association’s website and changes thereto shall be notified on the website and at the AGM and require to be ratified by the AGM.

 

(l)When deemed necessary or expedient to assist with the running of the Association the Council may appoint any Committee or Working Party which shall conduct its business in accordance with the directions of the Council and report its proceedings to the Council.

 

GENERAL MEETINGS

8.    An Annual General Meeting of the Association shall be held during the month of November each year to transact the following business:

 

a)  Receive reports from the Chairman and Secretary/Treasurer;

 

b) Receive and if approved, adopt a Financial Statement of the Association’s Accounts in respect of the preceding financial year;

 

c)  Elect Members to fill vacancies on the Council;

 

e) Deal with any matter which the Council may desire to bring before the Meeting;

 

f) Discuss resolutions proposed by anybody entitled to attend, by written notice to the Secretary, by no less than 42 days prior to the meeting.

 

g) Receive suggestions from the Members for consideration by the Council;

 

h) Discuss any other business relevant to the running of the Association.

 

i) Notice convening the meeting and specifying the agenda, together with a copy of the accounts shall be issued to interested parties no less than 21 days prior to the meeting.

 

j) No business other than that printed in the agenda shall be the subject of a vote.

8.1 Those entitled to attend and vote at a General Meeting are the Council Members, the members of the Organisations they represent and any person having a legitimate interest in the Association and the Sport

8.2  An Extraordinary General Meeting may be convened by the Council. No less than 21 days written notice of such a meeting shall be given.

8.3  An Extraordinary Meeting shall be restricted to:

a)      Receiving reports from the Chairman and Secretary/Treasurer;

b)      Deal with the single item that the EGM was called to discuss;

         c)  No business other than that printed in the agenda shall be the subject of a vote.

8.4 At a General Meeting a minimum of 20 people entitled to attend are required for a quorum, and the Chairperson shall preside (or in his/her absence any other member of the Council so appointed by the Members present) and shall hold an additional casting vote.

 

 

VARIATION

9     The Constitution of the Association shall be amended, supplemented, or rescinded only by the Council but is subject to ratification by a majority vote of those attending the AGM or EGM.

 

LIABILITY

10 The Association and its Council and Officers and Persons acting on their behalf shall not be liable for any accident, injury, illness or damage to horses, owners, riders, grooms, spectators or any other person or property whatsoever or howsoever caused.

 

DISSOLUTION

11   If at a meeting of the Council a Resolution to dissolve the Association is adopted by at least three-quarters of the full Council, whether voting in person or by proxy, then the Council shall, convene an Extraordinary General Meeting. If the Resolution is adopted by a majority of those voting then the Council shall dispose of the Assets of the Association and discharge all liabilities and to distribute the proceeds thereof to or amongst any Registered Charity or Charities or Organisations whose activities are as closely as possible consistent with the objects of the Association.