This Constitution is currently under review and it is hoped that a revised Constitution will be ready in time for the 2021 Annual General Meeting.
Companies Acts, 1963 to 1995
Company Limited by Guarantee and Not Having a Share Capital
Memorandum of Association of the
Irish Coastal Rowing Federation Limited
A.1 To take over and assume all or any of the assets, rights, liabilities and rules of the Irish Coastal Rowing Federation as existed prior to the incorporation of the Federation.
A.2 To promote the sport of coastal rowing, and do all such other things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of coastal rowing on the island of Ireland.
A.3 To Foster the ideals, intentions and aims of the Irish Coastal Rowing Federation and to promote the art and sport of rowing on a Regional, National and International scale.
A.4 To encourage, uphold and enhance the status of the annual All-Ireland Coastal Rowing Championships.
A.5 Company Name
The Name of the Company shall be the ‘Irish Coastal Rowing Federation Limited’ and the Address shall be the Address of the Secretary for the time being.
A.6 Composition of the Irish Coastal Rowing Federation
The Federation shall comprise of all or any such rowing associations and/or Clubs from the Island of Ireland and its Islands that apply to join the Federation and are accepted for membership. An Association is defined as a grouping that has two or more affiliated active rowing clubs.
A.7 Club Membership
In order to be compliant with the needs of Good Governance, it is necessary to have a direct link between the Federation and the Clubs, for that reason, clubs are required to affiliate directly to the Federation.
A.8 Procedure for New Members
Applicant Associations and Applicant Clubs must apply using the appropriate application form which must be sent to the Secretary to become Members of the ICRF. Upon receipt of an application for Membership from a new Applicant, the Board must approve every application by a minimum two thirds vote in favour.
A.9 Definition of a Member
A member herein after, means a fully paid up, affiliated club or affiliated association.
A.10 Executive Committee
- The Board shall manage the affairs of the Federation.
The Board shall consist of the following: President, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Communications Officer, Safety Officer, Registrar, Child Protection Officers (x 2), Development Officers (x 2) and any other such officers as may be required or so appointed. Officers of the Board shall be appointed each year at the Annual General Meeting except as described in A.16, A.17A & A.17B. Should a position become vacant during the year, the remaining members of the Board can decide whether to co-opt a new officer onto the Board or to leave that position vacant until the next AGM. See Appendix 7.
- In order to effectively manage the affairs of the Federation:
- The Board: The Board shall organise Executive Meetings where the Executive Officers as a collective can discuss and plan the affairs of the Federation in accordance with Best Practice and as may be deemed necessary to further the aims of the Federation, the Sport of Coastal Rowing in Ireland and those who participate in it.
- Quorum: A quorum at Board Meetings shall consist of the Chairman (or Vice-Chair), Secretary and at least four other members of the Board. In the event of the Secretary’s absence, the Members present may elect an ‘Acting Secretary’ for the day from amongst those present however the numbers set out above must be present, i.e. Chair (or Vice-Chair), Acting Secretary and at least four other members of the Board.
- Board Bulletin: The Secretary shall be responsible for issuing a synopsis of the outcome of Board Meetings within two weeks of each Board Meeting providing a brief summary of the items agreed at that meeting. Cognisance must be taken of the requirement for non-disclosure of items of a sensitive or confidential nature.
- Sub-Committees: The Board shall have the right to appoint any and all such Sub-Committees as may be deemed necessary to effectively manage, plan, correlate, investigate and/or analyse any such matters as may be deemed necessary to further the aims of the Federation, the Sport of Coastal Rowing in Ireland and those who participate in it.
- The Membership of Sub-Committees can be made up of any combination of Board Members and/or Non-Board Members.
- The ICRF Chairman & Secretary shall be entitled by right to be members of all Sub-Committees.
- Any Officer of the Board shall be entitled by right to be a member of any Sub-Committee that overlaps into that Officer’s Area of Responsibility.
- No Person shall be permitted to be a Member of any Sub-Committee that is tasked with dealing with any issue that relates either directly or indirectly to that person or his/her club or association. Should a conflict of interest subsequently come to light, then any person so affected must immediately stand aside until such time as any or all such conflicts have been morally and ethically resolved.
- Delegations: The Board shall have the right to appoint and send Delegates to attend any events or organisations as may be deemed beneficial to the furtherance of the aims of the Federation, the Sport of Coastal Rowing in Ireland and those who participate in it.
- Services: The Board shall have the right to hire or appoint any company, organisation or individual as may be deemed beneficial to the furtherance of the aims of the Federation, the Sport of Coastal Rowing in Ireland and those who participate in it.
- Facilities: The Board shall have the right to hire, purchase or commission any equipment, items, materials or services as may be deemed beneficial to the furtherance of the aims of the Federation, the Sport of Coastal Rowing in Ireland and those who participate in it.
- Assistance: The Board shall have the right to award or render monetary or other assistance to clubs and/or individuals to assist them in attending or participating in events of national or international significance as may be deemed beneficial to the furtherance of the aims of the Federation, the Sport of Coastal Rowing in Ireland and those who participate in it.
- Start-Ups: The Board shall have the right to award or render monetary or other assistance to clubs or groups in order to help those clubs or groups to become established and/or to promote the sport of Coastal Rowing in their area.
- Expenditure: The Board shall not expend more than €15,000 in any year with any supplier or service provider except where approval has been given by the Members at a Delegates Meeting or at an Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting.
- Debt: The Board shall not commit the Federation to any form of financial debt burden (g. loans or other forms of debt) except where approval has been given by the Members at a Delegates or General Meeting (Annual or Extraordinary).
- Welfare Policies: The Board shall have the responsibility / authority to Design, Develop, Introduce and Enforce Policies and Procedures in all areas of Child and Vulnerable Persons Welfare to ensure compliance with legislation in both jurisdictions (ROI/NI) and in keeping with best practice to ensure the protection and enhancement of the welfare of Youth, Children & Vulnerable Persons taking part in our sport.
- Other Policies: The Board shall have the responsibility / authority to Design, Develop, Introduce and Enforce Policies and Procedures in order to ensure compliance with National Legislation and Best Practice in our Coastal Rowing Community and our Sport.
A.11 Notice of Annual General Meeting
The Secretary shall give notice of the Annual General Meeting at least 6 weeks in advance of it taking place.
A.12 Notice of A.G.M., Nominations to the Executive & Notices of Motion
Notice of the Annual General Meeting along with ‘Nominations to the Executive’ and ‘Notices of Motion’ forms shall be issued to all fully paid up members at least 6 weeks in advance of the A.G.M. All completed ‘Nominations to the Executive’ and ‘Notices of Motion’ forms must be returned to the Federation Secretary within 3 weeks (that is 3 weeks in advance of the A.G.M.). The Secretary shall then furnish each member with a complete list of ‘Nominations to the Executive’ and ‘Notices of Motion’ received along with a full agenda within 1 week (that is 2 weeks in advance of the A.G.M.) for consideration by the member associations before voting on at the A.G.M.
A.13 Delegates & Voting
Each fully paid up Member Association shall appoint three (3) Delegates to the Federation and any two (2) delegates shall be entitled to vote on behalf of their association on all matters being voted upon. As a single entity the Executive is entitled to 1 vote, which shall be cast by the Chairman. Any Association which is not fully paid up will not be permitted to vote.
A.14 Quorum
A minimum of 50% of Associations plus 1 Association is required to be in attendance to make up a quorum at a Delegates meeting or an Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting to proceed.
A.15 Honorary President Term
The Honorary President will serve for a term of 5 years. Nominations for the position of Honorary President will be accepted for election at the Annual General Meeting immediately preceding the end of each 5 year term of office or at the next Annual General Meeting if the position becomes vacant before the 5 year term expires. See Appendix 7.
A.16 Commodore
The Irish Coastal Rowing Federation may, if it is the wish of the affiliated members, appoint a person deemed to be deserving of the honour, to the position of Commodore. See Appendix 7.
A.17A Child Protection Officers
The Child Protection Officers shall be appointed directly by the Board taking into consideration the appointee’s knowledge, experience and aptitude in the field of Child Welfare. Their appointment shall be for a period of up to three (3) years after which they may be reappointed for another term or new appointments can be made. It is a requirement that Child Protection Officers must be Garda or Access NI Vetted (as appropriate) and cleared. See Appendix 7.
A.17B Safety Officer
Effective from 2023 AGM, the Safety Officer shall be appointed directly by the Board taking into consideration the Appointee’s knowledge, experience and aptitude in the field of Health & Safety. The appointment shall be for a period of up to three (3) years after which the Appointee may be reappointed for another term or a new appointment can be made.
A.18 Amendments to the Constitution
Any article of the Constitution can be amended as follows:
-
- At an Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting, by a Two Thirds vote in favour by those Members voting.
Any rule can be amended as follows:
-
- At an Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting, by a simple majority vote in favour by the Members voting.
- Any other time: By a Unanimous vote in favour by those Members voting.
A.19 Voting by Proxy
In the event that a Member (Association or Club) is unable to attend a meeting but wishes to exercise their voting rights on any or all voting matters, this can be done by the Association or Club Secretary e-mailing the ICRF Secretary and declaring their voting intentions on each item/matter up for consideration. The ICRF Secretary will then vote on that Club / Association’s behalf on each item in accordance with the Club / Associations declaration of Voting Intention. The e-mail must be received from the Secretary’s registered e-mail account and will not be acceptable from any source other than the Secretary’s registered e-mail account.
A.20 Official Colours
The official colours of the Irish Coastal Rowing Federation are Green and Blue.
A.21 Annual Regatta
The annual regatta organised by the Federation shall be called the ‘All-Ireland Coastal Rowing Championships’.
The organisation and running of the All-Ireland Coastal Rowing Championships shall be the responsibility of a dedicated Sub-Committee called the ‘All-Ireland Sub-Committee’. The members of the Sub-Committee shall be appointed by the Board of the ICRF.
A.22 Hosting Rights
Each Association shall by right be entitled to host the All-Ireland Coastal Rowing Championships on a rotational basis.
-
- When it is that Association’s turn to host the event, providing that Association can provide a suitable venue and satisfy all criteria for hosting the event, then that Association shall have the right to host the All-Ireland Coastal Rowing Championships that year.
- In the event that an Association which has the right to host the Championships in a particular year declines for whatever reason to exercise their right to host the event, the Executive Board shall be tasked with finding and selecting a suitable alternative host or venue.
- The scheduled Host Association shall be confirmed at least 3 years in advance. Refer to Appendix 8 for list of Scheduled Hosts
A.23 Federation Flag
The Federation Flag shall be flown at all Federation regattas.