The Northern Ireland Ice Skating Association Rules & Constitution
New Name for Northern Ireland Ice Skating Association
Following a recent EGM on the 24th August the members of NIISA have agreed to change the name of the Association to Skate NI.
The Northern Ireland Ice Skating Association Rules & Constitution
CONSTITUTION
The Northern Ireland Ice Skating Association Rules & Constitution
1 NAME
1.1 The Body shall be named ìThe Northern Ireland Ice Skating Associationî hereinafter referred to as ìNIISAî.
2 OFFICE
2.1 The registered office of NIISA will be situated in Northern Ireland.
3 OBJECTS
3.1 The promotion and organisation of all ice figure, free, pairs and ice dance skating in Northern Ireland.
3.2 NIISA is not established or run for profit and the funds shall be used only for the purposes and objects of NIISA deemed to be in the best interests of ice skating and for the encouragement and development of skating in Northern Ireland.
3.3 The organisation and funding of Coaching Schemes for skaters and trainers.
3.4 The encouragement of NIISA members to enrol in training courses organised by the parent body ìThe National Ice Skating Association of United Kingdom Limitedî, hereinafter referred to as ìNISAî.
3.5 The organisation of events, and the selection and training of squads and teams to represent Northern Ireland.
3.6 The assistance and encouragement of new and existing ice skating clubs in Northern Ireland.
4 AFFILIATION
4.1 NIISA shall be affiliated to NISA under Paragraph 5 of the latter's Articles of Association.
5 MEMBERSHIP AND SUBSCRIPTIONS
The membership of NIISA (hereinafter referred to as the members) shall consist of seven classifications as follows:-
5.1.1 Full Membership
Full members who shall be eligible persons defined under the rules of NISA. To become a full member, he or she shall qualify under at least one of the following terms:
5.1.1.1 To be born in Northern Ireland or being a natural or adopted child of parents who themselves were born in Northern Ireland.
5.1.1.2 To be and to have been resident in Northern Ireland for a minimum of one year.
5.1.1.3 To be a member of a Northern Ireland Ice Skating Club affiliated to NIISA and receiving his/her ice skating instruction (if any) in Northern Ireland.
5.1.1.4 Be a person who wishes to actively assist in the administration and/or development of ice skating in Northern Ireland, who can demonstrate that they have particular talents, experience or qualifications (e.g. qualified NISA judge) and whom the Council formally consider would be an asset to NIISA.
5.1.2 Honorary Membership
Honorary membership of NISA may be conferred by the Council upon any person who has rendered special service to NIISA with such rights and privileges as the Council may, from time to time, determine.
5.1.2.1 Associate Membership
Associate members, who are non-voting members, shall be members who are non-participating patrons of the sport or who do not qualify under 5.1.1.
5.1.3 Affiliated Clubs
To be eligible for affiliation to NIISA a club shall:
5.1.3.1 Have its offices and organise its main events in Northern Ireland.
5.1.3.2 Be affiliated to NISA.
5.1.4 Life Membership
Life membership (full) or life membership (associate) shall be available to full or associate members as appropriate on payment of a donation of 15 times the annual subscription.
5.1.5 Corporate Membership
Societies, Business Houses, Companies and other public or private bodies may, subject to approval by the Council, become Corporate members at an annual subscription to be fixed by the Council.
5.1.6 Family Membership
As defined annually by the NIISA Council. Those family members aged 18 or over having the same rights and privileges as a Full member and those family members under 18 having the same rights and privileges as an Associate Member
5.2 Every member (other than Life or Honorary Members) shall pay an annual subscription towards the expenses of NIISA. The rates for Full, Family and Associate members, the affiliation fees for affiliated clubs and the joining fees, shall be set by the Council.
5.3 New members may be accepted at any time on payment of the current joining fee and annual subscription.
5.4 Subscriptions and affiliations shall become due and payable every year on a date determined by the NIISA Council and are not returnable. Any member or affiliated club who has failed to pay the subscription or affiliation fee within three months of the due date for payment shall be deemed to have forfeited the rights and privileges of membership so long as the subscription or affiliation fee remains unpaid.
5.5 A list of members, affiliated clubs and members of affiliated clubs shall be kept by the Honorary Secretary of NIISA and be available for inspection by the NIISA Council or any full member on request.
5.6 A member or affiliated club may resign membership at any time by giving written notice of the intention to do so to the Honorary Secretary. Resignation will not relieve a member or affiliated club of liability to pay any subscription or affiliation fee that may be due up to the end of the calendar year during which resignation is given.
5.7 If in the opinion of the NIISA Council it is desirable in the interests of NIISA that any member or affiliated club thereof should cease to be a member, the NIISA Council, after giving such a member the opportunity of being heard before them, after such a request (unless an appeal shall have been lodged by such member in accordance with the provisions of the following clause), the NIISA Council shall have the power to expel such member from NIISA.
5.8 A member or affiliated club requested to resign by the NIISA Council or under threat of expulsion under paragraph 5.7 of this Constitution shall have the right to appeal in writing. At least seven days before the hearing of the appeal, notice of the time and place fixed for the hearing shall be sent to the person under notice of expulsion.
5.8.1 The appeal shall be heard by a committee appointed by the NIISA Council and whose findings must be ratified by the NIISA Council.
5.8.2 A member or affiliated club resigning in pursuance of a request from the NIISA Council or expelled under paragraph 5.7 of this constitution may, after a period of twelve months, apply in writing to the Honorary Secretary of NIISA for reinstatement. Such reinstatement may be granted or withheld at the discretion of the NIISA Council.
5.9 Any person, in order to be eligible to participate in any benefits accruing from membership of the Association, in connection with taking part in NISA Proficiency Tests, must be a member of the Association for at least 30 days before the said Tests.
6 MEETINGS
6.1 Annual General Meeting
6.1.1 An Annual General Meeting of NIISA shall be held annually in December.
6.1.2 The Honorary Secretary shall convene the Annual General Meeting by arranging the posting of notice thereof to all members and affiliated clubs specifying the time and place of the Annual General Meeting.
6.1.3 The Annual General Meeting shall elect NIISA Council, as defined in paragragh 9, and appoint auditors for the ensuing year.
6.1.4 Nominations for the Council and items for inclusion on the agenda shall be made in writing and received by the Honorary Secretary at least 20 days before the date of the Annual General Meeting. The Honorary Secretary shall arrange for notice to be posted of such nominations and agenda received not less than 10 days before the date of the Annual General Meeting.
6.1.5 The Treasurer of an Affiliated Club may not hold the position of Honorary Treasurer of NIISA. Concurrently.
6.1.6 Office Bearers and other Council members shall hold office for a period of one year, at the expiry of which they shall be eligible for re-election.
7 SPECIAL MEETINGS
7.1 A Special General Meeting may be convened at any time by the NIISA Council. The Honorary Secretary shall arrange for notice to be posted of the time, place and business of the meeting not less than 15 days prior to the set date.
7.2 A Special General Meeting shall be convened by the NIISA Council within six weeks of receipt of a requisition from at least 20 of the full members of the NIISA. The requisition shall state the purpose for which the Special General Meeting is to be called. The Honorary Secretary shall arrange the meeting as defined in paragraph 7.1.
8 VOTING PROCEDURES
8.1 At any General Meeting of NIISA, a quorum shall be one third of voting members or 20 voting members, whichever is the lesser.
8.2 Excluding Affiliated Clubs, all members of NIISA, provided that their subscriptions are not in arrears on the day of the meeting, shall be entitled to attend the NIISA meeting. Only Full, Honorary or Life members aged 15 or over and who have been members for at least six (6) months before the date of the Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting shall be entitled to vote.
8.3 At any General Meeting of NIISA all business, except the ballot for Office Bearers or Council ordinary members, shall be decided by a show of hands unless prior to a vote being taken a ballot is:
8.3.1 Directed by the Chairperson of the meeting.
8.3.2 Demanded by not less than 50% of the members present and entitled to vote.
8.4 Every member present and entitled to vote shall have one vote. Decisions will be reached on the basis of a simple majority, except in case of amendments to the Constitution (see paragraph 15.1). In the case of equality of votes the Chairperson of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote or at his/her discretion, may direct a second ballot or a second show of hands.
9 THE NIISA COUNCIL
9.1 The affairs of NIISA shall be managed by the NIISA Council which shall meet not less than quarterly and, subject to this constitution, shall have full power to apply the funds of NIISA and to take such other steps as seem to be necessary in order to pursue the objectives of NIISA.
9.1.1 The NIISA Council shall comprise:
The Chairperson
The Honorary Secretary
The Honorary Treasurer
The Events Secretary
One representative from each affiliated club nominated by and representing that club, Parents Liaison Officer, Skaters Liaison Officer, Coaches Liaison Officer. All Council members shall be Full, Honorary or Life members of the NIISA as defined in paragraph 5.
9.1.2 At the discretion of the NIISA Council an ex-officio President may be elected, this office to be held for a period of three years. This office may be offered to a person who is not already a member of NIISA.
9.2 The NIISA Council may:
9.2.1 Co-opt on a temporary basis up to four Full, Honorary or Life members of NIISA over 18 years of age to serve on the NIISA Council in addition to the positions listed in paragraph 9.1.1. The balance of Council members should not be such as to give undue representation to any individual Affiliated Club.
9.2.2 Appoint sub-committees comprising Full, Honorary or Life members of NIISA over 15 years of age.
9.2.3 Allow substitute representatives to attend NIISA Council meetings in the place of nominated club representatives.
9.2.4 Subject to paragraph 9.2.1, fill any casual vacancy arising in the membership of the NIISA Council. The person appointed shall fill the vacancy until the expiry of the term of office of the person whose place he/she is filling.
9.2.5 Appoint such Liaison or Development Representatives as may be required to enable the aims of NIISA to be progressed and/or meet the requirements of other governing bodies such as the Sports Council for Northern Ireland etc. Such representatives shall be members of the Council.
9.3 A meeting of the NIISA Council may be convened at any time by the Chairperson of the NIISA Council or the Honorary Secretary. Ameeting of the NIISA Council shall also be convened by the Honorary Secretary within 14 days of receipt of such a request from not less than one third of the members of the NIISA Council. Thereafter a meeting of the NIISA Council may be convened by those members making such a request.
9.4 A meeting of the NIISA Council shall be convened by formally notifying all the NIISA Council members of time and place of the meeting and, so far as is practicable, the nature of the business to be discussed, allowing seven days clear notice.
9.5 The quorum for meetings of the NIISA Council shall be agreed at the first meeting of the NIISA Council following the Annual General Meeting.
9.6 All motions at a meeting of the NIISA Council shall be decided by a simple majority of those present and voting. The Chairperson shall have a second or casting vote is there is equality in voting.
10 FINANCE
10.1 All sums received on behalf of NIISA by any person other than the Honorary Treasurer shall be transmitted forthwith to the Honorary Treasurer of NIISA. All sums received on behalf of NIISA by the Honorary Treasurer shall be paid into a NIISA bank or building society account as soon as is practicable.
10.2 The Honorary Treasurer shall keep such bank or building society accounts, hereinafter called the NIISA banking accounts, as may be sanctioned by the Council. All payment on behalf of NIISA shall be made by cheque or other appropriate banking instrument drawn on a NIISA account and signed by such persons as the NIISA Council may authorise for this purpose.
10.3 The Honorary Treasurer shall keep accounts of all monies received and paid out by him/her and shall close accounts at the 31 st March each year. The Honorary Treasurer shall arrange for the accounts to be audited.
10.4 The audited accounts shall be presented at the Annual General Meeting.
10.5 Fund-raising
10.5.1 Any Member or Affiliated Club wishing to raise funds for NIISA shall first obtain approval of the NIISA Council.
10.5.2 NIISA may enter into agreements to accept sponsorship from any source, provided that no major use is made of such sponsorship by the sponsors other than a simple statement or announcement of the fact and also provided that eligibility is in no way infringed. All sponsorship agreements or arrangements for media coverage of an event organised by, or on behalf of NIISA shall be subject to the prior approval of the NIISA Council and, where appropriate, NISA.
10.5.3 Individual financial benefits (e.g direct grant assistance, or indirect assistance through subsidised individual coaching arrange through NIISA) may be paid only to full Members whose subscriptions are not in arrears.
10.5.4 The NIISA Council reserves the right to apply different rates of charge based on age/membership category to any group coaching schemes, seminars, etc., which it may organise.
11 COMPETITIONS AND CHAMPIONSHIPS
11.1 Any person who intends to participate in The Northern Ireland Championships, Open Competitions or any other competition organised by NIISA, must either be a member of NIISA or one of its affiliated clubs or a member of his or her national governing body or one of its affiliated clubs.
11.2 Any person, in order to receive any benefit from NIISA, shall be required to be a Full Family or Associate Member.
11.3 Affiliated Clubs shall operate and organise their competitions within the ruls and regulations adopted by NIISA. (All rules and regulations, relating to competitors and officials shall be those generally adopted and guided by NISA/ISU regulations).
11.4 The Ice Figure and Free Skating, Ice Dancing and Pairs Skating Championships of Northern Ireland, catering for appropriate age/qualification classes will be organised annually by NIISA as and when the Council so see it fit to commence.
11.5 The Northern Ireland Open Competitions in Figure, Free, Dance and Pairs Ice Skating shall be promoted annually by the NIISA.
11.6 All Open Competitions held in Northern Ireland shall be organised by NIISA or Affiliated Clubs with the agreement of the NIISA Council and in accordance with the fixture list.
12 DRUG ABUSE
12.1 Doping is strictly forbidden.
12.2 Doping is the use by or distribution to a sportsman or sportswoman of banned substances as defined by the IOC Medical Commission.
12.3 Any skater mist, if requested by an official, designated by the governing body for the purpose of doping control, submit to a doping control test. Failure to do so will be taken as if a positive test result had been obtained and dealt with accordingly.
12.4 The identification of a forbidden substance and/or one of its metabolites, or the presence of specified amounts of endogenous (i.e naturally occurring) substances subject to quantitative analysis in a body fluid will constitute an offence and the offender may be penalised. For these regulations, caffeine will be dealt with as though it were an endogenous substance.
12.5 Any person assisting or inciting others in the contravention of doping regulations shall be considered as having committed an offence against the governing body rules and may be subject to disciplinary action.
13 CHILD PROTECTION POLICY (click here)
13.1 In accordance with the Children (NI) Order 1995, NIISA has a Child Protection Policy in place.
13.2 Each Affiliated Club shall implement an effective Child Protection Policy.
13.3 In keeping with the aims of NIISA, each Club with junior members shall appoint at least one member (preferably two, one of each gender) who will have a remit for Child Protection.
14 ELIGIBILITY
14.1 NIISA shall adopt the eligibility regulations as defined by NISA in its General Rules 1,2,3, and 4.
15 AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
15.1 Amendments to this Constitution may only be made at a General meeting, prior notice having been given in the notice convening the General Meeting. A 75% vote of those present and voting in favour of any amendment is required for its acceptance. Acceptance is also subject to approval by NISA.
15.2 Sufficient notice of any proposed amendments must be given to the Honorary Secretary in time to be considered by the NIISA Council and to include them in the notice calling the General Meeting.
16 DESOLUTION
16.1 Prior notice having been given in the notice convening the General Meeting at which the matter is to be discussed, NIISA may be dissolved by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at the meeting. In the event of any funds remaining after the financial affairs of NIISA having been settled, such funds will be given to an organisation having objects similar to those of NISA.
17 GENERAL
17.1 Any rules or regulations not covered in this Constitution or determined by the NIISA Council shall be as per the Memorandum, Articles of Association and Rules of NISA.