Club Rules

The objectives of the Club shall be:-

(a) The furtherance of social and sporting activities in the interest of motorcycling in general and the Rudge marquee in particular;

(b) The perpetuation of the Rudge marque by encouraging and supporting the continued use of Rudge Whitworth products;

(c) The preservation of memorabilia, records and artefacts associated with the marque.

Every person desirous of becoming a member of the Company must accept the Rudge Enthusiasts Club Ltd rules on joining. The Executive Committee reserves the right to refuse membership.

At the discretion of the Committee the following categories of membership are available:

(a) FULL MEMBERSHIP – This will be open to any person who has an enthusiasm for, or interest in, the Rudge Marque, its history or any product produced by the Rudge Company, or its subsidiaries.

(b) FAMILY MEMBERSHIP – A full member may also sponsor one additional member of their family who resides at the same address as the full member.

(c) JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP – A person under the age of 16 will be known as a Junior Member.

(d) HONORARY MEMBERSHIP – Will be bestowed on:

(i) Honorary Membership, will be bestowed on nominations submitted through the Executive Committee and confirmed by a 2/3 majority at an AGM; to those persons who have rendered the Club special service, or have furthered the cause of motor cycling in general or Rudge machines in particular, by some act or acts for which such recognition by the Club shall be justified.

(ii) Anyone elected under to Honorary Membership shall remain in the category for as long as he or she wishes, or the Club decided by a 2/3 majority at a General meeting to withdraw the honour. Members in the category shall enjoy all the rights and facilities available to members with Full Membership.

The annual subscription shall be reviewed annually and be determined at the following general meeting.

(a) This is payable on joining and subsequently is due each year at the anniversary of your joining date and must comply with the following:

(i) Full Membership - the full membership fee at the current rate, except those residing Overseas, who will pay an additional amount to be set by the Executive Committee;

(ii) Family Membership - a reduced rate not exceeding ¼ of the average annual UK and Overseas full membership subscription rate, such rate to be raised only in line with the full membership fee.

(iii) Junior Membership - will be exempt from paying any subscriptions or fees. They will not receive a copy of the Club Journal but view the Club Journal via the Club WEB site.

(b) No member shall participate in any of the privileges of the Club, or ride in the Club’s name, if such members have not paid their subscription within 30 days of the subscription dew date. Such members will be deemed to have resigned with all continuous membership data deleted.

(c) All members, wherever residing, must pay their subscription in Sterling.

Annual General Meetings

(a) The notice of General Meetings shall be published at least 21 days prior to the date of the meetings. The agenda shall be drawn up by the General Secretary of Club Chairman and shall be discussed in detail by the Executive Committee prior to the meeting.

(b) A quorum shall be 35 fully paid up members present in person or by proxy. Votes may be given on a poll, either personally or by proxy. On a show of hands a member present who has voted by proxy shall have no vote.

(c) Only registered fully paid up members may vote at a General Meeting of the Company by proxy.

A proxy vote is a ballot cast by one member who can't attend a meeting, or who doesn't want to vote on an issue.

Prior to a company's annual meeting, eligible members receive voting and proxy information that includes the proxy form, the proxy form return address and return date. The form may be returned by post or email.

Rather than physically attending the meeting, members may use the proxy card to nominate someone else who is attending to vote in their place.

A person designated as a proxy will cast a proxy vote in line with the member’s directions as written on their proxy card.

(d) The annual General meeting shall be held annually but not more than 15 months shall elapse between the date of one annual general meeting of the Company and the next.

(e) The report of the Treasurer and Balance Sheet for the year ending the previous 30^thSeptember will be presented.

(f) The reports of the other Club Officials and Area Representatives will be published in the latest issue of the Journal preceding the Annual General meeting but failing this will be presented at the AGM either in person or by the General Secretary.

(g) All propositions to be discussed and nominations for Club Officials in Section 7(a), 7(b), 7(c), 7(d) and 11(d) must be proposed, seconded and submitted by a registered paid up member in writing to the General Secretary, not later than two weeks before the copy date of the Journal preceding the AGM.

(h) Only registered Full Members shall be entitled to vote and have the right to speak after declaring any possible conflict of interest.

(i) A report of the Annual General Meeting shall be published in the following Club Journal.

Special General Meetings 

(j) The Executive Committee shall have the power to convene a Special General Meeting.

(k) A Special General Meeting must be called if requisitioned as defined in Section 368 of the Companies Act 1985, by 10 percent of the registered paid up membership in writing.

(a) This section applies to General Meetings, Executive Committee meetings and Sub-Committee meetings. The term “Chairman” refers to the Chairman of the meeting who need not be the Club Chairman.

(b) Members of the Club may, with the Chairman’s agreement, attend and speak to any meeting other than a General meeting of the Club. Members of the Club shall be allowed access to minutes of all meeting of the Club.

(c) Voting at meetings of the Club will be restricted to members entitled to vote. In the case of an equality of votes whether on a show of hands or on a poll the Chairman of the meeting (whether a General Meeting or a meeting of the Executive Committee) shall be entitled to a second or casting vote.

(d) Meetings of the Club will normally be chaired by the Club Chairman or, in his absence; the meeting may elect a chairman from amongst those voting members present.

(e) When debating a motion, the commonly accepted rules of debate apply.

(f) Not withstanding Section 18, the Chairman will be responsible for applying and interpreting those Rules which affect the convening and conduct of meetings of the Club.

(g) A proposal which has the affect of amending the memorandum or Articles of Association of the Company shall be proposed and moved in accordance with the Companies Acts from time to time. Subject thereto and unless otherwise stated in these rules a simple majority of those voting will be sufficient to carry a proposal.

(a) PRESIDENT – The President will be elected annually at an Annual General Meeting by a 2/3 majority.

(b) VICE PRESIDENT – A Vice President is a member of the Club whose experience and advice would be of benefit to the Executive Committee. It is expected that he or she will retain an interest in the Clubs affairs. Vice Presidents will be elected by a 2/3 majority at an Annual General meeting.

(c) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE  Save as resolved by the Club in General meeting the Executive Committee shall consists of not less than 3 nor more than 20 members.

The Executive Committee will consist of a Chairman, General Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Journal Editor, Spares Officer, Trophy Officer, Public Relations Secretary, Librarian/ Archivist, Machine Registrar, Competition Secretary, and Committee Member without portfolio. These positions to be confirmed by the committee and formally elected at the AGM after taking up the position.

(d) ASSISTANTS – Appointed by the Executive Committee. As defined in Section 8(c). Any Assistant so appointed will not require to be formally elected at the AGM, following their appointment by the Executive Committee, and their appointment will remain until the Executive Committee deem the Assistant to be no longer required.

(e) No member may simultaneously hold, or perform the duties of, more than one of the Executive Committee posts except as defined in Section 8(b).

(f) Any member wishing to resign from any position within the Club must do so in writing to the General Secretary. The Executive Committee may, at its discretion, delete or create any Executive Committee post other than the President, Vice President, Chairman, General Secretary and the Membership Secretary.

(a) The general organisation and management of the Club shall be the responsibility of the Executive Committee.

(b) The General Secretary shall call Executive Committee meetings with a minimum of 4 meetings being called each year normally in February, May, August and November. Additional meetings may be called as determined by the amount of business. The General Secretary shall be bound to call a meeting at the request of more than half the voting members of the Executive Committee or at the request of the Club Chairman.

(c) All business the Executive Committee members intend raising at a meeting shall be notified not less than 14 days beforehand in writing to the General Secretary.

(d) A summary of the business transacted at the Executive Committee meetings shall be published in the Club Journal.

(e) The quorum necessary for the transaction of the business of the Executive Committee may be fixed by the Executive Committee and unless and until so fixed shall be 3.

(f) The Agenda shall be drawn up either by the General Secretary or the Chairman and shall be approved by the Club Chairman. The agenda shall be distributed in ample time of facilitate attendance. It must contain any business notified to the General Secretary which complies with any relevant rules.

(g) Any annually elected voting member of the Executive Committee who fails to attend three consecutive meetings of the Club without giving an explanation acceptable to the meetings concerned shall be deemed to have resigned their post.

(h) The Executive Committee is to establish and annually review the Club’s pricing policy.

(i) The Executive Committee may appoint a Sub-Committee, and may delegate to them such powers as the Executive Committee may think fit. The quorum of any Sub-Committee shall be fixed by the minute appointing it. The Club Chairman and the General Secretary shall be ex-officio members of every such Sub-Committee.

(j) All members of the Executive Committee shall offer themselves for election as Directors of the Company at the first Annual General Meeting following their election to the Executive Committee.

(a) President – Is the figurehead of the Club and presides over the Annual Rally and their associated prize-giving’s. They may delegate these responsibilities to a Vice President.

(b) Vice President – Is expected to take an active interest in the activities of the Club and stand in for the President when delegated to do so.

(c) Club Chairman – Presided over General Meetings and Executive Committee meetings and is an ex-officio members of all other Sub-Committees.

(d) General Secretary – Organises and minutes all General meetings and Executive Committee meetings and maintains the minute book. Maintains and updates where necessary all job description of the Club officers and Area Representatives and ensures post holders have current copies. Is an ex-officio member of all other Club committees.

(e) Treasurer – as detailed in Sections 11 and 12.

(f) Membership Secretary – To collect subscriptions and maintain an up to date list of Club members as defined in Section 3, and to encourage new members to join the Club.

(g) Journal Editor – To carry out the duties as detailed in Section 10

(h) Spares Officer – To be responsible for the running of the Rudge Spares scheme including the procurement and marketing of both New and Used spares and keeping the Executive Committee informed of all matters relating to the provision of spares.

(i) Trophy Secretary – To maintain a value record of the Club’s trophies and their location and provide replicas when necessary. To maintain the criteria for the winning of such trophies.

(j) Competition Secretary – To represent and advise Club members in all areas of motorcycling competition.

(k) Librarian and Archivist – To maintain and expand the Clubs library of original printed or source material and make copies available to members when required in line with the Club’s pricing policy. To maintain an up to date Asset Register.

(l) Machine Registrar – To maintain and promote the Club register of machines and to represent the Club in all dealings with the DVLA.

(m) Public Relations Secretary – To publicise and promote the Club.

(n) Committee member without portfolio – To assist the Committee by undertaking specific tasks and projects as agreed for time to time.

(o) In addition to those duties in (a) to (n) above, each Club Official is responsible for carrying out further duties as detailed in the appropriate job description.

(p) Any official who, for whatever reason, is unable to carry out their duties must immediately report this to the General Secretary.

(a) Situations may arise where an official may be required to take a decision not covered by previous policy and on which the rules are unclear. Officials have the authority to take such decisions provided that the immediately inform the General Secretary in writing in order that the decision may be ratified by the Executive Committee and, when necessary, at the next AGM of the Club.

(b) In the event of a Club official being unable to fulfil their duties through resignation or other causes, these duties shall devolve upon the remaining Executive Committee members until such time as a successor can be appointed. Such an appointment must be ratified at the following AGM.

(c) Officials of the Club may obtain assistance from members in the execution of their office. Such members may, with the agreement of the Executive Committee, be shown in the Club Journal as Assistants to the Club Officials, Project Officers or Helpers, and such Assistants, Project Officers or Helpers may attend meetings of the Executive Committee in an advisory capacity if so desired by the official they assist. Such Assistants, Project Officers or Helpers shall have no voting rights.

(d) All officials shall be responsible to the Executive Committee and the Club for the execution of their office.

(e) The President and Vice Presidents may attend Executive Committee meetings by prior arrangement with the General Secretary but will have no voting rights.

(a) Local Areas may be formed at the discretion of the Executive Committee as soon as membership/activity in the particular area is sufficient to justify their formation.

(b) These Local Areas shall only be independent of the Club in that they can organise their own sporting and social activities which must not conflict with those of the main body of the Club.

(c) Area Representatives shall notify the Social Secretary and Journal Editor before completing arrangements for their section activities to avoid conflicts with the main Club arrangements.

(d) The election of Area Representatives shall be carried out annually at the AGM.

(e) Limited financial assistance may be available to Area Representatives who will be required to justify their case to the Treasurer in writing.

(f) Area Representatives wishing to promote an event which may require a financial guarantee from the Club must apply in writing to the treasurer for permission at least one month before the event.

(g) Area Representatives where possible are to submit written reports about their Area activity or related activity of interest to the Journal Editor for publication in addition to a report for the AGM.

(a) The right to edit or reject material rests with the Journal Editor.

(b) Will be published quarterly on the first day of February, May, August and November and distributed to members provided they comply with the administrative procedures laid down by the Club to facilitate its distribution. Family and junior members will not receive a copy of the Club Journal.

(c) The Journal shall be published on the Club website.

(d) Private Advertisements from Club members will be published free of charge at the discretion of the Journal Editor.

(e) Advertisements by non-members and those firms concerned with the manufacture or distribution of components for. Or with the service and maintenance of, Rudge Machines may be accepted at the discretion of the Journal Editor, in line with commercial publication rates. These rates will be reviewed when it appears necessary to the Executive Committee.

(f) Spare copies of the Journal will be used for the purpose of increasing membership. The remaining copies will be held by the Librarian and Archivist.

(a) The treasurer shall be responsible to the Club for the correct keeping of accounts in respect of assets and liabilities, receipts and payments, income and expenditure.

(b) The financial year of the Club will end on 30^th September each year at which date the Treasurer shall prepare a statement of accounts.

(c) This statement of accounts after being certified by the Club Auditor and approved by the Executive Committee shall be published in the Club Journal and presented at the AGM.

(d) The selection of the Club Auditor will be made by the Executive Committee and as a minimum will conform to the current legislation stipulated in The Companies Act 1985 (Audit Exemption) Regulations 1994.

(e) The Club accounts shall be open to inspection by Club members at any time by appointment with the Treasurer.

(f) The Register of all the Club’s assets and their location will be maintained by an officer nominated by the executive committee.

(g) The Treasurer will be responsible for all the Club’s insurances.

(a) All accounts shall include the name “Rudge Enthusiasts Club Limited”.

(b) The accounts shall be held in UK clearing banks.

(c) All cheques and electronic (internet) payments must be authorised by two authorised members of the Executive committee whose details are registered with the bank.

(d) Monies shall not be transferred to any other account except in the name of Rudge Enthusiasts Club limited.

(e) Petty cash should be restricted to a limit set by the Executive Committee.

(f) Only in exceptional circumstances should the Club have an overdraft and only then with the approval of the Executive Committee.

(g) A copy of the Club rules should be supplied to the Bank.

(h) Each Executive Committee member who is responsible for an account must comply with the following:

(i) Provide a financial statement at every Executive Committee meeting either personally or in writing.

(ii) Provide a full financial return to the 30^thSeptember to the Treasurer by the 14^thOctober following to be incorporated in the annual accounts.

(3) All Club officials must submit proper accounts with receipts to the Club Treasurer.

(a) Members who incur expenses in the Club’s interest may apply for reimbursement to the Treasurer at actual cost. If the expense is authorised, receipts must be provided.

(b) Repayment of travelling expenses in respect of Committee members who attend meetings of the Club or the Committee may claim any reasonable travelling expenses payable at actual cost against receipts provided.

(c) Any member incurring expenses for hospitality for Executive Committee meetings may be reimbursed on production of receipts to a limit set annually by the Executive Committee.

(a) In the event of any member being, in the opinion of the Executive Committee or any other member, guilty of any breach of these rules or misbehaviour under any circumstances involving conduct which may be considered ungentlemanly, unsportsmanlike or injurious to the interests of motorcycling, such member shall be called before he Executive Committee which shall have the authority to convene a special meeting for the purpose of cautioning, suspending, expelling from the Club or otherwise effecting disciplinary measures upon any such member or members.

(b) Any member dealt with under these rules shall have the right to a further hearing at a General meeting of the Club. The decision of the Executive Committee may be altered by a resolution passed by a 2/3 majority vote at such a meeting.

(a) All correspondence should be address to the appropriate Official and, if a reply is essential, a stamped addressed envelope must be enclosed.

(a) Neither the Club nor its Officials shall be liable for any loss or damage to members’ machines or their appurtenances either by fire, theft, accident, or any cause during any part of the Club’s activities. Members are personally responsible for any civil or criminal proceedings which may be taken against them.

(b) Each member is liable for an amount not exceeding £5.00 as the Rudge Enthusiasts Club Limited is limited by guarantee.

(a) The Club may only be dissolved by an Extraordinary Resolution passed at a General meeting of the Club duly convened and in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Acts.

 (b) Should the members of the Company resolve to dissolve the Company then, If upon the winding up or dissolution of the Company there remains after satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities any property whatsoever the same shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the Company but should be given or transferred to some other charitable institution or institutions having objects the same as or similar to the objects of the Company and which shall prohibit the distribution of its or their income and property amongst its or their members to any extent at least as great as is imposed on the Company under or by virtue of the Memorandum of Association of the Company, such institution or institutions to be determined by the members of the Company at or before the time of dissolution and if and so far as effect cannot be given to this last provision then to some other object as near as possible as may be to that of the Company.

(c) Every member of the company undertakes to contribute to the assets of the Company in the event of the same being wound up whilst he is a member or within one year after he ceases to be a member for payment of the debts and liabilities of the Company contracted before he ceases to be a member and of the costs, charges and expenses of winding up and for the adjustment of the rights of the contributories among themselves such amount as may be required but not exceeding £5.00.

(a) Subject to the provisions of these Rules members hold themselves bound in honour in all cases of dispute or disagreement as to the interpretation of these Rules to accept the decision of the Executive Committee as final and binding.

(b) Subject as aforesaid the interpretation of the Club Rules shall rest with the Executive Committee.

Registered office: 36 Greenhouse gardens, Cullompton, Devon, EX15 1US

Company limited by guarantee, registered in Cardiff. No - 3343356