The West Midlands Orienteering Association Constitution

Accepted by the WMOA at the AGM, 22 February 1982; amended 20 October 2003, amended 16 October 2017.

Objective. The Association shall be called The West Midlands Orienteering Association.  The objectives of the Association shall be to encourage, promote and co-ordinate the sport of Orienteering in the area of the West Midlands as defined by British Orienteering.  Adjustments may be made to this geographical area if approved by British Orienteering.

Adoption of British Orienteering Policies, Procedures, Rules and Regulations

• The West Midlands Orienteering Association agrees to adopt the up to date British Orienteering Policies, Procedures, Rules and Regulations as published on the British Orienteering website.
• All individuals involved in orienteering through The West Midlands Orienteering Association, in any capacity, are deemed to have assented to and abide by and adhere to the British Orienteering Policies, Procedures, Rules and Regulations as published on the British Orienteering website.
• Both the West Midlands Orienteering Association and its members agree to abide by the final outcome of any disciplinary and appeal proceedings.

Membership and subscriptions Membership of the WMOA is defined by payment of the WMOA membership fee (if one is charged) and membership of both a West Midlands orienteering club and British Orienteering. Membership fees shall be determined at each Annual General Meeting or at an Extraordinary General Meeting and recorded in the minutes of the meeting. Any subscriptions shall be due on 1st January. If a membership fee is charged it will be applied to the following types of membership unit (ages are those on 31st December of the subscription year):

(a)  Individual Senior – M/W21 and over.

(b)  Individual Junior – M/W 20 and under.

(c)  Family – up to two seniors and all juniors at the same address.

(d)  Orienteering club

(e)  Group – e.g. school, youth club, scout group etc.

(f)    Honorary Life Member shall be accorded to members who have given outstanding service to the sport in the region.

WMOA Event Levy This will be reviewed and agreed at the AGM and recorded in the minutes of the Annual General Meeting.

Annual General Meeting   The affairs of the Association shall be governed by the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of members, which shall be held before 31st October each year.  The secretary shall give members at least 2 weeks notice in writing of the date of the meeting.

Executive Meeting   The officers shall be elected at the AGM and shall be vested with the authority to carry on the affairs of the Association until the next AGM.  The committee shall consist of:

(a)   Honorary Officers – a chairman, vice-chairman, a secretary, a treasurer, a newsletter editor, a fixtures secretary.  No more than 3 of these officers shall come from any one club.  No person shall be elected chairman at more than 3 consecutive AGMs.

(b)   One representative from each member orienteering club.

The committee shall have the power to co-opt additional voting members and to fill vacancies amongst the officers.  Nominations for officers shall be submitted to the Secretary, their consent having first been obtained.  All nominations shall be seconded.  A quorum shall consist of not less than one third of the current voting strength of the committee.  Not more than 5 members from any one club may vote on any issue.

Extraordinary General Meeting   An EGM of members may be called by the committee or at the request of ten per cent of the membership in writing.  The secretary shall give members at least 4 weeks notice in writing of the date and purpose of the meeting.

Voting Rights   Each membership unit of the WMOA represented at an AGM or an EGM shall have one vote on any resolution put to the meeting.   No proxy votes or postal votes shall be allowed.

Finance   The accounts of the Association shall be balanced on 31st August each year and submitted, after independent audit, to the AGM.  All payments made against the Association’s funds shall be authorised by any two of the Honorary Officers.

Amendments to the Constitution of the Association shall require a majority vote of the membership units present at an AGM or an EGM.  A resolution calling for such an amendment shall be submitted to the Secretary at least 6 weeks before the meeting at which it is to be voted on.  The Secretary shall give members notice of such a resolution of at least 2 weeks in the case of an AGM and of at least 4 weeks in the case of an EGM.