BOLAND FALCONRY CLUB CONSTITUTION

1 . NAME OF CLUB

The name of the club is the BOLAND FALCONRY CLUB (hereafter referred to as “the club”).

2 . AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

2.1     The primary aim is the use and maintenance of suitable raptors in the pursuit of the art and sport of falconry and to hunt with such birds.

2.2     The club governs the taking, keeping, breeding and flying of these birds.

2.3     Rehabilitation of injured and diseased birds.

2.4     Monitoring of the population status of raptors, including careful record keeping of sightings and of breeding successes.

2.5    Collation of information and close co-operation with the Cape Nature Conservation. To encourage interaction with international falconry and conservation bodies.

2.6    The establishment of captive breeding program: This need not be limited to species resident in the Cape Province. All birds taken from the wild remain the property of the state and as such do not belong to the member or the club.

2.7   To serve as a source of advice and information: To act thereby as an extension service for farmers.  In this respect to liaise closely with Cape Nature Conservation.

3.   CLUB YEAR

The club year shall run from the first day of March to the twenty-eighth day of February.

4 .  MEMBERSHIP

4.1  The membership shall consist of active ordinary members, junior members, honorary members and consulting members.

4.2   All new membership applications will be considered on the first Committee meeting held after the date an application is received receipt of an application for membership. A majority objection shall exclude the applicant from membership. In the event of declining of membership reasons will be supplied in writing. The decision of the Committee will be final and no discussion and/or correspondence regarding the matter will be entered into.

4.3    All subscriptions shall become due and payable on the first day of March each year.  Applications received after the beginning of September shall be half the annual subscription.

4.4     The Committee shall grade ordinary members.  These grades will be:-

i)         Apprentice falconer grade (D)

ii)        Novice falconer grade (C)

iii)       General falconer grade (B)

iv)       Master falconer grade (A)

4.5    Members who have previously received a grading from another falconry club, with whom the BFC has reciprocity of grading, may hold their grade in the BFC.

5. ORDINARY MEMBERS

Paid up active and junior members shall be entitled to one vote at the Annual General Meeting.  Observer/associate members shall only receive such publications and newsletters sent to members.  Observer/associate members may rehabilitate raptors but may not keep birds for falconry purposes and may not exercise a vote.

6. HONORARY & CONSULTING MEMBERS

The Committee shall have the power to invite suitable persons to become honorary and consulting members for a period at the discretion of the Committee.  Honorary- and consulting members are exempt from subscription fees and have no voting rights.  They may make recommendations to the Committee.

7. EXPULSION OF MEMBERS

7.1   Failure to pay subscriptions: after three months from the due date of subscriptions payable the Committee shall be entitled to deprive a member of membership.

7.2   Any member found guilty of breach of the Club Code of Conduct, Club Rules & Regulations, Club Disciplinary Code and unlawful behaviour, membership my be terminated and be deprived of future association with the Club. All findings will be subject to a fair transparent disciplinary hearing process.

7.3   Any member who found guilty by the Disciplinary Committee of behaviour detrimental to the good name of the Club and or falconry in general may be deprived of membership.

7.4   Any member, whose membership has been terminated, shall have the right to appeal against such termination of membership through the Disciplinary Process as set out in the Disciplinary Code. The decision of the Disciplinary Committee shall be final and binding and no correspondence thereafter entered into.

7.5 Any member who contravenes any Nature Conservation legislation will be liable for prosecution by Cape Nature Conservation irrespective of any disciplinary action that the Club my take.

8 ELECTION OF THE COMMITTEE

The Committee shall be duly elected at the annual general meeting of the Club for a term of office of one year, and shall consist of chairperson, secretary, treasurer, Nature Conservation representative, and two other Committee members.  Election shall be by secret ballot if requested by any member, otherwise by open ballot.

9 POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMITTEE

9.1    The Committee shall direct and manage all the affairs of the Club. The annual general meeting of the club shall be within three months of the close of the club year.

9.2    The Committee shall decide on a suitable venue.

9.3    All members will be notified at least fourteen days before the meeting.

9.4    The secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings.

9.5    The Committee may appoint other sub-committees to handle additional club activities.

10 CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION

No amendment or addition to the Constitution shall be made except at a general meeting.  Proposals to amend or add to the Constitution shall be in writing and signed by both the proposer and seconded.  The amendment or addition shall only be passed by a majority vote of two thirds of those entitled to vote and must be approved by a representative of the Cape Nature Conservation.

11  INTERPRETATION

In the event of doubt as to the meaning or interpretation of the Constitution, the Committee shall be the final arbiter and its decision shall be binding upon its members.

12  LIMIT OF LIABILITY OF MEMBERS

The liability of the members of the Club is limited to the amount of their respective unpaid subscriptions.