(Amended on 23 November 2005)

1. The name of the Club shall be the Stowmarket Swimming Club.

The Club colours shall be blue and yellow.

The headquarters shall be at the Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre, 22-24 Gainsborough Road, Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 1LH.

1. The objects of the Club shall be those of the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA), as set down in the Constitution, the promotion of the teaching and practice of swimming in all its branches.

1. The Club shall be affiliated to the ASA East Region and to such other bodies as the Annual General Meeting may decide. The Club shall be conducted in accordance with the laws of the ASA and members shall conform to Committee instructions.

1. Candidates for membership shall complete the application form which, together with the appropriate fee, shall be submitted to the Membership Secretary for acceptance by the Executive Committee. Candidates shall declare existing membership of other swimming clubs. A member who has competed in the championships of another club is not eligible to compete in this Club's championships in the same year. Club championships shall be open to members of at least 60 days standing.

A member wishing to resign must give notice in writing to the Membership Secretary before the 31 December or they will be liable for the ensuing year's subscription.

The competing members must be eligible to compete in accordance with the laws of the ASA and shall not compete against persons ineligible to compete except in Masters competitions and/or lifesaving competitions approved by the ASA.

All competing members must be eligible to compete as per ASA Law 401, except those competing in Masters competitions.

All people on the poolside teaching must be Club members.

Whilst the Executive committee will do everything in its power to ensure the safety, comfort and convenience of its members, it accepts no responsibility for any accident, loss or injury to members or visitors. Members swim at their own risk and acceptance of membership shall be evidence to this effect.

1. The Club shall be managed by the Officers and Committee as set down in the Constitution.

The Executive Committee shall have the authority to make regulations within the Constitution and ASA Laws.

The Executive Committee may provide such Club Championships and competitions as are considered necessary and shall have power to draw up conditions and rules relating to them and to vary such conditions and rules from time to time as it thinks fit. Any such varied conditions or rules shall remain in force for at least one year.

1. The Annual General Meeting shall be held in November each year on a date fixed by the Committee.

Additions, deletions and alterations to rules shall only be made at a General Meeting, and any proposals for such items shall be submitted to the Hon Secretary four weeks prior to a General Meeting. The quorum and voting procedures at a General Meeting shall be as set down in the Constitution.

At the Annual General Meeting

•  the Officers and Committee shall be elected as set down in the Constitution

•  a professional auditor will be appointed, and

•  the Team Manager will be selected.

The Club's accounts shall close on the 30 th September in each year and shall be audited and submitted to the Annual General Meeting.

1. A Special General Meeting may be held as set down in the Constitution. Notice of a Special General Meeting shall be given to each member entitled to vote either by personal service or by sending the same to the member by post addressed to such an address as the member may supply for such purpose. It shall be given not later than 21 days before the date of the meeting and shall state the date, time and venue set for the meeting, and shall include the agenda. A prominent announcement of the date, time and venue set for a Special General Meeting shall be displayed at the Club headquarters at least 21 days before the meeting.

1. All funds and other property of the Club shall be applied to the furtherance of the objects of the Club. No funds or other property shall be paid or distributed among members of the Club except as allowed by the ASA law relating to expenses. In the event of dissolution, the assets remaining shall be devoted to objects similar to those of the Club.

1. In the event of a member being proved guilty of a breach of the Club rules, misconduct, or acting in a manner to bring the Club into disrepute, the Committee, taking into account ASA Regulations – Appendix B – Guidelines for Handling Internal Club Disputes, shall have power to deal with the matter as it deems fit, subject to appeal as provided in ASA Judicial Laws. The Executive Committee may, by unanimous vote and for good reason, terminate the membership of any individual, provided that the individual concerned shall have the right to be heard by the Executive Committee, accompanied by a friend, before the final decision is made. An expelled member shall forfeit all the privileges of membership and all rights against the charity and any individual member thereof. A member's rights of appeal against a decision of the Executive Committee are not affected by this rule.

1. The Team Manager and the Club Coach shall be responsible for selecting teams for galas. In the event of A and B teams having galas on the same day, preference for team selection will be given to the A team.

1. During training sessions, no swimmer may enter the water after the warm-up has finished.

1. The members acknowledge that the Rules and Constitution constitute a legally binding contract to regulate the relationship of the members with each other and the Club.

ASA Laws to note in particular (2004):

•  Eligibility

•  Club Members

•  Club Membership and First Claim

•  Open Competitions