CONSTITUTION
BLIND SAILING INTERNATIONAL
1. NAME
The name of the Association
BLIND SAILING INTERNATIONAL
- MISSION
Blind Sailing International is formed to support the development and conduct of sailing in all its forms with blind and vision impaired people, world-wide.
- SPECIFIC GOALS
3.1 To promote sailing for blind and vision impaired people as a sport and recreation.
3.2 To provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information and to develop teaching systems for sailing with blind and vision impaired people.
3.3 To promote and conduct international sailing competitions not less frequently than every 4½ years.
3.4 To support regional competitions, seminars, instructions programmes.
3.5 To establish and co-ordinate the activities of sub-committees, working parties, and task forces as required by members.
- AFFILIATIONS
The Association may affiliate to appropriate World and International bodies such as the International Blind Sports Association, the International Foundation Disabled Sailing and others.
- MEMBERSHIP
5.1 States represented at inaugural general meeting will be founder members.
5.2 All Countries, States or Organisations may apply for membership in writing, giving evidence of their involvement. Approval or non approval may be given by the Executive.
There will be six (6) categories of Membership.
5.3 Country Member – each represented by two (2) Delegates having one (1) vote each.
Country Membership will be open to countries able to demonstrate their effective control and promotion of sailing with the blind in that country.
5.4 Organisation/State Member – each represented by one (1) Delegate having one (1) vote.
Organisation/State Membership will represent developing sailing with blind organisations/state where no country affiliation is present.
Note: Where more than two (2) Organisations/State Members exist within one country they will be required to take Country Membership as in 5.3 above.
5.5 Associate Member
Associate Membership is open to individuals and organisations who wish to support the aims and activities of Blind Sailing International and on paying the stipulated fee.
Associate Members may speak at General/Special Meetings but will have no vote.
5.6 Honorary Member
Honorary Membership may be awarded to those individuals and organisations who Blind Sailing International wishes to know.
Honorary Members must be approved by a majority vote at a General/Special Meeting. They will pay no fee and have no vote.
5.7 Life Member
Life Membership may be awarded by a General/Special Meeting of Blind Sailing International to individuals contributing significantly (at least 10 years involvement) to sailing with blind and having been nominated by at least four (4) Delegates.
Life Members will pay no fee, may speak at General/Special Meetings but have no vote.
5.8 Affiliate Membership
Those Organisations with which Blind Sailing International wishes to affiliate with, may be voted for at a General/Special Meeting as Affiliate Members.
Affiliate Members may speak at General/Special Meetings but have no vote.
- COUNCIL OF THE ASSOCIATION
The Council, is the controlling body of Blind Sailing International and shall consist of the two (2) Delegates from each of the financial Country Members and one (l) of each of the financial, Organisation or State Membership.
- MEETINGS – GENERAL AND SPECIAL
7.1 General/Special Meetings of the Council will be held at the time and at the venue of the International Regatta and at such other place and time agreed to by at least 50% of the financial Country and Organisation/State Members and for which at least one (1) month’s notice of the time, place and agenda (including Notices of Motion) has been sent to the last known address of the Delegates and Member’s Secretary.
7.2 At each General/Special Meeting, the Executive will produce and the Council consider, an audited statement of the financial position, reports from the Executive, Committees, Task Forces, etc., and such other business for which the meeting has been called.
7.3 All travel, accommodation and meeting expenses will be the responsibility of the delegates attending, unless the Executive decides the funding is available to cover such expenses.
- NOTICES OF MOTION
8.1 Amendments to the Constitution must be in the form of a Notice of Motion and signed by at least two financial Country and/or Organisation/State Members.
82 Notices of Motion will be considered by a General or Special Meeting for which due notice has been given and the Notice of Motion and the case for it being considered, being circulated to all financial members, at least one month prior to the meeting called for this purpose.
- AGENDA FOR GENERAL/SPECIAL (COUNCIL) MEETINGS shall include:
9.1 Apologies and Roll Call.
9.2 Minutes of previous General/Special meeting.
9.3 Presentation of a current financial statement.
9.4 Reports from the Executive and Sub-Committees, Working Parties, Task Forces, etc., including an update of Membership Status.
9.5 Consideration of Notices of Motion of which prior notice has been given.
9.6 Election of Officers, the Executive and appointment of Committees, Task Forces, etc.
9.7 Presentation of a ‘working budget’ for the period up to and including the International Blind Sailing Regatta.
9.8 Setting fees for the period up to and including the next International Blind Sailing Regatta.
9.9 General Business.
9.10 The date, time and place of the next General/Special Meeting.
- QUORUM FOR MEETINGS
10.1 A quorum for General Meetings of Blind Sailing International will be 30% of the financial Country, Organisation or State Members.
10.2 A quorum for Special Meetings shall be 50% of the financial Country, Organisation or State Members present or represented by proxy.
- PROXIES
11.1 The Secretary of Blind Sailing International will distribute Proxy Voting forms with the notice and agenda for all General/Special Meetings.
11.2 Delegates holding proxy votes may exercise these.
- VOTING
12.1 All voting on Blind Sailing International business will be passed by a simple majority of delegates and proxies and if the vote is tied, the Chairperson will have one (1) Casting Vote in addition to his/her ordinary vote.
- OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION
13.1 The Officers shall consist of a:
Chairperson
Vice Chairperson
Secretary
Treasurer or
Secretary/Treasurer
13.2 The Officers will hold office for up to four (4) years when they will be eligible for re-election.
13.3 The Offices of Secretary, Treasurer or Secretary/Treasurer may be held by an ex‑officio (non member) with no voting rights at General or Special Meetings.
13.4 The Chairperson or if this officer is not available, the Vice Chairperson will chair all meetings – General, Special, Council and Executive. In the case of neither being present or unwilling to chair a meeting, the members present will elect a Chairperson.
- THE EXECUTIVE
14.1 The Executive will consist of the Officers plus two others who may be members or ex-officio members, appointed at a General/Special Meeting.
14.2 The Executive will conduct the day by day business of the Association and be responsible to the Blind Sailing International Council.
- AFFILIATION FEES
15.1 A General/Special Meeting will determine the yearly Membership Fee.
- FINANCIAL YEAR
16.1 Blind Sailing International’s financial year will be from January 1st to December 31st when an audited Statement of Accounts, a Balance Sheet and an Annual Report will be prepared and circulated within three (3) months to Members.
16.2 An Auditor will be appointed by the Executive.
- RULES OF THE ASSOCIATION
17.1 The Council will produce rules governing the activities of the Blind Sailing International relating to competition, safety, programme development, meeting procedure and others.
17.2 The rules (not constitution) may be altered by the Executive after consulting members and having the changes confirmed by the next General/Special Meeting.
- WINDING UP
If the Association is wound up, the finance remaining after all accounts have been paid and liabilities met, shall go to a charitable organisation with similar aims and objectives as Blind Sailing International as agreed to by the Council.