VETTS Constitution

CONSTITUTION AND RULES OF VETTS (Updated 22 July 2024)

 

1 Name

Veteran English Table Tennis Society (VETTS)

 

2 Objects

2.1 To organise an independent society for veteran table tennis players of all standards in order to promote friendship and competition among them.

2.2 To organise competitions, which may be restricted to members of VETTS, and will include annual National Championships, and regional competitions.

2.3 To promote and encourage other competitions for veteran table tennis players.

2.4 To promote and organise such social events as may be required by Members, subject to the agreement of the Executive Committee.

2.5 To produce and maintain ranking/rating lists for Members in older age groups.

 

3 Membership

3.1 Membership shall be open to anyone who is 40 years of age or older on the January 1 during the current Table Tennis England membership year.

3.2 Application for membership should be made to the Membership Secretary in the form determined by the Society.

3.3 All Members, with the exception of Life Members and Vice-Presidents, shall be required to pay an annual subscription to the Society, the amount to be determined by the AGM.

3.4 Membership will lapse if the subscription is not paid within two months of the due date.

3.5 The Executive Committee may, at its absolute discretion, refuse to accept an application for membership.  

 

4  Honorary Life Members and Honorary Vice Presidents 

4.1The Annual General Meeting may confer the distinction of Honorary Life Membership on any member who has rendered outstanding service to the Society.  

4.2 The Annual General Meeting may confer the distinction of Honorary Vice President on any member who is deemed to have achieved an outstanding level of performance in the Table Tennis competitive arena, domestically or internationally. 

4.3 Nominations for either award shall be made by the Executive Committee which shall give due consideration to all names put forward to the General Secretary by March 1 each year. 

4.4 Additionally, the Annual General Meeting may rescind the distinction of Honorary Life Member or Honorary Vice President.  Nominations to rescind an award shall be made by the Executive Committee.

 

5 Elected Officers

5.1 The Elected Officers of the Society shall be President, Chairman, Deputy Chairman, General Secretary, Treasurer and Membership Secretary.  

5.2 The Deputy Chairman, General Secretary and Membership Secretary shall be elected one year.  The Chairman and Treasurer shall be elected the alternate year. 

5.3 The President shall be elected every 5 years, starting from July 2024

5.4 Each officer shall serve from after the close of the Annual General Meeting at which they were elected until the end of the second Annual General Meeting following their election.  All Officers shall be eligible for re-election.

5.5 A casual vacancy may be filled by the Executive Committee.

5.6 Nominations for positions of Elected Officer must be made in writing by at least two members and sent, together with the nominee’s acceptance of the nomination, to the General Secretary by May 31.

5.7 Notice of an Elected Officer’s intention not to seek re-election should be sent to the General Secretary by April 30 in the election year.

 

6 Management

6.1 The business of the Society shall be managed, subject to the control of the Annual General Meeting, by an Executive Committee consisting of the Elected Officers plus appointed Heads of Teams. 

6.2 These Teams include, but are not limited to Finance, Membership, Tournaments (Masters), Tournaments (Team), Communications, Rules & Regulations, General Management, Income Generation, International and Systems. Individuals on the Executive may undertake more than one Head of Function role.

6.3 Every decision at a meeting of the Executive Committee shall be determined by a simple majority of the votes of those present and voting.  In the event of a tie, the chairman of the meeting shall have a second and casting vote.

6.4 The Executive Committee shall appoint Members to fill such other positions as are required, grouped together within the functions listed above, and the Members of these Teams together with the Executive Committee will form the General Committee.  All appointments to the Executive Committee and the General Committee shall be confirmed by the Annual General Meeting or delegated by the Annual General Meeting to the Executive Committee.

6.5 In exceptional circumstances, the Executive Committee may conduct a referendum of all Members.  The result of any such referendum shall be advisory but not binding on the Executive Committee.

 

7 Finance

7.1 The funds of the Society will be held in the name of Veterans English Table Tennis Society.

7.2 The financial year will end on May 31st^.

7.3 The accounts of the Society shall be subject to an accountant’s certificate and presented to the Annual General Meeting.

 

8. Annual General Meeting (AGM)

8.1 The Annual General Meeting shall normally be held in July.

8.2 Notice of the date, place and hour shall be sent to all members at least 28 days before the Meeting.

8.3 The AGM shall be chaired by the Chairman of VETTS.  If the Chairman is not present, the Deputy Chairman shall act.  In the absence of either Officer, the AGM shall appoint one of the Members present to chair the meeting.

8.4 The agenda shall include

            Minutes of previous AGM

            Minutes of any Extraordinary General Meeting since last AGM

            Report of Executive Committee

Treasurer’s report and Statement of accounts

Membership Sec report

Reports from other Heads of Teams

Propositions for alterations of Rules (if any)

Election of Officers

Presentation of Mike Watts Awar; Alan Ransome’s Players’ Player of the Year; Honorary Vice President; Honorary Life Members.

8.5 When a vote is taken at AGM, each Member present shall have one vote.

8.6  Additionally, for the election of Officers, Members not present may register for a postal vote by completing a registration form at least three weeks before the AGM and returning a completed voting form to the General Secretary at least two weeks before the AGM.

8.7 In the event of a tied vote, the chair of the meeting shall have a second and casting vote.

8.8 Any proposal to alter the Rules of the Society shall not be carried unless at least two-thirds of the total votes of the Members present at the AGM and voting are in favour of the alteration.

 

9 Alteration to rules

9.1 Any proposal to alter the Rules of the Society must be received by the General Secretary to later than March 31^st and notified to members by April 30.

9.2 Alternative proposals dealing with the same subject matter, or amendments to the proposals, must reach the General Secretary by May 31.

 

10 Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM)

10.1 An Extraordinary General Meeting of the Society may be called by the Executive Committee or within four weeks of the receipt by the General Secretary of an application in writing supported by at least 15 per cent of members.

10.3 An EGM shall have the same power of control of the Society as has the AGM but shall deal with only the matters specified in the resolution convening it.

10.4 Notice of the date, place and hour shall be sent to all members at least 21 days before the EGM.

 

11. Disciplinary

11.1 The Executive Committee shall have the power to deal with any matter brought to the attention of the General Secretary alleging action or behaviour by a Member that brings the Society into disrepute or is against the best interests of the Society.

11.2 The Executive Committee shall have the power to censure a Member and/or to require an undertaking in such terms as the Executive Committee may decide and/or to suspend the Member from membership of the Society and/or to withdraw the right to attend any event organised by the Society.

11.3 Any Member aggrieved by a decision of the Executive Committee acting as a Disciplinary Committee may appeal to a Board of Appeal consisting of three Members appointed by the Executive Committee but not being members of the Executive Committee. The decision of the Board of Appeal shall be final.

 

12. Trophies

Any member who holds a perpetual trophy of the Society is required to return it promptly and in good condition at the request of the General Secretary.

 

13. Dissolution

 In the event of the winding up or dissolution of the Society all surplus assets shall automatically vest in ETTA Ltd who shall, for a period of six years, hold them in trust to pay to any organisation set up with identical or similar objectives to those of the Society and thereafter for purposes of activities of the ETTA relevant to veteran players.

 

14. Other Matters

The administration of these Rules shall be vested solely in the Executive Committee that shall also decide any other question or matter arising that is not provided for in the Rules of the Society.