Kingswood Clay and Roughshooting Club
The club shall be called the “Kingswood Clay and Roughshooting Club” (hereafter called “The Club” being informally known as “Kingswood Gun Club”), and this title shall be strictly adhered to at all times. It is the object of The Club to promote and protect the Sport of Clay Shooting.
- Club Committee
The club committee shall consist of seven members including the Chair, Treasurer and Secretary (the positions of secretary and treasurer maybe combined). All officers shall be members. The quorum shall not be less that 4.
The committee’s rulings shall be final in all respects relating to the administration of the Club, and the committee from time to time may make rules for the use and maintenance for the Club’s rights and property
The committee’s ruling on safety shall be final in all respects and will have power to expel any member who contravenes the safety rules of the club. The committee from time to time may make alterations to the safety rules of the club.
The committee shall, on proof of its satisfaction and in its absolute discretion, have power to expel any member whatsoever, whose conduct (whether by act or omission) it considers to be contrary to the best interests of the club or detrimental to the good name of the sport of shooting. The member shall be summoned to appear before the committee to explain any alleged misconduct.
The Chair shall have the power to call a Special General Meeting (SGM) on 7 days written notice stating the purpose of such SGM and also the secretary on receipt of a written request signed by any 10 members shall forthwith call on 7 days notice a SGM. Any such request shall set out the reasons why a SGM is to be called, and the notice convening the meeting shall state fully the business to be transacted thereat. No other business shall be transacted at such a meeting.
The decision of the committee on any matter not specifically provided for in the foregoing rules shall be final.
It is the responsibility of the committee to ensure all Club Liabilities do not exceed Club assets without committee agreement.
- Club Meetings
There shall be quarterly committee meetings, which can be held at the next shoot, to discuss any matters arising. The Secretary, at the written request of any 3 members of the committee, shall forthwith call a meeting on 7 days written notice. All officers of the club shall be appointed annually at the AGM or at a Special General Meeting (SGM) called, should a position become vacant.
The AGM shall be held in November of each year. Any amendments to The Club rules can be made only at the AGM. Notice of the AGM shall be given in writing to all members not less that 14 days before such a meeting. The notice shall contain the agenda of the business to be transacted at the AGM.
Resolution of all Committee and General meetings shall be decided by a show of hands. The Chair shall have the casting vote.
- Joining and Membership Fees
The joining fee for adults is £30.00. The annual membership subscriptions are £30.00 for adults and £15:00 for juniors (up to and including 18 years old) thereafter, subject to annual revision, and to be confirmed at the AGM.
Subscriptions for the upcoming year can be paid at the AGM and need to be finalized by 31st January of the following year. Any member not having made payment by then will be charged an additional £20:00 administration fee for “rejoining” the club due to lapsed membership.
Every candidate and / or application for membership shall be proposed by at least 2 members. All applications for membership shall be made in writing either electronic or on paper and shall be signed by the candidate and the proposers, and the election shall be at the discretion of the committee.
- Member Responsibilities
All members shall hold such licences and certificates, as may be appropriate from time to time to enable them to lawfully to engage in the form of sport, which they intend to pursue. The club Secretary is to be notified of the members certificate number and expiry date with initials as opposed to full name for GDPR purposes. If a copy of the licence is supplied the address is to be blanked out to overcome identifying the location of the gun owner.
No person shall be allowed to participate in any Club shooting activities unless he/she is a fully subscribed member or unless he/she is an invited person fully approved by 2 office bearers.
Any invited person / guest shooter is a day member and needs to shoot with one of the appointed shoot captains to ensure all club protocols are adhered to. Overall the member is responsible for the conduct of their guest(s) throughout the duration of the shoot.
On organized Club shoots only cartridges fitted with felt wads may be used by Club Members and visitors.
Day members of the club shoots shall be charged an agreed fee to be fixed by the committee.
All guns are to be carried broken and unloaded unless in use when approaching or leaving the stand. When walking between stands guns are to be carried in a gun slip. Autos require a flag to be inserted within the chamber when outside of the shooting cage.
Under no circumstances whatsoever shall a member pass beyond the limits over which The Club has shooting rights, except to recover clays shot on or over The Club’s land, and then only with the previous consent of the adjoining occupier: and in any such cases the members gun shall be left within the boundaries of land over which The Club has shooting rights.
Every member shall be referred to the website to view a copy of the Club Rules and shall be bound by the same and by any alteration thereof.
It is the responsibility of every member to report any contravention of any of the above rules to the committee. The Club shall hold no responsibility in respect of any accident or mishap which may arise out of the activity of members or visitors in any of the shooting grounds.
Any member under the influence of alcohol and / or drugs will be asked to leave the shoot with immediate effect; their membership will be reviewed by the committee that could ultimately lead to the individual being expelled from the club.
A member desiring to withdraw from membership of The Club must give notice to the Secretary. No refund will be made to any member resigning or leaving The Club for any reason.
- Club Insurance
The officers of the club will be responsible for obtaining insurance for the club either through a shooting society or through brokerage and no shooting will commence until such insurance has been obtained.
- Shoot Set Up/ Breakdown
The Shoot Captain is responsible for the overall setting up and dismantling of each clay shoot. They have sole discretion in approving members to assist them in activities and disarm traps at the end of the shoot. No other members are allowed to interfere with a trap but they must call the Shoot Captain. Each shooting squad is supplied with a whistle to attract the attention of the Shoot captain if he/she is required.
The club has 4 walkie talkie radio sets to enable communication once the whistle is blown to advise the Shoot Captain of the issue that has arisen to enable him/her to advise on the correct action to address the matter.
On the sound of the whistle all shooting is to cease until the all-clear is given and shooting can then resume.
It is the responsibility of all members present at each shoot to assist with the general clearing up so that the land is left undisturbed. This comprises of picking up unbroken clays for reuse, dismantling the cages and removal of all cartridges and associated waste. Broken clays are to be reduced to small sections. Members are to assist in loading of the trailer.
- Club Finances / Purchases.
The Financial year of The Club runs from 1st November to 31st October year on year inclusive.
The Treasurer shall pay all monies received by him/her on behalf of the Club into a current banking account in the name of The Club and all cheques drawn on such account shall be signed by 2 of the nominated cheque signatories. In addition, the Treasurer shall keep complete and accurate records of all financial accounts to be submitted to The Club at its AGM. Payments can be also be made by electronic transfer both in and out of the clubs account.
The cost per 50 bird shoot is £10:00 for members, £5:00 for Juniors and £15:00 for adult day-members, £5:00 for junior day-members.
Any exceptional purchases relevant to the running of the Club and its events under £75:00 can be purchased without written committee approval, with an email sent promptly to the remaining committee members explaining the reason for the purchase which can then be reimbursed by the Treasurer.
For any exceptional purchases over £75:00 then prior written or verbal approval of at least 5 committee members must be reviewed. This can be in the form of a collated email chain or, the committee WhatsApp chat.
The general purchases of The Club that are on going e.g. clays and cartridges do not require prior approval.
For all purchased items that require reimbursement to an individual club member a valid receipt must be presented and retained by the Treasurer.
In the event of The Club being wound up and ceasing to exist, the assets thereof shall be realized after payment of the Club’s just debts and expenses the balance of the monies realized (profit and loss) shall be distributed in such a manner as the majority of the members present and voting at a General Meeting of The Club shall resolve.