Introduction

This policy sets out details on specific matters around membership which are not covered by the Constitution of the Serpentine Running and Triathlon Club (“the Constitution”).

Membership

The Serpentine Running and Triathlon Club (“the Club”) comprises the following different membership classes:

• Ordinary Members
• Junior Members (those aged between 8 and 18 years)
• Life Members 
• Honorary Members

Admission, Transfer, Duties and Termination of membership

Requirements for admission, transfer, duties and termination of membership are set out in the Constitution:

• Admission of new Members – paragraph 9 (1) 
• Transfers of Membership – paragraph 9 (2)
• Duty of Members – paragraph 9 (3)
• Termination of Membership – paragraph 9 (4)

In addition to acceptance of the Duty of Members set out in paragraph 9 (3), all Members are required to agree to the Club’s Code of Conduct for Coaches and Athletes, Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Membership of the Club is confined to those abiding by the Rules of Competition of UK Athletics, the British Triathlon Federation, Cycling Time Trials or any relevant successor, subsidiary or other affiliating or governing body in force and as may apply from time to time.

Any person shall, upon ceasing to be a Member of the Club, forfeit all rights to and claims upon the Club and its property, funds and data.

Membership fees and subscriptions

The Constitution requires Members to pay reasonable Subscription fees to the Club as outlined in paragraph 9 (5). 

There is no entrance fee to join the Club.

The subscription period will be for 1 year and renewal shall be due on the Member’s anniversary date.The annual subscription for Ordinary Members is £45 per annum. The annual subscription is reduced to £20 per annum for Ordinary Members who are seniors over 65, unwaged, full-time students and those aged between 18 and 21. 

The annual subscription for Junior Members is £10 per annum.  

Life Members and Honorary Members are not required to pay the annual subscription. 

The Committee may waive the annual subscription for certain Members who are active volunteers. The Club Chair, Club Secretary, Club Treasurer, other Trustees who are involved in the day to day management of the club and Members of the Operational Committee have their annual subscription waived for the duration they serve as a Trustee or on the Committee.

An additional annual fee shall be payable by Members in order for the Club to register them with England Athletics.  Members are responsible for their personal registration and payment of membership fees for other Governing bodies, including British Triathlon and British Cycling.

Any Member having arrears of contributions or subscriptions shall not be eligible to take part in any club activities, including competitions, training and social events, , nor shall he/she be allowed to participate in the affairs of the Club, including voting in any general meeting.

Life Members 

Life Membership will ordinarily be granted only in recognition of a significant personal contribution to the Club’s affairs. The total number of Life Members is not limited. Up to two Life Memberships, other than in exceptional circumstances, may be granted between successive AGMs.

Life Members will rank equally in all respects with Ordinary Members except that no contributions or subscriptions shall be payable.

Life Members shall be elected by the Governance Committee. A candidate may be proposed at any properly convened Governance Committee Meeting, and the candidate for election who receives the unanimous support of the Governance Committee present and voting at any subsequent properly convened Governance Committee Meeting shall be declared elected.

Honorary Members

Honorary Membership will be conferred in exceptional circumstances upon individuals who, whilst not being members of the Club, are none the less deemed to have made an outstanding personal contribution to its objects.

Honorary Members shall have no voting rights and shall not pay subscriptions.

Honorary Members shall be elected by the Governance Committee. A candidate may be proposed at any properly convened Governance Committee Meeting, and the candidate for election who receives the unanimous support of the Governance Committee present and voting at any subsequent properly convened Governance Committee Meeting shall be declared elected.

Club Colours

Registered colours are red with two yellow hoops.

Club Championships

In Club Championship races, with the exception of marathon, Members must wear Serpentine colours and must have a bona fide entry in their own name and have declared the Club in races which are not exclusively confined to Members.

Only first claim Club Members shall be eligible for any Club running award. In addition, to be eligible for the Club awards in other disciplines, the Member must not be a first claim member (or equivalent) of the relevant umbrella organisation with another club. For example, to be eligible for the Club triathlon awards if the Member is an individual member of the BTF (British Triathlon Federation) Serpentine must be shown on their race licence.

Disputes Procedures 

The process to resolve Disputes between members is set out in paragraph 27 of the Constitution.

Disciplinary Procedures 

Any Member may be disciplined or excluded from membership of the Club, if his or her conduct has been or is likely to be prejudicial to the interests of the Club, by resolution of a majority of at least two thirds of those present and voting at a properly convened Governance Committee Meeting and at which not less than four of the total voting members of the Governance Committee shall be present in addition to whatever other quorum requirements which may apply from time to time. Such Member shall have one month’s clear notice sent to him or her of the Governance Committee Meeting and he or she shall be entitled to attend the Meeting along with one other member and be heard in defence but shall neither be entitled to be present at the voting nor take part in the proceedings otherwise than as the Governance Committee shall permit. If the Member is a member of the Governance Committee, he or she shall not be entitled to vote, nor be present during the voting procedure.

Any Member disciplined or excluded from the Club under this Policy may lodge an appeal with the Governance Committee within three months of the relevant decision and shall thereupon have the right to demand that the matter be referred to three arbitrators.  The arbitrators shall each be either an Ordinary or a Life Member and none of them shall be serving on the Governance Committee or shall have been serving on the Governance Committee at the time of the relevant decision that is subject to appeal. The arbitrators shall be chosen as follows: one chosen by the Governance Committee, one by the aggrieved party and one by the two arbitrators. In the event that the first two arbitrators fail to agree on a third, the third arbitrator shall be appointed by England Athletics, the British Triathlon Federation or other relevant organising body as shall be nominated by the Governance Committee. Such arbitrators shall have the power by their award to annul the disciplinary action or exclusion, or to annul it subject to the performance of any condition which the arbitrators may think fit to impose.  The arbitrators’ decision shall be final.  Persons whose exclusion or refusal is upheld on appeal, or who have not appealed within three months, may not reapply for membership. 

Welfare and Wellbeing of Members

The Club takes the welfare and wellbeing of its members very seriously and shall not tolerate the physical or mental abuse and harassment, nor discrimination or defamation of any of its Members during or subsequent to Club events. The Club has a Welfare and Wellbeing Policy and has implemented procedures to meet the obligations for affiliation with various governing bodies.

Health and Safety

The Club is strongly committed to encouraging our members to take part, but the health and safety of each individual is always our paramount concern.  The Club has a Health & Safety policy and has implemented procedures to meet the obligations for affiliation with various governing bodies.

Inclusion 

The Club embraces diversity and difference and is committed to providing opportunities that are safe, inclusive, accessible, and equitable.The Club has a an Inclusion policy and has implemented procedures to meet the obligations for affiliation with various governing bodies.