CONSTITUTION OF THE AMATEUR IRISH POWERLIFTING ORGANISATION
Title
- The owner Mr Shane Brodie and/or president of the Amateur Irish Powerlifting Organisation who is also the owner of the AWPC license along with the Drug Tested International Powerlifting League license and has agreed to lease that license to the Amateur Irish Powerlifting Organisation until such time he has the right to withdraw that license. The Amateur Irish Powerlifting Organisation shall be hereinafter referred to in this document as “AIPO”. The Amateur Irish Powerlifting Organisation, its intellectual property, web site, domain, name, trade mark, formation and all associated properties belong solely to Shane Brodie
- AWPC and DT IPL will from here on be referred to as affiliated organisations
Objectives
The objectives of the AIPO shall be:
- To encourage the practice, promotion, development and participation of amateur powerlifting in all areas of the Ireland and to progress the development of Irish Powerlifting internationally.
- To provide facilities for members to compete.
- To organise open, club, and club handicap powerlifting events from Novice to National and International qualification.
- To organise teams to represent the AIPO in championships and leagues and in such other Competitions as the owner shall decide with input from members.
- The AIPO shall cater for the following disciplines: RAW powerlifting, RAW with knee wraps, single ply powerlifting, multiply powerlifting, bench press only RAW and equipped (single and multi ply), disabled competing and novice introductory competition.
Membership
- Membership of the AIPO shall be open to persons who are amateurs as defined by affiliated organisations at that time, regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or other beliefs.
- However, limitation of membership according to available facilities is allowable on a non-discriminatory basis.
- Children under the age of 16 attending training, competitions or any club activity must be accompanied by their parent or guardian who shall be entirely responsible for them.
- For young people age 16 or 17, a parent or guardian is to be entirely responsible for their attendance at all club activities.
- Each membership application must be made by application form handed in by person at competition, or sent by post otherwise they will not be eligible to compete. The appropriate subscription of €65 must accompany the application for membership.
- The committee shall have the power to suspend or exclude any member for contravention of or bringing the sport into disrepute or public defamation of any other member or organisations regardless of blame. Disagreements will be dealt with privately and grievances should be brought directly to the committee which will be dealt with. Personal disagreements will not be dealt with by the AIPO. In exercising these powers the committee shall adhere to the AIPO’s disciplinary procedures. Appeal against refusal or removal may be made to the committee who has the right to put this to public vote.
- Honorary life membership of the AIPO may be conferred upon any member by a majority vote of those present at an Annual General Meeting (AGM) in recognition of someone who has performed an outstanding service, or who has made an outstanding contribution to the AIPO.
Payments
- Annual payments for competing under the license of the AIPO and affiliated organisations shall become due for payment on 1st January each year, with the amounts being determined by the owner who may also seek input from AIPO members publicly.
- The AIPO will keep payments at levels that will not pose a significant obstacle to people participating.
- Any member failing to make payment by the 1st January of each year may still join by paying the subscription fee but will still have to renew the following year on the 1st January unless special dispensation for members has been introduced in the form of a public reduction or promotion. Members who help the AIPO in any capacity may be offered payment of the annual fee in return for their services
Management
- The management of the AIPO shall be vested in a Committee that shall consist of the Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary who shall be Officers of the Club together with a maximum of ten other members. All the foregoing shall be elected at the AGM and remain in office until the conclusion of the AGM of the following year.
- Five elected Committee members are required for a quorum for a Committee meeting to take place providing the Chairman or Secretary is also present.
- The Committee shall have the power to fill vacancies if they arise and to co-opt members for particular projects, but co-opted members shall not have a Committee vote.
- The Committee shall have the power to appoint individuals to perform specific duties on behalf of the Committee, and to delegate to those individuals such duties as they consider appropriate.
- The committee of the AIPO shall be vested in the owner with input for consideration from the members. The committee will manage the AIPO for the progression of the sport, protection of the lifters and development of facilities for the lifters.
- The committee can create a poll or call a meeting at any time for input and guidance on decisions from the lifters and members.
- The committee shall also have the power to establish any subgroups deemed appropriate to assist in meeting the objectives of the AIPO, and to delegate to these sub groups such duties as may be considered appropriate. Those individuals can be recompensed if appropriate, by payment, annual fees or competition entry admission.
Annual Meeting – only available to those with membership card baring AIPO and associated number.
At the general meeting this will:
- Give persons of annual membership a report on the progression of the AIPO and developments.
- Receive the financial report from the treasurer. Accounts shall be posted on line when they become available for public view and in the case of Ltd company, will be lodged and available also through companies house.
- Put the representatives deemed necessary for the running of the AIPO if necessary.
- Consider any amendments to this constitution which must be received by the owner at least 14 days preceding the meeting in order that all subscribers to the AIPO shall have sufficient notice of the proposal.
- Transact any other business important for the members.
- At least 21 days’ notice shall be given to members of the date, venue and proposed discussion list. 2. All registered members of the AIPO at the meeting who are aged 18 years or more shall have input. If a vote is requested by the owner, a show of hands will be asked for and the majority vote will carry the decision.
Emergency Meeting
- An emergency meeting may be called by the committee to discuss business too urgent to wait for the general meeting. This can be done by announcement requiring feedback from the members, electronic poll or physical gathering of the lifters/subscribers.
- Three weeks’ notice of an emergency meeting must be given to the all members by email or by announcement in electronic format together with the issue/s to be discussed if physical presence is required. No other business shall be conducted.
- Procedures for input shall be the same as for the general meeting.
- An EGM may be called by the Committee to discuss changes to the Constitution and Rules or any other Club business too urgent to wait for the AGM.
- An AGM must be called if 25% of voting members so petitions the Secretary in writing.
- Three weeks’ notice of an EGM must be given to the all members by email or in writing together with the motion/s to be discussed. No other business shall be conducted.
- Procedures for voting shall be as used for the AGM.
- All suggestions must be given within 2 weeks’ notice of the all meetings
Finance
- The financial year of the AIPO shall run from May 31st to June 1st.
- All funds belonging to the AIPO initially shall be deposited with the Irish Powerlifting Organisation funds until such a time the AIPO has grown in order to sustain itself. It shall be deposited in a bank or building society in accounts that shall carry the AIPO title or the Irish Powerlifting Organisation title or the limited company title.
- It shall not be deposited in a personal bank account. All accounts shall operate on one signatory of the owner.
Property and Funds
- The property and funds of the AIPO cannot be used for the direct or indirect private benefit of members other than as reasonably allowed by the owner and all surplus income or profits are reinvested in the Club unless directed otherwise.
- Individuals can be recompensed and appointed promoters can gain benefit if not affecting the lifters in any way financially.
- Funds in the form of income can be deposited into another organisations account in the case where members are below sustainable financial amounts for the AIPO. This will ballast the AIPO until such time times it can support itself financially and will at that point run its own accounts independently.
- The AIPO may provide sporting and related social facilities, sporting equipment, coaching, courses, insurance cover, medical treatment, travel expenses and other ordinary benefits of Community Amateur Sports Clubs as provided for in the Finance Act 2002.
- The AIPO may also in connection with the sports purposes of the Club:
- Sell and supply food, drink and related sports clothing and equipment.
- Employ members and remunerate them for providing goods and services, on fair terms set by the owner without the person concerned being present.
- Pay for reasonable hospitality for visiting guests;
- Indemnify the committee, volunteers and paid representatives and members acting properly in the course of the running or assisting of the AIPO against any liability incurred in the proper running of the IPO (but only to the extent of its assets) through insurance coverage.
- The committee, promoters and members will have due regard to the law on disability discrimination and child protection.
Winding Up
- The owner/president may decide vote to wind up the AIPO at any time or withdraw the license. the committee has responsibility to inform all members with a current AIPO membership number of the decision.
- The committee will then be responsible for the orderly winding up of the AIPO’s affairs.
- After settling all liabilities of the AIPO, the committee shall dispose of the net assets remaining to one or more of the following:
- To another Club with similar sports purposes and/or
- To an individual with the sole purpose of perpetuation the work and ethos of the club
- The owner/president also reserves the right at winding up to have value assessed of due monies owed in lieu of time, intellectual property, diligence and investment. All the aforementioned properties will be assess by the designated accountant of the AIPO.
Alterations to the Constitution
The Constitution may be altered by the committee and an amendment notice will appear with date of change and the members will be notified.
Substantial changes will be discussed with members and the ultimate decision will be that of the committee with due to consideration of the opinion of the members.
