1 Name
1.1 The name of the club shall be Swilly Hiking Club, hereafter referred to as the Club.
1.2 Definition of Club Event. A club event is any event organised or promoted by the club, or by the
elected committee of the club or on behalf of the elected committee of the club.
2 Objectives of the Club
2.1 To facilitate and increase the enjoyment of mountaineering activities by members of the club.
2.2 To act as a collective voice of club members.
2.3 To assist in the protection and conservation of the mountain and coastal environment and to
maintaining continued access to these areas.
2.4 To encourage club members to train to be capable of ensuring their own safety in the mountain
environment.
2.5 To make information on responsible use of the mountain environment available to club
members.
3 Membership of the club
3.1 Membership of the club shall be open to all over 18’years of age, with no restrictions on grounds
of race, sex or religion
3.2 Membership of the club shall only be open to individuals who recognise that hill climbing, hill
walking and hiking are activities with a danger of personal danger or even death. Members shall be
aware of and accept these risks and agree to be responsible for their own actions and involvement.
3.3 Membership numbers shall be decided by the elected committee.
3.4 All club members may participate freely and equally in all club events except as outlined
elsewhere in the club constitution or rules.
3.5 Members shall abide by club guidelines and code of conduct. Any member failing to do so or
found in any way bringing the club or members into disrepute, or acting against the interests of the
club, shall be liable to be summarily suspended or removed from the roll of members by the
committee. The reasons for such sanction must be announced at the earliest agreed club meeting.
Such sanction may be overturned by a resolution passed by a majority of no less than three quarters
of the members present and entitled to vote at a subsequent general meeting of which due notice
has been given. Members who at any time are the subject of a complaint will not be entitled to be
part of the investigative/decision -making-committee considering that complaint.
3.6 Members shall accept that hill walking is an activity that requires a certain level of physical
fitness. It is the responsibility of a member to be in good medical health, so as to be able to
undertake hiking activities as outlined in the club programme or proposed by the hike leader.
3.7 Children, over 14 years of age, may walk with the club provided they are accompanied by a
parent or guardian who is a club member and who supervises the child during the walk.
3.8 No club member shall use Swilly Hiking Club or the name Swilly Hiking Club or part of the Club
name which could be construed as referring to the Club, for any private or commercial purpose.
4 Management of the club
4.1 The club will be managed by its members acting in general meeting. One of these meetings will
be the Annual General Meeting at which officers of the club will be elected.
4.2 Management of the club between general meetings shall be entrusted to the elected committee,
who must act in accordance with the constitution and rules of the club. They may make decisions on
matters not covered by the constitution or rules but these must be approved at the next General
Meeting.
5 Officers of the Club
5.1 The officers of the club shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting and shall be the
chairperson, secretary, treasurer and assistants. Other officers may be elected.
5.2 Officers are eligible to serve a term of two years after which they must stand down. An officer
may seek re-election to either the same roll or another roll on the committee.
5.3 Only paid up members can be elected to the committee or become an officer of the Club
6 Committee of the Club
6.1 The chairperson shall normally preside at and chair all the meetings of the committee and
general meetings of the club and shall be responsible for reporting to the membership at the club’s
AGM.
6.2 The committee of the club shall comprise of the elected officers plus a number of executive
members required to reach a total of nine.
6.3 All committee members shall have one vote. In the case of a tied vote, the Chairperson or acting
chairperson shall have a casting vote.
6.4 In the event of the committee nominating representatives to attend the general meeting of
Mountaineering Ireland or the governing body, such persons shall represent the views of the
membership and vote on behalf of the club.
6.5 The club secretary shall be responsible for all club records and for correspondence relating to the
club affairs as well as for giving notice of general or committee meetings and the recording of
minutes for these meetings. The secretary shall give at least 14 clear days notice of general
meetings. Items for inclusion on the agenda for such meeting shall be submitted to the secretary in
writing no later than 7 days before the meeting.
6.6 The treasurer shall collect subscriptions and account for all income and expenditure of the club
and shall be responsible for the payment of membership to Mountaineering Ireland or the relevant
insurer.
6.7 The committee shall have the power to co-opt additional members.
6.8 A quorum for a meeting shall be half of the elected members rounded up to the next whole
number.
6.9 The committee shall hold at least three meetings per year and the following items shall be listed
among the items on the agenda. (a) Safety Matters (b) Donegal Mountain Rescue (c) Leave No Trace.
6.10 An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called at the written request signed by 25% or more
of the Membership, and sent to the Secretary. Such a request must state in detail the proposed
agenda for the Meeting, which will then be convened. Voting rights will be as at the Annual General
Meeting.
7 Club Subscriptions
7.1 A General meeting shall have the power to set membership subscriptions for the club.
8 Rules of the Club
8.1 A General Meeting shall have the power to set Club rules. Such rules shall be in accordance with
the articles of the club’s constitution.
9 Amendments to Constitution
9.1 This constitution may be amended by a two thirds majority of those present with voting
entitlement at a General Meeting. Notice of any proposed amendment should be lodged with the
secretary at least 14 clear days before such meeting.
9.2 The club rules may be amended by simple majority of those present with voting entitlement at a
General Meeting. Notice of any proposed amendment should be lodged with the secretary at least
14 clear days before such meeting.
10 Dissolution of the Club
10.1 The club may be dissolved by a two thirds majority vote carried out in accordance with article 9
above, whereupon the committee will arrange to discharge any assets by charity donation. Any
liabilities at the time of dissolution shall be the joint responsibility of all members.