CONSTITUTION OF THE GAUTENG FENCING ASSOCIATION

1) Name

1.1) The name of this Association shall be:- GAUTENG FENCING ASSOCIATION, hereinafter called the "Association".

2) Objectives

2.1) To promote develop and coordinate the sport of Fencing in Gauteng between the members of all groups regardless of race, colour or creed.

2.2) To organize the holding of Annual Open and Closed Provincial Championships as well as any other competitions and functions connected with the sport of Fencing.

2.3) At all times to maintain and display a true spirit of sportsmanship.

2.4) To abide by the Federation International d'Escrime (F.I.E.) rules, regulations and standards.

2.5) To settle all issues and disputes referred to the Association in connection with Fencing.

2.6) To raise funds for the Association, and to borrow moneys on security or otherwise on such terms as may be deemed necessary, suitable or convenient for carrying out any of the objectives of the Association.

2.7) To purchase, take on lease or in exchange, hire or otherwise acquire any movable or immovable property and any rights or privileges whatsoever which may be deemed necessary, suitable or convenient for carrying out any of the objectives of the Association.

2.8) To sell, let or hire or otherwise dispose of the whole, or any part of the property of the Association for such consideration and upon such terms and conditions as the committee may deem fit,

2.9) To open and operate banking and or savings accounts or any other financial accounts as may be deemed necessary by the committee.

2.10) To invest any moneys of the Association not immediately required, and upon such securities or otherwise and in such manner as may be determined by the Committee from time to time.

2.11) To control the design, form and award of the Association's badge; to restrain the unlawful and unauthorised use thereof, and take disciplinary or any other actions in respect of any such unlawful use.

2.12) to award "GFA Fencing Colours" as applicable: Only the top four (4) ranked fencers will be awarded colours, with a maximum of one third (1/3) of the ranked fencers. The fencers will be ranked according to the latest GFA ranking list which will include the best fifty percent (50%) of the fencers' competitions (with a minimum of three (3) ranking competitions) and the Gauteng Closed Championships. Attendance at the Gauteng Closed Championships and National Championships is compulsory for being awarded colours. Furthermore, should Senior Team Nationals take place and a senior fencer is selected for these team nationals and s/he does not fence at these team nationals, then provincial colours will not be awarded to that fencer.

3) Membership

3.1) Voting Members

3.1.1) A voting member shall be:-

i) A natural person

ii) Over the age of eighteen (18) years

iii) An amateur fencer

iv) Residing in the area of Gauteng

v) Fully paid up for the ensuing year

vi) Unaffiliated to any other Provincial Fencing Body

3.1.2) Each and every criterion contained in article 3.1.1 must be satisfied to qualify as a voting member.

3.1.3) A voting member shall agree to be bound by this constitution and the rules of the F.I.E.

3.2) Non-voting Member

3.2.1) A non-voting member shall be: -

i) A person who satisfies all the criteria under article 3.1, with the exception of article 3.1.1.ii and article 3.1.1.iv.

3.3) the committee shall have the power, by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the full committee to terminate the membership of a member of the Association, provided that such member has had a fair hearing before the full committee.

3.4) The committee shall have the power, by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the full committee to reprimand and or discipline a member for misconduct, provided that such member shall have recourse to article 3.6.

3.5) Should a person subject to article 3.3 or Article 3.4 waive his/her right to a hearing, either expressly or tacitly, the above proviso contained in article 3.3 and article 3.4 need not apply.

3.6) Should a person be subject to article 3.3 or article 3.4 , such person may demand an Extraordinary General Meeting in accordance with article 6 in order to review the committee decision.

3.7) The decision taken at an Extraordinary General Meeting concerning the reinstatement on membership shall last for twelve (12) months.

4) Control

4.1) Control of the Association shall be vested in the committee which shall consist of a:

• Chairperson
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Competition Supervisor
• Armourer
• Public Relations Officer
• Juniors Representative

4.2) Committee members shall all be voting members.

4.3) Each committee member shall have one (1) vote, which may only be cast in person, save that the Chairperson shall have a casting vote only where a simple majority is required.

4.4) A quorum shall consist of four (4) committee members.

4.5) The role and functions of each Committee member are as follows:-

4.5.1) Chairperson

To supervise the function of the committee, to chair the committee meetings, to oversee all the activities of the Association of any nature and to appoint personal representatives at the Association, subject to such representatives being by preference committee members, failing which voting members, as per article 3.1.1.

4.5.2)            Secretary

To perform and manage all administrative and secretarial needs of the Association.

4.5.3)            Treasurer

To manage and oversee all monetary and financial interests of the Association.

4.5.4)            Competition Supervisor

To control, supervise and arrange all activities and functions related to competitions held by the Association.

4.5.5)            Armourer

To maintain in good order, control and manage all fencing equipment as well as to all other physical assets of the Association or responsibilities related thereto, without exception.

4.5.6)            Public Relations Officer

To supervise, control and manage all activities in promoting the Association and upholding good relations between members, as well as performing and or running such promotional, public relation, and communications activities as may be deemed necessary by the committee from time to time.

4.5.7)            Juniors Representative

To supervise, control and manage all activities concerned with Junior Fencing in the Association, including assisting any committee member in matters relating to Junior Fencing, and any other activities deemed necessary by the Committee from time to time.

4.6) The committee shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.

4.7) The committee shall be able to co-opt additional members as it deems fit, but such co-opted members shall not have a vote on the committee.

4.8) A Committee member shall be discharged from office if -

4.8.1) The rest of the committee has substantial grounds for regarding him/her as unfit to continue office or,

4.8.2)            He/she has submitted his/her written resignation.

4.9) Removal from Office

4.9.1) The committee has the power, subject to article 4.9.2 to remove only one (1) member as per Article 4.8. 1. If more than one (1) member is thought unfit, an Extraordinary General Meeting for this purpose shall be called.

4.9.2) The discharge from office of the Chairperson requires the calling of an Extraordinary General Meeting for this purpose.

5) Annual General Meeting (A.G.M.)

5.1) An Annual General Meeting (A.G.M.) of this Association shall be held not later than two (2) months after the end of each calendar year.

5.2) Notice of the A.G.M. shall be sent by the Secretary to every registered member of the Association at least twenty-one (21) days before the date of the meeting.

5.3) A quorum at the A.G.M. shall consist of not less than one third (1/3) of the registered voting members.

5.4) If, at the A.G.M. there is no quorum present, the meeting shall stand adjourned, and the Secretary shall within fourteen (14) days give notice in terms of article 5.2 for the rescheduling of the A.G.M., at which subsequent meeting the members present shall constitute a quorum.

5.5) At the A.G.M. each registered member as defined in article 3.1 shall have one (1) vote.

5.6) Voting by proxy is permissible at the A.G.M., provided it is submitted in writing and signed before the meeting.

5.7) Any resolution at the A.G.M. shall be passed by simple majority, subject to article 8.

5.8) At the A.G.M., the Chairperson shall submit a report and the Treasurer shall submit a full Financial Report for the year under review. The Financial Report shall be certified by both the Chairperson and the Treasurer, but need not be audited.

5.9) The committee of the Association shall be elected at the A.G.M., and shall assume office immediately thereafter and shall continue office until a new committee has been voted in.

6) Extraordinary General Meeting

6.1) An Extraordinary General Meeting (E.G.M.) may be called at the request of not less than ten percent (10%) of the voting members of the Association or by the committee by a simple majority vote of the Committee.

6.2) Notice of an E.G.M. shall be sent by the Secretary to every registered member of the Association not less than fourteen (14) days before such meeting, stating the business for which the meeting has been convened.

6.3) The committee shall within thirty (30) days of an E.G.M. being requested in terms of article 6.1 call such a meeting.

6.4) A quorum at an E.G.M. shall consist of not less than twenty percent (20%) of the registered voting members.

6.5) If, at the E.G.M., there is no quorum present, the meeting shall stand adjourned, and the Secretary shall within fourteen (14) days give notice in terms of article 6.2 for the rescheduling of the E.G.M., at which subsequent meeting the members present shall constitute a quorum.

6.6) Only business for which an E.G.M. was convened shall be voted on at an E.G.M.

6.7) Voting by proxy is permissible at an E.G.M., provided it is submitted in writing and signed before the meeting.

7) Interpretation

7.1) In the event of any ambiguity or uncertainty arising regarding the application of any of the Articles of this Constitution, the interpretation thereof by the committee shall be by strict application of the general rules of construction for the interpretation of Statutes used under the South African Law.  In doing so, the intention of the committee under which the relevant article was passed or amended, may be referred to.

7.2) Subject to article 7.1, the interpretation of any article of this Constitution shall be made by the committee, which decision shall be final.

7.3) The interpretation of any internal rules and regulations of the Association not contained in this Constitution, shall be made by the committee, at its own discretion, which decision shall be final.

8) Alteration

8.1) No article of this Constitution shall be altered, added to or in any way amended, except by a two thirds (66.7%) majority vote of the voting members at an A.G.M. or any E.G.M. convened for that purpose.

8.2) For the purpose of article 8.1, a fifty percent (50%) poll of the votes of the Association shall be cast in person or by proxy.

8.3) A written copy of any proposed alterations or additions to these articles shall be sent with the notice in terms of article 5.2 for an A.G.M. or in terms of article 6.2 for an E.G.M.