1.1 The RS Elite Class has been created as a strict One Design racing sailboat. It has been designed on the fundamental principal that racing results should depend primarily on the skills of the crew. The fundamental objective of the Class Constitution and One Design Rules is to ensure that this concept is maintained.
1.2 The title of the association shall be the RS ELITE CLASS ASSOCIATION.
1.3 The English text of these Rules shall govern.
The objects of the Association are to promote and develop sailing in the RS Elite Class as a strict One Design class. In particular:-
2.1 To maintain the One Design character of the Elite,
2.2 To co-ordinate and manage the affairs and the Rules of the Class as laid down in the Elite Class Owners' Constitution and Rules, working with the Licence Holder [Phil Morrison] and the builder [RS Sailing].
2.3 To make recommendations on the control of such matters to clubs and other bodies.
2.4 To encourage and co-ordinate competition in the Class.
2.5 To minimise the cost of racing in the Class.
3.1 Membership of the Association whether as a Full, Family or Associate member is open to anyone who applies.
3.2 Family Membership of the Association is open to parents/partners and children under 18 of any one family, or under 24 if in full time education.
3.3 Only Full, Associate and Family Members of the Association are eligible to helm and compete for points, places or prizes in One Design Championships, Open Elite One Design races or Series of races.
3.4 Only Full or Family Members (over the age of 18 years) have a vote on Association matters at AGMs and EGMs.
3.5 As the normal rule, results will be attributed to individual boats, not helms.
3.6 Exceptionally, as may be ordered by the Class Association Committee, particularly in short series events, results may be attributed to individual, named helms.
3.7 Exceptions to Rule 3 may be authorised by the Class Management Committee in response to formal request.
4.1 A Class Management Committee of not less than four Members (the "Committee") shall normally manage the affairs of the Association. The Committee shall consist of the following officers: a Chair, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Rules Coordinator and a Builder's Representative and they shall be elected as detailed in 4.2 below. In addition, the Committee may co-opt any other officers it thinks fit.
4.2 The Committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Association (the "AGM"). The Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Rules Coordinator shall each be elected to serve for a three-year term (a "full term") and shall stand down in rotation. The Manufacturer's Representative shall not be subject to term limits and may serve indefinitely until superseded by a successor appointed by the Manufacturer. The re-appointment of any other officers previously co-opted by the Committee shall be approved on an annual basis by the AGM.
4.3 If a vacancy is created by the resignation of an officer before the end of his or her term or an officer is otherwise unable to complete his or her term or a vacancy has not been filled at an AGM, the Committee shall make an appointment to fill the vacancy by co-option. The person so appointed shall serve until the next AGM when the position shall be filled by election. The person co-opted may stand for such election. The term of an appointment so filled shall last until that position would normally have been filled by re-election. The officer may then stand for re-election and that officer shall then be considered to have been elected for a full term. If the position of Chair has been filled by co-option the person appointed may stand for election at the next AGM and may subsequently stand for re-election for a maximum of one further term.
4.4 When an officer has been first elected by the AGM to serve for a full term, that individual shall be entitled to stand for re-election in that office for one further consecutive full term only, except in the case of the Chair. The Chair may (i) serve for two consecutive terms only if the first of such terms has been less than a full term per 4.3 above (ii) for the avoidance of doubt, serve for two full terms provided that such terms do not run consecutively and (iii) serve subsequently in another capacity on the Committee at any time subject to the provisions of 4.2. Any officer other than the Chair on standing down or resigning as per 4.2 or 4.3 above shall be entitled to serve subsequently at any time in any other capacity on the Committee (including as Chair) subject to the provisions of 4.2 and 4.3.
4.5 A minimum of four members of the Committee are required to be present at a Committee meeting to constitute a ‘quorum'.
4.6 Each AGM of the Association must be held not later than 15 months after the previous AGM.
4.7 At least three weeks' notice of any AGM shall be given in writing to all Members along with a complete agenda of business intended.
4.8 Proposed changes to the Class Constitution and One Design Rules will be advised to all Members, normally with the notice of the AGM. Any member may submit such proposed changes for consideration at AGM provided a formal proposal is sent to the Committee at least one month before the AGM. No significant changes shall be made without the approval of at least 2/3rds of the Association membership who have voted on the proposal.
4.9 Members who are unable to attend the AGM may give their proxy [and directions] to the chair in writing.
4.10 Any other meeting shall be termed an Extraordinary General Meeting. The Committee may, whenever it thinks fit, call an EGM and shall do so within 60 days of the receipt by the Chairman of a requisition in writing stating the object of the proposed meeting. An EGM can be proposed in the following ways:-?a. By one member of the Committee - seconded by at least two other members of the Committee.?b. By one Member of the Association - seconded by at least six other Members.
4.11 An EGM shall have the same powers as an AGM.
4.12 Proper Minutes of all AGMs and EGMs shall be taken and distributed to all full members on completion. Minutes shall be read and confirmed at the subsequent AGM.?Notices to Members will be distributed to Members by Email only unless specifically requested otherwise.
5.1 The amount of the subscriptions is determined annually by the committee. The rates for 2018 are £30 per year Full Members, £40 per year Family Membership and £20 per year Associate Members].
5.1 Subscriptions are due on the first day of January each year. New members joining after the first day of January will be charged the annual fee for the year.
5.2 No person may enjoy the rights of the Association until their subscription is paid in full.
6.1 The committee shall ensure that a proper record is maintained of all receipts and payments of the Association and that a proper financial statement is presented to members at the AGM.
Addendum to the Constitution
The responsibilities of the committee include:View the RS Elite Class One Design Rules