THE BLENHEIM ANGLING SOCIETY RULES
TITLE
1. The name of the Society shall be “ The Blenheim Angling Society”.
OBJECTS
2. The objects of the Society shall be the promotion and protection of Angling, the provision of facilities for Members and the renting, preservation and restocking of the fisheries.
ADMINISTRATION
Officers and Committee
3. The Business of the Society shall be conducted by a President, four Vice Presidents, Treasurer , three Trustees, Secretary, Minutes Secretary, Chairman, Competition Secretary, Fisheries Officer, Canal Officer, Bulletin Editor, and a Committee of six members. The Officers shall appoint Assistants as deemed necessary.
4. Excepting the President, the number of Vice Presidents, Officers and Committee shall be nominated at the discretion of the Trustees, two months prior to the AGM.
The Officers shall constitute the General Committee whose duties shall be the entire management of the Society’s fisheries and finance, and all matters connected with the welfare of the Society.
The fiscal year shall commence January 1st and end December 31st and the Membership year is from June 1st to May 31st.
The Property of the Society, except cash, shall be vested in the Trustees to be dealt with as the Trustees shall from time to time, by resolution, direct. The Trustees shall be indemnified, out of the assets of the Society, against any risks and expense incurred by them in pursuance of their duties.
Five members shall form a quorum.
The General Committee shall fill any vacancy that may occur in the Committee by the co-option of any member within the general membership of the Society.
INDEMNITY
1. Neither the Officers of the Society nor any Trustee appointed by the Society to hold property on its behalf shall be liable ( otherwise than as members ) for any loss suffered by the Society as a result of the discharge of their respective duties on its behalf (except where such loss results from their wilful neglect or default ) and they shall be entitled to an indemnity out of the assets of the Society for all expenses and other liabilities incurred by them in the discharge of their respective duties.
2. The property of the Society shall be vested in not less than two , nor more than four, Trustees who shall be appointed by the Society at an Annual General Meeting. The property of the Society shall be vested in the Trustees to be dealt with them as the Society may from time to time direct by resolution ( of which an entry in a Minute Book shall be conclusive evidence) The Trustees shall be indemnified against risk and expense arising from the proper discharge of their duties as Trustees out of the assets of the Society.
3. The Trustees shall hold office until death or resignation or until removal from office at a meeting of the Society. Where by reason of such death, resignation or removal it is necessary that new Trustees be appointed, the Society shall nominate those persons who are appointed as the new Trustees.
For the purposes of giving effect to such provisions the Chairman for the time being is hereby nominated as the person to appoint the new Trustees of the Society within the meaning of section 36 of the Trustee Act 1925 and he shall by Deed duly appoint the person or persons so nominated by the Society.
4. The Trustees shall be empowered to open and operate an account with a Building Society or Bank for the administration of monies belonging to the Society.
5. A Trustee may resign by giving not less than twenty one days notice but if required to do so shall remain in office until such time as a replacement Trustee has been appointed.
DISSOLUTION
6. In the event of the Society resolving to dissolve itself, the assets of the Society shall be realised and, after payments of all debts, the balance of the money realised shall be distributed in such a manner as directed by the Trustees attending a meeting for that purpose shall resolve.
7.
Blank
8. A resolution to dissolve the Society may only be made at the Annual General Meeting.
END OF INDEMNITY
TREASURER
5. The Treasurer shall be responsible for recording all financial transactions of the Society.
He shall register subscriptions, pay all bills in due time, check expenditure and submit a monthly Statement of Accounts to the General Committee.
He shall prepare and present the Annual Balance Sheet at the AGM and copies of the Balance Sheet shall be sent to all Members at least seven days (7) before the AGM. He shall organise the auditing of the Balance Sheet prior to presentation.
All cheques are to be signed by the Treasurer and the Secretary. In the absence of the Treasurer or the Secretary a nominated Trustee may sign.
SECRETARY
6. The Secretary shall arrange for the issue and sale of permits to fish the Society waters. He will generally conduct all the secretarial duties connected with the Society.
MINUTES SECRETARY
7. He shall record and hold Minutes of all Society Meetings. He shall also assist the Secretary as and when required.
MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY
8. He shall maintain records of membership and take action as necessary to ensure members enrol each season.
COMPETITION SECRETARY
9. He will act as Senior Steward, organise and arrange all Society Matches. He shall keep and tabulate all weighing-in records. In the event of a dispute associated with a Match his decision shall be final. He shall report results of matches at Society Meetings.
His responsibilities include the care and maintenance of all Society Trophies.
FISHERIES OFFICER
10. He shall organise and control all work party programmes on Society waters. He shall report regularly on the condition of the fisheries.
CANAL OFFICER
11. He shall report on fishing conditions on our Canal Fisheries and report on the number of Day Tickets sold. He shall maintain a log of other Clubs booking matches on the canal.
BULLETIN EDITOR
12. He shall receive articles for inclusion in the bi-annual Bulletin. He shall be responsible for editing and compiling the Bulletin and ensuring that it is issued to all members at the requisite time.
DELEGATES
13. Members may be appointed to attend meetings of all Associations on which the Society is entitled to be represented. Delegates will furnish a short report of any business of interest to the Society. Expenses shall be refunded at the discretion of the General Committee.
MEETINGS
14. The Annual General Meeting shall be held at Society Headquarters on a date decided by the Committee at least one calendar month before the date selected. The Secretary shall notify all Members via the Bulletin of the date and the Agenda of the AGM. Notice of Proposals for Rule Changes to be submitted in writing to the Secretary at least 14 days prior to the AGM. The Annual Balance Sheet to be provided by the Treasurer for inclusion in the Bulletin.
14a. Ordinary Meetings shall be held on the first Thursday of each month at Society HQ. All members are requested to attend. Meetings will commence at 8.00 pm if five (5) members are present.
Ordinary Meetings shall be notified of applications for membership, fill any office that may fall vacant except one of General Committee rank. The Meeting shall conduct business of interest to the membership and to ensure the well being of the Society.
14b. Committee Meetings shall be called as and when the Secretary deems necessary. They will be held after the ordinary Meeting.
If a member of the General Committee misses more than three consecutive Meetings his office may be declared vacant. A successor may be appointed as per Rule 3.
MEMBERSHIP
15. The membership shall consist of Life Members, Senior Members, Junior Members, Senior Citizens and Registered Disabled.
15a. Life Membership shall be restricted to a maximum of 16 members and shall be conferred in recognition of outstanding service to the Society. A suitable candidate will be offered Life Membership when a position falls vacant. Life members shall be entitled to all the privileges of Ordinary membership.
15b. Ordinary membership applications shall be made in writing on the prescribed forms and sent to the Secretary. Applicants will be asked to attend the next appropriate meeting for enrolment into the Society. For those unable to attend, enrolment can be effected through the Post or by application at prescribed Tackle Outlets. Enrolment fees and Subscriptions must be paid in full before any privileges of membership can be exercised.
Entrance fee, Subscription fee and Canal Ticket prices shall be agreed by Committee at the beginning of the fiscal year.
15c. Junior membership applies between 12 to 16 years of age. Juniors reaching Senior Membership age but still in full time education will pay the Junior members fee.
15d. Senior Citizens and registered Disabled members shall pay the Concessionary level fee subject to providing appropriate proofs.
15e. Annual subscriptions are due on May 21st. Any member 21 days or more in arrears shall not be entitled to fish the Society Waters or exercise any of the privileges of membership. He may be readmitted on payment of a re-entry fee.
15f. The spouse or children of a member may fish Society waters providing the member is present.
WORKPARTY’S
All Members are expected to attend at least three (3) work parties or general meetings each year. Failure to do so will incur a £75 penalty at the following season’s renewal. £25 will be returned for each work party or general meeting attended during the year. This rule has been suspended during the pandemic and will be reviewed at our next AGM
TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
16. RESIGNATIONS. A member wishing to withdraw from the Society must tender his resignation, in writing to the Secretary together with any monies which may be due from him to the Society.
17. DISCIPLINE. In the event of a Member conducting himself so as ( in the opinion of the Committee ) to endanger the reputation of the Society then the Committee shall have the power to call a Special Meeting in reference thereto. A minimum of fourteen (14) days notice shall be given to such Member. The offending Member shall be notified, by Recorded Delivery letter, that his presence is required to answer the allegations. If two thirds of those present vote in favour of the allegations then the offending Member shall be expelled from the Society.
17a. The Club reserves the right to decline membership to anyone who has applied through Clubmate, without explanation.
ALTERATION TO RULES
18. Any Member may submit a Notice of Motion to be voted on at the AGM to effect a Rule change. The Notice of Motion must have a seconder. Subject to a vote at the AGM the Notice will be carried or rejected.
18b. On a written request to the Committee signed by no less than twelve (12) fully paid up members, the Committee shall be empowered to convene a Special General Meeting to ratify any changes to the Society Rules that may be considered necessary or expedient. Such alterations must remain statute until the next AGM
18c. No Minute recorded and duly carried shall be rescinded within three months.
SOCIETY YEAR
19. The Rules for the time being of the Society shall cancel all rules of previous years and be deemed to be in force from the AGM in one year to the AGM in the following year.
20. Any matter not covered or included in the foregoing rules shall be dealt with by the General Committee for the time being.
GENERAL REGULATIONS FOR ALL SOCIETY FISHERIES
1. Members shall be permitted to take guests on to Society waters but must first obtain a guest ticket for each guest from the Secretary at the prevailing price. Members must accompany their guests whilst on Society waters.
2. All Members fishing the Society waters must carry a current membership card. Members failing to show a current card will be asked to leave the water. All Members should also be in possession of a valid Environment Agency Rod Licence.
3. Members and persons privileged to use the Society waters do so at their own risk.
4. Night fishing is permitted on the freehold waters ( Colnebrook and Cargill Lake ) and on leasehold waters where permitted by the Owners.
5. Members may use two rods. Baited lines must not be left in the water unattended. An Environment Agency Rod Licence is required on all fisheries.
6. Where Close Season restrictions apply they are as follows :-
a. Coarse Fish – March 15th to June 15th Incl.
b. Trout – Oct 1st to March 31st Incl.
7. If Members use a keepnet then the minimum size for a keepnet shall be not less than 2 metres in length and not less than 35 cms in diameter or 35 x 30 cms if rectangular.
8. No fish may be taken away from the Society’s waters.
9. The use of livebaits on the Society’s waters is prohibited.
10. Members should aquaint themselves with and observe Water Authority byelaws.
11. LITTER MUST NOT BE LEFT ON THE SOCIETY’S FISHERIES. OFFENDING MEMBERS WILL FACE IMMEDIATE EXPULSION FROM THE SOCIETY FOR CONTRAVENING THIS REGULATION.
12. No fires allowed on the bank or surrounding area.
ADDITIONAL RULES FOR CARGILL LAKE
1. NO BENT HOOKS
2. NO FIXED LEADS
3. NO NUT BAITS
4. NO PARTICLE BAITS EXCEPT Cooked Hempseed, used in moderation.
5. NO CARP SACKS ALLOWED
6. NO KEEPNETS
7. NO PREBAITING
8. NO BAITED TACKLE TO BE LEFT IN THE WATER UNATTENDED AT ANY TIME.
9. NO RESERVING OF SWIMS BY ANY MEANS.
10. NO BOATS OR INFLATABLES.
11. UNHOOKING MATS MUST BE FIT FOR PURPOSE, IE. BIG ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE UNHOOKING LARGE FISH.
12. ONLY TWO RODS ALLOWED UNLESS A THIRD ROD PERMIT HAS BEEN PAID FOR IN ADVANCE. THREE (3) RODS MAXIMUM.
13. MAXIMUM OF 72 HOURS CONTINUOUS FISHING ALLOWED FOLLOWED BY A MINIMUM BREAK OF 24 HOURS
14. NO LITTER. OFFENDING MEMBERS WILL FACE IMMEDIATE EXPULSION FROM THE SOCIETY FOR CONTRAVENING THIS REGULATION.
15. FISHING ONLY PERMITTED FROM PREPARED SWIMS. IF ANY DOUBT, REFER TO THE CLUB BAILIFF. MEMBERS CANNOT MAKE THEIR OWN SWIMS WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION OBTAINED FROM THE FISHERIES OFFICER.
16. MINIMUM 15LB BREAKING STRAIN LINE REQUIRED DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE WEED GROWTH.
17. MAXIMUM OF 2 KILO’S BAIT TO BE USED DURING A SESSION AND ANY UNUSED BAIT MUST BE TAKEN HOME, NO EXCEPTIONS.
18. NO LIQUID “GOO” BAIT TO BE USED ON THIS LAKE ( OR ANY B.A.S. WATERS )
19. AS PER THE GENERAL RULES, A CURRENT PERMIT PLUS AN E.A. ROD LICENCE MUST BE CARRIED WHILE FISHING ON THE LAKE. FAILURE TO SHOW YOUR PERMIT WILL RESULT IN YOU BEING ASKED TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY.
20. NO PHOTO’S OF FISH CAPTURES TO BE MADE PUBLIC WITHOUT PRIOR CONSENT AND APPROVAL FROM THE COMMITTEE. THIS INCLUDES POSTING ANY PHOTO’S ONLINE ON A PUBLIC ACCESS WEBSITE.
21. NO FIRES ALLOWED ANYWHERE AROUND THE LAKE.
22. YOU MUST NOT LEAVE ANY WASTE BEHIND, ESPECIALLY HUMAN WASTE. PLEASE TAKE IT HOME WITH YOU AND DISPOSE OF IT RESPONSIBLY.