CONSTITUTION FOR OWN LOFT RACING SA RACING PIGEON UNION
- Koot van der Walt
- Feb 24, 2024
- 8 min read
(REFERRED TO AS "THE UNION" TO UPHOLD AND PRESERVE THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE ETHICAL AND PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR IN THE INTEREST OF THE RACING PIGEON)
NAME, OFFICE, AND AREA OF OPERATION
1.1 The name shall be Own Loft Racing South African Racing Pigeon Union (hereinafter referred to as The Union or SARPU).
1.2 The principal contact center of The Union shall be displayed on the website https://koot00.wixsite.com/sarpu
1.3 The area of operation shall be the Republic of South Africa and abroad.
DEFINITIONS
In this Constitution, unless the context otherwise requires:
2.1 "Committee" means a committee established in Clause 16.
2.2 "Own Loft Racing" shall mean any form of pigeon racing that takes place from the loft of a pigeon fancier located on his own premises, excluding "One Loft Racing" involving multiple fanciers sending their baby pigeons to be raced from a central loft.
2.3 "Executive Committee" means the Executive Committee as set out in Clause 7.
2.4 "IRPA" means The South African Racing Pigeon Union.
2.5 The Financial Year shall be from 1 March to 28 February.
2.6 "Financial Statement" means a balance sheet and an income statement conforming to generally accepted accounting practice.
2.7 "General Meeting" means a meeting at which all affiliates are entitled to be present and vote, including "Annual General Meeting" and "Special General Meeting."
2.8 "Member" shall mean a member in terms of Clause 4 read with Clauses 5 and 6.
2.9 "Object" means the object as specified in Clause 3.
2.9.1 "Office Bearers" means the Office Bearers referred to in Clause 7.
2.10 "Loft Grouping" or "LG" shall mean extending the standard velocity calculations mathematically to determine the average distance of a loft's first four birds from a nominated team, behind the "marker" being the bird with the highest velocity in an area or club.
2.11 "KLPHF" will mean Kilometres lost per hour of flight.
2.11.1 "Golden Drop" shall mean the achievement of an LG score of <0.0850 KLPHF and having all the birds sent to the race, not just the nominated team, back in the loft on the day of liberation.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of The Union are:
3.1 To uphold, promote, enforce, expect, and preserve the highest possible ethical and professional behavior from its affiliates, improving the image of the racing pigeon sport while ensuring the interest of the pigeon.
3.2 To write, present, and continuously update an operation manual directing and assisting affiliates in achieving the goals and objectives of this Constitution.
3.3 Maintain and promote external funding for the Racing Pigeon Sport. Make mathematical calculation methods such as LG available to facilitate fair and equal competition between national and international racing pigeon lofts and teams.
3.4 Make representations to authorities and businesses to obtain sponsorship and support for promoting The Union and its objectives.
3.5 Make representation to insurance companies and underwriters for insuring pigeons in transit and providing a prize indemnity cover to the "Golden Drop" sponsors.
3.6 Promote and develop the principle of Own Loft Racing with Loft Grouping at its center, the preferred system within all racing pigeon clubs in the Republic and abroad.
3.7 Establish, maintain, and promote the art of "The Golden Drop" within the Racing Pigeon international fraternity.
3.8 Assist in the settlement of disputes by mediation, arbitration, or otherwise as per the rules of the East Rand Commercial Arbitration Board.
3.9 Collect and disseminate information relating to any of these objectives that may be of benefit to affiliates.
3.10 Raise funds by subscription or any other lawful means.
3.11 To issue a certificate of compliance to all affiliates indicating the applicant's compliance grade to The Union's high standards.
AFFILIATES
4.1 There shall be different types of affiliates as defined in The Union's operations manual, namely:
4.1.1 Services, competitions, and transport providing business entities, providing membership, and servicing professional part-time or full-time pigeon racers competing in the sport of racing pigeons for "fly for pay."
4.1.2 Goods and equipment providing business entities.
4.2 All prospective and successful applications for affiliation shall be and remain business or voluntary association entities with the sole purpose of providing services, goods, equipment, and/or competitions related to the sport of racing pigeons. They shall apply in writing by completing an application form, and The Union's Executive Committee, with the final decision, shall consider all such applications. If any affiliation application is declined, the Executive Committee need not provide reasons for its decision.
4.3 All affiliates shall be bound by the provisions of this Constitution and the conditions of The Union's Operations Manual as amended from time to time.
TERMINATION OF AFFILIATION
Affiliation to The Union shall or may be terminated in any of the following ways:
5.1 By written resignation to The Union.
5.2 By failure to pay subscriptions or other amounts owing to The Union within three months of the due date.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
6.1 The Executive Committee shall determine all affiliation subscriptions and other amounts payable to The Union. They shall be included in the operations manual. Unless otherwise specified, they shall be payable annually in advance within three months of 31 December and shall not be refunded at the termination of affiliation. At the discretion of the Executive Committee, outstanding subscriptions will be dealt with in the same manner as a dispute described in the dispute resolution.
6.2 Accordingly, The Union is affiliated with Own Loft International Racing Pigeon Association (IRPA), and in terms of that affiliation, all Union affiliates are subject to the payment of membership fees as determined by IRPA's Constitution. This levy shall be included in the annual subscription levied in terms of Clause 6.1.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE – OFFICE BEARERS
7.1 The Executive Committee shall consist of the following persons:
7.1.1 A President shall, unless otherwise determined at the meeting concerned, also be Chairman at any General Meeting or Executive Committee Meeting. The President shall not remain in office for a period above two consecutive years unless they are re-elected to do so.
7.1.2 A First Vice-President, who shall, in the absence of the President, be the Chairman at any General Meeting or Executive Committee Meeting.
7.1.3 The immediate Past President of The Union.
7.1.4 Treasurer/Secretary.
7.2 The members of the Executive Committee, except the immediate Past President, shall be elected by ballot at each Annual General Meeting. Nominations shall be in writing by members of good standing, signed by the proposer and the seconder, and accepted by the nominee. Such nominations should be in the hands of the Secretary at least forty-eight hours before the Annual General meeting.
7.3 The members of the Executive Committee elected as per Clause 7.2 shall, immediately after the Annual General Meeting, elect the President, Vice-President, and Secretary/Treasurer.
7.4 As may be necessary, the remaining members may fill any vacancy on the Executive Committee (requiring a simple majority vote).
POWERS AND DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The powers and duties of the Executive Committee shall be to:
8.1 Implement and generally give effect to the objects, decisions, and policies of The Union as described in the Operations Manual.
8.2 Determine any other business that may be considered at the Annual General Meeting or other general meetings.
8.3 Prepare the Financial Statements of the affairs of The Union for submission to Members at the Annual General Meeting.
8.4 With the approval of the Executive Committee, open and operate an account or accounts with a registered bank, invest, dispose of, or otherwise deal with any of The Union's assets, engage and dismiss staff, transact the business of The Union, incur and settle debts and other obligations in its name, and issue legal process.
8.5 Do all other things as it may deem in the interest of The Union or any of its affiliates with due regard being paid to The Union's objectives.
8.6 Appoint the auditors of The Union and fix their remuneration.
PROCEEDINGS OF MEETINGS
9.1 Unless otherwise specified herein or otherwise determined by the meeting concerned, all proceedings at meetings (including General Meetings and Executive Committee Meetings) shall be conducted following standard practice.
9.2 All motions shall be proposed and seconded.
9.3 Voting, unless any members demand a ballot, shall be a show of hands, a simple majority shall carry motions, and each member shall be entitled to one vote only on each activity.
9.4 Should there be an equality of votes, a motion shall not be carried save that the Chairman shall have a casting vote in Executive Committee proceedings.
9.5 Generally, all meeting procedures shall be conducted according to the "Robert's Rules of Order" manual.
LIABILITY OF AFFILIATES
10.1 The liability of all affiliates shall be limited to unpaid subscriptions.
10.2 An individual member is also liable for any outstanding monies owed by that member to The Union.
CONVENING OF MEETINGS
11.1 Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall meet at least six times per year at such times and venues as it or the President or, failing him, the Vice-President may determine.
11.2 Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting shall be held within one month of the end of The Union's financial year. It shall be at such time and venue as the President, failing whom the Vice-President or, failing both, the simple majority of remaining executive members, may determine.
11.3 A General Meeting may be called at any time by the President or, in his absence, by the Vice-President, or by the Executive Committee or on a requisition in writing signed by not fewer than 10 affiliates specifying the purpose of such meeting, which shall be the only business permitted to be conducted at such meetings.
BUSINESS TO BE TRANSACTED AT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Annual General Meetings shall consider, among other things, the following:
12.1 The annual report and financial statements of The Union.
12.2 The election of the Executive Committee.
12.3 All motions adequately proposed and seconded and other business that may arise.
NOTICE OF MEETINGS
13.1 Executive Committee
At least seven days' written notice or such a shorter period as the President may determine shall be given for any Executive Committee Meeting.
13.2 General Meetings
At least seven days' written notice or such a shorter period as the President may determine shall be given for any General Meeting.
13.3 Other Meetings
At least seven days' written notice or such a shorter period as the President may determine shall be given for any General Meeting.
13.4 Due notice shall for all purposes be deemed to have been given immediately upon delivery thereof which, in the event of delivery by E-mail, shall be considered to be the date on the E-mail.
MOTIONS AT GENERAL MEETINGS
14.1 Each member may propose motions by delivering written notice thereof to The Union at least fourteen days before the meeting or, if there is short notice thereof, such a lesser period as the President (failing whom the Vice-President) or the Chairman of the meeting may determine.
14.2 A motion that has been defeated at a General Meeting may not be reintroduced for two years without the leave of the Executive Committee.
QUORUM
15.1 A quorum at a General Meeting shall be twenty per cent of paid-up affiliates entitled to vote thereat or represented by written proxies.
15.2 A quorum at Executive Committee Meetings shall be at least three Executive Committee members.
15.3 A quorum at other committee meetings shall be at least three committee members or so many members as constituting not less than fifty per cent of the members of the committee concerned, whichever is the lesser.
15.4 In the absence of a quorum at any meeting, within fifteen minutes of that meeting's scheduled starting time, the meeting shall automatically be adjourned to the same day, time, and place in the following week (provided that that day is a public holiday, to the next business day) and those members present at the adjourned meeting shall constitute a quorum.
STANDING AND SUB-COMMITTEES
A General Meeting of the Executive Committee may appoint such committees with such terms of reference as may be considered desirable.
AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION
Any amendment of this Constitution may be determined by a majority vote of at least 75% of members at a General Meeting in respect of which due notice of any proposed amendment has been given, provided that the provisions of Clauses 1, 3, 8, and 18 may only be amended by a special resolution passed by an 80% majority of all persons present and entitled to vote at a General Meeting, and in respect of which not less than twenty-one days' written notice has been given.
WINDING-UP
18.1 The Union, subject to such conditions as a General Meeting may determine and subject to Clause 18, shall be dissolved by a resolution passed by not less than two-thirds of the members of The Union present at such a meeting, which meeting shall be called specially for the purpose concerned at not less than twenty-one days' written notice specifying in detail the purpose for the meeting and the reasons for the proposed dissolution.
18.2 On dissolution, the assets of The Union shall devolve upon such other association with similar objects.
DATE 24 February 2024
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