WDAA CONSTITUTION

1. The Association shall be called the “Winsford and District Anglers Association” (Hereinafter called the Association) and the headquarters of the Association shall be at such place as the Delegates Committee shall from time to time determine.

2. The objects of this Association are to promote good fellowship amongst anglers, to encourage competition angling by the promotion of contests and to encourage young anglers by the promotion of juvenile contests. To control and stock waters owned and rented by the Association, to cooperate with the Environment Agency and other authorities concerned with the purity of rivers and other waters and to prevent the pollution thereof. Also generally to engage in such activities as are in the general interests of angling and anglers.

3. The affairs of the Association shall be conducted by a Delegates Committee which shall consist of the General Purpose Committee together with one delegate from each affiliated body. This Committee will meet quarterly.

4. The everyday running of the Association will be carried out by a General Purpose Committee consisting of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Juvenile Organiser, Match Secretary, Treasurer, Fishery Manager, Assistant Fishery Manager. 

Manager and four members (not more than two members to represent one club). The four members will serve for two years with two retiring each year. This General Purpose Committee will meet monthly, except March, and will be responsible to the Executive Committee. A quorum will be six members. Any member not attending 60% of the meetings in his first year of office will be required to stand for re- election after the first year.

5. Any bona-fide angling body may apply to the Committee for affiliation to the Association. with an annual affiliation fee of £15 which is payable on acceptance. Annual subscriptions shall be fixed at the AGM and these shall be paid before August 1st. Clubs must have at least 15 members and purchase 15 permits (if the club does not have the minimum required then it will be at the Committee’s discretion to allow affiliation).

6. The Association shall hold an Annual General Meeting in the first two weeks in March of each year. All affiliated bodies must be notified of the time, place and business conducted 21 days before the meeting. The Secretary of the Association shall give 14 days notice of any Committee Meetings, and send out notices in writing to each member of the Committee stating time, place and business to be conducted.

7. An Extra General Meeting may be convened within 21 days on the requisition of 50 members of the Association. The Executive Committee shall also have the power to call an Extraordinary General Meeting. Such requisitions shall state the purpose for which such a meeting is required.

8. The Association financial year shall be from the 1st January to 31st December and an audited balance sheet must be forwarded to all affiliated bodies 21 days before the AGM. The Association permits shall run from June 1st to May 31st. The bankers of the Association shall be Barclays Bank Limited, or any such bank as the Committee shall determine. The bank account shall be in the name of the Association and shall be operated on the joint names or signatures of the Chairman, Secretary/Treasurer or Vice Chairman. Any two to sign cheques.

9. The following business shall be conducted at the AGM:

(a) Presentation and (if accepted) the passing of the accounts for the previous financial year ending December 31st prior to the AGM. Such accounts shall first have been audited by the Association auditors.

(b) The election of the Officers.

(c) The election of auditors or a firm of accountants.

(d) Such other business either as shall have been communicated to the Secretary and included by him in the notice of the meeting sent to members, or that the Association shall be obliged to consider under these rules. Notice of intention to propose a resolution at the AGM shall be given in writing to the Secretary not later than the preceding January 21st and must be through an affiliated body. At the AGM, 20 shall form a quorum.

(e) The fixing of annual subscriptions and other dues as may be necessary.

10. The Committee shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) Generally to administer the day to day matters of the Association and to take all proper and reasonable conduct of its affairs.

(b) To co-opt members to fill casual vacancies on the Committee or the Officials.

(c) By its Officers to keep accurate records of its transactions including the keeping of minutes of all meetings and the receipt and expenditure of all monies.

(d) To call quarterly meetings of the bailiffs to discuss and approve the general activities of the Committee on behalf of its members.

(e) To generally promote the interest and objects of the Association.

(f) The Committee will liaise and agree the actions of the Water Management Team (WMT). The team will consist of the Fishery Manager, Assistant Fishery Manager and all full time water bailiffs. The WMT will be responsible for the day to day care of all association waters and surrounding lands (fish stocks, maintenance and upkeep). An annual budget for the WMT to be agreed by the Committee. The WMT will produce an annual management plan for all the waters, but the plan may change due to unforeseen circumstances during the annual year. Any changes to be agreed by the majority of the Committee.

11. The Officers of the Association shall be elected at the AGM. Retiring members shall be eligible for re- election. Nominations for office shall be forwarded in writing to the Secretary not later than January 21st each year. In the event of an election, ensuing ballot papers shall be prepared by the Secretary for use at the AGM. In the event of a tie, election to office shall be decided by drawing lots. Each nomination for office shall be proposed by 2 persons being themselves members of an affiliated body. Individual card holders have no voting power at Association meetings.

12. The Association Committee or Delegates Committee shall deal with all offenders and it’s decision shall be final. A minimum ban of three months from membership shall be applied to anyone breaking Association Rules and Regulations and the Committee or Delegates Committee shall have the power to impose a life ban on any member who, in the opinion of the Committee, is guilty of serious offences or brings the Association into ill-repute. Any member who is found to bring WDAA or its officers into disrepute via a public website which is deemed to be in breach of the Association constitution, will be brought before the Committee or in their absence may be expelled or banned from holding a permit up to a life ban.

13. The Delegates Committee shall appoint 3 persons being either officers or members of the Association to act as Trustees. The Delegates Committee shall have power for any reason to remove a Trustee from office. The Delegates Committee shall appoint members of the Association to fill any vacancies existing due to the death, retirement, or removal of the Trustees. The Trustees shall hold any real personal estate of the Association (other than which shall be held by the Treasurer) in their names on behalf of the Association and shall deal with such or personal estate by way of sale, mortgage or otherwise as the Association from time to time determine.

14. If in the opinion of the Delegates Committee for any reason whatsoever it appears reasonable that the affairs of the Association be wound up and the Association be dissolved an Extraordinary General Meeting shall be called to pass and implement the resolution of such a meeting. In the event of dissolution of the Association then a statement of the assets and liabilities be prepared. In the event of a surplus of assets all creditors of the Association shall be satisfied and the surplus assets shall be held by the Trustees. In the event of a deficiency of assets then a meeting of the creditors shall be called and an agreement entered into with the creditors for liquidation of the Associations liabilities on a pro-rata basis. The Delegates Committee shall appoint the then Chairman and not more than 2 other members of the GP. Committee to act as a liquidation committee with full power to act on behalf of the Delegates Committee in the dissolution proceedings including the powers specifically conferred by Rule 15 (Trustees). A majority of 75% of the members attending a General Meeting shall be needed to dissolve the Association and all members of the Association must be notified of the meeting in writing.

15. No affiliated body whose HQ are within the former Urban District of Winsford shall own or attempt to gain waters for their own use without first offering the use of waters in question to the Association. All waters within the former Urban District of Winsford must first be offered to the Winsford AA by all affiliated bodies.

16. Club Secretaries must submit the names and addresses of all their members taking out Association permits together with permit numbers. 17. No member of the Association is allowed to join a private syndicate operating on former Winsford AA waters without permission of the General Purpose Committee.