As with all clubs we do have a set of rules (boring stuff really) but these are the current ones as of 14/01/2003.

East Essex Motorcycle Club Rules

That the club shall be comprised of fully paid-up members voted into the club in the manner set out below.

That there shall be permanent committee posts comprising of the following:  Chairman; Secretary; Treasurer.

That any full member whose membership subscription being fully paid up, attending a committee meeting, shall for that meeting be deemed a committee member for the purpose of proposals, discussion and voting on the agenda of that particular meeting.

Prospective members may attend committee meetings and contribute fully with the exception that they do not have voting rights.

Voting at committee meetings is restricted to attending members.  Votes may be cast by letter or ballot at either the AGM or EGM provided it is received within a fortnight of the said meeting.

The position of Chairman may only be held for a period of two years in succession; in the third year the holder of said post is deemed ineligible to stand at an AGM until the following year thereafter.  This rule may be suspended should there be no other candidates for the said position and that person wishes to remain in office for a further term.

That for the purpose of all meetings six fully paid-up members shall be deemed to form a quorum.

That subscription shall be due on the first day of January each year and will be valid for the period of one calendar year from that date.  Members joining the club at other times during the year shall pay subscriptions on a pro-rata basis as determined by the said Treasurer of the club.

Any member whose subscription is deemed as being in arrears shall have no voting rights at any meetings called by the club until full settlement is made.

Any member whose subscription is not paid within three months of the due date shall be deemed no longer a member of the club and may not participate in any club activities.

That membership of the club can only be attained in the manner   set out below:

Prospective members must be proposed and sponsored by a full member of the club;

They must declare their interest in joining the club, which must be noted by the Secretary and passed to the Chairman;

They must attend club events for a period of three calendar months after which time the Secretary must canvas the views of all the full members of said club who are invited to vote on the suitability of the prospective member by means of a secret written ballot;

Such written votes cast must be retained by the Secretary who must inform all interested parties of the outcome within one calendar month;

Such voting is secret and may only be disclosed by the Chairman in the event of a dispute only at the written request of the prospective candidate concerned for the purpose of fairness;

No other member of the club shall be permitted to enquire into the outcome of said vote;

The Chairman is empowered to disclose as much as he/she sees fit only to the said prospective member with regards to the vote;

Voting shall be in the form of YES/NO/ABSTENTION;

In the event of one NO vote being cast the prospective member cannot join the club or attend any club events;

That the rule set out above regarding membership of the club be waived for persons wishing to join the club, having at some time in the past been a full member of the club.  However, the requirement for the secret ballot shall apply in full as previously set out to that person;

That there be a membership of the club of Social Member.  A Social Member will have the same rights and responsibility to the club rules as a Full Member with the exception that they cannot vote at AGM, EGM or committee meetings.  There is nothing to preclude a Social Member applying for a full membership of the Club in the prescribed manner.  Membership fees will be the same as that of a Full Member;

Prospective members enjoy all the rights of full membership of the club saving that they are not allowed to vote and may not wear or display any club regalia save at any event or meeting of the said club;

Prospective members shall be allowed a period of 28 days to pay in full any subscriptions due.  Failure to comply with this rule shall render their application invalid;

That there will be no automatic right of entry to join the club by husbands, wives, or partners of full members.  Each person shall be accorded his/her individual rights;

That all committee positions shall be vacated at an AGM called by the Chairman of the said club in January of each year and a new committee shall be elected at the AGM.  Members may reapply for election at the AGM with the exception of the position of Chairman, which has been previously set out;

There will be regular meetings of the committee as set out by the club and minutes of each meeting and shall be kept by the Secretary or their appointed deputy.  These shall be duly recorded and kept by the Secretary and will be available to the Membership upon reasonable request, being no longer than one week given to the Chairman in writing;

The Chairman may call additional committee meetings as he/she sees fit;

That the Chairman shall direct and manage said meetings of the club and shall not have a vote at any meeting.  The Chairman shall have the casting vote with regard to any split decision at said meetings of the club;

That an EGM may be called at any such time at the written request of more than one third of the fully paid-up membership to the Chairman of said club or at the discretion of the Chairman acting on behalf of the club.  All such written requests made to the Chairman must contain the names and signatures of the members requesting such an EGM and the full purpose and reason for such an EGM must be set out;

Upon receipt of such a letter the Chairman shall be deemed duty-bound to call such an EGM as requested within 28 days and informs all members of said EGM and its reasons;

That the committee shall have the power to co-opt any such person as they see fit within the club to assist in the running of the club's affairs;

That the Chairman has the power to appoint any such person as they see fit to audit the accounts of said club;

That full membership of the club is not dependant upon owning a motorcycle, trike or sidecar combination.  Membership being open to any person eligible by virtue of age to ride a two-wheeled mechanically-powered vehicle.  this is currently set by UK law at 16 years;

Any member be deemed to be acting in, or conducting themselves in a manner likely to be to the detriment of the club or to bring its name into disrepute shall be reported to the Chairman in writing.  The Chairman shall have the authority to deal with the matter by way of admonishment or warning or to bring such conduct to the attention of the club by the way of EGM should they consider such reported conduct to be serious in nature.  revocation of membership can only be by way of a majority vote of the full members at an EGM so called by the Chairman for that purpose;

Any alterations, additions, or amendments to these rules can only be made by way of an AGM or at any EGM so called by the club in the prescribed manner.