CUCBC Constitution

  1. That the name of the body shall be the Cambridge University Combined Boat Clubs.
  2. That the objects of the body shall be:
    1. To promote the safe use of the Cam between Jesus Lock and Bottisham Lock by the University and College Clubs and to encourage courtesy to other river users.
    2. To define and organise races between the College Crews. Such events should be in the best interests of the development of Cambridge College rowing and should take into account the wishes of the College Clubs.
    3. To represent University and College rowing interests and such other matters relating to the Cam and subsequently the Cambridge Rowing Lake as shall be decided at general meetings.
  3. That the CUCBC shall be composed of the Captains of each of the constituent College Men's and Women's Boat Clubs together with the four Presidents and four Vice-Presidents of the University Club, the Honorary Secretary, the Coxswains' Representative, and the two Student Secretaries of the University Boat Club.
  4. That at the beginning of the Michaelmas Term, the Secretary, or another officer of each College Boat Club, shall send to the Secretary of the CUCBC the names of all the officers of his/her club, with postal and e-mail addresses and telephone numbers.

Officers

  1. That the officers of the CUCBC shall be:
    1. Between four and six senior members of the University rowing community. These would typically be members of College, or University fellowship or staff with an active interest in and knowledge of College rowing and Cam-related issues. These officers should serve for a renewable period of three years and should be appointed by the existing senior members. They should elect from among themselves, one person to act as CUCBC Chairman, one as CUCBC Senior Treasurer and one as CUCBC Safety Advisor.
    2. An Honorary Secretary, elected annually by single vote at the Captains at the May Bumps Captains' meeting. Any member of the College Boat Clubs in statu pupillari may stand for election by submitting a manifesto to the present Honorary Secretary not less than 48 hours before the election.
    3. One bona fide in statu pupillari member from the University Boat Club. This would currently be the CUBC Administrative Secretary, but this could be changed by a duly convened meeting of the University Boat Club.
    4. The Coxswains' Representative, elected annually at the May Bumps meetings by the coxswains of the College Boat Clubs. Any member of the College Boat Clubs in statu pupillari may stand for election by submitting a manifesto to the present Honorary Secretary not less than 48 hours before the election.
    1. That there be an Executive Committee comprising of the Chairman, the CUCBC Honorary Secretary, the Coxswains' Representative and the two Student Secretaries of the University Boat Club. This Committee shall have responsibility for organising College rowing on the Cam and shall be led by the CUCBC Honorary Secretary who is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the committee, College rowing on the River Cam and the organisation of races by the CUCBC.
    2. That there be a Senior Committee comprising the senior members of the CUCBC. This Committee shall have responsibility for discussions and recommendations relating to strategic and longer-term issues affecting College and University rowing on the Cam, and interactions with other official bodies (including, but not restricted to, the CRA, British Rowing, Cam Conservancy, CFPAS, local councils, police, University authorities). This Committee should meet on a regular termly basis, in advance of the main Captains' meeting of the term, and otherwise as necessary. The CUCBC Secretary should also normally attend these meetings.
    1. That the Officers of the body shall have the right to co-opt, for individual committee meetings or for a period, such advisors as shall appear desirable to further the objectives of the CUCBC
    2. A Junior Treasurer should be co-opted annually [in the Easter Term] who shall be responsible for the day-to-day administration of the accounts, preparation of the budget (with the Senior Treasurer) and billing the constituent clubs.
    3. One or more Events Secretaries shall be co-opted annually [in the Easter Term] to facilitate the organisation of races by the CUCBC and the constituent clubs.
    4. An internet secretary should be co-opted annually [in the Easter Term] to maintain the CUCBC website and the e-mail lists.

Meetings

  1. That there shall be a general meeting of the CUCBC during the first two weeks of each term to which all members shall be invited. The meeting at the beginning of the Michaelmas term shall be an Annual General Meeting at which the accounts for the previous years shall be presented and approved and the names of the Officers who have been elected or appointed shall be announced and approved.
  2. That other general meetings of the CUCBC may be convened as often as business shall require and the Secretary of the CUCBC shall give at least two days' notice of such meetings. A meeting shall be called if the Chairman is requested, in writing, to call one by at least fifteen College Captains.
  3. That no business shall be conducted unless there be at least fifteen members present excluding the Chairman. Each College Club shall have one vote for each of its Men's and Women's Clubs. The Chairman shall have a vote and a further casting vote at such meetings. That, on a proposal from the Officers, the Chairman may decree that a vote which would substantially affect the rules or regulations shall require a 67% vote of those present to be passed rather than the simple majority which will apply to other votes. The members of the Senior Committee shall only exercise their votes in the event that a matter of general concern to the good of the University is being discussed.
  4. That the Secretary enter an account of all business transacted at meetings of the CUCBC in a Minute book and that at the opening of every meeting the minutes of the previous meeting, either pre-circulated to all members or read at the meeting, shall be approved.
  5. That the committee or any person intending to bring forward a motion at a general meeting shall ensure that a copy of the motion be given to the Secretary at least three days before a meeting and the Secretary shall ensure that all such motions are circulated with notice of the meeting.

Responsibilities

  1. That the CUCBC shall be responsible for the following matters:
    1. Rules of the River
      1. all such rules on this stretch of the Cam as shall apply to University and College rowing boats, within the framework of the British Rowing rules and the Bye-laws laid down by the Conservators of the River Cam.
      2. in making these rules the CUCBC shall be cognisant of the special needs of University Crews (using University Blades) who are preparing for their responsibility to beat Oxford University. Such University crews shall ensure that, notwithstanding their special training needs, they use the Cam with safety as their prime responsibility.
      3. the penalties for failing to adhere to the rules shall be defined by the CUCBC. Such penalties shall be imposed by the CUCBC Officers through the medium of the Executive Committee. Any club so penalised shall have the right of written and verbal appeal to the Senior Committee, at least three of whose members should convene to decide the appeal (not including the Chief Umpire, if this person is a Committee members, should a conflict of interest arise during CUCBC races), whose decisions on such matters shall be final.
    2. Inter-College Competitive events
      1. rules for and eligibility to row in all events organised by the CUCBC.
      2. approval for the organisation of and the overseeing of events organised by College Clubs, including specifically matters of safety and river closure (in consultation with other river users).
      3. arrangements for the financing of the CUCBC organised races and approval for the entry fees for events organised by Colleges.
    3. Representation of University and College rowing interests in any such matters as shall be defined by the members in general meeting, with particular but not exclusive reference to matters concerned with the Cam and subsequently and additionally the Rowing Lake.

Finances

  1. That the CUCBC shall cause to be opened a specific bank account into which subscriptions, entry fees and fines shall be paid and from which the charges relating solely to control and safety of rowing and events on the Cam shall be met. The Senior Treasurer shall be responsible for ensuring that appropriate budgets and accounts shall be established and that the accounts be audited in accordance with University requirements.
  2. That the funding of the CUCBC shall be by such Club subscriptions, entry fees for CUCBC events and fines as shall be agreed at the Annual General Meeting for that year.
  3. That the CUCBC Secretary or such other Official as shall be defined, send out accounts for the previous term dues at the beginning of each term.
  4. That Clubs which have outstanding dues or have not paid their current entry fees by the published date shall be ineligible to compete in CUCBC run races.
  5. That the Senior Treasurer shall, through the Committee, advise the CUCBC on the financial state of the organisation when so required and propose any reserves to be retained. Any funds available at the end of the year and reported to the Annual General Meeting to be surplus to reserves shall be allocated as agreed by the Meeting. To this end a proposal shall be circulated to the Committee prior to the Annual General Meeting.

Rule Changes

  1. That amendments and additions to this Constitution (and the Rules of the River and regulations for Racing) may be made by means of a majority decision at a properly convened general meeting of the CUCBC, save that no amendment to any clause in paragraphs 1 to 19 of the Constitution shall be valid without the prior written approval of the Senior Committee, which approval shall not be withheld without good reason.

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