Name:
The Club shall be known as Beech Hill Table Tennis Club.
One or more sponsor's names may be temporarily or permanently attached to any or all team names but not to the name of the Club

Objectives:
The Objective of the Club shall be the organization, promotion and development of the game of table tennis.

Affiliation:
The club shall be affiliated to the Cork Table Tennis Association.
The Club affairs shall be conducted in accordance with the rules of the C.T.T.A and the laws and rules of the I.T.T.A.

Application for Membership:
Membership of the Club will be open to all persons who are deemed eligible under the rules of the I.T.T.A.
Membership shall be granted on the basis of the person being successfully proposed and seconded by existing members, of at least one years standing with the club. This rule will not apply for the season 2001 - 2002.
The Committee shall not refuse application for membership on the grounds of race, gender, religion, politics or ability.

Membership:
There shall be the following definitions of ordinary membership:
Senior Member: a person who has paid the full membership fee in respect of the current membership year and is only eligible to play in senior ranking tournaments under ITTF regulations.
Junior Member: a person who has paid the junior membership fee in respect of the current membership year and is eligible to play in junior & senior ranking tournaments under ITTF regulations.
Associate Member: a person who has paid membership fee in respect of the current membership year at another club may be accepted as an associate member. Associate Members may not avail of club sponsorship or special rates.
Student Member: : a Senior player in full-time education who has paid the student membership fee in respect of the current membership year and is only eligible to play in senior ranking tournaments under ITTF regulations.
The Membership Year shall run from 1st September to 31st August.
The period of membership shall be in respect of the Membership Year.
Applications for Membership shall be made on the appropriate form and returned with any relevant fees to the Honorary Secretary. These applications may be made at any time before or during the Membership Year.
Acceptance of membership of and participation in any Club activities by any person is at the discretion of the Management Committee.
The Committee may expel any member for behaviour likely to bring the Club into disrepute, or for non-payment of the annual subscription or other fees owed to the Club in accordance with the rules.
Otherwise once elected membership shall continue for one season.

Policy:
Neither the club nor any of its members shall discriminate in any way against another member of this club, any other club and its members, or any member of the Table Tennis Association or member of the general public with regard to a gender, race, creed, skin colour, or ability. The club recognises and pledges to uphold the Code of Ethics & Good Practice for Children's Sport as published by the Irish Sports Council and the club will ensure that the appropriate mechanism is in place to deal with breaches of theses rules.
The Club must encompass Special Olympics Table Tennis in its activities.

Activities:
The Club shall arrange practice sessions in accordance with a training schedule as laid down by the management committee.
Any prospective members shall be entitled to free admission to the first practice session attended.
The Club shall promote competition by affiliation to any leagues or associations or enter any competition, as the Management Committee shall decide.
The Club may arrange additional coaching sessions for which the fee payable shall be decided by the Management Committee.

Club Officers:
The Honorary Officers of the Club shall be:
Honorary Chairman,
Honorary Secretary,
Honorary Treasurer,
Competition Secretary
Public Relations Officer,
Children's Officers (Two),
Schools Officer,
Special Olympics Representative,

The Officers shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting and serve from the end of the meeting at which they are elected until the end of the Annual General Meeting following.

The Management Committee must fill a casual vacancy occurring during the season.

Management Committee:
The affairs of the Club shall be managed, subject to the control of the members in general meeting, by the Club Officers and/or a sub-committee operating under the control of the Club Officers.
Sub-committees may be selected at the Annual General Meeting and serve from the end of the meeting at which they are elected until the end of the Annual General Meeting following.
A sub-committee must be chaired by a Club Officer.
Sub-committees involved in financial matters must be include the Hon. Treasurer.
Further committee members may be co-opted by the Management Committee at its discretion and shall serve from the time of co-option until the end of the Annual General Meeting following.
Any member of the Management Committee who ceases to be a Full Member of the Club shall cease to be a member of the Management Committee unless the Management Committee resolves otherwise.
The Management Committee shall meet monthly or more frequently if it so decides.
Four members of the Management Committee shall form a quorum for the execution of business.
Every question at a meeting of the Management Committee shall be decided by a majority of the members present and voting, every member having one vote.
In the case of an equality of votes the chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.
Voting may must be secret ballot if at least one member requests it
The Management Committee shall have power to make Regulations to cover such matters not specifically dealt with in these Rules as it thinks fit. These regulations will only remain in effect until the next A.G.M. at which time they may only be incorporated into the rules, if they are voted into the rules by a two-thirds majority of the members present at the A.G.M.
The activities of the Club shall be divided into departments, each managed by an Officer who shall have power to appoint individuals and sub-committees, as he may consider necessary, provided that the terms of reference and the identity of the appointed personnel are approved by the Management Committee

Annual Membership Fees:
Annual membership fees shall be set down at the AGM and payable as follows:
Senior Member
Student Member
Junior Member
Beginner (any Grade)
Family membership (2 or more persons), rates will be normal rates less discount to be set at the AGM.
In respect of applications received after 31st December the fee payable will be proportionate to the number of months remaining in the season, exclusive of Cork Table Tennis Association affiliation fee. The start of the season is considered to be September in respect of this rule.

The Cope Foundation:
The Cope Foundation complex contains a 24 hour residential care centre for individuals with severe and profound learning difficulties. This centre is within 50 yards of the club premises and it is therefore imperative that the club members are aware of this and behave accordingly while attending the training and competitions. In this respect this Constitution and Rules will be implemented without exception and breaches will not be tolerated.

General Behaviour:
The general environs of the Cope Foundation are not to be considered as part of the Club. They are private property as far as the table tennis club is concerned and may only be used for access.
During training players must remain within the environs of the club unless under the supervision of the coach in charge. The environs of the club are defined as the premises and the adjoining car parking area.
Under no circumstances may club property be removed without the consent of the Management Committee.
Any member who causes loss or damage, other than accidental, shall make good such loss.
The structure and fittings are the property of the Cope Foundation. Please consider the effect your actions may have on the clients of the Cope Foundation should you render a facility unusable.
The hallways and changing areas must be kept clean and tidy.

Training:
All training sessions will be supervised by either a qualified coach or a member of the Management Committee.
Access for special training sessions may be arranged through the Management Committee.
The players are responsible for setting up the tables and nets. The players are also expected to take down and put away the tables, nets and balls in the designated storage area when the session is over.
Under no circumstances must any glueing of bats take place indoors.
Table time and the allocation of tables to members will be decided by the session coach or Management Committee member present.

Junior Training:
Players must be on time for training. This means ready to start training, and not just arriving at the club.
Players arriving late, without prior permission, will not take part in formal training.
Players must have the correct training gear. T-Shirt, Shorts, Table tennis shoes (all available through the club)
Players are expected to have a suitable flat drink (Locosade Sport or water) in a suitable container. "junk food" is not permitted.
Players who speed glue must have this done before training.
Players must not speed glue in halls.
Players are expected to attend all prescribed sessions.
Players must notify their coach if they cannot attend training.
Players must remain for the full session.
Players are expected to enter tournaments as prescribed by the club.
Players who do not obey coaches instructions will take no further part in the training session and the parents will be notified to come and collect them.

The club reserves the right not to appoint a coach to a player, or enter into competition, in the case of a player who does not observe these rules.

Food & Drink:
Junior and Cadet members please note that there are no retail outlets for food or drink within walking distance of the club. Please come prepared - you will not be allowed to leave the environs of the club during training.
Only relevant food and drink will be permitted in the halls and changing areas of the club. During tournaments and training camps designated eating areas will be provided.
Any food waste or wrapping must be placed in the bins provided. Any spillage of food and drink must be cleaned up immediately.
Only essential food and liquid may be brought into the halls and must be in the appropriate containers.
Under no circumstances will alcohol, tobacco and any other substance prohibited by either the law of the land, the Table Tennis Governing Bodies or the Cope Foundation be tolerated in the environs of the Club.
Any member of the Club found to be under the influence of alcohol or other banned substance will face immediate expulsion from the Club.
Members selected as Non-playing Captains or Team Managers for away trips are prohibited from consuming alcohol in the presence of under-age players.

Discipline:
In the event of a member being disciplined by the management committee the member may appeal, in writing to the Hon. Secretary, within 7 days of the date on the original letter informing him/her of the penalty applied.
The Management Committee must grant a hearing.
This hearing will be conducted in the presence of an officer of the Cork Table Tennis Association. This officer may not be a member of Beech Hill Table Tennis Club

Complaints:
Any Senior Member who has a complaint against another member, may put the complaint in writing to the Hon Secretary. The member will then be invited to attend a meeting with the Management Committee.
Any Junior Member who has a complaint against another member should contact one of the Children's Officers.

Team Selection:
Non-Playing Men's and Ladies captains shall be appointed at the A.G.M.
The Men's Captain shall initially select the men's teams and the Lady's Captain shall initially select the Ladies team. If the committee feels that the selection is not clear-cut, then trials may be held

Player Eligibility:
In order to be considered for league team selection a player must be a full time member of the Beech Hill Table Tennis Club

Annual General Meeting:
The Annual General Meeting shall be held during the month of May on a date decided by the Management Committee.
Notice specifying the date, place and hour of the Annual General Meeting together with the Agenda shall be given by the Honorary Secretary to the Officers, General Management Committee members, Auditor and all Full Members no later than fourteen days prior to the date of the meeting.
A Special General Meeting shall be convened within twenty-one days upon the resolution of the Management Committee or upon receipt by the General Secretary of a written demand by at least 20% of full membership, specifying the business to be placed on the Agenda for such meeting.
Notice specifying the date, place and hour of the Special General Meeting together with the Agenda shall be given by the General Secretary to the Officers, General Management Committee members, Auditor and all Full Members no later than fourteen days prior to the date of the meeting
Attendance at a General Meeting shall be open to all persons entitled to receive notice of the meeting. Every question at a General Meeting shall be determined by a simple majority, with the exception of a rule change which will require a two/thirds majority, of Full Members present and voting, each member having one vote.
Cadet and Under-12 members voting rights will be expressed by parental proxy only.
In the case of an equality of votes for and against a motion, the chairman of the meeting shall exercise a casting vote

Finance:
All monies belonging to the Club shall be held either in accounts in the name of Beech Hill Table Tennis Club or as petty cash, or as the Management Committee shall determine.
The signatures of two Officers shall be required for the withdrawal of any monies other than petty cash.
The Management Committee may enter into any sponsorship agreement and authorization for the allocation of any sponsorship receipts rests with the Management Committee unless directed specifically by a General Meeting.
The Club shall not operate to make commercial profit.
Any surpluses made shall not be distributed to members but shall be applied solely to the furtherance of the objectives of the Club.
An external examiner shall be appointed by the AGM each year to audit the Club's records.

Club Colours:
Any person who receives Club kit advertising a sponsor's name is obliged to wear it when representing the Club in any match or tournament, for the duration of the sponsorship period, and agreement to play for the Club is deemed to be agreement to wear any kit thus provided

Amendments to the Constitution & Rules:
Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by any member of the Club, and must be submitted to the Secretary in writing.
This Constitution may only be amended at an AGM, or at a meeting specially called for that purpose. No vote on a constitutional amendment shall be valid unless at least one half of the Clubs' membership is present at the meeting.
An amendment shall only be accepted if at least two thirds of members present at the meeting are in accordance with the change

Matters Not Covered by the Constitution & Rules:
In the event of any question arising that is not covered by this constitution, such question shall be dealt with by the Committee.