Rules

1: Persons joining the Club agree to be bound by the Company Standing Orders & Rules. Breaches of these may lead to suspension or expulsion from the Club.

2: Any person who infringes any fisheries law or Club Rule, or aids and abets any other person to do so, shall render themselves liable to suspension or expulsion and the possibility of prosecution. Members who fish by means not allowed by the Club render themselves non-members whilst doing so. Do not allow any other person to use your permit. The loss of your permit must be reported to the Club Secretary immediately and the member must not fish until a replacement has been obtained on payment of the appropriate fee.

3: The Board may expel from the Club any member for conduct, which in the opinion of the Board, is, or tends to be, injurious to the interests of the Club, its members or its objectives.

4: Members must hold a current EA licence before starting to fish.

5: Members must carry their permit (including identity card) and licence at all times when fishing. Failure to produce their permit or EA licence, or proof of holding an EA licence when requested will result in them being asked to leave the water.

6: It is the duty of all members to challenge anyone fishing Club waters. This must be done politely and the challenger must produce evidence of their own Club membership.

7: Junior members may not fish one hour after sunset and one hour before dawn unless they are accompanied by an adult member.

8: It is expected that members will behave in a gentlemanly manner and show consideration at all times. Insulting behavior will not be tolerated.

9: Members must used recognised access to the water and use stiles where provided. Members must leave gates in the way they find them and must keep to the edge of fields where there is no public footpath.

10: Members must obtain permission to park where it obvious that such permission is necessary. Do not obstruct farm gates, etc.

11: Members must not:

a) Take dogs, guns, transistor radios, tape recorders, etc. when fishing.

b) Damage trees, crops or other property on Club waters or their access.

c) Interfere with game or other wildlife.

d) Light fires.

e) Attempt to take fish by any means other than those allowed by Club and EA rules.

12: All litter must be taken home – especially plastic bags and fishing line.

13: The Club recognises three classes of fishing on Club waters:

a) Fly fishing using rod and fly line with not more than three flies on a cast.

b) Bait fishing using any type of rod and line with legal and club approved terminal tackle and bait.
Float fished worm for Grayling is allowed using maximum 3lb breaking strain line and one barbless or de-barbed hook of maximum size 12. No ledgering. In line with club rules, maggots are NOT allowed for Grayling fishing. All Grayling to be carefully returned.

c) Spinning which includes any other legal form of fishing permitted by the Club.

14: There shall be no spinning on Club waters between November 1st and April 30th inclusive each year.

15: When using shrimp or prawn or spinning, a maximum of two hooks may be used on any terminal tackle, only one of which may be a treble.

16:When intentionally fishing for Brown Trout or Grayling anglers must use barbless or de-barbed hooks.

17: Maggots, keep nets and ground baiting are forbidden on Club waters at any time.

18: The carrying of a gaff on Club waters is forbidden at all times.

19: All Trout and Grayling are to be returned.

20: The bag limit on Club waters is two migratory fish per day.

21: Fish caught on Club waters may not be sold.

22: All kelts, undersize, gravid and out-of-season fish must be returned with as little damage as possible. (A gravid fish is where the fish is shedding or about to shed ova or milt. Slight pressure with a finger will produce ova or milt from a gravid fish. A kelt is a fish that has spawned).

23: Members must not allow their terminal tackle to come within 10 yards (9 metres) of another anglers’ body. This applies to all methods of fishing regardless of which bank they are fishing from.

24: Mandatory: When fishing a pool where others are fishing:

a) Start at the head of the pool in your turn.
b) Take at least one pace downstream after every cast.
c) On leaving the water for any reason restart at the head of the pool in your turn if others are waiting to fish.
d) Waiting on the river bank adjacent to a pool is NOT fishing and does not prevent other members fishing that particular pool if they wish to do so at any time.
e) Should an anglers’ cast become entangled they should leave the water (unless they can renew their cast within a short time – i.e. a maximum of 5 minutes) and restart at the head of the pool in your turn.

25: Lead core lines are not allowed on Club waters.

26: Members must not take non-members with them when fishing, unless granted special permission from the Board. Members who wish to have a non-fishing carer with them because of ill health, infirmity, disability or age may apply to the Board for a free non-fishing permit for their carer.

27: Fishing on the gravel run of Vinovium Pool is by fly only prior to October 1st. (Limits of run to be indicated by markers).

28: All hen fish (both salmon and sea trout) to be returned after 31st August.

29: All migratory fish (salmon and sea trout) to be returned after 30th September. Wherever possible, all coloured migratory male fish should also be returned in September.

30: WHEREVER POSSIBLE barbless or de-barbed hooks to be used throughout the season for Salmon/Sea Trout fishing.

31: All members must carry a landing net that is suitable for their targeted species & meets the current EA standard – knotless.

32: Any member wishing to add to, or delete, any part of the above rules or have new rules added must do so in writing to the Secretary. The Board reserves the right to make alterations or amendments on the proposal for decision to the AGM.

Consitution

BUSINESS POLICY STATEMENT
Bishop Auckland District Angling Club is a non – profit making organisation with the following objectives:
• The prime objective of the bishop Auckland District Angling Club (BADAC) Board is to acquire fishing rights for its members.
• The Executive Board of BADAC will also aim to provide, for its current and future members, prime fishing, fishing equipment and associated products and services, at reasonable charges. These services will be available to all sections of the community.

ADMINISTRATION POLICY
The Executive Board realises the shortcomings associated with running the Club on a monthly basis. The Executive Board therefore instructs (requests) the Secretary and Financial Director to be responsible for the ‘day to day’ management necessary to achieve the objectives stated or implied in the Business Policy Statement.

STANDING ORDERS
Having evolved over recent years, these have become a useful tool in the administrative procedures of the Board. They also reflect the annual calendar of time and event procedures.

REVIEW POLICY
In order to sustain and maintain commitment to the stated policies it is envisaged that these will be re-visited from time to time, at opportune moments during debate. It will also be necessary to review the Policy Statement annually in order to adjust them to the prevailing conditions / needs as required.

PRESIDENCY
A President of the Club shall be elected at the AGM, having been duly proposed and seconded, and shall be an ex-officio member of the Board for the following year.

COMPANY STANDING ORDERS

1. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
a. The Board of Directors (hereinafter called the Board) shall consist of the Executive Officers of the Club together with not less than nine and not more than eighteen adult members who shall be elected at an AGM of the Club to serve on the Board for period not exceeding three years without re-election. Any Ordinary Adult Member may serve on the Board as a Board Member and not be referred to as a DIRECTOR.
b. No person being a current committee member of any other angling club having interests in water on the River Wear, or being an employee or office holder of any regulatory authority having responsibility for the River Wear, shall be eligible for election as an Executive Officer or Board Member of the Club.
c. At the AGM the longest serving one third of the Board Members shall retire from office, but shall remain eligible for re-election.
d. The Executive Officers and Board Members shall be entitled to an indemnity, out of the property of the Club, in respect of claims made against them for actions taken by them, on behalf of Club members, as a result of a majority Board decision.
e. Only adult members may sit on the Board.
f. The Board shall have the power to fill any vacancy on the Board. Any member so appointed shall retire at the AGM following appointment, but shall be eligible for re-election for a period (not exceeding three years) to be determined by the Board.
g. All Board Members should be notified of all meetings of the Board and are entitled to attend all such meetings.
h. No business shall be transacted at a Board meeting if less than one third of the Members entitled to be present are in attendance.
i. The Board may appoint sub-Committees from time to time, co-opting additional members, having special interests, as deemed necessary. The Secretary shall be an ex-officio Member of any such sub-committee, which shall have no executive function.
j. A Head Bailiff, being a current Board Member, and other bailiffs as are deemed necessary, shall be appointed annually by the Board and will be issued with a recompense that the Board considers to be appropriate.
k. The vice-Presidents of the Club are entitled to attend any Executive Board Meeting but do not constitute part of the quorate membership of the Board.

2. MANAGEMENT

a. The management of the Club shall be vested in the Board except as otherwise provided for the bye-laws known as the Company Standing Orders.
b. The Officers of the Club shall be the Chairman, Company Secretary and Financial Director. They shall be empowered to make any executive decision (consistent with these Standing Orders) concerned with the day to day running of the Club. Such decisions shall be by a consensus of opinion of the Officers and shall be ratified at the next Board Meeting. Officers may hold only one executive position at any one time.
c. Upon retirement from Office, any Executive Director of the Club shall hand over to his successor or another Executive Director any property, papers, articles or financial books (duly audited) belonging to the club.

3. FINANCE
a. The Financial Director shall take charge of all monies and will give an account of the current financial situation at each Board Meeting. Such monies are to be expended as the Board may decide.
b. The Board shall have the power to invest all funds not required for the immediate purposes of the Club in such prudent manner as they, in their sole discretion, think fit, including the purchase of securities and/or land and property of any tenure. Such funds shall only be used for the benefit of the Membership in general and shall not be distributed to Members as dividend or bonus.
c. The financial year shall end on October 31st. The Financial Director will present a printed statement of Accounts at the following AGM.
d. The Board shall determine Honoraria paid to Officers of the Club.
e. The Officers of the Club shall be issued with a Complimentary Ordinary Membership of the Club.
f. A mileage allowance at the Standard AA Rate will be payable to the Officers, Board Members and Employees for journeys by car, at their expense, in matters approved by the Board.
g. The Officers and the Board need approval from the membership by means of a ballot for the purchase of fishing rights using the current assets of the club as security. (As amended following AGM Nov 2017)

4. MEMBERSHIP

a. Any person accepting Membership of the Club shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound by these Standing Orders and the Club Fishing Rules.
b. The Board may modify the total of Members, subject to confirmation at the next AGM.
c. Admission to Membership shall be at the discretion of the Board who may refuse any application without giving reason.
d. The Club shall have the following Classes of Members:
Ordinary Membership: Ordinary Membership shall be open to application from any person over 17 years of age before the first day of January in the year of application.
Associate Membership is open to:
i) Ordinary Members, upon reaching State Pension Age, on application to the Membership Secretary. This Membership will only be considered from Members who have been fully paid up Ordinary Members for at least one year immediately prior to application.
ii) Ordinary Members compelled to retire from gainful employment due to ill health or injury. Such applications must be supported by medical evidence or a photocopy of the photographic side of a “Blue Badge” and are subject to acceptance by the Board.
Iii) The spouse of a fully paid-up Ordinary Member or Associate Member of the Club.
Temporary associate Membership: is open to any person over 17 years of age at the time of the application, but still in full-time education. Application, with proof of studentship, should be made to the Membership Secretary, on a yearly basis, and will be available for a period not exceeding four years.
Junior Membership: is open to any person aged under 17 years on the first day of January in the year of application.

Honorary Life Presidency/Honorary Life Membership: is awarded to Member who has served in the Office of President or has rendered such valuable services to the Club as to recommend him/her for election to Honorary Membership by the Members on the show of hands at a AGM.
Temporary Membership: is open to non-permanent-members on such terms as the Board might determine.
Associate or Temporary Associate Members may transfer to full Ordinary Membership without paying a Club Entrance Fee.

Children under 12 years of age may fish Club Waters without charge if accompanied by an Ordinary or Associate Member. Please contact Membership Secretary for details.

5. MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS

a. Every candidate for membership must complete an application form.
b. Completed application forms, together with two passport-sized photographs and the relevant fee, should be returned to the Membership Secretary.
c. In the event of limited membership, new applicants will join a waiting list. The Membership Secretary will inform such applicants when a vacancy arises.
d. That BADAC offer free Membership to Junior Members up to the age of 18 years subject to the ‘outlined conditions’.
The ‘outlined conditions’ are as follows:
1. That the junior member concerned has a named familial member in the club.
2. If the junior concerned has no familial link to the Club, then there must written parental consent for the Junior member to fish with a named adult member and that member must be known to the junior.
3. Junior members attending any organised Club event or coaching, must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
4. All junior members must follow the Clubs safety code of conduct at all times. (Appended following AGM 2018).

6. SUBSCRIPTIONS

a. The Annual Subscriptions payable by each Class of Membership shall be determined at the AGM, following recommendation by the Board.
b. The Entrance Fee payable by New Members shall be determined at each AGM, following recommendation from the Board.
c. The Board may call a Special General Meeting to propose changes to the fees should it be considered necessary.
d. Subscriptions shall become payable on such date(s) as a General Meeting decides.
e. All Members will be notified of the fees for the forthcoming season, together with the due date(s) for payment, once these have been determined.
f. Members who do not renew their membership by the due date shall be deemed to have resigned from the Club and must re-apply for membership. Renewal shall be liable to the full entrance fee (if applicable).

7. NEGOTIATIONS

The Board will be responsible for considering any queries or disputes concerning membership and the decision of the Board will be final.

8. PENALTIES

a. Penalties for infringement of the Standing Orders and/or the Fishing Rules shall be at the absolute discretion of the Board and could include expulsion from the Club and its fishing for life.
b. The Board may expel from the Club any Member for conduct which, in the opinion of the Board, is or tends to be injurious to the interests of the Club or its Members, or the interests of angling.
c. Before expelling a Member, or imposing a period of suspension upon a Member, the Board shall enquire into his/her conduct and the Member shall be given reasonable opportunity to defend himself/herself either in writing or by appearing before the Board, as he/she shall elect.
d. The decision to expel or suspend a Member shall be by a simple majority vote of the Board Members present. Voting shall be by ballot.

e. Any expelled or suspended Member shall forfeit all rights and privileges of Membership but shall remain liable for any dues or debts to the Club incurred before the date of suspension or expulsion.
f. Any Member incurring a suspension or expulsion from the Club may not take out a permit of any type on Club controlled waters during the period of suspension or expulsion.
g. In the event of a Member being suspended or expelled from the Club, no reimbursement of Club fees will be made.
h. Any person expelled under Standing Order 8 shall have the right of appeal to the AGM where he/her may state his/her case to the Members. A Board Member shall put the reasons for the Board’s decision to the meeting, after which Members may question either party. The Meeting shall then decide the issue by secret ballot, on the basis of a simple majority of Members present and entitled to vote.

9. COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE

In the event of a disagreement with a Board decision or action concerning the Standing Orders, a Member may appeal in writing to the President who shall then convene a Special Board Meeting, which he or his nominee shall Chair, to deal with the issue. The decision of the Meeting, which must be attended by the Complainant, shall be final, excepting that if the Member is still not satisfied, he/she may take his/her complaint by way of Resolution to an AGM. (Ref. Standing Order 8h).

10. PROCEDURE TO BE ADOPTED IN ANY INTERNAL ENQUIRY

This procedure is intended to be, and to be seen to be, fair to all parties.

a. Any complaint will be brought to the Board.
b. The complaint shall be made by or on behalf of the complainant and any person complained of shall have the right to make or have made a response to the complaint.
c. The complainant and the respondent shall have the right to be present throughout the eliciting of evidence and presentation of arguments.
d. The respondent or complainant shall have the right to cross examine the other party or any witness on the evidence given.
e. The Executive Board shall have the right to examine and re-examine any evidence, witness or party.
f. Once a witness has given evidence he/she shall remain in the presence of the Executive Board until the procedure is complete.
g. The Chairman shall have the control of the procedure including the right to ask any party to leave the hearing or adjourn the procedure, and shall determine the order in which matters shall be conducted.
h. All of the conduct of the procedure shall be recorded and the procedure shall be private and confidential unless the Board and all parties present during the procedure agree otherwise in writing.
i. Upon completion of their enquiry, the Board will deliberate the matter in private. Their deliberations will not be recorded.
j. Upon reaching a decision, the Board will record their decision and state any disciplinary action, if any, which is to be taken.
k. When the Board has stated and recorded its decision the matter will be considered closed. This does not remove any rights a Member may have under Standing Order 8h.

11. THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Admission to and the right to vote at, General Meetings shall be open to All Classes of Membership.
An Annual General Meeting of the Club, hereinafter called the AGM, shall be held each year to:
a. Consider and approve such amendments, as deemed necessary, to the Minutes of the last AGM or subsequent Special General Meeting.
b. Receive and consider the Report of the Board.
c. Receive and consider the audited Accounts and Balance Sheet of the Club.
d. Elect the following year’s Officers and fill the vacant one-third of the Board positions created by retirements.
e. Appoint auditors who shall be current Chartered Accountants of England and Wales to examine as necessary all books and vouchers and verify and certify the Annual Accounts to be submitted to the next AGM.
f. Decide on any resolutions submitted under Standing Order 12b.

12. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING NOTICES

a. Notice of the date, time and place of the AGM, stating the date by which proposals for changes to the Standing Orders and Fishing Rules, and nominations for Officers and Board Members, must be submitted, shall be sent to each Member at his/her last known address not less than thirty days before the meeting.
b. Notice of any proposal to be moved, or nomination for Officers or Board Members shall be submitted in writing to the Membership Secretary not less than twenty one days before the meeting and must be signed by the proposer and seconder (and nominee where relevant) who must be current Members of the Club. Any such proposal, unless withdrawn, shall be included in the business of the Meeting.
c. If there are insufficient nominations received under Standing Order 12a, nominations to Office or the Board may be voted upon without previous notice. If, under this Standing Order, more nominations are received from the floor than there are vacancies, any elections for the posts shall be confined to those nominated under this Standing Order. Members nominated under Standing Order 12b shall be deemed elected nem con.
d. Accidental omission to give notice of a General Meeting, or non-receipt by any Member, shall not invalidate any of the proceedings of the meeting.

13. PROCEDURE AT GENERAL MEETINGS

a. Twenty Adult Members shall form a quorum at any General Meeting.
b. At any General Meeting the Board Chairman, or in his absence the Vice-chairman, shall take the Chair. In absence of either, a Member elected by the Members present shall take the Chair.
c. All Members present shall be entitled to vote at any General Meeting.
Voting will be by a show of hands at any AGM or EGM (where required). Any proposal put to the members should be done so by the proposer with sufficient information and explained rationale for the members present to question this rationale and also to allow members to debate the point if necessary before members are asked to vote by a show of hands.
A Proxy vote is available via the Chairman for any member unable to attend a meeting, provided they have given indication on their membership application or renewal. (Appended following AGM 2018).

d. The Chairman of the Meeting shall have a second or casting vote in case of equality of votes cast. This is usually cast in favour of maintaining the status quo.

e. Amendments to any motion may be made from the floor of the Meeting. If the amendment is seconded it must be voted upon. The vote for the amendment must be taken before the vote for the substantive motion.
f. Once voting has begun the Chairman will not allow any further amendments.
g. Except as otherwise provided by these Standing Orders, a majority of the Members present and voting shall carry any motion or resolution save that no Standing Order may be made, repealed or amended on a vote of less than two-thirds majority of the votes cast.
h. Voting on matters of Finance, Election of Officers or Board Members, Appeals and Complaints will be by ballot, unless otherwise agreed by the Meeting.
i. Should counting of Ballots be necessary, Tellers will be appointed by the Meeting.
j. Once an AGM has decided upon any matter, that matter may not be raised again prior to the next AGM.

14. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

The Board or the President may call a Special General Meeting at any time. The Board will call one within forty days of a written request of any forty Adult Members for a purpose stated in that request. The ensuing meeting may only consider such items as are printed on the Agenda and as stated in the original request.

15. FISHING RULES

a. The current Fishing Rules and any Rules created or amended under Standing Order 12b are binding upon all Members until such time as they may be repealed by an AGM.
b. Members may propose amendments, to any Rules proposed under Standing Order 12b, from the floor of the AGM.
c. The Board may from time to time make or amend Fishing or other Rules as they deem expedient, providing they are not inconsistent with the spirit of these Standing Orders. The next AGM shall vote on such additions/alterations./
d. The Fishing Rules will be re-printed annually and are binding on all Members.

16. INTERPRETATION

a. The Board shall be sole authority for the interpretation of these Standing Orders and Fishing Rules. Any decision of the Board on any question of interpretation or any matter affecting the Club not provided by the Standing Orders and Fishing Rules shall be final and binding on all Club Members until an AGM repeals such decision.
b. The Chairman of any Meeting shall be the sole authority on procedure and shall allow or reject any subject or speaker accordingly.
c. In these Standing Orders and Fishing Rules, where the context permits, words implying the masculine shall include the feminine and words implying the singular shall include the plural.