THE CONSTITUTION OF THE AMATEUR SWIMMING ASSOCIATION

OF

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

 

 

 

LIST OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

                 ARTICLE

 

1.                  NAME

 

2.                  INTERPRETATION

 

3.                  OBJECTS

 

4.                  AFFILIATION

 

5.                  MEMBERSHIP

 

6.                  THE COUNCIL

 

7.                  OFFICERS

 

8.                  DUTIES OF OFFICERS

 

9.                  COMMITTEES

 

9A.            QUALIFICATION FOR NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION

 

10.             GENERAL MEETINGS

 

11.             TRUSTEES

 

12.             BYE-LAWS

 

13.             ALTERATION OF RULES

 

14.             WINDING

 

 

 

 

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE AMATEUR SWIMMING ASSOCIATION

 OF

 TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE - 1             NAME

 

The name of the organisation shall be the Amateur Swimming Association of Trinidad & Tobago (hereinafter referred to as "the Association"). The colours shall be Red, White and Black, and the Emblem shall be decided upon by the Association from time to time. The official address of the Association shall be P.O. Box 244, Port of Spain. Such address may be changed from time to time.

 

 

ARTICLE - 2             INTERPRETATION

 

1.                  An Amateur Swimmer is one who engages in swimming solely for pleasure and the physical, mental and social benefits he derives therefrom and to whom swimming is nothing more than a recreation for which no remuneration is received. Subject to the foregoing, the exceptions and qualifications to the foregoing rule shall be as appear for the time being in the rules of Federation International de Natacion later referred to as F.I.N.A. as amended from time to time and are hereby deemed to be incorporated herein.

 

2.                  CLUB -:   Any body of individuals duly constituted, coming together for the purpose of participating in the Aquatic sport of swimming, water-polo, diving and/or synchronized swimming.

 

3.                  'RULES' mean the rules of the Association.

 

4.                  COUNCIL -:   means elected Officers of the Association and Delegates nominated by the Ordinary Members.

 

5.                  "SECRETARY" means the Honorary Secretary of the Association.

 

6.                  'TREASURER" means the Honorary Treasurer of the Association.

 

7.                  Words importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender.

 

8.                  Words in the singular shall include the plural and words in the plural shall include the singular.

 

 

ARTICLE - 3             OBJECTS

 

The aim and objects of the Association shall be: -

 

(a)               To promote and encourage the development of amateur swimming, diving, water-polo and synchronized swimming in Trinidad and Tobago and to provide proper accommodation and facilities for them.

(b)               To draw up, publish and enforce uniform rules for the control and regulation of amateur swimming, diving, synchronized swimming and water-polo championships and competitions in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Wherever practicable these shall conform with the rules of F.I.N.A. and such other bodies to which the Association shall be affiliated.

 

(c)               To provide competitive swimming opportunities for swimmers of all ages, both sexes, and at all levels of local and international competition.

 

(d)               To define rules under which National Records can be established and recognised in accordance with accepted international guidelines.

 

(e)               To sanction, facilitate and regulate all International, National and other aquatic contests held in Trinidad and Tobago, and to approve and regulate the dates and arrangements for same and to sanction the participation of registered swimmers at sanctioned meets held overseas.

 

(f)                 To foster and maintain cordial relationships with sporting groups and other bodies locally and overseas whose aims and objects are similar to those of the Association.

 

(g)               To select national teams in swimming, diving, water-polo, synchronized swimming and any other aquatic sports and whenever necessary, to submit its selections to the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee or other national sporting bodies.

 

(h)               In aid of the aforementioned objects, to solicit, apply for, receive, hold, raise and disburse, grants, bequests, endowments and other funds and to operate exclusively for charitable purposes and to employ such staff and contract for the services of such other personnel as may be necessary to purchase, lease, acquire, or provide for such facilities, materials and equipment as are necessary and appropriate.

 

(i)                 To borrow and raise such monies, as the Association may think fit for the promotion of the objects of the Association and to give security for such loans as may be required by and lending institution.

 

 

 

ARTICLE - 4             AFFILIATION 

 

The Association shall be affiliated to: -

 

(j)                  The Federation International de Natacion Amateur.

(ii)               The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee.

(iii)             Central American and Caribbean Swimming Federation.

(iv)              Amateur Swimming Union of the Americas.

(v)                CARIFTA Swimming Council.

(vi)              Any other Organisation as Council may determine.

 

 

ARTICLE - 5             MEMBERSHIP

 

Classes of membership shall be: -

 

(i)                 Ordinary               -           Club

(ii)               Associate             -             (i)             Group

- (ii) Individual

(iii)            Honorary       -            Individual

 

(i)                 ORDINARY MEMBER

 

(a)               Any Club promoting amateur swimming, water-polo, diving and/or synchronized swimming shall be eligible for ordinary membership of the Association and shall, subject to the approval of Council, become a member upon payment of such admission fee as may be prescribed by Council from time to time. Ordinary members shall be fully entitled to nominate persons to hold office in the Association and vote at meetings

 

(b)               Any Club desiring to become an Ordinary member of the Association shall submit: -

 

(i)                 an application in writing to the Secretary stating:

(a)               its name, the number of members, and the names of its officers;

(b)               that it will abide by this constitution.

 

(ii)               a copy of its constitution.

 

(c)               A club shall have at least ten (10) active competitive registered swimmers to qualify for Ordinary membership.

 

(d)               The Annual Membership fee for Clubs shall be a sum fixed by Council from time to time and shall be payable on the first day of February in each and every year. Any Club, which falls into arrears with its annual subscriptions for, more than thirty (30) days shall, automatically cease to be a member of the Association. The Council may, however, in its discretion reinstate such Club on payment of the total amount of fees outstanding plus a penalty of fifty percent (50%) of the annual subscription free then in force.

 

(e)               Any Club desiring to resign from the Association shall submit its resignation in writing to the Secretary and such resignation shall take effect from the date of the receipt by the Secretary of such notice.

 

(f)                 Should an Ordinary Member fail to maintain ten (10) Active Competitive Swimmers as defined below, the Council will issue a written warning to the member. In case of non-compliance by the member, the Council will issue two (2) more written warnings over the next year beginning with the date of the first. In the event of continued non-compliance, the Council may re-classify the said Ordinary member as an Associate Member.

 

For the purpose of these presents an "Active Competitive Swimmer" is one who participates in at least three (3) aquatic events for the calendar year including one of the National Championships.

 

In the case of swimmers from Tobago, the Association shall organise aquatic events in Tobago and all registered swimmers of such Ordinary Members in Tobago except for good and proper reasons, must participate in all such events, failing which they will not be regarded as "active". At the same time they must participate in one (1) aquatic event organised by the Association and held in Trinidad in any one (1) year to be also considered as "active".

 

(g)               A swimmer shall be registered as a member of only one (1) club at a time for the purposes of each type of competition organised by the Association, provided that a member of a School Club shall be eligible for registration as a member of another Club, in which case the School Club will always have priority of first call on him.

 

(h)               A swimmer must have been a registered member of a club for at least three (3) weeks before being entitled to represent such a club in competition, failing which such a swimmer may participate in competition as an "unattached swimmer" and shall be entitled to the rights and privileges of an associate member of the Association as hereinafter defined.

 

(i)                 A yearly registration fee as determined by Council from time to time must be paid on or before the date stipulated by Council before the swimmer can compete in any sanctioned Meet.

 

(j)                  Where a swimmer desires to change registration from one Club to another, it shall be the duty of the latter Club to advise Council of such change in registration. The Council shall be entitled to refuse such application unless it is satisfied that the applicant has resigned from his former Club and has discharged in full his indebtedness to his former Club. No change of registration shall take effect so as to permit a water polo player to play for more than one (1) Club in the same Competition.

 

 

(III)            ASSOCIATE MEMBER

 

(a)               Any Groups or individuals interested in swimming and who are prepared to assist in the promotion and organisation of swimming and who subscribe to and abide by the Constitution may be registered as an Associate Member.

 

(b)               Any Group or individual seeking membership in this category must submit an application on a prescribed from to the Secretary.

 

(c)               Each Associate Member shall pay the appropriate membership fee as prescribed by Council not later than the first day of February of each year.

 

(d)               Any Associate Member who falls into arrears with the annual membership fee for more than thirty (30) days shall automatically cease to be a member of the Association. The Council may however in its discretion reinstate such member on payment of the total amount outstanding.

 

(e)               Associate Members shall have all the rights and privileges of Ordinary Members except that no Associate Member shall have a right to hold office in the Association or vote at meetings.

 

 

(iii)            HONORARY MEMBER

 

(a)               The Council may elect to honorary membership of the Association any person who in the opinion of the Council has rendered exceptional service to swimming.

 

(b)               A candidate for honorary membership must be nominated by a member of Council in writing setting out fully the grounds on which such nomination is made.

 

(c)               An honorary member shall be a member of the Association but shall not be an officer or a delegate nor have a right to vote.

 

 

ARTICLE - 6             THE COUNCIL

 

(a)               The affairs of the Association shall be managed by Council.

 

(b)               The Council shall consist of all elected Officers of the Association and one (1) Delegate nominated in writing by each Ordinary Member.

 

(c)               The Council shall have power to fill any vacancies among the Officers of the Association. Such vacancies shall be filled form among the Nominated Delegates. Such appointments shall hold good only until the next Annual General Meeting.

 

(d)               Quorum

 

No business shall be transacted at any meeting of the Council unless a quorum of members is present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business. Save as herein or otherwise provided, sixty percent (60%) of the Council shall form a quorum of any meeting of the Council. If within thirty (30) minutes from the time appointed for the meeting, a quorum in not present, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week, at the same time and place or to such other day at such other time and place as the members present may determine but not less than twenty-four (24) hours thereafter. If at the adjourned meeting, a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting, the members present, provided that such members shall form 50% of the quorum and shall include one (1) elected Officer and whether such members were present at the previous meeting or not, the business of the Council shall proceed.

 

(e)               Any Officer who, without due notice or reasonable excuse, absents himself from three (3) consecutive meetings of Council and without good cause fails to take an active interest in the business of the Association, may be removed from office upon a resolution passed by Council.

 

(f)                 Meetings of the Council shall be held at least once every month on a fixed day or on such other day as may be agreed by Council from time to time and at least seven (7) days notice in writing must be given by the Secretary, but the Secretary shall be entitled to summon an emergency meeting of the Council to consider and determine any urgent and important matters.

 

(g)               The Council shall deal with all applications for membership of the Association.

 

 

 

(h)               The Council shall have the power to remove any member or any registered swimmer guilty of conduct which in the opinion of Council, is prejudicial to the interest or reputation of the Association and which constitutes a breach of the constitution in accordance with disciplinary procedure set out in the Bye-Laws of the Association. In addition, the Council shall have the power to suspend or expel and Ordinary Member if in the opinion of the Council, by a three-fourths majority of those present and voting the degree of participation by the Member in years does not justify continued membership of the Association.

 

(i)                 The Council shall select all National Teams and National Coaches upon the recommendation of the Swimming Committee and shall appoint all officials for National Teams including but not limited to the Manager and National Coaches. Such officials shall submit to the Secretary a full written material obtained not later than one (1) month after completing the assignment.

 

(j)                  The Council shall appoint representatives to attend meetings of bodies controlling and promoting amateur sport and/or to any other meeting which the Association is invited to attend or any body which the Association is invited to join. Such representatives shall submit to the Secretary a full written report on the meeting together with copies of any material obtained at such meeting and copies of any minutes obtained at such meetings within fourteen (14) days of the meeting.

 

(k)               The Council shall have control on the finances of the Association and shall have power to borrow upon resolution and due notice to all ordinary members such sums as may be required from time to time in furtherance of the objects of the Association.

 

(l)                  The Council shall have the authority to decide and determine any matter not provided for by the Rules of the Association and shall have the authority to make any amendment to the rules of the Association which it may think necessary, by reason of changes in the rules of the F.I.N.A. and such decisions shall be binding unless and until reversed by the Association in General Meeting.

 

(m)             The Council shall fix dates and venues for National and International events.

 

(n)               The Council shall grant sanction to Ordinary members upon request provided that the Meet or Championship fulfills the required standards for the staging of such an event.

 

 

 

(o)               The Council shall: -

 

(i)                 Elect an Honorary Medical Officer who shall be the adviser of the Association in matters of medical opinion appertaining to the Association only.

 

(ii)               Elect an honorary Legal Adviser who shall be the adviser to the Association in matters of law and legal opinion only.

(iii)             Elect the Committees as provided for in these rules, or any other Committee as may be deemed necessary from time to time.

 

 

ARTICLE - 7             OFFICERS

 

The Officers of the Association shall be: -

 

(i)                 The President

(ii)               The Immediate Past President

(iii)             Two Vice-Presidents (First and Second)

(iv)             The Secretary

(v)               The Treasurer

(vi)             The Assistant Secretary-Treasurer

(vii)           Public Relations Officer

 

The elected Officers shall retire annually, but shall continue to hold office until the election of Officers at the Annual General Meeting and shall be eligible for re-election, save that no person shall be elected to the office of President for more than four (4) consecutive terms. A person so elected for four (4) consecutive terms shall however be eligible for re-election to the office of President after the lapse of two (2) years following the term of office to which that person was last elected. The Officers shall be elected by secret ballot from amongst the Representatives of Ordinary Members of the Association proposed and seconded by the Delegates at the Annual General Meeting. Only Delegates duly appointed by Ordinary members shall be entitled to vote at the Annual General meeting. An outgoing Officer shall not be entitled to vote as an outgoing Officer.

 

 

ARTICLE - 8             DUTIES OF OFFICERS

 

(a)               President:

 

The President shall have the right to convene and unless prevented by illness or other sufficient cause, preside over all meetings of the Council and shall have authority upon every question of order and shall be the sole interpreter of the Laws governing the Council for the purposes of such meetings. He shall also be an ex-officio member of all Committees and shall have the right to vote on every motion and in the event of an equal number of votes being recorded he shall have a second and casting vote.

 

(b)              Vice Presidents

 

(i)                 The First Vice-President shall be Co-Ordinator of the Swimming Committee and shall perform such other duties as the Council may determine from time to time. The First Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President in the absence of the President.

 

(ii)               The Second Vice-President shall be Chairman of the Finance Committee and shall perform such other duties as Council may determine from time to time. The Second Vice-President shall assist as President in the absence of the President and the First Vice-President.

 

(c)               Secretary

 

(i)         The Secretary shall deal with the correspondence of the Association under the general supervision of the Council. He shall promptly upon receipt of pertinent correspondence disseminate the information therein contained to all Ordinary members and shall table all such correspondence at the next meeting of the Council. In cases of urgency where the Council cannot be consulted he shall consult the President or if he is not available the First Vice-President. If the First Vice-President is not available, he shall contact the Second Vice-President. Decisions reached in this way shall be subject to ratification at the next Council meeting. The Secretary shall maintain a Register of Swimmers as hereinafter defined and issue notices convening all meetings of the Association and of the Council and shall be responsible for keeping minutes of all such meetings and for the preservation of all records of proceeding of the Association, and of the Council. The Secretary shall also circulate the Agenda for the next Council Meeting together with the Minutes of the preceding Council Meeting seven (7) days before the scheduled date for such Council Meeting. Upon vacating office, the Secretary shall pass on all the Association's records. He shall be an ex-officio member of all Committees.

 

(i)