about the NFAS

CONSTITUTION

(Adopted 10.3.73. Amended by A.G.Ms in '75, '77, '80, '86, '96, '97, '98, '01, '02, '06 and '07)

PREAMBLE

The N.F.A.S. exists to foster and promote Field Archery as a sport in which archers enjoy themselves by shooting at inanimate objects of suitable sizes, placed at distances unknown to the archers, set in natural undulating terrain populated by trees and shrubbery with few or no clear-laned targets.

The N.F.A.S. believes that Field Archery being originally devised to simulate hunting and to provide as much pleasure as possible in the practise of the sport, all courses should be constructed with this in mind.

The N.F.A.S. believes that in the true spirit of field Archery, the archer is competing against himself, the field, the peculiarities of the terrain, the organisers design and layout of the round with the natural objects and obstacles that have been included.

The N.F.A.S. is not interested in International Competition.

1. The Society shall be called The National Field Archery Society (N.F.A.S.)
2. The Objects of the society shall be as set forth in the preamble.
3. Membership is open to any archer willing to abide by the Constitution and Rules of the Society and paying the current affiliation fee. Honorary Life Membership may be conferred by an A.G.M. on a member who has given valuable service to the Society.
   1. The Executive reserve the right to suspend, withdraw or refuse membership to any person or persons who act in a manner to the detriment or well being of the Society. The reasons for any such action will only be disclosed to the person or persons involved.
   2. Should a member or club be found to persistently and blatantly break the shooting rules or operating guidelines of the NFAS or so offend etiquette to cause wide offence, the Executive reserve the right to take appropriate action that may include disqualification from an event or even exclusion from the NFAS. Any member so penalised will have the right to appeal.
   3. NFAS Club Definition
      NFAS members who group together to foster and promote Field Archery under the auspices of the NFAS can call themselves a club. They will be recognised as such by the NFAS providing they comply with the following:-
      1. Each club must send to the NFAS secretary a copy of their own constitution which must not conflict in any way with the rules and constitution of the NFAS.
      2. Each club must have a minimum of three members; of which two must be registered with the NFAS secretary as club contacts.
      3. The members may choose any name ot title that they wish for their club providing that (a) it is not already in use by another club, (b) the name or title is not offensive.
4. The Business of the Society shall be conducted in accord with the wishes of the members as expressed at the Annual General Meeting.
5. A General Meeting shall be held annually. The agenda shall include:-(a) Minutes of previous Annual General Meeting, (b) Officers Reports (c) Election of Officers, and (d) Any resolutions duly submitted.

The time and venue of the A.G.M. shall be circulated by the Hon. Secretary not less than ten weeks prior to the date of the meeting. Resolutions and Nominations, proposed and seconded, shall be forwarded to reach the Hon. Secretary not later than six weeks prior to the meeting. The Agenda and Accounts shall be circulated to all members not later than four weeks prior to the meeting.

6. The Executive Officers of the Society shall be President, General Secretary, Membership Secretary, Honorary Treasurer, Newsletter Editor, Field Officer and Coach Training Organiser. They shall be elected by postal ballot, the outcome of which will be announced at the Annual General Meeting, to serve for a period of 3 years when they shall stand down but be eligible for re-election. Elections will not be held simultaneously but over a cycle of 3 years, with 2 or 3 officers being elected each year In exceptional circumstances only a permanently retiring Executive Officer may be appointed Honorary Life Vice-President.
7. The Non Executive Officers of the Society shall be Supplies Officer, Shoot-Dates Organiser, Web Master, Safety Adviser, Child Protection Officer (CPO), CRB Administrator and Trophy Administrator. They shall be elected by postal Ballot, the outcome of which will be announced at the Annual General Meeting, to serve for a period of 3 years when they shall stand down but be eligible for re-election. The posts of CRB Admin and CPO will be executive appointed positions.
8. The Executive Officers shall meet from time to time as necessary for the satisfactory conduct of the society's business. The day to day business shall be carried out by the elected officers.
9. Decisions shall be made by simple majority vote except as laid down in Item 13. At General Meetings voting will be by a show of hands, each senior member present having one vote on any decision. Members below the age of 16 will not be allowed to vote on matters affecting the constitution but will be allowed to vote on matters concerning their own division. The Chairman shall have only a casting vote. A quorum shall be forty members from at least ten Clubs and of the forty at least three must be Executive Officers. At Committee Meetings voting shall be on a basis of one vote per Executive Officer represented by show of hands. The Chairman shall have only a casting vote. A quorum shall consist of four Executive Officers.
10. The Standing Order Procedure allows the Executive to introduce a change to the rules, with effect from the publication of the next issue of our Newsletter. This will then become the official rule until the next AGM at which time it will be debated and voted on by the members.
11. An Annual Championships shall be held open to members who have competed in at least six open shoots, and who renew their membership before the 31st March .
12. The Safety Rules of the Society must be carefully observed at all times and in all places.
13. This Constitution can only be revised or amended at a General Meeting of the Society.
14. The Preamble to this constitution may only be amended by a majority of seventy-five percent of the Membership.
15. If upon the winding up or dissolution of the NFAS there remains, after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities, any property whatsoever, the same shall not be paid or distributed among the members of the NFAS, but shall be given or transferred to some other institution or institutions having objects similar to the objects of the NFAS. Such institution or institutions to be determined by the members of the NFAS at or before the time of dissolution, and if and so far as effect cannot be given to such provision, then to some charitable object.