Constitution

1. Name

The name of the league shall be the Warrington and District Chess League.

2. Objective

The aim of the league shall be to encourage and promote chess in the Warrington area and its surrounding districts.

3. Membership

Chess clubs shall be eligible for membership of the league at the discretion of the AGM. Any club seeking to join the league, shall do so following the passing of a resolution at an AGM. Membership of each existing club shall be automatically renewed at the next AGM.

4. Subscriptions

4.1 The annual subscriptions for the following season shall be decided at the AGM and shall be due and payable by 1st August immediately prior to the start of the following season. Any outstanding ECF grading fees incurred during the season, including unpaid grading fees for prior seasons, shall be due and payable on the same date.

4.2 Team Entry

From 2020 onwards, the closing date for team entry into the WDCL for the forthcoming season shall be the AGM. Any club not attending the AGM shall provide its entry details before the date of the AGM takes place. A tolerance of 2 weeks will apply to mitigate for events, such as car breakdown, on the way to the AGM.

4.3 A club’s entries to the League’s divisions and competitions shall only be accepted, and player registrations approved, if its relevant subscriptions for the new season, and any amounts due to the League in respect of any other outstanding fees whatsoever and wheresoever, have been paid by the due date.

5. Management

5.1 The business of the WDCL shall be managed by the elected officers who shall be known as the Executive Committee.

5.2 The Executive Committee shall be made up of the following positions:-

President

Vice President

Secretary

Treasurer

League Manager

Development Officer

5.3 The President: the role of the President shall be to manage the WDCL generally, and to chair its meetings, including and especially EGM’s and AGM’s.

5.4 The Vice President: the Vice President will stand-in for the President as and when required and shall take-over the duties of the President should that become necessary for any reason. The Vice President shall also have responsibility for the safeguarding, maintenance and preservation of the WDCL trophies.

5.5 The Secretary:- the WDCL secretary will facilitate all communications between the Executive Committee, its clubs, members and players. The secretary will also minute and distribute the minutes of all meetings.

5.6 The Treasurer: the WDCL Treasurer shall collect all monies owed to the WDCL and shall pay all monies owed by the WDCL whatsoever and wheresoever. The Treasurer shall also produce yearly accounts for the WDCL, which shall be produced at its AGM, and shall provide all due assistance to any auditor appointed by the WDCL.

5.7 Development Officer: The WDCL Development Officer shall be responsible for the development of chess within the WDCL’s geographical region.

5.8 The League Manager: the WDCL League Manager shall administer the running of the league’s various divisions and cup competitions, applying the rules as necessary and providing regular updates as to league tables and player of the year competitions etc. The League Manager shall prepare a fair and balanced fixture list for the league and cup competitions at the start of every season. The League Manager can delegate any of the above responsibilities as deemed necessary.

5.9 League Officers: the WDCL Officers shall consist of: Publicity Manager, Tournament Manager, Auditor and League Archivist.

5.10 Publicity Manager: The WDCL Publicity Manager shall be responsible for the running of the league website, liaison with local press and media and for the general promotion of the league’s activities.

5.11 Tournament Manager: the WDCL Tournament Manager shall be responsible for all matters relating to the tournaments held and managed by the WDCL.

5.12 Auditor: The WDCL Auditor shall audit the league’s yearly financial accounts.

5.13 Archivist: The WDCL Archivist shall manage and update the League Archive and shall use their beast endeavours to answer any enquiries for WDCL data and information which is of an historical nature.

5.14 The Rules Committee. Every club may nominate one of its members to be a member of the Rules Committee. The purpose of the Rules Committee is to assist with rule interpretation and to review proposed changes to the rules and constitution that re to be presented to the league AGM. Members of the Rules Committee will also, is requested, offer advice to anyone wishing to propose a change to the WDCL Constitution, or to its league and cup competition rules.

6. Meetings

General

All decisions made by the WDCL at its AGM or EGM shall be decided by a simple majority vote.

At all AGM’s and EGM’s the WDCL operates a one vote per club system.

6.1 The AGM

a) The AGM will normally be held on a suitable date in June, July or August of each year. The date shall be fixed at the prior AGM, or in default thereof, the AGM shall be fixed by the League Secretary for a date in June, July or August, by giving the secretaries of each member club, or potential member clubs whose membership application is to be decided at the said meeting, not less than 3 months-notice of the date of the forthcoming AGM.

b) The only persons entitled to vote at the AGM shall be one delegate from each member club. A quorum shall consist of 16 persons, or one half of those entitled to vote, whichever is the smaller number.

c) The business of the AGM shall be:

(i) to approve the minutes of the previous AGM;

(ii) to receive and record the reports of the Executive Committee members;

(iii) to make such administrative preparations as are reasonably required for the forthcoming season, including the appointment of Officers and the Executive Committee;

(iv) to consider any proposals for which the required notice has been duly given and circulated;

(v) to consider (at the discretion of the chair of the meeting) any other business raised at the said AGM.

(vi) The Secretary shall distribute an agenda for the AGM to the secretaries of all eligible clubs, no later than 2 weeks prior to its date.

6.2 The EGM

a) An EGM shall only consider proposals relating to the business for which the meeting has been called. The League Secretary shall call an EGM within six weeks of:

(i) a request from the Executive Committee;

(ii) a request signed by the secretaries of at least four member clubs.

b) The call of an EGM shall be effected by the giving of at least 21 days notice of such meeting. The said notice shall be sent to all WDCL Executive Committee members; all WDCL Officers and the secretaries of all member clubs, and the said notice shall include a copy of the above mentioned request.

7. Rules

7.1 Amendments to the WDCL Constitution, League Rules and Cup Competition Rules, shall only be made at the AGM or at an EGM called for that purpose.

7.2 The League Secretary shall require at least six weeks written notice prior to any AGM, and at least five weeks written notice prior to an EGM of any proposed alteration of the rules.