Wensum Anglers Conservation Association
 Please note that due to overwhelming membership enquiries, we have closed our waiting lists 
Wensum ACA (Wensum Anglers Conservation Association) Constitution
 1. Name
The name of the Association shall be "Wensum-ACA (Wensum Anglers Conservation Association)”, hereafter referred to as the Association.

2. The objectives of the Association are: -
  1.  To promote a clean and healthy wetland environment in which fish, and other wildlife can thrive and prosper. 
  2. To present to the public the image of anglers as caring conservationists with respect to fish and other wildlife associated with the River Wensum valley. 
  3. To take appropriate action to safeguard and promote angling in the River Wensum valley through the acquisition and management of fisheries. 
  4. To encourage sound angling practice and fish care. 
  5. To establish and maintain under regular review, safe practices for all people using its facilities and attending its activities.
3. Membership 

There shall be five categories of Membership, renewed annually: - 
  1. Executive Officers 
  2. Fishery Managers and Bailiffs (appointed by the Executive Officers) 
  3. Honorary Members (appointed by the Executive Officers) 
  4. Fishery Members
  5. 'Friend of Wensum ACA' (non-voting)   
Any application for Membership shall be accepted only at the discretion of the Executive Officers, and on full payment of the agreed fee. 

Fishery Managers and Bailiffs (non-voting), Honorary Members (non-voting) and a Website Manager (non-voting), will be appointed by invitation of the Executive Committee. 

All fishery members to read, understand and adhere to the fishery rules and Health and Safety guidelines issued with permits, and any amendments to the same when issued by the Executive Committee. 

The Executive Committee shall have the power to expel any Member from the Association. 

 4. Executive Officers 

The Association shall have six Executive Officers: Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, Vice-Secretary, Membership Secretary and Treasurer. 

 Honorary President and Vice-President (non-voting) will be appointed by invitation of the Executive Committee and may attend and contribute to Executive Committee meetings.

5. Executive Committee

The business of the Association shall be conducted by the Executive Committee comprising of the Executive Officers mentioned in section 4.

Only the six Executive Officers, specified in Section 4, have voting rights in meetings of the Executive Committee.

Fishery Managers, Bailiffs and Members may also be invited to attend meetings, or to give specialist advice, where considered appropriate by the Executive Committee. Such representatives shall have no voting rights.

The Executive Committee shall have control of the funds of the Association and may authorise expenditure consistent with the aims and objectives of the Association, as stated in section 2, and in accordance with sound financial practice. They shall have the power to sanction payment to Members of reasonable expenses incurred in dealing with the business of the Association.

The Executive Committee shall have the powers to constitute any sub-committee deemed appropriate and consistent with the objectives of the Association. They may delegate such powers (other than voting rights on the Executive Committee) as they see fit to such sub-committees or to any individual Executive Officer.

The Executive Committee shall have the power to fill any vacancy as they occur mid-term, but this does not override the requirement at 8.2.

6. Voting in Executive Committee meetings

The six Executive Officers shall be entitled to a single vote; the vote must be cast in person and no proxy can be accepted.

All motions other than proposed changes to the Constitution shall be decided by a simple majority of votes, that being a majority of one. In the event of the votes cast both for and against any motion being equal, the Chairperson (or Vice-Chairperson in his or her absence), who shall otherwise abstain, shall have the casting vote. Only Members specified at section 4 and 5 shall be entitled to vote at Executive Committee.

7. Fishery Subscriptions and Administration Fee

The Executive Committee will set annual fishery and 'Friend of Wensum ACA' subscriptions and, as deemed appropriate, the additional annual fee as a contribution towards administration and insurance expenses, to be payable annually with fishery subscriptions.

8. Meetings

8.1 Executive Committee Meetings

The Executive Committee shall meet as often as is necessary to conduct the business of the Association but no less than twice a year. Quorum for Executive Committee meetings will be four to include the Chairperson (or Vice-Chairperson in his/her absence). Minutes will be produced and made available to all Members upon request.

8.2 Annual General Meeting

An Annual General Meeting of the Association shall be held in every year. A quorum at the Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting (see 8.3) shall consist of 10 Members. If the quorum is not present, then the meeting shall be adjourned to a further date to be notified, at which the business can proceed whether quorate or not.

The Executive Committee may select a Member to act as Chairperson at an Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting.

Notice of the Annual General Meetings shall be sent to every single Member at least eight weeks prior to the Annual General Meeting at the last postal or email address listed in the Association records. The non-receipt of such a notice shall not invalidate the proceedings of the Annual General Meeting. The Agenda and any papers shall be circulated at least two weeks prior to the meeting.

At the Annual General Meeting the Executive Officers shall be proposed/seconded, and elected for the forthcoming year, in accordance with section 4. The accounts for the year to 31st December prior to the Annual General Meeting date shall be presented and agreed by the Members. If any Member so requests, at the Annual General Meeting, he or she can ask that the accounts are reviewed and certified correct by an independent auditor and presented at the next meeting of the Executive Committee.

All motions for consideration at the Annual General Meeting must be received in writing by the Secretary at least four weeks prior to the meeting and only such motions shall be considered at the meeting.

8.3 Extraordinary General Meeting

An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called at any time, either by the Executive Committee or on request of a minimum of 25 Members, who shall submit the request in writing to the Secretary, carrying the names and signatures of the Members concerned.

An Extraordinary General Meeting shall then be called as soon as possible and at most within three months of the receipt of the written request. At least fourteen days’ notice shall be given to each Member at the last postal or email address listed in the Association records. The non-receipt of such a notice shall not invalidate the proceedings of the Extraordinary General Meeting. The notice shall specify the business to be transacted and no business other than that stated on the notice shall be considered.

With the agreement of the meeting, the Chairperson of the Annual General Meeting, or any Extraordinary General Meeting, may adjourn the meeting to a new time and place, but no new business may be transacted at any adjourned meeting.

9. Affiliation

The Association may be affiliated to such Associations as may be decided by the Executive Committee and delegates sent to represent the Association as appropriate.

10. Changes to the Constitution

The Constitution of the Association shall not be altered except by an Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting of its Members. Notice of such alterations, repeals or additions shall be given by the Secretary in writing at least four weeks before the date of any such meeting.

Any proposed changes to the Constitution shall require a majority (51%) of the votes cast at the Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting.

In the event of the votes cast both for and against any motion being equal, the Chairperson (or Vice-Chairperson in his or her absence), who shall otherwise abstain, shall have the casting vote.

11. Dissolution of the Association

The Association may not be dissolved except at an Annual General meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting of its members. Notice of such a proposal shall be sent to all individual Members at least two weeks before the date of any such meeting. For the avoidance of doubt a motion to dissolve the Association would require a majority (51%) of the votes cast to be carried. In the event of the votes cast both for and against any motion being equal, the Chairperson (or Vice Chairperson in his or her absence), who shall otherwise abstain, shall have the casting vote. Should such a motion to dissolve the Association be carried any remaining funds shall be donated to such similar Association, with similar objectives, as the Members attending the meeting shall resolve.

12. Adherence to the Constitution

Every individual Member shall be provided with a copy of the Constitution and they shall be bound by the Constitution.

Appendix One – the Ethos Statement of the Wensum Anglers Conservation Association

On all its waters the Association aims to provide peaceful, uncrowded angling for wild fish, treading lightly upon our precious and unique environment. The Association is committed to improving the habitat of both fish and other wildlife, especially that of the River Wensum, both through its own activities and by interacting with like-minded individuals and other groups. As far as is possible, the Association will operate in an open and informal manner with a strong social dimension to its activities, including engagement with local communities.
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