HSD CLUB RULES

1. The branch shall be known as Havering SCUBA Divers, which will be an open branch with the BS-AC No. 1223 herein known as The Club.

2. The headquarters of The Club shall be the residence of the elected Diving Officer or at such a place decided by the committee.

3. The member will abide by BS-AC and 1223 branch rules.

4. The Club to run from October to September inclusive.

5. The Committee
a. The management of The Club shall be vested in the annually elected committee, to be elected at the AGM. The committee shall consist of the following: Chairman, Diving Officer, Treasurer, Secretary, Entertainment’s Officer, Equipment’s Officer, Training Officer, Membership Secretary and Locations Officer
b. A quorum shall consist of no less than four committee members.
c. The committee to meet a minimum of four times per annum and as and when necessary.
d. Any three committee members shall have the power to call a special committee meeting.
e. The committee and/or 50% of the voting membership can call a special open branch meeting.
f. Rules can be made or amended at a committee meeting and all rules or amendments shall be made available to all members.
g. If and when required the committee shall have the right to apply for a small loan for the purchase of equipment. Any large capital expenditures/loan must be agreed by the membership present at a quarterly meeting or the AGM.
7. Finance / Treasurer
a. The Treasurer to keep proper account books to be produced at each committee meeting and to be audited by The Club auditors after the last day of August (annually) and to be presented to the committee in time for submission to the AGM.
b. Banking arrangements to be made by the treasurer.
c. There should be four named cheque signatories, the treasurer, the diving officer and two other committee members. Two of which will be required to authorise club cheques.
d. A club cheque will not be issued in respect of deposit for a club activity until at least 50% of the required deposit money has been collected from the membership taking part in the activity.
e. Club funds will not be released for any activity until a Club Credit Slip has been completed. A committee member must then sign the completed slip.
f. All moneys received against club ventures shall be classed as deposits and as such shall be non-refundable except at the discretion of the committee.
g. A member putting his name to any club activity will be liable for the deposit moneys due. If the member’s actions result in a financial penalty to those attending he may be liable for the balance.
h. No member shall have the right to sell or transfer his deposit without the authority of the venture organiser.
j. All refunds for whatever reason shall be made only at the committee’s discretion.
k. An administrative fee will be added to all social functions and paid for by those participating. Proceeds to go to The Club funds.


8. BS-AC and The Club Fees
a. The branch, joining and course fees to be reviewed annually or as necessary.
b. BS-AC subscriptions and joining fee as per those set by the BS-AC.
c. Branch course fees, subscriptions and renewals to be set by The Club.
d. A member who does not renew their membership within 3 months of the Common Renewal Date (1^st June), will be classed as a ‘rejoining’ member and will be liable to the appropriate rejoining fee required by the BS-AC and The Club (in accordance with BS-AC rule No. 7(b) I & ii).

9. New Members
a. Branch fees will not be accepted from new members until the introduction course, swimming test and medical examination have been passed.
b. Club equipment loaned after four Novice dives will render a fee payable to The Club.
c. Any new member must be by approval of the committee.
d. All new members shall be issued with an up to date copy of The Club rules and the BS-AC publication ‘Safe Diving Practices’.
e. The Club shall be limited in numbers at the discretion of the committee.
f. As from the age of 14 years, a junior member may, at the discretion of the committee, commence aqua-lung training and shall then on become a full member paying the full BS-AC, branch and adult pool fees. Junior members will only be allowed on club dives when accompanied by a parent or guardian.

10. Misconduct of Members
a. In order to safeguard the good name of the branch and its members, the branch officials in charge of any branch activity may suspend, at their discretion, for the duration of the activity, any member who commits a misconduct. Any such suspension must be reported to the chairman and secretary for discussion at the next committee meeting. The suspended member will have the right to be present at any such meeting where his suspension is discussed in order to hear the reason for his suspension and defend his actions.
b. The committee has the power to suspend or expel any member found guilty of a breech of The Club rules without refund of any fees paid by the said member.

11. Club Dives and Activities
a. The branch activities shall be open to anyone at the discretion of the committee.
b. No club dives are to be undertaken without the approval of the diving officer or, in his absence, the training officer.
c. If a member is interested in taking part in a particular dive, which is advertised on the notice board, they should approach the locations officer or his deputy, with their deposit, before they are added to the dive in question.
d. No member of The Club shall participate in any diving related activity without holding current BS-AC membership and valid medical certificate. In accordance with BS-AC rules.
e. Dive marshals must be approved by the diving officer or the training officer.
f. All training to be carried out in sequence and in accordance with the BS-AC training schedule.
g. A dive paid for with a club cheque will remain a club dive. If the arranger of the dive leaves The Club in the interim the dive must be passed to the diving officer, who will then continue to run it as a club dive.
h. Members are to undertake, once a year, a review of their Rescue Skills, which will also include work on the Re-sussi Annie. This will be organised by the Diving Officer, preferably before the start of the diving season. Until the member has performed the review they will not be allowed to participate on any club dive.

12. Equipment
a. If a member damages or loses equipment other than his own, except weight belts jettisoned or life jacket cartridges fired in an emergency, the committee reserve the right to charge that member/members for the full cost of repair or replacement of such articles.
b. A deposit of £50 (in the form of a Cheque) is to be made for any hire of Club Equipment. A time period of 2 weeks is implemented from the date of hire. Deposits will be cashed if equipment is not returned within the specified date. This rule does not apply to members undertaking training courses.

13. The Club Boat
a. Whenever The Club boat is being used there must be one approved boat handler and a person suitably qualified to act as boat cover at the discretion of the diving officer and/or the committee, one of whom must remain in the boat at all times.
b. The Club boat must be signed out by the boat handler, who then accepts responsibility for the boat until it is returned and checked.

14. If for any reason The Club should be dissolved then all club assets should be sold for the best possible price and all moneys shall be shared equally between the DDRC and RNLI.

15. The committee shall determine any question as to the interpretation of these rules and of any regulations made thereunder and may rule for any occurrence not otherwise catered for in these rules, provided that an amendment or addition is made to the rules.

Amended January 2001