Name and Style                                                                          

The Club shall be known as the Scottish Sub-Aqua Club-Clydebank Branch. It will henceforth be referred to in this document as the “Branch”.

The "Scottish Sub Aqua Club-a Company limited by Guarantee" will henceforth be referred to in this document as the “SSAC.”

General Conditions

The Clydebank Branch Constitution will defer to the minimum requirements of the SSAC Memorandum and Articles of Association, its byelaws, rules and regulations.

Acceptance of this Constitution is a Condition of Membership of this Branch of the SSAC. All members must be provided with either an electronic or paper copy of this Constitution.

It is a Condition of Membership that all members must agree to be contactable by at least one of the following methods: E-mail, landline telephone, mobile telephone.

Gender references

In this Constitution all references to “he” and “him” will apply equally to “she” and “her”.

Aims and Objectives

The Branch will operate under the Rules, Regulations and “Articles of Association of the SSAC”.  The aims and objectives of the Branch will be the same as the aims and objectives of the SSAC.

Membership of the Branch

Membership will be open to male and female members subject to the minimum age restrictions imposed by the SSAC. The Branch may additionally restrict membership for any reason, subject to the Rules and Regulations of the SSAC. Members of the Branch will be subject to the Rules and Regulations of membership of the SSAC and any additional Bye-laws enacted by the Branch.

Whilst involved in, or traveling to or from any Branch sports diving activities, Branch members must conduct themselves in a manner which is not detrimental to the reputation of the SSAC or the Branch.

Class of Membership of the Branch

An Ordinary Member shall be at least 18 years of age and shall receive full Branch privileges.

(b)    A Junior Member shall be aged 14-17 years inclusive and shall receive full Branch privileges.

(c)    An Associate Member (non diving) shall be at least 15 years of age and shall receive all Branch privileges except that he shall not be permitted to take part in any Diving/Training activities and shall have no voting rights within the Branch. He is permitted to use the pool facilities for activities which do not include compressed air breathing apparatus.

(d)   Joint Membership for Partners. Both shall receive full Branch privileges.

(e)   Family Membership for Partners and children under 18. All shall receive full Branch privileges.

(f)    Snorkel Membership shall be for those over the age of 14 who shall not be permitted to take part

        in any activity involving the use of an Aqualung and shall have no voting rights within the Branch.

Resignation/Leaving the Branch 

Any member may permanently leave the Branch at any time by submitting a letter of Resignation to the Branch Committee.

The member must return any property, including keys for accessing Branch premises, owned by the Branch to the Branch Equipment Officer prior to any consideration of any refunds of fees.

The member may be entitled to a partial refund of the Branch Annual Levy. The Branch Committee will consider each written request based on the circumstances for leaving the Branch.

The Branch Committee (BC)

(a)     The Branch Committee shall be appointed at the Branch Annual General Meeting (AGM) and shall hold office until the next Branch AGM. The AGM may increase or decrease the number of office bearers and ordinary members on the Branch Committee.

(b)     The BC should meet as often as dictated by Branch business.

(c)      Election of Members to the Branch Committee and voting on proper motions brought to a Branch Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting shall be by simple majority vote of those present at such a meeting.  Ordinary, Joint, Family and Junior Members have the right to vote provided that they have paid their Annual Subscription and Branch Levy/Fee for the current Calendar year.

(d)     The BC shall arrange activities for the Branch in accordance with the objectives of the SSAC.

(e)     The BC may, during their term of office, appoint and dismiss individual additional Committee members and Sub-Committees and prescribe rules for the conduct thereof.

(f)      Branch Committee members and other members of the Branch, may be entitled to a set of keys providing access to Branch premises. The Branch Committee will vote on each entitlement to a Committee member or Branch member. These keys remain the property of the Branch.

(g)   The Branch Committee may establish Bye-Laws for the better conduct of its own internal affairs, always provided that they are in accord with the policy of the SSAC.

(h)   Such Bye-Laws made by the Branch Committee shall be binding upon all Members until repealed by the Branch Committee or set aside by a resolution at a Branch General Meeting.

(i)    The Branch Bye-Laws shall be made known to all Members of the Branch.

(j)     A Quorum shall be 50% of the voting Members of the Committee; the Chairman shall have the casting vote.

Duties of the Branch Committee

Office Bearers: Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, BDO, EO, Webmaster.

Branch Chairman

The Branch Chairman shall be spokesman for the Branch.

He shall preside at the Branch Annual General Meeting (AGM) , Extraordinary General Meetings (EGM), and meetings of the Branch Committee.

He shall hold an ex-officio position on all Sub-Committees appointed by the Branch Committee.

He shall supervise all the affairs of the Branch.  (In the absence of the Chairman, the relevant meeting shall elect one of the voting Members present to preside).

He shall present a report to the Branch AGM.

Branch Treasurer

The Branch Treasurer shall keep proper records of accounts of all monies received or paid on behalf of the Branch.  He shall arrange for all such monies to be deposited at such a Bank as the Branch Committee may direct to the credit of an account in the name of the Branch on which cheques or other orders shall be signed by not less than two office-bearers of the Branch Committee.

He shall prepare a statement of income and expenditure and a Balance Sheet to the last day of the month preceding the AGM.  The statement shall be scrutinized by at least two persons appointed each year at the Branch AGM.

He shall be prepared, upon request, to submit an interim financial statement at any Branch Committee Meeting.  He shall submit an adopted copy of the Branch Final Accounts. i.e. Income and Expenditure Accounts and Balance Sheet to the General Treasurer of the SSAC each year. 

The Branch financial year shall end on 31^st December each year and all outstanding accounts with the SSAC shall be cleared by that date. 

He shall present a report to the Branch AGM and make financial recommendations for the following year, including changes to the Branch Fee/Levy. The Balance Sheet will be approved by an appointed Auditor.

Branch Secretary

The Branch Secretary shall be responsible for the safe keeping of the Minute Books of the Branch Committee. These Minutes may be in electronic or paper form.

He shall call meetings, prepare agendas, record and deal with Branch correspondence as appropriate.

He shall present a report to the Branch AGM.

Branch Diving Officer (BDO)

He shall be at least an "active" Branch Instructor and responsible for all diving operations within the Branch. This responsibility will include all pool training activities, all open water training activities and all open water diving activities. The BDO, or an Expedition Leader acting on behalf of the BDO, shall prepare diving site Risk Assessments and maintain Diving Expedition Report Forms for every training dive. 

He may appoint "active" Diving Instructors to assist him in all training and diving activities. The Diving Instructors must be qualified to teach scuba diving activities in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the SSAC. The Instructors will be responsible to the Branch Diving Officer and to the SSAC for their conduct.

He shall present a report to the Branch AGM.

Branch Equipment Officer

He shall be responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of all the equipment owned by the Branch which shall include all diving related equipment, the air compressor, the boat, engine and trailer and all ancillary equipment associated with all the above mentioned equipment.

He will ensure that all equipment is regularly serviced.

He will ensure that all members are kept informed as to which equipment is available for use.

He may appoint suitably qualified members of the Branch to assist in any aspect of the operation of  Branch owned equipment. These appointees will be ratified by the Branch Committee.

He shall present a report to the Branch AGM.

Branch Webmaster

He shall be responsible for the administration and upkeep of the Branch Website and any other Internet based and electronic methods of communication with Branch members and the public, which the Branch Committee deems is in the interests of the Branch.

He shall have full editorial control of the content of the website, subject to the restrictions imposed by Scottish and United Kingdom Law regarding publication, “good taste” and the Data Protection Act and subject to the requirements of the Branch.

He does not necessarily have to be a member of the Branch or the SSAC but should present a report to the Branch AGM.

Diving Instructors within the Branch

All Diving Instructors must be “active” and qualified to teach Scuba diving in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the SSAC. They will be responsible to the BDO and to the SSAC Board for their conduct.

Discipline and Conduct

Any breach of the Rules and Regulations of the SSAC or breaches of this Branch Constitution by a member of the Branch may result in disciplinary action being taken against the member by the Branch Committee.

The member will have the right to appear before the Branch Committee to explain his actions.

The Branch Committee, upon considering all evidence will have the right to take appropriate action against the member. These actions may include: no action, temporary loss of some or all membership privileges, dismissal from the Branch, referral the SSAC Board, referral to the Police or any other appropriate action.

The member will have the Right of Appeal to the Branch Committee and the SSAC Board.

All accusations, evidence, judgments and appeals in all circumstances must be provided in writing as a “hard copy” on paper and signed by the Chairman. (Electronic versions are not acceptable)

Personal Equipment

Members may store personal diving equipment at branch premises at the discretion of the Branch Committee. Such equipment is stored entirely at the owner’s risk and the Branch will not accept any responsibility for damage to or loss of the Equipment. All air diving cylinders will be filled at the discretion of the Compressor Operator(s).

Closure of the Branch

The Branch may be closed by a majority vote at a Branch General Meeting or if it's membership falls to such a level that the SSAC Board deems it necessary.

Such equipment and funds as are possessed by the Branch at the time of its closure shall normally be held by the SSAC Board in trust for any Branch that may be re-established in the area of the former Branch.  If part of the assets of the Branch were derived from sources other than subscriptions or grants received by the Club (on behalf of the Branch) these shall be disposed of in accordance with the wishes of those persons or bodies concerned.

(Explanatory note:  For instance equipment possessed by a group prior to their joining the SSAC as a Branch or part of the Branch could be disposed of according to the wishes of that group should the Branch subsequently be closed).

Data Protection and UK Data Protection Act

Details held in electronic form by any member of the Branch about other members of the Branch, must not be divulged to anyone without the written permission of the member involved or by a Court Order obtained by the Police. Written permission may include E-mail.

                                 Additional Branch Bye-Laws

1          Branch Annual General Meeting

The Branch AGM will normally be held on the last Wednesday in February. Members will be notified by the Secretary one month in advance. Copies of the Agenda, Minutes of the previous AGM and a request for Nominations and Business for the AGM will be e-mailed to all Current Members.

2                 Branch Extra-Ordinary General Meeting

A Branch Extra-Ordinary General Meeting (EGM) will be called for Branch business requiring discussion and voting by all current members of the Branch which is deemed by the Committee to be sufficiently urgent that it cannot wait until the AGM. The Secretary will give at least 14 days notice.

3                 Branch Levy.

The Branch Levy should be paid in full within 1 month of the “due date” which is normally 1^st March. However, subject to agreement with the Treasurer, a Branch member may pay his Branch Levy by installments.

The Branch Levy is payable at the following rates:

Ordinary and Junior members =                                           100%

Joint members (2 married people/civil partners) =             150%

Family members (up to 4 people in the same family)=       200%

Associate members=                                                                25%

A new member joining the Branch part way through the Branch Financial year will be required to pay the Levy on a pro rata basis, calculated by the Treasurer.

4                 Compressed Air for Diving Cylinders.

The fee for Compressed Air for diving cylinders will be set by the Branch Committee and will be charged per cylinder paid in advance. Details of the payment must be entered in to the “Air Book” in the Branch Club Rooms.

The fee charged for Compressed air may be changed as the Committee sees fit without prior notice to members.

5                 Fees for diving from the Branch Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boat.

The fee for diving from the Branch Boat will be set by the Branch Committee and is charged per dive.

All diving members will pay the fee except the member towing the boat to the dive site land base.

There will be no further charges if the fees collected cover the cost of boat engine fuel. However, if there is still a shortfall, all members in the diving party, including the boat tower, will share equally the additional charges until the outstanding cost of fuel is covered. Any profit from the fees goes to the Treasurer to help offset the maintenance costs of the boat.

6          Operating the Branch Boat and Marine VHF Radio

The Branch Boat and Marine VHF radio may only be operated by members holding the appropriate RYA Sportsboat and/or Diver/Coxswain qualifications or equivalent.

In order to learn about boat operations, unqualified members of the Branch may operate the Branch boat provided they are at all times under the supervision of an RYA Sportsboat or Diver/Coxswain certificated member of the Branch or other equivalent agencies.

7           Fees for the hire of Branch owned diving equipment

The fees charged to trainee diver members and qualified diver members will be set by the Branch Committee.

8                 Financial Gain

Members may not use Branch owned equipment for any personal financial gain.

A group of Branch members may use Branch owned equipment in an activity for which the Branch may receive a donation.