Last updated December 2019
Rule 1 – Name of the Club
The Club shall be called the OLD IPSWICHIAN CLUB.
Rule 2 – Objects of the Club
The objects of the Club shall be to
2.1 maintain the associations and traditions of Ipswich School,
2.2 promote unity and friendship among Old Ipswichians,
2.3 keep past members of the School in touch with one another and the School,
2.4 develop, maintain and expand links between the School and the Club, and generally further by every possible means the interests and prosperity of the School.
2.5 arrange and promote social gatherings, meetings, sporting fixtures and cultural activities for the benefit of Members of the Club,
2.6 ensure that the Members are made aware of developments at the School and other matters of importance relating to or concerning it.
Rule 3 – Eligibility for Membership
3.1 Membership of the Club shall consist of Life Members, Honorary Life Members, Staff Members, Associate Members and Junior Members.
3.2 All memberships are granted at the discretion of the Club Committee. Honorary Life Memberships must be approved by the Annual General Meeting.
3.3 Life Membership is granted to
(a) former pupils of the School who have paid the requisite membership fee and have reached the age of 16 years. (see Rule 17 – Subscriptions). Former pupils of the School, who are not Life Members and have reached the age of 16 years, may apply for Life Membership at any time in writing, enclosing any subscription payable or the first instalment due under a system of payments agreed by the Committee.
(b) former teaching Staff Members who have completed at least 5 years’ service at the School (or less at the discretion of the Committee).
(c) former members of the Governing Body of Ipswich School.
3.4 Honorary Life Membership is granted to persons deemed by the Club Committee to have rendered significant service to the School or Club.
3.5 Staff Membership is granted to all teaching staff of the School, and to other staff
at the discretion of the Committee, normally provided they have served as a
member of Ipswich School staff for two or more years. The Headmaster shall
recommend those staff who are eligible in the Autumn Term, for approval by the
Committee.
3.6 Associate Membership is granted to
(a) former pupils of Ipswich School who have not paid the requisite Life Membership fee or the requisite instalment or
instalments thereof and have reached the age of 16 years.
(b) members of the Governing Body of Ipswich School.
3.7 Junior Membership is granted to former pupils of Ipswich School who have not reached the age of 16 years.
Rule 4 – Conditions of membership
Members are entitled to the benefits and privileges of membership as set out in the Rules and elsewhere from time to time by the Committee, and shall observe, perform and comply with all and any rules and regulations of the Club from time to time in force.
Rule 5 – Resignation of membership
Any Member may resign their membership by giving to the Secretary notice in writing to that effect. Every such notice shall, unless otherwise expressed, be deemed to take immediate effect.
Rule 6 – Forfeiture of rights
Any person, upon ceasing to be a Member of the Club, shall forfeit all right to and claim upon the Club and its
property and funds.
Rule 7 – Termination of membership
Notwithstanding the provisions of Rule 19 if any Member shall be convicted on indictment of any criminal offence they shall thereupon cease to be a Member of the Club and thereupon the provisions of Rule 6 shall apply. The
Committee of the Club shall have power in its discretion to reinstate them, without fee or subscription.
Rule 8 – Officers of the Club
The Officers of the Club shall consist of: –
A President
A Junior President
A Chairman
A Secretary
A Treasurer
and any other officers as shall be appointed from time to time by the Committee.
Provided that: The Officers shall be recommended for election by the Committee of the Club.
Rule 9 – Re-election of President and Junior President
No Member of the Club shall be eligible for re-election as its President or as its Junior President until after an interval of two years from the conclusion of their year of office. The Junior President shall at the date of his or her
election not have exceeded 30 years of age.
Rule 10 – Office of Chairman
The Chairman of the Committee shall serve for a period of three years. During this term of office the Chairman shall be eligible for election as President subject to the rules of those offices. Following retirement as Chairman the Member shall not be eligible for re-election to that office until after an interval of twelve months from the conclusion of the last year of office.
Rule 11 – Election of Officers
The Officers of the Club (other than the Chairman) shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting of the Club by a two-thirds majority of Members present and voting. The Chairman shall be elected to serve for a period of three years at the appropriate Annual General Meeting of the Club by a two-thirds majority of Members present and voting.
Rule 12 – Offices of President and Vice President
The President and Junior President shall hold office for a period of twelve months commencing on 1st January.
Rule 13 – Management of the Club
The management of the Club (except as otherwise provided by these rules) shall be deputed to a Committee consisting of the Officers of the Club, the Head Teacher for the time being of the School, the Senior Foundation
Officer for the time being of the School, and nine Life Members, and such Life Members shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Club by a two-thirds majority of Members present and voting. One third of such elected Life Members shall retire annually and no Life Member shall be eligible for re-election to the Committee for a period of twelve months. Four Members of the Committee personally present shall constitute a quorum.
Rule 14 – Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held in the month of December in each year, upon a date and at a time to be fixed by the Committee. There shall be transacted at the Annual General Meeting the following business: –
1. To receive from the Officers of the Club or any of them reports of the activities of the Club and to receive and approve balance sheets and accounts for the Club’s preceding financial year and for the
purposes of these Rules the financial year of the Club shall be the year ending the 31st July in each year.
2. To fill vacancies on the Committee and appoint Officers of the Club.
3. To decide upon any resolution or matter which may have been duly submitted to the meeting.
Any Member desirous of moving any resolution at the Annual General Meeting shall give notice thereof, in writing to the Secretary, not less than four weeks, before the day of such meeting.
Rule 15 – Extraordinary General Meetings
An Extraordinary General Meeting may be convened by the Committee at any time, and must be called within twenty-eight days after a written request by not fewer than ten Life Members shall have been received by the
Secretary.
Rule 16 – Notice of Annual and Extraordinary Meetings
Fourteen days at least before the Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting notice of such meeting and of the business to be transacted thereat shall be sent to the Members of the Club, and no business other than that of which notice has been given shall be brought forward at such meeting.
Rule 17 – Subscriptions
If any Member who shall be required to pay a subscription or an instalment thereof fails to do so within one month of notice being sent to them requesting such payment they shall cease to be a Member of the Club at which time the provisions of Rule 6 shall apply.
Subject to the right of the Committee of the Club in its sole discretion and from time to time to decide upon the amount or amounts or the nature of a membership subscription a candidate who is elected a Life Member of the
Club shall by way of a membership subscription pay a membership fee as follows:
Age at time of application: 18 to 30 years………Basic fee
31 to 40 years………75% of Basic fee
41 to 50 years………50% of Basic fee
51 to 60 years………25% of Basic fee
Over 60 years………Nil
which shall entitle such candidate to be elected a Life Member of the Club.
Rule 18 – Quorum for an Annual General Meeting
A quorum for the Annual General Meeting shall be ten Life Members and voting shall be by a two-thirds majority of Members present and voting.
Rule 19 – Expulsion of a Member
It shall be the duty of the Committee, if at any time it shall be of the opinion that the interests of the Club so require, by letter to invite any Member to withdraw from the Club within a period of time specified in such letter, and if such Member declines to withdraw, the Committee shall arrange to submit the question of their expulsion to the Annual General Meeting next following.
At such Annual General Meeting the Member shall be allowed to offer an explanation of their conduct verbally or in writing, and if thereupon two-thirds of the Members present shall vote for their expulsion they shall thereupon cease to be a Member of the Club.
It shall be in the power of the Committee to exclude such Member from any function or activity of the Club until such Annual General Meeting
shall be held. The provisions of Rule 6 shall apply to the expelled Member.
Rule 20 – Committee meetings
The Committee shall meet at least three times in every calendar year to arrange the affairs of the Club.
Minutes shall be taken of all its proceedings which shall be open to inspection by any Member of the Club applying to the Secretary. The committee may from time to time at its absolute discretion invite any member of the Club or any other person to join all or part of a committee meeting but any person so invited will have no voting rights.
Rule 21 – Co-opting Members
The Committee may co-opt any Member of the Club or any other person to serve for a period not exceeding twelve months as one of its members, and the Committee may in its absolute discretion co-opt such person for a
further period of twelve months.
Rule 22 – Power to change regulations
The Committee shall have power from time to time to make, repeal, and amend any regulation as it thinks expedient for the management and well being of (a) the Club and (b) any approved sporting club and any social or
other section operating and functioning within and holding itself out as being part of the Old Ipswichian Club, and further the Committee shall have power to make regulations governing the future conduct of any Member who is or has been in breach of any rule or regulation of the Club, and all regulations made by the Committee hereunder shall unless otherwise provided be binding on all Members, until repealed or amended by the Committee, or set aside at the Annual General Meeting of the Club following the passing of a resolution by a two-thirds majority of Members present and voting. Notice of regulations made or, if made, amended by the Committee shall be sent to all Members prior to the Annual General Meeting next following, but failure for any reason to give notice before such meeting shall not invalidate the regulation or amendment.
Rule 23 – Representative on Board of Governors
The Committee when so requested by the Governing Body of the School shall nominate a Member of the Club as its representative on such body.
Rule 24 – Club colours
The Club colours shall be maroon, old gold and navy blue. Club ties shall be either maroon and old gold stripes on a navy blue background or a navy blue background with silver greyhound and dragon motifs.
Rule 25 – Introduction of visitors
Every Member shall be entitled to introduce visitors to sporting, social and other events of the Club, but such Members and visitors shall be subject to any regulations as shall be made from time to time by the Committee in
respect of such function, and every visitor shall be considered the guest of and be accompanied by the Member introducing him or her, provided that no person shall be introduced as a visitor into the Club who shall have been
expelled from membership, or whose conduct or presence shall be considered by the Committee objectionable or prejudicial to the interests of the Club.
Rule 26 – Non Members
Old Ipswichians who are not Members of the Old Ipswichian Club shall be entitled to attend Club events, excluding Annual and Extraordinary General Meetings and any other meetings relating to the business of the Club. Except where agreed by the Committee attendance by Non Members at social functions shall require the payment of an admission fee to be determined by the Committee. Non Members may introduce visitors in
accordance with the requirements of Rule 25. Such Non Members shall be recorded on the Club database and classified as Associate Members.
Rule 27 – Licensing Laws
All present and future licensing laws and any regulations for the time being in force thereunder shall be strictly observed by all Members each of whom shall be personally responsible for the conduct of his or her guest or visitor. No intoxicating liquor shall be served after five minutes before the time at which such sale is illegal by the general law or by reason of the terms and/or conditions of any licence granted to or for the benefit of the Club.
Rule 28 – Purchase and sale of liquor
The terms and conditions for the purchase of intoxicating liquor or the sale thereof shall be subject to licensing laws and regulations and the general law and within the absolute discretion of the Committee.
Rule 29 – Officers’ expenses
All expenses of the Officers and the Committee reasonably incurred on behalf of the Club, including the cost of stationery, printing, postages, travel and other items shall be paid out of the funds of the Club, upon request being made to the Treasurer, provided the Treasurer is first satisfied such expenditure has been properly incurred. If any expenses properly incurred have not previously been authorised by the Committee details of such expenditure shall be placed before it by the Treasurer at the Committee meeting next following for approval. Details of all expenditure shall be included in the Annual Financial Statements and Accounts of the Club presented to the Annual General Meeting.
Rule 30 – Creation of branches in the United Kingdom and overseas
The Committee shall have power to authorise the creation within or outside the United Kingdom of a Branch of the Club, for the benefit of its Members residing or being within the area of such Branch. The Members of such
Branch shall be subject to the Rules and all and any regulations of the Club from time to time, and if such Branch is outside the United Kingdom, in the same manner as if they were resident in the United Kingdom. The
Committee shall have power from time to time to make regulations relating to and concerning the conduct and management of such Branch, including power to cause it to be disbanded, if the Committee in its discretion thinks
fit.
Rule 31 – Creation of clubs and societies
The Committee shall have power to authorise the creation of clubs and societies for the benefit of its Members.
The rules of such clubs and societies shall be approved by the Old Ipswichian Club Committee, which shall have power from time to time to make regulations relating to and concerning the conduct and management of such clubs and societies, including power to cause them to be disbanded, if the Committee in its discretion thinks fit.
Rule 32 – Alterations and additions to the Rules
No alteration or addition to these Rules shall be made except by a resolution of the Committee, which shall be approved at the next following Annual General Meeting of the Club by a two-thirds majority of Members present
and voting.
Rule 33 – Issue of Notices
All notices required to be given to a Member of the Club by these Rules or by any regulations therein may be given by pre-paid letter addressed to such Member at the last address which he or she has furnished to the
Secretary, and such notice shall be deemed to have been given on the day when such letter was posted. Such notices may be sent to a Member by e-mail or such other form of electronic communication as the Committee has
authorised.
Rule 34 – Disputes relating to the Rules
Any dispute or difference which may arise as to the meaning or interpretation of these Rules or any regulations made under them or as to the powers of the Officers of the Committee or the validity of any election or
proceedings of any Committee shall be determined by the President, and Vice President of the Club in conjunction with the Chairman and their decision shall be final and binding upon all Members.
Rule 35 – Meaning of terms
Where the context so admits for the purposes of these Rules the singular shall include the plural and the masculine the feminine.
