KDAA CONSTITUTION

1.   Title. Kelvedon and District Angling Association, hereafter to be referred to as the “KDAA”.

2.   Objects.  That for the purpose of cultivating social feeling, promoting the principles of fair angling and to protect angling waters in this district.

3.   Membership. Membership of the KDAA shall be limited to a maximum number of fee paying members. The membership limit to be that which provides the financial income level set by the Committee. The paying membership categories shall be Adult, Husband/Wife, Parent/Junior, Intermediate, Junior, Senior Citizen, Disabled (Proof of disabled status to be provided) and Non-Fishing. The Junior half of a Parent/Junior membership is only permitted to fish with the Parent. Night fishing permits will be required to fish waters where night fishing is allowed. The fee for the permit is in addition to the normal subscription. Night fishing is between 10pm and 5am. Juniors and Intermediates must state their date of birth when paying their subscriptions. Membership Fees (including Night Permit and Guest Tickets) to be set at each AGM. All previous years members shall be guaranteed membership if their subscriptions are paid by the end of April. The Committee reserves the right to refuse or terminate membership.

4.   Subscriptions. MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS BECOME DUE ON THE 14th March. The coarse fishing season on the Association’s still waters, except where specified in the handbook, commences on the 15th March and closes on the 14th March in the following year. The coarse fishing season on the Association’s rivers commences on the 16th June and closes on the 14th March.

5.   Expulsion/Suspension of Members. Members of the KDAA who make themselves a nuisance to other anglers or riparian owners or decline to abide by KDAA rules shall be requested to appear before a Committee Meeting to explain their actions. The member may be expelled or suspended by a resolution passed by the committee.

Failure to appear without good cause will result in the member’s expulsion or suspension. Under these circumstances the Member may appeal to be heard by the committee by writing to the Secretary within seven days of receipt of the expulsion/suspension letter. 

Subscriptions of dismissed members are forfeit.

6.   Executive Officers. The Executive Officers of the KDAA shall be Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Match Secretary, Junior Match Secretary, Fishery Manager, Publicity Officer and Head Bailiff. Non-Executive Officers are President and Vice Presidents.

7.   Election of Officers. All Officers and Vice Presidents to be elected annually by members of the KDAA at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), only the President to be elected every third year. All members elected must be over 17 years of age. Officers may be re-elected to the same office the following year.

8. General Committee Composition. The affairs of the KDAA shall be controlled by a General Committee comprising the Executive Officers of the KDAA and nine other Members elected from and by the Members in groups of three serving three years. Three having served three years automatically resign each year at the AGM and may offer themselves for re-election. The General Committee shall meet twelve times per year on agreed dates. A committee member who misses more than three meetings without apologies is deemed to have resigned. Eight members of the General Committee are required to form a quorum. No member who is an official or committee member of another club may serve as an official or committee member of the KDAA.

9.   General Committee Duties. The duties of the General Committee shall be:-

·      To control the affairs of the KDAA on behalf of the Members.

·      To keep accurate accounts of the finances of the KDAA through the Treasurer. A Responsible Individual (not a member) shall be appointed yearly to examine all accounts and certify to their accuracy. These accounts shall be presented to the AGM.

·      To co-opt members to the General Committee if vacancies arise between AGMs.

·      To create, amend or delete KDAA rules at any time provided a notice is posted on any relevant waters and subjected to ratification at the next AGM

·      To make decisions on the basis of a simple majority vote. In the case of equal votes, the Chairman shall be entitled to an additional casting vote. 

10.  General Meetings. The Annual General Meeting of the KDAA shall be held during January each year. 14 clear days notice of the AGM including the agenda shall be given in writing to members. Notice of motion for discussion at the AGM from non committee members must reach the Secretary by the 20th November. An extraordinary General Meeting may be called at the discretion of the Committee or by 20% of the members, giving notice to the Secretary or Chairman in writing. The business of the AGM shall be to:-

·      Confirm the minutes of the previous AGM and any General meetings held since the last AGM.

·      Receive the accounts for the year from the Treasurer.

·      Receive the annual reports from Secretary, Membership Secretary, Match Secretary, Publicity Officer and Fishery Manager.

·      Review the KDAA subscription rates and agree them for the following year.

·      Elect the Officers of the KDAA.

·      Elect the Committee members to fill the three automatic vacancies and any other vacancies.

·      Consider and vote on any proposed changes to the Constitution or Rules.

·      Discuss “Any other Business”    

·      Make decisions on the basis of a simple majority vote. In the case of equal votes, the Chairman shall be entitled to an additional casting vote. 

11.     Dissolution. On the dissolution of the Association, its property, including rights, equipment and all other assets shall be applied in payment of debts and the rest shall pass to the Angling Trust. Trophies as directed by the donors.

12.     Trustees. The property of the Association and Agreements and Documents affecting it shall as far as possible be entered into in the name of the Association. Where this is not possible the Committee shall appoint three members to act for the Association and take such steps as necessary to safeguard the interests of the Association.

GENERAL RULES

Conduct

1.        ANY MEMBER CAUGHT FISHING WITH LITTER IN THEIR SWIM OR CAUGHT LEAVING LITTER ON A CLUB WATER WILL BE LIABLE FOR SUSPENSION.

2.        All members must carry their membership cards at all times, failure to do so will result in the member being asked to leave the water.

3.        Any member has the right of challenging any other person for their membership card. Membership cards are not transferable

4.        When on Association waters, Members are forbidden to carry guns, snares or rabbit nets. Members must not take dogs on Association waters at any time. All gates must be closed and no litter left.  Fires must not be lit. Banks must not be dug into except as action of an official working party. Members must not climb or damage trees.

5.        No personal audio device to be used without headphones.

6.        Members must not use more than two rods at any time with the exception of night permit holders who may fish with three rods on Silver End Back Pit providing they have two EA rod licences and fish in a manner so as not to interfere with any members already fishing or wishing to fish.

7.        Adult members may take one non-fishing guest when at the Club waters, at the discretion of the bailiff.

8.        No cars, motorcycles are allowed down the entrance to any of the Association waters, except where parking is provided. Cars, motorcycles or cycles must not be parked obstructing the entrances or tracks.

9.        Members shall not reserve swims by leaving any tackle or sundry items unattended for any length of time. Bailiff’s decision to be final.

10.     Competitors only may fish the waters where a competition is arranged and no member or competitor shall fish on that water during the five hours preceding the start of the match (see Fixture List).

11.     No matches are to be fished on Association waters unless organised by the club or written permission is granted by the Committee.

12.     All watercraft, including model boats are banned from all club waters unless on official club business.

13.     No member shall leave visible human excrement on any of the Association’s waters or adjacent land.

14.     Members are forbidden to wade into the water to bait swims.

15.     Night fishing Juniors must be accompanied by a responsible Adult member, parent or guardian.

Fish Welfare

1.        a) All fish to be returned alive to the water. b) Fish deaths must be reported to a KDAA official. c) No fish should be taken away alive or dead without the express permission of the KDAA Secretary; to do so may give rise to a civil prosecution or criminal prosecution under Schedule 1 Section 2 of the Theft Act. d) Fish caught in KDAA waters may be used for live and dead baiting but only in the water caught and on the day of capture.

2.        Baited rods must not be left unattended

3.        All unused bait and groundbait to be taken away from the water.

4.        The use of ALL NUTS is banned on all Association waters.

5.        Fish may be kept in carp sacks no longer than one hour, or less at the discretion of a Bailiff.

6.        No carp longer than 30cm (12 inches) may be held in a keepnet except in authorised matches.

7.        Members must carry a suitably sized, assembled, landing net when fishing Association waters.

8.        All members fishing Association still waters must be in possession of an unhooking mat.

Bailiffs and Licences

1.        The Committee shall appoint a number of honorary bailiffs, who need not be Association members, who shall be issued with a warrant card and be vested with the powers to act on behalf of the KDAA including the power of discretion for minor offences.

2.        All Members and Guests must be in possession of a current EA Rod Licence when fishing Association waters.

3.        Every member or person fishing in the waters of the Association shall show the contents of his/her tackle if requested to do so by one of the Association’s bailiffs or other authorised person.

 SPECIFIC FISHERY RULES ARE LOCATED ON FISHERY PAGES

 MATCH RULES

1.        All Open Cup Matches shall be of a peg down nature. The swim will be as follows; 2 metres upstream and to within 2 metres of the next peg down stream. Distances between the pegs to be 15 metres where possible.

2.        No competitor shall be allowed to break the surface of the water before the starting whistle, except for the positioning of keepnets, bank-sticks, rod rests, mixing of groundbait, float shotting, and plumbing depth. No moving of a peg will be permitted without the Steward’s decision, and if appropriate shall re-fix the peg.

3.        Each competitor shall land his/her own fish. Any competitor who has difficulty in doing so shall notify the Steward.

4.        One rod and one hook only to be used; other rods may be made up in reserve behind the angler. Two rods may be used in 24 hour carp matches only.

5.        Stewards shall be permitted to inspect keep-nets and tackle during the duration of the contest. Keep-nets shall conform to the Environment Agency’s specification.

6.        All fish to be weighed in at the competitor’s peg.

7.        Anyone wishing to fish the club matches other than Opens must be an Association member.

8.        Pike and Trout will not count in any club or Open Matches.

9.        Any complaints must be made to the Organisers or Stewards in writing within one hour of the end of the match. Alterations to Matches to be made at the discretion of the Match Secretary and Committee members present. Club Roamer Matches, the distance between anglers shall not be less than 15 metres.

10.     Club Match draws to take place one hour prior to the start of the match. Open Match draws to be two hours prior to the start of the match.

11.     The Association reserves the right to refuse entry, by anyone, to any match organised by the Association.

12.     All competitors are restricted to one draw only except under exceptional circumstances.

13.     Fish must be retained in a keepnet, No other container is permitted. In Roamer Matches the competitor’s fishing position is that position where the member’s rod is projecting over the water.

14.     In order to be eligible to receive any prize money drawn for at the end of a match, anglers must participate for the full duration of the match.

15.     On Junior Matches only verbal assistance may be given to a competitor. However if a competitor is in difficulties, assistance may be administered provided it has been sanctioned by the Match Steward.

16.     All trophy winners must return their trophies by the 1st December or the following season, except Open Cups which will be retained by the Association.

17.     All carp above 8lbs must be weighed and returned and not placed in a keepnet

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