1. The name of the club shall be the Caithness Sea Angling Association and the following rules shall form the legally binding and adopted Constitution of the Association.

OBJECTIVES

2. The objects of the Association are :-
(a) to promote and encourage sea angling in Caithness,
(b) to give Association facilities to sea anglers and to protect their interests at all times,
(c) to promote sea angling competitions and festivals,
(d) to promote specialised fishing for halibut, skate, and shark,
(e) to promote Caithness as a sea angling centre in co-operation with Caithness District Council, Caithness Area Tourist Board and other responsible bodies when possible.

MEMBERSHIP

3. The Association shall consist of :-
(a) Ordinary Members,
(b) Life Members,
(c) Honorary Life Members,
(d) Junior Members (between the ages of 12 and 18),
(e) Persons in receipt of an old aged pension,
The above classes of membership are only available to persons resident in Caithness. Non-Caithness residents may become associate members but shall have no voting rights and shall not be eligible to enter closed club competitions.

4. Association membership shall be an annual sum agreed by Members at the AGM Honorary Life Members may be elected for services to the Association. Ordinary Members may become Life Members on payment of a minimum subscription of five times the current annual subscription. Visitors to the area may become temporary Members on payment of a subscription decided by the Executive Committee.

5. All Members joining the Association shall be deemed to accept the terms of this Constitution and any Rules or Bye-laws published from time to time by the Association.

MANAGEMENT

6. The business of the Association shall be conducted by an Executive Committee elected annually and comprising a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and at least four other Members. The Executive Committee shall have powers to fill vacancies between General Meetings and to co-opt.

7. The Executive Committee meetings shall be held not less than once a month. All members may attend these meetings.

8. The Association may elect a President.

GENERAL MEETINGS

Annual General Meetings

9. (a) The AGM shall be held not later than the last day in February each year.
(b) The business to be conducted shall include;
(1) Minutes of the previous General Meeting,
(2) Chairman's address,
(3) Secretary's report,
(4) Treasurer's report,
(5) Election of Executive Committee,
(6) Appointment of Auditors,
(7) Other relevant business.

Extraordinary General Meetings

10. An Extraordinary General Meeting shall be called by an application writing to the Secretary supported by at least six Members of the Association. The Executive Committee shall also have the power to call an EGM. by decision of a simple majority of its members.

NOTICES

11. At least 30 days notice shall normally be given to all voting Members of any General Meeting.

VOTING

12. (a) Ordinary Members and Life Members may attend General Meetings and shall have full voting powers.
(b) Honorary Life Members need not pay a subscription but may attend Meetings and shall have full voting powers.
(c) Junior and visiting Members may attend Meetings but shall have no voting powers.
(d) With the exception of changes to the Constitution decisions put to the vote shall be resolved by a simple majority.
(e) The Chairman shall have a deliberative as well as a casting vote.

QUORA

13. The quorum at a General Meeting shall be 25% of the registered membership and the quorum for Committee meetings shall be four members.

CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION

14. (a) Any changes to the Constitution shall require a two-thirds majority of those present and eligible to vote at a General Meeting.
(b) Notice shall be given to all voting Members of any General Meeting as specified in paragraph 11 and then any proposals to change the Constitution shall be submitted in writing to the Secretary at least 15 days prior to the Meeting.
(c) All proposals for changes to the Constitution shall be signed by at least two Members eligible to vote.

FINANCE AND ACCOUNTS

15. (a) The financial year shall run from 1st January to 31st December each year.
(b) The Treasurer shall be responsible for the preparation of the annual accounts of the Association.
(c) The accounts shall be audited by an independent person elected annually by the AGM.
(d) All cheques drawn against Association funds shall be signed by the Treasurer and either the Chairman or Secretary.
(e) All Members shall be considered to be jointly responsible for the liabilities of the Association.
(f) The Treasurer and any one of the Chairman or Secretary shall have borrowing powers on behalf of the Association and are empowered to apply in writing to the Association bankers for loan facilities.

AFFILIATIONS

16. The Association shall become affiliated to the national governing body the Scottish Federation of Sea Anglers and the Caithness District Sports Council.

RULES AND BYE-LAWS

17. The Executive Committee shall have the power to publish and enforce such rules and bye-laws as they feel necessary to govern the activities of the Association and these rules and bye-laws and any amendments shall be notified to all Members in writing.

DISSOLUTION

18. In the event of the dissolution of the Association any assets thereof shall not be distributed amongst the Members of the Association in any way whatsoever. Any material assets to be offered to similar clubs or associations within Caithness District and any funds to be held in the Association bank account.

RULES AND BYE-LAWS OF THE ASSOCIATION

1. Rules and bye-laws shall apply as agreed by the Members at a General Meeting and as may be amended by the Executive Committee.

Discipline

2. (a) The Association shall observe the rules laid down by the S.F.S.A. as amended and amplified by the Association.
(b) The Committee shall have the power to suspend, temporarily, the membership of anyone responsible for any act or conduct considered by them to be prejudicial to the affairs of the Association or to sea angling in general. The period of suspension, unless shorter, shall be limited by the date of the General Meeting. Suspended Members shall be given the opportunity to state their case to the Meeting and a decision as to their continued membership will be taken by the Association. Any such suspension shall be notified to the Honorary Secretary of the S.F.S.A.
(c) Junior Members taking part in boat and shore outings must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Competitions

3. Each year the following competitions may be fished for by Members of the Association.

Fishing and Competition Rules

4. The Association and its Members shall abide by the Rules as laid down in the S.F.S.A. Handbook with the following amendments :-
(a) Participants may fish with two rods fitted with terminal tackle. Spare rods and reels with terminal tackle not fitted may be carried.
(b) Artificial lures may be of any size and type but may only be fitted with hooks whose gape size does not exceed 25mm.
(c) Only fish hooked forward of the gills and landed with the hook in this area may be presented for the weigh-in.
(d) Only gutted fish may be weighed-in except that the heaviest and specimen fish may be weighed ungutted before adding to the main bag after gutting.
(e) Where possible all fish should be return alive after recording with the exception of heaviest fish and best specimen candidates.

Team Selection

5. One team shall be selected on the basis of the overall Championship results from the previous year and shall be entered for the Highland Region Knock-Out Competition. Teams for other events shall be similarly selected. Teams shall, where possible, remain in force for the duration of the competition.

Record Fish List

6. A list of record fish caught by Members of the Association, from boat and shore in Caithness, shall be kept.