TRANSCONTINENTAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION CONSTITUTION

1. Title
   The Club shall be called the Transcontinental Rifle Association.

2. Aims and objectives
   To encourage and facilitate the development of and participation in the sport of target shooting in the United Kingdom, and around the globe
   To foster friendship between registered shooting clubs in other nations with a view to shooting in global competitions through a global postal league
   To attend shooting competitions around the globe and to assist members in doing so.
   To promote the use, collection and appreciation of Historic Service Rifles in the UK, the Commonwealth and around the globe.
   To encourage and facilitate the development of ultra long range target shooting. To this end to attend competitions around the globe to compete in these events.
   In its pursuance of this aim the club will welcome and encourage membership by all in the local populace irrespective of background, age or physical ability.

3. Club Status
   The Club shall be an Approved Club under section 15[ii] of the Firearms Amendment Act 1988 [as amended by section 45 of the Firearms Amendment Act 1997] & shall operate at all times within the requirements laid down by the Secretary of State for the operations of Home Office approved Clubs.

4. Affiliation
   The club shall be affiliated to the National Rifle (NRA) and to such others as the membership shall decide.

5. Ranges
   The Club will meet at rifle ranges throughout the United Kingdom that are:

   1. Suitable for the type of firearm to be used, where adequate insurance is in place.

6. Management

   1. The Club shall be managed by a management team consisting of:

      1. The Officers of the Club; being a Chairman, Treasurer, Association Secretary.

      2. Any other team member who may be required from time to time

      3. In order to be elected as a member of the management team, a member must have been an active member of the club with three years continuous membership.

      4. This requirement may be waived at the discretion of the management team, where specific expertise is required, or in the first three years of the association’s existence.

   2. The management team shall appoint from the membership a Child protection Officer and Health & Safety Officer who will not be members of the management team, nor hold any other office within the club other than range officer.

   3. The management team shall appoint from the membership a club wiseman or arbitrator, who will not be a member of the management team nor hold any other office within the club other than range officer.

   4. At the 2019, AGM, it was decided to postpone any elections of management positions for a further 10 years beyond the existing 2021 mandate.

7. Trustees
   Up to 3 and a minimum of 2 trustees shall be appointed at the AGM from amongst the club officers. The trustees’ responsibilities are:

   1. The property of the club other than cash, which is under control of the Treasurer, shall be vested in them. They shall deal with the property of the club as directed by a resolution of the Committee entered in the minute book.

   2. To take charge of the club assets upon closure of the club. They as officers of the club shall be personally indemnified against risk and expenses of the Club property.

8. Appointments & Vacancies
   The Committee shall appoint a Child Protection Officer and Health & Safety Officer. In the absence of the Chairman, the Committee may appoint one of its members present to take the chair. The Committee has the power to fill vacancies occurring during the course of the year.
   Range Officers (RO’s) shall be appointed by the Committee. RO’s shall be Officers of the Club, members of the Committee or adult members of the club considered competent to hold this office. RO’s should have proper training in the conduct of shooting.
   In exceptional circumstances, an adult member may take over an RO’s duties on a temporary basis to ensure the range is under proper supervision.

   1. Membership
      There are seven categories of membership:

      1. Experienced shooting member

      2. New shooting member

      3. Associate/Overseas Member. ie: unable to make full use of the facilities because of physical disability, membership of the Armed Forces, students at university or college or other persons deemed by the Committee to be unable to take full advantage of membership. Associate members have no voting rights.

      4. Junior Members under the age of 18 and in full time education. Juniors under 16 must always be accompanied by a parent or guardian whilst on the range

      5. Life Members having been members for three consecutive years or more and providing they continue to be active members may apply to the Management Team for life membership. The committee has full power to fix fees and conditions.

   2. The committee shall be empowered to add membership categories in order to facilitate the best interests of the club.

9. Membership Applications

   1. Application for membership shall be by the completion of the official Membership Application Form, accompanied by the Club Joining Fee.

   2. Junior applications must be accompanied by a form of approval signed by a parent or by a parental Guardian.

   3. Prospective members shall serve a probationary period as defined by current legislation, during which time they may use all Association facilities.
      At the end of this period, the Management team will consider the application on its merits and shall have full power to allow or withhold admission. Upon acceptance, the annual subscription shall be due. The Management team may reduce the amount of subscription due when a member is accepted after Oct 1st. If membership is withheld the joining fee is not returnable, it being considered that the applicant has enjoyed the Club facilities.

   4. Subject to the provision of the Constitution, the Management team may from time to time review the membership in the light of the manner in which a member uses the Association facilities, and shall determine who shall be admitted to membership and upon what terms.

   5. Membership is not transferable.

   6. The Committee may remove from membership any member whose conduct on the range or upon premises occupied by the Club or elsewhere is considered dangerous, unseemly, objectionable or likely to bring the Club into disrepute, or any member who is considered to be using the Club merely as a convenience to obtain a firearm under the Firearms Acts. Written notice of the reasons for exclusion shall be served on the member concerned at least 14 days prior to the date of the committee hearing of the case, together with an invitation to make any written submissions in response, and to attend the meeting, accompanied if so desired by a representative or friend. Such member shall have the right to appeal to a Special General Meeting called for this purpose, provided that twenty one days’ notice, of such an appeal is given to the Secretary. Members disciplined in this way shall have no claims upon the Club for subscriptions or other fees and costs incurred.

10. Subscription Rates

    1. Subject to a mandate to be renewed annually at the AGM the management team shall be empowered to fix rates for memberships fees, visitor fees and any or all other incomes to the club in order to facilitate the best interests of the club.

    2. Subscriptions are due on April 21st each year payable in advance. Members not having renewed their subscriptions by May 31st are considered to no longer desire Club membership unless they can give the Membership Secretary a satisfactory explanation.

11. Visitors and Guests
    Visitors or prospective members attending on official Guest Days are required to sign a non-prohibited declaration. Apart from Guest Days, visitors and members’ guests must follow all current legislation regarding their ability to shoot on target ranges.

12. Other matters
    The Committee has the power to legislate upon any matter not covered by this Constitution.

13. Member Redress Procedures

    1. Should a member be dissatisfied with the running of the club, he should inform the management team.

    2. Should he be dissatisfied with the performance of one of the Management team, he should write to the other member.

    3. The Management team will then meet to discuss the complaint.

    4. The Management team will take all steps within its power to satisfy the members concerns or should it not be possible to satisfy the member’s demand, to at least explain a particular course of action.

    5. Should the member remain dissatisfied, he or she must fill in a request for adjudication. (Available on the website or on request) and send this to the Association Arbitrator.

    6. The Association Arbitrator must review the issue with an utterly impartial eye and act in a manner which preserves the objects and unity of the club. He may co-opt other members to assist his investigation and within 30 days give his determination, or negotiate an agreement. His decision will be binding upon the management team or the member.

    7. Should the Management team or the member remain dissatisfied after the adjudication of the Arbitrator, then they retain the option to garner enough signatures for a special general meeting to take the issue to the final stage of decision, that of the members.

    8. It should be noted that if it gets to level 7, then we have all joined and formed the wrong club, or chosen our friends poorly.

14. Chairman’s Casting Vote
    In both the Committee and at the AGM, the Chairman shall have the casting vote in the case of a tie.

15. Closure

    1. The Club may only be wound up by a majority of two thirds of the membership called together at a Special General Meeting.

    2. In the event of the Club being wound up, the property and assets of the Club shall not belong to the members. The trustees shall take charge of all assets and hand them over to the NSRA to be applied in developing the work of the itself, or for some other charitable institution with objects similar to those of the Club that the officers or trustees of the TCRA may consider suitable.