INTERNATIONAL FRONT RUNNERS MISSION STATEMENT
International Front Runners is an affiliation of Frontrunners clubs which promotes
the sports of running, walking and related athletic activities for gays, lesbians,
bisexuals and transgenders and their supporters; which supports the formation activities
of Front Runner clubs; which supports communications between FrontRunners clubs
and the wider community; which facilitates inter-club events; and which selects delegates who represent IFR to other organisations.
INTERNATIONAL FRONT RUNNERS CONSTITUTION
1 ORGANISATION
This constitution sets out the rules of the International Front Runners
("IFR")
- a not for profit organization. IFR includes clubs known as Front
Runners, Frontrunners, or FrontRunners.
2 PRELIMINARY
In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) The singular includes the plural and vice versa.
(b) "Steering Committee" means the governing body of
International Front Runners.
(c) "Member Club" means a club recorded as such in
the Register.
(d) "Honorary Member" means an individual who has been
granted membership without application or payment of fees.
(e) "Register" means the Register of Member Clubs and
Honorary Members including relevant information.
(f) "Frontrunner Activities" includes athletics, distance
running, walking, and related athletic and social activities.
(g) "month" means calendar month.
(h) "year" means IFR financial year.
(i) "Organisational Delegate" means
a delegate who represents IFR to another organisation.
3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The aims and objectives of IFR are:
3.1 Encourage Frontrunner Activities
To encourage, foster and develop interest and participation in Frontrunner
Activities.
3.2 Oversee Relevant Sports
To oversee the organisation of athletics, both track and field events, walking,
and distance runs including marathons, at International/National Gay and Lesbian
sporting events.
3.3 Affiliate Widely
In pursuit of this aim, to liaise, deal or affiliate with other bodies, both
in the lesbian and gay community and the wider community internationally.
3.4 Encourage Gender Parity
To develop the activities, organisation and structure of IFR to strive towards
gender parity.
3.5 Encourage Membership
To encourage and foster formation and enrollment of Member Clubs.
4 ELIGIBILITY AND MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES
4.1 Member Clubs
Any club engaged in Frontrunner Activities and interested in pursuing the
aims and objectives of IFR may apply for membership.
4.2 Honorary Members
The status of Honorary Member may be conveyed upon an individual by the
membership at an Annual General Meeting ("AGM") following the recommendation
by the Steering Committee, in consideration of that person's special
or outstanding service to IFR.
5 JOINING INTERNATIONAL FRONT RUNNERS
5.1 Applications for Membership
The Steering Committee will require applications for membership to be in a
particular format.
5.2 Consideration of Applications
As soon as practicable after receiving an application, the Secretary
must place it before the Steering Committee for determination. Where
the Steering Committee votes to accept an application (by simple majority),
the applicant club’s name will be entered in the Register. The Secretary
or Treasurer shall so inform the Member Club. An applicant club becomes
a Member Club only after acceptance by the Steering Committee.
5.3 Rejected Applications
An application for membership may be rejected if the Steering
Committee considers that the applicant does not fully support the
aims and objectives of IFR. Where the Steering Committee votes
to reject an application, the Secretary must inform the applicant
club of the reason for rejection. Rejected applicants may appeal
at the next AGM.
6 CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP
6.1 Termination
A Member Club ceases to be a Member Club of IFR when that Member
Club ceases to exist or is expelled from membership due to
non-payment of annual fees or failure to pursue the aims and objectives
of IFR. An Honorary Member ceases to be an Honorary Member of IFR
when that person's membership is terminated at an AGM.
6.2 Resignation
A Member Club or an Honorary Member may resign from membership
by giving notice in writing to the Secretary. The resignation shall
take effect on the day it is received by the Secretary. A resigning
Member Club or Honorary Member must tender with the resignation
letter any outstanding subscriptions and/or other money owing to
IFR.
6.3 Right of Appeal
Any Member Club or Honorary Member whose membership has been terminated
may appeal to the next AGM Meeting of IFR.
7 LIABILITIES
7.1 Liability of Member Clubs
The liability of a Member Club of IFR to contribute towards the
payment of the debts and liabilities of IFR or the cost, charges
and expenses of the winding up of IFR is limited to the amount,
if any, unpaid by the Member Club in respect of joining fees,
annual subscriptions and any other money properly due and payable
by the Member Club in return for goods and/or services purchased
from IFR.
7.2 Liability of IFR
IFR is not responsible for obligations/liabilities of Member Clubs.
8 FINANCES
8.1 Amounts Payable
The annual subscription payable by a Member Club will be set by
two-thirds vote of the Member Clubs at the Annual General Meeting
referred to in Clause 11.1.
8.2 Annual Subscriptions
The Treasurer shall invoice all Member Clubs on the Register within
two (2) months prior to the start of the IFR Financial year.
Annual subscriptions shall be due and payable within two (2) months
after the issuing of these invoices. The Steering Committee will
establish policy and procedures to equitably address non-payment
of annual subscriptions.
8.3 Other Fees
Member Clubs, by a two-thirds vote at an AGM or Special General
Meeting, may authorize the Steering Committee to determine additional
fees.
8.4 Budget
The Treasurer shall present an annual budget at the AGM.
9 STEERING COMMITTEE
9.1 Composition
The affairs and management of IFR shall be under the control of
the Steering Committee, which shall consist of six (6) Regional
Representatives as voting members. Postions may be added to the
Steering Committee by a two-thirds majority vote at an AGM or
a Special General Meeting.
9.2 Regional Representatives
Current IFR regions of the world have been defined as: - Canada,
Eastern USA, Central USA, Western USA, Europe, and Southern Hemisphere.
Additional regions may be added as Frontrunner Clubs are established
in those regions. Regions may be formally added at an AGM by
the Steering Committee. One representative from within each region
is to be elected to the Steering Committee by a simple majority
vote of Member Clubs within that region. Each region is responsible
for selecting their Regional Representative prior to or at the
AGM. Regions may be altered at an AGM.
9.3 Organisational Delegates
Organisational Delegates
shall be elected at the AGM. At least
one delegate to any affiliated organisation must attend the Annual
General Meeting or Annual Congress of that organisation.
9.4 Term
The Steering Committee and Organisational Delegates
will hold office for a period of approximately 2 years, taking
office at an AGM. Half of the Regional Representatives and half
of the Organisational Delegates shall
be elected at each AGM.
9.5 Eligibility and Nomination
To be eligible for election at the AGM, a candidate must submit
a nomination stating that the candidate is a member in good standing
of a Member Club and wishes to be considered for election to
the Steering Committee, or be present at the Annual General Meeting
as a registered Delegate of a Member Club and place his or her
name in nomination at the meeting.
9.6 Resignation
Any Steering Committee Member may resign in writing to the Secretary.
Any Steering Committee Member who ceases to be a member of a
Member Club shall be taken to have resigned as a Steering Committee
Member.
9.7 Casual Vacancies
The Steering Committee may fill any casual vacancy (including
any position unfilled at an AGM) in its membership with any eligible
individual. Any person so appointed will hold office until the
next Annual General Meeting. In all cases when appointing persons
under this rule the Steering Committee must give strong consideration
to the importance of equal representation on the Steering Committee
of males and females.
10 OFFICERS
10.1 Election of Officers
The Steering Committee shall elect from among themselves officers
of IFR for a period of one year at the AGM.
10.2 President
The President shall preside at all IFR General, Special and Steering
Committee Meetings and perform other duties as conferred by the
Steering Committee.
10.3 Secretary
The Secretary shall be the principal executive officer of IFR
in whose name, unless in any particular instance the Steering
Committee directs otherwise, IFR correspondence shall be carried
on. The Secretary shall keep minutes of all General and Steering
Committee Meetings.
10.4 Treasurer
The Treasurer shall maintain the Register. The Treasurer shall
ensure that proper accounts and books are kept showing the true
financial position of IFR and the particulars usually shown in
such books and will attend to all deposits in IFR accounts. The
Treasurer shall so arrange IFR bank accounts such that the President,
Secretary and the Treasurer are signatories, and the accounts
can be operated on any two of the signatures. The Treasurer shall
issue all invoices. The Treasurer shall submit a budget and a Financial
Report at the AGM.
11 MEETINGS
11. 1 Annual General Meeting
IFR’s Annual General Meeting shall be held anytime within the
calendar year. The business of the meeting shall be to present
the report of the Steering Committee and accounts, to conduct
elections, and to conduct such other business as may be specified
in the notice of the meeting.
11.2 Special General Meetings
Any meeting of Member Clubs other than the AGM and Steering Committee
Meetings is a Special General Meeting. A Special General Meeting
may be called by a resolution of the Steering Committee, which
must so resolve to call a meeting upon receipt of a requisition
of not less than 10 Member Clubs. The notice of meeting shall
state the proposed business of the meeting and no business other
than that given in the notice shall be transacted.
11.3 Steering Committee Meetings
The Steering Committee shall meet as necessary to conduct IFR
business.
11.4 Meeting Format
Special General Meetings and Steering Committee Meetings may be
held electronically.
11.5 President's Absence
In the absence of the President, the Member Clubs present shall
elect from among them a person to preside as chairperson at the
meeting.
11.6 Notice and Quorum
The Secretary shall give at least 28 days’ notice (60 days for
Annual General Meetings) to all Member Clubs of any meeting.
The quorum for the Annual General Meeting or Special General
Meeting shall consist of the clubs represented by their delegates in
attendance at the meeting and valid proxies. The quorum for Steering
Committee Meetings shall be more than 50% of voting
members of the Committee.
11.7 Other Attendees
The auditor, solicitor and any other professional adviser of IFR
or of any Steering Committee Member may attend any general meeting
of Member Clubs. The President may permit other parties to attend
and grant rights of audience to guests fairly but otherwise as
it sees fit. General meetings will be open to any authorised
delegate of a Member Club or to any Honorary Member.
11.8 Votes
Each Member Club shall have a single vote on any poll. Unless
a greater majority is required in any case under these rules,
all matters at any meeting shall be resolved by a simple majority
and in the event of an equality of votes the chair of the meeting
shall have an additional casting vote.
11.9 Proxy
A Member Club may appoint a proxy to vote on their behalf at a
meeting. Any appointment must be made in writing to the Secretary
one week in advance of the meeting and is to be signed by the
club officials making the appointment and the proxy. Each Member
Club is limited to holding three proxies.
12 NOTICES
Where in these rules notices are required to be sent to Member Clubs,
they shall be deemed to be duly served if delivered by hand or sent
electronically or by pre-paid post to the Member Club’s address shown
in the Register. The date of receipt shall be deemed to be when it
would be delivered in the ordinary course of post if sent by pre-paid
post. It shall be entirely the responsibility of Member Clubs to
inform the Secretary of any change to the mailing or electronic addresses
shown in the Register. In the case of notices of meetings required
by these rules, the accidental omission to provide a notice to any
Member Club, or the non-receipt of such notice, shall not prejudice
or invalidate the proceedings or decisions of such meetings.
13 AMENDMENTS TO THESE RULES
Any of these rules may be modified, altered or added to by a resolution
of Member Clubs. IFR shall provide to all Member Clubs not less than
28 days before an AGM or Special General Meeting a copy of the proposed
amendment. Upon the passing of the amendment by a two-thirds vote,
the rules will be deemed to have been amended accordingly and all
Member Clubs shall be bound by the amended rules. As soon as practicable
IFR shall, at its expense, provide to each Member Club a copy of
the amendment so passed.
14 INSPECTION OF DOCUMENTS
The Secretary shall ensure that all of IFR’s minute books, and the
Treasurer shall ensure that IFR's books of accounts are available
for inspection by any Member Club, upon reasonable notice and at
a reasonable time and place. No Member Club may disseminate any information
gained through inspection of IFR records without the written consent
of the Steering Committee.
15 DISPUTES
Any dispute between Member Clubs in their capacity as such may be
referred to the Steering Committee for a determination. If the Steering
Committee is unable to settle the dispute to the satisfaction of
all parties, any one of them may refer the matter to a vote at the
next AGM or Special General Meeting of Member Clubs.
16 DISSOLUTION
IFR shall be considered dissolved with a two-thirds majority approval
of the Steering Committee and two-thirds vote of approval by Member
Clubs at the next AGM or a Special General Meeting. In such an event,
all properties and possessions of IFR are to be sold, and all proceeds
are to be used to pay all outstanding debts of IFR. All remaining
assets including any endowments shall be disbursed to charitable
organisations at the discretion of the Steering Committee.
adopted: 02/2006