1) The name of the Society shall be Wheelock Angling Society.

2) Wheelock Angling Society is a non-profit making organisation.

3) The headquarters of the Society is The Iron Grey, Sandbach, or as may be decided by the Officials and Committee.

4) The objects of the Society are to make available to the member’s rights of fishing and all things incidental to it. The Society’s funds may only be used for these objects, and the day to day running of the Society.

5) The management of the Society shall be entrusted to a Committee consisting of 3 senior Officials, not more than 9 elected Committee members, out of these 9 a Vice Chairman will be elected. The Society will also have the following other person: - an Honorary President. A quorum of 5 will be required to vote on major issues.

6) An official of any other Angling club, Society or organisation cannot become an official of Wheelock Angling Society.

7) The Senior Officials of the Society shall be the Chairman and the Secretary/Treasurer.

8) The Officials and Committee of Wheelock Angling Society shall not discuss any of the Society’s business with anyone, other than the Officials or Committee of the Society.

9)  The elected Officials and Committee of Wheelock Angling Society or its Landlords shall not accept any liability for any loss or damage caused to persons visiting the waters for, or in connection with fishing, or for any other reason, or to any property belonging to such persons.

10) The Society will not accept any liability for any damage to vehicles when parked on the waters car parks, or on any of the roads in the vicinity of the waters.

11) If for any reason any legal action is taken against the Society, the Officials and Committee will be liable for a maximum of £1 per person against any costs incurred, the remainder of the costs would come from the club funds.

12) If for any reason Wheelock Angling Society should cease to exist, all outstanding bills would be paid, and the remaining club funds, if any, would be split equally between the current Officials, Committee and membership.    

13) The Committee shall settle all disputes and have the power to refuse membership to anyone considered unsuitable to/for the Society.

14) The committee may expel from the society or impose punishment upon any member or official who contravenes any of the society rules whether these rules are expressly stated in the constitution or implied (such as, but not limited to acceptable behaviour, bankside etiquette, safe conduct from a reasonable angler), or is involved in any action or any activity, which in the committee’s collective opinion negatively affects the well being of the society including bringing the name of the society into disrepute. Any member or official who contravenes these rules will have their card removed as soon as practicable and will be asked to appear in front of the committee where due consideration will be given to any explanation offered by the member, this explanation is to be conducted by the club member; no other representation is permitted.

In the interests of fairness and justness, the committee will make its decision in private with a committee of not less than five committee members; a single majority vote will be used to take the final decision.

At the time of rule break prior to the committee’s final decision; the member will not be permitted to visit the society’s waters.

The committee’s collective majority decision is final.


15) The society will provide a single appeal in front of the committee for members punished or expelled under section 14 of this constitution. This appeal is to be conducted by the club member; no other representation is permitted. This is not an obligatory phase for the club member.

The appeal must be requested by the club member within 7 days of the committee's decision as per Section 14, via a letter requesting an appeal to the society. It will be assumed that no appeal phase is required if no appeal request is received by the society within this time and the issue will be closed.

In the interests of fairness and justness, the committee will make its decision in private with a committee of not less than four committee members and the society chairman; a single majority vote on the appeal will be used to take the final decision. The society will endeavour to have at least two different senior officials at the appeal stage from those assembled at the section 14 initial judgment stage.

The committee including chairmen and senior officials, comprising the appeal group's collective majority decision is final in this appeal, no further appeal will be offered.

16) A member expelled shall have no claim on the property of the Society and shall not be eligible for membership of the Society again.

17) A member, who has resigned by default, shall have no claim on the property of the Society and shall not be eligible for membership of the Society again.

18) A member who resigns by letter or email with a valid reason, shall have no claim on the property of the Society, but under normal circumstances will be considered for membership of the Society again.

19) Any individual is eligible to apply for membership of the Society, providing that they have not been banned or refused membership from this, or any other Angling Society, club or organisation.

20) Any applicant applying to join the Society, giving false or untruthful information on the application form will not be accepted as a member and if at a later date the applicant is found to have given false or untruthful information, their membership will be terminated immediately.

21) The Society has a limited membership of adult male members, that number will be decided by the Committee for the Society’s best interests.

22) The Society operates a waiting list for adult male members, because of the limited membership, for which the Secretary is solely responsible.

23) The waiting list will be strictly adhered to, unless there is some doubt about the applicant not being suitable to, or for the Society.

24) Candidates for membership must apply in writing and be prepared to answer relevant questions in writing, if deemed necessary by the Secretary, before going onto the waiting list.

25) Juveniles on applying for membership must supply a copy of their Birth certificate, so that their age can be confirmed, before being granted membership.

Juveniles complying with this will be given immediate membership providing they are between the ages of 5 and 15, and have not been banned or refused membership from this, or any other Angling Society, club or organisation. If a male Juvenile applies for membership when over the age of 15, his name will be added to the waiting list.

26) Ladies will be given immediate membership, providing they have not been banned or refused membership from this, or any other Angling Society, club or organisation.

27)An existing member must sponsor any new prospective member, or be recommended by a top official of another club he is a member of. The recommendation must be on that clubs letter headed paper and signed by that official.

28) The member who has sponsored the new member/members will be responsible for that new member/members.

29) All applications for membership will go before the Committee to access their suitability. The Society is under no obligation to give the applicant a reason for refusing them membership, however, membership will never be refused on the grounds of race, sex or religion.

30) The membership shall consist of: -

Juvenile members – persons who are a minimum of 5 years of age and a maximum of 17 years of age on the 1^st January of the membership year. Before transferring to the Adult section, juveniles must be 18 years old and must produce their Birth Certificate. Each Juvenile must be accompanied by an Adult member who will be responsible for him/her when night fishing.

Adult members – males who are a minimum of 18 years of age and a maximum of 64 years of age on the 1^st January of the membership year.

Senior Citizen Members – males who are a minimum of 65 years of age, and females who are a minimum of 60 years of age on 1^st January of the membership year. Any member with 4 years membership, reaching the age of 60 for females and 65 for males, will receive a free card for future seasons.

Lady members – females who are a minimum of 18 years of age and a maximum of 59 years of age on 1^st January of membership year.

Honorary Members – persons who have given or are giving exceptional service to the Society, and are usually retired; the persons entitled to this class of membership shall be reviewed annually by the Senior Officials of the Society.

31) Every applicant, excluding Juveniles and Ladies, on admission to membership shall pay a joining fee of £50

32) The annual subscription shall be payable on the 1^st January each year and any membership not renewed before the last day of FEBRUARY shall be classed as a resignation.

33) Membership renewal shall be by post only; enclosing a large stamped and addressed envelope and old ID card.

34) No fishing on club waters until a current card is obtained.

35) All members of the Society must be in possession of the relevant and current E.A. licenses before fishing, any member caught without these will be disciplined.

36) Membership ID cards must be carried at all times when visiting club waters for any reason.

37) In the event of a member losing his/her card, the Secretary must be informed at once, a charge of £5 will be made for a replacement.

38) No one except Society members is allowed on the Society waters or car parks.

39) Contravention of any rule will lead to the immediate withdrawal of the offender’s card and possible expulsion from Wheelock Angling Society.

40) Members must approach the club waters by the way provided, and must not stray away from the waterside.

41) Dogs must not be taken onto the farmland.

42) Litter will not be tolerated, this includes cigarette ends, and members must ensure that all the bank side is clean and free from litter before fishing. Any litter at any peg will be assumed to be the responsibility of the angler at that peg.

43) Any member breaking fences or causing any other damage when on his fishing excursion shall be expelled.

44) No unauthorized activity by any member will be accepted.

45) Meetings: -the following meetings will be held: -

A monthly Committee meeting, the time and place as agreed by the Officials and Committee.

An Annual General Meeting open to all members will be held on the first Tuesday in November at 8pm at a suitable venue, too gain access to the meeting members must produce their membership card.

46) The Annual General Meeting of the Society shall be held for the following purposes: -

To agree the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting and any Extraordinary General meetings held during the year.

To receive an oral report from the Chairman.

To receive a report and Statement of Accounts for the preceding year from the Secretary/Treasurer.

To receive a report from the Auditors.

To elect Officers, Officials and Committee members for the following year.

To decide upon any proposals submitted to the meeting, only proposals submitted before 1^st October will be discussed or considered, no proposals will be accepted on the night of the meeting.

All proposals for the Annual General Meeting must be in writing and proposed and signed, and forwarded to the Secretary before October 1^st.

To approve the Match Calendar.

No other business will be conducted at this meeting.

47) No more than 3 Committee members shall be voted off the Committee at any A.G.M.

48) 30% of member’s signatures are required to call an Extraordinary General Meeting.

49) If any Official or Committee member fails to attend 3 consecutive meetings, without good reason then they will be assumed to have resigned from their office.

50) The conduct of all meetings shall be invested in the Chairman, whose ruling shall be binding.

51) ALL waters are closed on the days of working parties, for the whole of the day, except for those in attendance, (Senior citizens, Ladies and Juveniles excepted). No member is allowed to night fish on the night prior to the working party or on the night following the working party unless attending the working party.

52) No swimming in club waters at any time.

53) No boats of any description, this includes Bait Boats, allowed on any club waters, with the exception of the club boat for work parties, and any boat belonging to official’s i.e. the Environment Agency.

54) When the club boat is used, for any reason, a suitable buoyancy aid must be worn.

55) Any published articles about catches from club waters must not name the water and any photographs used must not show a definitive background

 

The Constitution of Wheelock Angling Society can only be altered at the

 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING,

or an EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING.

 

GENERAL RULES

1) New members must do a minimum of 2 work parties in their first year, or pay £10 for each work party that they do not attend, however if they choose to pay this will not permit them to fish any Wheelock Angling Society water in the month of May.

2) Members (excluding ladies, juveniles and senior citizens) must attend a minimum of 2 work parties or pay £10 for each work party they do not attend to be able to fish any Wheelock Angling Society waters during the month of May.

3) Members must check the Membership ID card of the angler in the adjacent swim before fishing.

4) Swims must be vacated if the angler leaves the water for more than 3 hours.

5) Baited rods must not be left unattended.

6) Bailiffs or members have the right to search any other member’s bag, or check their rigs on request.

7) No fish to be introduced or taken from club waters without permission from the Committee.

8) No live or dead course fish, or crustaceans (unless they are dead sea fish or crustaceans) to be taken onto club waters for use as bait.

9) No pre-baiting. Baiting only allowed in the swim where fishing, and any bait left over at the end of the session must be taken away.

10) No bent hooks, this includes CARP R US NAILERS, FOX SERIES 5, and any similar pattern, or dangerous rigs e.g. 3 way swivels and permanently fixed leads.

11) No treble hooks allowed on any Society waters except for Brereton this includes any type of spinner or plug even with single hooks.

12) Beachcaster rigs may be used, as long as they are not left unattended, and must only be used in daylight, not after dark or through the night and only on the waters were this is allowed.

13) Three rods can be used at all times except in matches.

14) No Carp (including Crucian Carp) to be retained in keepnets except during matches.

15) Catfish may be retained in a Predator Tube such as the E.T. tube or similar size (18 inches diameter x 6 feet long) and construction. No Catfish to be retained in sacks or keepnets.

16) Unhooking mats must be carried at all times and used when unhooking specimen fish.

17) No member to fish club waters on the days of matches i.e. from Midnight the previous day. This applies to the field side of Crabmill, and also to all of Plex bank side. There will be no access to or from Crabmill car park, between 07.45 and 13.30 on the days of matches.

18) Out of the six matches one score can be dropped for the Aggregate total.

19) In matches no Carp or Catfish over 4lbs to be placed in Keepnets, these fish must be witnessed, weighed, recorded and returned immediately.

20) All types of lead clip i.e.; Korda, Nash, Lockjaw etc must have the lead retaining leg cut down and the rubber not pushed on that tight so that the lead can easily be removed, this is due to several fish found tethered with this type of rig. PLEASE ENSURE YOUR RIGS ARE SAFE AND THE LEADS WILL COME OFF. IF IN DOUBT DO NOT USE THEM.

21) BRAIDED MAINLINE AND BRAIDED SHOCK LEADERS OF ANY TYPE ARE BANNED FROM ALL SOCIETY WATERS, this includes the use of these lines on MARKER and SPOD rods. This is due to several fish being found tethered with this type of line and shock leaders.

22) NO FIREARMS i.e. PISTOLS OR RIFLES OF ANY DESCRIPTION ARE ALLOWED ON ANY OF THE SOCIETY’S WATERS. Any member caught with any of these on the waters will AUTOMATICALLY LOSE THEIR MEMBERSHIP OF THE SOCIETY.