Constitution 6.0 Discipline or Removal of Members

6.0 Discipline or Removal of Members

a) A written Complaint may be made by any Member of the Club to the President or Secretary that another Member of the Club:

i. has persistently refused or neglected to comply with a provision or provisions of these rules: or

ii. has wilfully acted in a manner prejudicial to the interests of the Club.

NB Malicious complaints are considered a serious breach of the intent of the Club and its' Constitution and will result in immediate suspension of membership of person/s making such a complaint.

b) Any Committee Member may call an urgent meeting of the Committee to vote for immediate suspension of a Member who:

i. has wilfully endangered the safety of Members or visitors to the Club: or

ii. who refuses to comply with the directions of the Committee in regards to safety breaches: or

iii. who makes malicious Complaints about other Members: or

iv. who has been convicted of an offence under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1950/51, or any Amendment thereof.

c) On receiving a Complaint the Committee:

i. must cause notice of the Complaint to be brought to the attention of the Member concerned; and

ii. must give the Member not less than fourteen (14) days from the time the notice was given, to submit a written response to the Committee in connection to the Complaint; and

iii. must take into consideration any submission made by the Member in connection with the complaint.

d) After considering the Complaint, and the response of the accused Member, the Committee will then decide whether the Member shall be given a warning or expelled from the Club.

e) If the Committee decides that a Member is to be expelled, the Committee may remove the Member by resolution.

f) The Secretary must within seven (7) days after the action is taken, cause written notice to be given by the Committee for having taken such action. All monies paid to the Club by the expelled Member remain the property of the Club. The Club reserves the right to recover any unpaid monies owed by the expelled Member.

g) The expulsion of a Member does not take effect until the expiration of the period within which the Member is entitled to appeal against the resolution.

h) Any Member suspended by Committee for breaching the Safety of the Club Members or Visitors will be required to immediately leave the venue at which the breach occurred.

6.1 Right of Appeal

a) A Member may appeal to the Club, against a resolution of the Committee within fourteen (14) after the notice of resolution is served on that Member, by lodging a notice to that effect with the Secretary.

b) On receipt of a notice of appeal from a Member, the Secretary must notify the Committee, at which time a Special meeting of the Club will be convened. Special meeting to be held within twenty-eight (28) days of the notice being received by the Secretary.

c) Right of Appeal is not extended to Members who have been convicted of an offence under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1950/51, or any Amendment thereof.

d) Right of Appeal is not extended to any NSWFRMC Committee Member who is found to have fraudulently accepted a Committee position with NSWFRMC whilst a Member of another Rat and/or Mouse Club.

e) At a Special meeting of the Club convened under Clause b):

i. the Committee and the Member must be given the opportunity to state their respective cases;

ii. the Members present are to vote by secret ballot on the question of whether the resolution should be confirmed or revoked;

iii. if at the Special meeting the Club votes in favour of confirmation of the original resolution the resolution is confirmed.