Re-establishment of a Membership Scheme for Caernarfon Town Football Club.
1. Legal Basis.
Caernarfon Town Football Club Limited was
incorporated as a company on 5th August 1983.
The pertinent parts of the Memorandum and
Articles of Association of the club are as follows:
Memorandum of Association
Section 4 – The income and property of the Company shall be applied
solely towards the promotion of its objects as set forth in (the) Memorandum of Association and no propotion thereof shall
be paid or transferred, directly or indirectly, by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise howsoever of profit, to members of
the Company.
Section 5 – The liability of members is limited.
Section 6 – Every member of the Company undertakes to contribute
to the assets of the Company, in the event of the same being wound up while he is a member, or within one year after he ceases
to be a members, for payments of the debts and liabilities of the Company contracted before he ceases to be a member, and
of the costs, charges and expenses of winding up, and for the adjustment of the rights of the contributories among themselves,
such amount as may be required, not exceeding one pound.
Articles of Association
Members
Section 2 – The number of members within which the Company proposes
to be registered is one hundred, but the directors may from time to time register and increase of members.
Section 3 – The subscribers to the Memorandum of Association and
such other persons as the directors shall admit to membership shall be members of the company.
Proceedings of Directors:
Section 52 – The directors may delegate any of their powers to
committees consisting of such member or members of their body as they think fit; any committee so formed shall in the exercise
of their powers so delegated conform to any regulations that may be imposed upon it by the directors.
Section 53 – A committee may elect a chairman of its meetings,
if no such chairman is elected, or if at any meeting the chairman is not present within 5 minutes after the time appointed
for holding the same, the members present may choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.
Section 54 – A committee may meet and adjourn as it thinks proper. Questions arising at any meeting shall be determined by a majority of votes of members
present, and in the case of an equality of votes the chairman shall have a second or casting vote.
It is clear that the Memorandum and Articles
of Association allow for the recruitment of up to a 100 members (more if the Directors see fit) and also allow for the membership
to form committees (with the agreement of the Directors).
2. Current Organisation and Position
Currently, Caernarfon Town FC Ltd has two
Directors, George Denham (Chairman) and Eilian Angel. The Company Secretary is
Elwyn Hughes.
A group of volunteers (under the auspices
of Ffrindiau Caernarfon) meet with the Directors on a weekly basis to discuss matters of fund raising, ground management and
improvements, and other general affairs. This group is not formally affiliated
with Caernarfon Town Football Club, and does not have a formal constitution; however its general aims are to raise money to
support the endeavours of Caernarfon Town Football Club and to provide practical support wherever and whenever appropriate
(e.g. preparing match programme, stewarding etc).
However, this group of volunteers is relatively
small, and the reliance on their support is over burdensome.
At the same time, many supporters feel isolated
and disaffected. Gate numbers are dwindling and there is a distinct lack of interest
in getting involved. However, there have been many calls for some form of Supporter Representation at Board level, which indicates
that people would be more willing to be involved if they had a voice in the running and direction of the club.
The legal premise of Caernarfon Town FC Ltd
allows for such representation
3. Proposal (Canaries Club)
Utilising the legal framework of the company,
It is proposed to resurrect the Canaries Club. The Canaries Club would be, in
essence, the membership of the club (as set out in sections 2 and 3 above). It
is further proposed, that the membership would form its own committee (as set out in sections 52-54 above).
The committee would meet with the Directors
to agree its focus and undertakings, and would meet on a monthly (?) basis. The
general purpose of the committee and the membership would be to support the endeavours of the limited company and to ensure
that Caernarfon Town FC Ltd becomes a profitable, vibrant and democratic club once again.
All members would be allowed to attend the
club AGM
4. Membership Fees
Membership will be charged on an annual basis,
at £5 per month through standing order, or a one off yearly membership fee of £50. Membership
fees would be paid into the Ffrindiau Account and would be kept separate from the Caernarfon Town FC Ltd accounts.
5. Membership Benefits
Members would have a say in the running of
the club.
A monthly draw of members would be made (separate
to but in parallel with the 200 club). Prize monies to be agreed by the committee
and dependent on the membership subscription level.
A monthly newsletter would be sent via e.mail
updating members on club developments, news from the Manager and Chairman etc.
Access to the facilities of the club on non
match days?
Other benefits as agreed between the Directors
and the membership.
6. Membership Drive
The membership will be launched on the 23
October 2006 at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Club at the Supporters Club.
It is intended to use the period between October and December to recruit 100 members, with an official commencement
date of 1st January 2007. From thereon in membership would be on an
annual calendar basis, from Jan 1st to December 31st.
