Constitution and Rules
- Name
- Motto
- Official Methods of Communication
- Definitions
- Objects
- Powers
- Membership
- Assembly
- Council
- Secretary - General
- Meetings
- Finances
- Amendments
- Notices
- Dissolution of the Organisation
Name
The name of the organisation shall be the International Deaf Rugby Organisation (IDRO) (herein referred to as "the Organisation").
Motto
The motto of the Organisation is: "SIMILARITY THROUGH RUGBY" implying achieving equality through participation by the removal of discrimination against rugby people with deaf and hearing impaired.
Official Methods of Communication
Gestuno or International Sign shall be used for communication at all meetings of the Organisation. English shall be used for correspondence, printed materials, interpreting, and translating at meeting of the Organisation.
Definitions
- 4.1 "Foundation Union" means the New Zealand Deaf Rugby Football Union Incorporated, the South African Deaf Rugby Football Union and the Wales Deaf Rugby Football Club.
- 4.2 "Affiliated Union" means every National Deaf Rugby Union, which may hereafter become a member of the Organisation.
- 4.3 "IRB" means the International Rugby Board.
- 4.4 "The Game" means the game of rugby football played in accordance with the laws and rules of the IRB as adapt by the Organisation for deaf and hearing impaired participants.
- 4.5 "Person" includes a player, trainer, referee, touch judge, coach or selector (whether hearing, deaf or hearing impaired) who has at anytime been involved in the Game and any other individual who has at any time been involved in the organisation, administration or promotion of the Game.
- 4.6 "International Match" means a game played between National Deaf Representative Teams selected by Affiliated Unions.
- 4.7 "Deaf" means deaf and hearing impaired Rugby Union to any significant degree of hearing loss.
Objects
- 5.1 To promote, foster and extend the Game.
- 5.2 To promote the participation of deaf and hearing impaired persons in the Game and all activities associated with the Game including the Deaf Rugby World Championships.
- 5.3 To settle all matters or dispute relating to or arising out the proposed playing of an International Match.
- 5.4 To control all matters relating to tours of national representative teams in which any member of the Organisation is concerned.
- 5.5 To promote the development of self-help by deaf and hearing rugby persons.
- 5.6 To liaise and/or co-operate with, or lobby, any relevant government or other organisation, group or individual on behalf of the deaf and hearing rugby persons.
Powers
In furtherance of its objects the Organisation shall have the power to:
- 6.1 To purchase, take on lease or in exchange or otherwise acquire or rent lands, buildings and any real and personal property or any interest in such property.
- 6.2 To manage, work, maintain, sell, lease, exchange, surrender, dispose of or otherwise deal with and turn to account all or any of the property of the Organisation.
- 6.3 To borrow money and to pledge any asset of the Organisation by way of security.
- 6.4 To lend, invest, or deposit money.
- 6.5 To erect, construct, alter and maintain any buildings or chattels.
- 6.6 To receive any gift of money or property for any of the objects of the Organisation whether subject to any special trust or not with the proviso that Organisation may nevertheless decline to accept any gift or takeover any property which has annexed to it any condition or obligation not approved by the Council of the Organisation.
- 6.7 To employ servants or agents of the Organisation and to enter into contacts for the accomplishment or furtherance of the Organisation's objects.
Membership
- 7.1 The Organisation initially consists of the three Foundation Unions named in clause 4.1.
- 7.2 Other National Deaf Rugby Unions may be admitted as members of the Organisation by application to the Council with such supporting information as the Council from time may require. The Council shall then submit the application for membership to the next meeting of the Assembly and the applicant of a resolution to that effect by the Assembly.
- 7.3 It shall be the obligation of each member to pay to the Organisation when required the annual subscription as fixed from time by resolution of the Assembly.
- 7.4 A member may resign on three (3) month's notice in writing to the Secretary- General of the Organisation.
Assembly
- 8.1 The Organisation shall once each year hold an annual general meeting (hereinafter called "the Assembly") at such place and time as the Council shall determine PROVIDED THAT in the years following the 2002 Deaf Rugby World Championships the Organisation may resolve to meet either yearly or two yearly.
- 8.2 Each member of the Organisation shall nominate from its executive body two representatives as its delegates to attend the Assembly. The names of the delegates so appointed shall be notified to the Secretary-General at least fourteen (14) days prior to the meeting in writing.
- 8.3 If any member is unable to send its two delegates it may appoint some other delegates as its proxy to exercise its two votes at the Assembly at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.
- 8.4 Meeting shall normally be conducted by the personal attendance of the delegates but by direction of the Council, meetings may also be conducted by any form of video or telecommunication, which enables the delegates to dialogue with one another.
- 8.5 The business of the Assembly shall be as follows:
- To receive a report on the business of the Organisation from the Council.
- To elect Council members for four (4) year period.
- To receive and adopt the financial statements of the Organisation from the Council.
- To appoint an auditor.
- To consider matters relevant to international matches including a Deaf Rugby World Championships.
- To consider any of which at least 14 days notice has been given in writing to the Secretary-General prior to the meeting.
Council
- 9.1 There shall be elected by the Assembly of the Organisation the following Council:
- Chairman;
- Vice Chairman;
- Honorary Treasurer;
- Not less than (2) additional Council members.
- 9.2 The persons so elected shall be either past or former members of the governing bodies of the members of the Organisation.
- 9.3 Not more than two Council members shall be elected from any one member union.
- 9.4 All Council members shall be elected for a term of four (4) years but shall be eligible for re-election.
- 9.5 The Chairman of the Organisation shall including re-elections serve for a period not exceeding 4 years (preferably commencing after the completion of the preceding Deaf Rugby World Championships) whose replacement as chairman shall be drawn from a different member union with the intention that ultimately the chairmanship shall rotate amongst all member unions.
- 9.6 As in all probability the vice chairman will in due course become chairman of the Organisation. The vice chairman shall be drawn from a member union other than that from which the chairman is drawn.
Secretary - General
- 10.1 A Secretary-General of the Organisation shall be appointed by the Council.
- 10.2 The Secretary-General shall have executive responsibility for the running of the Organisation, prepare and present annual and other reports, be responsible for recording and maintaining necessary reports of meetings, and shall manage the financial affairs of the Organisation in conjunction with the Honorary Treasurer and in accordance with policies established by the Council and the Assembly.
Meetings
- 11.1 Quorum: The quorum for meetings of the Assembly and the Council shall be one-third of the then current membership thereof, but in no case less than three members. For the Assembly only, holders of proxies may be counted in establishing the quorum.
- 11.2 Voting: Voting may be by show of hands, or by ballot, which may be secret, as may be determined at any meeting. During the interim between meetings of the Assembly questions may be resolved by letter ballot. When questions are resolved by letter ballot, the approval of the majority of the total membership of the Assembly shall be secured. Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution all questions shall be decided by the vote of the majority of those present at the meeting.
- 11.3 Notice of Meetings: Not less than three (3) months' notice in writing shall be given for meetings of the Council and Assembly, such notice to be accompanied by the provisional agenda.
Finances
- 12.1 The Budget: The Assembly shall determine the annual budget of the Organisation in accordance with estimates submitted to it by the Honorary Treasurer of the expected income for the year in question. The accounts shall be made up to the 31st December in each year and shall be signed by Honorary and audited.
- 12.2 Annual Subscription: The Assembly shall determine the amount of the annual subscription to be paid by member unions.
- 12.3 Payment of Subscription: Annual subscriptions become due and payable on the first day of each year and should be paid during the first two months of the year. Member Unions whose dues have not been paid for two consecutive years will lose their membership status in the Organisation. Any exceptions to this will require a majority vote of the Council in order to deal with member unions in countries under extraordinary circumstances and to stipulate an approved payment plan for member unions in arrears
- 12.4 The Council shall have general responsibility for the administration of the finances of the Organisation. The Honorary Treasurer and the Secretary-General shall be the executive officers accountable to the Council for the day-to-day management of the Organisation's finances.
Amendments
- 13.1 Require Vote: The Constitution may be amended at any regular meeting, or at any special meeting of the Assembly called for that purpose by a two-thirds vote of the union members of the Assembly present at the meeting. It may also be amended at any time by letter ballot specifying the amendment thereby sanctioned providing such letter ballot approving the amendment is signed by at two-thirds of full membership of the Assembly.
- 13.2 Notice of Proposed Amendment: Notice of any proposed amendment accompanied by the text of such amendment, shall be mailed to each member of the Assembly not later than 90 days prior to the date on which the proposal will be considered by the Assembly. If a letter ballot is solicited, a copy thereof shall be sent to each member of the Assembly with the text of the proposed amendment, and no letter ballot shall be effective until at least three (3) months have elapsed after such material is sent to all entitled thereto.
Notices
Any notice given by any person under or pursuant to this Constitution may be sent by post, facsimile or any other medium approved by the Council for this purpose.
Dissolution of the Organisation
If it becomes necessary or desirable to dissolve the Organisation, the Council shall carry out such dissolution after obtaining the approval of the Assembly. In such case, after paying or providing for the payment of the debts and liabilities of the Organisation, its remaining assets shall be divided pro rata among the member unions in the ratio that the aggregate amount paid to the Organisation by each of them in the twenty-four (24) months immediately prior to such dissolution bears to the aggregate amount so paid by all of the member unions.
