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Trinity College Dublin

Dublin University Harriers and Athletic Club

Dublin University Harriers and Athletic Club

Constitution and Club Rules

Adopted: 10th May 2000

Amended: 1st May 2009

DUHAC Crest
  1. Title
    1. The name of the club shall be:

      Dublin University Harriers and Athletic Club

    2. The Acronym D.U.H.A.C. subsequently used in this document shall refer to the Dublin University Harriers and Athletic Club.
  2. Objectives of D.U.H.A.C.
    1. The promotion of Cross-Country running, Road Relay running and Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Athletics including Multi-Events, in the University.
    2. To consider and discuss all questions affecting the interests of D.U.H.A.C. and to take such action in regard to the protection, encouragement and promotion of such interests as deemed necessary or desirable.
  3. Affiliation
    1. D.U.H.A.C. shall be affiliated to:
      • D.U.C.A.C.
        and shall adhere to any rulings that Dublin University Central Athletic Committee make.
      • I.U.A.A.
        and shall run its Intervarsity matches according to the rules of this Association.
  4. Colours
    1. The Club colours shall be Maroon, White and Black. Any club vest or garment should be compatible with these colours.
  5. Membership
    1. Membership of D.U.H.A.C can comprise of the following categories:
      • Student Members
        This category is confined to those students currently taking an undergraduate or post-graduate course of study in the College, and who have paid their capitation fees to the University, or those students who have finished their course of study in Trinity the previous year. Only these members are eligible to compete for D.U.H.A.C. in Intervarsity competition. Student Membership fees shall be a fee as determined by the committee.
      • Honorary Members
        Where the Committee deems that a particular person would be of special value as a Club member, that person shall be granted Honorary Membership of D.U.H.A.C. Honorary Members may stand for election to the Committee and act as Club Representatives when and where necessary. Honorary Members shall have no voting rights prior to their election to the Committee and their Honorary Membership shall be renewed each year at the Annual General Meeting. All Past Presidents of D.U.H.A.C., shall be Honorary Life Members of D.U.H.A.C. and all Coaches of the club shall be deemed to be Honorary Members of D.U.H.A.C. during their terms as official Coaches.
      • Staff/Graduate Members
        These members shall be staff or graduates of Trinity College Dublin and be members of D.U.C.A.C. Staff/Graduate Membership fees shall be a fee as determined by the committee, in addition to the D.U.C.A.C. subscription.
    2. Students, Staff and Graduates are considered to be members of D.U.H.A.C. on payment of the appropriate subscription outlined above. Subscriptions are payable on the first day of Michaelmas Term. Any member whose subscription has not been paid by the first day of the following Hilary Term shall cease to be a member of D.U.H.A.C., and shall not be re-admitted untill all arrears have been paid.
    3. Acceptance of membership of D.U.H.A.C. implies acceptance of the Constitution, Rules of Championships and Club Rules that may be passed by the Committee from time to time.
  6. General Meetings
    1. The Annual General Meeting shall be held in Trinity Term.
    2. At an General Meeting a quorum shall consist of five Committee Members and ten other members of D.U.H.A.C.
    3. Business to be placed on the Agenda, and nominations for Officers and Honorary Members shall be handed in to the Hon. Secretary seven days before any meeting. He/she shall post the nominations and agenda at least five days before the meeting.
    4. The paid-up members of D.U.H.A.C. on the first day of Trinity term, including those who have paid any arrears, shall be entitled to nominate and vote in the election of Officers (who in turn must be paid-up members of D.U.H.A.C. on the first day of Trinity term) and on any issue of general concern. Elections shall be by secret ballot where more than one candidate for a particular position exists, unless both candidates agree to a vote by a show of hands and this show of hands is undisputed.
    5. The affairs of D.U.H.A.C. shall be managed by an Executive Committee. The following shall be the Officers of D.U.H.A.C.:
      • President of D.U.H.A.C.
      • Vice President of D.U.H.A.C.
      • Mens Harriers Captain
      • Womens Harriers Captain
      • Mens Athletics Captain
      • Womens Athletics Captain
      • Hon. Secretary of D.U.H.A.C.
      • Hon. Treasurer of D.U.H.A.C.
      • Public Relations Officer
      • Three Ordinary Committee Members
    6. The President and Vice-President shall not be undergraduates and should be graduates of D.U.C.A.C. or staff of Trinity College Dublin. The Captains shall be athletes eligible to compete for the University. Of the remaining Committee positions there should be at least four student Committee Members. Honorary members can take any position if they fill the above requirements for that position. Any vacancy on the Committee shall be filled by co-option, if deemed necessary by the rest of the Committee. In particular the Vice President position is mainly intended to be filled only when the President intends to retire the following year, otherwise it may be left vacant.
    7. The Executive Committee shall hold office for one year, effective from the time that D.U.C.A.C.'s accounts are audited, but shall be eligible for annual reelection. The President and Vice-President shall hold offce untill they resign or are outvoted by another candidate at an A.G.M. No other Committee Member shall hold the same offce for more than three years.
    8. The Committee of D.U.H.A.C. shall have the power to appoint Sub-Committees consisting of one or more persons to deal with any special matters that may arise from time to time.
    9. Changes to this Constitution and to the Rules of D.U.H.A.C., whether by way of variation, addition or repeal, shall be a reserved function of the Annual General Meeting or an Extraordinary General Meeting. To exact any change in this Constitution a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the members present and voting shall be required.
    10. The Hon. Secretary shall convene the Executive Committee for the transaction of general business not less than once a month during term, and the agenda shall be posted at least two days beforehand. At Committee meetings five shall form a quorum.
    11. It shall be the duty of the Hon. Secretary to record the minutes of all meetings of D.U.H.A.C. and to present an annual Secretaries Report to D.U.C.A.C. after each Annual General Meeting.
    12. A balance sheet and a income and expenditure account shall be prepared each year by the Hon. Treasurer, and a copy of these accounts sheet shall be sent to D.U.C.A.C.
    13. The Hon. Secretary shall convene an Extraordinary General Meeting at any time if so directed by the Executive Committee, or on the written request of not less than twenty members.
    14. A copy of these Rules shall be maintained under the auspices of D.U.C.A.C. It is the responsibility of the Hon. Secretary to bring a copy of these rules to any General Meeting to settle any disputes arising. Each member shall be entitled to receive a copy of these Rules upon written application to the Hon. Secretary.
  7. Award of Club Colours
    1. Any Club member who fills any two of the following requirements, shall be deemed eligible for the award of D.U.H.A.C. Colours:
      • Represented D.U.H.A.C. in at least two matches of the same nature against University College Dublin.
      • Represented D.U.H.A.C. in at least two Intervarsity championships of the same nature.
      • Won any event in the above matches.
      • Have been a member on a winning team in any of the above matches.
      • Represented his/her country in any event.
    2. A member to whom Colours have been awarded shall be entitled to wear the Club tie with the distinctive University Crest (Harp and Crown) embroidered thereon, and the D.U.H.A.C. blazer. These may be purchased at the members expense.
  8. Competition and Coaching
    1. The Committee shall ensure that all members have the option to compete, subject to qualification, in all relevant I.U.A.A. competitions. In particular D.U.H.A.C. should compete in or organize:
      • Colours matches in Cross-Country and Track and Field athletics
      • Intervarsity competition in:
        • Outdoor Track and Field Athletics
        • Indoor Track and Field Athletics
        • Road-Relay Championships
        • Cross-Country Running
      • The Trinity Relays Inter-Club Meeting on College Park.
      • The College Dash around Front Square ("The Chariots of Fire")
      • The College Races
    2. The Committee of D.U.H.A.C. shall provide coaching, where possible, for all standards of Athletes, in the relaxed and friendly spirit of University athletics.
  9. Special Circumstances
    1. The Committee shall decide any question as to the interpretation of the Rules and deal with any matter not definitely provided for therein.

Compiled by Mr. Brian Foley, Hon. Secretary of D.U.H.A.C. October 1998 to October 2000, and accepted at the AGM of D.U.H.A.C. 10th May 2000.

Amended at the AGM of D.U.H.A.C. 7th May 2009.

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