The administrative name of the club shall be 'King's College Boat Club'. Men and women shall both row under the name 'King's College Boat Club' (KCBC).
The function of the Boat Club shall be to provide facilities for training and competing in sweep-oared and sculling boats.
Membership of the Boat Club shall be open to all members of King's College. Membership of the Student Committee shall be open to all resident members of KCBC. Membership of the Steering Committee shall be open to all members of the Alumni Association.
Jurisdiction shall be vested in a full Boat Club Committee consisting of:
A. Officers of the Boat Club
The Men's Captain
The Women's Captain
The Men's Vice-Captain
The Women's Vice-Captain (who shall also be the Women's Novice Coaching Co-ordinator)
The Secretary
The Junior Treasurer
The Social Secretary
The Head Coxwain
The Clothing, Equipment & Safety Officer
The Men's Novice Coaching Co-ordinator
The Jon Parkin Memorial Old Bastard on the Committee who has rowed for years
B. The Development Team
The Development Team Co-ordinator
The Alumni Association Secretary & Archivist
The Computer Officer & Newsletter Editor
C. The Steering Committee
The Honorary President
The Steering Committee Chairman
The Senior Treasurer
Fellows of the Steering Committee
4.1. The structure of this Committee shall be as follows:
4.2. The Officers of the Boat Club and the Development Team shall together be known as the
Student Committee. The Student and Steering Committees together shall be known as the full
Boat Club Committee.
4.3. Neither the Steering Committee, nor the Student Committee have the power to force their decisions upon the other committee. Both committees shall work together in the spirit of co-operative non-interference and make recommendations to each other. Disputes shall be settled by the Honorary President in the first instance, and ultimately by the Provost.
4.4. No individual may hold more than one post at a time (except the Computer Officer who may hold another post).
The responsibilities of the officers and committees shall be as follows:
A. Officers of the Boat Club
Men's/Women's Captains
The Captains shall be responsible for arranging coaches, outings and land- training for
all boats of the club. Responsibility for the lower boats may be delegated to the
respective Vice-Captain. Captains shall be responsible for ensuring the entry of their
boats into races, for attending all Captains' meetings, and performing all duties outlined
in the CUCBC Handbook. The Captains are also ultimately responsible for ensuring fair
selection of crews and coxes. Both Captains shall enter a record of their respective terms
of office into the Captains' Book (which contains records of the men and women) and pass
the book on to their successors.
Men's/Women's Vice-Captains
The Vice-Captains shall be responsible for the organisation and, after consultation with
the Captains, the selection of senior lower boats. The Vice-Captains shall endeavour to
assist the Captains in any practical way they can. The Women's Vice-Captain shall also be
the Women's Novice Co- ordinator (for responsibilities see below).
Secretary
The Secretary shall chair all KCBC committee meetings and be responsible for recording
minutes of said meetings. Additional duties shall include organising the display and sale
of photographs to members of the Boat Club, arranging a date and venue for the AGM,
posting announcements concerning elections and keeping a list of voting members of the
Boat Club. The Secretary shall also act as returning officer at the AGM or any other
elections. The Secretary shall assist the Captains in submitting race entries and shall be
responsible for dealing with mail addressed to the Boat Club (not the Alumni Association).
Additionally, the Secretary should compile statistics and information for the Club and
archive them in the Boat Club files. In this capacity the Secretary shall work in close
conjunction with the Alumni Association Secretary & Archivist.
Junior Treasurer
The Junior Treasurer shall be responsible for the administration of the Boat Club
accounts, apportioning and collecting race fees, fines, etc. from members, where
appropriate. The Treasurer shall be a signatory of the Current Account and of the
Endowment Fund. The Treasurer shall present all club account balances at the AGM as well
as the Student and Steering Committee meetings.
Social Secretary
The Social Secretary shall be responsible for organising, advertising and ensuring the
smooth running of all Boat Club and Alumni Association social events.
Head Coxwain
The Head Coxwain shall be responsible for training and advising all coxes in the Boat Club
and for ensuring that all coxes of the Boat Club are competent and safe in their coxing
and that they have a full knowledge of the 'Rules of the River' as defined by the CUCBC
Rule Book. The Head Coxwain shall ultimately be responsible for all Boat Club equipment
pertaining to coxing, ensuring that it is maintained in proper working order. The Head
Coxwain shall ensure that all coxes of the Club receive advice and coaching during outings
and shall be available to deal with any problems which may arise concerning coxes. The
Head Coxwain shall give advance notice to all KCBC coxes of CU Coxing Society meetings,
pre-bumps coxes meetings and any other events pertaining to coxing.
Clothing, Equipment & Safety Officer
The Clothing, Equipment & Safety Officer shall be responsible for ensuring that all
equipment owned by, and on loan to, the Boat Club is maintained in good working order and
for reporting any damage however caused to the Captains and to the boatman. The Clothing,
Equipment & Safety Officer shall be responsible for ordering and distributing rowing
kit as required by members of the Boat Club. The Clothing, Equipment & Safety Officer
should have up-to-date knowledge of available rowing kit and should advise the Student
Committee on prices and availability. The Clothing, Equipment & Safety Officer shall
also be responsible for all safety aspects of the club's oarsmen/women and coxes.
Novice Coaching Co-ordinators
The Novice Coaching Co-ordinators shall be responsible for all aspects of novice rowing
with particular regard to encouraging and developing new members during Michaelmas term.
The Jon Parkin Memorial Old Bastard on the Committee
The Jon Parkin Memorial Old Bastard on the Committee must be an old bastard who has been
rowing for years. The Old Bastard shall sit on all Student Committee meetings complaining
about the price of beer and shall offer advice about everything especially when not asked
to do so. The Old Bastard shall be exceptionally keen on rowing and seek to uphold all
that is good and fair about the Boat Club. The prospective Old Bastard shall be nominated
by the serving Old Bastard on the Committee.
B. The Development Team
The Development Team shall be responsible for raising money for the Boat Club through a two-tier approach of alumni and corporate sponsorship. The Development Team is an integral part of the Student Committee and as such shall be accountable to the Officers of the Boat Club.
Development Team Co-ordinator
The Development Team Co-ordinator shall represent the Development Team to alumni and the
corporate world and shall co-ordinate the efforts of the Development Team in raising money
for the Boat Club. The Development Team Co-ordinator shall report the Development Team's
activities to the Student Committee and to the Steering Committee at their respective
meetings.The Development Team Co-ordinator shall be responsible for keeping College
reasonably informed about the activities of the Alumni Association and the Development
Team. In particular, s/he shall ensure that forthcoming events are adequately covered and
announced both in the College Annual Report and in the College alumni newsletter King's
Parade.
Alumni Association Secretary & Archivist
The Alumni Association Secretary & Archivist shall be responsible for the running of
the Alumni Association (i.e. raising funds through alumni, keeping alumni abreast with
King's rowing, organising events for alumni). The Alumni Association Secretary &
Archivist shall keep a record of the members of the Alumni Association and keep them
informed about the Boat Club by writing to them at least once a term, sending them a copy
of the Boat Club newsletter. Working with the Social Secretary, the Alumni Association
Secretary & Archivist shall also be responsible for organising events for Alumni
Association members and inviting them to watch College crews race at the Bumps, Henley and
other races. The Alumni Association Secretary & Archivist shall further be responsible
for attracting new members to the Alumni Association. The Alumni Association Secretary
& Archivist shall also be responsible for dealing with all mail addressed to the
Alumni Association, for committing past and present records of rowing at King's to the
Modern Archives of the College Library and for tending and updating the Boat Club's
archive. As such the Alumni Association Secretary & Archivist shall work closely with
the Boat Club Secretary in submitting proof photographs, bumps programmes, crew lists,
bumps supper menu cards, committee minutes and other items to the archives.
Computer Officer & Newsletter Editor
The Computer Officer & Newsletter Editor shall be responsible for maintaining and
updating the Boat Club's home page on the Internet, for maintaining and updating the Boat
Club's files in the Turing Computer Room, and for dealing and distributing incoming Boat
Club e-mail. S/he shall be the administrator of all Boat Club computer networking systems
and look after any computing equipment that the Boat Club owns. S/he shall advise the
Student Committee on anything regarding computers, their purchase and possible use for the
Boat Club's benefit. The Computer Officer & Newsletter Editor shall also be
responsible for the production and distribution of Henry's Eight, the termly Boat
Club newsletter. In this capacity s/he shall collect race results and stories, crew names
etc. for publication on the web page and through the newsletter.
C. The Steering Committee
The Steering Committee shall be composed of members of the KCBC Alumni Association and shall provide advice, support, expertise and continuity in the face of the constant change of student oarsmen and women. It shall advise the Student Committee on matters concerning the running of the Boat Club, its finances and raising funds. The Steering Committee shall assist in settling any disputes that the Student Committee is unable to resolve. The Steering Committee shall meet at least once a year (but preferably once a term). The Student Committee Secretary, the Men's and Women's Captains, the Development Team Co-ordinator and the Junior Treasurer shall be available to attend its meetings to report on past and future events of the Boat Club and its financial situation. The full Boat Club Committee, called and organised jointly by the Secretary and the Steering Committee Chairman and chaired by the Honorary President, shall meet once every year.
Honorary President
The Honorary President shall be an alumnus with an exceptional interest in KCBC and shall
represent the Boat Club at formal occasions; s/he shall chair all Boat Club dinners and
other formal occasions whenever possible. The Honorary President shall ensure that
traditions are reasonably maintained and that the Boat Club strives to excel on and off
the water. S/he shall be responsible for maintaining continuity in the face of the
constant change of student oarsmen and women and by resolving any disputes. If the
Honorary President is unable to do so after some considerable effort, s/he shall endeavour
to settle any dispute with the help of the Provost. The Honorary President shall be
present at Steering Committee meetings whenever possible and is welcome to attend Student
Committee meetings. The Honorary President shall chair the annual full Committee meeting
and advise and assist the Steering Committee Chairman on all matters concerning the Boat
Club and the Steering Committee. The Honorary President shall enter a yearly account of
his/her term of office into the President's Book and pass it on to his / her successor.
Steering Committee Chairman
The Steering Committee Chairman shall be an alumnus living in the Cambridge area
with an exceptional interest in KCBC. The Steering Committee Chairman shall provide an
interface between the Steering and Student Committees and as such shall be present at
Student Committee meetings whenever possible. The Steering Committee Chairman shall be
responsible for running the Steering Committee. S/he shall call, organise (in conjunction
with the Boat Club's Secretary) and chair Steering Committee meetings (except the annual
full Committee meeting which is chaired by the Honorary President), as well as keep a
record of all Steering Committee members. The Steering Committee Chairman shall also be
responsible for attracting new members to the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee
Chairman shall chair the AGM jointly with the Secretary. S/he shall be a signatory of the
Current Account and the Endowment Fund.At every Steering Committee meeting, the Steering
Committee Chairman shall name a Fellow of the Steering Committee who will take and write
up the minutes. The Steering Committee Chairman shall then distribute the minutes to all
Steering and Student Committee members. The Steering Committee Chairman shall further
prepare an annual committee report detailing past activities and future plans of the
Steering Committee. This annual committee report shall be distributed once a year to all
members of the Alumni Association with the Michaelmas copy of Henry's Eight. The
Steering Committee Chairman shall also prepare an annual sporting report in conjunction
with the Honorary President, the Men's and Women's Captains, and the Alumni Association
Secretary detailing activities of the Steering Committee and the Alumni Association, as
well as sporting events of the bumps and other races that KCBC have entered. This sporting
report must be submitted by the Steering Committee Chairman every year after the end of
the Easter term (or the races at Henley) to the Vice- Provost's Secretary for publication
in the College Annual Report.
Senior Treasurer
The Senior Treasurer shall be a Fellow of King's College with a lively interest in KCBC.
The Senior Treasurer shall provide a second interface between the Steering and Student
Committees and shall be present at Student Committee meetings whenever possible. S/he
shall advise the Steering and Student Committees on financial and other matters concerning
KCBC. S/he shall be a signatory of the Current Account and the Endowment Fund. The Senior
Treasurer's signature shall be required to approve the Club's annual budget.
Fellows of the Steering Committee
Fellows of the Steering Committee shall be members of the Alumni Association with a lively
interest in KCBC. Fellows shall support the Boat Club and senior members of the Steering
Committee in any way they can by giving advice as well as providing skills and expertise.
Fellows shall attend Steering Committee meetings whenever possible and are welcome to
attend Student Committee meetings.
Elections and terms of office for the committees shall be as follows
The Student Committee
6.1. The Student Committee shall hold office for one year (except when Rule 7 applies). The incoming Student Committee shall assume responsibility on the last day of the May Bumps, unless the Club sends crews to Henley Women's Royal Regatta and/or Henley Royal Regatta in which case responsibility shall be assumed by the incoming Student Committee on the last day of these events. The incoming Student Committee shall attend meetings during the Easter term and carry out some of the duties of the office to which they have been elected as an introduction to the running of the Club.
6.2. Elections for all offices of the Student Committee shall be held at the KCBC Annual General Meeting (AGM) which shall be held towards the end of the Lent term. The AGM shall be jointly called and chaired by the Secretary and the Steering Committee Chairman.
6.3. All those standing for Student Committee offices must be proposed and seconded by voting members of the Club. Nominations must be given to the Secretary and placed on the Boat Club notice board at least 48 hours before the AGM. If only one candidate is nominated for an office they will be declared 'elected unopposed' at the AGM. After presentation of manifestos, voting shall take place by secret ballot to be administrated by the Secretary and Steering Committee Chairman. Members who wish to stand for a Student Committee office, but who are unable to attend the AGM may send a manifesto to the KCBC Secretary who will read it at the AGM. Those standing for office shall be considered elected if they gain more than 1/2 of the votes.
6.4. Only members of the Club who have trained for Bumps are eligible to vote at the AGM. Only members of the Student Committee are eligible to vote at Student Committee meetings.
6.5. Only members rowing, or coxing, a men's boat may stand for the posts of Men's Captain and Men's Vice-Captain. Only members rowing for, or coxing, a women's boat may stand for the posts of Women's Captain and Women's Vice-Captain.
The Steering Committee
6.6. Membership of the Steering Committee is open to all members of the KCBC Alumni Association with a genuine interest in the Boat Club's affairs and fortunes on and off the river. There shall be no restriction on the total number of Fellows of the Steering Committee. The Provost and boatman of King's shall automatically be Fellows of the Steering Committee.
6.7. The terms of office for the Honorary President, the Steering Committee Chairman and the Senior Treasurer shall be five years. There shall be no restriction on the term of office for Fellows. Senior Members (i.e. the Honorary President, the Chairman and the Senior Treasurer) may be re- elected any number of times. The vote-of-no-confidence procedure described in Rule 7 shall apply to all members of the Steering Committee, junior and senior.
6.8. All holders of senior posts must recommend for election at least one candidate who should succeed them. Other candidates may be put forward by being proposed and seconded by members of the Steering and/or Student Committees.
6.9. Near the end of a senior post's term of office, the Steering Committee shall decide the new holder by secret ballot at one of its meetings and inform the Student Committee of its decision. Applicants shall be considered elected if they gain the support of at least 2/3 of the Steering Committee. If there is only one applicant for a senior post, s/he shall be declared 'elected unopposed'. If no candidate succeeds in gaining the support of 2/3 of the Steering Committee after five rounds of voting, the Provost shall settle the dispute.
6.10. Fellowship of the Steering Committee shall be by application to the Steering Committee Chairman or the Alumni Association Secretary. Lists of new applicants must be presented to the Student and Steering Committees by the Steering Committee Chairman. The application may be rejected by either a 2/3 majority of existing Fellows or a 2/3 majority veto by the Student Committee. If neither is the case, the applicant will be declared a Fellow of the Steering Committee by the Steering Committee Chairman who will inform the Student and Steering Committees of the election.
6.11. Applicants for senior posts must have been Fellows of the Steering Committee for at least three years prior to commencing their senior appointment. Before any election, the Men's and Women's Captain and the Development Team Co-ordinator may voice a preference for the post, which the Steering Committee should give due consideration.
6.12. Only members of the Steering Committee are eligible to vote at Steering Committee meetings.
Twenty or more members of the Boat Club and/or Alumni Association may propose a vote of no confidence against any members of the Student or Steering Committee. Their reasons have to be given in writing with all supporters of the motion listed by name. Two weeks after having made the written motion accessible to all members of the Boat Club and the Steering Committee, the Secretary and/or Steering Committee Chairman shall call a joint extraordinary AGM of the Student and Steering Committees at which both parties shall be able to present their case. One hour after the end of the presentations, a vote shall be taken. This vote of no confidence shall be considered carried, and the committee member relieved of his/her duties, by a 2/3 extraordinary AGM majority. Only members of the Student Committee, the Steering Committee, and those having trained for bumps during the course of the year shall be able to vote. If the vote is carried, the Secretary and/or Steering Committee Chairman shall endeavour to fill the vacant post within two weeks.
The Boat Club's financial set-up shall be as follows
8.1. All expenditures of KCBC funds must be authorised by the Student Committee, and either the Senior Treasurer or the Steering Committee Chairman as described below. Any unresolved disputes over expenditures shall be settled by the Honorary President and the Steering Committee Chairman.
8.2. The Boat Club shall have two accounts, namely
The Endowment Fund
The Endowment Fund shall be a high-interest account, administered by the Junior Treasurer,
which shall hold the bulk of the Boat Club's assets. Funds in the Endowment Fund may only
be touched in exceptional circumstances with the Development Team endeavouring to obtain
funds for large equipment purchases via alumni or corporate sponsorship first. The Current
Account shall receive the annual interest which the Endowment Fund generates, but may be
further supplemented from the Endowment Fund only in exceptional circumstances (an
exceptional circumstance shall be defined as a case that has the support of all Student
Committee members). As such all transferrals out of the Endowment Fund shall require a
full Student Committee approval, AND the signature of the Junior Treasurer, AND the
signature of EITHER the Senior Treasurer OR the Steering Committee Chairman, if the Senior
Treasurer is not available.
The Current Account
The Current Account shall be a charitable clubs and societies account and shall be used
for the day-to-day running of the Boat Club, the Development Team and their events. The
Current Account shall be administered by the Junior Treasurer who will hold the Current
Account cheque book. Cheques or money transferrals of UNDER £100 from the Current Account
shall require a 2/3 Student Committee approval, AND the signature of the Junior Treasurer.
Cheques or money transferrals of OVER £100 from the Current Account shall require a 2/3
Student Committee approval, AND the signature of the Junior Treasurer, AND the signature
of EITHER the Senior Treasurer OR the Steering Committee Chairman, if the Senior Treasurer
is not available.
8.3. Members shall be responsible for purchasing their own kit and paying an equal portion of all fees for races their crew enter.
8.4. Members may be required to pay a deposit each term, the amount to be determined by the Student Committee, advised by the Junior Treasurer, to cover all expenses incurred by the Club during that term.
8.5. The Junior Treasurer shall have the right to have outstanding debts added to college bills at any time.
8.6. The Student and Steering Committees, and in particular the Junior and Senior Treasurers and the Steering Committee Chairman, shall ensure that the Boat Club retains financial independence and full authority over the Endowment Fund and the Current Account at all times, with no interference from College authorities or elsewhere.
8.7. Spending of current account funds shall be governed by a
Budgeting Procedure
A budget shall be negotiated annually, either at the end of Easter term or the beginning
of the following Michaelmas term, by the outgoing and incoming Student Committees under
advice from the Steering Committee or senior members thereof. The budget shall settle for
the subsequent academic year all items of the budget and their size, taking as a guideline
budgets of previous years and under the condition that the total annual expenditure of the
budget must not exceed the total annual income (as generated by the Endowment Fund
interest minus a deduction for inflation, and all other incoming monies like, for
example, alumni, student and College contributions). This budget must then be approved by
the full Student Committee AND the Steering Committee Chairman AND the Senior Treasurer.
Without this approval no spending may take place. Once approval has been obtained,
officers of the Club must thereafter budget over the course of the academic year in such a
way that their spending stays within the targets set by the budget with spending itself
being governed by rule 8.2. The Junior Treasurer shall keep track of all officers' budget
spendings and alert them, the Student Committee and the Senior Treasurer if any budget
item is about to be exceeded. Anyone wishing to exceed the funds allocated to him/her must
first have the approval of the full Student Committee AND the Steering Committee Chairman
AND the Senior Treasurer.
The Boat Club's equipment shall be handled as follows
9.1. No equipment belonging to, or on loan to, King's College Boat Club shall be used without the prior consent of the Men's or Women's Captains.
9.2. Equipment purchased for the use of the men shall be the sole responsibility of the Men's Captain. Equipment purchased for the use of the women shall be the sole responsibility of the Women's Captain. Either Captain shall reserve the right to refuse the use of their equipment by the opposite sex.
9.3. First boats shall not be lent out to any other clubs except with the explicit permission of the revelant Captain AND the boatman AND a 1/2 Student Committee majority shall also be required.
Crews and coxes shall be fairly selected by trials which shall be overseen by the respective Captain who shall ultimately be responsible for the fair selection of their crews and coxes. One or more independent coaches and the respective Vice-Captains should be invited to attend the trials and their opinions should be taken into consideration by the Captains before they select crews. In the case of coxes, the advice of an independent, experienced cox and the opinion of the crew to be coxed shall be sought by the respective Captain before s/he comes to a decision. Any unresolved dispute over selection of crews or coxes shall be settled by members of the Steering Committee. However, barring exceptional circumstances, the selections of the Captains shall be considered final.
The quorum of the Steering Committee shall be five. The quorum of the Student Committee shall be five.
Changes to this constitution shall require a 2/3 Student Committee majority AND a 2/3 Steering Committee majority. Any unresolved disputes over the changing or interpretation of the constitution shall be settled by the Honorary President in the first instance and ultimately by the Provost if no consensus can be found.
