OLAC Constitution

CONSTITUTION AND RULES OF OBAN AND LORN ANGLING CLUB

By adoption of the General Meeting held in the Oban Lorn Shinty Clubhouse 10th December 1972, on Alteration at the Annual General Meetings of November 1987, November 2000, November 2006, November 2011, January 2020, Extraordinary General Meeting on the 8th May 2016 and at special meetings on the 4th May 2017, 13th May 2018 etc.

CONSTITUTION (Download here [pdf format])

Designation of the Club: Oban and Lorn Angling Club

Aims and Objectives:

The aims and objectives of the club shall be:

The advancement of public participation in the sport of angling in the Oban and Lorn district of Argyll.

The provision of recreational facilities, or the organisation of recreational activities, with the object of improving the conditions of life for the persons for whom the facilities or activities are primarily intended, in the Oban and Lorn area.

The advancement of environmental protection or improvement in the Lochs and Rivers over which the Club has Control.

Oban and Lorn Angling Club Management Policies:

To promote the art of fly fishing and to discourage unsportsmanlike modes of fishing.

To acquire by lease or otherwise, control of or the rights of fishing portions of, or the whole of, Lochs, Rivers and Streams in the Lorn district of Argyll.

To provide safe and convenient access to loch fly fishing by acquiring, maintaining and mooring one or more angling boats on those waters where fishing afloat is agreed to be advantageous.

To provide personal and third-party insurance cover for full and temporary members engaging in fly fishing from bank and boat.

To Improve and maintain the fishing in such waters over which control, or the rights of fishing has been acquired.

To develop selected waters by stocking, weed control, or such other means as may be deemed advisable, ensuring that such enhancements to the environment are of benefit to all wildlife including Brown and Sea Trout Salmo trutta and Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar.

To prevent illegal or unauthorised fishing of the Club’s waters.

To promote the interests of the Club by association with other organisations.

Be affiliated to, and represented by, any national body which is supportive of or may assist with the aims and objectives of the Club.

To provide a junior section in the Club; educating youth of all ages in the Argyll area to learn the arts of fly fishing and fly tying and to appreciate the heritage, cultural significance and environmental value of fly fishing for trout in Argyll.

OBAN AND LORN ANGLING CLUB RULES

 1. Management

  1. The property of the Club shall be vested in, and all the business and affairs shall be managed by, a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and at least three other members of a committee to a maximum of ten in total.
  2. A quorum shall consist of four committee members among whom shall be two office bearers.
  3.  In addition to those offices aforementioned, members of the committee may be assigned the office of Vice President, Boat Booking Recorder, Assistant Treasurer etc. as deemed appropriate for the efficient administration of the Club.
  4. Save for the offices of President, Secretary and Treasurer, committee members may fulfil more than one office.
  5. Committee meetings shall take place at a time and a place agreed by the committee.
  6. Excepting the President or meeting chair, officers and committee members may participate in meetings using a telephone conference call, Teams/Zoom call or tele-presence, subject to the agreement of the committee.
  7. All committee members and office bearers shall have a vote.
  8. Each year at the Club AGM all office bearers shall be eligible for re-election.

2. Membership

  1. Shall consist of those anglers who pay a full or concessionary membership subscription.
  2. The Club is committed to promote equal opportunities in membership regardless of sex, marital status, creed colour, race, ethnic origin, disability or age.
  3. Membership will not be offered to, and may be withdrawn from, anyone known to have an unspent conviction for an offence contrary to the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011, the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003 or other criminal behaviour incompatible with the good reputation of the Club. Prospective members or members will be given notice in writing by the committee of such refusal or withdrawal of membership.
  4. Right of appeal against refusal of entry or expulsion. Anyone whose Club membership is refused or withdrawn under 2. Membership, paragraph c) or 8. Illegal fishing, paragraph a) may present an appeal in writing to the committee within 40 days of receiving such notice of refusal or withdrawal of membership. The decision of the committee in such matters is final.

3. Agreements

  1. All leases or agreements entered into by the Club shall be signed on behalf of the same by the President and Secretary, or as may be authorised to do so either at the AGM or at any special meeting.

4. Meetings

  1. The Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held in January, when office bearers shall be elected and a statement of the club funds submitted.
  2. The retiring Finance Treasurer will present the accounts to the A G M. Prior to the A G M the accounts will be examined in accordance with any statutory requirements.
  3. Club policies, completed or projected, plus any other competent business shall be fully discussed.
  4. The committee shall have the power to call a special meeting at any time.
  5. An extraordinary or special meeting may be called by 10 per cent of the ordinary fully paid-up members by notifying the Secretary in writing and with 7 days clear notice of such intent and specifying the purpose of such a meeting.
  6. The committee shall have the power to fill any casual vacancy in their number. Any person chosen shall occupy such position for the period eligible of the vacating member.
  7. Club meetings shall require 3 days’ notice to members before the day of such a meeting.

5. Visitors and Temporary Members

  1. Shall be allowed to fish club waters on payment of current charges agreed by Committee. Members in this category shall become liable to the obligations, restrictions and penalties competent under Club rules. Boats shall be available to those temporary members paying a weekly subscription. Payment of other permits allows fishing from the bank only unless in company with a full or temporary member entitled to use a boat.

6. Season

  1. The brown trout fishing season on Club waters will commence on 15th March and shall terminate on the 6th October each year. For salmon and sea trout, the relevant season will be notified to members.

7. Fishing

  1. All waters under the Club’s control shall be fished with wet or dry fly, unless otherwise specified.
  2. Bait fishing is prohibited except by under-16s fishing in company with a full member.
  3. Fish caught on Club waters must not be sold.

8. Illegal Fishing

 a) Members fishing with any illegal or unsportsmanlike appliances, or killing salmon, sea trout or trout during the close season shall be expelled from the club.

9. Alteration of Rules

  1. No alteration of any general rule shall be made except at a General Meeting and after 7 days notice, specifying the proposed alteration.

10. Rules for Competitions

  1. Rules for competitions will be decided by the committee and circulated to members with their membership cards and a copy of the club’s constitution and rules.

11. Subscription Year

  1. Membership becomes renewable on 1st January and if subscriptions have not been renewed by 14th March, membership shall have deemed to have lapsed and subsequent application will be decided by the Committee as for new membership.

12. Dissolution of the Club

  1. Written notice of any proposal to dissolve the Club must be given to all full, paid up members with 30 days clear notice of the extraordinary general meeting at which such proposal will be discussed.
  2. The decision to dissolve the Club shall not be taken except by two thirds majority of all fully paid up voting members present or their nominees.
  3. Upon dissolution of the Club, the office bearers or their representatives shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all the liabilities of the Club, dispose of all the assets of the Club to a local charity or charities acting for the benefit of the inhabitants of the Oban & Lorn Area.
  4. None of the Club’s assets may be distributed or otherwise applied (on being wound up or at any other time) except to further its charitable purposes.

13. Equal Opportunities Policy

  1. Oban and Lorn Angling Club recognises and supports all aspects of Equal Opportunity.
  2. The Club wishes to include all members of our community within the activities and varied works we undertake, including participation by service on the management committee.
  3. The Club will endeavour, within the limits of our capabilities, to provide access to any member of the public wishing to participate in the activities we provide, regardless of their age, ethnicity, religion, or physical and mental abilities.
  4. The Club exists to support our community through public interaction.
  5. The Club will promote the sport of angling to all who want to participate by having days out where and when possible so that people can learn about rods, lines and fly tying; this is open to all who enjoy outdoor sport.