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%	DURC Constitution Changes
%	Mark Dennehy
%	March 2003
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%-----------------------------------------------------------------------
\title{\sf \textbf{Proposed changes to the DURC constitution}}
\author{Mark Dennehy}

\titlehead{\sf Dublin University Rifle Club\\ \includegraphics[width=1in]{Graphics/DURC_Logo.eps}}

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\section{Introduction}
The following document is the codification of ten years of
my notes and observations gathered during
active membership of DURC in various capacities - Ordinary
Member, Range Officer, Committee Member, Match Secretary,
Chief Range Officer, Public Relations Officer, Systems
Administrator, Webmaster and Secretary, along with various
levels of competitive activity from being a hobbyist shooter
who shot purely for entertainment and stress relief to being
an active member of the National Squad and winning a
National Championship gold medal.

It takes into account more conversations than I remember with
both senior and junior club members, as well as with officals
and members of other rifle clubs, National Squad members and
members of the NTSA, as well as consulting the club's
historical documents in great detail and studying the forms 
used by foreign clubs.

Following this decade's worth of consideration, I have
reached the following conclusions.

\begin{enumerate}
    \item {\bf The club is in serious trouble as regards 
	participation levels.}\\
	This seems inescapable.  Activity in the club is down on the levels achieved 
	only five years ago, but our membership level is at almost
	it's highest ever. Committee work swamps the 
	committee but few volunteers can be found to help 
	shoulder the load.
    \item {\bf Committee work is dependant on a few overworked
	    volunteers.}\\
	This is not a sustainable situation. Eventually 
	people leave the club for varying reasons. When this 
	last happened {\it en masse} about six years ago, the 
	club lost it's core committee members and went from the largest club 
	in college to a mere 40 or 50 people in the space of 
	two years. This cannot be allowed to happen again, 
	particularly at a time of financial hardship for TCD 
	that is so bad, full professors are invited to retire. 
    \item {\bf The ordinary members are alienated.}\\
	Ordinary Members (OMs henceforth) are the backbone 
	of the club. Most do not compete. In some cases this 
	is not due to a lack of desire but a lack of 
	knowlege as to what is involved. A degree of 
	handholding is needed, but ultimately we must create 
	the motivation to go to competitions as a 
	self-sustaining emotion, instead of buying 
	attendance with free travel and ammunition. We must also
	accept that some OMs will never wish to compete and these
	members cannot be ignored or their needs dismissed.
    \item {\bf The Range Officers are overworked and 
	undertrained.}\\
	ROs are selected for their ability to safely train 
	beginners, not their affinity for paperwork. Small 
	wonder that RO Reports have a history of being less 
	than stellar. However, they are vitally necessary, 
	so we may as well make it easier on the ROs since it 
	is more likely to produce better reports. Heavy 
	computerisation may well be the key here, combined 
	with a web-based booking system. The national RO
	qualifications should be pursued, if only for the sake of the
	college's perceptions. RO training, however, needs to be
	slightly more formal than it currently is. 
    \item{\bf Competitions}\\
	No-one can attend all the competitions in Ireland in 
	a year - there are too many and to do so denies 
	members the ability to train sufficently to progress.
	Some prioritisation must take place, even if it applies 
	only to squad members. Alternatively, a different system for
	arranging logistics must be devised.
    \item{\bf The DURC squad has a near-absent reputation in the 
	club.}\\
	We must improve both it's image and the 
	motivation people feel to gain entry.
    \item{\bf The recreational shooter, the backbone of the 
	club, is being ignored.}\\
	While most of us relish the 
	challanges of the olympic disciplines, the club has 
	studiously lived in denial for the past twenty years 
	or more about silhouette and sporter shooting. These 
	disciplines make up the bulk of Irish target 
	shooting in the rifle discliplines. The attributes 
	of these disciplines would appeal to a broader base 
	of members due to it's more dynamic nature with it's 
	more positive and immediate feedback. Ignoring it 
	cannot be allowed to continue. Neither can we 
	continue to organise the club for the benefit of the 
	elite shooters amongst us. None of us (with the 
	possible exception of Steven Watterson) is good 
	enough to be considered truly elite to begin with. A 
	grassroots effort is necessary, focussing on 
	building up a large cadre of solid beginner-level students.
	\item{\bf Progress}
	The club has no focus, no long term goals, and no objective 
	means to measure success, either over the course of the year or
	from year to year.
\end{enumerate}

To these ends, I have prepared a number of constitutional 
changes. I believe that the new club structure outlined here 
will allow us as a club to meet these challanges and 
overcome them. I urge the committee to lend their weight to 
these changes at the 2003 AGM.

All article numbers are those from the constitution adopted
at the 2002 AGM.

\newpage \section{Club focus}

\noindent
\colorbox{ltgrey}{
\begin{minipage}[c]{0.9\textwidth}
{\tt
{\bf Article 3} \\
The object of the Club shall be to instil an abiding interest in marksmanship among its members.\\
}
\end{minipage}
}
\\


This is simply useless. It is not a long-term goal but a platitude. I
propose the following rewrite. 

\change{
Replace Article 3 with:\\
{\it
{\bf Article 3} \\
The objectives of the Club shall be:
\begin{itemize}
    \item To train it's members to the highest standard of safety with respect to firearms as possible.
    \item To instill an abiding interest in the sport of target shooting in it's members.
    \item To train it's members to the highest standard of marksmanship possible. 
    \item To imbue it's members with the best principles of fair competition within the sport. 
    \item To encourage it's members to achieve their highest potential possible within the sport.
    \item To introduce it's members to all aspects of the sport of target shooting possible, without prejudice.
    \item To maintain, and improve upon, the facilities and equipment the club provides for it's members.
    \item To promote the club's good name and sporting reputation.
\end{itemize}
}
Each of these objectives should be considered a seperate 
change, unless the AGM agree to vote on the whole as a 
single change.
}

\newpage \section{Club structure}
The structure in place now has been used for nearly
20 years. It has also provided problems for 20 years,
specifically those I outlined in the introduction to this
document. The root of the problem (or at least one of them),
is that we use a system of managing the club called line
management, where one person has the same job throughout the
year. If we had a larger staff, this might be a viable way
to run the club, but we don't. Therefore we need more time
to organise each event.

However, we don't have more time, so I propose instead that
we reduce the core of the committee and instead utilise
a pool of Non-Committee Officers who would each be given
responsibility for a specific project - organising a
specific event for example. Each NCO should be given ample
time to organise this event and must report to the committee
upon the completion of this event. A pool of NCOs should be
maintained by the secretary. OMs should be able to apply to
be listed in this pool at any time, and the committee may
request specific OMs to join the pool on a voluntary basis.
NCOs cannot be compelled to take on a specific task and a
task should not be given to an NCO who does not have the
ability to carry it out.

\noindent
\colorbox{ltgrey}{
\begin{minipage}[c]{0.9\textwidth}
{\tt{\bf Article 5} \\
The Club shall consist of 
\begin{itemize}
    \item a President
    \item any number of vice-Presidents, subject to Article 6
    \item a Captain
    \item a Secretary
    \item a Treasurer
    \item up to five Ordinary Members of Committee
    \item up to twenty Range Officers and
    \item the Ordinary Members
\end{itemize}
}
\end{minipage}
}
\\

\change{
Delete {\tt ``up to five Ordinary Members of Committee''} 
and replace with {\it ``up to thirty non-committee
officers''}.
}

This reduces the size of the core committee and replaces 
those lost with the NCOs.
 
\noindent
\colorbox{ltgrey}{
\begin{minipage}[c]{0.9\textwidth}
{\tt{\bf Article 7} \\
The Committee shall consist of the Captain, the Secretary,  
the Treasurer (referred to collectively as ``the Club        
Officers'') together with the Ordinary Members of Committee. 
}
\end{minipage}
}
\\

\change{
Replace with:\\
{\it
{\bf \it Article 7}\\
The Committee shall consist of:
\begin{itemize}
    \item the Captain
    \item the Secretary
    \item the Treasurer
    \item the Chief Range Officer
    \item the Public Relations Officer
\end{itemize}
}
}

This further defines the core committee, adding the CRO and 
the PRO as permanent members of the committee. The CRO is 
included as the CRO's job must be continous throughout the 
year. The PRO is included for the same reason. The only 
other jobs which must be continous throughout the year are 
the systems administrator and webmaster, but this job 
requires little time and so can be handled by a designated 
NCO, who can report to the committee as required. Note that 
the sysadmin must be chosen on merits of technical ability.

\newpage \subsection{Committee Meetings}

\noindent
\colorbox{ltgrey}{
\begin{minipage}[c]{0.9\textwidth}
{\tt
{\bf Article 8.2} \\
The quorum for a Committee meeting shall be four, two of whom
must be Club Officers.\\
}
\end{minipage}
}
\\

\change{
Append to 8.2:\\
{\it One of the four may be a reporting NCO, but only if all three
Officers are present.}
}

This facilitates {\it ad hoc} meetings for an NCO to report 
to the committee on a project.

\change{
Add:\\
{\it
{\bf Article 8.4}\\
Committee meetings shall be open for observation to Committee members, 
Non-Committee Officers, Range Officers and invited guests, depending on 
space limitations. Observers shall not have a vote in the proceedings.
}
}

The committee meetings were almost traditionally closed to 
any but committee members. At no point have I ever seen any 
reason for that to continue. The Range Officers and 
Non-Committee Officers are the most affected by committee 
decisions on average, and so should be able to observe those decisions.
In fact on several occasions, ROs have been present for 
committee meetings with beneficial results, so this could simply be seen as 
formalising that arrangement.

\change{
Add:\\
{\it
{\bf Article 8.5}\\
The secretary shall prepare the agenda for the meeting. This agenda
is to be distributed, either electronicly or on paper, to the
intended attendees (excluding observers), at least one day prior to the meeting. Once
distributed, the agenda can not be altered.  
}
}

Most committee meetings in the past have wandered and as a 
result been neither timely, efficent nor concise. A fixed 
agenda has helped to an extent in the past.

\change{
Add:\\
{\it
{\bf Article 8.6}\\
The secretary shall prepare the minutes of the meeting. These minutes
must be distributed, either electronicly or on paper, to the
attendees of the meeting (excluding observers) within two working
days of the meeting. The attendees must be given one working day to
review the minutes for accuracy and any corrections necessary. The
minutes must be then made available to all club members, both on the
club website and by posting a printed copy of the minutes on the
noticeboard in the club rooms. 
}
}

Accurate minutes are an invaluable tool for the committee - 
without them, time is wasted and effort is duplicated.
On distribution, there is no justification for 
any form of secrecy in the committee meetings, as the 
committee acts on behalf of, and in the name of the ordinary members and they 
should be aware of this and able to observe the process.


\change{
Add:\\
{\it
{\bf Article 8.7}\\
Regular committee meetings should include the following on the agenda, in any
order:
\begin{itemize}
    \item A report from the Secretary which should contain:
	\begin{itemize}
	    \item A list of correspondance received by the club for the previous week or weeks.
	    \item A list of correspondance sent by the club for the previous week or weeks.
	    \item The status of the minutes of the last meeting
	\end{itemize}
    \item A report from the Treasurer, which should contain:
	\begin{itemize}
	    \item The current balance in the club accounts.
	    \item The total amount of money taken over the previous week or weeks, as actually counted by the Treasurer.
	    \item The current state of the club's finances, in particular as regards college funding budgets.
	\end{itemize}
    \item A report from the Chief Range Officer, which should contain:
	\begin{itemize}
	    \item The amount of ammunition expended for the previous week or weeks, broken down by ammunition type.
	    \item Notes from RO Reports during the previous week or weeks.
	    \item Any reports of damage to club equipment over the previous week or weeks.
	    \item The total amount of money taken over the previous week or weeks, as reported on the RO reports.
	\end{itemize}
    \item A report from the Public Relations Officer which
    should contain a list of all mentions of the club in public
    media, and intended promotional events or publications.
    \item The list of actions which was written up following the
    previous committee meeting, each of which should then be
    answered with a status report from the person responsible
    for that action item.
    \item The selection of NCOs to take responsibility for any
    events a month or more after the meeting. A list of possible
    NCOs should be drawn up for each event, with at least three
    NCOs if possible.
\end{itemize}

Reports may be given orally but any reports with statistical
information should be written and a copy submitted to the secretary
for the purpose of maintaining accurate minutes.
}
}

It is necessary for the committee to maintain a minimal set 
of statistics throughout the year. This sets out some of 
that minimal set, as well as indicating to new committee 
members what they should prepare for committee meetings.

\noindent
\colorbox{ltgrey}{
\begin{minipage}[c]{0.9\textwidth}
{\tt
{\bf Article 10.1} \\
The Committee shall be responsible for the day-to-day       
running of the Club and shall, subject to the provisions of 
this Constitution take such actions and effect such rules,  
regulations, or other instruments as it may deem necessary  
to realise the object of the Club.\\}
\end{minipage}
}
\\

\change{
Change {\tt ``object''} to {\it ``objectives''}.
}

Simply reflecting the changes in Article 3.

\noindent
\colorbox{ltgrey}{
\begin{minipage}[c]{0.9\textwidth}
{\tt
{\bf Article 10.2} \\
Any question put to a committee meeting shall be decided by 
a simple majority of the members present, subject to the    
provision that, whereas each other member of the Committee  
shall have one vote, the Captain shall have one and a half  
votes.                                                      
}
\end{minipage}
}
\\

\change{
Change {\tt ``members present''} to {\it ``attendees''}.
}

\change{
Change {\tt ``member of the Committee''} to {\it ``attendee''}.
}

\change{
Append {\it ``Observers shall not be permitted to vote.''}.
}

These relect the changes in Article 8 with respect to 
observers at the committee meetings.

\change{
Add:\\
{\it
{\bf Article 10.3}\\
For the purposes of votes related to a specific club project, the NCO
responsible for that project will have an equal vote to the other
committee members.
}
}

No point in giving someone responsibility for a project and 
not giving them a vote in decisions regarding that project.

\change{
Add:\\
{\it
{\bf Article 10.4}\\
The result of all votes taken at a committee meeting must be recorded in the
minutes of the meeting. It will not be necessary to take a record of
individual votes, with the exception of votes on disciplinary
measures, in which case a record of individual votes must be kept and
entered in the minutes.
}
}

The recording of vote results should take place naturally in 
the minutes as it is an indicator of how the committee felt 
on a topic. In disciplinary matters, the names should be 
recorded as disciplinary action by the committee could 
adversely affect a person and this should not be an 
anonymous process.

\noindent
\colorbox{ltgrey}{
\begin{minipage}[c]{0.9\textwidth}
{\tt{\bf Article 11} \\
It is the duty of the Committee 
\begin{enumerate}
    \item to realise the object of the Club
    \item to act, if called upon to do so, as the Disciplinary
    Committee
    \item to appoint Range Officers, and supervise them through
    the Chief Range Officer, who shall be a member of the
    Committee
    \item to regulate and supervise the opening of the Range to
    members
    \item to regulate and supervise the purchase and use by the
    Club of ammunition and equipment
    \item to fill, by co-option, any vacancies as may occur in  
    the Committee between Annual General Meetings and           
    \item to legislate upon any point not provided for in this
    Constitution
\end{enumerate}
}
\end{minipage}
}
\\

\change{
Change {\tt ``object of the Club''} to {\it ``objectives of 
the Club in a proactive manner''}.
}

Reflecting the changes to article 3.

\change{
Change {\tt ``to appoint Range Officers, and supervise them through
the Chief Range Officer, who shall be a member of the Committee''} to
{\it ``to approve the written application of Ordinary Members to become
Range Officers, and to select Ordinary Members to be invited to
become Range Officers.''}
}

The procedure of selection of range officers has never been 
formalised or codified. I propose that we create the option 
of written application to the post of Range Officer, along with the 
traditional invitational approach. One of the 
characteristics required of a range officer is that of being 
willing to volunteer. Applying for the post is a good 
indicator of that characteristic. It also designates the 
committee as a whole, and not an individual range officer, 
as the body to which to apply.

\change{
Add:\\
{\it ``to monitor the performance of the Range Officers and to
address their complaints or suggestions. This to be done through the
Chief Range Officer''}
}

The committee does not ``supervise'' the ROs, that is the 
job of the CRO. This change reflects that and also formalises
the ROs' right to bring issues to the committee, and ensures 
it is done in an orderly fashion, through the CRO.

\change{
Add:\\
{\it ``to approve the written application of Ordinary Members to become
Non-Committee Officers, and to select Ordinary Members to be invited to
become Non-Committee Officers.''}
}

This puts the same appointment procedure in place for the 
NCOs as proposed for the ROs. As the NCOs report directly to 
the committee, there is no need for a Chief NCO.

\change{
Add:\\
{\it ``to maintain in an orderly fashion a set of written 
notes relating to their work, in order that, upon completion 
of the committee's term, the incoming committee will have 
the benefit of the outgoing committee's experience. The 
Secretary is responsible for the safe archival of these notes.}
}

This is something that individual committee members have 
tried to do over the years. It needs to be done by everyone 
however, to prevent months of the incoming committee making 
mistakes and to provide a knowlege base for the NCOs to use 
to ease the difficulty of training NCOs in running events.

\change{
Change {\tt``to regulate and supervise the purchase and use by the
Club of ammunition and equipment''} to {\it ``to regulate and supervise 
the purchase and use by the Club of ammunition and equipment through 
the Chief Range Officer''}
}

There has been confusion in the past as to who should order 
rifles, etc. This sets that out. The CRO is responsible for 
the upkeep of rifles and so on - logically he should also be 
responsible for purchasing them.

\change{
Append:\\
{\it The committee shall at all times keep in mind that it functions
to represent the ordinary members of the club and that the actions of
the committee must be in the best interest of the majority of the
Ordinary Members.}
}

There have been times when this was forgotten by the 
committee. This formalises the fact that this is not acceptable.

\newpage \subsection{The Captain}

\noindent
\colorbox{ltgrey}{
\begin{minipage}[c]{0.9\textwidth}
{\tt{\bf Article 12} \\
It is the duty of the Captain to supervise the management of the Club, to
act as chairman of the Selection Committee and to promote the object of
the Club at all levels, in addition to duties outlined elsewhere in this
Constitution.
}
\end{minipage}
}
\\

\change{
Append:\\
{\it ``In this the Captain must lead by example.''}
}

Because this should have been in the constitution from the 
start. The captain is the head of the club. If he does not 
lead by example, he's not a good captain.

\newpage \subsection{The Secretary}

\noindent
\colorbox{ltgrey}{
\begin{minipage}[c]{0.9\textwidth}
{\tt{\bf Article 13} \\
It is the duty of the Secretary to attend promptly to       
all correspondence of the Club, insofar as particular       
correspondence is not espressly the province of another     
member of Committee. It is also his duty                    
\begin{enumerate}
    \item to report to the Committee all Club correspondence   
    transmitted and received by him.                           
    \item to record the proceedings of Committee and General
    Meetings and
    \item to preserve in an easily retrievable fashion all
    important Club documents.
\end{enumerate}
}
\end{minipage}
}
\\

\change{
Add:\\
{\it``to ensure that this constitution is made available to all
committee members upon their cooption or at least one day prior to
their first committee meeting, whichever of these two occours
first''}
}

There was a period where new committee members arrived with 
no supporting notes or documentation and many mistakes would 
be made in the learning period. This prevents at least some 
of that.

\change{
Add:\\
{\it``to notify the committee if the committee acts in breach of this
constitution''}
}

The secretary is selected to do this instead of the captain 
as the secretary is supposed to archive the documents of the 
club and so should be familiar with them. Also, seperating 
the decision as to whether or not the committee is in breach 
of the constitution from the power of enforcing the 
constitution (which lies with the Captain) is a good thing 
as it protects the constitution more.

\change{
Add:\\
{\it''to organise the logistics for the Annual General Meeting of 
the Club, as well as the logistics for any Special General Meetings''}
}

\change{
Add:\\
{\it''to organise the logistics for the Committee Meetings''}
}

The logistics for the committee meetings and the AGM and 
SGMs should be handled by a permenant member of committee. 
The Secretary is the logical choice for this responsibility.

\newpage \subsection{The Non-Committee Officers}

The NCOs are the main change in the club structure. The idea 
behind them is an easy one - rather than get one person (the 
Match Secretary) to handle the logisitics for each and every 
competition, delegate responsibility so one person handles 
one competition and gets enough time to do it right. The NCO 
should be assigned their task at least a month in advance, 
they should have sole responsibility for that task and be 
able to solicit whatever assistance they require from 
permenant committee members. 

\newpage \subsection{The Public Relations Officer}

\change{
Add and renumber as necessary:\\
{\it
\textbf{Article 15}\\
It is the duty of the Public Relations Officer to promote 
the good name of the club by diligent and ethical means. 
It is also his duty to
\begin{itemize}
    \item Prepare review articles for the College and Local 
	media relating to the Club and it's activities on a regular basis
    \item Prepare a report for relevant College authorities 
	regarding each event the Club attends or organises. 
	These Event Reports should be prepared and delivered 
	within three working days of the event. They should 
	also be presented to the Ordinary Members by means 
	of the Club website and email list and be posted on 
	the Club noticeboard. 
    \item Prepare an annual review of the Club's progress 
	through the year for publication in college media 
	and for distribution to relevant College authorities
    \item Cooperate fully with the National Governing 
	Bodies' Public Relations Officer in the production 
	of reports on or concerning the Club
    \item Edit or author articles for the Club website on a 
	regular basis
    \item Maintain, insofar as is practicable, a library of 
	photographs for media articles
    \item Maintain, insofar as is practicable, a 
	photographic record of the Club's participation in events
\end{itemize}
}
}

\newpage \subsection{The Chief Range Officer}

\change{
Add and renumber as necessary:\\
{\it
\textbf{Article 16}\\
It is the duty of the Chief Range Officer to 
\begin{itemize}
    \item Monitor the Range Officer reports and report to 
	the Committee regarding these reports
    \item Monitor the usage and inventory of ammunition 
	within the Club
    \item Supervise the Range Officers
    \item Ensure the training of the Range Officers is to 
	the highest standard possible
    \item Monitor the condition of the Club's target 
	shooting equipment and facilities, and oversee their maintainance.
    \item Administer the Duty Roster for the Range Officers
    \item Act as an effective liason between the Range 
	Officers and the Committee
\end{itemize}
}
}

\newpage \subsection{The Range Officers}

\noindent
\colorbox{ltgrey}{
\begin{minipage}[c]{0.9\textwidth}
{\tt{\bf Article 15.1} \\
It is the duty of the Range Officers to instruct and
supervise members in the Range. The Range Officers must
comply with the directions of the Committee and the Chief
Range Officer as regards safety and security in the Range,
and the operation of the Range.\\}
\end{minipage}
}
\\

\change{
Remove {\tt``the Committee and''}.
}

The ROs are the province of the CRO, not the Committee. 

\change{
Append {\it``In turn, the Chief Range Officer must act at all times
in accordance with the directions of the Committee.''}
}

But the ROs are not the CROs private army either!
However, this prevents the Committee giving instructions to 
the ROs without going through the CRO, who remember, is the 
only committee member who must be a qualified RO.

\newpage \subsection{Club officer powers}

\noindent
\colorbox{ltgrey}{
\begin{minipage}[c]{0.9\textwidth}
{\tt
{\bf Article 17} \\
The Club Officers, and the Chief Range Officer, shall
each have the power to take actions appropriate to their
particular province of administration, without reference to
the Committee, provided that
\begin{enumerate}
    \item such actions are not contrary to the provisions of
    this Constitution; and 
    \item such actions are patently in the interests of the 
    Club, and 
    \item such actions are reported to the Committee within 
    one week of their commission.
\end{enumerate}
}
\end{minipage}
}
\\

\change{
Change {\tt``Club Officers,''} to {\it``Club Officers, Non-Committee
Officers, Public Relations Officer, ''}.
}

This extends the range of this Article to those that require 
it's privilege.

\change{
Change {\tt``within one week of their commission''} to {\it``at the
first Committee meeting after their commission or within one week of
their commission, whichever is the sooner''}.
}

And this caters for actions taken a day or two before a 
meeting, when the committee may not agree with those actions.

\newpage \section{The AGM}

\noindent
\colorbox{ltgrey}{
\begin{minipage}[c]{0.9\textwidth}
{\tt
{\bf Article 18.1} \\
The Annual General Meeting shall be held in Trinity Term, at least seven
days notice being given to the members; the following business shall be
transacted:
\begin{enumerate}
    \item Acceptance of the minutes of the previous AGM
    \item Election of Committee
    \item Captain's Report
    \item Treasurer's Report
    \item Other Committee Reports
    \item Amendments of the Constitution and other rules of the Club
    \item Any Other Business
\end{enumerate}
}
\end{minipage}
}
\\

\change{
Change {\tt``at least seven days notice''} to {\it``at least seven
working days notice''}.
}

We've had lots of debates about times in this article. I 
think the introduction of time measured in working days will 
clear up any possible confusion.

\change{
Change the agenda for the AGM to read as follows:\\
{\it
\begin{enumerate}
    \item Acceptance of the minutes of the previous AGM
    \item Captain's Report
    \item Treasurer's Report
    \item Other Committee Reports
    \item Amendments of the Constitution and other rules of the Club
    \item Election of Committee
    \item Any Other Business
\end{enumerate}}}

This is because we normally defer the election of the 
committee at any rate. So we may as well have the agenda 
changed to what we normally do.

\change{
Insert and renumber as necessary:\\
{\it\textbf{Article 18.3}\\
In cases where an election to a committee post is contested, 
prior to the election,
each nominee shall give a statement orally, to be recorded verbatim 
by the Secretary. This statement, which must not exceed 
three minutes, shall detail their qualifications for the 
post and their proposed manifesto for that post. Following 
this, the nominees shall answer any questions from the AGM 
attendees pertaining to the Club or the post in question, 
for a maximum of ten minutes. 
}
}

Attendees at the AGM may not know much of the internal 
workings of the club. Therefore, for an informed vote, at 
least this minimal amount of information should be supplied.
The secretary can use a tape recorder to record the 
statements. And ``manifesto'' has some odd associations, but 
it's the most appropriate word.

\noindent
\colorbox{ltgrey}{
\begin{minipage}[c]{0.9\textwidth}
{\tt
{\bf Article 18.3} \\
If a motion put to a General Meeting, either Special or Annual,
is a motion to amend the Constitution or Rules of the Club,
such a motion shall not be debated or considered unless:
\begin{enumerate}
    \item The motion has been duly proposed, seconded in writing, and
    has been given to the Secretary at least seven full days
    prior to the meeting; and,
    \item The motion has been duly posted on the
    notice board for the seven days immediately prior to the
    meeting;
\end{enumerate}
}
\end{minipage}
}
\\


\change{
Change {\tt``at least seven full days prior''} to {\it``at least
ten working days prior''}
}

Ten working days so that the committee has a chance to read 
the motion before the rest of the club, which may be more 
efficent in cases where a motion is unnecessary.

\change{
Change {\tt``the seven days immediately prior''} to {\it``at least
seven working days prior''}
}

\noindent
\colorbox{ltgrey}{
\begin{minipage}[c]{0.9\textwidth}
{\tt{\bf Article 21} \\
Where in this Constitution it is stipulated that notice must
be given for a general meeting, such notice:
\begin{enumerate}
    \item must be posted during Arts Lecture Term and
    \item must be posted on the Club notice board
\end{enumerate}
}
\end{minipage}
}
\\

\change{
Change {\tt``Lecture Term and''} to {\it``Lecture Term''}
}

\change{
Add:\\
{\it``must be posted on the Club's front arch notice board''}
}

\change{
Add:\\
{\it``must be posted on the Club's website''}
}

\change{
Add:\\
{\it``must be posted to the Club's electronic mailing list''}
}

This increases the number of places that notice must be 
given for an AGM. However, as this entails a pitifully small 
amount of work, it should not be a major problem, and it 
increases the probable size of the AGM. In fact, it's 
normally done this way, so this is again just a formalisation.

\newpage \section{Club reputation}

\noindent
\colorbox{ltgrey}{
\begin{minipage}[c]{0.9\textwidth}
{\tt
{\bf Article 19.2} \\
In paragraph a of this Article, the phrase                  
\textit{"conduct likely to bring the Club into         
disrepute"} shall particularly, but not    
exclusively, refer to conduct likely to      
endanger the safety of others, or conduct contrary to the   
provisions of the Firearms Acts.\\
}
\end{minipage}
}
\\

\change{
Insert and renumber as necessary:\\
{\it{\bf Article 19.2}\\
In section 1 of this article, the phrase                  
\textit{"conduct likely to bring the Club into         
disrepute"} shall particularly, but not    
exclusively, refer to conduct in breach of the club's code of
conduct. This code of conduct shall be maintained by the committee 
and shall be compatible with relevant codes of conduct, in particular
those maintained by:
\begin{itemize}
    \item the National Governing Body of the sport
    \item the Olympic Council of Ireland
    \item the Irish Sports Council
    \item the International Shooting Sport Federation
    \item the International Olympic Council
    \item the College
\end{itemize}
}
}

We have had disciplinary problems at competitions in the 
past. This formally allows for disciplinary action in such 
cases and also allows the introduction of the Code of 
Conduct that was agreed upon by the committee in 2001.

\newpage\section{Proposed new Constitution}
\framebox{
\begin{minipage}[t]{0.9\textwidth}
{\it The following is what the DURC constitution would look 
like, assuming all of the above changes are approved at the 
AGM. Changes from the 2001 constitution are marked with a 
margin bar.}
\end{minipage}
}

\vspace{5mm}
\vspace{5mm}
\tt 

{\large  Article 1} \\
The titles, headings and marginal notes in this document    
are for the purpose of explaination only, and do not form   
part of this Constitution.                                  

\vspace{5mm}
{\large  Article 2} \\
The Club shall be called ``Dublin University Rifle Club''     
with its headquarters at The Range, Trinity College Dublin. 

\vspace{5mm}
\begin{changebar}
{\large  Article 3} \\
The objectives of the Club shall be:
\begin{itemize}
    \item To train it's members to the highest standard of
safety with respect to firearms as possible.
    \item To instill an abiding interest in the sport of
 target shooting in it's members.
    \item To train it's members to the highest standard of
marksmanship possible.
    \item To imbue it's members with the best principles of
fair competition wit hin the sport.
    \item To encourage it's members to achieve their highest
potential possible within the sport.
    \item To introduce it's members to all aspects of the
sport of target shooting possible, without prejudice.
    \item To maintain, and improve upon, the facilities and
equipment the club p rovides for it's members.
    \item To promote the club's good name and sporting reputation.
\end{itemize}
\end{changebar}

\vspace{5mm}
{\large  Article 4} \\
The Club shall be affiliated to, or associated with, such   
organisations as the Committee may specify.                 

\newpage

\vspace{5mm}{\large  Article 5} \\
The Club shall consist of 
\begin{itemize}
	\item a President
	\item any number of vice-Presidents, subject to Article 6
	\item a Captain
	\item a Secretary
	\item a Treasurer
	\begin{changebar}
	\item up to up to thirty non-committee officers
	\end{changebar}
	\item up to twenty Range Officers and
	\item the Ordinary Members
\end{itemize}


\vspace{5mm}{\large  Article 6} \\
The posts of President and vice-President shall be filled   
at the invitation of the Committee.                         

\begin{changebar}
\vspace{5mm}{\large  Article 7} \\
The Committee shall consist of:
\begin{itemize}
    \item the Captain
    \item the Secretary
    \item the Treasurer
    \item the Chief Range Officer
    \item the Public Relations Officer
\end{itemize}
\end{changebar}

\vspace{5mm}{\large  Article 8.1} \\
The Committee shall meet at least once a week during Arts
Lecture Term, and as often as possible outside term.

\vspace{5mm}{\large  Article 8.2} \\
The quorum for a Committee meeting shall be four, two of whom
must be Club Officers. \begin{changebar} One of the four may be a reporting
    NCO, but only if all three Officers are present. \end{changebar}

\vspace{5mm}{\large  Article 8.3} \\
The Committee shall be chaired by the Captain, or in the
absence of the Captain another Club Officer.

\vspace{5mm}\begin{changebar}{\large Article 8.4}\\
Committee meetings shall be open for observation to
Committee members, Non-Committee Officers, Range Officers
and invited guests, depending on space limitations.
Observers shall not have a vote in the proceedings.


\vspace{5mm}{\large Article 8.5}\\
The secretary shall prepare the agenda for the meeting. This agenda
is to be distributed, either electronicly or on paper, to the
intended attendees (excluding observers), at least one day prior to the meeting. Once distributed, the agenda can not be altered.  

\vspace{5mm}{\large Article 8.6}\\
The secretary shall prepare the minutes of the meeting. These minutes
must be distributed, either electronicly or on paper, to the
attendees of the meeting (excluding observers) within two working
days of the meeting. The attendees must be given one working day to
review the minutes for accuracy and any corrections necessary. The
minutes must be then made available to all club members, both on the
club website and by posting a printed copy of the minutes on the
noticeboard in the club rooms. 

\vspace{5mm}{\large Article 8.7}\\
Committee meetings should include the following on the agenda, in any
order:
\begin{itemize}
    \item A report from the Secretary which should contain:
        \begin{itemize}
            \item A list of correspondance received by the club for the previous
 week or weeks.
            \item A list of correspondance sent by the club for the previous wee
k or weeks.
            \item The status of the minutes of the last meeting
        \end{itemize}
    \item A report from the Treasurer, which should contain:
        \begin{itemize}
            \item The current balance in the club accounts.
            \item The total amount of money taken over the previous week or week
s, as actually counted by the Treasurer.
            \item The current state of the club's finances, in particular as reg
ards college funding budgets.
        \end{itemize}
    \item A report from the Chief Range Officer, which should contain:
        \begin{itemize}
            \item The amount of ammunition expended for the previous week or wee
ks, broken down by ammunition type.
            \item Notes from RO Reports during the previous week or weeks.
            \item Any reports of damage to club equipment over the previous week
 or weeks.
            \item The total amount of money taken over the previous week or week
s, as reported on the RO reports.
        \end{itemize}
    \item A report from the Public Relations Officer which
    should contain a list of all mentions of the club in public
    media, and intended promotional events or publications.
    \item The list of actions which was written up following the
    previous committee meeting, each of which should then be
    answered with a status report from the person responsible
    for that action item.
    \item The selection of NCOs to take responsibility for any
    events a month or more after the meeting. A list of possible
    NCOs should be drawn up for each event, with at least three
    NCOs if possible.
\end{itemize}
\end{changebar}

\vspace{5mm}{\large  Article 9} \\
The Club Officers, in addition to any other duties specified 
in the Constitution, shall
\begin{itemize}
    \item Constitute the Selection Committee which shall 
	pick all teams to represent the Club and
    \item where the need arises shall interpret this 
	Constitution by a majority decision.
\end{itemize}

\vspace{5mm}{\large  Article 10a} \\
The Committee shall be responsible for the day-to-day       
running of the Club and shall, subject to the provisions of 
this Constitution take such actions and effect such rules,  
regulations, or other instruments as it may deem necessary  
to realise the objectives of the Club.                          

\vspace{5mm}{\large  Article 10b} \\
Any question put to a committee meeting shall be decided by 
a simple majority of the attendees, subject to the    
provision that, whereas each other attendee 
shall have one vote, the Captain shall have one and a half 
votes. \begin{changebar}Observers will not be allowed to vote.

\vspace{5mm}{\large Article 10.3}\\
For the purposes of votes related to a specific club project, the NCO
responsible for that project will have an equal vote to the other
committee members.

\vspace{5mm}{\large Article 10.4}\\
The result of all votes taken at a committee meeting must be recorded in the
minutes of the meeting. It will not be necessary to take a record of
individual votes, with the exception of votes on disciplinary
measures, in which case a record of individual votes must be kept and
entered in the minutes.
\end{changebar}

\vspace{5mm}{\large  Article 11} \\
It is the duty of the Committee 
\begin{enumerate}
	\item to realise the objectives of the Club
	\item to act, if called upon to do so, as the Disciplinary
	Committee
	\begin{changebar}
	\item to approve the written application of Ordinary Members to become Range Officers, and to select Ordinary Members to be invited to become Range Officers.
	\item to monitor the performance of the Range Officers and to
address their complaints or suggestions. This to be done through the
Chief Range Officer
	\item to approve the written application of Ordinary Members to become Non-Committee Officers, and to select Ordinary Members to be invited to become Non-Committee Officers
	\end{changebar}
	\item to regulate and supervise the opening of the Range to
	members
	\item to regulate and supervise the purchase and use by the
	Club of ammunition and equipment throught the Chief Range Officer
	\item to fill, by co-option, any vacancies as may occur in  
	the Committee between Annual General Meetings and           
	\item to legislate upon any point not provided for in this
	Constitution
\end{enumerate}

\begin{changebar}
The committee shall at all times keep in mind that it functions
to represent the ordinary members of the club and that the actions of
the committee must be in the best interest of the majority of the
Ordinary Members.
\end{changebar}

\vspace{5mm}{\large  Article 12} \\
It is the duty of the Captain to supervise the management of
the Club, to act as chairman of the Selection Committee and
to promote the object of the Club at all levels, in addition
to duties outlined elsewhere in this Constitution.\begin{changebar} In this
the Captain must lead by example.
\end{changebar}

\vspace{5mm}{\large  Article 13} \\
It is the duty of the Secretary to attend promptly to       
all correspondence of the Club, insofar as particular       
correspondence is not espressly the province of another     
member of Committee. It is also his duty                    
\begin{enumerate}
	\item to report to the Committee all Club correspondence   
	transmitted and received by him.                           
	\item to record the proceedings of Committee and General
	Meetings and
	\item to preserve in an easily retrievable fashion all
	important Club documents.
	\begin{changebar}
	\item to ensure that this constitution is made available to all committee members upon their cooption or at least one day prior to their first committee meeting, whichever of these two occours first
	\item to notify the committee if the committee acts in breach of this constitution
	\item to organise the logistics for the Annual General Meeting of the Club, as well as the logistics for any Special General Meetings
	\item to organise the logistics for the Committee Meetings
	\end{changebar}
\end{enumerate}

\vspace{5mm}{\large  Article 14} \\
It is the duty of the Treasurer
\begin{enumerate}
	\item to attend promptly to all matters relating to the
	Club's finances and
	\item to report to the Committee, and at the Annual        
	General Meeting to the Club, details of all monies         
	received or transmitted by the Club.                       
\end{enumerate}

\vspace{5mm}{\large  Article 15.1} \\
It is the duty of the Range Officers to instruct and
supervise members in the Range. The Range Officers must
comply with the directions of the Chief
Range Officer as regards safety and security in the Range,
and the operation of the Range.\begin{changebar} In turn, the Chief Range Officer must act at all times in accordance with the directions of the Committee.
\end{changebar}

\vspace{5mm}{\large  Article 15.2} \\
The Range Officers have the power to refuse access to       
the Range to any person, whether member or not, who they    
believe presents athreat to safety or security; they may    
eject from the Range any person who behaves in an unseemly  
or dangerous manner.                                        

\vspace{5mm}{\large  Article 15.3} \\
Upon taking such action as provided for in paragraph ``b'' of
this Article, a Range Officer shall, without further delay,
report the matter to the Captain or Chief Range Officer, 
who shall in turn report the matter to the General Services 
Officer, and if necessary to the public authorities. 

\vspace{5mm}{\large  Article 16} \\
The Captain and the Chief Range Officer shall, within one
month of the beginning of Michaelmas Term in the year of
their election to Committeem make themselves personally
known to the following individuals:
\begin{enumerate}
	\item the Agent
	\item the General Services Officer
	\item the Superintendent, or the officer in charge of 
	the firearms section, B district, Garda Siochana, 
	Dublin Metropolitan Area.  
\end{enumerate}

\vspace{5mm}{\large  Article 17} \\
The Club Officers, \begin{changebar} Non-Committee Officers, Public Relations
    Officer,\end{changebar} and the Chief Range Officer, shall each have the
power to take actions appropriate to their
particular province of administration, without reference to
the Committee, provided that
\begin{enumerate}
	\item
	such actions are not contrary to the provisions of
	this Constitution; and 
	\item
	such actions are patently in the interests of the 
	Club, and 
	\item 
	    such actions are reported to the Committee \begin{changebar} at the
first Committee meeting after their commission or within one week of
their commission, whichever is the sooner\end{changebar}
\end{enumerate}

\vspace{5mm}{\large  Article 18.1} \\
The Annual General Meeting shall be held in Trinity Term,
at least seven working days notice being given to the members; the
following business shall be transacted:
\begin{enumerate}
\item Acceptance of the minutes of the previous AGM
\item Election of Committee
\item Captain's Report
\item Treasurer's Report
\item Other Committee Reports
\item Amendments of the Constitution and other rules of the Club
\item Any Other Business
\end{enumerate}

\vspace{5mm}{\large  Article 18.2} \\
Questions and motions put to an Annual General Meeting, or
any other General Meeting of the Club, shall be decided
by a simple majority of the members present


\vspace{5mm}{\large  Article 18.3} \\
If a motion put to a General Meeting, either Special or Annual,
is a motion to amend the Constitution or Rules of the Club,
such a motion shall not be debated or considered unless:

\begin{enumerate}
\item
The motion has been duly proposed, seconded in writing, and
has been given to the Secretary at least \begin{changebar}ten working\end{changebar} days
prior to the meeting; and,
\item
The motion has been duly posted on the
notice board for the seven working days immediately prior to the
meeting;
\end{enumerate}

\vspace{5mm}{\large  Article 18.4} \\
Notwithstanding Article 18b of this Constitution, a motion
to amend the Constitution or rules of the Club must be approved by three
quarters of the members present at a General Meeting.


\vspace{5mm}{\large  Article 19.1} \\
Should the conduct of any member, in any premises occupied
by the Club, or
elsewhere be likely to bring the Club into disrepute it is
the duty of the Captain, or failing him the Secretary, to
convene a Special Committee Meeting which shall serve as
a Disciplinary Committee Meeting. The member in question
must be present to present his case; 
failure on his part to be present without good reason shall
be sufficent grounds for his immediate expulsion from the
Club.
The member in question shall be given at least seven days'
notice of such a meeting, On hearing the full facts of the
case, the Committee shall pass one of the following motions:
\begin{enumerate}
	\item Total absolution from all blame on the part of the member
	\item Slight criticism of his conduct
	\item Severe criticism of his conduct
	\item His suspension from the Club for not longer than the
		remainder of the University Year
	\item His immediate expulsion from the Club
\end{enumerate}

\vspace{5mm}\begin{changebar}{\large Article 19.2}\\
In section 1 of this article, the phrase                  
\textit{"conduct likely to bring the Club into         
disrepute"} shall particularly, but not    
exclusively, refer to conduct in breach of the club's code of
conduct. This code of conduct shall be maintained by the committee 
and shall be compatible with relevant codes of conduct, in particular
those maintained by:
\begin{itemize}
    \item the National Governing Body of the sport
    \item the Olympic Council of Ireland
    \item the Irish Sports Council
    \item the International Shooting Sport Federation
    \item the International Olympic Council
    \item the College
\end{itemize}
\end{changebar}

\vspace{5mm}{\large  Article 19.3} \\
In paragraph a of this Article, the phrase                  
\textit{"conduct{\dots}likely to bring the Club into         
disrepute"} shall particularly, but not    
exclusively, refer to conduct likely to      
endanger the safety of others, or conduct contrary to the   
provisions of the Firearms Acts.                            

\vspace{5mm}{\large  Article 19.4} \\
The member shall have the right of appeal to a Special      
General Meeting of the Club, convened solely for the        
purpose of hearing such an appeal.                          

\vspace{5mm}{\large  Article 20.1} \\
Upon requisition in writing, duly setting out the purpose,  
signed by twelve members and delivered to the Secretary,    
the committee shall, within fourteen days, convene a        
Special General Meeting of the Club, at least seven         
days notice being given to the members, in accordance
with Article 21 of this Constitution. Upon such          
requisition being duly served and not complied with, the    
requisitionists may themselves convene a Special General    
Meeting of the Club by giving seven days' notice to the     
members, duly setting out the purpose. Any resolution       
passed at such a meeting shall have the same effect as      
if they were passed at a General Meeting convened by the    
Committee.                                                  

\vspace{5mm}{\large  Article 20.2} \\
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph "a" of this     
Article, no General Meeting of the Club, of whatever        
sort, shall take place between the months of June           
and September, inclusive.   

\vspace{5mm}{\large  Article 21} \\
Where in this Constitution it is stipulated that notice must
be given for a general meeting, such notice:
\begin{enumerate}
    \item must be posted during Arts Lecture Term 
    \item must be posted on the Club notice board
    \begin{changebar}
    \item must be posted on the Club's front arch notice board
    \item must be posted on the Club's website
    \item must be posted to the Club's electronic mailing list
    \end{changebar}
\end{enumerate}

\vspace{5mm}{\large  Article 22} \\
In this Constitution, and in any rules or regulations of    
the Club's making terms in the masculine gender are to be   
understood as applying to either sex.                       

\vspace{5mm}{\large  Article 22} \\
This Constitution revokes and repeals any previous          
Constitutions of the Club.                                  

\end{document}
