LEINSTER SUPPORTERS CLUB – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS THE CLUB AND CONSTITUTION What is the Leinster Supporters Club (LSC)? The LSC is a club formed by Leinster rugby supporters to encourage and facilitate improved support of the Leinster rugby team. Will the LSC be an official supporters club? The LSC will be owned and operated by its members, but it will be the official supporters club and will maintain close links with the Leinster Branch. The Leinster Branch will be invited to send a representative to each Committee meeting, but that person will not have any voting rights at the meeting. How is it constituted? The LSC will be constituted at its first Annual General Meeting (AGM), currently scheduled for 30 August 2007. At the AGM the members will be asked to formally adopt the constitution, which sets out the fundamental rules governing the operation of the LSC. A copy of the draft constitution is available on www.leinsterrugby.ie, www.leinsterfans.com and from the Leinster Branch, 55 Main Street, Donnybrook, Dublin 4. How can the constitution be amended? The constitution may be amended by a resolution passed by a majority of the LSC members. Appendix I to the constitution also contains rules governing election to the LSC Committee. The election rules may be amended by the LSC Committee without the need for a resolution of the members. Any amendments will be published by the LSC Committee. MEMBERSHIP How do I become a member of the LSC? Holders of season tickets issued by the Leinster Branch automatically become members of the LSC. Blue members, Exiles members and Cubs Club members also automatically become members of the LSC. The LSC membership year will run from 1 July to 30 June in each year. If you are a season ticket holder for the 2007/08 season, you will automatically be a member of the LSC from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008. What are the benefits of membership of the LSC? During the 2006/7 season the informal supporters club and Working Group organised bus trips to domestic away games in the Magners League, liaised with travel agents to arrange transport to away games in the Heineken Cup and Magners League, organised social events around home and away games in both competitions, held a table quiz to raise funds for Jack Wakefield’s family and entered a tag rugby team in the summer league. More of the same is planned for next year and all members of the LSC will be invited to participate in these events. Details of these events will generally be published on www.leinsterrugby.ie and www.leinsterfans.com. What if I don’t want to be a member of the LSC? You may resign as a member of the LSC at any time by notice in writing to the LSC Committee, c/o the Leinster Branch, 55 Main Street, Donnybrook, Dublin 4. You will forfeit all rights and benefits associated with membership of the LSC, but your rights as a season ticket holder, Blue member, Exiles member or Cubs Club member will not otherwise be affected.
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Will I have to pay a subscription fee? The constitution does give the LSC Committee the right to levy subscriptions on members. However, it is currently intended that the LSC will be adequately funded through merchandising activities and sponsorship and so no subscriptions should be necessary. THE COMMITTEE How will the LSC Committee be appointed? The LSC Committee will be elected by the members of the LSC at the AGM. (For more information see the Election section below.) How many members will be on the Committee? There will be seven members on the LSC Committee: a President, a Vice-President, a Treasurer, a Secretary and three ordinary members. All seven members will be elected at the AGM and will decide among themselves who will fill the different offices. What responsibilities will the different LSC officers have? The President will chair all Committee meetings which she or he attends. The Vice-President will chair any meetings at which the President is not in attendance and will also serve as the Club’s public relations officer. The Secretary will maintain the constitution, any rules of the LSC and records of any decisions taken or resolutions passed. The Treasurer will maintain the books and records of the LSC and prepare its annual accounts. How long will Committee members serve? Committee members will generally serve a term of two years, with each year running from the conclusion of one AGM to the beginning of another. However, in order to ensure continuity it is intended that three of the first Committee members will resign at the end of the first year, while four will stay on to complete their two year term. The three vacant places will be filled at the second AGM. Accordingly, in each successive year three or four Committee positions will be vacated and filled at the AGM, meaning that at all times at least three members of the Committee will have the benefit of a year’s experience. Committee members may serve a maximum of two terms, or four years, before they must retire. However, if anyone wants to, after they have stepped down for at least a year, they may run for election again in subsequent years. How long will people serve as officers of the Committee? The President and Vice-President’s terms are one year terms. After the first AGM, the Committee will appoint one of its members as President for a one year term and another of its members as VicePresident for a one year term. Following the second AGM, the Vice-President will become the President and the Committee will appoint another of their members to be Vice-President. This means that each person who is appointed to be the Vice-President must have a two year term left to run at the time of their appointment. A person may serve as Treasurer or Secretary for as long as they are on the Committee, but the appointment of these officers will be reviewed by the Committee each year after the AGM. How will the Committee be accountable to the members? The Committee will communicate regularly with the members of the LSC. In particular, the Committee will publish a written report of its discussions within ten days of each Committee meeting. In addition the President will deliver an annual report relating to the LSC’s activities at each AGM. The Committee will also prepare accounts annually and publish them to the members of the LSC.
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THE ELECTION How do I nominate someone for the Committee election? The first Committee election will take place at the first AGM. It is currently intended that the AGM will be held on Thursday, 30 August 2007. The closing date for nominations for Committee membership will be Thursday, 2 August 2007. Nomination forms can be obtained on www.leinsterrugby.ie, www.leinsterfans.com or from the Leinster Branch, 55 Main Street, Donnybrook, Dublin 4. In order to stand for election a person must be a member of the LSC on 17 August 2007. This means that by that date, the person standing for election must have purchased a season ticket for 2007/08, or must be a Blue member or an Exiles member for that season. The person must be nominated by two other members. The two nominators and the nominee must all sign the nomination form and must return it to the Leinster Supporters Club, c/o Leinster Branch, 55 Main Street, Donnybrook, Dublin 4. You can nominate a maximum of two candidates at each election, as either a nominator or a seconder. How do I know who has been nominated? Following the closing date for nominations (2 August 2007), the names of all candidates will be published on www.leinsterrugby.ie and www.leinsterfans.com and will also be available from the Leinster Branch, 55 Main Street, Donnybrook, Dublin 4. Each candidate will be asked to prepare a brief statement setting out their reasons for running for election and canvassing your vote. These statements will also be published on www.leinsterrugby.ie and www.leinsterfans.com and will also be available from the Leinster Branch, 55 Main Street, Donnybrook, Dublin 4. How do I vote in the election? In order to vote in the election you must attend the AGM, which is currently scheduled for 30 August 2007. It will take place in Old Belvedere Rugby Club at 8.00pm. Postal or proxy voting will not be permitted. You must be a full member on 17 August 2007 to vote at the AGM. You will be given a ballot paper with the names of all candidates in alphabetical order. You may cast up to seven votes at the first AGM, by putting a cross in the box opposite the name of each candidate. When will the results of the election be announced? The votes will be counted on the night of the AGM, if possible, by three scrutineers who are members of the LSC and are present at the AGM, but are not candidates in the election. The results will be announced on the same day as the AGM, if possible, and in any event within seven days of the AGM.
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