GENERAL

1. The club shall be called Portsmouth And District Model Aircraft Club (PADMAC) and will be affiliated to the British Model Flying Association (BMFA).
2. PADMAC’s principal aim shall be the promotion of safe and responsible model aircraft flying, including but not limited to radio controlled fixed wing, helicopters and drones.
3. Alterations to this constitution can only be made at an Annual General Meeting (AGM) or at a General Meeting called for that purpose. Any Proposed alterations

MEMBERS

4. A “member” means any class of membership.
5. The Committee has the right to refuse membership to new applicants.
6. New members will be required to serve an initial probationary period of 6 months. During this time they will not be eligible to serve on the Committee and may have their membership terminated at the discretion of the Committee for unsatisfactory conduct.
7. New members’ subscriptions shall be dependent on membership class, plus the joining fee as decided at the Annual General Meeting.
8. Subscriptions are due by 1st January each year. Any member, who has not paid the subscriptions for the ensuing year by this date, in whole or in part, will not be permitted to fly until they have done so. Current BMFA membership and CAA Operator registration must be in place before flying.
9. Members who have allowed their membership to lapse for less than 3 months will not normally be asked to re-apply for membership or pay the joining fee, but will be required to pay a full 12 months subscription. Reduced subscriptions for new members will apply from September when they will be halved.
10. Members who have not renewed their membership by 31st March will be deemed to have left the club and a renewal after this period will be treated as a new membership application.
11. All members must be members of the British Model Flying Association and must be able to provide evidence of such on request. The only exception to this is for those members who play no active part in the club whatsoever; i.e. social members only.
12. A member may be made a life member for extensive services to the club. Life members can only be created by a majority ballot of club members at an AGM.
13. All members, without exception, must comply with all club rules and operate lawfully and be compliant to CAA regulation at all times and must show proof of any required registrations on request.
14.  Members may invite guest fliers to the site with prior arrangement with the Committee but they must be BMFA insured and the club member must assume total responsibility for the actions and safety of the guest. Guests must fly under the supervision of instructors if their ability requires it, and such arrangements must be made in advance of the visit. Guests must have their own insurance and approval must be requested for each visit.

RULES, DISCIPLINE AND SAFETY

15. Additions and amendments to field safety rules and regulations can only be made by proposals at a General Meeting.
16. All field safety rules and regulations will be reviewed annually, and will be considered binding for 12 months, excepting where urgent action is required. This action must then be ratified by the members at the next general meeting.
17. Any complaint concerning any member must be made in writing and signed by the complainant(s). The written complaint must then be forwarded to the Secretary so that the matter can be addressed at the next Committee meeting.
18. Where an allegation of misconduct is made against a member, the member may be suspended from all club activities while an investigation is carried out.
19. The Committee may impose a suspension from club activities including attendance at the club flying site, not exceeding 28 days upon any member in the event of misconduct. Any suspension must be accompanied by a verbal and/or written warning as deemed appropriate in accordance with Article 20.
20. The Committee may consider removal of membership where conduct on the field or elsewhere is considered to be prejudicial to the club. Dismissal will be in accordance with the following procedure in order to comply with the laws of natural justice:
21. 1. The member is to be given a verbal warning by an authorised Committee Member in which the member is made aware of his misdemeanour and what he is reasonably required to do to make amends.
    2. If the member does not respond, he or she is to be given a written warning by an authorised Committee Member to advise them of their misdemeanour and what they are reasonably required to do to make amends.
    3. If they still fail to respond, the Committee should invite them in writing to meet with them at a previously agreed date and time to discuss the situation, advising they are considering withdrawal of their membership.
    4. If they still fail to respond to reasoning or fail to attend without reasonable cause, the Committee can advise them in writing that their membership is withdrawn, stating the reasons why this decision was reached.
    5. When the member is advised of withdrawal of membership, they must be given the right of appeal. If they opt to appeal, this will be to the Club membership at an EGM which the Committee would call on their behalf at a previously agreed date and time. The motion to uphold the membership withdrawal or reverse it must be in accordance with the voting procedures set out in the Club Constitution.

In the event of gross misconduct, immediate dismissal without warnings may be considered but the member must still be accorded their rights to present their case to the committee and be given a right of appeal in accordance with sub-paragraphs c, d and e above. In the event of dismissal the Committee will arrange for the member’s current membership fee (excluding BMFA subscription) to be reimbursed in full.

FLYING

21. Members are responsible for themselves and to each other for flying safely and legally in accordance with general and site rules.
22. PADMAC does not run a training Scheme. It is the responsibility of all pilots to take whatever steps necessary to learn to fly safely. However, experienced members should always be glad to assist novices with the acquisition of suitable and properly constructed and controlled models, and the ability to fly them as they progress.
23. PADMAC encourages members to progress through the BMFA RC Achievement Scheme stages and recommends that each member attain at least an Achievement Scheme “A” certificate. Support will be provided for members to attain an “A” certificate through coaching and mentoring. The scheme is not compulsory.

COMMITTEE STRUCTURE AND APPOINTMENTS

24. The Committee of the Club shall comprise of not more than 8 members.
25. The Officers of the committee shall be:

26. A committee member should be appointed as the BMFA Delegate to represent the club at relevant regional/national meetings.
26. Any Committee member or member who is involved in any organisational position within the Club, must hold membership of the British Model Flying Association.
27. Committee positions will be open for re-election at every Annual General Meeting. Club members who wish to put themselves forward for election should contact the committee 28 days prior to the AGM in order to inform other members in time for them to consider how they wish to vote. Committee positions will be elected by a show of hands at the AGM. All fully paid up members and life members are eligible to vote.
28. Should a committee position become vacant, the Committee may, by a majority vote, co- opt a replacement who will then serve until the following Annual General Meeting.

COMMITTEE ORGANISATION AND POWERS

29. Members elected to office will have full voting rights at all meetings. In the event of a tie the Chairman will have a casting vote in addition to their initial standing vote.
30. The Committee is authorised to make running cost payments from the club bank account. Each payment must be proposed and then approved by separate committee members.
31. Approval from the membership at an ordinary meeting must be sought for expenditure greater than £200.00
32. Money may only be withdrawn from the club funds by signed cheque or electronic bank transfer by not less than two authorised signatories.
33. The Secretary must be informed of any negotiations proposed by club members which affect the Club as a whole and copies of any written correspondence must be submitted to him for record purposes.
34. Any Committee Member or Officer wishing to resign prior to an AGM should inform the committee in order for alternative arrangements can be made to allow the committee functions to continue.

VOTING AND CONDUCT OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS

35. All AGMs will have an agenda and be minuted. Minutes of committee meetings will be published via the club official website.
36. A quorum of any Committee meeting shall consist of a majority of Committee Members.
37. All proposals must be seconded and voted upon. A majority vote of those present is required to carry any proposal.
38. Voting will normally be by a show of hands, however a secret ballot must be taken should any committee member request that this be done. Proxy and postal votes will not be permitted.
39. An audio recording of committee meetings may be taken by the secretary only, for the sole purpose of producing accurate minutes. The audio recording must be deleted once the written minutes are approved.
40. Non committee members may attend committee meetings as observers by applying to the Secretary at least 14 days before the meeting.

VOTING AND CONDUCT OF GENERAL MEETINGS

41. All general meetings will have an agenda and be minuted.
42. To be valid, a general meeting must have a minimum of 10% of the voting membership present. All proposals must be seconded and voted upon. A majority vote of those present is required to carry any proposal including proposals to alter this constitution. Voting will normally be by a show of hands, however a secret ballot must be taken should any member request that this be done. Proxy and postal votes will not be permitted. Amendments to proposals must be voted upon first.
43. An audio recording of general meetings may be taken by the secretary only, for the sole purpose of producing accurate minutes. The audio recording must be deleted once the written minutes are approved.
44. Non club members may attend Club meetings as observers as invited guests of a club by applying to the Secretary at least 14 days before the meeting. Any non Club member may be asked to leave the meeting subject to approval from the Committee
45. The Committee, through the Chairman, has the power to ask a person to leave any meeting in the event of that person disrupting the meeting.
46. Patrons of the club have no voting rights but are free to attend all club meetings.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS

47. A date for the Annual General Meeting will be decided each year by the Committee. At least 28 days notice of the meeting will be given in writing (by email) to all Club members.
48. Annual subscriptions and the joining fee will be decided at the Annual General Meeting.
49. A competent individual (non-committee member) shall be elected by the Committee to carry out an independent examination of the accounts before the Annual General Meeting to verify that the balance sheet is correct and fairly represents the expenditure and receipts of the club, its assets and its liabilities.

EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETINGS

50. The Secretary will convene an Extraordinary Committee Meeting within 14 days on request from any officer of the Committee, stating the business to be discussed.
51. The Secretary shall convene an Extraordinary General Meeting of the club by a resolution of the Committee stating the business to be brought before the meeting, of which 28 days notice has been given to all members in writing stating the business to be discussed.
52. The Secretary shall convene an Extraordinary General Meeting of the club on receipt of a request in writing signed by not less than 10% of club members, stating the business to be brought before the meeting. The meeting must be called within 28 days of request and 28 days notice must be given to all members in writing stating the business to be discussed.
53. When a request for a meeting is made in accordance with Article 56 (above) and it is not called within 28 days, the requisitioners may themselves convene an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Club by giving 28 days notice in writing to all members, duly setting out the purpose for which the meeting was called. Any resolutions passed at such a meeting shall require 2/3rds majority to have the same force and effect as if they were passed at a meeting convened by the Committee.

INSURANCE AND INDEMNITY

54. The club will hold both Civil and Employers Liability Insurance, provided through affiliation to the BMFA.
55. The club will indemnify all committee officers and committee members if they incur any liability on behalf of the club.
56. In the event of a Committee Member being awarded damages or costs in the course of proceedings taken by him in his representative capacity, such damages or costs will belong to the Club and not the Committee Member personally and upon receipt that Committee Member will pay them to the Club Treasurer.
57. When there is a joint meeting between PADMAC and another club, the participating club must be able to provide evidence of adequate insurance cover well in advance of the event.

DISSOLUTION OF THE CLUB

58. Should it be considered necessary or desirable to dissolve the Club, the Committee will call an Extraordinary General Meeting. Should a quorum fail to appear, the meeting will be adjourned and a further EGM must be called within 14 days. The second meeting will proceed even if a quorum is not present and the motion will then be carried by a simple majority vote.
59. On dissolution and after the sale of assets, settlement of all outstanding debts and the refund of subscriptions for the remaining part of the year to the paid up members; the funds remaining will be distributed in equal shares to the Club’s charities. (See the Clubs’ Charity Guidelines).
60. If the final accounts are less than required to refund the subscriptions to the members, the total money remaining will be held in trust by the BMFA for a period of ten years.
61. All members will receive a final statement of accounts.

This constitution was accepted at the AGM held on 3 December 2025