OD Club Rules

Adopted at the General Meeting held at Dover College on 7th June 1981 and amended 2nd June 1991, 31st May 1992, 3rd July 1994, 25 June 1995, 27 June 1999 and 3 July 2011.

  1. The association shall be called the OLD DOVORIAN CLUB.
  2. The OBJECTS of the Old Dovorian Club are:
    1. to maintain and foster friendship among Members;
    2. to keep Members informed in matters concerning Dover College and the Old Dovorian Club;
    3. to put such sports teams into the field as may be from time to time desirable;
    4. to promote social activities in connection with Dover College and the Old Dovorian Club;
    5. to support the objects and activities of Dover College and to give direct or indirect support, pecuniary or otherwise, to any objects or purposes that may be considered deserving of it and that are shown to be connected with Dover College or the Old Dovorian Club; and
    6.  to promote, administer or support such funds as may be considered desirable.
  3. The Old Dovorian Club has four classes of MEMBERS as follows:
    1. Old Dovorians being past pupils of Dover College in good standing who shall be eligible for life membership for a payment of such subscription as may be determined from time to time by General Meeting;
    2. Old Dovorians being past pupils of Dover College Junior School in good standing and over the age of eighteen years who shall be eligible for life membership for a payment of such subscription as may be determined from time to time by General Meeting;
    3. members of the teaching staff permanently employed at Dover College for so long as they remain so employed; and
    4. such Honorary Members as may be so elected by the Committee being individuals who in its opinion have rendered special service to Dover College or to the Old Dovorian Club or who for other reasons are invited by the Committee to accept honorary membership,provided that:
      1. a pupil who has been expelled from Dover College shall not be a member of the Old Dovorian Club for a period of five years from the date of expulsion or such a period as shall match the period of exclusion from College premises set by the Headmaster if shorter. Such a pupil may, on application for membership, be eligible for life membership thereafter for a payment of such subscription as may then be in force and during the period as aforesaid shall be entitled to claim repayment of any subscription previously paid in respect of his or her prospective membership;
      2. the Old Dovorian Club may in General Meeting terminate the membership of any member, suspend such membership for a specified period or restrict all or any of the benefits of such membership for a specified period (without being obliged to repay all or any part of the membership subscription paid by that member) for any cause affecting the interests of the Old Dovorian Club or its relationship with Dover College but only after the member concerned has been given the opportunity to express his or her views on the proposed expulsion, suspension or restriction either in person or in writing to the General Meeting;
      3. the Committee of the Old Dovorian Club may restrict all or any of the benefits of membership of any member until the next General Meeting of the Old Dovorian Club for any cause affecting the interests of the Old Dovorian Club or its relationship with Dover College and the Committee shall notify that member of the extent and nature of the restriction, the details of any resolution relating thereto to be put to the next General Meeting and his or her right to express his or her views thereon to the General Meeting.
  4. All Members of the Old Dovorian Club are ENTITLED:
    1. to attend or participate in functions or other occasions organised by the Old Dovorian Club upon such terms as the Committee shall direct;
    2. to receive such periodic circulars and reports concerning future and past activities at Dover College and in the Old Dovorian Club as the Committee shall direct;
    3. to receive (to the extent not already listed on the website of the Old Dovorian Club) a copy of the rules and such other publications as the Old Dovorian Club may issue from time to time;
    4.  to attend and vote at General Meetings; and
    5.  to wear the colours and other insignia of the Old Dovorian Club.
  5. The COLOURS of the Old Dovorian Club are French grey, red and dark blue, which shall be available in such form as the Committee shall determine from time to time and only from such persons as Dover College or the Committee approve and be supplied only to Members registered in the lists held by the Old Dovorian Club or otherwise registered on the database of members on the Old Dovorian website from time to time, and there shall be such other insignia of the Old Dovorian Club available on the same terms as the Committee shall determine from time to time.
  6. Each SPORTS TEAM shall be selected by the Captain of that sport from amongst the Members or other individuals, including pupils at Dover College, if the Captain considers it desirable.
  7. The OFFICERS of the Old Dovorian Club shall consist of the following:
    1. President, Chairman of the Committee, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer;
    2. Vice-presidents; and
    3. such other officers as may be determined by General Meeting from time to time.
  8. The OFFICERS shall be elected from the Members by General Meeting and shall serve for the following periods:
    1. the President for two years;
    2. Vice-Presidents for life; and
    3. all other Officers for one year,provided that any Officer shall be eligible for re-election (or re-appointment) for consecutive terms.
  9. The COMMITTEE of the Old Dovorian Club shall consist of:
    1. the Officers specified under paragraph (a) of rule 7; and
    2. such other Members as shall be elected from time to time by General Meeting who shall each serve for a period of three years and who shall be eligible for re-election for consecutive periods.
  10. A QUORUM of four Committee Members is required for the purpose of taking decisions at meetings of the Committee, minutes of each meeting shall be recorded in writing, an Officer, being the Chairman, the Honorary Secretary or the Honorary Treasurer, shall chair each meeting, meetings shall normally be held at least four times each year and the conduct, form, place and time of each meeting shall be as agreed from time to time by the Committee.
  11. A GENERAL MEETING of the Old Dovorian Club shall be held annually at Dover College at such time as the Honorary Secretary shall specify in a notice to Members given at least four weeks beforehand and also at any other time if a requisition for an extraordinary general meeting stating the purpose of the meeting is signed by at least five Members and delivered to the Honorary Secretary for the time being of the Old Dovorian Club and, if that Honorary Secretary does not convene a general meeting within six weeks from the receipt of that written requisition, then the requisitioners themselves may convene the meeting at such time and place as they shall indicate in writing to that Honorary Secretary.
  12. A QUORUM of six is required for the purpose of taking decisions (except under rule 25) at all General Meetings, minutes of each meeting shall be recorded in writing, and the conduct and form of meetings shall be as agreed from time to time by General Meeting or, in default thereof, as directed by an Officer at the General Meeting.
  13. RESOLUTIONS of General Meeting (except under rule 25) and of the Committee shall be passed by simple majority and ascertained by the chairman of the meeting on a show of hands together with any votes cast by Members giving written notice thereof to the President or Honorary Secretary at least one week before the General Meeting, except in the case of doubt when such chairman may ascertain the voting by such other means as such chairman considers reasonable in the circumstances, each Member having one vote.
  14. FUNCTIONS of the Old Dovorian Club shall be carried out as follows:
    1. the Committee shall manage the affairs of the Old Dovorian Club and take any action it considers necessary to fulfil the objects of the Old Dovorian Club;
    2. the President shall, whenever possible, preside at General Meetings and represent the Dovorian Club in any contact with the public and in any matter or manner the President or the Committee considers desirable from time to time;
    3. The Chairman of the Committee shall, whenever possible, preside at meetings of the Committee;
    4. the Honorary Secretary shall keep the minutes of meetings of the Committee and of the General Meeting, give and receive notices relating to such meetings, issue circulars, reports (including an annual report of business transacted at General Meetings) and other publications to Members, prepare agendas and resolutions for meetings, keep the Officers informed of matters relating to the Old Dovorian Club and conduct correspondence with Members on such matters as may from time to time seem to the Honorary Secretary to be necessary;
    5. the Honorary Treasurer shall attend to and keep accounts of all subscriptions, donations, expenditure, investment and other financial affairs of the Old Dovorian Club and prepare a statement of accounts for presentation at each Annual General Meeting;
    6. a sub-committee shall be formed in Dover, comprising members of both Club and College, to manage relations between the two, and to co-ordinate Club events and activities where these involve the College. This sub-committee shall operate under terms of reference approved by the Committee, shall keep records of all its meetings and shall report all actions and decisions to the Committee in a timely manner. Decisions of the Committee shall, where appropriate, always take precedence;
    7. the Committee shall appoint Captains for sports where fixtures are to be held between Club and College. The Captain for each sport shall report to the Committee all activities and future arrangements relating to that sport, and in collaboration with the College shall select a team or teams to represent the Old Dovorian Club in that sport, make all arrangements necessary to carry on events in that sport and make recommendations to the Committee in relation to the foregoing, including the award of prizes;
    8. The Vice-Presidents shall assist the President in such manner as the President may from time to time request;
    9. other Officers of the Old Dovorian Club shall act in such a manner or matter as the Committee may direct, subject to the terms of appointment by General Meeting.
  15. The Committee may impose such CHARGES for attendance at social activities of the Old Dovorian Club as it shall consider necessary from time to time and subscriptions and any other charges shall be determined by General Meeting.
  16. The Committee and General Meeting shall both have power to APPOINT standing committees for such purposes as may from time to time appear desirable.
  17. The Committee shall give POWER to invite to its meetings such individuals as it considers desirable for particular purposes and to conduct investigations and other matters relevant to the Objects in such manner as it may from time to time deem expedient including the employment of paid or unpaid agents. The Headmaster of Dover College shall be entitled to attend (but shall have no vote) meetings of the Old Dovorian Club, unless the Committee shall resolve otherwise.
  18. The Committee, the Officers and any trustees, nominees and agents shall each and every one be INDEMNIFIED against loss or claim incurred on behalf of the Old Dovorian Club provided that such indemnity shall be limited to the value of the then current funds of the Old Dovorian Club net of all other accrued and contingent liabilities as certified by the Honorary Treasurer and provided further that if the liability exceeds one tenth of such net current value the said indemnity shall not take effect without the approval of a General Meeting.
  19. The Old Dovorian Club shall be entitled to operate, maintain and pay for a website for the benefit of its Members. Members shall be entitled (to the extent the website permits) to register such information with respect to each such Member as such Member deems fit, recognising (and therefore providing consent in relation thereto) that other Members registered on the website may be able to view such information.
  20. NOTICES, circulars or other information shall be deemed to be properly delivered if (i) they are listed on the official website of the Old Dovorian Club and/or (ii) they are duly stamped and posted to Members at the addresses registered with the Honorary Secretary, provided that the Honorary Secretary may (except for the purpose of rule 25) discontinue the posting of notices, circulars and other information to any Member if the Honorary Secretary has reasonable cause to believe the same is not likely to be received by the Member for any reason.
  21. ALTERATIONS may be effected to this and any other of these rules, except rule 25, by specific resolutions passed by General Meeting, provided that notice of each such resolution has been posted or delivered to Members at least four weeks before that General Meeting, and such alterations passed in accordance with rule 13 shall be binding on all Members as from the date of that General Meeting.
  22. PROPERTY belonging to the Old Dovorian Club or its income shall not be subject to any right of withdrawal or distribution to Members at any time and shall be applied only for the Objects specified in rule 2 or upon dissolution as provided in rule 25.
  23. Property belonging to the Old Dovorian Club may be VESTED in such person or persons (whether as trustees, nominees or otherwise) and upon such terms (including remuneration) and in such manner as the Committee or General Meeting shall from time to time by resolution direct and in pursuance of any such direction (a) such person or persons as aforesaid shall be entitled to accept the written instructions of the Honorary Treasurer as to the disposal of or other dealing with such property without further enquiry but without prejudice to their liability to account for the same to the Old Dovorian Club and (b) the power of appointing trustees, including replacement or new trustees, shall be vested in the President and be exercisable by deed.
  24. Except where otherwise provided and except in the case of dealings with property already vested in others (pursuant to rule 23), the Honorary Secretary and the Honorary Treasurer shall each have power, exercisable jointly or severally, to EXECUTE such receipts and other documents (contractual or otherwise) and in such manner on behalf of the Old Dovorian Club as the Committee or General Meeting shall from time to time direct and any party thereto (not being a Member) shall not be concerned to enquire as to the propriety or otherwise of the exercise of this power.
  25. The Old Dovorian Club shall not be DISSOLVED except by a resolution to that effect passed by three quarters of the Members whose written votes can be obtained, six months notice having been delivered to all Members at the addresses registered with the Honorary Secretary requesting their written votes on the resolution specified, and upon dissolution the property of the Old Dovorian Club (after discharge of all liabilities) shall be transferred to such charity or charities and in such manner as the Members in General Meeting shall direct or, failing any such direction, to Dover College.
  26. A COPY of the rules shall be made available to every Member and every Member shall be bound by the rules as from time to time in force. For the avoidance of doubt a copy of the rules shall be deemed to have been made available to every Member if such rules are listed on the official website of the Old Dovorian Club.

ANNEX A

Pursuant to rules 2(f), 7(c), 8(c), 14(i) and 16, there shall be an honorary treasurer and a committee for the purpose of administering the DOVER COLLEGE WAR MEMORIAL AND ENDOWMENT FUND under an indenture dated 30th September 1926. The committee shall consist of four Members who shall each serve for a period of four years and be eligible for re-election by General Meeting for consecutive periods.