1. Name
The name of the Association (hereinafter called the B.S.A.) shall be known as the British Surfing Association Ltd. By the authority vested in it by the Sports Council, the B.S.A. is deemed to be the ruling body for Surfing within Great Britain, which shall include the Channel Islands.

2. Definition
Surfing is defined as those sporting activities, undertaken individually and collectively, taking place within the surf line, but excluding those activities that incorporate the use of paddles, sails or motor power. Hereinafter known as the sport.

3. Aims of the Association
3.1 To promote, maintain, improve and advance the sport and encourage friendly and sportsmanlike co-operation among its members in the interests thereof.
3.2 To represent the interests of British surfers both in Britain and abroad.
3.3 To seek and obtain registration, affiliation or membership to such other Regional, National and International bodies as may help the B.S.A. carry out its aims and objectives.
3.4 To gain standing for the sport and establish rules and regulations governing National Championships, Contests, Competitions and Exhibitions for the sport and to enforce their application.
3.5 To assist in the provision of facilities and the protection thereof, and the protection of the use of beaches and other places for the sport, with due regard to safety, and to this end the B.S.A., provided it is notified, and think fit, make appropriate representation to any bodies attempting to impose curbs on the sport on the behalf of its members.
3.6 To liaise with other relevant bodies, companies and individuals to protect and improve the surfing environment.
3.7 To maintain registration as a member of the International Surfing Association and other appropriate international bodies to enable the B.S.A. to be represented in all related matters.
3.8 To control entrants in all international events of the sport who claim to represent Great Britain and to maintain satisfactory standards.
3.9 To promote and receive sponsors and/or patrons for all National Championships, Contests, Competitions and Exhibitions, and to do all or any of the foregoing in any part of the World, as principals, agents, contractors or otherwise either alone or with others.
3.10 To make available to its members and affiliated members through their Clubs and Associations, Public Liability insurance’s, and to encourage all surfers to take out such insurance’s.
3.11 To liaise with the Sports Council to maximise the benefit for the sport.

4. National Structure
Detailed activities of the sport shall be devolved to Federations covering the following Countries: England; Scotland; Wales; Jersey; Guernsey. These federations shall be responsible to the B.S.A. for all matters relating to the sport and shall function under Articles of Association that shall not conflict in any way with those of the B.S.A.

5. Executive Committee
5.1 The B.S.A. will be controlled by an Executive Committee that shall consist of a Chairman, National Director, Surfers Representative, one nominated representative from each of the Federations and four individually elected B.S.A. representatives. Also one representative for each of the following disciplines: Longboard, Kneeboard and Bodyboard. These three representatives to be co-opted by the other executive members to serve for 12 months each.
5.2 All of the above executive committee members, with the exception of the National Director, will have the right to vote at meetings. The Chairperson of the meeting will have the casting vote if necessary.

6. Officers
The Officers of the B.S.A. shall be the Chairman, Surfers Representative and the four individually elected officers. They shall be elected as stated herein. Officers of the Association must be over 18 years of age.
6.1 Chairman
The Chairman shall be elected by a postal ballot held in odd number years and will serve for two years. He or she shall be eligible for re election.
6.2 Surfers Representative
The Surfers Representative shall be elected by a postal ballot held in even number years and will serve for two years. He or she shall be eligible for re election.
6.3 Individual B.S.A. Representatives
Two of the four B.S.A. representatives shall be elected by postal ballot held in even number years and serve for two years, the other two B.S.A. representatives will be elected in odd number years and serve for two years.
6.4 Elections
For the purpose of any such election ten members may nominate a candidate by
notice in writing. Such nomination to be received at the B.S.A. office before November 1st in the year prior to the appointment of said officer. If there shall be no more than one such nomination for the office of President or Chairman, the candidate nominated shall be declared elected.
If there shall be two or more candidates a postal ballot will be held. In the case of the individual B.S.A. elected officers, if there shall not be more than two such nominations, the candidates nominated will be declared elected. If there shall be three or more candidates, a postal ballot will be held.
Every current B.S.A. member will be entitled to a postal vote, and will receive from the office of the Association a full list of candidates with the names of their nominees. A closing date for the return of the ballot papers will be specified and only ballot papers received by that date will be used to determine the votes for each candidate. The candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be deemed to have been elected.
If there shall be no nomination received in writing within the due time, or if any office shall become vacant, the vacancy shall be filled by election by the Executive Committee.
If, because of insufficient nominations, no postal ballot is held then members will be informed of the names of the officers of the Association as soon as possible. Officers duties shall commence on 1st January in the year following their nomination.
6.5 Co-Option
The Executive Committee will have the power to co-opt members onto the Committee. Co-Opted members will not have any votes on the Committee. The Executive Committee will have the power to appoint sub-committees.

7. Employees
The Executive Committee shall have power to appoint, pay, and dismiss employees as they may deem necessary subject to contract. The Director will be appointed by the Executive Committee

8. Duties of the Director
The Director shall be responsible for conducting the affairs of the B.S.A. within guidelines and instructions laid down from time to time by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall agree Job Descriptions for the post of Director which shall be regularly reviewed with the Director. The Chairman of the B.S.A. shall undertake such reviews and report to the Executive Committee for any appropriate action.

9. Membership
The membership of the B.S.A. shall be open to all such persons and organisations as follows.
9.1 Full membership or insured membership will be open to all persons, male and female.
9.2 Junior membership will be open to all persons under the age of eighteen years on 1st January of that year.
9.3 Affiliate Membership will be open to all clubs or bodies of people who participate in the sport or are a club or a body of people formed to promote, sponsor or administer the sport. Each member of an affiliated Club shall be deemed to be a Full Member of the B.S.A.
9.4 Family membership will be open to families of up to two parents of any age and four children under the age of 18 on 1st Jan in the year of membership. The family must reside at the same address.
9.5 Honorary members of the B.S.A. may be proposed and elected from time to time. Proposals for Honorary members, which must be seconded, must be submitted in writing to the office of the B.S.A. at least 30 days before the Annual General Meeting. Only Full or Junior Members of the B.S.A. shall be entitled to propose or second such propositions. The proposer, together with the seconder, must give justification for the offering of such honour.Honorary membership shall fall into the following categories:-
a) Honorary life member, Life Membership of the B.S.A. - an honour given for outstanding achievement which has benefited the B.S.A. Honorary Life members shall be elected for life and shall be entitled to all the privileges without paying the yearly subscription or any special payment for such life membership. A two thirds majority of those present and voting shall be necessary for such election.
b) Patron, Individuals or organisations may from time to time be invited to patronise the B.S.A. under terms agreed by the Executive Committee.
9.6 Affiliate Commercial membership shall be open to all commercial
enterprises including:-
a) Manufacturers of Surfboards and/or other equipment related to the Sport.
b) Retailers of Surfboards and/or other equipment related to the Sport.
c) Organisers of Surfing Holidays, Surfaris, Surfing Courses and Surfing
Contests.

10. Subscriptions
The terms of membership subscription shall be considered by the Executive Committee on the basis of the needs of the B.S.A. and its members and shall submit recommendations to each Annual General meeting for discussion and approval, or otherwise.

11. General Meetings
11.1 Annual General meeting (AGM). The B.S.A. shall hold an AGM in every calendar year and eighteen months shall not elapse without an AGM. The time and place of each AGM shall be determined by the Executive Committee.
11.2 Extraordinary Meeting (EGM). Any other general meeting of the B.S.A.
shall be deemed an EGM. The Executive Committee can call an EGM at any
time. Members of the B.S.A. can call an EGM serving notice to the B.S.A.
office, provided that the reason for the meeting and the nature of the
business to be conducted is given and that this call is supported by 12 Full
Members or 3 Affiliated Clubs or Associations. The Administrator shall
convene the EGM within 45 day of receiving such notice.

12. Notice of meetings
Forty five days notice must be given in writing of an AGM or any other
convened meeting of the B.S.A. (excluding committee meetings for which 21
days notice must be given). The notice must specify the place, the day and
the hour of the meeting. Included in the Agenda must be items of special
business, the nature of that business, and be sent to all full Members and
Affiliated Clubs, or the full membership of the committee for any committee
meeting. All items of special business for AGM and EGM’s must be received
at the BSA office 30 days prior to the meeting. The accidental omission to
give notice to, or the non receipt of such notice, by any person or
organisation entitled to receive such notice shall not invalidate any
resolutions passed, or proceeding had, at any meeting.
Only Full Members of the B.S.A. will be invited to General Meetings.

13. Proceedings at Meetings
All business transacted at General Meetings shall be deemed special with
the exception of:
a) The presentation and, if accepted, the passing of the accounts for the
previous year prior to the meeting which accounts shall first have been
audited by the Auditors of the B.S.A.
b) The appointment of Auditors.
Any other business will only be allowed at the discretion of the Chairman of
the meeting.
The Chairman of the B.S.A. shall preside as Chairman at every General
meeting, but if there be no such Chairman, or if at any meeting he/she shall
not be present within fifteen minutes of the due time or if he/she has not
notified the National Director that he/she will be more than fifteen minutes
but not later than thirty minutes after the allotted time of commencement of
business it shall be deemed that he/she will not be present for that meeting
and the President shall preside at the meeting. If the President is not
present then any Full Member of the B.S.A. may be chosen by the Executive
Committee to preside.
The Chairman will run all meetings including General Meetings in accordance
with the Articles laid down herein and will take voting from members either
by show of hands or by ballot if it is so desired by a majority show of
hands at the said meeting.
In the event of an equality of votes the Chairman of the meeting will have
the casting vote, unless, otherwise stated herein.
The Committee will fill any vacancies arising in the Committee before the
AGM.

14. Quorum
At all General Meetings of the B.S.A. a quorum shall be deemed to consist of
not less than 20 members. To constitute a quorum at committee meetings 5
fully elected or properly constituted members must be present at the
commencement of business.
At all AGM should a quorum not be present by forty five minutes of the due
starting time then the meeting shall be abandoned and reconvened as soon as
possible thereafter giving due notice as herein provided. In the event of
such postponement it is recognised that the time between AGM may fall
outside the provision of item 11.2

15. Default of Membership
The Executive Committee will have the power to offer up to the AGM or EGM
whichever is the sooner the names of any members who shall be deemed as
having offended against the rules of the B.S.A. or whose conduct has
rendered him/her unfit, in the opinion of the Committee, for membership of
the B.S.A. The General Meeting will have the power to expel the said member
or members, but no member shall be expelled without first having the
opportunity to appear before the Committee to answer complaints made against
him/her, which shall take place prior to the above General Meeting. In the
case of drug taking, members will be subject to the rules currently in force
at that time and subject to the disciplinary action contained within those
regulations.
If any person, club or body of persons shall fail to pay the appropriate
membership subscription within 60 days after it has become due the National
Director shall send notice in writing to the last known address of the
person or organisation calling for payment of the same within 30 days. If
such payment is not received then their membership will be terminated
without further notice.

16. Bye-laws and other Regulations
The Executive Committee may from time to time make, repeal, and amend all
bye-laws and other regulations, which shall not be inconsistent with these
Articles, and it shall think expedient for the management and well-being of
the B.S.A. All bye-laws and regulations made by the Committee under this
provision shall be binding upon all members until repealed by the Committee
or set aside by a General Meeting of the B.S.A. All new, revised or other
alteration to these rules must be tabled at the next AGM for discussion and
ratification or otherwise.

17. Financial Year
The financial year of the B.S.A. shall be from the first day of January to
the last day of December in the following year, to which date the accounts
of the B.S.A. shall be balanced.

18. Accounts
The Administrator shall ensure that proper books of accounts be kept with
respect to:-
a) All sums of money received and expended by the B.S.A. and the matters in
respect of which receipts and expenditure take place.
b) All purchases and sales of goods by the B.S.A.
c) The assets and liabilities of the B.S.A.

19. Auditors
The accounts of the B.S.A. shall be audited as soon as practicable after the
end of the financial year by the Auditors who shall be elected at the AGM.
The appointed Auditors shall have the power to examine the accounts and/or
records of the B.S.A. whenever they feel necessary or when instructed by the
Committee.

20. Minutes
Proper minutes of all meetings shall be kept by the National Directors, or
in her/his absence any member so designated by the meeting. Minutes of all
General Meetings shall be made available to all Full Members and one copy
must be sent to each Affiliated Club.

21. Codes of Conduct
The Executive Committee will have the power to discipline or expel any
member who they feel has brought the sport of surfing, its members or
organisation into disrepute.

22. Residency
In the case of British or National eligibility for Championship entry or
team selection, members will be subject to the residency qualification
requirement in force at that time. (See contest rules)

23. Dissolution
If upon the winding up or the dissolution of the B.S.A. there remains, after
the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities, any property whatsoever,
the same shall be given or transferred to some other Institution or
Institutions having charitable objects similar to the objects of the B.S.A.
The said property shall not be paid to, or distributed amongst, the members
of the B.S.A.