We have updated the FWA’s constitution to bring it into line with the modern world, and here it is in full:
1. Name
a. The name of the group shall be Football Writers’ Association
2. Aims
The aims of the Football Writers’ Association will be:
- a. To act as the representative body for those involved in the football media industry toinclude written journalists, broadcasters, bloggers, journalism students and those whose majority income is generated from publishing work related to the football media industry.
- b. To uphold best journalistic practices at all times
- c. To act as a representative of its members in terms of conflict resolution with club,authorities and governing bodies
- d. To push for and advise on best media facilities and practices possible
- e. To provide a mentorship programme for students seeking to enter the football media industry
- f. To vote for the Footballer of the Year and Women’s Footballer of the Year
- g. To form a Books Committee to vote on the annual Football Book of the Year
3. Membership
Membership is open to anyone who:
- a. is aged over 18 years
- b. is employed in the football media industry as a journalist, broadcaster or blogger
- c. is a student studying football or sports journalism Membership will begin as soon as the membership form and first annual payment has been received.
- There will be an annual membership fee which will be agreed at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and will be payable by all members.
A list of all members will be kept by the membership secretary.
Ceasing to be a member:
a. Members may resign at any time in writing to the secretary.
b. Any member who has not paid their membership fee for one year will be contacted by the committee, who will then decide whether that member is deemed to have resigned.
c. Any offensive behaviour, including racist, sexist or inflammatory remarks, will not be permitted.
d. Anyone behaving in an offensive way or breaking the equal opportunities policy may be asked not to attend further meetings or to resign from the association if an apology is not given or the behaviour is repeated. The individual concerned shall have the right to be heard by the National Committee, accompanied by a friend, before a final decision is made.
4. Equal Opportunities
The Football Writers’ Association will not discriminate on the grounds of gender, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, sexuality, disability, religious or political belief, marital status or age.
5. Officers and committee
a. The business of the group will be carried out by a National Committee elected at the Annual General Meeting.
b. The Committee will meet as necessary and not less than four times a year.
c. The Committee will consist of no more than 25 members, and be composed of four officers and a maximum of 21 committee members. Additional members may be co-opted onto the committee at the discretion of the committee.
The officers’ roles are as follows:
a. Chair who shall chair both general and committee meetings
b. Vice Chair who will deputise in the absence of the Char
c. Executive Secretary, who shall be responsible for the taking of minutes and the distribution of all papers
d. Membership secretary, who shall be responsible for keeping records of members
e. Treasurer who shall be responsible for maintaining accounts. This role will be maintained by the Executive
f. Secretary until such times as the National Committee decide otherwise.
g. In the event of an officer standing down during the year a replacement will be elected by the next General Meeting of members.
h. Any committee member not attending a meeting without apology for three months will be contacted by the committee and asked if they wish to resign.
i. The Committee meetings will be open to members of the National Committee. Further invites will be extended at the grace of the National Committee to members who may speak but may not vote.
6. Meetings
6.1. Annual General Meetings
An Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held within fifteen months of the previous AGM. All members will be notified in writing at least two weeks before the date of the meeting, giving the venue, date and time by email, website or social media.
Nominations for the committee may be made to the Secretary before the meeting, or at the meeting.
The quorum for the AGM will be a minimum of half the membership of the National Committee.
At the AGM:-
a. The Committee will present a report of the work of the Football Writers’ Association over the year.
b. The Committee will present the accounts of the Football Writers’ Association for the previous year.
c. The officers and Committee for the next year will be elected. In the event of no nominations from outside of the National Committee, the National Committee may be re-elected en bloc.
d. Any proposals given to the Executive Secretary at least seven days in advance of the meeting will be discussed.6.2 Committee Meetings
e. Committee meetings may be called by the Chair or Executive Secretary. Committee members must receive notice of meetings at least seven days before the meeting. The quorum for Committee meetings is six Committee members.
7. Rules of Procedure for meetings
All questions that arise at any meeting will be discussed openly and the meeting will seek to find general agreement that everyone present can agree to.
If a consensus cannot be reached a vote will be taken and a decision will be made by a simple majority of members present. If the number of votes cast on each side is equal, the chair of the meeting shall have an additional casting vote.
8. Finances
a. An account will be maintained on behalf of the Association at a bank agreed by the committee. Two cheque signatories will be nominated by the Committee (one to be the Treasurer/Executive Secretary). The signatories must not be related nor members of the same household.
b. Records of income and expenditure will be maintained by the Treasurer and a financial statement given at the AGM.
c. All money raised by or on behalf of the Football Writers’ Association is only to be used to further the aims of the group, as specified in item 2 of this constitution.
9. Amendments to the Constitution
a. Amendments to the constitution may only be made at the Annual General Meeting.
b. Any proposal to amend the constitution must be given to the Executive Secretary in writing. The proposal must then be circulated with the notice of meeting.
c. Any proposal to amend the constitution will require a two thirds majority of those present and entitled to vote.
10. Dissolution
a. If a meeting, by simple majority, decides that it is necessary to close down the group it may call a Special General Meeting to do so. The sole business of this meeting will be to dissolve the group.
b. If it is agreed to dissolve the group, all remaining money and other assets, once outstanding debts have been paid, will be donated to a local charitable organisation. The organisation will be agreed at the meeting which agrees the dissolution.
