Is my club membership a liability?
 

Am I liable for the actions of others?


Roll up, Roll up……the Circus is coming back to town. Or more accurately our Flying Clubs’ Annual General Meeting is just around the corner!

Historically, the club has found this event an ideal forum to existing members (who contribute obscene amounts to the organisation in the form of membership fees) to have their valuable input ridiculed and ignored – last years fairytale accounting was only slightly overshadowed by the previous years Chairman bursting into tears!

This years’ event is looking to be a thriller with the Club reduced to only 4 aircraft a third of last years fleet “missing presumed lost”.

Part of the reason for this will centre on the apparent disappearance of one of the Clubs members – whose membership was “terminated” without reason being given. This former member was not for giving away too much, but from what he did confirm there are 2 potentially serious situations as below:-

1 The Club is structured in a way that the Committee have full rights to terminate any membership without reason or explanation – their constitution! The member concerned has sought legal advice and I understand there is nothing he can do about it. THIS MEANS THAT ANY MEMBER OF THIS FLYING CLUB CAN AT ANY POINT BE THROWN OUT WITHOUT REASON.
2 This member also has a business which provided an aircraft to be used at the flying club. He would not comment on this apart from the fact the matter was unresolved and the Club would not discuss the matter. THIS WOULD SUGGEST THE CLUB IS IN FOR A REPEAT OF SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHICH COST THE MEMBERS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF POUNDS.

Is the structure of this club unique or should all club members (not just of flying clubs) seek clarification of terms of refund should ‘their face not fit’ to those empowered?

If I continue my membership is there a way I ensure I am not liable in the event of the club being sued for a situation I was not aware of or involved with

Surely the way forward is to muster up support and get yourself elected onto the commitee - that way you can have some input into the running of the club. Similarly, members of the commitee who are not pulling the right way can be deselected.

I don't believe that members of a club can be liable for debts, acts or omissions of a club commitee. The same cannot be said of the chairman and directors of the club, but read the rules and constitution which should be available upon request.

Your club is probably "limited by guarantee" and the extent of your financial liability will usually be expressed in the Club's rules...commonly "5 shillings" or the modern equivalent.

If you are unhappy about the management, get on the comittee yourself and do something about it.

Is joining the Committe a sensible option?
 

I have my reservations about trying to get onto the Committee.
I was unaware of this members eviction from the Club until last week - his membership was actually stopped almost 9 months ago!!!
I have spoke to another member who was aware of this and wrote to the club for an explanation - no reply was forthcoming.
While I do not know of other issues, the 'mushroom' running of the club (kept in the dark and fed a lot of sh..) could mean there are other potential issues waiting to be discovered.By joining the Committee which may be about to be sued would I not be opening the door to make myself liable?

First step is to establish what the legal status of the club is.

If it is a limited company it will be registered at Companies House.

Next step is to find out whether you are a shareholder of the club or simply a customer. If you have an AGM coming up it sounds as though you are a shareholder.

Assuming you are a shareholder the next part is to get a copy of the Memorandum and Articles of Association. You can get this from the Company Secretary or from Companies House. It will set out the objectives of the company and what it is permitted to do. It will probably permit the Directors to make up rules so you'll want a copy of them too.

It is probably a Company Limited by Guarantee. In a normal Limited Company the shareholders buy shares. If the company goes bust their loss is limited to the amount they paid for their shares. In a Company Limited by Guarantee you don't buy shares but you guarantee to stump up the money if the company fails. Your liability is limited to the amount of the guarantee (normally a very small amount).

It is up to the shareholders to decide what they want to do about the situation (that's what the AGM is for). If you all sit on your hands nothing will change.

Mike

This flying club wouldn't happen to be based at a BAA airport? :E

If so, I started my training on the said aircraft and completed my training on the said aircraft after it moved away from the club in question.

The members and instructors where great, atmosphere was good, but it seemed the whole atmosphere was constantly shadowed by club politics.

Unless there is a remarkable coincidence, I understand this post to be about myself and my aircraft - now located at Cumbernauld.

I would appreciate a private message from SLIPS84. The situation should remain a private matter for the Club to deal with and inform its' membership. Contrary to the rumours I am hearing about myself I have no malice against the Club - I do expect to fly there again soon!

This situaton has went unnoticed for several months and I understand the Club is about to hold its' AGM. I would thank any members efforts at the AGM to identify the reasons behind the Committees' actions and hopefully provide a reason for them (I do not believe there is any valid reason - if there is why would it be kept a secret??!??!).

Regards

Allan

Flystrathclyde,

Got your P.M.!

Pprune enables the civilised among us to air our views anonamously - reducing the chances of the uncivilised empire builders like the Committee at our club taking decisions for their own interests - not those of the club! (Although you have been kicked out, until the committee confirm to the members why you should continue as a current member).

However, this original post was not intended to highlight your own situation.

The serious question raised here is that before I, or any other member, hand over £250+ to renew my membership, it is important that:-

1 It is clear whether this membership is valid for a year or if membership can be cancelled by the committee at anytime without reason or appeal.

2 The committee take full responsibility in the event of a legal case against the club. If this is not the case then it leaves the members open for their 'membership' to cost several hundred pounds more to compensate the incompetance and bloody mindedness of a committee hell bent on ruining the club rather than be outed for their own agenda.

PS
I will be more than disappointed if you do not turn up for the AGM - you could at least confirm the facts we are already aware of.

Best of luck


???

:yuk:

I am unsure if I should be going to the meeting - I have certainly not recieved an invite but there again not every entitled member has received one either ??? Perhaps they are not party members.

It may be my only chance to collect the money. Prehaps some of the members of the Club (it will be obvious the name of the Club) who read PPRUNE could indicate if a resolve may be reached if I attend the AGM.

Allan

Allan,
Many members are aware and concerned at the committee's actions and basic disregard of the club's constitution.

(By the way, are you aware that last years AGM was held unconstitutionally as there were less than the required numer of full members present!!! or at least not according to the written one lodged at companies house.)
:confused:

THE CLUB ARE NOW DEMANDING £250++++ FOR NEXT YEARS MEMBERSHIP - WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT THEY WON'T FIRE YOUR ARSE OUT THE DOOR THE FOLLOWING DAY JUST LIKE THEY DID TO YOU, WITHOUT REASON OR EXPLAINATION.:sad:

Hopefully the normally silient majority will appreciate that we are all in jeapardy from this committee and their cohorts and call for a full and truthful explaination for their bizzare actions at the AGM.

As a point of principal you are entitled to attend this years AGM as your name was entered in the minutes of last years AGM.:ok:

:mad: This support was not brought to you by THE TUESDAY CLUB

Membership
 

I have Just read this post by Alan, for what it's worth I am going along to the AGM to see what the comittee have to say for themselfs. :*

If I am not satisfied with what they have to say can kiss goodbye to my TWO HUNDRED & FIFTY QUID ++++ :ouch:

Club Membership Fees
 

Possibly the most expensive membership in the UK.

I would Just like to ask, at £250+ is our club the most expensive in the uk? :confused:

£250!!! Do you get a butler?

Sorry Goodwood ... I take it all back!

Hells teeth ... that is expensive!, or is the flying free?

SS

We're £150 pa with a PA28 dual rate of £99 inc VAT, but we're a self-help group with restricted membership, so we haven't the overheads of a commercial club. On the other hand, being small (about 30) we don't have the economies of scale, either.

The Odd One

Do tell, which club?;)

Alas there is no butler and the flying is not free.Glasgow where else if the Tuesday Club find out who I am it will be chalks as dawn:{

Spitfire Flying Club at Popham

£95.00 membership includes free landings in any aircraft, free entry to chargeable events and gratuitous critique of your landings.

http://www.popham-airfield.co.uk

Works for me!

Hi Mike

Thanks for you post, Popham is a bit far, I would have to get the shuttle so I could fly. I can however beat your landing fees we pay £22. If you are a student you pay a little less but you membership is more than £250+. Visitors are also not welcome their landing fees are £85, and the welcome in the club is always frosty. I better not give too much away or the Tuesday club will definitely hunt me down and kick me out (but it will however be after I pay up for next year).
:E

Mine's £195 p.a. Very worth while, because of the facilities (open daylight hours, even after licencing hours for non-licence-needing pilots, members get key access. Food & bar are available normal operating hours)

I guess it depends on what you think these things are worth.