Women of the Year Alumnae Club

Rules and Regulations

1. Club Name
   1. The name of the club is Women of the Year Alumnae Club (Club).
   2. The Club is a proprietary club, owned and operated by Women of the Year Limited whose registered office is at MHA Victoria Court, 17-21 Ashford Road, Maidstone, Kent  ME14 5DA (Proprietor).
2. Objects of the Club
   1. The object of the Club is to facilitate talks and networking events for former invitees (Alumnae) of the annual lunch organised by the Proprietor (Lunch) (Objects)
3. Primary Concepts
   1. The Alumnae Club Committee shall be nominated by the Proprietor from time to time (Alumnae Committee).
   2. The Club has no permanent premises.
   3. The Proprietor is responsible for providing the Club with all necessary facilities for carrying on the Club in accordance with the Objects and these Rules.
   4. Membership shall consist of Alumnae of the Lunch (Membership).
   5. The Rules shall be applicable to all Alumnae.
4. Alumnae Club Committee
   1. The Alumnae Committee shall consist of individual members from the Management Committee of the Proprietor as appointed by the Chair of the Proprietor from time to time at her sole discretion.
   2. The Management Committee shall meet at least four times a year.
   3. The Alumnae Committee shall exercise the powers given to it under these Rules together with such other powers of management as it may from time to time undertake at the request of the Proprietor, who may veto or vary any decision of the Alumnae Committee.
5. Control and Management
   1. The Alumnae Committee shall have all administrative powers necessary to carry out the Objects of the Club in accordance with these Rules.
6. Details of Membership
   1. Every candidate for Membership must be at least 18 years of age and be an Alumnae of the Lunch.
   2. Candidates for membership shall become members once payment of their annual membership fee has been made to the Proprietor.
   3. Membership fees are non-refundable.
   4. Membership is terminated if membership fees and/or any other debts owed to the Proprietor incurred by a member are not cleared within 30 days.
   5. The annual membership fee shall be fixed by the Proprietor from time to time and will run for one calendar year.
   6. Membership is non-transferable.
   7. In the event of membership being cancelled or withdrawn no membership fee (or part thereof), or any other payment made to the Proprietor shall be refunded.
   8. The Proprietor may, at its sole discretion, waive or reduce the annual membership fee for any individual.
   9. A successful candidate shall be notified of her acceptance by email acknowledgement and confirmation of payment receipt. She will then become a member of the Club (Member) and be entitled to all the benefits and privileges of membership of the Club (Membership).
   10. All Members agree to be bound by, and to observe at all times, these Rules.
       Any omission from, or inaccuracy in, the particulars provided by a Member relating to their application for Membership may render the candidate’s election void at the discretion of the Alumnae Committee.
   11. A list of the names and addresses of all Members of the Club will be kept on a central database for use only by the Proprietor. By accepting Membership all Members agree to acknowledge that their personal information shall be subject to this Rule 6.12.
   12. The Alumnae Committee reserves the right, in its absolute discretion, to terminate the Membership of any Member for any reason and at any time.
   13. Membership benefits are accessible for all fully paid up active members and can be amended or withdrawn at any time without notice.
   14. The name of a Member whose Membership is terminated will be removed from the list of registered Members and she will immediately cease to be a Member of the Club.
   15. If so requested, Members must produce proof of identity to the Alumnae Committee upon admission to any Club event.
7. Guests
   1. The Club is only open to Members and guests are not currently permitted.
8. Conduct of Members
   1. The Alumnae Committee, or any person(s) designated by the Alumnae Committee, shall have the right to refuse any Member to the Club.
   2. All Members are required to maintain an acceptable standard of dress and behaviour, conducive to and appropriate with the Objects and quality of the Club.
   3. The Alumnae Committee may require any Member infringing these Rules to leave any Club event immediately and her Membership may be withdrawn as detailed in Rule 9 below.
   4. In the circumstances of withdrawal for membership for any of the reasons set out in these Rules, the Club may retain the joining and annual membership fee paid to date of withdrawal of membership.
9. Expulsion of Members
   1. The Alumnae Committee, or any person so authorised by the Alumnae Committee, may expel from the Club any Member whose conduct inside or outside a Club event, in the reasonable opinion of the Alumnae Committee, or such authorised person:might be injurious to the character or interests of the Club;
      1. render her unfit to associate with Members; or
      2. wilfully removes, destroys or damages any item, article or property belonging to the Club, another Member, or host, whilst at the Club event premises.
   2. For the avoidance of doubt, the following (non-exhaustive) list of behaviour or offences will lead to the immediate expulsion of a Member from the Club premises and may lead to suspension or termination of their Membership:
      1. Violent, abusive or intimidating conduct;
      2. Sexual, racial or any other form of discrimination, harassment or bullying towards any other Member;
      3. Rudeness or bad language to a Member;
      4. Any action likely to bring the Club or the Proprietor into disrepute;
      5. Serious insubordination under the influence of alcohol;
      6. Deliberate damage to the premises at which Club events are held; or
      7. Any action, within or outside the premises at which Club events are held which is likely to cause a disturbance to residents in neighbouring properties.
   3. Before a Member is suspended or her Membership terminated, the alleged offender’s conduct shall be inquired into by the Alumnae Committee and she shall be given the opportunity to defend herself and to justify or explain her behaviour.
   4. Having inquired into the circumstances, if the Alumnae Committee believes the Member is guilty of such conduct as mentioned above and has failed to justify or explain it satisfactorily, the Alumnae Committee may either suspend or terminate the Membership of the offender at its discretion.
10. General Rules
    1. The Club shall use all reasonable endeavours to ensure that no Member receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of their sex, race, religion or belief, disability, marital status, age, sexual orientation, nationality, colour or ethnic origin.
    2. The Club and/or Proprietor and/or Alumnae Committee and/or any employee or agent of the Club will not be held liable for any act of omission made by any Member and will be held harmless from any loss or damage arises to any Member whatsoever.
    3. Nothing in these Rules shall be deemed to exclude the Club’s liability for death and/or personal injury arising out of any negligent or unlawful act by the Club.
    4. All property brought onto the premises of a Club event shall be at the sole risk of the person bringing such property onto such premises and neither the Club, the Proprietor, the Alumnae Committee nor any event host shall be liable for any loss or damage to any such article, howsoever occasioned.
    5. The Proprietor is registered to hold personal data under the United Kingdom Data Protection Act 1988. By becoming a Member, it is acknowledged that any personal information (Personal Information) that Members make available to the Club either through the Membership process, website or otherwise is done so voluntarily and with the relevant Member’s knowledge and consent.
    6. Members agree to keep all passwords, user names, and/or any other identifying information used in connection with the Club and/or its web site (Access Profile) private and secure. The Access Profile is strictly personal and may not be shared with or disclosed to any other person. Members understand that the Access Profile is confidential and that they will be held responsible for any damage caused through use of the Access Profile by any unauthorised person.
11. Alteration of Rules
    1. These Rules may be revoked, supplemented or altered by the Alumnae Committee at any time at its sole discretion. Any such revocation, alteration or addition shall be deemed to have been brought to the notice of Members provided that a copy thereof is prominently displayed on the Club’s official website.
12. Dissolution
    1. The Club may be dissolved by the Proprietor at any time at its sole discretion.
13. Disputes
    1. Any dispute or difference which may arise in respect of these Rules, Membership or operation of the Club shall be determined by the Alumnae Committee, whose decision shall be final and binding on all Members.
14. Privacy Policy
15. For details of the Women of the Year Privacy Policy, please click here