Governance & Documents

The Constitution of Jesus College Boat Club, as ratified on 19/10/2019 and amended on 02/06/2020, 08/05/2021, 29/04/2022, 21/10/2023 and 13/01/2025. PART I - GENERAL The Club is the rowing club of Jesus College, Cambridge, affiliated to the Cambridge University Combined Boat Clubs (CUCBC) and British Rowing (BR), whose rules it follows. Its objectives are to promote and provide opportunities for participation in rowing for the student body of the College, and to represent and maximise the College's success in rowing competitions - with particular regard to the CUCBC Lent and May Bumping Races and The Fairbairn Cup. PART II - OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE The Officers include a President; Men's and Women's Captains and Vice-Captains; a Treasurer; a Fairbairns Secretary; a Secretary; Lower Boats Captains; Webmaster(s); Social Secretaries; a Coxing Captain; Welfare Officer(s); a Boatperson; Fundraising Officer(s); an Alumni & Outreach Officer; a Safety Officer; and a Senior Treasurer. The Senior Officers are the President, the Captains, the Coxing Captain, the Vice-Captains, the Treasurer and the Secretary. The Senior Treasurer and Boatperson are appointed by the College; the Committee consists of the Officers except these two. The normal term of office concludes at the end of Henley Royal Regatta or 31 July, whichever is earlier. PART III - MEMBERSHIP Members are those eligible for one of the classes of membership who have agreed to be bound by the Club's Rules and Regulations (including this Constitution and the Code of Conduct), and who have not been suspended, expelled or resigned. The classes are Full Members (members of the College in statu pupillari), Honorary Members, Alumni Members and Temporary Members. There are no entrance or subscription fees. PART IV - DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS The Constitution sets out the detailed duties of each Officer - for example, the President has overall responsibility for the Club and represents it to external bodies; the Captains have overall responsibility for their respective boats and selection; the Treasurer has overall responsibility for the Club's finances; the Secretary takes minutes and organises dinners and race entries; the Welfare Officer supports members' welfare and safeguarding; and the Safety Officer ensures the Club complies with RowSafe and CUCBC requirements. PART V - ELECTION OF OFFICERS Officers (other than the Senior Treasurer and Boatperson) are elected at the Annual Elections, held on the third weekend of Easter Full Term, by Full Members present, using an open, anonymous, round-by-round voting procedure overseen by a Returning Officer and Deputy Returning Officer. Notice, nominations and hustings arrangements are published in advance. PART VI - COMMITTEE MEETINGS Decisions of the Committee are taken at quorate Committee meetings (Officers representing at least half the votes). Senior Officers have two votes, others one. Decisions are by simple majority unless a two-thirds majority is specified. Minutes are kept and circulated. PART VII - GENERAL MEETINGS A General Meeting may be called by petition of ten Full Members, by two Senior Officers or five Officers, or where the Constitution requires one. At least seven days' notice is given, and the meeting must be quorate (15 members, or 50% of recently-active Full Members). PART VIII - RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF OFFICERS An Officer may be removed by a two-thirds vote of no-confidence by the Committee, or may resign in writing to the President. Handover of documents and responsibilities is required. PART IX - ABSENCE AND VACATION OF OFFICES A vacant Office is filled by a by-election (electronic out of term). If an Officer cannot perform a duty, the President decides who shall; if the President cannot, a defined order of succession applies. PART X - CONDUCT, GRIEVANCES AND DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES A member in breach of the rules or guilty of unsatisfactory conduct may be suspended or expelled by the Senior Committee, with a right of appeal to an independent Hearings Panel. Grievances should first be raised with the President; the Club handles complaints fairly and promptly, with reference to its Code of Conduct and British Rowing's guidelines. PART XI - EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND CHILD PROTECTION The Club is fully committed to equality of opportunity and accepts British Rowing's policies on Child Protection and the Protection of Adults at Risk, requiring all members to accept them as a condition of membership. PART XII - FINANCES The Treasurer maintains the Club's bank account; payments require the approval of any two Senior Officers (one being the Treasurer) and must further the Club's objectives. No profit may be distributed to members. The Treasurer reports income and expenditure annually. PART XIII - CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS The Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority of a Committee meeting or General Meeting, with safeguards allowing members to object to and review amendments. PART XIV - OTHER MATTERS The Club may only terminate by resolution of a General Meeting, with surplus assets passing to the College for the furtherance of the Club's objectives. Any matter not provided for is dealt with by the President, subject to appeal to the Committee. This is a summary of the structure and key provisions; the full, authoritative text (with every clause) is in the PDF below.

Jesus College Boat Club - Safety & Emergency Plan 1. INTRODUCTION JCBC is committed to the safety of its members and guests during club-related activities. This plan ensures everyone is aware of the safety requirements of rowing, sculling and related activities. It is supplementary to British Rowing's "RowSafe" and the CUCBC safety guidelines, which members should also familiarise themselves with. These requirements apply to the Cam between Jesus Green Lock and Baits Bite Lock (and to members operating away from this area, except where local procedures apply), and to any visiting crews boating from the premises. 2. EMERGENCIES Guidelines for dealing with an emergency are at Appendix A - Emergency Plan, which is also on the Safety Noticeboard at the boathouse (at the foot of the stairs). 3. RESPONSIBILITIES All members and guests have a personal duty of care to ensure their actions, on and off the water, do not compromise the safety of themselves or others, and must comply with RowSafe, the CUCBC rules (especially the 'Golden Rules') and this Safety Plan. 4. GENERAL WATER SAFETY All members must complete and submit a JCBC Medical Screening Form to the Head Coach; no one may use JCBC equipment until this has been approved. Life jackets are compulsory for: all coxswains; all drivers/passengers in a launch; anyone who has not satisfied the Head Coach they can swim 50m in kit; and anyone with a medical condition that risks them becoming unconscious or immobile (auto-inflate jacket required). Throwlines must be carried by anyone coaching, bank-partying or providing safety cover. Thermal exposure blankets, first-aid boxes and a defibrillator are located outside the Head Coach's office (the defibrillator can be used with no training). Boats must display constant white lights front and rear in Michaelmas and Lent terms. All crews must comply with the CUCBC flag restrictions, checked immediately before going afloat. If thunder is heard or lightning seen before an outing, crews remain at the boathouse until 30 minutes after the last thunder/lightning; on the water, crews seek shelter and follow the 30-minute rule. All equipment must be checked before use (including the defect whiteboard outside the Head Coach's office); a red 'Do Not Use' tag means a boat must not be used. All outings must be logged before going afloat (date/time, crew, cox/steerer, coach or bank party). All accidents must be reported to the Head Coach as soon as possible. In a serious injury, contact the emergency services directly. In all coxed boats, the cox is responsible for the overall safety of the boat and crew and must wear a life jacket; in coxless boats the person controlling the rudder (or in the bow seat) is responsible. Coxless boats are not permitted out before 09:00 in Michaelmas. Coaches should be qualified to at least British Rowing Level 2. All crews must adhere to the circulation pattern. JCBC does not row at night and aims to be off the water before 'lighting up'. 5. OFF-WATER SAFETY Take care when lifting boats in and out of racks and the river (one person in charge of each lift). Keep the erg/training room clean; clean equipment after use. The club has a no-smoking policy. Carry mobile phones when training on the water; a list of emergency numbers is on the Safety Noticeboard. Keep the kitchen clean. In a fire, activate the alarms and evacuate to the area in front of Goldie Boathouse as a muster point. Take care in the car/cycle/trailer park and around members of the public crossing the site. 6. BOAT TRANSPORTATION Only individuals authorised by the Head Coach may drive vehicles and tow trailers, with the appropriate licence categories and conversant with British Rowing towing guidelines. Loading follows the Head Coach's trailer loading plan; the driver checks all boats and equipment are secured before departure. 7. EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN In a capsize: if out of your depth, hold the capsized hull as a buoyancy aid and swim to shore; if the water is cold, get as much of your body out of the water as possible over the upturned hull; 'buddy-up' until rescue arrives. In a serious incident: raise the alarm, dial 999, and give the closest access location (postcodes listed in the plan). Hypothermia: move the person somewhere warm, remove wet clothing, wrap them in blankets, share body heat, give a warm (not hot) drink, do not give alcohol, and call for emergency assistance if severe. The rescuer must not endanger themselves by entering the water; use a throwline, branch or other boat, and commence CPR if the casualty has stopped breathing.

JCBC Medical Screening Form Before using any equipment owned by Jesus College Boat Club, every member must complete and submit a Medical Screening Form to the Head Coach for approval (see the Safety & Emergency Plan, section 4). The form records: your name and contact details; an emergency contact; whether you can swim at least 50 metres in rowing kit; and any relevant medical conditions (for example asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, heart conditions, or anything that may affect your ability to row safely or that emergency responders should know about). Members with a condition that risks them becoming unconscious or immobile must wear an auto-inflate life jacket. Please download, complete and return the form to the Head Coach (boatman@jesus.cam.ac.uk) before your first outing.