September 2021
Subject to the Articles of Association, these standing orders regulate the general running of the Downhill Only Club (the “Club”), a company limited by guarantee and known colloquially as the DHO. Subject always to the powers of the Directors, the running of the Club shall be carried out by the Club committee (the “Committee”), sub-committees and the managers appointed by them. Changes in these standing orders may be recommended by the Directors or by the Committee but must be approved by the Directors.
The responsibilities of the Directors are set out in company law and in the Articles of Association. In less technical language, those duties include:
The Company Secretary has responsibility for:
Subject to the powers and duties of the Directors as set out in the Club’s Articles of
Association, the day to day management of the affairs of the Club shall be in the hands of the Committee and such sub-committees as it may from time to time establish. The composition of the Committee, the election of its members and their terms of service are given in the Articles of Association
At present there are four standing sub-committees, namely DHOracing, Alpine, Clubroom and Communication & Marketing. The Committee may create other sub-committees (ad hoc sub-committees) for specific purposes. These ad hoc sub-committees shall be led by a member of the Club appointed by the Committee (who may or may not be a member of the Committee) and shall have a defined purpose and a specified time by which they should report back to the main Committee.
Subject to the requirements set out below the composition of each sub-committee (both the standing and the ad hoc sub-committees) will be in the discretion of the Chair of the relevant sub-committee. The number of and timing of all meetings will be at the discretion of the Chair of the relevant sub-committee.
The Chairs of the four standing committees are automatically members of the Main Committee under the provisions of the Articles.
The DHOracing sub-committee is responsible for running the Club’s racing and training programme. The sub-committee shall comprise, among others:
The Chair of the sub-committee shall be responsible for the governance of DHOracing. The Chair of the sub-committee (or a nominated member) shall maintain the DHOracing contribution to the Club’s website which gives the racing programme, details of future training camps and such other information as may be required for the operation of DHOracing
The Alpine sub-committee is responsible for supervising the skiing activities of members of the Club (“Members”) when they are in Wengen. Working in conjunction with the Wengen Manager, the Committee is responsible for the following tasks:-
The Wengen Manager and the Coggins Manager shall attend and speak at the sub-committee’s meetings but shall not be members of it..
The Clubroom Committee is responsible for the care and management of the clubroom, and for facilitating the Club’s social activities in Wengen, in particular:
The sub-committee shall comprise, among others, a Clubroom treasurer who will have responsibility for maintaining financial records of all transactions within the Clubroom, and up to five Members who are in Wengen for a sufficient period or periods during the winter season to contribute adequately to the affairs of the sub-committee.
The sub-committee shall meet regularly during the skiing season (December to April) in Wengen. Any meeting that may be needed during the remainder of the year shall be held in London or at the discretion of the Chair by video or telephone.
The sub committee should take note of all village communal activities and ensure that
the DHO is represented as part of its contribution to the Wengen Village life.
The sub-committee shall liaise with the Wengen Manager and shall provide assistance and advice to him in the running of Club activities in the village and in the initiation of social activities for the benefit of Members during the ski season.
The sub-committee shall liaise with the Wengen Manager and shall provide assistance and advice to him in the running of Club activities in the village and in the initiation of social activities for the benefit of Members during the ski season. The Wengen Manager may attend and speak at meetings of the sub-committee but shall not be a member of it.
The Chair of the sub-committee is authorised to, and shall, represent the DHO on all matters concerning the clubroom including the meetings of the Eiger building house owner’s association.
Minutes of any formal meetings should be taken, and a copy provided to the Secretary
of the DHO.
The Communications & Marketing Subcommittee is responsible for:
The term of each Chair of the standing sub-committees will be three years, but the Chair may be reappointed by the Main Committee.
Each sub-committee shall comprise up to eight members selected from among the Membership by the Chair.
The President of the Club is an ex-officio and supernumerary member of each sub-committee and may appoint one of the Vice Presidents to attend meetings in his/her place.
All members of a sub-committee are eligible to vote on all motions put by its chair. Voting shall be by a simple majority of those present and eligible to vote. A sub-committee may co-opt any Member for one or more specific meetings at the discretion of its chair. A co-opted member is not entitled to vote and shall not become a member of the sub-committee.
A sub-committee may incur reasonable expenses of a type and up to a limit previously agreed by the Club Treasurer.
Any Member may write to the chairman of a sub-committee asking to attend a meeting of that sub-committee in order to make suggestions relating to matters within its remit. The request must be accompanied by a written summary of the Member’s suggestions and may be rejected on reasonable grounds, including that the matter is capable of being dealt with in writing.
The President may recommend to the Committee which members of the Club should sit on each of the sub-committees, but the Chair of the Committee shall make the final decision as he/she sees fit.
The Club has a Coggins ski group for children aged 7 to 12 years who are the children of Members, for which it is entitled to make a charge. Coggins groups shall be led by a qualified instructor retained by the Club. Participants are required to be of a standard to ski red runs with confidence.
The Club has an Eagles ski group for young persons aged 13 to 17 years, who are the children of members of the Club or members in their own right, for which it is entitled to make a charge. Eagles groups shall be led by a qualified instructor retained by the Club. Participants are required to be of a standard considered suitable by that leader.
The Editor, appointed pursuant to Article 15.6, is responsible for producing the Club Journal . A list of the Club members’ names shall be published in the Journal together with the respective category of membership of each member, abbreviated appropriately. One copy of the Journal shall be sent to each member, but where there are plural members resident at the same address the Editor shall determine the number of Journals to be sent to that address.
The Committee shall appoint from among the members of the Club a Captain to lead and organise the Club’s participation in the annual Inferno races in Mürren. Such an appointment shall be for a period not exceeding three years, and may be renewed thereafter on the same terms. The Captain will automatically be a member of the Alpine sub-committee.
The Committee shall appoint from among the members of the Club a Captain to lead and organise the Club’s participation in the annual AICC races. Such an appointment shall be for a period not exceeding three years, and may be renewed thereafter on the same terms. The Captain will automatically be a member of the Alpine sub-committee.
There shall be three Club Managers: a DHOracing manager, a Wengen Manager and a Coggins Manager, appointed by the Main Committee when required. The terms and conditions, and the contract of employment, of each Club Manager shall be approved by the Committee before appointment.
Club Managers shall attend and contribute to the meetings of the Committee and any relevant sub-committees if invited. They shall have no vote in resolutions of the Committee or sub-committees.
Club Managers are accountable directly to the President and any instructions given to them should have the authority of the President.
Club managers receive compensation for performing their duties, the amount of which is set by the Committee.
The Racing Manager’s responsibilities are as follows:
The Wengen Manager is the Club’s representative in Wengen during the ski season, and is expected to work six days per week (with Saturdays off).
The Manager’s principal duties are as follows:
The Coggins Manager is responsible for providing Coggins and Eagles activities by:
All members are entitled to wear the club’s bronze badge. Other awards may be made by the Committee at a meeting duly convened and attended by not less than ten of its members. The award of the Club’s gold arrow and gold badge shall be by a unanimous vote of the Committee members.
Qualifications for award of the club’s badges and arrows shall be as follows:-
Silver badge Members who have rendered notable services to the Club.
Gold badge Members who have rendered outstanding services to the Club.
Skiing Merit Award Members who have achieved outstanding merit in skiing by 1. Winning the McMillan Cup or Falken Ladies trophy. 2. Bronze standard in the Inferno Race. 3. A suitable achievement in ski racing or touring, as judged by the committee.
Bronze Racing Arrow Regional racing squads and British junior team.
Silver Racing Arrow Regional racing squad A teams members.
Gold Racing Arrow Members who are in the British or other national teams (or development squads) or in the teams of national bodies such as the armed forces.
The Committee shall liaise with the DHOracing Manager if awarding a badge for which a member of the DHOracing programme would be eligible. Arrows shall be awarded on the recommendation of the Chairman of the DHOracing Committee and confirmed by the Committee
Subject to the rules laid down by the Alpine sub-committee, Members may enter all Club competitions as soon as their application for membership has been accepted and the fee paid.
Categories
The categories of Membership as established by Article 2 of the Club’s Articles of Association are defined as follows. Unless otherwise stated, a category of membership carries with it all of the benefits of membership:-
Ordinary Members.
An individual aged 24 years or older may join the Club as an Ordinary Member on fulfilment of the eligibility criteria from time to time and upon payment of the Ordinary Member subscription (as established by Article 4 of the Club’s Articles of Association).
An Ordinary Member under the age of 36 years shall pay one half of the Ordinary Member subscription.
Family Members
The members of one family, consisting for these purposes of two adults and the children under the age of 24 years of either or both of them, may join the Club as Family Members on fulfilment of the eligibility criteria from time to time and upon payment of the Family Member subscription, which shall be double the Ordinary Member subscription.
Family members shall receive one copy between them of each Club publication. A child under the age of 18 in a Family Membership is not permitted to vote at the Company’s General Meetings and upon reaching the age of 24 years must join the Club in his or her own right failing which his or her membership will cease.
Couple Members
Two related individuals aged 18 years or more may join as Couple Members upon disclosure of the qualifying relationship, upon satisfying the eligibility criteria from time to time and upon payment of one and three-quarter times the Ordinary Member subscription.
Couple members shall receive one copy between them of each Club publication. If both Couple Members are under the age of 36 years, they shall pay seven-eighths of the Ordinary Member subscription.
Junior Members
An individual under the age of 24 years may join as a Junior Member upon fulfilment of the eligibility criteria from time to time and upon payment of one quarter of the Standard Member subscription.
A Junior Member shall have restricted access to the Club Room, to the extent determined by the Committee from time to time, and is not permitted to vote at the Company’s General Meetings if under the age of 18 years.
Life Members
By payment of a lump sum Members may extend their membership to life. (See Article 4.5 of the Club’s Articles of Association).
Introductory Members
An individual over the age of 24 years may join the Club for one fixed period of seven days as an Introductory Member upon payment of the Introductory Member subscription, which shall be one quarter of the Annual Member subscription. During his or her period of membership, an Introductory Member may ski with the Club once or twice (but no more) and may use the Club room.
An Introductory Member may participate during the period of membership, but is not entitled to win any prize or award, in any Club competition, is not permitted to vote at the Company’s General Meetings and is not entitled to receive a copy of any Club publications.
An Introductory Member who joins the Club as an Ordinary Member, Family Member, Couple Member or Life Member within one year of the expiry of his or her Introductory Membership shall have an amount equal to the Introductory Membership subscription paid by him or her deducted from the first Ordinary Member, Family Member or Couple Member subscription or Life member payment.
Racing Members
An Individual who wishes to race for the Club in the Inferno and/or Amateur Inter-Club Championship (AICC) may join the Club for a fixed period of one week during either or both of the Inferno and AICC, for a subscription of one quarter of the Ordinary Membership subscription. During his or her period of membership the Racing Member may ski with the Club no more than twice, and may use the Club Room only during the week of each race for which he or she is a Racing Member.
A Racing Member may participate in Club races during the week of either or both of the Inferno and AICC, but is not entitled to win any Club prize or award, is not permitted to vote at the Company’s General Meetings, and is not entitled to receive a copy of any Club publications.
A Racing Member who is using the ski guiding and Club Room on weeks other than the Inferno or AICC will be required to upgrade to Ordinary, Couple, Family or Life Membership.
A Racing Member who is using the ski guiding in excess of twice during the week of the Inferno or AICC will be required to upgrade to Ordinary, Couple, Family or Life membership.
A Racing Member who joins the Club as an Ordinary Member, Couple Member, Family Member or Life Member within one year of the initial joining date shall have the amount equal to the Racing Membership paid by him or her deducted from the first Ordinary Member, Couple Member, Family Member or Life Member payment.
A prospective Racing Member is required to complete a membership form with contact details.
Honorary Members.
The Committee shall have power by a 75% vote of those present and eligible to vote, to invite eminent skiers and those whose services are or have been of great value to the Club to become Honorary Members of the Club. Honorary members of the Club are awarded the Club’s silver badge.
Insurance
All Members must provide proof of adequate personal insurance cover on request, and Racing Members and any other Members participating in any race shall further provide full details of such cover, which must include cover for racing of the type involved, upon entry for a race. Any Member who fails to produce such proof shall not be allowed to race and, in the case of a Racing Member shall be liable to forfeit his or her subscription.
Disciplinary
If a Member fails to comply with the limitations of his or her Membership or otherwise behaves in a manner which, in the view of the Committee, discredits the Club in the eyes of other Members or any other person, he or she shall be subject to such restriction or removal of the benefits of Membership as the Committee shall in its absolute discretion determine.
Ski Club
Since 1925
