Ages
Children under the age of 10 must join as part of a family membership.
Children between 10 and 17 can either join as Juniors or as part of a family membership.
Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult when at the club, although the adult does not have to be on the water with them.
Duties
All adult members (Family, Individual, Senior, Senior Couple or Student) are required to perform two sessions as Duty Officer during each period of membership. This will be at the Sunday or Wednesday sessions at the Centre. Members may indicate a preference for any of these sessions, or for specific dates, when they wish to perform their duties. Sessions will be allocated. The member is responsible for arranging cover if they are unable to perform the allocated duty. The Duty Officer Officer will provide contact details of other members to assist with this. The Duty Officer is responsible for issuing boats and equipment during the Sunday and Wednesday sessions, and for taking money at all sessions.
The Duty Officer is responsible for handing the money and paperwork over to a Committee Member. The Duty Officer is NOT responsible for the safety of paddlers on the water.
Rights
Each category of membership has the right to take part in and vote at General Meetings. Affiliated memberships include one vote each. All members of a family who are aged 14 or over, and all Junior members aged 14 or over can vote. Any voting member is also eligible to become a member of the committee. To vote or to be elected, a member must be a current member on the day of the meeting.
Club members are entitled to use club equipment, i.e. boats, paddles, buoyancy aids, spraydecks and helmets, free of charge.
This applies both at club sessions and at other times. During club sessions it is simply necessary to book the equipment out with the Duty Officer. At other times it is necessary to pre-arrange the use of and access to the equipment with the Equipment Officer. Access will usually require the equipment to be collected during one club session and returned at the next.
Members are entitled to store one boat owned by them in one of the containers at the Centre free of charge. Extra boats are charged at the rate of £10 each. However members will not be allowed to apply for a key to the containers until they have been a member for at least 6 months. Access to the containers is possible during club sessions without the member needing their own key. A £10 deposit is charged for a key. This is refundable when the key or keys are returned. Keys must be returned, and boats removed, if a member does not renew his/her membership. Boats not removed after a period of 3 months will be regarded as club property, and may be used or sold.
Members will receive a copy of the occasional magazine Breakout. Members can elect to receive Breakout by email instead of on paper. This saves expense for the club.
Membership cards are posted to new members, generally within a month of joining. Renewal notices will be sent out a month before renewal is due, and up to two months after that. After that period no further magazines or renewal notices will be sent.