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SOUTHERN REGION ANGLING CLUB Contents List:
1. Preamble
2. Vision
3. Membership
4. National Competitions
5. Inter-Club League Rules
6. International Competition Rules
7. Conflict Resolution
8. Annual Club Awards
9. Safety Rules
10. Communications
11. Committee Manual
12. Indemnity
1. Preamble
Founded on 24 th February 2004, SORAC has become a full-fledged member Club of the Angling Society of Malawi (ASOM). ASOM, founded in 1939, has now become the “union” of angling clubs in Malawi , the governing body. As such, the ASOM Constitution is now all persuasive in terms of governing the affiliated Clubs, Club rules, activities, Committee procedure, events, operations, awards, protocols and the like. According to Article 3 of the ASOM Constitution, each Club may make its own Club Rules based on the rules, regulations and by laws of ASOM. These Rules, known as “SORAC Angling Rule Book” are therefore within the framework of a supplement to elaborate on the ASOM Constitution and are designed to govern angling in SORAC and were first adopted at the SORAC AGM of 25.2.05. These Rules are not new, they have been gradually developed over the past years of angling in ASOM. They were, however, only written down for the first time in 2004. They are not meant to be restrictive of angling pleasure and are therefore open for consultation at each AGM for members to suggest refinement to suit the needs and expectations of all. These Rules shall be liable to amendment by 2/3 majority quorum vote of 50% of members, during each AGM. Except Annex 1, which shall annually be adjusted so as to reflect changes that affect angling in that year. These Rules therefore are a written presentation of the Clubs experience, lessons learnt, spoken and unspoken rules to date so that every SORAC member, their family, guests and affiliates may be better aware of the Club's expectations, norms and standards. Each member is expected to read these Rules and to abide by them, thus leveling the playing field in fairness to all. It may seem like a lot, but it will make for better enjoyment of angling in Malawi and hopefully minimize any confusion and miscommunication. 2. Vision
SORAC's vision for angling and the foundation policy of these rules are: “To maximize the safety, environmental sustainability and recreational pleasure of angling in the national waters of Malawi . Catering for all Club members interests (male and female), and especially promoting junior anglers. Ensuring ASOM and IGFA rules are applied in a professional, fair and equitable manner, transparent to all, encouraging integrity, sportsmanship, fellowship and team spirit. Instilling camaraderie and pride in the Club and its achievements through local, inter-club, national and international competitions”. SORAC's Social Responsibility Policy to implement the above vision, shall be:
• Safety first.
• Limit the kill.
• Limit social conflict.
• Institute fair, equitable and transparent rules - a level playing field.
• Promote junior and lady angling.
• Consensus building, encouraging open participation and member consultation.
• Encourage sportsmanship and fair play.
• Instill fellowship.
• Be charitable.
• Have fun.
• Maintain IGFA and ASOM standards. 3. Membership:
3.1 Members: The Club is open to anyone who is interested in angling, irrespective of age, gender, nationality, race or religion. The Clubs geographic coverage shall be membership from Southern Region of Malawi, but anyone is free to join directly or as an affiliate member. Memberships shall be for one calendar year and renewable annually. Membership entrance fees shall be payable upon joining, and Membership subscription shall run annually from 1 st January. This may be changed by the committee form time to time as in Annex 1. The Club shall encourage 3 categories of membership: Men, ladies and juniors and competitions, leagues and awards shall, as much as possible, try to nurture these 3 categories. 3.2 Location: Fishing geographically shall be the national waters of Lake Malawi (Southern Region) and other water bodies in Southern Region of Malawi. 3.3 Committee: Any paid up member of SORAC may volunteer to stand on Committee and shall be appointed for one year if elected by a majority at the AGM. The Committee shall resign at each AGM but may stand for re-election. The Committee shall consist of central committee made up of Chairman, Vice Chairman/International Tournament Director, Treasurer and Secretary. There may also be a number of ordinary members, notably: sponsorship, assets, social events, fund raising, etc. The Committee shall be empowered to govern the Club Rules on behalf of members. The Chairman shall preside over every Committee Meeting and shall carry a veto vote. The Chairman shall also preside over every prize giving and the AGM. At prize giving, member consultation shall be adopted as a way of open house dialogue to better the Club for the enjoyment of all, but this shall be controlled by the Chairman and is not a “free for all”. At the AGM, the Chairman may call on members to vote for any changes to these Rules. The Secretary shall keep minutes of each meeting and a file on all documentation which shall be handed over as the “institutional memory” of the Club and kept safe as a record of the Clubs history. The Treasurer shall keep all Club funds safe and shall be accountable to the AGM for all use of funds to ensure that laid down accounting protocols are followed and that audits are conducted if so required by members. 3.4 Affiliated Members: Paid up members of any other Club of ASOM or affiliates (national or international) shall be considered visiting members of SORAC entitled to fish in SORAC events, attain SORAC awards, but may not vote nor stand for SORAC committee unless they join SORAC. 4. SORAC National Competitions:
4.1 National Competitions SORAC shall at least once a month organize a Club fishing event. So as not to conflict with other ASOM Clubs, SORAC shall hold its events as close to the end of the month as possible (Annex 1). The annual calendar and likely sponsors shall be circulated early in the year indicating league and social events. 4.2 Junior Competitions: To ensure the future of the Club, competitions especially for juniors may be organized. The points shall not count towards any league. A special category for juniors, however, shall be part of every competition and league. A junior is classified as any member who has not yet turned 16 years of age by the date of the commencement of the new annual season to be from the 1 st of January each year. For international competitions, a junior is considered as between 10, but under 18 during the period under assessment. 4.3 Sponsorship: Sponsorship of an event, an award, a trophy and competition prizes shall be open to any member and national, corporate or company sponsor. Sponsorship shall be given due acknowledgement on the trophy, award, at the event, in the newsletters, competition announcements, thank you letters and at the AGM. The sponsor may choose the prizes or leave the choice to the discretion of the Committee. The onus is on members to assist in securing sponsors. In appreciation of the support, at Committee discretion, sponsors may be made honorary member for the season concerned. 4.4. Competition Rules: All SORAC competitions shall be fished according to ASOM and IGFA rules, with exceptions as listed in Annex 1. Maximum attention shall be paid to safety, environmental sustainability, a Social Responsibility Policy of “limiting the kill” and to sportsmanship. Rule imposition by Committee shall be kept to a minimum. Members are expected to know and honour the rules and to maintain the integrity of the Club through sportsmanship and self-regulation. Any serious violation of the rules however, is subject to disciplinary action at the discretion of the Committee. a) Angler Rules: Fish must be caught, played and landed by the individual concerned. Partners may assist to net the fish to land it. Anyone else touching the rod or line while in play can disqualify the catch.
b) Boat Crew: To maintain fairness, no skipper (except for juniors), boat boy, fishing gilly or crew will be allowed on the boat, only fishing participants and family may be on the same boat together.
c) Separation of Catch: Each angler MUST keep their catch in separate containers from that of others on the boat. Any evidence at the weigh bay of a sharing of keep nets or a mix of 2 or more individual catches or bags may result in both catches being disallowed.
d) Location: Unless otherwise stated in the competition announcements, all SoRAC fishing is restricted to the sovereign (national) waters of Malawi . No ponds, or swamps are allowed (unless specified for a particular competition) and international boundaries must be respected.
e) Start Time: There will be an official start from one central departure point. Failure to respect this rule shall lead to disqualification.
f) Weigh In Time: Weigh in shall be at a fixed time. All catches must be inside the designated cordoned off “sanitary” weigh in area by the appointed time. Late arrival will be penalized as in Annex 1. Late arrivals willbe disqualified. If due to breakdown, boats are under tow, or fighting a fish, the weigh bay committee must be prior informed and must accept to make an exception to the rule. No one may enter the cordoned off area after time has been called, unless called to bring the fish to the weigh bay. Sorting by species may take place in the weigh bay when it is your turn to weigh in. All undersized fish should have been sorted on board whilst fishing.
g) Weigh Bay Rules: The designated weigh bay team shall have the final say on species category, weight and score. Their decision is final! A special species adjudicator may however be called to verify species when in doubt, especially for records.
h) Competition Fees: Members and affiliated members shall pay a fixed entry fee fixed from time to time as in Annex 1. Non-paid-up members, and visitors who are non-members shall pay a higher fee . Competition fees go to pay for the up keep of your Club House and area. Anyone who fishes in a competition, whether they catch fish, weigh in or not, is liable to pay entrance fees for the competition. Please contribute, it helps to cover Club costs.
i) Prizes: These may vary according to sponsor, but in general, prizes shall be for 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd in each category of men, ladies and juniors, all juniors who catch a fish, and the heaviest fish
j) Line Strength: Maximum line strength shall be 12 kg or 25 lbs. Up to 1m wire trace may be used. Sponsors may vary line strength if a light tackle tournament is declared.
k) Rods: More than one rod may be used at a time.
l) Hooks: As Per IGFA Rules, maximum of 2 per rod.
m) Species Size Limit: The Committee may from time to time vary minimum weighable size as in Annex 1.. One undersize fish may be presented at the weigh bay to count towards Annual Species League tally but does NOT count towards to his/her weight in the individual competition. After that any undersized fish brought to the weigh bay shall be penalized as in Annex 1. The length of the fish shall be taken as the maximum possible stretch length from nose/mouth to the fork of the tail.
n) Quorum: A minimum of 3 committee members must be present to declare a competition cancelled and to form a quorum to run a competition. Quorum at an AGM or SGM shall be 50% of all paid up members.
o) Venue: The central point for all competitions, unless notified otherwise, shall be the Chikwawa base.
p) Bank Fisher Persons: Are allowed to use porters to assist in carrying there goods ONLY. No fishing assistance or gilly or casting, is allowed!
q) Register: Anglers may fish anywhere in the designated area for a competition, but they must all sign in the Register before departing for their chosen spots. The Register shall be kept at the agreed launch site for an event. All competitors MUST register at the site prior to departure. Failure to do so will disallow entry to that event.
4.5. Club League Rules: Annually, the Club shall operate 4 leagues, notably: a) Total Points League: For a competition win, points will be given towards the league as specified in Annex 1.
b) Species League : For each species (except lake fish), points shall be given as specified in Annex 1.
c) Scale League: Only scale fish caught in any event shall count towards this league as specified in Annex 1.
d) Junior League: A separate league shall be maintained for juniors with points system as specified in Annex 1.
4.6. Fund Raising Rules: The Club may run the following fund raising events:
a) 100 Club: 100 individual tickets shall be drawn up at a fixed price each. Tickets shall be sold and of the total, 50 % will be given back as prizes to be decided at the time in a number of fixed draws and 50 % shall go to the purpose for which the funds are being raised.
b) Social Events: Any activity that raises money for a specific cause or project.
c) Raffles: Numbers or bids may be taken before an event or draw and the boat or catch or numbers raffled to raise money for a project.
5. Inter-Club League Rules:
This shall be organized by ASOM union as the governing body of angling in Malawi and shall follow these rules for the Malawi Championship League:
a) There shall be minimum of 3 legs, maximum 4, in all, but to compete an angler must fish at least 2 out of 3 or 3 out of 4. At least 2 must be home and one away, to be decided as in Annex 1.
b) Points shall be accumulated as points per kg for any fish caught (scale and non-scale)(Annex 1)
c) There shall be a winner of each leg as per the rules of the event, and the highest overall points at the end of all the legs wins the Malawi Championship.
d) The ASOM Committee shall decide the rules, venue and dates for each event, ensuring equitable balance between Clubs. No Club may change these rules without ASOM permission.
e) The leg winners and the champion shall be presented prizes at the AGM (of the winning Club) as per the overall sponsorship of the Malawi Championship League.
f) In addition, there shall be a team event competing for the Malawi Team Championship Trophy. Each Club may put up as many teams as they wish but the team must consist of 4 fixed team members and a reserve. To qualify, the declared team members must fish the minimum number of events (ie. 2 out of 3, or 3 out of 4, but at least 1 away), and the reserve can be used should one member fall out. The total of the team shall count towards the trophy winner.
6. International Competition Rules.
6.1 Selection Criteria: The SORAC Committee will decide the team(s) selection from paid-up members based on the following criteria:
a) Merit: Ranking will be based on merit. An average of the past 2 years points and the total from the current seasons points. An A team and a B team may be selected, and juniors/development team if there is sufficient interest.
b) Commitment: Selection is not an automatic privilege decided on merit alone, but also requires dedication of time and resources to the team, to help to organize the event. Final selection of teams will be based on first in line in the Top Ten to volunteer to commit. Selected participants will need to confirm participation at least 2-3 months in advance of an event date. There must also be a willingness to sponsor own participation or to secure sponsors. Any withdrawal from an event, will allow the next in line to be brought forward and offered a place on that event. Once a participant has withdrawn, for whatever reason, there may be no going back on that decision. Commitment also means participation in organizing the event and helping on the day, raising sponsorship, etc.
c) Boats: Selection and numbers of teams will depend on availability of boats and willingness of team members to volunteer boats for visitors.
6.2 Organization Committee:
a) The SORAC Committee : Each SORAC Committee shall at the beginning of the season appoint an International Tournament Director who is responsible for all international events. SORAC will make communication with other angling associations and try to arrange events with the respective committees. SORAC Committee will also maintain liaison with ASOM for sports council clearances. SORAC will provide blazer badges, ties and one set of official SORAC fishing gear (ie. Shirt and shorts), if required. SORAC Committee will NOT be responsible for each events logistical details. That is the sole responsibility of the selected team assisted by the Tournament Director and Team Manager.
b) Events Committee: The selected team(s) for an event, lead by the SORAC International Tournaments Director will constitute an Events Committee. The Events Committee will be responsible for all the organization of sponsorship, visitors logistics, travel arrangements, accommodation, food, catering, fuel, drinks, gear and cloths, etc. Any team member who does not make Events Committee meetings and does not participate in arrangements, may be dropped from the team. It is a team event and team members MUST work as a team to organize the event and must not expect that the SORAC Committee will do all the work on their behalf.
c) Team Captain: The Team will vote to select a Captain for the competition.
d) Team Manager: The Team may select a Manager and charge the Manager with all the responsibility for logistics, to organize the event before and during the competition. There will be a separate Managers event.
e) Lake Malawi International: SORAC shall at least once a year help organize an international event. SORAC shall liaise closely with and shall provide all support needed to make the Lake Malawi International, a successful ASOM event.
6.3 Competition Rules: For the international event, rules of the organizing institution shall apply. If a SORAC event, normal SORAC competition rules shall apply in relation to minimum size, etc. If in doubt, IGFA rules shall take precedence. SORAC Committee shall officiate at national events and shall man the weigh-bay and their decisions shall be final. 7. Conflict Resolution:
Part of SORAC's Social Responsibility Policy is to build harmony, sportsmanship, team spirit, fellowship and camaraderie. The Club will adopt an open, equitable, transparent and participatory approach in order to reduce tension amongst members and society, to minimize dissatisfaction, meanwhile trying to maintain fair play without upsetting anyone, keeping in mind always the social nature of the Club and accepting that you cannot always please everyone. It is up to each member to behave in a manner to try to prevent any upset that would spoil the angling pleasure of the members and the Committee(s). In the event of any dispute arising either between members, within the Committee, or with the Committee, with ASOM, or with other Clubs, either during competitions, record acceptance, team selection, in the process of organization or during the event, the protocol for conflict resolution shall be:
• These rules shall be adopted and amended by at least a 66% majority quorum vote at the annual SORAC AGM and shall be binding on all members for the year in question.
• The Committee decision in implementing these rules is final.
• If any individual or persons have grievances against any member or any seemingly unfair or unjust ruling, or interpretation of the rules, they must first make it known verbally to the Events Committee member or to a SORAC Committee member. The Committee member, on behalf of the Complainant shall take it up at SORAC Committee or notify the SORAC or ASOM Chairman to respond to the Complainant.
• If after the first verbal complaint, no action is taken, the Complainant shall verbally bring this matter directly to the attention of the International Tournament Director or the SORAC Chairman.
• If after a verbal complaint to a Chairman, no action is taken, the Complainant should write to the Committee officially. If not satisfied by the response, in accordance with the ASOM Constitution, the Complainant may then bring the matter up to the attention of the general members at an open public meeting or competition.
• In the interest of Club etiquette, members are asked to set an example of sportsmanship in front of juniors. Refrain from outbursts and avoid the embarrassment of open displays of anger or aggression in front of the Chairman, Committee, members, sponsors, visitors and others. All members are expected to follow this complaints protocol. Any breach will be considered as “unsportsmanship-like behaviour” and will be liable to be dealt with as per the rules of the ASOM Constitution.
• It is the responsibility of the Chairman to take action on any complaint in an open, democratic forum between members and between Clubs and to deflect any conflict situation. Consult the Chairman immediately there is an issue or doubt. It is the Chairman's role to be the first to know and to be the one to act.
• Ruling of the SORAC Committee on an issue shall be final and binding and shall be announced to all. 8. Annual Club Awards:
The Club shall award the following annually at the AGM and only fully paid up-members of SORAC and affiliates, for the season past shall qualify for awards: 8.1. Trophies: Anyone at anytime may sponsor a trophy or award. As of now SORAC to Trophies include: 8.2. Monthly Mugs: Monthly mugs are open to paid up SORAC members who during the year can show proof of catch to the SORAC Committee and have filled in an application form as per ASOM rules: • Monthly Mug: Each month exceptional fish caught either in competition or outside of competition, which weigh more that 50 % of the record shall be considered for a monthly mug award open to all categories of angler. The angler must submit a card duly filled in with sample of line, photo, etc. The onus is on the angler to comply. The Committee cannot be responsible. 8.3. Angling Records: To qualify for a SORAC record and a Malawi Record, the angler must show their fish to a SORAC or ASOM Committee member, have the species, weight, length, etc verified and recorded on an official ASOM record form together with a photograph and 1.5 m of line. To replace an existing record, as per ASOM Rules, the fish must be 3% bigger than the existing line class. As from 2005, any junior who catches a fish 50% of the size of the “all tackle” record, may open the junior record for that category, thereafter, the above rules apply. 8.4. Club Colours: In recognition of outstanding performance and contributions to the Club, SORAC will reward by appointment of colours, or junior colours. These colours have no standing as national or Malawi colours, these are governed by ASOM and Sports Council. a) Colours: Entitled to wear SORAC Black Blazer and Badge, CCL tie and White Shirt.(Tie to change once club sources it's own tie.) and have the badge “SORAC Colours” and year. For SoRAC colours, a member must be in good standing, have either sat on SORAC/ASOM (or combination thereof with LADAC, if transferred) central committee (ie. Chairman, or Vice, Secretary or Treasurer), or a combination thereof, for at least 5 years, or 7 years as ordinary member. Must have won at least 3 league events (ie. Total League or Malawi Championship), and demonstrated commitment to the Club, or has been selected and participated in 5 internationals. b) Honorary Life Member: Entitled to wear SORAC Black Blazer and Badge, tie and shirt and have the badge “SORAC Life Member” and year. For Life Member, a member must be of good standing, have obtained SORAC Colours, and has either, achieved double the minimum points (ie. 10 central committee and 6 League wins), or show exceptional service to the Club. 9. Safety Rules:
9.1 Radio/Cellphone: Always carry update list of fellow fishermen's cellphone numbers and when on the lake ask LADAC for updated list of radio call signs if you have a ship to shore radio on your boat. 9.2Minimum Safety Gear: Be wise and be prepared. SORAC cannot compel but suggests that each boat as a minimum should have: A life jacket per angler, a compass, a flare or 2, a torch, spare fuel, spare oil, medical kit, etc. 9.3. National Boundaries: Please respect the sovereign rights of our neighbouring countries and ensure that you are familiar with the location of international boundaries. SORAC cannot be responsible for the failure of a member to respect international protocols. Fishing outside of national waters is out of bounds during Club events and will lead to disqualification. If you have permits to fish in neighbouring waters please do so legally in your own time, or if desirous to do so on competition days, please do not bring your catch to the weigh bay as you are effectively fishing outside of the designated fishing area for competitions. 10. Communications:
To keep members and sponsors informed, SORAC Committee shall: a) Mode of Communication: The mode of communication to members shall be by e-mail. It is the responsibility of members to ensure their details are on the Club mailing list.
b) Calendar: Each year, SORAC shall publish an annual angling calendar at the beginning of the season containing SORAC, LADAC, ASOM and international events.
c) Competition Reminder: At least 3 days prior to a competition the Committee shall send out a reminder to all of the event.
d) Newsletter: At least 10 days before an event, the Committee shall send out a newsletter which shall contain the last competition results, league results to date, monthly mugs and awards, news and acknowledgement of sponsors.
e) Chairman's Briefing: At each prize giving, the Chairman shall present the audience with a summary of events, sponsors and activities, consulting on any issue arising.
11. SORAC Committee Manual:
To ensure continuity, and as part of SORAC's institutional memory, the Committee shall compile and hand-over to the next Committee all minutes, records etc. In addition, all formats, sheets, notes, etc shall be compiled into one consolidated manual for the operations of the Club. As a minimum this shall include: score sheets, record list, record/monthly mug claim forms, competition cash reconciliation, membership list, League tables, competitions summaries, stock cards/inventories, etc. Electronic copies should be in the file. 12. Indemnity:
Whereas the Committee has taken every precaution to ensure safe angling it nevertheless cannot be held responsible for any untoward incident or accident. You fish at your own risk and liability for any injuries and losses sustained during the course of participating in a SORAC event. Members of SORAC and Affiliated Clubs hereby hold harmless the Committee for any misfortune that may occur. You are advised to take out adequate insurance to cover any eventuality. Annex 1: Regulations, Fees and Fines of SoRAC as from 1 st January 2006 • Membership fees
Entrance Fee Mk 1 500/family or Mk 1 000/single
Family membership Mk 1 500/year.
Single membership Mk 1 000year. • Competition Entrance Fees:
Member and affiliated ASOM member Mk 300.0/competition.
Juniors Mk 150 .0/competition.
Visitors (Day membership) Mk 500.0/competition • Competition Sponsorship: Minimum sponsorship of prizes shall be USD …./competition • Fish Points:
Attendance points (if pay entrance fees) 2/competition towards Total League
Scale fish 10/Kg/competition
Non-scale 2/Kg/competition
Total Points League 10 for 1 st , 9 for 2 nd , 8 for 3 rd , etc for 1 st 10 only.
Species League 1/species
Scale League 10/kg
Junior League 10/kg
Malawi Championship League 10/Kg (all species) • Penalty Points:
Undersized fish at the weigh bay 5/fish
After 5 minutes late at weigh bay 10 points, after 10 minutes, 20 points
After 15 minutes late at weigh bay disqualified • Minimum Fish Size Limits: Tiger Fish 30cms, Vundu 60cms, Eel 35cms, Barbel 30cms, Nkupe 20cms, Cornish Jack 30cms, Bottlenose 25cms, other species any size. • Species Adjudicators • Amadeo De Buffalo • Inter-Club League and International Events Calendar:
Inter-Club League: 2 LADAC and 2 SoRAC, must fish 1 away match
Lake Malawi International 1-2 nd week of December • Local Events Calendar: Last weekend of every month or full moon. • Exceptions to ASOM/IGFA Rules:
Ox heart is permitted during river fishing, but no other mammalian parts may be used.
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