The name of the Club shall be "The Deben Bridge Club" hereinafter called "The Club".

The management of "The Club" shall be vested in a general committee consisting of the Chairman, a Deputy, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Competition Secretary and up to five other members, all of whom shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting ( AGM ) of the "Club". The Chairman shall be elected for a period of 3 years and may stand for re-election for one further 3 year period, all other committee members shall hold office until the conclusion of the next AGM. The retiring general committee shall recommend at each AGM the number of committee members to be appointed in the forthcoming year, subject to the overall limits above.

Candidates for election to the general committee shall be those members of the retiring committee who offer themselvesfor re-election and such other members of "The Club" who have agreed to accept office if elected and whose nominations, duly proposed and seconded by members of "The Club", shall have been sent to the Secretary, in writing, not later than 21 days prior to the date fixed for the AGM.

If the number of candidates for election exceeds the number of vacancies to be filled, the election shall be by ballot of paid up members present at the AGM.

Should a casual vacancy on the general committee arise for any reason, the general committee may co-opt a member to fill the vacancy until the next AGM or such shorter period the committee decide.

The general committee shall have power to deal with the funds and property of "The Club" and may draw on the funds of "The Club" to meet any expenditure approved by the general committee.

The general committee shall have the power to make such Laws and Rules, in accordance with these constitutions and regulations, as it thinks fit as to the management of "The Club" property and for the organisation of "The Club" activities and competitions in accordance with the objects of "The Club".

The general committee shall meet at least three times a year. Four committee members shall form a quoram, the chairman or secretary being in attendance. Emergency meetings of the general committee may be called if the Chairman and Secretary consider this essential and desirable. The Chairman always having a primary vote and a casting vote if needed. The general committee shall have the power to delegate any of its powers and duties to a sub-committee drawn from members of the general committee or members of "The Club", as it thinks fit.

The general committee may govern its proceedings and establish any guidelines and regulations for the conduct of its duties as it thinks fit, but shall be subject always to any regulations laid down in the Constitution as approved by the members of "The Club" in general meeting.

The objects of "The Club" shall be to provide facilities for the playing of Contract Bridge.

Visitors may attend up to ten times in a club year. Application for membership may be made after six visits and must be made after ten visits with full name, address, telephone number, email address,EBU membership number and primary club of affiliation submitted to the secretary. Applications for membership shall be decided by the committee, two votes against a candidate vetoes membership.

Visitors to be greeted by Chairman or Deputy, or if neither present a committee member.

Each member shall notify the Secretary of any change of telephone number, postal and e-mail address.

Any member failing to honour the currently operative rules will be liable to warning. Two warnings in a club year will render the member open to a request for his/her resignation.

The committee may rescind membership at any time without the need for specific reason.

The financial year also referred to as "The Club Year" shall commence on the 1st April. The general committee shall control the finances of "The Club".

Members shall pay an annual subscription. The level of subscription to be determined at the AGM.

Suscriptions shall be due at the AGM or within seven days by post to the Treasurer. Any member whose subscription is more than one month in arrears shall be deemed automatically suspended. Pro rata adjustments to members' subscriptions may be made at the discretion of the committee when election takes place during the club year.

Visitors shall pay a fee, the level of the fee to be determined by the Committee. 

a) Play and conduct shall be governed by the laws of contract bridge and the international code of duplicate bridge.

b) The Director's decision shall be final, including any penalties awarded and averaging slow tables.

c) Members are expected to show every courtesy to fellow members and guests.

d) Attention is particularly drawn to noise and slow play.

e) Mobile telephones must be switched off.

f) Smoking is prohibited.

g)Members shall be assembled by 6.50 pm for commencement of play at 7.00pm.

h) Help with setting up the hall will be appreciated and everyone should assist in dismantling tables, stacking chairs, clearing equipment and tidying the hall.

i) Anyone using the kitchen should clear everything away.                                                                                    

a) Shall apply to all normal club evenings where a host has been designated on the host list.

b) Shall not apply on competition and social evenings.

c) Unless needed as a partner, host duty will cease at the official starting time of 7.00pm.

d) It is the responsibility of any member who cannot attend on their host evening to arrange a substitute and mark the notice board host list accordingly.

The date shall be fixed by the committee no later than fifteen months from the previous AGM.

Business shall be:  

• Election of the Committee (including Officers )                                                         
• Presentation of the accounts.
• Determination of the annual subscription.
• Introduction or alteration of the rules
• Any other subject included in the notice convening the meeting.

Ten members including four committee members shall be a quorum. A minimum of twenty one days notice of any meeting must be given.

Items to be included at the AGM must be given to the Secretary, in writing, twenty one days prior to the AGM.

Special General Meetings shall be called by the committee or at the request, in writing, of eight members and state the exact purpose of such a meeting. Notice and quorum shall be as for an AGM.

Proceedings at any general meeting of "The Club" shall not be invalidated by failure of any member to receive notice of the meeting, notice having been duly given in accordance with the rules.

Voting on any matter raised at general meetings, including the election of members of the general committee shall be by a simple majority of those present and voting on a show of hands. The Chairman's declaration of the result of such a vote shall be conclusive. 

No official or member of the general committee shall be responsible, either individually or jointly, for any liabilities incurred by "The Club". All members shall be equally responsible for any liabilities incurred during their time of membership.

Alterations, additions or amendments to these rules and constitution cannot be made except by a resolution at a general meeting.

Competitions shall be held at such times and under such conditions as the general committee or any sub-committee shall determine.

Any suggestions or complaints regarding the arrangements of "The Club" shall be submitted in writing and handed to the Secretary or any member of the general committee and shall be considered at the next committee meeting.

"The Club" accepts no responsibility whatever to persons, property or belongings of any member or visitor whilst on the premises of "The Club" including the car park.

Any matter not provided for in these regulations and all questions arising regarding their construction or implication shall be decided by the general committee.

"The Club" can only be dissolved by a resolution voted for by the majoity of all members voting in person at a Dissolution General Meeting for which twenty-eight days written notice has been given to all members. The assets of "The Club" shall be disposed of in accordance with the decision of the Dissolution Meeting.  

21st April 2009