| THE CLUB |
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| 1. |
The club shall be known as the FARNBOROUGH (KENT) BRIDGE CLUB and shall be affiliated to the Kent Contract Bridge Association and the English Bridge Union. |
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| 2. |
The objects of the Club shall be to provide facilities for playing Contract Bridge and to organize competitions for members. |
MEMBERSHIP |
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| 3. |
There shall be two grades of membership of the Club: |
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(i) Ordinary Membership.
(ii) Honorary Life Membership
Any person wishing to become an ordinary member shall complete an application form, which will be displayed on the Club notice board for a minimum of three weeks. Such applications shall then be considered, together with any representations received from existing members, by the Committee whose decision will be notified in writing to the applicant.
Honorary Life Membership may be granted only at the discretion of the Committee to those who have rendered distinguished service to the Club. Honorary Life members shall not be required to pay an annual subscription. |
MANAGEMENT |
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| 4. |
The general management of the Club shall be vested in a Committee comprising the President, the officers (Chairman, Captain, Secretary, Treasurer) and five other members. |
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| 5. |
The Committee shall have power to fill any vacancies that occur and to co-opt other members at its discretion. |
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| 6. |
All members of the Committee shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. The President shall not be eligible for immediate re-election to the Committee having served in that capacity for three consecutive years. Other officers shall not be eligible for immediate re-election to the Committee having served in their capacity for three consecutive years after October 2002, except that they shall be eligible for election as President. The other members shall not be eligible for immediate re-election after serving five consecutive years except that they shall be eligible for election as President or an officer. Nominations for the President, the officers and other members shall be forwarded to the Secretary in writing, not less than 21 days before the meeting, with the names of the proposer and seconder and an indication of the nominee's willingness to stand, m the event of a shortfall for any position those candidates nominated shall be elected and nominations for any vacancies shall be accepted from the floor. |
MEETINGS |
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| 7. |
The Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held not later than the end of October to transact the following business: |
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(a) To receive and approve the statement of accounts for the Club to the end of the preceding year.
(b) To determine the annual subscriptions of members and table money for the current year.
(c) To consider and, if approved, sanction any amendment to the Constitution.
(d) To elect the President, officers and other members of the Committee.
(e) To appoint an auditor, who shall not be a member of the Committee.
(f) To deal with any matter notified to the Secretary in writing not less than 21 days before the meeting.
Notice convening the Annual General Meeting shall be given to members not less than 28 days before the meeting. The agenda for the meeting shall be circulated not less than 7 days before the meeting. |
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| 8. |
A Special General Meeting may be convened at any time by the Committee and shall also be convened within 21 days from the receipt of a requisition, in writing, signed by not less than 15 members, specifying the object of the meeting. No business other than that for which the meeting was convened shall be transacted. |
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| 9. |
At a General Meeting 25 shall form a quorum. The Chairman of a General Meeting shall be empowered to rule out of order a resolution proposed of which due notice has not been given.
At a General Meeting each member of the Club shall be entitled to one vote, except the Chairman of the meeting who shall also have a casting vote. Any members who are unable to attend the Annual General Meeting may vote by proxy for any candidates who have been proposed and seconded for positions on the Committee, by giving written instructions to either the Chairman or the Secretary. Any decision of the majority at a General Meeting shall be binding on all members of the Club. |
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| 10. |
At Committee meetings six shall form a quorum. In the absence of the elected Chairman, the members present shall appoint one of their number to act as Chairman. Each member shall be entitled to one vote, except the Chairman who shall also have a casting vote. |
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GENERAL |
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| 11. |
The financial year of the Club shall end on 31st July. The annual subscription and table monies payable by members shall be decided at the Annual General Meeting. Annual subscriptions become due at the Annual General Meeting and must be paid by no later than 31st December although, in exceptional cases, late payment may be accepted at the discretion of the Committee. The annual subscription of a new member is due on admission to membership and must be paid within one month. A member admitted after 6th March shall be required to pay half the annual subscription in that financial year. In the event of unexpected expenses incurred during the year, the Committee shall have power to make adjustments to the table money. |
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| 12. |
The Committee shall have the power to make guidelines for regulating the conduct and affairs of the Club, providing the same are not inconsistent with this Constitution. |
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| 13. |
Non-members must not attend on more than six occasions during any one financial year without applying for membership.
All visitors shall be required to pay twice the normal table money. A special fee may be charged to all visitors when a national or county event is held at the Club. No visitor may compete in club championship events. |
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| 14. |
Members must accept the obligation to act as duty member as designated by the Committee. |
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| 15. |
The Committee may cancel or suspend the membership of any person in the interests of the Club. |
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| 16. |
Each member of Farnborough (Kent) Bridge Club shall be required, in connection with the game of Contract Bridge and variations thereof, to conform to the standards of fair play, courtesy and personal deportment prescribed in the Bye Laws and Regulations of the English Bridge Union. Where the Club rules are silent, the Committee shall have the power to refer the matter to the English Bridge Union for guidance. |
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October 2008. |