Constitution of Hexham Bridge Club

l.  Objectives:

a) to provide Bridge playing facilities and amenities that serve the Bridge interests of members in accordance with the Rules and Conditions of the English Bridge Union;

b) to organise duplicate and other Bridge matches and competitions.

2.  Management:

a) the management and control of the Club, and Club funds, shall be vested in a Committee consisting of a Chairman, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer and up to five other members elected at the Annual General Meeting and/or co-opted as necessary by the remaining members of the Committee;

b) one member of the Committee shall be appointed as the Club representative on the Council of the North Eastern Bridge Association (NEBA);

c) at all Committee meetings five members shall form a quorum.   In the absence of the Chairman a member of the Committee shall be elected to chair the meeting by a majority of those present;

d) the Chairman shall have a vote on all matters, and, also, a casting vote;

e) the Committee shall meet as necessary, but typically, once a quarter.

3.  Membership:

a) membership shall comprise both Ordinary and Honorary Club members;

b) total membership shall be controlled at the absolute discretion of the Committee;

c) the financial year shall commence on 1^stJanuary of each year, when annual subscriptions become due for the year ahead;

d) members wishing to terminate their membership are requested to give notice to the Honorary Secretary as soon as possible;

e) if a subscription is not received from any member by 1^stApril their membership will be terminated;

f) the Committee may at any time elect an Honorary Member to the Club, who will be exempt from the annual subscription.

4. Annual General Meeting (AGM):

a) Members will be notified 4 weeks in advance of the AGM and shall specify the nature of the business to be transacted at the meeting.   The Chair at all such meetings shall  be taken by the Chairman or, in his or her absence, by such other Committee Member as the meeting shall elect;

b) the AGM of the Club shall be held at such date and time as shall be fixed by the Committee.   A quorum shall consist of twenty members of the Club;

c) the purpose of the AGM shall be to

(i) receive reports from the Honorary Secretary and Treasurer, and to adopt the Annual Accounts;

(ii) to elect the Management Committee to serve for the year ahead (nominations for which shall have been made, seconded at least 2 weeks in advance of the AGM); 

(iii) discuss any resolutions (proposed and seconded by members at least 2 weeks in advance of the AGM);

(iv) and transact any other business of the Club;

d) the Committee shall appoint an Honorary Auditor who shall audit the Club accounts in advance of the AGM;

e)  the Committee may, whenever they see fit, or on a written request signed by at least fifteen members, call an Extraordinary General Meeting to take place.   Members will be notified two weeks in advance.

5.  Conduct of members:

a) the appointed Tournament Director (TD) for the night is responsible for monitoring players’ behaviour and for players’ queries on the operation and interpretation of the laws.  A player may appeal against any ruling by the TD by lodging a £5 deposit with the Honorary Secretary.   An Appeals Committee, consisting of the club’s other TD’s (as available), shall be convened by the Chairman (or in absentia, by the Honorary Secretary) and shall consider the appeal – having invited the presence of the affected player(s) and the original TD – before the start of play at the next Club night.   Their discussion shall be announced to the affected players, including whether the £5 deposit shall be returned.   Any further appeal shall be referred to one of the NEBA TDs;

b) the Committee shall have the power to request any member to resign, and in default thereof may terminate his/her membership by a resolution at a Committee Meeting.   The member whose resignation is thus sought shall be given at least seven days notice of this Committee meeting and of the proposed resolution to terminate his/her membership and shall be afforded an opportunity, either orally or in writing, to object to such resolution and explain his/her conduct.

6.  Complaints:

All complaints about the running of the Club or the conduct of members shall be made in writing to the Honorary Secretary who shall submit them to the next meeting of the Committee, or, if the matter is urgent, shall ask the Chairman to call an earlier meeting of the Committee.

7.  Guests and Visitors:

Guests and Visitors are welcome to play bridge at the Club at any time on payment of a fee determined by the Committee.

8.   Constitution:

This Constitution can only be altered by a Resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of the members voting at a duly constituted General Meeting of the Club.   Members will be notified at least 2 weeks before the meeting.  The terms of any such revised Constitution shall become operable on the day on which such Resolution is passed.

9.  Dissolution:

Hexham Bridge Club can only be dissolved at a General Meeting, a notice of which must be given to members at least 21 days prior to the date of the meeting giving details of the proposed dissolution.

The Resolution to dissolve must be passed by at least 2/3rds of those present and voting.

If agreement is reached, any assets remaining after the clearing of all debts and liabilities shall be given to any of the following:-

a)  The English Bridge Union

b)  The North Eastern Bridge Association

c)  Any club or organisation with similar objectives

d)  Any registered or recognised charitable body

February 2020