1. NAME
TheClub shall be called “Lancaster Bridge Club”.
2. AIMS
TheClub is established for the playing of contract bridge, to provide a socialenvironment for its Members, and to provide facilities for less experiencedplayers to learn and to play contract bridge in a friendly and supportiveatmosphere.
3. COMMITTEE
3.1 The Club shall bemanaged by a Committee consisting of Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, TournamentDirector, Steward and six other members, all to be elected by simple majorityvoting at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
3.2 The business ofthe Club shall be conducted by the Committee who shall have control thereof andwho shall, at their discretion, deal with any matter arising in connection withthe Club and not provided for in this constitution.
3.4 The Committeeshall meet at least four times per year and at additional times at thediscretion of the Chairman.
3.5 A quorum for aCommittee meeting shall be six members.
3.6 Motions beforethe Committee shall be decided by simple majority voting (except forsuspensions, see 8), the Chairman having a second casting vote in the event ofa tie.
3.7 Any decisions ofthe Committee may be overruled by a quorate General Meeting.
3.8 Minutes shall bekept of all Committee meetings and approved at the next meeting. Club membersshall have access to the minutes of the meeting.
3.9 The Treasurershall ensure that the Club’s monies are lodged in secure account(s) approved bythe Committee. Withdrawals from these accounts shall be against the signatureof any two of the Chairman, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer and Secretary.
3.10 At its firstmeeting following the AGM, the Committee shall elect from its members anAssistant Secretary and an Assistant Treasurer. The Committee may create andfill other ad hoc positions as it feels necessary and shall fill any vacancy onthe Committee by co-option.
3.11 In the absence ofthe Chairman the Committee shall select an acting chairman for that meetingfrom the members present.
4. MEMBERSHIP
4.1 Application formembership must be proposed and seconded by Club members and approved by aquorate Committee meeting as soon as practicable.
4.2 All members shallbe required to behave in a courteous manner which is consonant with others’enjoyment of the game and with the conduct and etiquette specified in the Lawsof Duplicate Contract Bridge. Serious or repeated breaches of this code ofconduct shall be grounds for suspension or termination of membership.
4.3 Any ordinarymember may at any time compound all their future membership fees and on doingso becomes a life member entitled to all the privileges of membership for lifeunless expelled (see 4.6.).
4.5 For a suspensionof up to one month the member shall have the right to appeal to an EGM withintwo weeks of being notified of a suspension. In this event, the suspensionshall not be imposed until after the EGM.
4.7 In the event ofsuspension or expulsion, no refund of fees is payable.
5. TRUSTEES
5.1 The Trustees mustbe elected by the Committee to hold office until death or resignation unlessremoved from office by a resolution of the Committee.
5.2 The number ofTrustees must be not more than four and not less than two.
5.3 All the propertyof the Club shall be vested in the Trustees who shall hold the property forsuch purposes of the Club and with such powers as the Committee shall from timeto time direct.
5.4 The Trustees mustdeal with the property of the Club as directed by resolution of the Committeeand an entry in the minute book is conclusive evidence of a resolution.
5.5 The Trusteesshall be indemnified against risk, legal liability and expense out of the Clubproperty provided they are acting as specifically directed by the Committee ofthe Club.
6. MEMBERSHIP FEES AND TABLE MONEY
6.1 An annualmembership fee shall be charged and may only be changed by means of a motion toa General Meeting.
6.2 The annualmembership fee shall be due by 31 July and any member failing to pay by thisdate shall be charged visitors’ rates. Membership will lapse if the annual feeis not paid before 30 September.
6.3 The fee for lifemembership may only be changed by means of a motion to a General Meeting.
6.4 Table money formembers and visitors and entry fees for events run by the Club shall bedetermined by the Committee. Four weeks notice will be given of any change totable money.
7. BORROWING POWERS
7.1 The Trustees maywhen authorised by the Committee obtain advances of money for the purposes ofthe Club upon the security of bonds or agreements or promissory notes orcertificates of indebtedness or mortgages of real property of the Club or Billsof Sale on all or any of the goods and chattels of the Club upon such terms asthe Committee shall determine.
7.2 The Trusteesshall when authorised by the Committee provided the Committee have theauthority of the General Meeting as required by 3.3. of these Rules holdpurchase or take on lease any land or buildings and may sell exchange or leasesuch property.
7.3 Every member ofthe Club, whether having voted on a resolution under Rule 0 ornot, and everyone becoming a member of the Club after the passing of such aresolution, is deemed to have assented to the resolution as if having voted infavour.
8. GENERAL MEETINGS
8.1 The AGM shall beheld in May.
8.2 The business ofthe AGM shall include:
-approval of the minutes of the previous AGM,
-acceptance of the annual statement of accounts,
-election of a Committee to serve for one year,
-appointment of an Accounts Examiner
8.3 An ExtraordinaryGeneral Meeting (EGM) may be called by the Committee or by any ten memberssubmitting a request in writing to the Secretary and giving details of thebusiness they wish to be discussed. In this event, the EGM must be calledwithin four weeks of receipt of the request.
8.4 The Secretaryshall give at least three weeks notice of any General Meeting by posting thedate on the Club notice-board.
8.5 Motions forconsideration by a General Meeting must have a proposer and seconder who areClub members and must be submitted in writing to the Secretary at least twoweeks before the date of the meeting.
8.6 The agenda for aGeneral Meeting must be posted on the Club notice-board at least one weekbefore the meeting.
8.7 A quorum for aGeneral Meeting shall be 25% of the members or 20 members, whichever is thesmaller.
8.8 Voting at aGeneral Meeting shall be by simple majority. In the event of a tie, thechairman of the meeting shall have a second casting vote.
9. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
9.1 This constitutionmay only be amended at a General Meeting.
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