THE LEWES BRIDGE CLUB
CONSTITUTION
1 The Club shall be called “The Lewes Bridge Club”.
2 The objects of the Club shall be to promote competitive bridge in the area of Lewes, Sussex, and to encourage others to take up the game.
3 The Officers of the Club shall be:
a) The Chairman who shall preside at all Committee Meetings and General Meetings of the Club. The Chairman shall not be entitled to vote on any matter (other than the election of Officers and Committee Members), but in the case of equality of votes at any meeting, shall have the option of casting a deciding vote.
b) The Treasurer
c) The Secretary
4 The general business of the Club shall be managed by a Committee consisting of the aforementioned Officers and four (4) members of the Club.
5 The Committee Members and Officers of the Club shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting in each year, which shall be held in every year not later than the 31st March.
6 No Officer or Committee Member shall normally hold the same position in the Club for more than three consecutive years.
7 The Committee shall have power to fill any vacancy that may occur and shall have power to co-opt any member or members at any time as additional members of the Committee for any purpose that the Committee shall think fit.
8 The Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held after at least 21 days notice thereof has been given to all members by notice posted at the Club’s premises and by announcement at not less than two of the competitive events run by the Club in the 28 days preceding the meeting.
9 An Extraordinary General Meeting of the Club may be called at any time by the Committee or on receipt by the Secretary of a request signed by at least one-third of the paid-up members of the Club. The procedure for convening such a Meeting shall be the same as for an Annual general Meeting. At an Extraordinary General Meeting no business may be conducted unless a quorum of one-quarter of the paid-up members of the Club are present on that occasion.
10 Committee Meetings shall be held as considered necessary by the Committee, but at least once every three months and shall be held at agreed times and venues. The Hon. Secretary shall supply an agenda of business to be discussed. A quorum shall consist of four members, one of whom must be an Officer of the Club. Should a quorum not be present at a Committee Meeting the same shall stand adjourned for at least 7 days as determined by the Committee Members present and the remaining Members of the Committee shall be informed of the adjourned Meeting. If at such adjourned Meeting a quorum shall not be present then those members of the Committee who are present shall requisition an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Club.
11 Membership of the Club shall be subject to payment of an annual subscription which shall be due on the 1st April in each year, and the amount thereof together with the maximum amount of table monies from time to time payable shall be fixed by the club each year at the A.G.M. An annul subscription not paid by the 30th June shall signify that the member has resigned.
Requests for membership shall be passed to the Hon. Secretary who will seek approval of the Committee. Such intending members may play as visitors at club events whilst their applications are under consideration and shall adhere to the Constitution and Bye-Laws.
12 Visitors shall be permitted to play at the discretion of the Committee.
13 Members of such other Clubs as the Committee determine may become Associate Members at such fees as the Committee may decide.
14 The Hon. Treasurer shall produce annual accounts of the finances of the Club prepared as at 31st day of December in each year. Such accounts shall be presented at each Annual General Meeting and shall be subject to the approval of an Auditor, Honorary or otherwise, appointed by the Committee.
15 Paid-up members of the Club shall be entitled to vote at any General Meeting of the Club and a simple majority vote shall decide all matters at such meetings, subject to paragraph 18 of this Constitution
16 The Annual General Meeting shall have the power to elect an Honorary President and such Honorary Vice-Presidents as it wishes.
17 The Committee shall have power to expel any member who shall offend against the rules of the Club or whose conduct shall, in the opinion of the Committee, render him or her unfit for membership of the Club. Before any such member is expelled, the Secretary shall give him or her seven days written notice to attend a meeting of the Committee with or without a friend, and the Committee shall inform him or her of the complaints made. No member shall be expelled without first having an opportunity of appearing before the Committee and answering complaints made, nor unless at least two-thirds of the Committee then present vote in favour of expulsion.
18 Changes in these rules may be effected at any General Meeting of the Club provided that:
a) Details of the proposed change(s) are set out in the notice convening the meeting.
b) At least three-quarters of the paid-up members of the Club present at the meeting vote in favour of the change(s).
19 The Committee shall have power to make, alter or delete Bye-Laws for regulating the conduct and affairs of the Club, provided the same are not inconsistent with this Constitution. Such Bye-Laws shall be posted on the Club notice board and shall be binding on all the members.
20 In the event of the dissolution of the Club all monies and property belonging thereto shall be passed to the Sussex County Contract Bridge Association (or its successor organisation) or, failing this, to the English Bridge Union (or its successor organisation) whose receipt therefore shall be a full and complete discharge to the Officers for the time being of the Club paying such funds.
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