Constitution and Rules
of
The Mudgee Bridge Club Incorporated
Contents
Part A – Preliminary
1. Definitions
Part B The Club
2. Name
3, Objects
Part C – Membership
4. Membership generally
5. Nomination for membership
6. Cessation of membership
7. Membership entitlements not transferable
8. Resignation of membership
9. Register of members
10. Fees and subscriptions
11. Members’ liabilities
12. Resolution of disputes
13. Disciplining of members
14. Right of appeal of disciplined member
Part D – The committee
15. Powers of the committee
16. Composition and membership of committee
17. Election of committee members
18. Secretary
19. Treasurer
20. Casual vacancies
21. Committee meetings and quorum
22. Voting and decisions
Part E – General meetings
23. Annual general meetings – holding of
24. Annual general meetings – calling of and business
25. Special general meetings – calling of
26. Notice
27. Quorum for general meetings
28. Presiding member
29. Adjournment
30. Making of decisions
31. Special resolutions
32. Voting
33. Proxy votes not permitted
34. Postal ballots
Part F – Miscellaneous
35. Insurance
36. Funds – source
37. Funds – management
38. Change of name, objects and constitution
39. Custody of books etc
40. Inspection of books etc
41. Service of notices
42. Financial year
Appendix
Application for membership of Club
Part A – Preliminary
1. Definitions
(1) In this constitution:
Director-General means the Director-General of the Department of Services, Technology and Administration.
ordinary committee member means a member of the committee who is not an office-bearer of the Club.
secretary means the person holding office under this constitution as secretary of the Club,\
special general meeting means a general meeting of the Club other than an annual general meeting.
the Act means the Associations Incorporation Act 2009.
the Regulation means the Associations Incorporation Regulation 2010.
(2) In this constitution:
(a) a reference to a function includes a reference to a power, authority and duty, and
(b) a reference to the exercise of a function includes, if the function is a duty, a reference to the performance of the duty.
(3) The provisions of the Interpretation Act 1987 apply to and in respect of this constitution in the same manner as those provisions would so apply if this constitution were an instrument made under the Act.
Part B-The Mudgee Bridge Club Incorporated
2. Name
The name of the club shall be The Mudgee Bridge Club Incorporated
3. Objects
To promote the enjoyment of the game of Bridge and to conduct the playing of competition in accordance with the Australian Bridge Federation.
Part C – Membership
4. Membership generally
(1) A person is eligible to be a member of the Club if:
(a) the person is a natural person, and
(b) the person has been nominated and approved for membership of the Club in accordance with clause 5.
(2) A person is taken to be a member of the Club if:
(a) the person is a natural person, and
(b) the person was a member of THE MUDGEE BRIDGE CLUB immediately before the registration of the association.
5. Nomination for membership
(1) A nomination of a person for membership of the Club:
(a) must be made by a member of the Club in writing in the form set out in Appendix 1 to this constitution, and
(b) must be lodged with the secretary of the Club.
(2) As soon as practicable after receiving a nomination for membership, the secretary must refer the nomination to the committee which is to determine whether to approve or to reject the nomination.
(3) As soon as practicable after the committee makes that determination, the secretary must:
(a) notify the nominee, in writing, that the committee approved or rejected the nomination (whichever is applicable), and
(b) if the committee approved the nomination, request the nominee to pay (within the period of 28 days after receipt by the nominee of the notification) the
sum payable under this constitution by a member as entrance fee and annual subscription.
(4) The secretary must, on payment by the nominee of the amounts referred to in subclause (5) (b) within the period referred to in that provision, enter or cause to be entered the nominee’s name in the register of members and, on the name being so entered, the nominee becomes a member of the Club.
6. Cessation of membership
A person ceases to be a member of the Club if the person:
(a) dies, or
(b) resigns membership, or
(c) is expelled from the Club, or
(d) fails to pay the annual membership fee under clause 10 (2) within 3 months after the fee is due.
7. Membership entitlements not transferable
A right, privilege or obligation which a person has by reason of being a member of the Club:
(a) is not capable of being transferred or transmitted to another person, and
(b) terminates on cessation of the person’s membership.
8. Resignation of membership
(1) A member of the Club may resign from membership of the Club by first giving to the secretary written notice of at least 1 month (or such other period as the committee may determine) of the member’s intention to resign and, on the expiration of the period of notice, the member ceases to be a member.
(2) If a member of the Club ceases to be a member under subclause (1), and in every other case where a member ceases to hold membership, the secretary must make an appropriate entry in the register of members recording the date on which the member ceased to be a member.
9. Register of members
(1) The Secretary of the Club must establish and maintain a register of members of the Club specifying the name and postal or residential address of each person who is a member of the Club together with the date on which the person became a member.
(2) The register of members must be kept in New South Wales:
(a) at the main premises of the Club, or
(b) if the Club has no premises, at the Club’s official address.
(3) The register of members must be open for inspection, free of charge, by any member of the Club at any reasonable hour.
(4) A member of the Club may obtain a copy of any part of the register on payment of a fee of not more than $1 for each page copied.
(5) If a member requests that any information contained on the register about the member (other than the member’s name) not be available for inspection, that information must not be made available for inspection.
(6) A member must not use information about a person obtained from the register to contact or send material to the person, other than for:
(a) the purposes of sending the person a newsletter, a notice in respect of a meeting or other event relating to the Club or other material relating to the Club, or
(b) any other purpose necessary to comply with a requirement of the Act or the Regulation.
10. Fees and subscriptions
(1) A member of the Club must, on admission to membership, pay to the Club a fee of $5 or, if some other amount is determined by the committee, that other amount.
(2) In addition to any amount payable by the member under subclause (1), a member of the Club must pay to the Club an annual membership fee of $15 or, if some other amount is determined by the committee, that other amount:
(a) except as provided by paragraph (b), before 1 May in
each calendar year, or
(b) if the member becomes a member on or after 1 May in any calendar year - on becoming a member and before 1 May in each succeeding calendar year.
11. Members’ liabilities
The liability of a member of the Club to contribute towards the payment of the debts and liabilities of the Club or the costs, charges and expenses of the winding up of the Club is limited to the amount, if any, unpaid by the member in respect of membership of the Club as required by clause 8.
12. Resolution of disputes
(1) A dispute between a member and another member (in their capacity as members) of the Club, or a dispute between a member or members and the Club, are to be referred to a community justice centre for mediation under the Community Justice Centres Act 1983.
(2) If a dispute is not resolved by mediation within 3 months of the referral to a community justice centre, the dispute is to be referred to arbitration.
(3) The Commercial Arbitration Act 1984 applies to any such dispute referred to arbitration.
13. Disciplining of members
(1) A complaint may be made to the committee by any person that a member of the Club:
(a) has refused or neglected to comply with a provision or provisions of this constitution, or
(b) has wilfully acted in a manner prejudicial to the interests of the Club.
(2) The committee may refuse to deal with a complaint if it considers the complaint to be trivial or vexatious in nature.
(3) If the committee decides to deal with the complaint, the committee:
(a) must cause notice of the complaint to be served on the member concerned, and
(b) must give the member at least 14 days from the time the notice is served within which to make submissions to the committee in connection with the complaint, and
(c) must take into consideration any submissions made by the member in connection with the complaint.
(4) The committee may, by resolution, expel the member from the Club or suspend the member from membership of the Club if, after considering the complaint and any submissions made in connection with the complaint, it is satisfied that the facts alleged
in the complaint have been proved and the expulsion or suspension is warranted in the circumstances.
(5) If the committee expels or suspends a member, the secretary must, within 7 days after the action is taken, cause written notice to be given to the member of the action taken, of the reasons given by the committee for having taken that action and of the member’s right of appeal under clause 14.
(6) The expulsion or suspension does not take effect:
(a) until the expiration of the period within which the member is entitled to appeal against the resolution concerned, or
(b) if within that period the member exercises the right of appeal, unless and until the Club confirms the resolution under clause 14, whichever is the later.
14. Right of appeal of disciplined member
(1) A member may appeal to the Club in general meeting against a resolution of the committee under clause 13, within 7 days after notice of the resolution is served on the member, by lodging with the secretary a notice to that effect.
(2) The notice may, but need not, be accompanied by a statement of the grounds on which the member intends to rely for the purposes of the appeal.
(3) On receipt of a notice from a member under subclause (1), the secretary must notify the committee which is to convene a general meeting of the Club to be held within 28 days after the date on which the secretary received the notice.
(4) At a general meeting of the Club convened under subclause (3):
(a) no business other than the question of the appeal is to be transacted, and
(b) the committee and the member must be given the opportunity to state their respective cases orally or in writing, or both, and
(c) the members present are to vote by secret ballot on the question of whether the resolution should be confirmed or revoked.
(5) The appeal is to be determined by a simple majority of votes cast by members of the Club.
Part D – The committee
15. Powers of the committee
Subject to the Act, the Regulation and this constitution and to any resolution passed by the Club in general meeting, the committee:
(a) is to control and manage the affairs of the Club, and
(b) may exercise all such functions as may be exercised by the Club, other than those functions that are required by this constitution to be exercised by a general meeting of members of the Club, and
(c) has power to perform all such acts and do all such things as appear to the committee to be necessary or desirable for the proper management of the affairs of the Club.
16. Composition and membership of committee
(1) The committee is to consist of:
(a) the office-bearers of the Club, and
(b) at least two ordinary committee members,
each of whom is to be elected at the annual general meeting of the Club under clause 17.
(2) The total number of committee members is to be seven.
(3) The office-bearers of the Club are as follows:
(a) the president,
(b) two vice-presidents,
(c) the treasurer,
(d) the secretary.
(4) A committee member may only hold one office.
(5) Each member of the committee is, subject to this constitution, to hold office until the conclusion of the annual general meeting following the date of the member’s election, but is eligible for re-election.
(6) No member may serve in the same office for more than three consecutive years.
17. Election of committee members
(1) Nominations of candidates for election as office-bearers of the Club or as ordinary committee members:
(a) must be made in writing, signed by two members of the Club and accompanied by the written consent of the candidate (which may be endorsed on the form of the nomination), and
(b) must be delivered to the secretary of the Club at least 7 days before the date fixed for the holding of the annual general meeting at which the election is to take place.
(2) If insufficient nominations are received to fill all vacancies on the committee, the candidates nominated are taken to be elected and further nominations are to be received at the annual general meeting.
(3) If insufficient further nominations are received, any vacant positions remaining on the committee are taken to be casual vacancies.
(4) If the number of nominations received is equal to the number of vacancies to be filled, the persons nominated are taken to be elected.
(5) If the number of nominations received exceeds the number of vacancies to be filled, a ballot is to be held.
(6) The ballot for the election of office-bearers and ordinary committee members of the committee is to be conducted at the annual general meeting in such usual and proper manner as the committee may direct
(7) A person nominated as a candidate for election as an office-bearer or as an ordinary committee member of the Club must be a member of the Club.
18. Secretary
(1) The secretary of the Club must, as soon as practicable after being appointed as secretary, lodge notice with the Club of his or her address.
(2) It is the duty of the secretary to keep minutes of: (a) all appointments of office-bearers and members of the committee, and
(b) the names of members of the committee present at a committee meeting or a general meeting, and
(c) all proceedings at committee meetings and general meetings.
(3) Minutes of proceedings at a meeting must be signed by the chairperson of the meeting or by the chairperson of the next succeeding meeting.
19. Treasurer
It is the duty of the treasurer of the Club to ensure:
(a) that all money due to the Club is collected and received and that all payments authorised by the Club are made, and
(b) that correct books and accounts are kept showing the financial affairs of the Club, including full details of all receipts and expenditure connected with the
activities of the Club.
20. Casual vacancies
(1) In the event of a casual vacancy occurring in the membership of the committee, the committee may appoint a member of the Club to fill the vacancy and the member so appointed is to hold office, subject to this constitution, until the conclusion of the annual
general meeting next following the date of the appointment.
21. Committee meetings and quorum
(1) The committee must meet at least eight times in each period of 12 months at such place and time as the committee may determine.
(2) Additional meetings of the committee may be convened by the president or by any member of the committee.
(3) Oral or written notice of a meeting of the committee must be given by the secretary to each member of the committee at least 48 hours (or such other period as may be unanimously agreed on by the members of the committee) before the time appointed for the holding of the meeting.
(4) Notice of a meeting given under subclause (3) must specify the general nature of the business to be transacted at the meeting and no business other than that business is to be transacted at the meeting, except business which the committee members present at the meeting unanimously agree to treat as urgent business.
(5) Any four members of the committee constitute a quorum for the transaction of the business of a meeting of the committee.
(6) No business is to be transacted by the committee unless a quorum is present and if, within half an hour of the time appointed for the meeting, a quorum is not present,
the meeting is to stand adjourned to the same place and at the same hour of the same day in the following week.
(7) If at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within half an hour of the time appointed for the meeting, the meeting is to be dissolved.
(8) At a meeting of the committee:
(a) the president or, in the president’s absence, a
vice-president is to preside, or
(b) if the president and the vice-presidents are absent or unwilling to act, such one of the remaining members of the committee as may be chosen by the members present at the meeting is to preside.
22. Voting and decisions
(1) Questions arising at a meeting of the committee or of any sub-committee appointed by the committee are to be determined by a majority of the votes of members
of the committee or sub-committee present at the meeting.
(2) Each member present at a meeting of the committee or of any sub-committee appointed by the committee (including the person presiding at the meeting) is
entitled to one vote but, in the event of an equality of votes on any question, the person presiding may exercise a second or casting vote.
(3) Subject to clause 21 (5), the committee may act despite any vacancy on the committee.
(4) Any act or thing done or suffered, or purporting to have been done or suffered, by the committee, is valid and effectual despite any defect that may afterwards be
discovered in the appointment or qualification of any member of the committee.
Part E – General meetings
23. Annual general meetings – holding of
(1) The Club must hold its first annual general meeting within 18 months after its registration under the Act.
(2) The Club must hold its annual general meetings within 6 months after the close of the Club’s financial year.
24. Annual general meetings - calling of and business
(1) The annual general meeting of the Club is,subject to the Act to be convened at such place and time as the committee thinks fit.
(2) In addition to any other business which may be transacted at an annual general meeting, the business of an annual general meeting is to include the following:
(a) to confirm the minutes of the last preceding annual general meeting and of any special general meeting held since that meeting,
(b) to receive from the committee reports on the activities of the Club during the last preceding financial year,
(c) to elect office-bearers of the Club and ordinary committee members,
(d) to receive and consider any financial statement or report required to be submitted to members under the Act.
(d)Any general business of which thirty five days notice in writing has been given.
(3) An annual general meeting must be specified as such in the notice convening it.
25. Special general meetings - calling of
(1) The committee may, whenever it thinks fit, convene a special general meeting of the Club.
(2) The committee must, on the requisition in writing of at least 5 per cent of the total number of members, convene a special general meeting of the Club.
(3) A requisition of members for a special general meeting:
(a) must state the purpose or purposes of the meeting,and
(b) must be signed by the members making the requisition, and
(c) must be lodged with the secretary, and
(d) may consist of several documents in a similar form, each signed by one or more of the members making the requisition.
(4) If the committee fails to convene a special general meeting to be held within 1 month after that date on which a requisition of members for the meeting is lodged with the secretary, any one or more of the members who made the requisition may convene a
special general meeting to be held not later than 3 months after that date.
(5) A special general meeting convened by a member or members as referred to in subclause (4) must be convened as nearly as is practicable in the same manner as general meetings are convened by the committee.
26. Notice
(1) Except if the nature of the business proposed to be dealt with at a general meeting requires a special resolution of the Club, the secretary must, at least 14 days before the date fixed for the holding of the general meeting, give a notice to each member specifying the place, date and time of the meeting and the nature of the business proposed to be transacted at the meeting.
(2) If the nature of the business proposed to be dealt with at a general meeting requires a special resolution of the Club, the secretary must, at least 21 days before the date fixed for the holding of the general meeting, cause notice to be given to each member specifying, in addition to the matter required under subclause (1), the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution.
(3) No business other than that specified in the notice convening a general meeting is to be transacted at the meeting except, in the case of an annual general meeting, business which may be transacted under clause 26 (2).
(4) A member desiring to bring any business before a general meeting may give notice in writing of that business to the secretary who must include that business in the next notice calling a general meeting given after receipt of the notice from the member.
27. Quorum for general meetings
(1) No item of business is to be transacted at a general meeting unless a quorum of members entitled under this constitution to vote is present during the time the
meeting is considering that item.
(2) Nine members present (being members entitled under this constitution to vote at a general meeting) constitute a quorum for the transaction of the business of a general meeting.
(3) If within half an hour after the appointed time for the commencement of a general meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting:
(a) if convened on the requisition of members, is to be dissolved, and
(b) in any other case, is to stand adjourned to the same day in the following week at the same time and (unless another place is specified at the time of the
adjournment by the person presiding at the meeting or communicated by written notice to members given before the day to which the meeting is adjourned) at the same place.
(4) If at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within half an hour after the time appointed for the commencement of the meeting, the members present (being at least three) are to constitute a quorum.
28. Presiding member
(1) The president or, in the president’s absence, a vice-president, is to preside as chairperson at each general meeting of the Club.
(2) If the president and the vice-presidents are absent or unwilling to act, the members present must elect one of their number to preside as chairperson at the meeting.
29. Adjournment
(1) The chairperson of a general meeting at which a quorum is present may, with the consent of the majority of members present at the meeting, adjourn the meeting from time to time and place to place, but no business is to be transacted at an adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting at which the adjournment took place.
(2) If a general meeting is adjourned for 14 days or more, the secretary must give written or oral notice of the adjourned meeting to each member of the Club stating the place, date and time of the meeting and the nature of the business to be transacted at the meeting.
(3) Except as provided in subclauses (1) and (2), notice of an adjournment of a general meeting or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting is not required to be given.
30. Making of decisions
(1) A question arising at a general meeting of the Club is to be determined by a show of hands.
(2) If the question is to be determined by a show of hands, a declaration by the chairperson that a resolution has, on a show of hands, been carried or carried
unanimously or carried by a particular majority or lost, or an entry to that effect in the minute book of the Club, is evidence of the fact without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against that resolution.
31. Special resolutions
A special resolution may only be passed by the Club in accordance with section 39 of the Act.
32. Voting
(1) On any question arising at a general meeting of the Club a member has one vote only.
(2) In the case of an equality of votes on a question at a general meeting, the chairperson of the meeting is entitled to exercise a second or casting vote.
(3) A member is not entitled to vote at any general meeting of the Club unless all money due and payable by the member to the Club has been paid.
(4) A member is not entitled to vote at any general meeting of the Club if the member is under 18 years of age.
33. Proxy votes not permitted
Proxy voting must not be undertaken at or in respect of a general meeting or a special general meeting.
34. Postal ballots
The Club shall not hold a postal ballot to determine any issue or proposal.
Part F – Miscellaneous
35. Insurance
The Club may effect and maintain insurance.
36. Funds - source
(1) The funds of the Club are to be derived from entrance fees, annual subscriptions of members table fees and donations and, subject to any resolution passed by the Club in general meeting, such other sources as the committee determines.
(2) All money received by the Club must be deposited as soon as practicable and without deduction to the credit of the Club’s bank or other authorised deposit-taking institution account.
37. Funds - management
(1) Subject to any resolution passed by the Club in general meeting, the funds of the Club are to be used in pursuance of the objects of the Club in such manner as the committee determines.
(2) All cheques, drafts, bills of exchange, promissory notes and other negotiable instruments must be signed by any two of the president, two vice-presidents, secretary or treasurer, being members authorised to do so by the committee.
38. Change of name, objects and constitution
An application to the Director-General for registration of a change in the Club’s name, objects or constitution in accordance with section 10 of the Act is to be made by the secretary or a committee member.
39. Custody of books etc
Except as otherwise provided by this constitution, the secretary must keep in his or her custody or under his or her control all records, books and other documents relating to the Club.
40. Inspection of books etc
(1) The following documents must be open to inspection, free of charge, by a member of the Club at any reasonable hour:
(a) records, books and other financial documents of the Club,
(b) this constitution,
(c) minutes of all committee meetings and general meetings of the Club.
(2) A member of the Club may obtain a copy of any of the documents referred to in subclause (1) on payment of a fee of not more than $1 for each page copied.
41. Service of notices
(1) For the purpose of this constitution, a notice may be served on or given to a person:
(a) by delivering it to the person personally, or
(b) by sending it by pre-paid post to the address of the person, or
(c) by sending it by facsimile transmission or some other form of electronic transmission to an address specified by the person for giving or serving the notice.
(2) For the purpose of this constitution, a notice is taken, unless the contrary is proved, to have been given or served:
(a) in the case of a notice given or served personally, on the date on which it is received by the addressee, and
(b) in the case of a notice sent by pre-paid post, on the date when it would have been delivered in the ordinary course of post, and
(c) in the case of a notice sent by facsimile transmission or some other form of electronic transmission, on the date it was sent or, if the machine from which the transmission was sent produces a report indicating that the notice was sent on a later date, on that date.
42. Financial year
The financial year of the Club is:
(a) the period of time commencing on the date of incorporation of the Club and ending on the following 30 April, and
(b) each period of 12 months after the expiration of the previous financial year of the Club, commencing on 1 May and ending on the following 30 April.
28
Appendix 1
Application for membership of The Mudgee Bridge Club Incorporated (incorporated under the Clubs Incorporation Act 2009)
I, __________________________________________________________
[full name of applicant]
of _________________________________________________________
[address]
___________________________________________________________
[occupation]
hereby apply to become a member of the abovenamed incorporated
Club. In the event of my admission as a member, I agree to be bound by
the constitution of the Club for the time being in force.
___________________________ ___________________________
Signature of applicant Date:
I, __________________________________________________________
[full name]
a member of the Club, nominate the applicant for membership of the
Club.
___________________________ ___________________________
Signature of proposer Date:
I, __________________________________________________________
[full name]
a member of the Club, second the nomination of the applicant for
membership of the Club.
___________________________ ___________________________
|