STOKE MANDEVILLE BRIDGE CLUB

REVISED CONSTITUTION 6 SEPTEMBER 2022

1. NAME

The name of the club shall be ‘STOKE MANDEVILLE BRIDGE CLUB’.

2. OBJECTS

The objects of the club are to encourage and to provide for its members facilities for playing duplicate bridge for players of all standards.

3. MEMBERSHIP

Membership shall be open to such members as the Committee shall decide. Any person wishing to become a member may do so by completing an application form which must be approved by two members of the Committee, and by their signature shall be deemed to have read and agreed to abide by these rules.

4. VISITORS

Any person may visit and play at the club with the consent of a Committee member or as a guest of a member and upon payment of the visitor’s fee, up to a maximum of three times in any season provided that no application for membership has been declined or has previously been expelled from membership.

5. SUBSCRIPTION AND FEES

A subscription shall be payable annually at the commencement of the club’s membership year (1 October).  Additionally, each member shall be required to pay “Table Money” for attendance at the club nights either by a single session payment on the night or by way of a quarterly payment to cover all attendances in a specified three-month period.
The amount of the subscription, single session payment or quarterly payment shall be such amount as is determined by the Committee from time to time.

6. REMOVAL OF A MEMBER

If at any time the Committee shall be of the opinion that the behaviour of a member is not in the best interest of the club, it may, by resolution, communicate to the member in writing stating concisely the grounds on which it proposed to act, call upon an individual to resign from membership and if the member does not resign within 28 days after being called upon, the Committee may, by resolution, terminate his/her membership. Before coming to any decision, the Committee shall give the member ample opportunity to state his/her case either orally or in writing.

7. UNAUTHORISED ANNOUNCEMENTS

No individual member shall take any public action or otherwise to make any public announcements in the name of the club or otherwise do anything directly or indirectly to represent that any proposal, action or statement of facts or opinions has the approval of the club. The Committee alone, either collectively or through designated individual members, may authorize and make announcements and publications on behalf of the club.

8. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Annual General Meeting of individual members of the club shall be held once in every calendar year as soon as practicable after the close of the financial year to transact the following business:

a). to receive, and if approved, adopt the Annual Report and an audited statement of the accounts to the end of the preceding financial year

b). to elect an Auditor

c). to deal with any special matters which the Committee desires to bring before the members and to give consideration to suggestions from the members, subject to formal resolution and vote of the assembled members where appropriate

9. EXTRAORDINARY MEETINGS

An extraordinary meeting of the club may be called at any time by the Committee, following receipt by any Committee member, of a requisition in writing and signed by no less than one third of the total recorded membership stating the purpose and setting out any resolution it is desired to propose. No other business shall be transacted at such a meeting. The Chairman of the meeting shall be nominated by the Committee.

10. NOTICE OF MEETINGS

A notice convening any General Meeting shall, with the Annual Report and Accounts in the case of the AGM shall be sent to all members not less than 7 days before the date of the meeting and shall specify the business of the meeting.

11. VOTING

Each individual member attending any meeting shall have one vote and no more, except the Chairman, who may have a second vote or casting vote in the event of an equality of votes. Any resolution for consideration of any General Meeting must be received by the Committee not less than 14 days before the date of such meeting. A resolution which is considered by the Committee to be contrary to the provisions of the constitution or scandalous or vexatious shall not be placed on the Agenda or discussed at any meeting.

12. COMMITTEE AND OFFICERS

The business affairs of the club shall be managed by a Committee of at least five club members and shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting. The Committee shall meet from time to time as may be necessary. The Officers for the Committee shall be elected by the Committee as follows: Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer.

13. COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

At each Annual General Meeting all members of the Committee shall retire and shall be eligible for re-election. Nominations for election to the Committee shall be proposed, seconded and agreed by majority qualified to vote.

14. QUORUM

A Quorum shall consist of at least 50% of Committee members.

15. CASUAL VACANCY

The Committee may fill by co-option any casual vacancy which may occur in their number and the person so co-opted shall retire at the Annual General Meeting and be eligible for re-election.

16. COMMITTEE CONTROL

a.) The Committee shall have the sole control and management of the income, property and affairs of the Club as they may deem necessary or useful for the purposes of the club.

b.) at least 7days notice of a Committee Meeting shall, as far as practical, be given to each member

c.) the Chairman of the Committee shall have one vote at all meetings and in the eventuality of equality of votes – a casting vote.

d.) if any Officer or member of the club conducted him/herself in a manner considered by the Committee to be detrimental to the interest of the club, he/she shall be removed from office by resolution of the full Committee. Such officer or member shall first have received at least 7days notice of the meeting with a concise statement of the grounds upon which his/her removal is sought and shall be entitled at the meeting to make a statement in explanation or defense of his/her conduct.

17. SUB-COMMITTEE

The Committee may appoint an ad hoc sub-committee to consider and report on any matter and members of such sub-committee need not be members of the Committee. At least one member of each sub-committee shall be a full Committee member. All sub-committees shall elect their own Chairman unless otherwise decided by the Committee. No money may be spent by a sub-committee on behalf of the club. Nor may any obligation be entered into except by prior consent of the Committee.

18. ALTERATION TO RULES

The rules of the club shall only be altered, or new rules passed, by resolution passed by two-thirds of the members present at the Annual General Meeting convened for that purpose and of which 7days notice has been served on each member of the club.

19. WINDING UP

The club may at any time be voluntarily wound up after payment of any debts and liabilities incurred by the club. Any remaining assets should be distributed to such charities of similar interests as the Committee think fit.

20. FINANCIAL YEAR

The Financial Year shall end on 31 March of each year. The income and property of the Club shall be applied solely towards the furtherance, promotion and execution of the objects of the club. All monies payable to the club shall be received by the Treasurer, or such Bank as shall be appointed to receive same, and all such funds invested, shall be deposited in a banking account in the name of the club. No sum shall be drawn from this account except by the Treasurer, the Assistant Treasurer or by two persons authorised by the Committee.

True accounts shall be kept of all receipts, expenditure, assets and liabilities of the club and a properly audited accounts and balance sheet made up to the close of the financial year shall be presented to the members of the club at each Annual General Meeting.

Reasonable office, travelling and sundry expenses incurred by officers of the Committee, or by a duly appointed person, may be paid by the club. All claims for such expenses must be submitted to the Treasurer who may require such information as he/she thinks fit.

21. LIABILITY

The club shall not be liable for any claims made against it.

22. MINUTES

The records shall be taken and minutes kept of the proceedings of all Committee, sub-committee and general meetings. Such minutes shall be confirmed at the next meeting and signed by the Chairman.