THE STORRINGTON BRIDGE CLUB

CONSTITUTION

1. This Constitution dated 23 October 2012 replaces previous Constitutions.

2. The Club shall be called ‘The Storrington Bridge Club’, hereinafter called ‘the Club’.

3. The Club focus is on the playing of Duplicate Bridge and the encouragement of new and experienced members to develop their skills further.

4. The Club plays bridge in accordance with the laws and rules of bridge laid down by the English Bridge Union.

5. A Committee of up to five members (Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and two members), elected annually, will oversee the day-to-day running of the Club and will meet at least three times a year.  A quorum shall be three members.  The Committee may fill any vacancies, on a temporary basis, that occur during the year.  The Committee may co-opt members to the Committee if it deems it necessary.

6. Membership of the Club is at the discretion of the Committee and potential members are expected to have played at the Club prior to acceptance.

7. Members are expected, at all times, to conform to acceptable standards of fair play and courtesy to others.

8. The Club accepts no responsibility for the property of a member or visitor while they are on the premises.

9. The Committee may suspend or exclude a member in breach of paragraph 7, in which case they shall notify the member, the reason for their action, in writing, within 14 days.  The member shall be entitled to appeal the decision, in writing or at a personal hearing, within 28 days of the suspension or exclusion. At a personal hearing before the Committee the member may be accompanied by a non-Committee member of the Club of their choice. The Committee will notify the member in writing of their decision within 14 days of the hearing.

10. Finance.  The Committee shall recommend the membership fee and table money for approval by members at the Annual General Meeting.  The Committee may adjust the table money during the course of the year if they deem it necessary.

11. The Club shall open a bank account(s), which shall be the responsibility of the Treasurer, into which monies collected by the Club shall be paid. Cheques for payment from the account(s) shall accord with the Bank mandate.

12. The Club will produce Annual Accounts for the financial year 1 September to 31 August, audited by an independent member(s) appointed by the Committee, for approval at the Annual General Meeting.

13. The Club will hold an Annual General Meeting within 56 days of the end of the financial year, notice of which must be given to members a minimum of 28 days prior to the date of the meeting. Nominations for Committee members, and any motions to be raised at the meeting,  must be received in writing by the Secretary at least 14 days prior to the AGM. At least 7 days prior to the AGM the Secretary will provide to the membership:
    1.  the agenda for the meeting,
    2. minutes of the previous AGM,
    3. the audited accounts for the previous year,
    4. any nominations for Committee members, and
    5. any motions to be raised at the meeting.

14. The Committee may call an Extraordinary General Meeting at 14 days notice.  An EGM may be requested in writing by 20% of the membership (who have been members for more than 6 months) and will be held with 28 days of its receipt by the Committee. Members shall be given at least 7 days notice of the date of, and reason for, an EGM.

15. The Constitution of the Club may be amended by a two thirds majority vote at an Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting.

16. Winding-up of the Club – should this be necessary, it must be agreed by two thirds of the membership at an Annual or Extraordinary Meeting.  The Committee shall be responsible for the realisation of the Club’s assets and the dispersal of any remaining funds.  The Committee may return to members their current year’s membership fee, or portion thereof, and distribute the remainder to the local charity/community for the furtherance of the game of bridge.

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