RULES AND CONSTITUTION OF THE WARWICK BRIDGE CLUB, REDHILL

1. The principle object of the club is to provide the members with the opportunity to play bridge for recreational purposes.

2. The club will meet at St Matthews Church Hall, Redhill or such other meeting place as the members may decide. Club play will start no later than 7.30 pm and finish no later than 10.30 pm.

3. The maximum number of members to be accepted to the club may be fixed by the members in a General Meeting, should the need arise. Applications for membership will be recorded on the New Member Registration Form and must be approved by the Committee. The Secretary will keep a copy of the New Member Registration Form of any person waiting to join the club. The Committee will keep a record of attendance throughout the year.

4. The Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held during the last week in April. An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) will be held if either demanded by the Committee, or requested in writing by six members. Three weeks notice in writing must be given for all General Meetings. A quorum of twelve is required at General Meetings. Any proposal must be seconded and gain a sixty percent majority of those voting, to be accepted by the club.

5. The Committee will consist of three Officers, namely the Chairperson, the Secretary and the Treasurer plus three other members. Elections for all Officers and Committee members will take place at the AGM. A Committee Nomination form will be placed on the notice board at least three weeks before the AGM. Each Committee member must be contactable by either phone or email, preferably both. The Chairperson will hold office for a maximum of three years and all other Officers and Committee members will hold office for a maximum of six years. Any person who has completed their full period of service under this rule may not seek re-election as a member of the Committee for a period of one year, unless a position has not been filled. The Committee must meet at least three times per year, when a quorum of three will be required.

6.  The Treasurer will prepare a financial statement at the 31st March each year, to be submitted to the members at the next AGM. The annual subscription will be approved at each AGM. This subscription must be paid by the end of the next calendar month following the AGM. Failure to do so will result in the member having to pay the visitor's attendance fee until such time as the subscription is paid in full. New members joining after the 1st October will pay half the fee for the year. The club night attendance fee for members and visitors will be approved at each AGM. Any one visitor is restricted to five attendances prior to applying to join, unless, in the Committee's opinion, there are mitigating circumstances that warrant an exception. In this case, the Committee will charge the visitor in question  a table fee which ensures that fully paid up members are not financially disadvantaged.

7. The Committee will ensure there is a sufficient rota of Directors to run an evening's play and that there is a sufficient rota of trained scorers, so that the scores are on the club's website and the notice board within two weeks of the boards having been played. The Committee will ensure that a contact person is available for those members seeking a partner for any evening and that this person's name and contact details will be available on the club's website. The Committee will ensure that the club's website is kept up to date. The club's website address is www.bridgewebs.com/thewarwickredhill

8. Any proposal to change these rules must be made in writing to the Secretary at least one calendar month before a General Meeting and must be signed by at least five members. The proposal must then be included in the agenda for the General Meeting. A copy of the club rules will be available on request and will be displayed on the notice board on club nights.

March 2017.