Constituion of Ballater Bridge Club

1.   The name of the club shall be Ballater Bridge Club.

2.   The club year shall run from 1 October to 30 September.

3.   The club shall be a bridge and social club for the members.

4.   Membership shall consist of Honorary, Ordinary and Termporary members.   The number in each class shall be at the discretion of the committee.

5.   Management

     a)  The management of the club shall be vested in a General Management Committee consisting of a President, Secretary, Treasurer and one ordinary member.  Four members of the committee shall for a Quorum.

     b)  The President, Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.   They shall retire annually but shall be eligible for re-election.   The other members of the committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.   They shall retire in rotation after three years service but shall be eligible for re-election.

     c)  Nominations for election of the office bearers and other committee members shall be made at the Annual General Meeting.

     d)  The committee shall have the power to fill vacancies occurring in their number during the course of the year and to co-opt additional members if required.   Such co-opted members shall act until the next Annual General Meeting when they shall retire but be eligible for re-election.

     e)  Matters coming before the committee shall be decided by vote and the President shall have a casting vote as well as a deliberated vote.

     f)  The committee shall have all the powers necessary for the conduct of the affairs of the club.   All regulations and rules named or orders given by the committee shall be bindng on every member.

     g)  The Secretary shall keep full and correct minutes of all the proceedings at meetings of the club and of the committee.   The register of minutes shall be available to members.

     h)  The Treasurer shall keep correct books of the financial affairs of the club.   These books shall be audited annually by an auditor who shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.

     i)  A Bank Account shall be kept in the name of the club in a bank fixed by the committee.

     j)  All cheques and other documents drawn on the club's account shall be signed in accordance with the regulations laid down by the committee.

6.   Meetings

     a)  The annual general meeting shall be held on a date fixed by the committee.   All elections shall be by a show of hands.   The minutes of the previous annual general meeting and of any extraordinary general meetings be submitted.   The President shall present the previous minutes for report of the current year's affairs shall be made to the meeting by the Present or the Secretary.   The Treasurer will take the meeting through the audited financial statement.

     b)  The committee shall have the power to call an Extraordinary General Meeting of the club at any time and shall be bound to call such a meeting to be held within thirty days of receiving a written request signed by at least ten members.   Only those matters for which the meeting is called shall be admissible at any such meeting.

     c)  At all general meetings of the club fifteen members shall form a quorum.

7.   Votes

Every ordinary member shall have one vote so long as that member has no contribution, subscription, or other sum due to the club unpaid.

8.   Proceedings at Meetings

The President shall take the chair at meetings of the club.   If he or she is not present the members shall choose one of their number to be chairman or chairwoman.

9.   Admission to the Club

Admission to the club shall rest with the committee.

10.   Subscriptions

The annual subscription and entry fee for all classes of member, together with table money and other dues to the club, shall be decided at the annual general meeting or at an extraordinary general meeting.

11.   Honorary Members

It shall be competent for the committee in recognition of renown as a bridge player or of service rendered to the club or any other reason which they may consider sufficient to confer the distinction of Honorary Membership.

12.   Temporary Members

Temporary residents in the district shall be eligible for election as temporary members at such rates of subscription as may be determined by the committee.

13.   Visitors

A member may introduce visitors to the club and will be responsible for such visitors.

14.   Compliance with the Rules

A member, upon payment of an entry fee or subscription thereby submits him or her self to the constitution and rules of the club.

15.   Dissolution

The club may at any time be dissolved upon the vote of two thirds of the members present at an extraordinary general meeting called for that purpose.

16.   Alteration

No alteration shall be made to the foregoing constitution except at an Annual General Meeting or at an Extraordinary General Meeting called for that purpose.  No such alteration shall take effect until it is carried by a two thirds majority of the meeting.

Last amended at AGM 9 November 2004