BRADFORD BRIDGE CLUB

CONSTITUTION

1         NAME AND OBJECTS

1. 1. The name of the Club shall be “Bradford Bridge Club”
   2. The objects are to provide for its members the means of playing contract bridge, to arrange matches and any social events as approved by the committee.

2. COMMITTEE

1. 1. The committee shall consist of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer (officers), up to ten other members and up to a maximum of three Vice-Presidents. The committee shall have control and management of the business of the club and shall have exclusive power to engage or dismiss any servant or employee of the Club and to purchase such articles and do all such things as it may deem necessary for the carrying out of the objects of the Club. It shall have due regard to any resolution or recommendation of any General or Special General Meeting when considering the making of bye-laws necessary for the good governance of the Club. A copy of such bye-laws shall be posted conspicuously withing the Club.
   2. The quorum at a meeting of the committee shall be seven.
   3. No resolution of the committee shall be rescinded unless notice to rescind has been given at the previous meeting, except by the unanimous vote of all members present.
   4. The Officers and Members of the Committee (except for the Vice-Presidents, if any), shall be elected by ballot during the Annual General Meeting. They shall, subject to the provisions of clause 2.5 hereof, be elected for a period of two years after which they shall retire but be eligible for re-election.
   5. The following shall retire at the Annual General Meeting:
      1. The Chairman and Treasurer at Annual General Meetings held in odd numbered years; the Vice-Chairman and Secretary in even numbered years.
      2. Co-opted members and Vice-Presidents.
      3. Other members of the committee two years after election.
      4. If the number of members (excluding officers) remaining is more than five, additional members determined by lot must also retire.
      5. Any member retiring is eligible for re-election.
   6. No member shall be elected as an Officer of the Club, or as a member of the committee unless he has been a member for a period of not less than twelve months.
   7. The Bar will be in charge of the Bar Committee, consisting of two officers and one other member elected by the committee.

The Chairman

The Chairman, or in his absence, the Vice-Chairman, shall take the chair at all meetings of the Club. In the absence of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, the Meeting may by simple majority appoint a Chairman.

The Treasurer

The Treasurer shall cause to be paid into the Club bank account all receipts, less any cash payments, of which a proper record shall be maintained. The Treasurer shall keep such accounts and pay such debts as the committee direct. He shall keep a subscription book or books in which shall be recorded the payment of members. He shall, when required to do so, render to the Committee or a General Meeting an account of any monies received and expended.

Cheques shall be signed by two designated Committee members.

The Secretary

The secretary shall keep upon the Club premises a list of the names and addresses of the members of the Club. He shall carry out the directions of the Committee and keep such records as the Committee may direct. He shall attend meetings of the Committee and take minutes of the proceedings. He shall do all that is necessary to comply with the current requirements of the Licensing Act and Regulations then in force.

3. RETIREMENT, VACATION OR CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE

In the event of any member of the Committee, other than any of the Officers, not attending three consecutive meetings, he shall in the absence of a satisfactory reason, cease to be a member of the Committee.

Any vacancy caused by suspension, resignation or any other cause may be filled by the committee.

Any Officer or any member of the Committee may be removed by a carried vote of not less than three-quarters of the members voting at a Special General Meeting called for that purpose.

In the event of the removal or resignation of the whole, or the majority, of the Committee, the Secretary shall arrange for holding a ballot and appoint scrutineers. The result shall be declared to a Special General Meeting to be called by the Secretary. The times and notices for Special General Meeting shall not apply in this case, but three days shall be allowed for propositions.The ballot shall be held on the succeeding three days, and the Special General Meeting within three days of the close of the ballot.

4. TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

1. 1. The property of the club shall be vested in not less than two Officers of the Club except in the case of real property (as defined by the Laws of Property Act 1925), which shall be vested in not less than two and not more than four Trustees who shall be members of the Club.
   2. The Trustees shall be at a General Meeting of members.
   3. The Trustees hold office until death, resignation, attaining the age of 75 years or ceasing to be a member of the Club. A Trustee shall also cease to hold office upon a resolution passed by the majority of not less than three-quarters of the members voting at a Special General Meeting called for that purpose. A Trustee shall also cease to hold office on bankruptcy, insolvency, mental impairment or other incapacity.
   4. The Trustees shall not have the power to sell or alienate any property belonging to the Club except by the direction of a resolution passed at a General Meeting.
   5. The Officers of the Club shall consist of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman, the Secretary and the Treasurer of the Club.

5. MEMBERSHIP AND SUBSCRIPTIONS

1. 1. Each new member may be required to pay an entrance fee to be determined by the Committee from time to time. Each member of the Club shall pay an annual subscription of such sum as the Committee may determine from time to time. Due notice of any alteration to be posted immediately on the notice board, which shall be due 1^st January and payable not later than the last day in February each year. Any person becoming a member on or after the 1^st April, 1^st July or 1^st October shall pay respectively tree-quarters, one half or one quarter of the annual Club subscription. Any member who has not paid his subscription one month after it has become due, shall be considered as “in arrears” and if it is not paid within one month thereafter, he shall at the discretion of the Committee cease to be a member and his name erased from the list of members and such member shall lose all privileges of membership.
   2. Candidates for membership shall be elected by the Committee, and shall require a majority of three-quarters of the members voting. Application for membership may be made by persons from any section of society regardless of race, religion, gender or age. The application must be submitted to the Secretary and the name of the applicant will be posted on a list in the Club for a period of fourteen days prior to election. A new member shall be notified of his election by the Secretary and be furnished with particulars of entrance fees and subscriptions, together with a copy of the Club Constitution. If such fees are not paid within one month of notification, the election of such members shall be void and annulled.

6. COMPLAINTS

1. 1. The Club shall appoint a Conduct Committee, which will consist of no fewer than three members and not more than five. A quorum for any meeting shall be three of its members. It shall act by simple majority vote and its appointed Chairperson shall have a second or casting vote in the event of parity in the voting. The Conduct Committee shall investigate complaints against members and determine whether the complaint constitutes a breach of discipline requiring referral to the separate Disciplinary Committee. It shall carry out the investigation and decide whether a breach has occurred as speedily as possible.
   2. The Committee shall also appoint a Disciplinary Committee as and when required and it will consist of no fewer than three members and no more than five. A quorum of any meeting shall be three of its members. It shall act by simple majority vote and its appointed Chairperson shall have a second or casting vote in the event of parity in the voting. If any of the Conduct or Disciplinary Committee members considers that he is connected with the complaint, he shall inform the Committee that they will stand down. No person may be a member of both the Conduct and Disciplinary Committee when considering a particular referral.
   3. Any member who makes a complaint against one or more members must do so in writing to the Club Secretary or Club Chairperson, normally within fourteen days of the alleged incident. The complaint should contain full particulars of the issues and include details of any witnesses.
   4. Upon receipt of the complaint, the Conduct Committee shall consider whether it falls within its remit and whether further action is warranted. If it does so, the Committee shall write to the defendant seeking his response to any allegations. The Committee shall provide to the Defendant full details of the complaint made. The Conduct Committee has the power to make further investigations and enquiries in regards to the complaint, including meetings with the parties involved as in its absolute discretion it considers appropriate. The Conduct Committee shall be entitled to seek advice from within the Club and the EBU Laws and Ethics Committee.

If a complaint includes an allegation of dishonest play, the Conduct Committee shall refer the complaint for resolution to the EBU Laws and Ethics Committee.

If the Conduct Committee considers that the complaint is not justified, the parties involved will be notified in writing and the complaint will be dismissed.

If the Conduct Committee decides the complaint is justified, it may, in its absolute discretion, offer a verbal recorded caution to the Defendant, which, if accepted, concludes the matter.

If the caution is not accepted by the Defendant, or the Conduct Committee decides that a caution is inappropriate, it shall refer the matter to the Disciplinary Committee for a hearing. It shall pass onto the Disciplinary Committee its report, if any, and all correspondence, statements and information it obtained during its investigation. It may also make any recommendations that it may seem fit.

The Conduct Committee shall within seven days of its decision, notify the Defendant of his right to make a written submission to the Disciplinary Committee and to attend the hearing at which the party has the right to be represented by a party of his choice.

1. 5. The Disciplinary Committee shall give the Defendant at least fourteen days notice of the hearing date. It shall objectively consider the complaint material and any submissions made by the Conduct Committee and the Defendant. The Discipplinary Committee shall weigh the facts impartially and reach a conclusion on the evidence submitted. Where the facts are in dispute, a decision may be reached on the balance of probabilities. The Committee in determining whether the complaint has been established, shall not refer to any previous disciplinary record of the Defendant, if any.

If, after the completion of the hearing Disciplinary Committee upholds the complaint, it will consider the appropriate sanction(s) to be imposed. It will have regard to the offence, any previous verbal or written sanction imposed on the Defendant, any plea in mitigation from the Defendant, and any other fact or matter, which the Disciplinary Committee in its absolute discretion, considers appropriate.

0. 6. The Disciplinary Committee’s sanctions will be as follows:-
1. to issue a written reprimand to the Defendant
2. to suspend the Defendant for a period not exceeding four months. During such suspension, the Defendant may not enter the Club premises nor participate in any competions or matches as a Member.
3. To terminate the membership of the Defendant, who shall not thereafter be entitled to enter the Club premises as a guest or visitor, without the written permission of the Club Committee.
   7. Any sanction imposed by the Disciplinary Committee shall be communicated to the Defendant in writing within fourteen days of the hearing. Any snction imposed by the Disciplinary Committee shall take effect as soon as time for appeal has e;apsed. If the Defendant has filed a notice of appeal within the time allowed the sanction shall not take effect until such appeal has been determined, save that if the Disciplinary Committee considers it is in the best interest of the Members, suspend the Defendant’s right to enter the Club premises other than to attend and vote at General Meetings.
   8. Every Defendant found guilty of an offence by the Disciplinary Committee has the right to appeal to the YCBA. Appeals must be in writing and lodged with the Secretary of the YCBA within 21 days of the written communication of the Disciplinary Committee’s decision to the Defendant.
   9. The Club Secretary will maintain a record of any sanction imposed upon a Member.

7. REASONS FOR CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP

1. 1. A member shall lose his membership by not having paid his subscription. Any person whose membership ceased from this cause shall not again be nominated for membership within three years, unless he previously pay all arrears due from him at the time of ceasing to be a member.
   2. By expulsion
   3. By resignation, but any member wishing to resign must send a written notice  to the Secretary which notice must be received prior to 31 December of the current year. Such member shall remain responsible for membership fees for the year in which he resigns his membership.
   4. By death.

8. EXPULSION FROM MEMBERSHIP

The committee shall have the power to reprimand, suspend or expel any member who shall infringe any rule or who’s conduct in their opinion render him unfit for membership of the Club, if at least two-thirds of the Committee present shall vote for his reprimand, suspension or expulsion.

9. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

1. 1. A General Meeting of members shall be held in January each year on a date to be fixed by the Committee. Notice of such an Annual General Meeting shall be posted on the Club notice boardat least fifteen days before the meeting.

Meeting of members shall be held in January each year, on a date to be fixed by the Committee. Notice of such an Annual General Meeting shall be posted on the Club notice board at least fifteen days before the meeting.

There shall be posted with the notice a nomination sheet inviting the nomination of candidates for committee and officers. Candidates other than Vice-Presidents shall be proposed and seconded by members who must personally sign the nomination sheet.

Nominations shall be posted and notice of any motion for inclusion in the agenda of the Annual General Meeting shall be submitted to the Secretary at least 28 days before the date of the Annual General Meeting.

1. 2. The agenda for the Annual General Meeting shall be posted on the Club notice board and members notified at least ten sdays before the meeting. The agenda of the business to be discussed including the elections of officers and committee and a statement of accounts and balance sheet shall be submitted. No business other than specified in the agenda shall be transacted at the Annual General Meeting.
   3. Nominations for Vice-Presidents will be made to the meeting by the retiring committee who may at their discretion make no nomination leaving the office vacant.
   4. A quorum at any General Meeting shall be fifteen.

10. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING

.                       A Special General Meeting shall be called by the Secretary in the following cases.

1. 1. Upon direction of the Committee and in accordance with such directions
   2. On a requisition signed by not less than thirty members, stating the special object thereof: such a meeting shall be held within not less than fourteen days and not more than twenty eight days from the date of receipt of the requisition by the Secretary.
   3. Should the Secretary not convene a Special General Meeting in the manner hereby required within seven days of receipt of such signed requisition, any of the requisitionists may call such a meeting giving the notice as is provided under 10.2
   4. No business other than named in the notice shall be brought before a Special General Meeting.
   5. Any General or Special General Meeting duly constituted may adjourn as members direct and may continue any adjournment from time to time. No other business shall be added which was not to be transacted  at the original meeting.
   6. No resolution passed by a General or Special General Meeting shall be rescinded unless notice to propose the rescission shall have been given in the agenda.

11. RULES

Any addition or amendment of the rules can only be made at an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting called for that purpose. Rule 9 shall apply in the case of any proposed addition or amendment at an Annual General Meeting whilst at a Special General Meeting fourteen days previous notice in writing of any such proposed addition or amendment must be given to members. Any addition or amendment shall require a majority of two-thirds of the members voting.

12. INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS

1. 1. No visitor shall be allowed to purchase any beer, wine or spirits.
   2. Members of the English Bridge Union, or of any bridge club or association having the same or similar obects as the Club, who are invited by the club to take part  in matches and competitions in the club, shall for the day or days of their visit have the same rights and privileges, and be subject to the same rules and bye-laws as ordinary members of the Club, save that such members of the English Bridge Union, or  bridge club or association shall have no vote at any meeting of the Club, nor shall be entitled to hold office or to be elected to the committee, nor shall be entitled to introduce guests

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13. OPENING HOURS

The opening hours of the Club shall be determined by the Committee.

14. SUPPLY OF INTOXICATING LIQUOR

The permitted hours for the supply of intoxicating liquor shall be in accordance with the statutory licensing hours.

15. EXCISABLE ARTICLES

No one shall be allowed to take away any beer, wine or spirits from the Club. No person under the age of eighteen shall be served with any beer, wine or spirits for consumption on or off the premises of the Club.

16. MISCELLANEOUS

In all these rules, all reference to the masculine shall include the feminine. 

28 February 2026