ADOPTED:  JUNE 15, 2011; MODIFIED JUNE 30, 2023

ARTICLE  1.       NAME

   1.1. The name of this organization shall be the Highlands Duplicate Bridge Club (HDBC).

ARTICLE  2.       PURPOSE

    2.1. HDBC is organized to promote bridge and organize and manage games for members and their guests.

ARTICLE  3.       AUTHORITY

    3.1. HDBC shall operate as sanctioned by and in accordance with the rules of the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL).

    3.2. HDBC shall operate as Club #11674 as part of ACBL District 7

ARTICLE  4.       MEMBERSHIP

     4.1. Membership registration will be renewed annually at a fee fixed by the Board of Advisors (BOA) in accordance with sound fiscal policy.

ARTICLE  5.       GOVERNANCE

      5.1. The business and affairs of the HDBC shall be managed by a Board of Advisors (BOA).

      5.2. The number of individuals comprising the BOA shall be no less than five, nor                 more than seven.  The BOA shall consist of four elected officers, a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer and an appointed Tournament Chair and Club Manager.   

      5.3. An elected Advisor shall serve a term of two years. No Advisor shall serve more than three consecutive terms of two years each in the same position.  Should a person be elected by the membership to serve an unexpired term, he or she will be eligible to be a duly-elected Advisor for three full two-year terms

      5.4. To be eligible to serve as an Advisor, a person must be a member of good             standing in the HDBC.

       5.5. At the annual meeting every two years, the membership shall elect the four officers: i.e., President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.  In the event the office of President is vacated, the Vice-President shall assume the duties of President to complete the unexpired term.  In this event or if any other elected office becomes vacant, the BOA shall appoint a club member to fill the unexpired term.

        5.6. The BOA shall have authority to establish committees as deemed necessary.           

        5.7. Voting members of the BOA are the four elected officers, the Tournament Chair, and the Club Manager.  A quorum at a BOA meeting shall consist of three members in person, via conference call, or email.

ARTICLE  6.   DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF ADVISORS

         6.1. The PRESIDENT shall preside at all meetings of the membership and of the          BOA and represent the Club at ceremonies and business transactions.  The President            shall annually appoint Chairs for Hospitality, Information, Novice, Partnership, and    Publicity.  The President, with the Board’s approval, will appoint a Tournament Chair  and Club Manager.  The President shall be granted access to the Club bank account by maintaining a signature card at the respective banking institution.

         6.2. The VICE-PRESIDENT shall assist the President in performance of the duties of the President and in the absence of the President, shall assume the duties of the President.  The Vice-President shall organize and schedule directors for all regular HDBC games.

            6.3. The SECRETARY shall record the minutes of all meetings, prepare     correspondence, preserve signed copies of these Articles and By-Laws, certify to adopted changes thereto, and preserve the general records of the HDBC.                                

         6.4. The TREASURER shall serve as the custodian of all funds, make payments for all authorized expenses, give an accounting of the finances of the HDBC whenever requested by the BOA, and present a written report to be reviewed by the BOA and Club manager before being presented to the HDBC membership at the annual meeting.  

         6.5. The CLUB MANAGER shall act as liaison between HDBC and the American Contract Bridge League, apply for sanctioning of weekly and special club games, make month-end reports, and develop a schedule for special games annually.  The Club Manager shall also be responsible for updating and maintaining the HDBC Club website, ordering all supplies (e.g., envelopes, cards, convention/score sheets), and completing and maintaining a calendar for the bulletin board and Website.

         6.6. The TOURNAMENT CHAIR shall be responsible for the Mother's Day      tournament and all other tournaments approved by HDBC.  In order to pay expenses, the Tournament Chair will be on the HDBC Tournament Account signature card.

ARTICLE 7.   DUTIES OF CHAIRS/ COMMITTEES

          7.1. The HOSPITALITY CHAIR shall plan the annual meeting and maintain the pantry of food, coffee, paper products, etc.

          7.2. The INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY CHAIR shall maintain the contact information on all HDBC members including name, telephone number, email address, and mailing address. This will be published yearly before the end of June so it is accessible to the membership. He/she will also be responsible for a newsletter to the membership published at least monthly. Additionally they shall promote HDBC with information provided to newspapers, radio, and TV media of weekly games/events, and shall make aware any opportunities for instructing beginners and new players to duplicate bridge. The Chair shall keep media information up-to-date.

          7.3. The NOVICE CHAIR shall encourage new players to play duplicate bridge, assist with novice partnerships, and be listed on the website.

          7.4. The PARTNERSHIP CHAIR shall be responsible for providing a method for people to find a partner with whom to play.  This Chair is listed on the website.  The Chair is NOT responsible for finding partners, but, for providing information on availability of interested individuals.

          Other Ad Hoc Committees may be appointed by the President as deemed necessary.                                                         

CLUB REGULATIONS 

          I.   Club regulations, including those regulating play, shall be established by the BOA. No regulation shall be established in contradiction of laws, ordinances, or regulations of the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) or other restrictions applicable to play.

           II.   Conduct of Games:

       II.A.    The time and place of play shall be determined by the BOA.

       II.B.     The director is in charge of setting up the game, running it, keeping it on time, controlling the decorum of the game, granting rewards, reporting and posting results, and correcting scores when necessary.

       II.C.    In controlling the game decorum, the director is responsible for strict enforcement of ZERO TOLERANCE FOR RUDENESS. (See Law 74 Conduct and Etiquette, ACBL Laws of Duplicate Bridge, 2017, pp. 83-84). After one warning of a rudeness infraction from the director, an additional infraction within six months of the initial infraction shall subject an offender to such penalty as imposed by the BOA.  A penalty may be imposed after hearing from offenders, director, and any persons witnessing the objectionable conduct.

       II.D.    From November through mid-May the director may allow Late Plays at his/her discretion to speed progress of the game. Late Play is discouraged during the summer season.

           III.   A Nominating Committee, consisting of three members at large, shall be       appointed by the President in advance of the yearly meeting.  The Committee’s slate of officers shall be comprised of one member in good standing for each expiring term to compose a Board with four officers.  These nominees shall have consented and agreed to serve. Their slate shall be presented at the annual meeting.  Nominations shall also be accepted from the floor, provided those nominated have consented to their names being placed in nomination. The resultant nominees shall be voted upon by the membership and require a majority for election.

           IV.   Officers of the Club, Tournament Chair, and Club Manager shall serve without pay and no funds shall accrue to the benefit of any member except to defray expenses incurred in the transaction of club business.

            V.    The Club shall endeavor to have non-playing directors from mid-May through October. The fee for playing and non-playing directors shall be established by the BOA in keeping with sound fiscal policy.

During the "season," the director should play only for extenuating circumstances to keep the game progressing normally and at the assent of a BOA member.

           VI.   In the event of disbandment of the HDBC, all funds remaining in bank             accounts shall be distributed to local charities at the discretion of the then BOA's.

Funds in excess of what is required to run the club may be donated to local charities at the discretion of the BOA.

          VII.   The Constitution and By-Laws of the HDBC may be amended after seven             days written or email notice to the membership and upon two-thirds vote of those in   attendance at a meeting of the membership.

         VIII.   BOA meetings are open to all HDBC members and all committee chairs                 

            IX.   MEETINGS:  The annual meeting of the membership shall be held in June of each year at such time and place as established by the BOA. Notice of such meeting shall be sent by email to all members, who furnish the Information Chair with an email address.   Additional notice shall be provided by announcing the time and place at a weekly game, at least seven days prior to the meeting. All members in good standing shall be entitled to vote.

Special meetings may be called by the BOA by giving notice to the membership in the manner set forth above, at least seven days prior to the meeting. The time and place of a special meeting and a general explanation of the reason shall be provided in writing.