1. The name of the Club shall be The Lockswood Bridge Club hereinafter to be called The Club

2. The objectives of The Club shall be - the promotion and the playing of bridge by providing premises with all suitable amenities. All play at the club shall be governed by the Laws of Duplicate Bridge. EBU Directives and Licensed Conventions. The Director shall be responsible for the movement and the enforcement of the Laws. The Director will arrange for the event to be scored and the result to be placed on the Club Notice Board

3. The Officers of The Club shall be the Chairman, the Treasurer and the Secretary.

4.  (i) The Committee shall consist of the Officers of the Club and not more than    four other members of the Club

    (ii) Election of Officers and members of the Club Committee shall take place at an Annual General Meeting of the Club not less than once every year. All members so elected shall be entitled to serve for one year.

    (iii)The Committee shall be responsible for deciding the amount of all subscriptions, tournament fees, table money and expenditure.

5. (i). a. The Committee shall meet not less than three times each year at such dates and times as determined by The Committee. Except under exceptional circumstances, the Secretary shall give to each member of The Committee not less than fourteen days notice of the time, date and place of each meeting.

         b. At Committee meetings, four members shall be deemed to form a quorum.

         c.The Chairman may call an emergency Committee meeting without prior notice to other members of The Committee with the proviso that all reasonable attempts are made to inform such members.

   (ii). a. The Chairman, or in his or her absence, the Secretary shall preside at Committee meetings. In the absence of both the Chairman and the Secretary those Committee members present shall elect a temporary Chairman who shall preside for that meeting.

          b. All the elected officers and members shall be entitled to vote on each and every motion. In the event of a tie, the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote.

          c. Minutes of the proceedings of Committee meetings shall be kept by the Secretary or in his or her absence, by a designated Committee member and the accuracy of these minutes shall be duly voted on and the substantiated version signed as correct by the Chairman at the next meeting. Copies of the minutes of each meeting shall be forwarded to all Committee members by the Secretary as soon as possible after the meeting. When agreed, a copy of the minutes of each Committee meeting shall be displayed on the Club notice board.

   (iii) The Chairman, or in his/her absence, the Secretary, shall have the power to suspend or terminate the membership of any member at any time if, in the opinion of the Chairman, such suspension or termination would be in the interests of the Club. If the membership of any member is suspended or terminated under this rule, an appropriate proportion of the annual subscription for the current year, if paid, shall be refunded. The reasons for such termination or suspension of membership shall be conveyed to the Member and he or she shall be granted the right of personal appeal to the Committee.

6. (i). Every candidate for full membership should seek the approval of the Committee. Should the application be rejected, the Committee should in no case be compelled to state the reason for such rejection.

    (ii). Every new member shall receive notice from the Secretary of his or her acceptance to the Club together with a request for payment of the appropriate proportion of the annual Club subscription (see rule 7(ii)). Such subscription shall be paid within thirty days or the election shall be deemed void. When an elected candidate has paid the subscription the candidate shall be a member of the Club and shall be deemed to have agreed to abide by the Rules of The Club.

   (iii). Visitors may attend individual Bridge sessions on payment of the appropriate table money

7. (i). The subscription shall be from 1st June to 31st May next and all subscriptions shall become due on 1st June.

   (ii) All new members shall pay a joining fee as decided by the Committee.

   (iii) If a member has not paid his/her annual subscription by 1st July the Secretary shall inform the member that payment is overdue. If the subscription has not been paid by 1st August membership shall be deemed to have lapsed. Upon application for renewal a lapsed member will be required to pay the full annual subscription for the year in which application is made but will not be required to reapply for membership. Discretion shall be exercised by the Secretary as to the manner of application of this rule, allowing for extenuating circumstances.

   (iv) It is a firm condition of membership that all members participate in the organisation and running of club events as maybe requested by the committee from time to time.

8. (i) The Club shall hold an Annual General Meeting on the first or nearest thereafter convenient Friday in June. Notice of the meeting shall be posted on the Club notice board at least four weeks prior to the Annual General Meeting. Such notice shall state the business to be transacted at the meeting.

   (ii) The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be:

      (a) The reading and approval of the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting and of any Extra-Ordinary General Meeting which may have occurred since the date thereof.

      (b) Matters arising from the above.

      (c) The Chairman’s Address

      (d) The Secretary’s Report

      (e) The Treasurer’s Report and approval of accounts.

      (f) Election of Officers

      (g) Election of other Committee members as necessary.

      (h) Any Motions which have been received by the Secretary. Motions shall be submitted to the Secretary in writing bearing the names of the Proposer and Seconder at least fourteen days prior to the meeting. The Secretary shall post the Motions on the Club notice board at least seven days prior to the AGM. Motions require a simple majority of the members present in order to be accepted. This constitution shall only be changed with the agreement of at least two-thirds of the members present.

      (i)The awarding of trophies and prizes of annual competitions.

      (j) Any other business as the Chairman may select.

   (iii) Notices inviting nominations for the office of Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Events Secretary and for members of the Committee shall be displayed on the Club notice board for at least three weeks prior to the Annual General Meeting. Such notices shall give the name of the Nominee together with the names of the Proposer and Seconder. The Nominee shall sign the notice to denote assent. Nominations shall close seven days before the Annual General Meeting.

   (iv) Persons eligible to vote at the Annual General Meeting shall be the members of the Club present.

   (v) At an Annual General Meeting, twenty members shall be deemed to form a quorum.

   (vi) In the event of a tied vote, the Chairman shall have a casting vote.

9. Any other General Meeting shall be known as an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting and may be convened by the Secretary at the request of the Committee or on application in writing by at least ten members of the Club. Notice of the business of the Extra-Ordinary General Meeting and of the time and place shall be displayed on The Club notice board not less than fourteen days before the Meeting shall be held. The business of the Extra-Ordinary General Meeting will be that for which it is called and no other.

10 (i) If at any General Meeting a motion is passed for the dissolution of the Club, the Committee shall proceed to realise the property of the Club and after the discharge of all its liabilities shall proceed to hand over all the assets to such persons, organisations or pro-rata to the membership as shall be specified in the motion.

   (ii) A resolution of dissolution can only be passed by a vote of three to one or greater in favour of the motion.

11 The meeting times of the Club shall be determined by the Committee.

12 Alterations to these rules can only be made at an Annual General Meeting or at an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting called for that purpose.

13 Information relating to Club members will be held in accordance with the Data Protection Act.