CONSTITUTION OF THE MODBURY BRIDGE CLUB
1 NAME
The Club shall be called The Modbury Bridge Club.
2 OBJECTS
The object of the Club shall be to provide facilities for its members for playing Duplicate Contract Bridge and to provide Instruction in Bridge both to absolute beginners and to others as may be appropriate. Most Duplicate sessions shall be conducted by all members in a way that encourages new players and weaker players to participate and to improve.
3 HEADQUARTERS
The headquarters of the Club shall be the Pavilion at the Queen Elizabeth II recreation ground in Modbury, PL21 0FS.
4. AFFILIATIONS
The Club will be affiliated to the Modbury Association for Recreation and Sport and is open at some point to affiliation to the English Bridge Union when and if an A.G.M. votes to do so by simple majority.
5 MEMBERSHIP
5.1 Membership shall be open to all over the age of 18 years. Those wanting to join need to complete a simple application form, to pay One Pound (or any other fee adapted by a General Meeting hereafter) and to be proposed by two existing members. Such proposals shall be announced at one meeting of the club and accepted by the next meeting unless an objection is made by an existing member in writing or by email to an Officer of the club. Objections will be debated by the Committee and its decision shall be final unless later overruled by a General Meeting.
5.2 Players under the age of 18 years will be welcome to participate subject to the decision of the committee in view of any possible legislation regarding Safe-guarding.
5.3 The Club may, if so approved by no fewer than two thirds of the members either by voting at a general meeting of the Club or by resolution in writing circulated to all Club members, confer Honorary Life Membership on any member who has rendered exceptional service to the Club for a substantial period.
5.4 All members are deemed to have accepted the regulations of this constitution and the rules and codes of conduct adopted by the Club.
5.5 The Committee will keep a register of members which will include their names, addresses, e-mail (if applicable) and phone contact details.
5.6 In considering applications for membership the Committee shall have regard to the playing facilities available to the Club and may from time to time decide that the Club shall be closed to new applicants for membership for such period or periods as it may from time to time decide.
5.7 A member shall cease to be a member of the Club immediately: (i) if expelled from the Club under the provisions of clause 14; or (ii) if such member's resignation in writing is delivered to the Secretary; or (iii) if, should the Modbury club have become affiliated to it, such member is expelled (or not accepted) as a Player Member by the Board of the English Bridge Union pursuant to its Bye Laws.
5.8 A member whose subscription has not been paid shall cease to be a member on the expiration of the period of one month from the date on which the subscription was due for payment.
5.9 A former member of the Club who wishes to rejoin as a member (otherwise than in the circumstances referred to in clause 5.9) may do so without the necessity for a further formal application for membership, unless the Committee decides otherwise.
6 OFFICERS
6.1. The Officers of the Club shall be the Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer (each, an Office).
6.2. No member of the Club shall simultaneously hold more than one Office of the Club.
6.3. Each of the Officers of the Club shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Club and shall retire annually at the ensuing Annual General Meeting, but shall be eligible for re-election.
6.4. In the event of a vacancy arising during the year in an Office of the Club, the Committee shall choose one of its number to fill such vacancy until the ensuing Annual General Meeting.
6.5 The powers, duties and responsibilities of the Officers are set by the constitution and by normal practice in bridge clubs if unforeseen circumstances arise not covered by the constitution in addition to those elsewhere set out by the constitution:
7. RESPONSIBILITIES AND PROCEDURES
7.1. The Chair shall be entitled to chair all committee meetings and General Meetings. The Chair shall be responsible for the running of the club between committee meetings and subject to past decisions of the committee, the Chair shall therefore be expected to direct sessions in such a way as to fulfil the club's objectives. This may include assigning members to tables (including those set up for instruction) so as best to include all those present appropriately. The Chair shall be able to delegate powers given to the Chair by the constitution for such periods as the Chair may determine.
The Vice-Chair shall act as Chair at all meetings and club events in the absence of the Chair
The Secretary shall be responsible for informing members of General meetings and Committee members of their meetings and shall supply agenda for both and take minutes of both.
The Treasurer shall be authorised by the committee to open a bank account and to take care of the club's money at all times. The Treasurer shall report on the financial situation of the club at all committee meetings and at the Annual General Meeting.
The Committee of the Club shall consist of the Officers of the Club, together with up to four other members of the Club, who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Club and shall retire annually at the ensuing Annual General Meeting. They shall be eligible for re-election.
7.2. The Committee may from time to time co-opt further members of the Club to serve on the Committee until the ensuing Annual General Meeting, whether to fill a vacancy arising, or as additional members, except that the total number of members of the Committee (including Officers) shall at no time exceed eight.
7.3 A quorum at meetings of the Committee shall be three members of the Committee, including at least one of the Officers.
7.4. The Committee may from time to time appoint members or sub-committees to undertake on its behalf such aspects of the administration of the Club as it shall think fit. Sub-committees may include members of the Club who are not members of the Committee.
7.5. Proceedings of the Committee and of any sub-committees shall be regulated in such manner as the Committee may from time to time decide.
7.6. The Committee shall make a report to each Annual General Meeting of the Club concerning the affairs of the Club since the previous Annual General Meeting.
8. MANAGEMENT
8.1 The affairs of the Club shall be managed by the Committee, and the Committee shall have power to determine any issue arising in connection with the affairs of the Club which is not specifically provided for in this Constitution.
8.2. The Committee may from time to time formulate and publish such rules as it thinks expedient for the efficient and harmonious running of the Club (but in the case of any conflict between such rules and this Constitution, the Constitution shall prevail).
8.3 Any issue of policy determined by the Committee or any rules published by the Committee may be varied by a resolution of members at a General Meeting of the Club, provided that such resolution is not in conflict with this Constitution and is not retrospective in application.
8.4 In the event of such variation being made, the policy or rules (as the case may be) shall not be further varied by the Committee in a manner inconsistent with the resolution.
9 GENERAL MEETINGS
9.1. An Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held in each year no later than four months after the end of the Club's financial year which shall coincide with the Calendar year.
9.2. A Special General Meeting of the Club shall be convened by the Committee if a request for such a meeting signed by at least ten members of the Club is delivered to the Secretary, stating the reason for the meeting, and such meeting shall take place within one month of the receipt of such request.
9.3 A Special General Meeting of the Club may be convened by the Committee on its own initiative at any time.
9.4. All General Meetings of the Club shall be held at the headquarters of the Club unless circumstances arise which render this impracticable.
9.5 The Chair, if present, shall chair all General Meetings of the Club, and in his absence the Vice-Chair or some other member of the Committee, approved by a majority of those present at the Meeting shall chair the meeting.
9.6. Notice of all General Meetings of the Club shall be given to all members of the Club no later than two weeks prior to the date fixed for the meeting by letter or by e-mail.
9.7. Any member may propose a motion to be discussed at a General Meeting provided that written notice of the proposed motion is delivered to the Secretary no later than one week prior to the date fixed for the meeting.
9.8 The Chair of the meeting may permit discussion of other business at a General Meeting if he thinks fit.
9.9. A quorum at General Meetings of the Club shall be ten members present in person. 9.10. If fifteen minutes after the time fixed for a General Meeting of the Club no quorum shall be present, the meeting shall be adjourned to a new date (of which the like notice shall be given to members as was required to be given for the meeting which has been adjourned), and in the case of a General Meeting which has been adjourned due to the lack of a quorum (but not of a meeting adjourned for any other reason) such number of members as are actually present at the adjourned meeting shall constitute a quorum.
9.11. Voting at General Meetings of the Club shall be by show of hands, and in the event of parity of voting the chair of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.
10. NOMINATIONS
10.1 Nominations for the posts of Officers or Committee members shall be in writing and shall be signed by a proposer and a seconder, both of whom shall be members of the Club, and by the person nominated.
10.2 Nominations must reach the Secretary no later than one week prior to the date fixed for the Annual General Meeting.
11. SUBSCRIPTIONS and FEES
11.1. Each member of the Club shall pay an annual subscription, the basic amount of which for the time being shall be decided at the Annual General Meeting of the Club. Subscriptions shall be due for payment by 31 January in each year in respect of the year to the following 31 December. Unless the Committee decides otherwise, any person whose subscription remains unpaid after the due date and who, by virtue of clause 5.1 shall have ceased to be a member, shall pay table money at the rate applicable to visitors.
11.2. Each member of the Club, and each guest and visitor, shall pay table money on each occasion when they play at the Club, the basic amounts of which for the time being shall be decided from time to time at the Annual General Meeting of the Club, Members who attend only to instruct or to facilitate play shall not be required to pay 'table’ money.
11.3 The Committee may determine variations to the basic amounts of subscriptions and table money members, guests and visitors in different circumstances, and may waive subscriptions or table money in the event of hardship or for any other good cause.
11.4 The Annual General Meeting may authorise the Committee to increase the basic amounts of subscriptions and table money before the ensuing Annual General Meeting.
11.5 The Committee may determine from time to time the amount of fees to be charged for use of the equipment of the Club, or for any other purpose for which it is of the opinion that fees ought to be charged.
12. ACCOUNTS
12.1 The Committee shall arrange for accounts to be prepared in respect of the financial affairs of the Club for each year ending on 31 December.
12.2 The accounts for each year shall be presented to the Annual General Meeting of the Club for approval.
13. GUESTS and VISITORS
13.1 Any member may invite a guest to play at the club at any time, but in the event of the playing facilities being inadequate to accommodate all those who wish to play, priority shall be given to members.
13.2 Visitors may be permitted to play at the Club at any time, but in the event of the playing facilities being inadequate to accommodate all those who wish to play, priority shall be given to members and the guests of members.
13.3 The Committee may from time to time place a limit on the number of occasions on which a non-member (whether a guest or a visitor) may play at the club without being required to apply for membership.
13.4 If such a limit is for the time being in force, a non-member who has applied for membership shall (subject to available playing facilities) be permitted to play at the Club until his application for membership has been considered by the Committee, even if the limit imposed by the Committee is thereby exceeded.
14. MEMBERS' BEHAVIOUR
14.1 Each member of the Club shall be required, whether at or away from the bridge table, to conform to the standards of fair play, courtesy and personal deportment prescribed by the Bye Laws and regulations for the time being of the EBU, including the fundamental principle set out in the EBU's "Best Behaviour at Bridge".
14.2 The Club shall have the power to enforce the requirement in 14.1.
15 THE CONSTITUTION
15.1 No alterations shall be made to this Constitution except at a General Meeting of the Club.
15.2. For a resolution to alter this constitution to have effect such resolution must be presented to the Committee four weeks before the General Meeting and the Committee shall send it to members by letter or email two weeks before the meeting. At least two thirds of the votes cast on the resolution must be in favour. Members may vote by proxy or by letter or email sent to the Committee at least 48 hours before the meeting.
16. WINDING UP
16.1. In order for a resolution that the Club shall be wound up to have effect at least two thirds of the votes cast on the resolution must be in favour, and in addition the number of votes cast in favour of the resolution must exceed one-half of the number of members of the Club entitled to attend and vote at the General Meeting at which the resolution is put.
16.2. If a resolution that the Club shall be wound up is effectively passed, the Committee shall be responsible for winding up the affairs of the Club, and unless the winding up has
been initiated with a view to amalgamating the Club with some other club (in which case any surplus assets and funds may be transferred to such other club), any surplus assets and funds shall be transferred to such organisation as the Committee considers most like in its aims and conduct to the Modbury Club.
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