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Northfield Bridge Club
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Constitution
 
 
  Name
The name of the Club shall be "The Northfield Bridge Club" hereinafter called "The Club".
  Aims

The aims of "The Club" shall be to provide facilities that will enable members to both learn and play bridge in a pleasant social environment.

  Management

The management of “The Club” shall be vested in a general committee consisting of the chairman, a secretary, a treasurer and up to nine other members.  The committee members will hold office initially for a period of three years, with one third of the committee stepping down annually at the AGM.

Candidates for election to the general committee shall be those members of the retiring committee who offer themselves for re-election and such other members of “The Club” who have agreed to accept office if elected and whose nominations, duly proposed and seconded by members of “The Club” shall have been sent to the Secretary not later than 14 days prior to the date fixed for the
AGM.

If the number of candidates for election exceeds the number of vacancies to be filled, the elections shall be by ballot of paid up members present at the
AGM.  The committee will appoint the officers at the conclusion of the AGM.

The general committee shall have power to deal with the funds and property of “The Club” and may draw on the funds of “The Club” to meet any expenditure approved by the general committee. However, no single item of expenditure exceeding £500 may be entered into without the approval of the members in general meeting.

The general committee shall have the power to make such Laws and Rules, in accordance with these constitutions and regulations, as it thinks fit as to the management of “The Club” property and for the organisation of “The Club” activities and competitions in accordance with the objects of “The Club”.

The general committee shall meet at least three times a year. Four members of the general committee shall form a quorum, the chairman or secretary being in attendance. Emergency meetings of the general committee may be called if the chairman and secretary consider this essential and desirable. The general committee shall have the power to delegate any of its powers and duties to a sub-committee drawn from members of the general committee or members of “The Club”, as it thinks fit.

The secretary shall keep a minute book in which shall be entered a record of all general meetings and all meetings of the general committee.

The general committee shall have power to co-opt any member of “The Club”, who is willing to serve, to the general committee or any sub-committee.

The general committee may govern its proceedings and establish any guidelines and regulations for the conduct of its duties as it thinks fit, but shall be subject always to any regulations laid down in the Constitution as approved by the members of “The Club” in general meeting.

  Membership

Every candidate for membership of “The Club” shall attend on 3 occasions before being proposed by one member and seconded by another. The full name and address shall be submitted to the secretary. If 10 or more members object then the candidate shall not be eligible of membership.  All members of NBC are also required to be members of Weoley Castle Working Mens Club (WCWMC) and as such are bound by their rules.

Members are limited to using the host system for a maximum of six occasions in any rolling twelve month period. Guests are admitted on nights other than for closed competitions subject to a limit of six occasions for any one person in any rolling twelve month period. Participation in the host system is a condition of membership.

The membership of any member who does not pay their annual subscription will lapse unless the committee agrees a dispensation.
 
Each member shall notify the secretary of any change of address or phone number.

The committee shall have the power to bestow on any long serving member of the club the award of 'Lifetime Membership'.  The intention of this would be to reward those persons who have given a long period of commitment and service to the club.  A 'Lifetime Member' would not be required to pay annual subscriptions (but would pay normal members' table money), and would have full membership rights within NBC, with the exception that they would not be called upon to 'Host'. Any fees for a 'Lifetime Member' liable to WCWMC would be paind by NBC.

The committee has the power to terminate membership of any member of “The Club” after 3 warnings for misconduct, the third warning to be in writing. A member may be summarily dismissed from membership for serious misconduct provided that the general committee is in unanimous agreement that the circumstances warrant such measures to be taken. Any member who has their membership terminated by the Committee shall have the right of appeal at the next following general meeting and a special committee may be appointed to hear the appeal if the members in the general meeting so agree.

  Learn and Play Group (Associate members)

Members of the Learn and Play group are Associate members of “The Club” and as such do not pay a joining fee.  They are not entitled to attend the AGM and do not have any voting rights.  They may visit or join the main club under the same processes as for any other player.

  Venue

“The Club” will meet at a venue agreed by the members.  Members undertake to abide by the rules and regulations of the meeting venue which may supersede those of “The Club”.  Any member barred from the venue can no longer be a member of “The Club” whilst it meets at that venue.  The venue may be changed if a two thirds majority of members who vote, vote for a change, of if the venue becomes no longer available to “The Club”.

  Finance

The financial year of “The Club” shall be from the 1st of June to the 31st of May. The general committee shall control the finances of "The Club".
“The Club’s” bankers shall be agreed by the general committee. All cheques shall be signed by the Treasurer and one of the Chairman, Secretary or authorised committee member.  “The Club’s” accounts are to be checked by an independent person, and approved annually at the
AGM.

  Subscriptions and Table Money

All members shall pay an annual fee. The level of the annual fee to be determined at the AGM.
New members shall additionally pay a ‘one-off’ joining fee.  The level of such fee to be determined at the
AGM.
Members shall pay a table fee per session of such amount as the general committee determines subject to ratification at the
AGM.
Visitors shall pay an additional fee to the general table fee. The level of the additional fee to be determined at the
AGM.

  General Meeting

The AGM will be held in the month of June or such other month as the general committee determine provided always that (unless prevented by epidemic or other exceptional circumstance ) no more than 15 months shall elapse between the holding of one AGM and the next.

The AGM agenda will be prepared by the General Committee and circulated by the Secretary to members at least fourteen days prior to the date of the meeting. The agenda will also be published on the club’s website.

The
AGM shall be convened and notice shall be deemed to be given to all members of "The Club", the final announcement to be made not more than 14 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting. Extraordinary General Meetings (EGM) may be called in a similar manner but 2 announcements shall suffice the last being not more than 7 days prior to the meeting.

The secretary shall convene an EGM on written demand signed by 5 members giving 28 days notice to the secretary of the date of the meeting. The demand and notice of the meeting must state the business for which the meeting is called, and only that business shall be transacted.

Proceedings at any general meeting of "The Club" shall not be invalidated by failure of any member to receive notice of the meeting, notice having been duly given in accordance with the rules set out above.

Voting on any matter raised at general meetings, including the election of members of the general committee shall be by a simple majority of those present and voting on a show of hands. The chairman’s declaration of the result of such a vote shall be conclusive. However, any 5 members may demand that a secret ballot is taken the result by simple majority of those present and voting, shall supersede the outcome of a show of hands.

The quorum of any general meeting shall be 20 members of "The Club".
  General Rules
Competitions shall be held at such times and under such conditions as the general committee or any sub-committee shall determine.

Any suggestions or complaints regarding the arrangements of "The Club" shall be submitted in writing and handed to the secretary or any member of the general committee and shall be considered at the next committee meeting.

"The Club" accepts no responsibility whatever for the property or belongings of any member or visitor whilst on the premises of "The Club".

Any matter not provided for in these regulations and all questions arising regarding their construction or implication shall be decided by the general committee.

The Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary and members of the general committee shall not be responsible, either individually or jointly, for any liabilities incurred by "The Club". All members shall be equally responsible for any liabilities incurred during their time of membership.

Alterations, additions or amendments to these regulations and constitution cannot be made except by a resolution at a general meeting.