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NORTH MIDLAND REGION
CONTRACT BRIDGE ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND
1 ADMINISTRATIVE TERRITORY.
The administrative territory of the North Midland Region, hereafter referred to as N. M. R. is that set down by the Contract Bridge Association of Ireland hereafter referred to as the C. B. A. I.
2 CLUBS AND MEMBERSHIP
(A) All clubs within the region and duly affiliated to the C. B. A. I. shall be constituent clubs of the region (B) All paid up members of the constituent clubs in the North Midland Region, shall be members of the Region.
3 RULES
The Constitution of the C. B. A. I. and the rules and regulations set out in therein, shall apply and take precedence over the contents of this Constitution.
All members are expected to act at all times in a courteous manner, while still upholding the rules of bridge.
4 REGIONAL GOVERNING BODY
The Regional Governing Body, hereafter referred to as the R. G. B. shall be the Regional Officers plus the Secretaries of all constituent clubs in the N. M. R. plus one additional member for each 50, or part of 50, members, for clubs with membership in excess of 50.
Any R. G. B. member may in their absence send a substitute.
5 REGIONAL OFFICERS
The Regional Officers shall consist of the President, Vice President, the immediate Past President, the Honorary Secretary, Assistant Secretary, the Honorary Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, the Honorary P.R. O. and the County Development Officers. Regional Officers by their acceptance of their office commit to attend meetings, except in exceptional circumstances. Missing 3 consecutive meetings shall be interpreted as a resignation.
6 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The N. M. R. Annual General Meeting (A. G.M.) shall be held in April, May, or June each year.
The A. G. M. shall
(A) Elect the Regional Officers. Any vote shall be by secret ballot.
(B) Consider the Honorary Secretary’s Annual Report.
(C) Consider the Honorary Treasurer’s Financial Statement.
(D) Consider Any Other Business, provided that at least 2 week’s notice of motion is given for any matter considered substantial. The President shall rule on whether the matter is considered substantial.
(E) Be attended by any member of any club within the region; however voting rights shall be confined to the membership of the R. G. B. Other than the Regional President, who shall of the members have the casting vote in the event of a tie. No other individual may have more than 1 vote regardless of whom they represent.
(F) The Honorary Secretary shall give 4 week’s notice of the A. G. M. and shall circulate motions 2 weeks before the A. G. M. Motions received by the Secretary after that deadline shall be deemed ‘late’ and will not be put forward unless two thirds of the members present and voting decide to waive the rule.
7 EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
An Extraordinary General Meeting (E. G. M.) must be called when requested by 6 or more clubs or by the Regional Officers. 2 week’s notice of any such E. G. M. must be given to Club Secretaries.
8 FIXTURES
(A)The R. G. B. shall meet before October 31st annually, to fix entry fees, dates and venues for all Regional and County Competitions. The R. G. B. must also meet at other times, if requested by the Regional Officers or by6 or more clubs.
(B) Should it be impossible to run an agreed fixture, either on the agreed date, at the agreed venue or at all due to exceptional circumstances, The matter should be addressed to the Regional Officers for resolution.
(C) The Regional Officers shall be responsible for the organisation and the running of all competitions
(D) The Regional Officers shall be responsible for all matters delegated to it by the A. G M. or by the R. G. B.
9 TOURNAMENT, PLAY, AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE.
A Tournament, Play and Procedures Committee of 7 (2 representatives from each county plus the President) hereafter referred to as the T. P. P. shall be elected each year, at least one of whom must be of Master Grade. All disputes that cannot be resolved by the Regional Officers shall be referred to the T.P.P. In the event of some members of the T. P. P. committee being absent from any regional competition the TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR shall prior to the start of play appoint substitutes for those absent to act for that competition only, In all cases a member of the T. P. P. shall not participate in discussion on any issue where they have an interest in the outcome.
10 THE PRESIDENT
The President shall be the Vice President in the year before taking office. The Vice President shall be appointed by the club whose turn it is, in accordance with tradition.
11 COUNTY DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS.
The attending delegates of each county shall at each A.G. M. elect a County Development Officer for their respective counties.
12 THE HONORARY TREASURER.
The Honorary Treasurer, hereafter referred to as the Treasurer shall administer the funds of the Region, be responsible for keeping the accounts of the Region, keep the committee informed of the state of the finances of the Region and present a statement of the Income and Expenditure and a Balance Sheet to the A. G. M.
13 THE HONORARY SECRETARY.
The Honorary Secretary, hereafter referred to as the Secretary, shall be the administrator of the functions of the Region. This officer shall be responsible for the notification of all meetings and events organised on behalf of the Region. Following the annual Fixtures Meeting, the Secretary shall prepare a calendar of events for the coming year and publish it to the clubs by October annually.
14 THE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER.
A Public Relations Officer, hereafter referred to as the P. R. O. may be appointed to publicise the game of bridge, the activities of the Region, the results of regional competitions and the regular updating of any Regional Website. The P. R. O. will seek to publish such material in the local press within the Region and also in the national press where appropriate.
15 ROTATION OF OFFICERS
Regional Officers may not serve more than 5 successive years in any one position. Prior to that, should any Officer choose not to go forward for election at the next A.G.M. They should give one month’s notice to the committee of their intention.
16 PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE REGIONAL CONSTITUTION OF THE NORTH MIDLAND REGION NATIONAL PRESIDENT
When it is the Region’s turn to nominate a National President Elect. The Regional Secretary shall notify all affiliated clubs and invite them to make nominations to the Regional Committee at least 2 months prior to the A.G.M. each nomination should have the consent of the nominee. If more than one nomination is received then the Regional Secretary will circulate all nominations to all affiliated clubs. Each club should hold a meeting to decide their preferred choice and instruct their Regional Delegate/s to vote according to the clubs decision. If a vote is required to decide the nomination then voting will be by PR. and voting rights of each club must be adhered to. (as in section 4 above) A candidate who achieves 50% of the valid votes cast plus one will be deemed elected. Should no candidate reach the quota on the first count the candidate with the least number of votes shall be eliminated and a second vote be taken, this process will continue until a decision is reached. Should the last two remaining candidates be tied after the vote the President will have the right to a casting vote or he/she may decide to draw one from a hat.
This constitution was passed at the A.G.M. 8—6—2014 Proposed by Clive Robinson seconded by Teresa Breslin.
Amendments 9 and 16 were passed at the A.G.M. 20—5—15 Proposed by Margaret Martin seconded by Joan Donnellan and were then added to the constitution.
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