Constitution (Revised March 2000)

1. The name of the club shall be “Steyning Bridge Club”

PURPOSE

2. To provide non-profit-making facilities for members to play bridge.
3. For the furtherance of such purpose, the club may in particular:-
   1. Admit such members and numbers of members and Visitors as they think fit and on such conditions as they prescribe. Where membership is restricted, a ‘waiting list’ of prospective members shall be maintained.
   2. Withdraw such membership from any member for duly recorded reasons.
   3. Require such payments from the members and visitors as they think fit.
   4. Expend monies received from members and from any other sources as they think fit.

MEMBERSHIP

4. Membership of the club to bridge players, of a standard acceptable by the committee, who have been nominated and seconded by two fully paid-up members. Resignations should be in writing to the secretary by the last day of the club’s financial year.

GENERAL MEETINGS

5. Each paid-up member present shall be entitled to one vote at any general meeting. The chairman of such a general meeting shall have a casting vote.
6. Two officers plus one quarter of the paid-up members shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of general meetings.
7. The annual general meeting shall be held each year as soon after the 31^st of March as possible.
8. Notification of the date of each general meeting together with an agenda specifying the items and proposals to be discussed shall be despatched to each member not less than fourteen days before such general meeting.
9. A special general meeting shall be convened at the direction of the committee or on the request in writing to the secretary of any ten paid-up members of the club. Such a meeting shell be held within thirty days of such direction or request.

COMMITTEE

10. There shall be a committee comprising a chairman, secretary and treasurer (the officers) and up to four other members.
11. The chairman, secretary and treasurer will be elected annually and up to four other members will be elected for a period of three years. Nominations for new committee members shall be submitted to the secretary at least seven days prior to the annual general meeting.
12. The committee shall meet not less than four times a year.
13. The treasurer shall available for inspection at any every committee meeting, up-to-date club books and relevant papers.
14. Two officers and two other members shall constitute a quorum of the committee.
15. The committee shall have power to fill vacancies in its numbers by co-option until the next annual general meeting and shall also have the power to co-opt members in addition to its elected members.
16. The committee shall have the power to appoint any sub-committee from its members and the membership and shall prescribe the functions of any sub-committee.
17. The committee shall have the power to vary rules for the conduct of the club and bridge sessions.
18. The powers of the club shall be vested in the committee.
19. The committee shall be empowered to appoint two honorary members.

FINANCE

20. Members shall pay such membership subscriptions, session fees or other monies as shall be from time to time prescribed by the annual general meeting or special general meeting convened for the purpose.
21. The financial year shall end on 28^th/29^th February. Membership subscriptions agreed at the subsequent annual general meeting shal become due on the day following the annual general meeting and will be backdated to 1^st March.
22. The treasurer shall keep a record of all income and expenditure and shall submit accounts, duly audited, at the annual general meeting.
23. There shall be banking and/or reserve accounts in the name of the club operated on the signatures of ant two of up to four authorised signatories (the three officers and one other).
24. An auditor or auditors shall be elected annually at the annual general meeting who may be member(s) of the club but who may not be officer(s) or committee member(s).
25. The funds of the club shall be applied solely for the furtherance of the purposes of the club (clause 2).
26. In the event of the dissolution of the club the disposal of the remaining assets shall be decided by majority vote on members proposal(s) at the general meeting called to wind up the club.