VANNIN BRIDGE CLUB CONSTITUTION:

Adopted 1 May 2013. Updated 15 May 2023.

1. The name of the Club shall be the Vannin Bridge Club.

2. The object of the Club is to facilitate the playing of the game of Bridge by its members and to promote the game of Bridge. The Club is non-profit making.

3. In furtherance of this object but not otherwise the Committee shall have the following powers:

1. To promote Bridge tournaments.
2. To acquire tables, chairs, cards, score sheets, bidding boxes and all other equipment facilitating the playing of bridge.
3. To raise funds and receive contributions from any person or persons by way of subscription, donation or otherwise, provided that the Club shall not undertake any permanent trading activities in raising funds.
4. To hire rooms and equipment to facilitate the playing of bridge.
5. To affiliate to any association of Bridge clubs elsewhere in the world.
6. To do such other things as in the opinion of the Committee shall further the objects of the Club.

The Secretary, or other persons at the discretion of the Committee, shall make a minute of all resolutions of the Committee, and retain the minute with the Club’s records.

4. The Secretary shall keep a record of members, showing their contact details, which shall be retained with the Club’s records and shall be available for inspection by members. 
5. The Club shall be managed by a Committee consisting of its officers, namely Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary and two other members who may be elected at a general meeting of the Club. The Committee shall make other appointments as shall from time to time be deemed necessary.

6. The Club shall open and maintain a bank account in the name of the club with such bank or financial institution as the Committee decide. Authorised signatories to the account to be the Treasurer, and two Committee members. Payments from the account shall be by cheque or electronic transfer. In the case of the Treasurers absence either of the other signatories may also authorise payments.

7. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the collection of all monies due to the Club, payments of all accounts and for keeping the appropriate records. The Treasurer shall account to the Committee for all financial transactions as and when required.

8. The financial year of the Club shall commence on 1 May each year. The treasurer shall prepare an annual income and expenditure account and balance sheet. The subscriptions for each year shall be the amount agreed upon at the Annual General Meeting.

9. The Annual General Meeting to be held during May or early June. The business of the Annual General Meeting shall include:

1. Presentation of the accounts by the Treasurer
2. Presentation of the Secretary’s report on the year’s activities
3. The election of Officers and other members of the Committee.
4. Any other business to be transacted at this meeting.

10. An Extraordinary General Meeting of the Club may be convened at any time at the discretion of the Committee and must be called within 14 days of a requisition in writing to that effect, signed by at least ten members.

11. The Secretary shall use their  best endeavours to invite, at least 14 days beforehand, all members to each Annual General Meeting, specifying the date, time and place of the meeting.

12. No business other than the formal adjournment of the meeting shall be transacted at any General Meeting unless a quorum on not less than five people is present.

13. The Club Public Liability Insurance and third-party member insurance will cover the members who have paid the Club subscription for the current year. Visitors, as Temporary Members, on payment of additional table money will be covered by the Club’s insurance policy.

14. The Club’s records shall be kept by the Secretary who will use their best endeavours to ensure that they are open to inspection by members of the club.

15. In the event of dissolution of the Club any balance of cash remaining in hand after the realisation of assets and payments of debts shall be given to a charity, or charities, chosen by the members.

16. The Officers of the Club shall be:

Chairman; Secretary; Treasurer and two Committee Members.

The Officers/Committee shall retire annually but shall be eligible for re-election.

If any matters of urgency should arise, an Executive or Sub-Committee consisting of the Chairman and two other members shall be appointed to deal with this.

If more names are proposed than the number needed, the election shall be by show of hands or by secret ballot. If any casual vacancy should occur, this may be filled by the remaining members of the Committee.

17. No alteration to this Constitution shall be made without the consent of 25% of the members of the Club.