STAMFORD
BRIDGE CLUB
CONSTITUTION (2008)
1. NAME The Stamford Bridge
Club (“the
Club”)
2. OBJECTS
2.1
The provision of facilities for competitive duplicate
Contract Bridge
2.2
The provision of other facilities and
entertainment associated with Contract Bridge approved by or on behalf of the membership
2.3
The provision and management of a programme of
events
2.4
The promotion of duplicate Bridge and
organisations with similar objects
3.
AFFILIATION The Club
will maintain membership with the English Bridge Union and such County as shall
be considered appropriate
4. MEMBERSHIP
4.1
membership -
existing Voting members entitled to play Bridge on each occasion that the Club
provides a competitive event and who are not currently suspended from membership
and those whose application for membership shall be approved.
4.2
Associate membership – those who are
admitted to membership, but who may be entitled to play Bridge on restricted
occasions only, such restrictions to be reviewed from time to time by the
Executive Committee and who do not have a vote at the Club’s AGM.
4.3
Student membership – Students in
full-time education may be granted membership by the Executive Committee at a
reduced fee. Students shall have the same status as Associate members.
4.4
Guests and Visitors - any Member may
invite a guest to play and any member of the Executive Committee may permit two
guests to play together subject to such restrictions as the Committee consider
appropriate.
4.5
Applications for membership
4.5.1 Any person wishing to become a member
(whether Voting, Associate or Student) of the Club shall apply for membership
by completing and forwarding to the membership
Secretary (“M.S.”)such form as may be prescribed from
time to time by the Committee.
4.5.2 All applications for membership of the Club
must be proposed and seconded by existing members of the Club unless the
Committee decides otherwise.
4.5.3 All membership application forms received by
the M.S. shall be displayed in a prominent place at the premises of the Club
for a minimum period of two weeks.
4.5.4 Any member wishing to object to an
application for membership should notify the Secretary in writing.
4.5.5 After the expiry of the period of display
mentioned above, the M.S. appointed by E.C. shall as soon as convenient
consider the application for membership, taking into account any objections notified to the M.S., and
shall promptly notify the applicant of the acceptance or otherwise of the
application.
4.5.6 In declining an application E.C. may give a
reason but shall not be obliged to do so.
4.5.7 In considering applications for membership
E.C. shall have regard to the playing facilities available, and may from time
to time decide that the Club shall be closed to new applications for certain
categories of membership for such period as it may decide.
4.5.8 A member shall cease to be a
member of the club immediately if expelled from the club under the provisions
of clause 7, or if his resignation in writing is delivered to the Secretary.
4.5.9 A member whose subscription has not been paid
shall cease to be a member on the expiration of the period of two months from
the date on which the subscription was due for payment.
4.5.10 A former member of the Club who wishes to
rejoin as a member may do so without the necessity for a further formal application
for membership, unless the Committee decides otherwise
5. OFFICERS
5.1
A President – may be elected by a Meeting
of the Voting members. The person so elected shall be entitled to remain in
Office for five years and be eligible for re-election. The President may attend
and vote at Executive Committee meetings but shall have no Executive Authority
5.2
The Executive – will comprise a Chair,
Vice–Chair, Secretary and Treasurer who shall be elected at each Annual General
Meeting (“A.G.M.”) and shall be eligible for re-election.
5.3
The Executive Committee – (“E.C.”)
5.3.1.
Composition – The President, the Executive, together with a Social
Secretary, a Press Officer and four members who shall each be elected at the
A.G.M. They shall be eligible for re-election.
5.3.2 Co-option - E.C. may co-opt an
additional member or members to give particular service to E.C. as may be
required from time to time, or to replace an elected member who is unable or
unwilling to serve for the whole year.
5.3.2.1.– co-opted members may
not vote at E.C. meetings unless they have replaced an elected officer
5.3.2.2 – E.C. is not obliged to fill a vacancy from
amongst the members. When a vacancy occurs before the first meeting of E.C.
following an A.G.M., the vacancy shall be filled by first offering the vacancy
to the candidate (if any) who was next in line at the A.G.M. election.
5.3.3 Delegation
of powers the E.C. may appoint from
amongst its members such other Office Holders or representatives as it may
require
6. Powers of E.C.
6.1
to provide and maintain a club room through a
House sub- committee which shall have
such powers as E.C. shall delegate to it from time to time
6.2
to provide and maintain facilities and equipment
and accessories including information technology to enable E.C. to organise
functions events and competitions and report the results ( through an I.T.
sub-committee)
6.3
to regulate and control all functions, events
and competitions through a Club and Competitions sub-committee and a Teams
Selection sub-committee
6.4
to incur overdraft facilities or to take up
loans on behalf of the Club and to give security on behalf of the Club up to
the maximum of its assets from time to time
6.5
to formulate and publish such rules of conduct
of club members 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) and to enforce those rules,
including:-
6.5.1 the
discipline of individual members as shall be necessary in the interests of the
whole membership
6.5.2 the
suspension of members where appropriate for a fixed period
6.5.3 the
expulsion of a member
6.6
the regulation of admission of members to Voting
or Associate membership (through a Membership Secretary)
6.7
to maintain and award trophies for particular events
and to keep a record of the holders of the trophies from time to time including
the maintenance of honours boards
6.8
to collect all moneys due from members as shall
be authorised at a General Meeting of the members provided that E.C. shall have
power to waive all or any part of a payment when deemed appropriate
6.9
to appoint such other
sub-committees (“S.C.’s”) as may be considered suitable in pursuit of the
objects of the Club. All S.C.’s must report to E.C and will have only such
authority as may be expressly delegated to it by E.C.
6.10 to appoint from the membership of E.C. a person to represent
the Club at the meetings or functions of other organisations.
7.
Suspension or expulsion of a member
7.1
If at any time a 2/3 majority of E.C. is of the
opinion that the interests of the Club so require, it may by letter invite any
member to undertake to absent himself from the Club for a specified period (in the case of a suspension) or to resign
from the Club (in the case of an expulsion) within seven days from the date of
delivery of the letter. In both cases the letter should state clearly the
reasons for making the request.
7.2
If the member in question fails to accede to the
request within the time specified, the formal motion for suspension or
expulsion shall be referred to a specially convened meeting of E.C. within 21
days thereafter.
7.3
The member must be given at least 7 days notice
of the meeting of E.C. and shall be given the opportunity of defending or
mitigating the allegations by appearing in person or by letter addressed to the
Chair.
7.4
If 2/3 of E.C. present and entitled to vote resolve that the member be suspended for a
specified period or that the member be expelled the member shall immediately
cease to be a member until the expiration of his suspension or until he shall
be readmitted as a member
7.5
The member shall be excluded from the club
premises until the meeting of E.C. is convened to consider the motion.
7.6
A member so expelled may re-apply for membership
after the end of the year in which he was expelled. Any member ceasing to be a member
forfeits any claim he may have on the Club, its property or funds and has no
right to the return of his subscription.
8.
Meetings
8.1
The Annual General Meeting
8.1.1 shall be held in the month of April each year
8.1.2 a
quorum shall consist of at least two members of E.C. and at least seven Voting members
8.1.3 Voting
shall be by a show of hands of Voting members unless 1/3 of Voting members
present request it or the Chair considers it appropriate, when a ballot shall
be held. No voting member shall be entitled to more than one vote except the
Chair who shall have a casting vote in the event of a tie
8.1.4 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 shall chair the
meeting
8.1.5 Notice
of the date of the A.G.M. shall be sufficient if contained in the club
calendar. Notice of any specific motion
and papers thereon shall be given to members at least 14 days prior to
the meeting ( A notice on the Notice Board accompanied by papers addressed to
voting membership shall be sufficient for this purpose.)
8.1.6 Decisions
– the Voting members may only vote on motions proposed and seconded by Voting members
delivered to the Secretary at least 28 days before the meeting. The Secretary
shall include them on the Agenda for the meeting giving all members at least 14
days notice. A motion proposed by E.C. does not have to be seconded. Amendments
arising directly out of a substantive motion included in the Agenda may be
proposed during the course of the meeting (with the exception of Any Other
Business). The Chair’s decision on the degree of connection of the amendment to
the substantive motion shall be final.
8.1.7 A
motion to change the Constitution must be on 21 days prior notice to members
and requires a majority of 2/3 of the Voting members present.
8.2 An
Extraordinary General Meeting
8.2.1 May
be held at any time on the request of a majority decision of E.C. or on a
written request signed by at least 25% of the Voting membership delivered to
the Secretary stating clearly the purpose of the meeting
8.2.2 A
quorum shall consist of at least two members of E.C. and 60% of those calling
the meeting.
8.2.3 Voting
shall be the same as at an A.G.M.
8.2.4 Notice
for the meeting shall be on 21 days prior notice to the members
8.2.5 Decisions
shall be determined as for the A.G.M.
8.2.6 A
change to the Constitution can be made at an E.G.M. subject to the same
provisions for an A.G.M.
8.3
The Executive Committee
8.3.1 shall meet at least twice in each year and at such other
times as is reasonably required for the proper management of the Club, to be
decided by a simple majority of E.C., the Executive Officers or at least 4
non-executive officers.
8.3.2 A
quorum shall consist of at least 5 members including at least two Executive Officers
8.3.3 Voting
as at the A.G.M.
8.3.4 Reasonable
notice (appropriate to circumstances shall be given to members. A formal Agenda
shall be given to all members at least 10 days prior to a meeting unless in
exceptional circumstances when a more urgent decision is required on a specific
matter. Dates fixed by prior agreement shall not be altered except by agreement
of a majority.
8.4
A sub-committee
8.4.1 shall meet as often as is expedient to execute any business
delegated to it by E.C. at the request of the Chair of the S.C.
8.4.2 a
quorum shall consist of at least two persons or at least ½ of the members of
the S.C. whichever is the greater, including the Chair
8.4.3 Voting
as at the A.G.M.
8.4.4 The
Chair of each S.C. may call a meeting at such time as is reasonable to deal
with delegated business. Written details are desirable but not essential.
9.
Finance
9.1
Income
9.1.1 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 1st June in each year in respect of the year to the
following 31st May. Unless
the Committee decides otherwise, any member whose subscription remains unpaid
after the due date shall pay table money at the rate applicable to visitors
until his subscription has been paid in full.
9.1.2
Each member of the Club, and each guest and
visitor, shall pay table money on each occasion when he plays at the Club, the
basic amounts of which for the time being shall be decided at the Annual
General Meeting of the Club.
9.1.3 The
E.C shall authority to waive or reduce payment when they deem it reasonable.
E.C. shall have power to collect advance payments of table money to enable them
to regulate numbers for any event.
9.1.4 Other
income from particular events, use by third parties of club assets or
facilities, sale of unwanted assets, or interest on investments from time to
time may be determined by E.C.
9.2
Expenditure
9.2.1 E.C.
shall have authority to approve such expenditure (up to a maximum of £5000 on
any single item) as may be necessary
9.2.2 such
expenditure shall be deemed authorised provided it is to meet obligations
incurred in pursuit of the Objects of the Club, or it is to pay affiliation
fees or other standing charges, or it is to maintain or improve the assets of the
Club
9.2.3 All
other expenditure shall be deemed unauthorised unless specific authority is
given to E.C. by members at a General Meeting
9.2.4 All
cheques or other withdrawals from the Club’s Bank account or investment account
shall require the signatures of at least two Executive Officers
9.3
Capital and Assets
9.3.1 The
responsibility for holding the Capital and Assets of the Club shall rest with
the Executive Officers who shall hold them on trust for the members
9.3.2 The
Capital shall be held in a current account of a clearing Bank or such
investment accounts as the E.C. shall consider prudent in the name of the Club
9.4 Reporting
9.4.1 The
Treasurer shall report to E.C. on each occasion it meets with details of
balances held in current account and investment accounts together with evidence
thereof
9.4.2 The
financial year shall run from April 1st to March 31st
.
9.4.3 The
accounts approved and certified by an independent examiner of accounts shall be
delivered to members at the Annual General Meeting and the Voting members shall
be required to pass a resolution accepting or rejecting the accounts. In the
event of rejection the reasons shall be recorded .
9.5
Disposal of assets on dissolution
The Executive
Officers shall hold the assets of the Club for such purposes as the members
shall determine
10.
The Constitution
10.1 This Constitution comes into effect on
the twenty fifth day of April 2008. It supercedes all
previous constitutions or memoranda relating to the Club
10.2
Each member, following the date hereof on
payment of his Annual Subscription shall be entitled to a copy of this
Constitution. Each new member shall be entitled to a copy on payment of his
first Subscription
10.3
Any motion to change this Constitution shall be
made in writing and considered at a General Meeting of Voting members for which
a quorum is present and for which proper notice was given. The motion for
change must be approved by at least 2/3 of the members present and entitled to vote.
10.4
No change to the Constitution shall have
retrospective effect.
Dated 25th April 2008
