BURTON ON STATHER BOWLS CLUB CONSTITUTION
1. NAME
The name of the Club shall be “BURTON UPON STATHER BOWLS CLUB”, hereinafter referred to as “the Club”.
2. AIMS
The object of the Club shall be:
To promote and foster the game of flat green bowls in the community and to promote bowling and social activities for its members
To provide playing opportunities and facilities for Club members in local leagues and competitions, Humberside County competitions, and League and Club competitions
To provide other activities, subject to approval by the Management Committee
Members of the Club shall play in accordance with the Rules of the English Bowling Association OR the English Bowling Federation, local leagues and Club rules.
Membership shall be open to both male and female applicants, of all classes of bowlers, and shall be subject to the approval of the Management Committee. No age limit shall apply to any applicant.
3. CLASSES OF CLUB MEMBERSHIP
FULL Member a member eligible to take part in all activities of the Club
JUNIOR Member a member under the age of 17 on the 1st of February. Junior members will only be permitted to use the facilities provided by the Club when supervised by a FULL member. Junior members will be eligible to take part in all Club activities.
SOCIAL Member a member of any age, over 17 years, who has full access to the club and its facilities but who is not eligible to play in any league matches or Club competitions
4. SAFEGUARDING POLICY
The Club fully accepts its legal and moral obligation to exercise its duty of care and to protect all children and vulnerable adults participating in its activities, and to safeguard their welfare.
The Club is committed to doing this by acknowledging that the welfare of the child/vulnerable adult is paramount.
Each child/vulnerable adult irrespective of age, gender, religion, race or disability has the right to protection from abuse.
Each child/vulnerable adult has the right to be safe and to be treated with respect and dignity.
The Club and its Committee will use their best endeavours to ensure that:
All allegations of abuse are taken seriously
The response to them is swift and appropriate
The effectiveness of our policy is reviewed annually
A responsible person shall be appointed annually by the Club as Safeguarding Co-ordinator/Officer who, if necessary, can liaise with and address any concerns to the Humberside County Bowling Association Safeguarding Officer.
5. MANAGEMENT
The affairs of the Club shall be managed by the Committee which shall be elected/re-elected annually at the AGM from those holding full membership of the club. The committee shall comprise the following:
Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Captain, Vice-Captain, Green Keeper and two non-officio members.
Of the 8, only 7 members should attend committee meetings (an uneven number for voting purposes), therefore the Vice-Captain will only be required to attend in the absence of the Captain, or when called to do so in the notified absence of other members.
A quorum of 5 members are required for matters requiring a vote.
Ideally, of the eight, at least two committee members should be women.
If any officer takes on any two or more positions, the Committee shall be brought up to numerical strength by voting at the Annual General Meeting or by co-option if it occurs between Annual General Meetings.
This Committee, who shall have powers to deal with the day-to-day affairs of the Club and its playing and non-playing members, will meet on a regular basis or as often as deemed necessary.
In the event of up to two vacancies occurring, the Committee shall have the power to co-opt replacements.
In the event of more than two vacancies occurring at any one time, the Committee shall continue, if quorate, until a Special General Meeting can be convened to fill the vacancies from the membership.
If a quorum cannot be raised, then a Special General Meeting shall be convened at the earliest possible date, giving fourteen (14) days’ notice to all members in order to fill the vacancies from the membership.
Five (5) Committee members shall form a quorum.
Any additional meeting of the Management Committee shall be convened by the Chairman and three (3) other Committee members at any time.
The Management Committee shall decide the date for the Annual General Meeting. The Secretary shall notify all members at least twenty-one (21) days in advance of the meeting.
The Chairman, or in his absence, any other member of the Management Committee elected by that Committee, shall preside at all meetings of the Club or the Management Committee. The Chairman or the acting Chairman shall have the casting vote.
All Club expenditure will be met by funds from the Treasurer and all administration work, apart from organising the matches and competitions, will be carried out by the Secretary. The Secretary shall record in the Minute Book the result of all Special, Annual and General Meetings of the Club and shall notify members of meetings connected with the Club.
Any member wishing to view the Minute Book may do so by arrangement with the Secretary.
Correct accounts and books shall be kept showing the financial affairs of the Club. All funds shall be lodged in a bank in the name of the Club.
The Club Treasurer will collect and pay all fees and dues as necessary and keep a full account of all the Club’s finances, which shall be examined and presented to the members at the Annual General Meeting and at other times, if so required by the Management Committee.
Any member wishing to view the Account books may do so by arrangement with the Club Treasurer.
The Club’s financial year shall end on the 31st day of December in each year.
The Management Committee shall take cognisance of any impropriety of conduct on the Club premises with a view to its correction and prevention and they have the power of expelling such members.
The Management Committee may frame by-laws not inconsistent with rules of this constitution for the better regulation of matches and competitions on the green.
In an emergency situation, decisions may be made by the Club Chairman or, in his absence, an elected officer, in consultation with two (2) other members of the Management Committee.
6. SECURITY
All Full and Social members are entitled to a key for the gate padlock. A deposit of value determined by the management committee shall be made in exchange for the key. Any member whose membership is discontinued for whatever reason must return their key to the treasurer who will then provide a full refund of the deposit paid.
Access to the club house shall be given to all members by means of a key located in a key safe whose code shall be made available to all members upon their membership to the club been accepted. The code maybe changed at any time the management see fit. The new code will be issued to all members in this event.
A key for the side door shall be located inside the club house adjacent to this door.
Keys for the equipment store shall also be made available within the club house for members to access the bowling equipment.
Additional keys shall be issued to the Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary and Captain. These key holders contact details are to be made available for the village disaster plan to facilitate access to the club house if events require.
No member shall remove any key from the club house.
All members shall ensure, if they are the last person in the club grounds, the club house and the gate are securely locked. In the event of a problem with securing the site a committee member shall be informed immediately. Under no circumstances shall the grounds be left un-secured.
All key losses shall be reported to the management committee immediately.
7. APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
Applications will be accepted from all classes and standards of bowlers.
Every candidate for membership of the Club shall complete an application form provided by the Management Committee.
The election of a candidate to membership, or renewal of membership, shall be at the next meeting of the Management Committee and no person shall be admitted to membership of the Club until so elected.
When an elected candidate has paid the annual subscription, he/she shall be deemed a member of the Club which entitles same to all the privileges of membership and will be deemed to have agreed to be bound by this Constitution and all rules and by-laws of the Club.
The Management Committee shall have the right to refuse membership or renewal of membership in any category and will be under no obligation to disclose the reason for such refusal.
A member who resigns from the club and who subsequently applies for re-election may be re-elected by the Management Committee at their discretion, but only after completion of a new application form.
8. EXCLUSION OF A MEMBER FOR MISCONDUCT
The Management Committee may expel from membership of the Club any member whose conduct is, in their opinion, detrimental to the Club or Club members. Before a member is expelled, the matter shall be enquired into by the Management Committee, and the party concerned shall be given every opportunity to explain the conduct in question.
If a majority of the Management Committee present when the matter is discussed are of the opinion that a satisfactory explanation has not been given, the Club member will be asked to resign from membership.
If this resignation is not forthcoming, then the Club member will be expelled and will forfeit all the privileges of membership and rights against the Club.
9. DRESS
For all club matches, whether league or friendly, the accepted dress shall be as follows:
Men / Women – white shirts /tops, with grey trousers / skirts
Club colour jumpers and Club ties may be worn in addition.
Where permitted by League/County rules, grey/white tailored shorts may also be worn. If in doubt clarification from the secretary should be sought.
In bad weather members should follow the accepted practice of all white wet-weather clothing.
Casual wear may be worn for in-club competition and roll-ups.
Flat-soled bowling shoes which are flat from heel to toe, with no discernible ridges in the sole, must be worn at all times on the green.
Players not wearing correct footwear will be asked to leave the green.
10. SMOKING
Smoking is not permitted on the green or in the club house. Smokers should be mindful and ensure they are not affecting those around
11. DOGS
Well behaved dogs are permitted in the bowling enclosure, but are not permitted in the club house with the exception of service dogs. Any dog deemed to be behaving badly and/or causing a distraction to bowlers will be made to leave the grounds. No dogs are permitted on the green.
12. SUBSCRIPTIONS
The annual subscription for all classes of Club membership shall be such sum as is proposed by the Management Committee and decided at the Annual General Meeting.
13. PAYMENT OF SUBSCRIPTIONS
Annual subscription shall become due on the LAST day of JANUARY in each year. Subscriptions shall be considered in arrears if not paid by the FIRST day of FEBRUARY. If, after a reminder has been sent by the Secretary or Treasurer of the Club, the subscription is not paid within seven (7) days, membership shall cease and all rights of membership shall be forfeited.
14. ANNUAL AND SPECIAL CLUB MEETINGS
The Annual meeting of Club members will be held in October.
This meeting will elect the Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Club Captain, Vice-Captain, Green keeper and four full members, all of whom shall serve for one year, as the Management Committee, until the next Annual General Meeting.
The Annual General Meeting shall also elect an Honorary President for the year. This role shall have no responsibility in the running of the Club but it shall be deemed an honour for the candidate who may be invited to matches and functions in an honorary capacity.
Special General Meetings may be called at any time by the Management Committee on giving fourteen (14) days written notice to all members stating the purpose of the meeting.
The Chairman shall be bound to call a Special General Meeting of the Club within ten (10) days after a requisition signed by at least thirty (30) per cent of members, which contains the purpose of the business to be transacted. Eight days’ notice of the date fixed for said meeting must be given to members.
Proposals for the Annual General Meeting shall be received in writing by the Club Secretary no less than ten (10) days before the meeting.
15. VOTING
Voting at Annual General and Special Meetings of the Club will be by show of hands, unless otherwise directed by the Chairman.
Each Club member shall have one vote.
The Chairman will have a casting vote although he may call for a second vote where equal votes are cast on any proposition.
No proxy votes will be allowed
16. AMENDMENT OF RULES
The Constitution may be amended by a two thirds majority of the members present at an Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting provided that fourteen (14) days’ written notice of the proposed amendment has been sent to all members.
17. INTERPRETATION OF CONSTITUTION AND RULES
Any dispute or difference which may arise as to the meaning or interpretation of this Constitution and rules, or any question that may arise which is not provided for in these rules, will be brought before the Management Committee of the Club, whose decision on the matter shall be final.
18. PROPERTY AND ASSETS
All the property, equipment and any monies generated by the Club shall be the property of the Club and no variation to this rule shall be allowed.
If at any time in the future the Club becomes non-viable, for whatever reason, it can only be disbanded by a Special General Meeting at which at least two thirds of the existing membership is present. The Club can then be considered for closure and the Club assets sold off or disposed of as thought fit at the time, by the Management Committee.
Once the assets have been realised into cash, any outstanding debts at that time must be paid off. If, after these actions, any money is left, it should be shared between all members currently in the Club at that time as determined by the Management Committee.
19. DISTRIBUTION
A copy of the Constitution shall be given to each member on payment of his / her first subscription.
Approved: March 2007
Amended: February 2014
February 2017
October 2017
October 2019