Herne Bay Bowling Club
RULES
1[a]. The club shall be called “The Herne Bay Bowling Club” and the headquarters of the club shall be the Earl Spencer pavilion, Memorial Park, Spenser Road, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5QL.
1[b]. Membership of the club shall be open to all, regardless of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, nationality, race, religion, culture, colour, size, political belief, employment or disability.
2[a]. The club shall be governed by a Management Body consisting of the President, General Secretary, Treasurer, Tournament Secretary, Catering Manager, Bar Manager, Maintenance Manager, Social Secretary, Junior Liaison Officer, the Trustees plus one delegate from each of the Men's and Ladies’ sections. At the first meeting of the new committee a Chairperson shall be elected by that committee to deputise for the President at his request.
2[b]. The Management Body shall nominate members to be Trustees, such nominations to be submitted to the General Secretary for approval. Those appointed shall respectively hold office until resignation or death, unless removed from office by resolution of members at a General meeting. Any casual vacancies in the office of Trustee may be filled by the Management Body, and the person or persons so nominated shall hold office until the next General meeting after such an appointment when he/she shall retire, but may be re-appointed by the members at such a meeting. The Trustees shall be ex-officio members of the Management Body. Their number shall not be more than four and not less than two and the property of the club shall be vested in them. They shall deal with the property as directed by resolution of the Management Body (of which an entry in the minutes shall be conclusive evidence) and they shall be indemnified against risk and expense out of the club's property.
DISSOLUTION clause
3. In the event of the termination of the club any remaining profit/balance would be transferred to any organisation affiliated to the Kent County Bowling Association or the Kent County Women’s Bowling Association.
4. The Annual General Meeting of the club shall be held in January of each year for the purpose of receiving the audited accounts and financial statements which ended on 31st October and for the election of all officers to the Management Body (with the exception of the President who shall serve a period of two years).
Nominations for all Management Body officers must be in the hands of the General Secretary by 31st October prior to the Annual General Meeting. 28 days notice must be given for this purpose.
Notice of any motion or any amendments to business contained in the agenda for the Annual General Meeting shall be received by the General Secretary at least FOURTEEN days before the meeting.
5. The General Secretary shall call a Special General Meeting of the club within fourteen days after receipt of a requisition to do so, signed by 15 members of the club; such requisition to state the business for which the meeting is called. No other business may be taken at that meeting.
6. Seven clear days notice in writing of any General Meeting shall be given to each full member by the General Secretary, with the exception that during the playing season when a notice placed on the club's notice board will be deemed, after one week, to have been circulated to all playing members.
7. The President or Chairperson or General Secretary shall at all times have the power to call a meeting of the Management Body.
8. The President or Chairperson shall preside at all Management Body meetings at which 5 members shall form a quorum, and the President shall have a casting vote in addition to his/her own vote
9. The Management Body shall have power to co-opt and fill any vacancy that may occur during the year within the Management Body, appoint from time to time any sub-committee, such sub-committee to consist either of members of the Management Body, or other members of the club as may be deemed necessary for any special purpose.
10[a]. A candidate for playing membership must be proposed and seconded by two members of the club.
The nomination form shall be signed by the proposer and seconder and countersigned by the candidate.
It shall then be forwarded to the General Secretary, who shall post it up in the club pavilion, with the date of posting, [before being forwarded to the appropriate section for a personal interview and vetting] and at least seven clear days shall elapse before election takes place. All new playing members shall be elected by the Management Body, of which not less than 5 shall vote and, until actual election, no person shall be permitted to the privileges of membership.
The maximum number of playing members permitted in the club shall be 290 men and women, or at the discretion of the Management Body from time to time.
All newly elected playing members must pay an entrance fee (the amount to be determined by the Management Body from time to time).
New members cannot be nominated as an officer of the club until at least 12 months after their election as members.
10[b]. Any nomination for life membership shall be made by the Management Body as a recommendation to a General Meeting, such nomination must appear on the agenda of such meeting. The total number of life members not to exceed 12.
10[c]. A candidate who has failed to pay his/her subscription within one calendar month from the date of the General Secretary’s notice advising him/her of their election shall thereby render such election null and void.
Disciplinary Procedure
11[a] If a written complaint is made to the General Secretary regarding the conduct of a member it shall be investigated by the Management Body. The alleged offender will be informed of the complaint and asked to comment. If the complaint is substantiated that person shall be cautioned as to his/her future conduct and an entry will be made in the Management Body’s minutes. If he/she further offends action will be taken to suspend or expel the member.
11[b] To suspend or expel a member from the club it shall be necessary that notice be sent to the General Secretary, signed by three members, acquainting him/her with the circumstances which gave rise to such notice. The General Secretary shall then advise such member in writing that the issue is to be considered for possible action.
In the event of a formal hearing the Management Body shall set up an impartial sub-committee to hear all sides. The person concerned shall be given the right to be heard and to be accompanied by an advisor.
After an adjournment to consider its verdict the sub-committee shall give its decision in writing as soon as possible. Minutes of the hearing to be made available to all parties.
If disciplinary action is taken the person involved shall be advised of his/her right of appeal which must be lodged within 28 days.
In the event of an appeal a totally new impartial sub-committee shall be designated to hear the appeal. The appellant shall be notified and have the right to put his/her case, accompanied by an advisor if he/she wishes.
The new sub-committee members shall hear both sides of the argument.
After adjournment to consider its verdict the new sub-committee shall give its decision in writing as soon as possible. Minutes of the appeal hearing to be made available to all parties.
The appellant shall have the right to a further appeal to the County Association if the first appeal is dismissed.
annual subscriptions
12. The annual subscriptions to the club for full playing, junior and social members shall be determined by the Management Body.
A Junior member shall be a young person who is under the age of 18 years on 1st March.
Subscriptions for all members are payable by 28th February unless arrangements have been put in hand to pay by monthly instalments which shall be completed by 17th May. Any member failing to pay his/her subscription in accordance with the above must seek re-election as a new member.
The Management Body may, at their discretion, for cases of ill health or domestic reasons, allow members to retain their link with the club as social members and rejoin as playing members without seeking re-election at a later date.
For new members joining during the playing season a sliding scale of fees will apply as determined by the Management Body.
Voting
13. Only playing members may vote at any General Meeting they are entitled to attend, be elected as officers or participate in any way in the management of the club. In the event of there being no nomination of a playing member for a vacancy as Social Secretary on the Management Body a nomination may be accepted from a social member. The social member, when elected, shall have the same rights as any other Management Body member.
Every member shall have one vote. Votes may be given on any proposal, motion and election included in the agenda of business either personally or by proxy. The instrument of appointment shall be in writing in the prescribed form, signed by the appointer and deposited with the relevant Secretary not less than 48 hours prior to the time of the meeting. In respect of other matters, only those members present shall have a vote.
alteration of rules
14[a]. No rule of the club shall be repealed or altered, and no new rule shall be made except at a General Meeting of which notice shall be given in writing to all playing members, setting out the proposed alterations and addition. A majority of two-thirds of the members present at the meeting or voting by proxy shall be required to confirm such alterations or addition to the rule.
14[b]. The Management Body shall have power to decide the interpretation of Rules and By-laws and to deal with other matters not provided therein. The decision of the Management Body shall be final and binding on all members.
Visitors
15. The following classes of persons shall be entitled to be sold and/or supplied with intoxicating liquor when visiting the club's premises for the day of their visit only.
15[a]. Members of a visiting club on the occasion of a match on the club's Greens or any function in the club's premises.
15[b]. Persons who are not members of the club, on payment of fees prescribed from time to time for the purpose of playing bowls, and upon signing their name in the visitors’ book for the day covered by the payment of the appropriate fee only. Such sale and/or supply shall be on sale for consumption on the club's premises only. In no circumstances shall persons under the age of 18 years be sold or supplied with, or permitted to consume intoxicating liquor.
16. All matches and competitions will be played under the rules of Bowls England.
Hours of opening
17. Weekdays - The club shall be opened at 09:30 hours and closed at 23:30 hours.
Sundays - The club shall be opened at 12:00 hours and closed at 22:30 hours.
The Management Body may, on special occasions, authorise earlier opening times on Sundays.
Section committees
18. The Management Body shall depute all duties relating to playing arrangements to a Men's Bowling Section committee and a Ladies’ Bowling Section committee.
16 January 2009
BY-LAWS
1. In it shall be the duty of the Management Body Treasurer in conjunction with the General Secretary to receive all monies of the club and pay same into the club's banking account with the exception of (a) the Bar Manager and (b) the working funds of the Men's and Ladies’ section. All accounts for payment shall be made by cash, cheque, standing order or direct
debit drawn on the club’s accounts at the Lloyds T.S.B., High Street, Herne Bay, or the Kent Reliance Building Society, High Street, Herne Bay and shall be signed by either the Management Body Treasurer or the General Secretary for the time being. The Management Body Treasurer shall submit a Revenue Account and Financial Statement made up to the 31st October, at the Annual General Meeting.
2. The General Secretary shall conduct all correspondence of the club, record the minutes of all the Management Body meetings, ensure that the names and addresses of all members are duly posted in the club pavilion and perform all the duties required by these Rules and By-laws.
3. The Bar Manager, with the assistance of the Bar sub-committee, shall be responsible for the efficient working of the Bar. He/she will order all refreshments etc. for same, bank all takings, keep all necessary stock records and supervise the work of his/her assistants.
4. The Catering Manager, in conjunction with the Men's and Ladies’ sections Match Secretaries, shall arrange teas etc. for visiting clubs and teams, make his/her own purchases in connection therewith and keep a record of his/her income and expenditure.
5. The Greenkeeper shall determine when the seasons play commences and finishes, the fitness or otherwise of the greens for play, the resting of either or both greens or other matters concerning the actual use of the greens. His/her decision shall be final. He/She shall keep inventory of all equipment and a record of all transactions.
6. As soon as greens are available, members may commence play, it being understood that if no other rink is available, others, as they arrive, shall be admitted until the rink is complete.
7. Ladies’ County matches may be played in the mornings and club singles and pairs competitions may be played on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings only from 10:00 hours until 14.15 hours. (Tuesday & Wednesday to be agreed previously with Greenkeeper)
8. Any member behaving improperly on the green or on the premises of the club shall be dealt with immediately by such members of the Management Body as may be present: All such cases to be reported to the General Secretary, who shall report the same to the Management Body.
9. Any member damaging the green whilst delivering his or her bowls may be warned or cautioned by the Greenkeeper or any member of the Management Body. Should any member, after receiving a warning or caution, continue to damage the green at any time he or she shall be required to leave the green. Such member must then receive coaching tuition until the Coach is satisfied that he or she can return to the green. All such cases must be reported to the General Secretary who shall report the same to the Management Body and it shall have power to take any action considered necessary.
Permitted hours
10. The permitted hours under the Licensing Act 2003 for the supply and consumption of intoxicating liquor in the club shall be as follows: --
weekdays 10:00 hours to 23:30 hours. — SUNDAYS 12:00 hours to 22:30 hours.
CHRISTMAS DAY — The club is not open.
11. The Management Body shall have full permission to make what alterations they may consider necessary in the By-laws from time to time.
Note 1. The Management Body have confidence that, when no rinks are available members who have played during the day will extend the courtesy of the greens to those who are able to play only during the evenings, especially those who arrive late.
Note 2. Members are particularly requested to notify any change of address or telephone number immediately to the General Secretary.End of Constitution Rules