CONSTITUTION & RULES
1 Name
1.1 The name of the Club shall be the “Spring Gardens Bowling Club”, hereinafter to be referred to as “the Club”
2 Objectives
2.1 To foster and promote the sport of Crown Green Bowling at all levels, providing opportunities for recreation and competition
2.2 To promote and model a spirit of competitiveness and sportsmanship
3 Affiliations
3.1 The Club shall be affiliated to the British Crown Green Bowling Association via membership of Local Leagues and County Associations Current County/League affiliations are :-
Derbyshire (Primary Affiliation) – Longdendale and North Derbyshire Leagues
Cheshire – Stockport & District (Mens, Ladies & Workshops Leagues)
Cheshire Parks - Cheadle & Gatley League
4 Ground
4.1 The ground is situated at the rear of the restaurant/public house (formerly known as the “Spring Gardens Public House”), 89 Compstall Road, Marple Bridge, Stockport, Cheshire, SK6 5HE
4.2 Access to the ground, both on foot and vehicular, is by way of the entrance adjacent the restaurant/public house
4.3 Car parking is allowed on the “shared-use” car park adjacent to the green, subject to space available
5 Membership & Member’s Responsibilities
5.1 Membership of the Club shall be open to any person, regardless of race, age, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, ability or disability, who completes a membership application form and pays the relevant subscription fee as determined by the Club
5.2 Applications for Club Membership must be in writing, addressed to the Club Secretary, using the Club’s application for membership form
5.3 Membership will be consequent upon payment of the appropriate subscription fee and acceptance by the Committee
5.4 Membership entitles players to use the bowling green and facilities. Members wishing to be available for selection for League & other team competitions should inform the Secretary
5.5 Members are encouraged to practice the green whenever it is free and by so doing improve their skill level. Members practicing the green may have use of the Club’s floodlight facilities provided these are extinguished by 10.00pm prompt
5.6 There shall be six classes of membership :-
(1) Gentlemen
(2) Ladies
(3) Junior
(4) Social
(5) Honorary (awarded to existing members by the Committee)
(6) Life (awarded to existing members by the Annual General Meeting)
5.7 The Committee shall have the power to refuse or terminate membership. Any such decisions will be fair and transparent
5.8 All members have a responsibility to uphold the objectives in clause 2 (“Objectives”) above
5.9 Members playing in competitions are responsible for checking the teamsheets posted on the appropriate notice boards to see if they are selected/required for each fixture
5.10 Members unable to play or likely to be late should inform their Team Captain, personally, as soon as possible. It is not sufficient to put “N/A” on the teamsheet
5.11 Team members should try, whenever possible, to be on time for the start of a match, and where appropriate for the start of practice prior to matches
5.12 Team members should advise their Captain well in advance of holiday and work commitments which mean they will be unavailable for selection
5.13 All members are responsible for paying their Annual Subscription Fee, directly to the Treasurer, no later than 31st May
6 Officers & Elections
6.1 The Officers of the Club shall be :-
President (Honorary)
Chairperson
Secretary
Treasurer
6.2 Election of Officers :-
6.2(1) All Officers shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Club, from, and by, the members
6.2(2) All Officers are elected for a period of one year, but may be re-elected to the same office, or another office, the following year
7 The Committee & Meetings
7.1 The affairs of the Club shall be controlled by a Committee, comprising the Officers of the Club, Life Members of the Club, and :- all Team Captains, Vice-Captains, League Delegates, Greensman, Auditors, all as elected from and by Club Members at the Annual General Meeting
Additional members of the Committee shall be co-opted as the Committee feels necessary
7.2 The Committee shall meet at monthly intervals (usually the first Monday in each month)
7.3 The duties of the Committee shall be :-
7.3(1) To control the affairs of the Club on behalf of the members
7.3(2) To make decisions on the basis of a simple majority vote
In the case of equal votes, the Chairperson shall be entitled to a casting vote
7.3(3) To appoint sub-committees as necessary to fulfil the Club’s business
7.4 A Quorum for a Committee meeting shall be five. The meeting may determine that the minimum quorum is insufficient where matters of some significance are at issue, and refer the matter to an ExtraOrdinary General Meeting
7.5 All Committee meetings shall be minuted, signed by the Chairperson, and placed on file
8 Executive Committee
8.1 The purpose of the Executive Committee is to control any particular affairs of the Club which the Committee, and/or a General Meeting, feel necessary. Also, to offer help and guidance to the Club, as necessary
8.2 The Executive Committee shall consist of the Officers of the Club together with no more than five other Club members who shall be elected from and by members at the Annual General Meeting
8.3 The meetings of the Executive Committee shall be convened as and when necessary in order to deal with items which require their immediate attention
8.4 Any such meeting convened shall be minuted, signed by the Chairperson, placed on file, and be the subject of a report at the following Committee meeting
8.5 Decisions of the Executive Committee shall be reached by consensus. If this is not possible, then the issue is to be referred to the General Committee
9 Annual & Extraordinary General Meetings
9.1 The Committee shall call an Annual General Meeting (AGM) to be held during January each year. Twenty one clear day’s notice of the AGM shall be given to each Club member by circulating a copy of the notice to each member, either by post to member’s home address or by e-mail. The notice shall include an Agenda to be determined by the Committee
Members must advise the Secretary, in writing or by e-mail, of any business to be considered at the AGM at least fourteen days before such meeting
9.2 The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be to :-
9.2(1) Confirm the minutes of the previous AGM and any General Meeting held since the previous AGM
9.2(2) Receive the reports from the Officers and other Committee members
9.2(3) Elect the Officers and Committee members for the forthcoming year
9.2(4) Set subscription fees, match levies and honoraria for the forthcoming year
9.2(5) Transact such other business, received in writing by the Secretary from members at least fourteen days prior to the meeting
9.3 Extraordinary General Meetings may be convened as necessary by the Committee in respect of items on the agenda of special significance
9.4 At all General Meetings the chair will be taken by the Chairperson, or in their absence by a deputy appointed by the members attending the meeting
9.5 Decisions made at a General Meeting shall be by a simple majority of votes from those members attending the meeting. In the event of equal votes, the Chairperson shall be entitled to a casting vote
The only exception to this rule would be under the circumstances of
clauses 16 and 17 (below)
9.6 At General Meetings, each member attending shall be entitled to one vote
9.7 A quorum for any General Meeting shall be fifteen members, or 25% of the current membership, whichever is the greater
9.8 All General Meetings shall be minuted, signed by the Chairperson and placed on file
10 Secretary’s Duties
10.1 Amongst other duties in the service of the Club and Committee by dealing with correspondence and keeping minutes, records etc, the Secretary shall maintain a diary of fixtures and bookings on the green, a copy of which shall be posted on the appropriate notice board whereby all members have access to it
10.2 The Secretary shall ensure that someone is available to “unlock” the green and facilities, whenever it is reserved for use by others for example cup matches etc, and to “lock-up” on completion of the fixture
11 Treasurer’s Duties & Finances
11.1 The Treasurer is responsible for managing all financial affairs of the Club, including :-
Payment of all invoices and expense claims
Banking income
Collecting subscription fees from members
Keeping accurate accounts of the finances of the Club. These are to be available for reasonable inspection by members and be examined by the appointed accounts auditors prior to the AGM
Preparation of the Balance Sheet summarizing the Club’s income and expenditure, and when duly audited, to be submitted to the AGM for approval
Furnishing the Committee with regular update of accounts
Advising the Committee of any foreseeable financial problems and make appropriate recommendations
11.2 The financial year of the Club shall run from 1st January to 31st December
11.3 The Club shall set up and maintain such bank accounts (current & investment) as are necessary to run its affairs
Any cheques drawn against the Club’s funds shall be signed by both the Treasurer and the Chairperson
11.4 The Club shall maintain an appropriate policy of Public Liability Insurance
12 Team Captains’ Duties
12.1 Team Captains have complete autonomy in the selection of teams. It is not the Club’s policy to have a rota or average-based selection process
12.2 Captains must be willing and able to explain their decisions, which must be without favour or prejudice and in the best interests of a good fixture result
12.3 Where the Club has two or more teams playing in a particular league, it is expected by the Club that the respective captains of each team liase on a regular basis with one another regarding team selections
12.4 Captains are not obliged to contact selected members. It is sufficient to post the teamsheet on the appropriate notice board
However, personal arrangements with members who work away or who live some distance away would be considered good practice
12.5 Teamsheets must be posted on the appropriate notice board not less than 48 hours prior to the fixture concerned
12.6 Captains are responsible for submission of results sheets to the leagues in accordance with the particular league rules
12.7 Captains are responsible for collecting match levies and for passing on such levies to the Treasurer on a monthly basis
Captains are not responsible for collection of annual subscription fees
12.8 Captains are responsible for re-arranging postponed or abandoned fixtures, in accordance with the appropriate league rules
12.9 Captains may decide, with their particular team, to play for an additional kitty
12.10 Captains are responsible for making the draw prior to each fixture being played, and to ensure that each fixture is played in accordance with current BCGBA rules and current appropriate league rules
12.11 Captains should report any problems to the Committee, as soon as possible
13 Trustees
13.1 There shall be four Trustees of the Club who shall be appointed by a General Meeting of the Club, from among Club members who are willing to be so-appointed
A Trustee shall hold office during his/her lifetime or until he/she shall resign by notice in writing given to the Committee, or until a resolution removing him/her from office shall be passed at a meeting of the Committee
13.2 The land occupied by the Club’s green and facilities, and the subject of a lease agreement with the freeholders of the land, shall be held by the Trustees for the time being, in their own names, so far as it is necessary and practical, on trust for the use and benefit of the Club
In the event of death, resignation or removal from office of a Trustee, the Committee shall nominate a new Trustee in his/her place, and shall, as soon as possible thereafter, take all lawful and practicable steps to procure the vesting of the Club property into the names of the Trustees as constituted after such nomination
13.3 The Trustees shall be effectually indemnified by the Members out of the assets of the Club from and against any liability, costs, expenses and payments whatsoever which may be properly incurred or made by them in the exercise of their duties of relation to any property of the Club vested in them, or in relation to any legal proceedings, or which otherwise relate directly or indirectly to the performance of the functions of a Trustee of the Club
13.4 The liability of the Trustees for the performance of any contractual or other obligation undertaken by them on behalf of the Club shall be limited to the assets of the Club
14 Trophies
14.1 All trophies shall remain the property of the Club, unless specially stated to the contrary, and shall be offered for competition as may be directed by the Committee
15 Code of Conduct, Complaints & Disciplinary Matters
15.1 All members are required to compete and behave in a civilized, respectful and sporting manner, and have a duty to uphold and promote the objectives 2.1 and 2.2 (above)
Any form of discrimination, dishonest or abusive behaviour will not be tolerated
15.2 The Club and its members have a responsibility to act as “good neighbours” and respect the privacy and sensitivities of those living nearby, including the feelings of any casual observers or spectators
15.3 The Club and its members have a duty to uphold the codes of conduct of their respective league and county associations
15.4 Any formal complaint made by another member, opponent, official, league or observer will be treated seriously by the Committee The Committee has the power to sanction, suspend or terminate membership, should it find a member in breach of rules 15.1, 15.2 or 15.3 above
Any member so disciplined shall have the right to attend the relevant meeting to put forward their point of view
16 Alterations & Amendments to the Constitution and Rules
16.1 Any proposed alterations or amendments to the Club’s Constitution and Rules may only be considered at an Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting convened with the required written notice of the proposal
Any alteration or amendment must be duly proposed and seconded. Such alterations or amendments shall be passed if supported by a two-thirds majority of votes of those members present at the meeting, assuming that a quorum has been achieved
17 Dissolution
17.1 If, at any Committee meeting of the Club, a resolution be passed calling for the dissolution of the Club, the Secretary shall immediately convene an Extraordinary General Meeting to be held not less than one month thereafter to discuss and vote on the resolution
17.2 If, at that Extraordinary General Meeting, the resolution is carried by at least two-thirds of the members present, the Committee shall thereupon, or at such date as shall have been specified in the resolution, proceed to realise the assets of the Club and discharge all debts and liabilities of the Club
17.3 After discharging all debts and liabilities of the Club, the remaining assets shall not be paid or distributed amongst the members of the Club, but shall be given or transferred to some other local voluntary organisation having similar objectives
This Constitution together with these Rules were adopted at a General Meeting of the Spring Gardens Bowling Club Membership on17 April 2014 at Jubilee Hall, Cote Green Road, Marple Bridge