THE CONSTITUTION
14. Duties of the Honorary Secretary
1. name
The name of the Association shall be Nedlands Bridge Club (Inc), hereinafter called “the Club”.
2. objects
The objects of the Club are:
a) To establish, maintain and conduct a bridge club for the use of the members of the Club.
b) To promulgate contract bridge and to improve the use and techniques by teaching and by the sale of books of instruction.
c) To promote and advance the playing of contract bridge not only as a game but also as a vehicle for goodwill and improve human relationships.
d) To conduct (including organization and supervision) duplicate games, tournaments and competitions under the International Code of the Laws of Duplicate Bridge.
e) To train tournament directors as need arises
f) To affiliate with the Bridge Association of Western Australia
g) To provide amenities for its members and their guests upon such premises as the Club may lawfully occupy from time to time.
3. non-profit
The income and property of the Club shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objects of the Club. No portion of the income or property shall be paid, transferred or distributed directly or indirectly to the members of the Club provided that nothing shall prevent the payment in good faith of remuneration to any officer or employee of the Club (whether or not a member) in return for services rendered to the Club.
4. headquarters
The headquarters of the Club shall be situated at 14 Melvista Avenue, Nedlands, or other such premises as the Management Committee shall think fit.
5. members and guests
a) There shall be the following classes of persons who shall be eligible to play at the Club:
i) ordinary members
ii) honorary life members
iii) temporary members
iv) guests of members and visitors
References to “members” throughout this Constitution will include only ordinary members and honorary life members.
b) Ordinary Members
Application for ordinary membership shall be made on a written form completed by the applicant and placed by the Management Committee on a notice board in a conspicuous place on the Club premises for a period of not less than one month. After the notice has been so placed for one month, the application to be admitted to membership shall be considered by the Management Committee who may accept or reject the application. Ordinary members will be entitled to voting rights and will be eligible to hold office in the Club.
c) Honorary Life Members
i) The Management Committee may recommend to an annual general meeting for election to life membership such persons as have in the Management Committee’s opinion promoted the game of contract bridge whether by service, performance or monetary or other contributions.
ii) Honorary life members are eligible to hold office in the Club and shall be entitled to the same voting rights as ordinary members.
d) Temporary Members
The following persons, not otherwise being members of the Club shall be deemed to be temporary members and shall be entitled to play at the Club:
i) Persons who pay fees for preliminary bridge lessons conducted under the auspices of the Club on its premises during the periods of their lessons and such further period not exceeding six months.
ii) Persons who are members of any other bridge club.
e) Guests of Members and Visitors
i) An ordinary member or honorary life member shall be entitled to introduce up to 5 guests to the Club on any occasions. A guest or visitor shall not be supplied with liquor on Club premises unless on the invitation of and in the company of a member.
6. register of members
The Club shall keep a register of members.
7. fees
a) Entrance Fees
Entrance fees shall be determined from time to time by the Management Committee, provided that such fee shall not be less than two dollars ($2.00). Such fees shall be paid by the applicant for membership at the time of application for membership.
b) Subscriptions
Annual subscriptions shall be determined from time to time by the Management Committee provided that such fee will not be less than two dollars ($2.00). Annual subscriptions are payable in advance on the first day of January in each year. No person whose subscription is in arrears on the 28th day of February shall be entitled to the privileges of membership.
8. resignations
Any member wishing to resign from the Club shall give notice in writing to the President or Honorary Secretary to that effect and upon giving the said notice the member shall cease to be a member but without relieving him from any liability to the Club incurred prior to the giving of such notice.
9. expulsion
A member who infringes the Constitution or any rules, regulations or by-laws made hereunder or having in the opinion of the Management Committee been guilty of conduct prejudicial to the interests of the Club may be reprimanded, suspended or expelled by the Management Committee, in which case the name of such members will be expunged from the register. Such a member shall be entitled to appeal against action taken under this clause to a special general meeting of members.
10. meetings of members
The meetings of the Club shall be convened by the Honorary Secretary and shall be held as follows:
a) Annual General Meetings
The general meeting of the Club to be known as the “Annual General Meeting” shall be held in the month of March in each year at such time as the Committee may appoint. The purpose of and order of business of an Annual General Meeting shall be:
i) To receive and if thought fit adopt the report of the Management Committee
ii) To receive and if thought fit adopt the Balance Sheet and Income and Expenditure Account for the Club’s financial year ending on the preceding 31st December.
iii) To receive and if thought fit adopt the Treasurer’s Report and Auditor’s Report.
iv) To elect the Management Committee and Auditor for the ensuing year.
v) To transact such other business as is brought forward and of which notice shall have been given in accordance with the Constitution as if such business were business which might be dealt with at any other general meeting.
b) Other General Meetings
i) A general meeting other than the Annual General Meeting may be called by
a. Any twenty (20) ordinary members and honorary life members requisitioning a meeting; or
b. Four (4) members of the Management Committee requisitioning a meeting.
ii) Upon a general meeting being requisitioned the Honorary Secretary shall give notice to all members of the date of the meeting and the business to be discussed in the general meeting which business shall firstly be set out in the notice to the Honorary Secretary requisitioning the meeting.
iii) Fourteen (14) days notice shall be given of all general meetings other than general meeting to amend the Constitution for which twenty one (21) days notice shall be given.
c) At all general meetings of the Club:
i) The President shall be chairman of the meeting and in the absence of the President, the Vice President shall act as chairman.
ii) In the absence of both the President and the Vice President the meeting shall elect a chairman for that meeting.
iii) Each member shall be entitled to case one vote.
iv) Votes shall be recorded by secret ballot. Voting by proxy shall be prohibited.
v) The chairman at any meeting shall have a second or casting vote.
vi) Twenty (20) members of the Club who are present and who enjoy voting rights shall form a quorum. If a quorum is not present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for a general meeting the meeting shall lapse.
11. management committee
a) The business and general affairs of the Club shall be under the management and control of the Management Committee which may exercise all the powers of the Club as are not by the rules required to be exercised by the Club in general meeting.
The Management Committee shall hold such periodical meetings as it thinks fit, provided that not more than three (3) months shall elapse between each meeting, and minutes of the proceedings shall be entered into a minute book established for that purpose.
b) The Management Committee shall consist of the following:
President
Vice President
Honorary Secretary
Honorary Treasurer
Four members
c) The Management Committee shall be elected by the members at the Annual General Meeting and nominations for candidature for election shall be submitted to the Honorary Secretary in writing signed by the proposer and a seconder and endorsed by the candidate not less than seven (7) days before the Annual General Meeting.
d) Four members of the Management Committee shall form a quorum.
e) The President shall be chairman of the Management Committee and in the absence of the President, the Vice President shall act as chairman.
f) In the absence of both the President and Vice President the meeting shall elect a chairman for that meeting.
12. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Without limiting the power conferred upon the Management Committee by this Constitution the Management Committee shall have the power:
a) To lease, mortgage or charge any of the property or rights of the Club.
b) To determine who may sign bills, notes, receipts, endorsements, cheques, releases, contracts and documents on behalf of the Club.
c) To purchase lease or otherwise acquire for the Club any property, rights or privileges (including, without limitation, leases from any shire or local government authority) at such price (if any) and upon such other terms as may be thought fit.
d) To pay for any right or property acquired or any services rendered to the Club either wholly or partly in cash, or in debentures or securities charged upon all or any part of the present or future property of the Club.
e) To appoint and in its discretion to remove or suspend a person to be known as “Club Manager” and any other managers, officers, clerks, agents and employees for permanent, temporary or special services and to determine their duties and pay their salary and other emoluments provided that no such payment shall be made by way of commission or allowance from the receipts of the Club for liquor sold or supplied.
f) Subject always to the Liquor Act:
i) To exercise full control of the purchase of the supplies of liquor to the Club and the sale supply and disposal of such liquor.
ii) To nominate from time to time a person to be responsible as manager on behalf of the Club.
g) To institute, conduct, defend, compound or abandon any legal proceedings by or against the Club or otherwise concerning the affairs of the Club and allow time for payment or satisfaction of any debts due and of any claims or demands by or against the Club.
h) To refer any claims or demands by or against the Club to arbitration and perform and observe any award following such arbitration.
i) To invest and deal with any moneys of the Club not immediately required for the purpose of the Club upon such securities and in such manner as may be permitted by the law relating to the investment of trust funds.
j) To appoint any delegate or delegates to represent the Club for any purpose with such powers as may be within the powers exercisable by the Management Committee (other than this power of delegation) as may be thought fit.
k) To elect members.
l) To determine at any time or from time to time that any temporary members, guest or visitors is not eligible to play at the Club.
m) To make By-Laws not being inconsistent with this Constitution and at any time to repeal or amend any such By-Laws
n) To do such other things not being inconsistent with this Constitution to ensure the proper and efficient running of the Club including setting table money and bar prices.
o) To fill any casual vacancies on the Management Committee resulting from the resignation, death or removal from office of any of its members.
13. DUTIES OF THE MANAGER
a) The Management Committee may appoint a Manager who shall be remunerated and allowed expenses as the Management Committee may from time to time determine.
b) The Manager shall carry out duties as the Management Committee may from time to time determine and shall have custody of all documents belonging to the Club.
c) The Manager shall:
i) Keep the register of members.
ii) Attend to all correspondence.
iii) Collect and receive all moneys due to the Club and make all payments authorized by the Management Committee, pay into bank accounts which the Management Committee may from time to time nominate to the credit of the Club all moneys he may receive on account of the Club and keep correct accounts and books showing the financial affairs of the Club with full details of all receipts and disbursements and other particulars usually shown in books of account of a like nature and present periodical finance reports to the Management Committee together with all bank books or statements.
iv) Be responsible for the organization of duplicate games, competitions and other events, the posting of results, the allocation of master points, the organization of the teaching of contract bridge, the training of all tournament directors, the stocking of the bookshop and all other day to day business of the Club.
v) Exercise general supervision of the Club premises and property.
d) If a person appointed as Club Manager is also a member of the Club, his membership shall be suspended for such period as he holds the appointment of Club Manager, without payment of subscription pro rata for such period as he holds such appointment.
14. DUTIES OF THE HONORARY SECRETARY
The Honorary Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Club and Management Committee and shall record the minutes of meetings in books provided for that purpose. In the absence of the Honorary Secretary the Management Committee shall appoint a member to fulfil this function.
15. DUTIES OF THE HONORARY TREASURER
It shall be the duty of the Honorary Treasurer:
a) To see that correct accounts and books are kept showing the financial affairs of the Club and the particulars usually shown in books of like nature.
b) To ensure that all moneys due to the Club are recovered and paid into such bank account of the Club as the Management Committee may nominate and pay out all moneys approved for payment by the Management Committee.
c) To report at each meeting of the Management Committee upon the Club’s financial position and to advise at such meeting of default in payment of moneys to the Club being moneys due by way of annual subscription or otherwise.
d) To produce to each Annual General Meeting financial accounts for the financial year ending 31st December such financial accounts having been duly audited.
16. AUDITOR
a) There shall be an auditor of the Club who shall be elected at an Annual General Meeting of the Club and who shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting.
b) It shall be the duty of the auditor:
i) To audit the books and accounts of the Club in accordance with proper audit practice.
ii) To report to the Management Committee such matters as the auditor is required to report in accordance with proper audit practice.
iii) To report annually on the financial affairs of the Club after the completion of each Club financial year.
17. LICENCED PREMISES
The Club and its members shall at all times comply with the requirements of the Liquor Licencing Act 1988 and any requirements or limitation imposed upon the Club as a condition of the Club Licence by the Director of Liquor Licensing.
18. COMMON SEAL
a) The common seal of the Club shall be kept in the custody of the Manager at the Club premises and only be affixed to any deed, instrument or other document pursuant to a resolution of the Management Committee and not otherwise.
b) Every deed, instrument or other document to which the seal is affixed shall be signed by the President or Vice President and shall be countersigned by the Honorary Secretary or by the Honorary Treasurer.
c) The Honorary Secretary shall keep a seal register in which shall be recorded details of all documents to which the seal shall be affixed.
19. AMENDMENT AND REPEAL
a) This Constitution shall not be amended, altered or repealed nor the Club dissolved unless a resolution is passed by not less than two-thirds of the members present at a general meeting called for that specific purpose. Notice or intention to move for any such alternation, amendment, repeal or dissolution shall be given in writing to the Honorary Secretary at least twenty (28) days prior to the date of the meeting, and within seven (7) days thereafter a copy of such notice shall be sent by the Honorary Secretary to each member of the Club together with notice calling the meeting.
b) Within thirty days of the passing of a Special Resolution amending or altering the Constitution, the Management Committee shall lodge certified copies of such resolutions with:
i) The Commission of Corporate Affairs.
ii) The Director of Liquor Licensing in Western Australia.
c) No amendment of or alternation to the Constitution shall take effect until written approval has been received from the Director of Liquor Licensing in Western Australia.
20. DISSOLUTION
a) The Club may be dissolved or wound up by a resolution at any general meeting called for such purpose.
b) If upon the dissolution or winding up of the Club there remain after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities any property whatsoever it shall not be paid to or distributed among members of the Club but shall be given or transferred either:
i) To some other association having objects similar wholly or in part to the objects of the Club and which prohibits the distribution of its income and property among its members; or
ii) To some charitable object or objects; such association or charitable object shall be selected by the members of the Club at or before the time of dissolution or winding up provided that in default thereof or if and insofar as effect cannot be given to such determination then payment or distribution shall be made as directed by a Judge of the Supreme Court.
1. MEMBERSHIP ENTITLEMENTS
a) Attendance at all games and entitlement to enter all Club competitions.
b) A copy of the Constitution and Rules.
c) Access to the bookshop and a 10% discount on all purchases.
d) Use of the Club premises and coffee shop.
e) Access to teaching facilities at concessional rates.
f) Access to master point encouragement schemes.
g) Membership to the Bridge Association of Western Australia.
2. LAWS OF DUPLICATE BRIDGE
All players at all times must conform to the International Code of the Laws of Duplicate Bridge.
3. TABLE MONEYS
The player shall have the appropriate fee, to be decided from time to time by the Management Committee, ready for the collection at the beginning of duplicate sessions and at all other competitions. Concessions will be given to pensioners belonging to a particular group and to full-time students.
4. DISPUTES
All disputes shall be referred to the Tournament Director who shall ensure that they are dealt with according to the procedures laid down by the Bridge Association of WA Inc.
5. DISCIPLINARY PENALTIES
The Tournament Director, in addition to enforcing the Laws of Duplicate Bridge, should also assess disciplinary penalties for any offence that unduly delays or obstructs the game, inconveniences other players, violates correct procedure of requires the award of adjusted scores. Offences subject to disciplinary penalty include, but are not limited to the following:
a) Tardiness, including late arrival at the start of a session or failure to take seats promptly at a subsequent round.
b) Unduly slow play.
c) Comparing scores with other contestants during a session.
d) Touching or handling cards belonging to another player.
e) Placing one or more cards in an incorrect pocket of the board.
f) Any error in procedure (such as failure to count cards, playing wrong boards etc.) that requires an adjusted score for any player.
g) Failure to comply promptly with tournament regulations or with any instructions from the Tournament Director.
h) Failure to attend Club Competitions after having entered.
i) Any improper or discourteous behaviour.
6. SUSPENSION
A player who repeated fails to comply with these Rules may be suspended for three (3) months from Club competitions or may be subject to a three (3) month suspension from all Club activities.