Constitution
DOWNTON BOWLING CLUB
AMENDED JANUARY 2019
1. TITLE The Club shall be called Downton Bowling Club (hereinafter called the Club)
2. SITUATION The bowling green and club premises shall be sited within the parish of Downton and Charlton All Saints with Standlynch in the county of Wiltshire (the Parish).
3. OBJECTS The objects of the Club shall be to provide facilities for and to establish, promote and encourage the playing of the flat-green game of bowls in the Parish and in adjoining Parishes and to encourage the fellowship engendered by the game.
4. AFFILIATION The Club shall be affiliated to the Bowls England and Bowls Wiltshire and other such associations as may be deemed necessary.
5. TRUSTEES The property of the Club (other than cash, which shall be under the control of the Hon. Treasurer) shall be vested in three trustees who shall be appointed by the Management Committee (the trustees being the first trustees of the Club appointed by a General Meeting of the Club) The property of the Club shall be vested in them to be dealt with by them as the Management Committee may from time to time direct by resolution (of which an entry in the minute book shall be conclusive evidence). The trustees shall be indemnified against risk and expense out of Club property The trustees shall hold office until death or resignation or until removal from office by the Management Committee. Where by reason of such death, resignation or removal it is necessary that a new trustee or trustees be appointed, the Management Committee shall nominate the person or persons to be appointed the new trustee or trustees. For the purpose of giving such effect to such nomination the President of the Club is hereby nominated as the person to appoint the new trustees of the Club within the meaning of section 36 of the Trustees Act 1925 and he shall by deed duly appoint the person or persons so nominated by the Management Committee. Such trustees’s names are to be displayed on the Club noticeboard.
In the event of the closure of the Club, the trustees will dispose of all the Club’s assets and donate the proceeds to the Club’s two charities, namely Naomi House and Salisbury Hospice.
6. ADMINISTRATION
(a) Management of the Club shall be entrusted to a Management Committee comprising 16 (sixteen) members made up as follows:- President, Vice President, Immediate Past President, Hon. Secretary, Ladies Hon. Secretary, Hon. Match Secretary, Hon. Treasurer, Men’s Captain, Men’s Vice Captain, Ladies Captain, Ladies Vice Captain, Competition Secretary (herein after called the Officers) and four additional bowling club Members. All officers of the Club shall hold office for one year but may seek re-election. The officers shall be indemnified against risk and expense out of Club property. A quorum shall be 5 (five) members.
(b) On or before October 15th (fifteenth), of each year, nomination forms shall be posted on the Club notice board inviting nominations, from any fully paid up member of the Club, for Officers and Committee Members for the following year, commencing from the date of the Annual General Meeting. Nominations for Club officers and committee membership must be made 14 (fourteen) days prior to the notified date of the Annual General Meeting. All nominations must have the names of the proposer and seconder and the signature of the nominee signifying consent to the nomination. No bowling member of less than one year’s standing shall be eligible to stand as an officer of the Club or as member of the Management Committee
(c) All officers and committee members shall be elected in General Meeting, Any vacancy arising from death, resignation or any other cause shall be filled by the Management Committee until the following general meeting. When elected the committee members
(d) The Management Committee shall create such sub-committees as it considers necessary for the proper conduct of the Club’s business. Each sub-committee shall appoint its own chair who will be responsible for convening the sub-committee as necessary and shall report to the Management Committee on its proceedings and actions. The president and Hon Secretary shall be ex-officer members of all sub-committees and when the President is present he/she will preside over the meeting.
(e) The President, or in his/her absence the Vice President, shall preside at all General and Management meetings. If both are absent, a Chairperson shall be elected from those present at the meeting. All elected and co-opted members of the Management Committee may vote at any meeting they attend, either by a show of hands or by paper ballot as agreed. The Chairperson may in his/her own right as a member, give an original vote on any matter put to the vote and if there are an equal number of votes, he/she may use a casting vote as Chairperson.
(f) The Annual General Meeting will be held in the month of November in each year. At least 3 (three) weeks notice of any Annual General Meeting shall be distributed to every paid up bowling member of the Club, stating the business to be transacted and the place, date and time of such meeting. The quorum shall be 1/3rd (one third) of the full bowling members. The Management Committee shall have power to give notice of motion and make nominations and recommendations to the Annual General Meeting of the Club. Any member wishing to put forward a motion to the Annual General Meeting of the Club shall submit the exact text of the motion to the Hon. Secretary 3(three) weeks before the date of the Annual General Meeting, the motion being duly signed by the proposer and seconder. The following business shall be conducted at the Annual General Meeting: 1) Reports from the President, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer, Men’s Captain, Ladies Captain. 2) Presentation of the Club accounts duly audited. 3) Election of Club officers and committee. 4) Election of auditors. 5) Such other business as brought by the Management Committee.
(g) The Hon. Secretary shall call a Special General Meeting when, in the opinion of the Management Committee, there is a matter requiring urgent action or if a written request for such a meeting is made by 1/5th (one fifth) of the club’s full membership stating the reason for such a meeting. At least 7 (seven) days notice of any Special General Meeting shall be distributed to every paid-up member of the Club stating the business to be transacted and the place, date and time of such meeting.
(h) The following Standing Orders shall apply to all General Meetings of the Club:-
1) At the General Meetings the mover of a Motion, but not the mover of an Amendment, shall have the right to reply, immediately after which reply the question shall be put and a vote taken.
2) No other person shall be allowed to speak more than once on the same Motion, unless permission to explain is given by the Chairperson, or, in exceptional circumstances, by consent of a majority of three-fourths of those voting.
3) The mover of a Motion, when exercising his/her right to reply, shall not introduce new matters, but confine his/her reply to questions raised in the discussion.
4) The Seconder of a Motion or Amendment may do so formally, and exercise his/her right to speak at a later period of the discussion.
5) A direct negative to a Motion is not a legitimate Amendment.
6) All Amendments must be relevant to the Motion under discussion.
7) If an Amendment be negated then another Amendment may be moved to the Motion under discussion, but only one Amendment shall be submitted to the meeting at one time.
8) No member shall be permitted to move more than one Amendment upon the same motion.
9) Any member who has not already spoken may move that the question be now put, and on this being seconded by a like member, the Chairperson must take a vote, and if carried, the discussion ceases, and after the mover of the Motion has replied, the vote must be taken.
10) When a Motion has been submitted, “that the question is now put” and negatived it shall not be permissible for the same person to again move a similar Motion on the same question and no similar Motion shall be moved by any other person until a period of ten minutes has elapsed from the former vote.
11) No Motion on any matter not arising out of a report of the Management Committee shall be considered at any General Meeting unless specified on the Agenda.
(i) The Management Committee shall be convened at least every 2(two) months, at the discretion of the President and Hon. Secretary.
(j) The Hon. Secretary shall be responsible for acting in accordance with instructions of the Management Committee. He/she shall record the minutes of all General Meetings and Management Committee meetings. A copy of the Management Committee minutes when confirmed and signed, shall be displayed on the club notice board. He/she is to maintain a complete membership register of the Club and is responsible for the general administration of the Club activities in co-operation with the President and any sub-committee chairperson.
(k) The Hon. Treasurer shall be responsible for the collecting of all Club income and the payment of all Club expenses and report to the Club September each year.
(l) The Club s account(s) shall be opened with such bank(s) as the Management Committee shall, from time to time, decide, Cheques on such accounts shall be signed by the Hon. Treasurer, the Hon. Ladies Treasurer and one other Officer, other such Officer as the Committee may, from time to time, decide.
As a part of the function of the Management Committee, it may authorize any reasonable expenditure for the normal requirements of the Club, but shall not exceed the sum of £2500.
(m) All surplus income or profits are to be reinvested in the Club. No surpluses or assets will be distributed to members or third parties. (n) During the Club’s outdoor playing season there shall be a competition in memory of the Club Founder. The competition to be named “The Ralph Bentley Trophy”. The format of the competition to be laid down by the Management Committee.
7) HON. AUDITORS The Hon. Auditors shall not be members of the Management Committee and shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting. The Management Committee shall fill any vacancy in the office of Hon. Auditor which may occur between Annual General Meeting.
8) MEMBERSHIP Membership of the Club shall be open to all persons irrespective of ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or beliefs, or of age, sex or disability except as a necessary consequence of the requirements of Bowling as a particular sport. The Club may refuse membership or expel from membership only for good and sufficient cause, such as conduct or character likely to bring the Club or sport into disrepute. Appeal against such a decision may be made to the Club’s members and decided by a majority vote. Persons of either sex may be eligible for full membership provided that they are over 18 (eighteen) years of age. Young persons below the age of eighteen years may be elected as junior members without the right to hold office or exercise the power of voting. The Club accepts the directive of “Bowls England” designed to open the game to younger players. The subscription for a junior member is 50% (fifty percent) of the full membership subscription. Junior members who attain the age of 18 (eighteen) years shall become full members as from the following first of January. Persons who do not desire to and do not play the game of bowls shall be eligible to be elected Associate Members. Such members having paid the full Social Club subscription shall have such subscriptions allowed against their joining fees if they should wish to become full bowling members of the Club. Membership of the Club shall be limited to 120 (one hundred and twenty) full bowling members. This number to be held under review. Any member who has contributed to the well-being of the Club, beyond the call of duty, can be considered for Life Membership. The member must be proposed and seconded by two club members and the proposal presented to a life membership committee (comprising: President, Hon. Secretary and Hon. Treasurer) for approval. If approved the proposal shall be presented to the Management Committee who will vote on the proposal by secret ballot,
with the President having a casting vote if necessary. The number of active bowling life members shall be limited to a maximum of five at any one time. As for any member, Life Members may resign their membership by giving due notice in writing to the Hon. Secretary to that effect.
9. SUBSCRIPTIONS The Club shall in General Meeting annually review the subscriptions to be paid respectively by full bowling members, junior members and associate members. The joining fee will be reviewed if deemed necessary (Irrespective of the several mentions to joining fees in the Constitution, all joining fees are cancelled until further notice). The Club is an integral part of the Brian Whitehead Sports and Social Club and members of the bowling club are required to join the Social Club. For the convenience of Club members, the annual subscription to the Social Club is collected by the Hon. Treasurer as part of the annual subscription.
Prospective new Members applying for Full Membership must pay the full annual subscription with their Application. However, those applying for Membership who have not previously played bowls may be eligible for a discounted rate for their first year: all subscriptions for the following year are decided at the Club’s Annual General Meeting.
The subscription year finishes on 31st December each year. Payment of subscriptions, for the ensuing year, then becomes due. All subscriptions must be paid by 31st March of the calendar year. Any Members who have paid their subscriptions before March 31st qualify for a £5 discount. Members who do not pay their subs by 1st March may lose their right to membership if there is a waiting list of applicants to join the Club.
10. GUESTS AND TEMPORARY MEMBERS Playing guests may be introduced to the Club by full members who will be responsible for entering the guest’s name in the visitor’s book and ensuring that the guest pays the relevant green fee of £2. The introducing member shall be responsible for the guests’s behaviour both on the green and in the clubhouse and for their bowling ability. The same guest shall only be invited three times during any one bowling season. If the guest is invited to try bowling for the first time he/she may play once at no charge but must be signed in and is the full responsibility of the introducing member. Temporary membership can be made available by the Management Committee to visitors to the district for a period not exceeding 3 (three) months in any one calendar year, at a fee of 50% of the full bowling membership subscription. Such members shall not be able to take part in any Club or league competitions.
11. NEW MEMBERS Application forms for membership are available from the Hon. Secretary and the Club noticeboard, and when completed must be returned to the Secretary for processing. If membership of the Club is full the Hon. Secretary will inform the applicant that his/her name will be placed on a waiting list until a vacancy occurs. When there is a vacancy the Hon. Secretary will take the following actions:- a) Bring the application forward at the next Management Committee Meeting for consideration. b) Applicants with previous bowling experience will be asked to provide details of previous clubs so that the Hon. Secretary may make any enquiries as may be deemed necessary for the consideration of the applicant. c) Write to the applicant giving the result of the Management Committee d) Introduce the applicant to the Club coach so that arrangements can be made for coaching as necessary. e) Arrange for the applicant to meet the Club President and either Men’s or Ladies Captain f) When the application is accepted, the joining fee becomes due. This should be paid to the Club Hon. Treasurer. 12. RESIGNATION OF MEMBERS Any member may resign their membership by giving due notice in writing to the Hon. Secretary to that effect. Such notice, unless otherwise expressed, shall take effect from 31st December following its receipt. Remittance made under Club rule 9 cannot be reclaimed.
13. SUSPENSION / EXPULSION OF MEMBERS Any member deemed to have intentionally infringed the Club rules, or to have persistently acted in a manner detrimental to the best interests of the Club, shall be so informed and invited to answer to the charge, received in writing, at a special meeting of the Management Committee. If such a person refuses to attend, or fails to give a satisfactory explanation, a resolution to suspend or expel him/her shall be effected if carried by a majority vote. Any member so suspended or expelled shall have the right to appeal to a Special General Meeting to be summoned within 21 (twenty one) days of their suspension/expulsion, when a majority of 2/3rds (two thirds) of the members present shall be required to confirm the suspension/expulsion. If the suspension/expulsion is not confirmed the member shall be re-instated.
14. EFFECT OF CEASING TO BE A MEMBER Any person shall, upon ceasing to be a member of the Club, forfeit all rights in the Club.
15. CLUB PROPERTY No member shall take away or permit to be taken away from the Club premises under any pretext whatever, or shall injure or destroy any property of the club.
16. COMPLAINTS All complaints shall be made in writing to the Hon. Secretary who, if unable to deal with the matter, shall submit them to the Management Committee whose decision shall be final. In no instance shall a paid employee of the Club be reprimanded directly by a member.
17. LAWS OF THE GAME Club games and competitions which shall be organized by the Management Committee shall be played under the laws of “Bowls England”, “Bowls Wiltshire” and the international Bowling Board.
18. TEAM SELECTION The selection committee shall consist of:- Men: Men’s Captain, Men’s Vice Captain and one other selected at a men’s meeting Ladies matches: Ladies Captain, Ladies Vice Captain plus one lady member appointed at their Annual Meeting. Mixed matches: Combination of the above with the President acting as Chairman.
The selection committee shall be required to:-
a) Select for each match, teams which in their best opinion are the best available, and serve the best interests of the Club.
b ) Publish such teams selected.
c) Select as required individual players, teams or recommend players, to play in Representative Matches of parent associations.
d) Allocate handicaps in the event of handicap competitions being arranged. All games and matches shall be open to all members to place their names on an availability list for selection whenever this is possible. The Club has adopted the principle of League Captains wherever they may be required, to
be used by the Men’s Captain and Ladies Captain as they judge. The Mixed Triple League shall be organized and selected separately to the normal Club arrangements. The club member responsible for this task to be nominated and approved by the Management Committee. In the event of there being no member available for the task it will revert to being the responsibility of the Club Selection Committee. This in no way usurps the responsibility or authority of the Club President, the Men’s Captain or the Ladies Captain.
19. AMENDMENTS OF CONSTITUTION AND RULES The Management Committee may, between Annual General Meetings, make such changes to the Constitution as they may deem necessary for the well-being of the Club. Such changes shall be acted upon and remain in force until the next Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting, whichever is the sooner, when such changes shall be put and voted on for inclusion in the Constitution, or rejected and removed. No other addition or alteration to the Constitution shall be made except by resolution at an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting and provided that no such resolution shall be deemed to have been passed unless it has been carried by a majority of at least 2/3rds (two thirds) of the full bowling members voting thereon. Changes to the Club rules may be made by a majority decision of the Management Committee and will be notified to members through the minutes of Management Committee Meetings in the usual way.
20. CONDUCT The members’ obligations to their club and its Officers, to other Members and to the green (including dress code and etiquette), shall be as laid down by the Bowls England booklet – “A Guide to New Bowlers”.
21. DOWNTON LADIES BOWLING SECTION In accordance with the Club Constitution as a mixed club, the ladies, as required by Bowls England and Bowls Wiltshire, shall hold an autonomous section within the club. This section has its own Secretary, Treasurer and Captain. It also carries its own finance and is governed by its own committee. The ladies section will call its own meetings and its own Annual General Meeting to elect its own officers. The Ladies Vice Captain automatically becomes Ladies Captain in the year following the year of her election as Ladies Vice Captain, unless she expresses a wish not to do so. The Ladies Hon. Secretary and the Ladies Captain automatically become members of the Management Committee but may not be an officer of both committees at the same time. The Ladies Section may draft rules to govern themselves provided that these rules do not contravene anything within the confines of the Club Constitution. They may also draft proposals and recommendations for consideration by the Management Committee.
DOWNTON BOWLING CLUB TRUSTEES
1. Mr. Alan Waters
2. Mrs. Ann Galpin
3. Mr. Mike Hallam
ADDENDUM – BOWLS WILTSHIRE REQUEST FOR COMPLIANCE WITH BOWLS ENGLAND R & R
AMENDED JANUARY 2019
1. TITLE The Club shall be called Downton Bowling Club (hereinafter called the Club)
2. SITUATION The bowling green and club premises shall be sited within the parish of Downton and Charlton All Saints with Standlynch in the county of Wiltshire (the Parish).
3. OBJECTS The objects of the Club shall be to provide facilities for and to establish, promote and encourage the playing of the flat-green game of bowls in the Parish and in adjoining Parishes and to encourage the fellowship engendered by the game.
4. AFFILIATION The Club shall be affiliated to the Bowls England and Bowls Wiltshire and other such associations as may be deemed necessary.
5. TRUSTEES The property of the Club (other than cash, which shall be under the control of the Hon. Treasurer) shall be vested in three trustees who shall be appointed by the Management Committee (the trustees being the first trustees of the Club appointed by a General Meeting of the Club) The property of the Club shall be vested in them to be dealt with by them as the Management Committee may from time to time direct by resolution (of which an entry in the minute book shall be conclusive evidence). The trustees shall be indemnified against risk and expense out of Club property The trustees shall hold office until death or resignation or until removal from office by the Management Committee. Where by reason of such death, resignation or removal it is necessary that a new trustee or trustees be appointed, the Management Committee shall nominate the person or persons to be appointed the new trustee or trustees. For the purpose of giving such effect to such nomination the President of the Club is hereby nominated as the person to appoint the new trustees of the Club within the meaning of section 36 of the Trustees Act 1925 and he shall by deed duly appoint the person or persons so nominated by the Management Committee. Such trustees’s names are to be displayed on the Club noticeboard.
In the event of the closure of the Club, the trustees will dispose of all the Club’s assets and donate the proceeds to the Club’s two charities, namely Naomi House and Salisbury Hospice.
6. ADMINISTRATION
(a) Management of the Club shall be entrusted to a Management Committee comprising 16 (sixteen) members made up as follows:- President, Vice President, Immediate Past President, Hon. Secretary, Ladies Hon. Secretary, Hon. Match Secretary, Hon. Treasurer, Men’s Captain, Men’s Vice Captain, Ladies Captain, Ladies Vice Captain, Competition Secretary (herein after called the Officers) and four additional bowling club Members. All officers of the Club shall hold office for one year but may seek re-election. The officers shall be indemnified against risk and expense out of Club property. A quorum shall be 5 (five) members.
(b) On or before October 15th (fifteenth), of each year, nomination forms shall be posted on the Club notice board inviting nominations, from any fully paid up member of the Club, for Officers and Committee Members for the following year, commencing from the date of the Annual General Meeting. Nominations for Club officers and committee membership must be made 14 (fourteen) days prior to the notified date of the Annual General Meeting. All nominations must have the names of the proposer and seconder and the signature of the nominee signifying consent to the nomination. No bowling member of less than one year’s standing shall be eligible to stand as an officer of the Club or as member of the Management Committee
(c) All officers and committee members shall be elected in General Meeting, Any vacancy arising from death, resignation or any other cause shall be filled by the Management Committee until the following general meeting. When elected the committee members
(d) The Management Committee shall create such sub-committees as it considers necessary for the proper conduct of the Club’s business. Each sub-committee shall appoint its own chair who will be responsible for convening the sub-committee as necessary and shall report to the Management Committee on its proceedings and actions. The president and Hon Secretary shall be ex-officer members of all sub-committees and when the President is present he/she will preside over the meeting.
(e) The President, or in his/her absence the Vice President, shall preside at all General and Management meetings. If both are absent, a Chairperson shall be elected from those present at the meeting. All elected and co-opted members of the Management Committee may vote at any meeting they attend, either by a show of hands or by paper ballot as agreed. The Chairperson may in his/her own right as a member, give an original vote on any matter put to the vote and if there are an equal number of votes, he/she may use a casting vote as Chairperson.
(f) The Annual General Meeting will be held in the month of November in each year. At least 3 (three) weeks notice of any Annual General Meeting shall be distributed to every paid up bowling member of the Club, stating the business to be transacted and the place, date and time of such meeting. The quorum shall be 1/3rd (one third) of the full bowling members. The Management Committee shall have power to give notice of motion and make nominations and recommendations to the Annual General Meeting of the Club. Any member wishing to put forward a motion to the Annual General Meeting of the Club shall submit the exact text of the motion to the Hon. Secretary 3(three) weeks before the date of the Annual General Meeting, the motion being duly signed by the proposer and seconder. The following business shall be conducted at the Annual General Meeting: 1) Reports from the President, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer, Men’s Captain, Ladies Captain. 2) Presentation of the Club accounts duly audited. 3) Election of Club officers and committee. 4) Election of auditors. 5) Such other business as brought by the Management Committee.
(g) The Hon. Secretary shall call a Special General Meeting when, in the opinion of the Management Committee, there is a matter requiring urgent action or if a written request for such a meeting is made by 1/5th (one fifth) of the club’s full membership stating the reason for such a meeting. At least 7 (seven) days notice of any Special General Meeting shall be distributed to every paid-up member of the Club stating the business to be transacted and the place, date and time of such meeting.
(h) The following Standing Orders shall apply to all General Meetings of the Club:-
1) At the General Meetings the mover of a Motion, but not the mover of an Amendment, shall have the right to reply, immediately after which reply the question shall be put and a vote taken.
2) No other person shall be allowed to speak more than once on the same Motion, unless permission to explain is given by the Chairperson, or, in exceptional circumstances, by consent of a majority of three-fourths of those voting.
3) The mover of a Motion, when exercising his/her right to reply, shall not introduce new matters, but confine his/her reply to questions raised in the discussion.
4) The Seconder of a Motion or Amendment may do so formally, and exercise his/her right to speak at a later period of the discussion.
5) A direct negative to a Motion is not a legitimate Amendment.
6) All Amendments must be relevant to the Motion under discussion.
7) If an Amendment be negated then another Amendment may be moved to the Motion under discussion, but only one Amendment shall be submitted to the meeting at one time.
8) No member shall be permitted to move more than one Amendment upon the same motion.
9) Any member who has not already spoken may move that the question be now put, and on this being seconded by a like member, the Chairperson must take a vote, and if carried, the discussion ceases, and after the mover of the Motion has replied, the vote must be taken.
10) When a Motion has been submitted, “that the question is now put” and negatived it shall not be permissible for the same person to again move a similar Motion on the same question and no similar Motion shall be moved by any other person until a period of ten minutes has elapsed from the former vote.
11) No Motion on any matter not arising out of a report of the Management Committee shall be considered at any General Meeting unless specified on the Agenda.
(i) The Management Committee shall be convened at least every 2(two) months, at the discretion of the President and Hon. Secretary.
(j) The Hon. Secretary shall be responsible for acting in accordance with instructions of the Management Committee. He/she shall record the minutes of all General Meetings and Management Committee meetings. A copy of the Management Committee minutes when confirmed and signed, shall be displayed on the club notice board. He/she is to maintain a complete membership register of the Club and is responsible for the general administration of the Club activities in co-operation with the President and any sub-committee chairperson.
(k) The Hon. Treasurer shall be responsible for the collecting of all Club income and the payment of all Club expenses and report to the Club September each year.
(l) The Club s account(s) shall be opened with such bank(s) as the Management Committee shall, from time to time, decide, Cheques on such accounts shall be signed by the Hon. Treasurer, the Hon. Ladies Treasurer and one other Officer, other such Officer as the Committee may, from time to time, decide.
As a part of the function of the Management Committee, it may authorize any reasonable expenditure for the normal requirements of the Club, but shall not exceed the sum of £2500.
(m) All surplus income or profits are to be reinvested in the Club. No surpluses or assets will be distributed to members or third parties. (n) During the Club’s outdoor playing season there shall be a competition in memory of the Club Founder. The competition to be named “The Ralph Bentley Trophy”. The format of the competition to be laid down by the Management Committee.
7) HON. AUDITORS The Hon. Auditors shall not be members of the Management Committee and shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting. The Management Committee shall fill any vacancy in the office of Hon. Auditor which may occur between Annual General Meeting.
8) MEMBERSHIP Membership of the Club shall be open to all persons irrespective of ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or beliefs, or of age, sex or disability except as a necessary consequence of the requirements of Bowling as a particular sport. The Club may refuse membership or expel from membership only for good and sufficient cause, such as conduct or character likely to bring the Club or sport into disrepute. Appeal against such a decision may be made to the Club’s members and decided by a majority vote. Persons of either sex may be eligible for full membership provided that they are over 18 (eighteen) years of age. Young persons below the age of eighteen years may be elected as junior members without the right to hold office or exercise the power of voting. The Club accepts the directive of “Bowls England” designed to open the game to younger players. The subscription for a junior member is 50% (fifty percent) of the full membership subscription. Junior members who attain the age of 18 (eighteen) years shall become full members as from the following first of January. Persons who do not desire to and do not play the game of bowls shall be eligible to be elected Associate Members. Such members having paid the full Social Club subscription shall have such subscriptions allowed against their joining fees if they should wish to become full bowling members of the Club. Membership of the Club shall be limited to 120 (one hundred and twenty) full bowling members. This number to be held under review. Any member who has contributed to the well-being of the Club, beyond the call of duty, can be considered for Life Membership. The member must be proposed and seconded by two club members and the proposal presented to a life membership committee (comprising: President, Hon. Secretary and Hon. Treasurer) for approval. If approved the proposal shall be presented to the Management Committee who will vote on the proposal by secret ballot,
with the President having a casting vote if necessary. The number of active bowling life members shall be limited to a maximum of five at any one time. As for any member, Life Members may resign their membership by giving due notice in writing to the Hon. Secretary to that effect.
9. SUBSCRIPTIONS The Club shall in General Meeting annually review the subscriptions to be paid respectively by full bowling members, junior members and associate members. The joining fee will be reviewed if deemed necessary (Irrespective of the several mentions to joining fees in the Constitution, all joining fees are cancelled until further notice). The Club is an integral part of the Brian Whitehead Sports and Social Club and members of the bowling club are required to join the Social Club. For the convenience of Club members, the annual subscription to the Social Club is collected by the Hon. Treasurer as part of the annual subscription.
Prospective new Members applying for Full Membership must pay the full annual subscription with their Application. However, those applying for Membership who have not previously played bowls may be eligible for a discounted rate for their first year: all subscriptions for the following year are decided at the Club’s Annual General Meeting.
The subscription year finishes on 31st December each year. Payment of subscriptions, for the ensuing year, then becomes due. All subscriptions must be paid by 31st March of the calendar year. Any Members who have paid their subscriptions before March 31st qualify for a £5 discount. Members who do not pay their subs by 1st March may lose their right to membership if there is a waiting list of applicants to join the Club.
10. GUESTS AND TEMPORARY MEMBERS Playing guests may be introduced to the Club by full members who will be responsible for entering the guest’s name in the visitor’s book and ensuring that the guest pays the relevant green fee of £2. The introducing member shall be responsible for the guests’s behaviour both on the green and in the clubhouse and for their bowling ability. The same guest shall only be invited three times during any one bowling season. If the guest is invited to try bowling for the first time he/she may play once at no charge but must be signed in and is the full responsibility of the introducing member. Temporary membership can be made available by the Management Committee to visitors to the district for a period not exceeding 3 (three) months in any one calendar year, at a fee of 50% of the full bowling membership subscription. Such members shall not be able to take part in any Club or league competitions.
11. NEW MEMBERS Application forms for membership are available from the Hon. Secretary and the Club noticeboard, and when completed must be returned to the Secretary for processing. If membership of the Club is full the Hon. Secretary will inform the applicant that his/her name will be placed on a waiting list until a vacancy occurs. When there is a vacancy the Hon. Secretary will take the following actions:- a) Bring the application forward at the next Management Committee Meeting for consideration. b) Applicants with previous bowling experience will be asked to provide details of previous clubs so that the Hon. Secretary may make any enquiries as may be deemed necessary for the consideration of the applicant. c) Write to the applicant giving the result of the Management Committee d) Introduce the applicant to the Club coach so that arrangements can be made for coaching as necessary. e) Arrange for the applicant to meet the Club President and either Men’s or Ladies Captain f) When the application is accepted, the joining fee becomes due. This should be paid to the Club Hon. Treasurer. 12. RESIGNATION OF MEMBERS Any member may resign their membership by giving due notice in writing to the Hon. Secretary to that effect. Such notice, unless otherwise expressed, shall take effect from 31st December following its receipt. Remittance made under Club rule 9 cannot be reclaimed.
13. SUSPENSION / EXPULSION OF MEMBERS Any member deemed to have intentionally infringed the Club rules, or to have persistently acted in a manner detrimental to the best interests of the Club, shall be so informed and invited to answer to the charge, received in writing, at a special meeting of the Management Committee. If such a person refuses to attend, or fails to give a satisfactory explanation, a resolution to suspend or expel him/her shall be effected if carried by a majority vote. Any member so suspended or expelled shall have the right to appeal to a Special General Meeting to be summoned within 21 (twenty one) days of their suspension/expulsion, when a majority of 2/3rds (two thirds) of the members present shall be required to confirm the suspension/expulsion. If the suspension/expulsion is not confirmed the member shall be re-instated.
14. EFFECT OF CEASING TO BE A MEMBER Any person shall, upon ceasing to be a member of the Club, forfeit all rights in the Club.
15. CLUB PROPERTY No member shall take away or permit to be taken away from the Club premises under any pretext whatever, or shall injure or destroy any property of the club.
16. COMPLAINTS All complaints shall be made in writing to the Hon. Secretary who, if unable to deal with the matter, shall submit them to the Management Committee whose decision shall be final. In no instance shall a paid employee of the Club be reprimanded directly by a member.
17. LAWS OF THE GAME Club games and competitions which shall be organized by the Management Committee shall be played under the laws of “Bowls England”, “Bowls Wiltshire” and the international Bowling Board.
18. TEAM SELECTION The selection committee shall consist of:- Men: Men’s Captain, Men’s Vice Captain and one other selected at a men’s meeting Ladies matches: Ladies Captain, Ladies Vice Captain plus one lady member appointed at their Annual Meeting. Mixed matches: Combination of the above with the President acting as Chairman.
The selection committee shall be required to:-
a) Select for each match, teams which in their best opinion are the best available, and serve the best interests of the Club.
b ) Publish such teams selected.
c) Select as required individual players, teams or recommend players, to play in Representative Matches of parent associations.
d) Allocate handicaps in the event of handicap competitions being arranged. All games and matches shall be open to all members to place their names on an availability list for selection whenever this is possible. The Club has adopted the principle of League Captains wherever they may be required, to
be used by the Men’s Captain and Ladies Captain as they judge. The Mixed Triple League shall be organized and selected separately to the normal Club arrangements. The club member responsible for this task to be nominated and approved by the Management Committee. In the event of there being no member available for the task it will revert to being the responsibility of the Club Selection Committee. This in no way usurps the responsibility or authority of the Club President, the Men’s Captain or the Ladies Captain.
19. AMENDMENTS OF CONSTITUTION AND RULES The Management Committee may, between Annual General Meetings, make such changes to the Constitution as they may deem necessary for the well-being of the Club. Such changes shall be acted upon and remain in force until the next Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting, whichever is the sooner, when such changes shall be put and voted on for inclusion in the Constitution, or rejected and removed. No other addition or alteration to the Constitution shall be made except by resolution at an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting and provided that no such resolution shall be deemed to have been passed unless it has been carried by a majority of at least 2/3rds (two thirds) of the full bowling members voting thereon. Changes to the Club rules may be made by a majority decision of the Management Committee and will be notified to members through the minutes of Management Committee Meetings in the usual way.
20. CONDUCT The members’ obligations to their club and its Officers, to other Members and to the green (including dress code and etiquette), shall be as laid down by the Bowls England booklet – “A Guide to New Bowlers”.
21. DOWNTON LADIES BOWLING SECTION In accordance with the Club Constitution as a mixed club, the ladies, as required by Bowls England and Bowls Wiltshire, shall hold an autonomous section within the club. This section has its own Secretary, Treasurer and Captain. It also carries its own finance and is governed by its own committee. The ladies section will call its own meetings and its own Annual General Meeting to elect its own officers. The Ladies Vice Captain automatically becomes Ladies Captain in the year following the year of her election as Ladies Vice Captain, unless she expresses a wish not to do so. The Ladies Hon. Secretary and the Ladies Captain automatically become members of the Management Committee but may not be an officer of both committees at the same time. The Ladies Section may draft rules to govern themselves provided that these rules do not contravene anything within the confines of the Club Constitution. They may also draft proposals and recommendations for consideration by the Management Committee.
DOWNTON BOWLING CLUB TRUSTEES
1. Mr. Alan Waters
2. Mrs. Ann Galpin
3. Mr. Mike Hallam
ADDENDUM – BOWLS WILTSHIRE REQUEST FOR COMPLIANCE WITH BOWLS ENGLAND R & R