Constitution

1. Name
The Club will be called Carr Lane Bowls Club hereafter referred to as the Club

2. Aims and objectives
The aims and objectives of the Club will be: To foster and promote the sport of lawn bowls at all levels, providing opportunities for recreation and competition.

3. Membership.
Membership of the club shall be available to any person regardless of race, age, gender, sexual orientation. religious beliefs or physical/mental ability providing they complete a membership application form, which is approved by the Management Committee, and pay the relevant subscription fee as determined by the Club.
The following categories of membership shall exist:
• Full Members shall be playing members over the age of 18.
• Junior Member shall be playing members under the age of 18.
• Social Members shall be non-competitive playing members.

All members will be subject to the regulations of the constitution and by joining the Club will be deemed to accept these regulations and codes of practice that the Club has adopted.
Candidates applying for membership must do so by completing the appropriate form and must be proposed and seconded by existing club members of at least one years standing
Completed forms must be returned to the Club Secretary. Any objection to the applying member must be made in writing giving good reason. Any such objections must be considered by the Management Committee whose decision is final. Such application will be presented at the next committee meeting for formal acceptance subject to there being a vacancy. Should there be a limit imposed the applicant will be placed on a waiting list and offered membership when a vacancy arises. Club subscriptions payable by such new members will be proportionate to the time of joining. Junior Members and Social Members may attend General Meetings but are not eligible to vote.

4. Membership Fees
Membership fees will be set annually and agreed by the Management Committee or determined at the Annual General Meeting. This is to apply to all categories of membership. The annual subscription is due and payable by 31st January each year, prior to the commencement of the season. All members with the exception of Junior Members must also be fully paid up members of the Carr Lane Social Club at this time. Any member whose subscription is in arrears on the 1st March shall forfeit the privilege of membership and shall not be eligible for re-election until arrears are paid. He/she will accept the decision of the Management Committee as final.

5. Election of Officers
All officers of the Club shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of The Club, from and by the members and must also be a fully paid up member. All officers of the Club shall retire each year but will be eligible for re-appointment..
The Management Committee has the right to co-opt officers until the next AGM if deemed necessary.

6. Officers at the Club
The Officers of the Club will be:
Management
• Chairperson – co-ordinator
• Club Secretary – responsible for the administration, correspondence and organising club competitions/Grimsby & District competitions.
• Treasurer – responsible for financial control
• Fixture Secretary – responsible for arranging club fixtures initially and rearranging matches that are cancelled during the season.
• Social Secretary – co-ordinator of all social events, friendlies and fundraisers within the Club.
• Safeguarding Officer – Ensuring that the club’s safeguarding policy is kept up to date. Ensure the safety & wellbeing of anyone who has been subject to abuse or neglect.
• 3 x Ordinary Members
Non-Management
• Team Captains
• Club County Secretary
• Web Site Manager
• Groundsman

7. Duties of the Management Committee
To control the affairs of The Club on behalf of the members.
To keep accurate accounts of the finances of The Club through the Treasurer. These should be available for reasonable inspection by the members.
To co-opt additional members onto the Management Committee as the Management Committee feels necessary. Co-opted members shall not be entitled to vote at committee meetings, unless they have been co-opted into a vacant Officer’s role.
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. The Management Committee will meet at agreed intervals and not less than six times a year. A quorum of at least three voting members will be required in order for a meeting to be valid.
Any vacancy within the committee shall be filled from the ordinary membership and agreed by the committee.
No member of the committee shall receive remuneration from the Club in money or money’s worth with the exception of out of pocket expenses.
The Chairperson shall have the power to call special meetings open to all members and can be held for the purposes of altering the constitution and for considering any matter which should be referred to the members in general. The Chairperson should call a special meeting at the request of not less than two committee members or not less than five ordinary members.
The Chairperson and all officers of the Management Committee shall hold office until the conclusion of the AGM.
The Management Committee will be responsible for disciplinary hearings of members who infringe the club rules / regulations / constitution.
The Management Committee will be responsible for taking any action of suspension or discipline following such hearings.

8. Sub-Committee
The Management Committee may appoint sub-committees for special purposes. Sub-committees shall have the power to co-opt additional persons as and when required

9. Finance
All Club monies will be banked in an account held in the name of the Club.
The Club Treasurer will be responsible for the finances of the club.
The financial year will run from 1st September – 31st August each year. A statement of annual accounts will be presented by the Treasurer at the Annual General Meeting.
Any cheques drawn against Club funds should hold the signatures of any two of the following: Chairperson, Secretary or Treasurer.
An independent financial examiner elected by the committee shall examine the accounts annually.

10. General Meetings
The Annual General Meeting shall be held no later than the end of September each year. Twenty one clear days written notice shall be given to Members of the Annual General Meeting by circulating a copy of the notice to every member and posting the notice on the Club notice board.
Members must advise the Secretary in writing of any business to be considered at the AGM, at least fourteen days before the meeting. The Secretary shall circulate or give notice of the Agenda for the meeting to the Members, not less than seven days before the meeting.
The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be to:
• Confirm the minutes of the previous AGM and any General Meetings held since the last AGM.
• Receive and approve the accounts for the previous year from the Treasurer.
• Receive the annual report of the Management Committee from the Secretary.
• Elect the Officers and Management Committee Members of the Club.
• Transact such other business received in writing by the Secretary from the members and included on the Agenda. Any Other Business is entirely at the discretion of the Chairperson.Special Committee Meetings and Extraordinary General Meetings may be convened by the Management Committee or on receipt by the Secretary of a request in writing from not less than fifteen members of the Club. At least twenty-one days’ notice of the meeting must be given.
The Club Secretary shall display on the club notice board, at least six weeks before the AGM, a form requesting nominations for positions within the club (Officers and Team Captains) to be voted for at the AGM. All candidates for these positions must be proposed and seconded by two full club members. The proposer and seconder must enter their names on the form, which must be signed by the candidate to indicate his/her acceptance of nomination. This form will be removed by the Secretary two weeks before the AGM. Every member, except where this constitution provides otherwise, shall be determined by a majority of members present and voting. A poll can be requested if requested by more than three members.
In the event of equal votes the Chairperson shall be entitled to a casting vote.
A quorum for a General Meeting shall be a minimum of fifteen members of the voting membership.

11. Alterations to the Constitution
Any proposed alterations to the Club’s Constitution may only be considered at an Annual or Special General Meeting convened with the required written notice of the proposal. Any alteration or amendment must be duly proposed and seconded. Such alterations shall be passed if supported by not less than two thirds of those voting members present at the meeting assuming that a quorum has been achieved.

12. Conduct
Any member acting in a way which can be considered detrimental to the interest of the Club, or which can be considered a breach of these rules, or can be considered likely to endanger the welfare or good order of the Club, or whose conduct is, in the opinion of the Management Committee, such that it is prejudicial to the interests of the Club or injurious to its reputation. The complaint should be in writing and verified by the person or persons making that complaint. That member shall:
a) Be sent a letter outlining the complaint against him/her and invited to appear before the Management Committee to account for their alleged action. The Secretary will give at least seven clear days’ notice in writing or by email to the member concerned.
b) Should the member concerned fail to appear without giving an acceptable reason for his/her absence the appropriate Management Committee will deal with the case and the member informed of the committee’s decision.
c) In the event of a further complaint being made against the person he or she will be asked to appear before the full Management Committee having again been given at least seven days’ notice.
d) If the Management Committee upholds the complaint the committee may suspend the individual’s membership for a period they decide or notify the member that their membership has been terminated. Such member shall have the right to appeal to a Special Meeting of the Club Management Committee within fourteen days of being so notified.
e) The member concerned will be entitled to representation of one Full Member in addition to themselves.

13. Carr Lane Social Club
Any matters not dealt with by the constitution shall be referred to the Executive Committee of the Carr Lane Social Club for guidance and action if considered necessary.

14. Dissolution
The committee may be dissolved by a resolution passed by a majority of members present and voting at a Special Meeting convened for the purpose. Any assets remaining after the settling of debts and liabilities shall be passed to the Management Committee of the Carr Lane Social Club to be applied towards similar establishments which have similar aims to those of the committee or alternatively towards a nominated charitable body.
Such distribution to be decided and approved by the aforesaid majority.