Name
The club shall be called the Easingwold Bridge Club

Objects
The primary objective of the club shall be to provide facilities for members and visitors to play Duplicate Bridge in a friendly, informal and relaxed atmosphere; secondary aims are to ensure that the club thrives and that playing standards continue to improve.

Membership
Membership of the club shall be unrestricted. The committee shall be empowered to remove any member’s name from the membership list if it considers that his behaviour is unacceptably detrimental to the friendly atmosphere of the club. Any fully paid up member may invite a guest to play at the club on payment of the agreed guest table money. In addition, the club would welcome any visiting bridge players.

Management
The club shall be managed by a committee of members comprising the offices of Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Members' Representative. A new committee shall be elected at each year’s Annual General Meeting. Any officer may stand for re-election, but none may hold his position for more than three consecutive years. There must be a gap of one year before a member can resume Committee Membership.

A committee quorum shall consist of three members including the Chairman or his appointed deputy. Decisions shall be made by a simple majority vote. The Chairman or his appointed deputy shall have the casting vote in the event of a tied ballot. The committee quorum for making financial decisions must include the Treasurer.

The committee shall be empowered to form one or more sub-committees (which my include non-committee members but which must include at least one committee member).

Subscriptions
Annual subscriptions and table money shall be decided by the membership, at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), following a recommendation by the committee. Annual subscriptions are due for payment in full by 31 October.

Accounts
The financial year of the Club runs from 1st September to 31st August in the following year. The Treasurer shall prepare a simple statement of accounts as soon as practicable after the end of the financial year. Following audit, these will be presented to all members of the club at the AGM. The club shall, at the AGM, elect an Honorary Auditor whose remit shall be to audit the accounts prepared by the Treasurer.

The committee is empowered to open a bank or building society account for the deposit of the club’s funds. Cheques and authorities for withdrawal shall be signed by any two from three members, one of whom shall be the Treasurer, the others named by the committee.

Meetings
Annual General Meeting (AGM)
An AGM shall be held each year, not later than four weeks after the end of the financial year. Notice of the AGM shall be given to all members at least 21 days before the meeting, stating when and where it will take place and what business will be conducted. The quorum shall be one third of the current membership.

The business of the AGM shall be to receive reports from the Chairman and Treasurer, to adopt the accounts and to fill any vacancies on the Committee. The meeting will also deal with any other matter which the Committee may wish to bring before the members, and with any matters raised by the members themselves. As far as is practicable, such matters should be communicated to the Secretary in writing before the meeting. Their content will then be circulated as propositions to the members and included in the notice of the meeting.

Nominations for vacant places on the Committee, duty proposed and seconded, must be given to the Secretary in writing at least 7 days before the AGM. If the number of candidates exceeds the number of vacant places, a vote will be taken at the AGM.

The Chairman (or in his absence the Vice Chairman, or any other member elected by the meeting) shall preside over the AGM. He shall have the casting vote in the event of a tied ballot. Voting shall be by majority decision, by show of hands, except for elections to the committee, which shall be by secret ballot.

Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM)
An EGM may be called by the committee at any time for the purpose of making decisions or approving resolutions that, in the opinion of the committee, need the approval of the membership.

Any member of the club may instruct the Chairman or Secretary to convene an Extraordinary General Meeting at any time provided:

1. The instruction is given in writing.

2. The instruction letter contains full details of the purpose of the meeting, including any proposals or resolutions to be put to the meeting.

3. The instruction letter is signed by a proposer and seconder and eight other members of the club

The Chairman or Secretary must convene such an EGM within six weeks of receipt of the written instruction. The membership must be served with notice of an EGM, in writing, at least 14 days before the date of the meeting. They should be told full details of the purpose of the meeting and of any proposals or resolutions to be considered. The quorum for an EGM shall be one third of the current membership.

Committee Meetings
The Committee shall meet at such times and places as it may decide. Any member of the committee may request, in writing, that the Secretary call a meeting. The committee meeting shall be chaired by the Chairman of the club (or by his appointed deputy) who shall have the casting vote in the event of a tied ballot. The Secretary shall minute the proceedings of a committee meeting. This record shall be available for inspection at any time by the membership.

Club Meetings
The club shall meet, generally once weekly, at a time and place that the committee, in consultation with its members, shall decide. Club meetings shall be organized and run by a Tournament Director, appointed by the committee. His directives shall be binding on all members present at the meeting.

Winding Up
A decision to wind up the club shall be made only at an Annual General Meeting. Surplus funds held in the club account shall be divided up equally among current membership or disposed of as agreed by a majority of the members present.

Constitution
The constitution of the club shall be revised or amended only following approval at an Annual General Meeting.

Note
All references to the male gender shall be read so as to include the female gender.

Amendments
First agreed Annual General Meeting September 2003