Committee and Constitution

Constitution

1. NAME

The name of the club shall be “Old Shrewsbury Bowling Club” (hereafter OSBC) and will be affiliated to the British Crown Green Bowling Association. It will be a not-for-profit organisation.             

The members will be affiliated to the Shropshire Crown Green Bowling Association and any other organisations that the Club Committee may from time to time determine.

2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

1. To provide facilities for crown green bowling;
2. To carry on and promote the game by competition with other clubs;
3. To promote social intercourse between its members and their opponents;
4. To offer coaching opportunities in crown green bowling for all;
5. To promote the club and crown green bowling within the local community;
6. To ensure a duty of care to all members of the club and to make sure that they receive fair and equal treatment.

3. MEMBERSHIP

Application for membership shall be made on an application form which will be vetted by the Committee.

Membership of the club shall be open to persons of both sexes and they will be enrolled in one of the following categories: 

               Adult playing member (18 years and over);

               Junior/Student member;

               Senior Member (Over 65).

Membership should consist of both officers and members of the club.

4. MEMBERSHIP FEES

The annual subscription to the club shall be agreed at the Annual General Meeting prior to the bowling season. If, for whatever reason, no annual subscription is agreed, then the previous year’s subscription shall apply.

Members must pay the annual club subscription in full before being considered for any bowling team selection. Subscriptions will become due on the 1st March.

To play on any green or for any team, the member must either pay the club’s annual green fee or the appropriate hourly green fee set by OSBC.

The annual green fee shall be agreed at the Annual General Meeting.  If, for whatever reason, no annual green fee is agreed then the previous year’s green fee shall apply.

5. OFFICERS OF THE CLUB

Officers will be elected at the Annual General Meeting prior to the bowling season. They will go out of office every year but shall be eligible for re-election.  They shall consist of:

A Chairperson who will be responsible for chairing General and Committee Meetings, as well as ensuring that other officers are carrying out their duties.  The Chairperson will represent OSBC at external meetings or events when necessary.

An Honorary Secretary who shall be responsible for arranging, giving notice and taking minutes of General and Committee Meetings.  The Secretary will report on any received correspondence and reply as directed by the Committee, as well as publicising the activities of the club.

An Honorary Treasurer who shall be responsible for overseeing the finances of the club.

6. MANAGEMENT OF THE CLUB

The club is to be managed by a Committee consisting of the three Officers plus elected Managers responsible for the following areas: 

               The Greens

               The Bar and Interior

               The Exterior Surroundings

The new Management Committee is formed following the Annual General Meeting and the election of these Officers and Managers.

The Management Committee, as a governing body, will be responsible for adopting new policy, codes of conduct and rules that affect the organisation of the club.

The Committee shall have the power to appoint sub-committees as they think fit.

The Committee shall have the power to fill any vacancies arising from any cause whatsoever during the period between Annual General Meetings.

The Committee shall have the power to co-opt one or more members onto the Committee for the remainder of the year in the interests of the club.

For a Committee meeting to be held, the attendees must consist of a minimum of 3 elected officers.

The Secretary will give 14 days notice to the elected officers and non-elected committee members, of meetings and distribute the minutes to all committee members within 14 days of the meeting.

The Secretary shall call the meetings of the Committee, including a meeting to decide on the league and cup competitions to be entered by the club.               

All committee meetings to have minutes taken and the Secretary retain a copy for future reference. The minutes are to be approved as an accurate record of events at the following meeting.

7. TEAM CAPTAINS

In support of the Management Committee, each team will have a Captain elected by the bowling members.       

Captains shall be eligible for re election.               

The Team Captain shall be responsible for the organising and notification of their team. The Team Captain should only consider fully paid up members for selection.               

The Team Captain can always delegate a member to collect any match fees.

The Team Captain and their Vice-Captain need to agree a team member with computer access to report their results.              

The Team Captain should ensure the hospitality for the opposition at home matches.

8. CLUB FINANCE

The funds of OSBC shall be applied to the objects of the club.               

All the financial transactions of OSBC shall be recorded.               

All cheques drawn against OSBC’s funds shall be signed by the Treasurer and one other nominated elected officer.

9. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The club shall hold an annual general meeting in the first quarter of each year, giving members at least 14 days notice of the due date. 

At any Annual General Meeting, every paid up member from the previous season shall be entitled to one vote upon every proposal raised.  In the case of equality the Chairperson of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.

The Quorum for an Annual General Meeting will not be less than one fifth of the total number of members, or not less than twenty members, whichever is the lesser number.

The purpose of the meeting is to:

1. Approve the Minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting;
2. Receive reports from: The Chairperson; the Honorary Secretary; the Honorary Treasurer.
3. To approve OSBC's accounts;
4. Fix the subscription and the green fees for the following year;
5. Receive reports from the Greens, Bar/Interior, and Exterior Surrounds Managers;
6. Elect the Officers for the new season;
7. Consider any proposed changes to the Rules of the Club;
8. Deal with any other relevant business.

NB:  Any matters to be discussed under item 8 will need to be submitted in writing to the Secretary at least fourteen days in advance of the date set for the Annual General Meeting.

The Management Committee has the right to call Extraordinary General Meetings outside the Annual General Meeting. Procedures for an Extraordinary General Meeting will be the same as an Annual General Meeting.

10. DISSOLUTION OF OSBC

If OSBC is to be dissolved, an Extraordinary General Meeting must be called by the Secretary to determine the disposal of OSBC’s assets after all debts and liabilities are satisfied. 

The remaining assets shall not be paid or redistributed among any members of OSBC but will be transferred to an organisation(s) with similar aims and objectives. 

At least two weeks’ notice is to be given and a minimum of one fifth of the membership must attend for the Extraordinary General Meeting to be quorate.

11. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

The Constitution will only be revoked, added to or altered by a majority, comprising at least three quarters of the members present at any General Meeting, notice of which has been duly given specifying the proposals and their details.

12. DECLARATION

Old Shrewsbury Bowling Club hereby adopts and accepts this constitution as a current operating guide regulating the actions of its members and, therefore, every bona fide member of the club shall be issued with their own copy of this Constitution.