Constitution              Revision Date: 2nd August 2017 

 

1     Amendments to this Document 

Any amendments to the Constitution will come into operation immediately.  They will not be repealed, altered or added to except under the conditions of Rule 23 of the constitution or by a resolution passed by a majority of not less than two thirds of those members present and voting at the General Meeting of the Club.  Notice of any motion for alteration of or addition to the Constitution (except Motions submitted by the Committee), must be lodged with the Secretary, in writing, not less than twenty-eight days before the date of the meeting. 

2     The Club shall be called Falkirk Indoor Bowling Club and shall be a non profit making body dedicated to the supply of sporting services. 

3     The objects of the Club are to promote, foster and encourage the game of indoor bowling and other indoor games and social activities. 

4     Assets.  The property, effects and monies of the Club belong equally to the Members within categories (a) and (b) of the Club during membership, but the rights and interest of each member shall be personal and limited to the member.  

5     Memberships.  The membership shall consist of: -

  1. a) Member. A Member is one who has paid the current subscription.  Only Members and Honorary Members shall have the right to vote at General meetings and to serve on the Committee of Management.
  2. b) Honorary Member. An Honorary Member is one who has rendered distinguished services to the Club and is not liable for payment of the annual subscription.
  3. c) Junior Member. A Junior Member is one who is under 18 years of age before 30th September and who has paid the appropriate current subscription.
  4. d) House Member. A House Member is one who presently does not play bowls whether temporarily or permanently and who has paid a restricted annual subscription.  This category is available on a yearly basis from 1st September.
  5. e) Temporary Member. A Temporary Member is one who is a visiting member of another Bowling Club or Association.  The Committee, in their discretion may admit as Temporary Members, without payment of subscription, bowlers taking part in an authorised match or competition or who have hired a rink and paid the appropriate green fee.  A person who has paid the appropriate rink fees to allow temporary participation in bowls in the club shall be treated as a Temporary Member for that day. A Members husband or wife shall have the standing of a Temporary Member. 

Temporary Members shall not be permitted to introduce visitors or guests, but may be supplied with alcohol without being signed in by a member. 

Categories (c) to (e) shall be subject to the Constitution of the Club but shall have no voice in the management of the affairs of the Club. 

  1. f) Resignation: Any Member wishing to resign must give written notice to the secretary prior to the AGM in each year otherwise the member will be liable for the subscription for that year. 

6     Quorum       

Management Committee:   Six members of the Committee shall form a quorum at meetings of the Committee.

Annual General Meeting/Special General Meeting:  Twenty  five Members within categories (a) and (b) shall form a quorum at Meetings of the Club. 

7     Office Bearers and Committee:  

The business and affairs of the Club shall be under the management of a Committee of Management,  hereafter called the ‘Committee’ elected by the Members within categories (a) and (b) and consisting of a President, Vice President, Immediate Past President, Secretary, Treasurer (the latter two offices may be combined) and nine Members within categories (a) and (b).  The President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer shall retire annually, but shall be eligible for re-election.  The three Committee Members who have been longest in office shall retire annually and shall be eligible for re-election.  In a case where more than three members have been in office for the same length of time, the members to retire shall, failing agreement, be decided by lot.  

8     Office Bearer Conditions 

No Office Bearer shall rent or lease land to the Club.  No Office Bearer shall be a relative, business partner or person acting under the direction of any person leasing or renting land to the Club or who receives emoluments based on the turnover of any aspect of Club activity..

Vacancy for Office Bearer: Should a vacancy arise during the year for an “Office Bearer’s” position the Committee shall have powers to make an interim appointment.  The Office bearer appointed shall retire at the next Annual General Meeting and shall be eligible for re-election. 

9     Secretary 

 It will be the duty of the Secretary of the Club to conduct the correspondence, to give notice of all the meetings, to keep a minute book in which will be entered all minutes and submit the same at the next Meeting for approval.  The Secretary will also keep a register of the members of the Club and a list of these will be kept available within the office.  

10   Finance 

The Financial Year of the Club shall be from 1st June to 31st May. 

11   Treasurer 

The Treasurer shall receive and disburse monies belonging to the Club, keeping proper accounts and records which shall be subject to an independent accounts examination and submitted to the AGM.  The Treasurer will keep such other accounts and books as are necessary to show the financial affairs and intromission of the Club.    The Club funds shall be lodged in a Bank selected by the Committee and all cheques and withdrawal orders shall be signed by two from the President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. 

12   Subscriptions 

All subscriptions shall be due and payable by the last day of September.  The names of those members in arrears on 1st October shall be removed from the Membership roll. Members defaulting under rule 20 of the Constitution, who wish to re-join within the current season, will be subject to an administration charge to be determined by the Committee. Anyone joining the Club after 1st January will be liable for half subscription. 

13   The property, funds and all subscriptions to the Club shall be vested in the Committee. 

14   Rink fees 

Rink Fees shall be fixed or amended by the Committee as the Committee shall deem necessary. 

15   Profits and Surpluses 

       All profits and surpluses generated by the Club activities shall be devoted to maintenance or improvement of Club facilities. 

16   Facilities Manager 

The Committee may appoint a Facilities Manager on such terms and conditions as they may determine to carry out such duties and responsibilities that they consider necessary. Such an appointment shall be “Ex Officio” a member of the Committee and shall be entitled to vote on all matters considered by the Committee except remuneration. 

17   Additional Advisors: 

The Committee may appoint additional advisors who have particular skills or experience and will attend Committee Meetings but have no voting right. 

18      Meetings 

The Committee shall hold a meeting at least once a month, with the exception of the months of July and August, during which months Meetings may be held if urgent business so requires. 

19   Election of Members 

Membership of the Club shall be open to anyone interested in the sport on application, regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or other beliefs, except as a necessary consequence of the requirements of Indoor Bowling. The Club may have different classes of membership and subscription on a non-discriminatory and fair basis. The Club will keep subscriptions at levels that will not pose a significant obstacle to people participating. The Club Committee may refuse membership, or remove it, only for good cause such as conduct or character likely to bring the Club or sport into dispute. Appeal against refusal or removal may be made to members. 

20   Conduct of Members 

If the conduct of any member, either in or out of the premises used by the Club shall, in the opinion of the Committee, be injurious to the character or interests of the Club, it shall be in the power of the Committee, to suspend such member who will not thereafter be allowed to enter any premises occupied by the Club.  The Committee will thereafter, within fourteen days, afford such person an opportunity of giving an explanation for such person’s conduct and in the event of the Committee or quorum of the Committee being majority of opinion that the member should be immediately expelled from the Club, they shall have the power to do so or, if satisfied with the explanation given, may reinstate the person on full membership.  Any member ceasing to be a member of the Club shall forfeit all rights to or claims upon the Club its property and funds. 

21   Suspended Member 

Any member who has been suspended from the Club for misbehaviour may not serve on any Committee for a period of three years from the end of the suspension. 

22   Rules  

Subject to the provisions contained in the Constitution, the Committee shall have the power to make, alter or amend the Rules of the Club and make new Rules which shall be binding on the members until revoked or otherwise determined by the Club. 

23   Committee Authority 

The General Committee shall be authorised to make any changes to the Constitution and the Rules of the Club to ensure compliance with the Licensing Acts or Regulations subject to notices indicating any changes be posted throughout the Stadium and that the changes be submitted to the next General or Special Meeting of the Membership for approval. 

The Committee shall have the power to do all such things, as it may deem necessary for the carrying out of the objects of the Club.  In particular without prejudice to the foregoing generality, shall have power to acquire and dispose of heritable property, whether by way of purchase, sale, lease or sub lease and to borrow upon the security of the heritable and other property of the Club, including without prejudice thereto, leases and sub leases of heritable property granted to the Club or otherwise in the name of the Club such sum or sums at such time or times and on such terms and condition as the Committee in its sole discretion may decide and the Committee are empowered to authorise the granting of such documents of debt including, without prejudice to the foregoing generality, Standard Securities or other heritable security documents or discharges thereof in connection with any sums borrowed and to invest funds of the Club not required for the immediate needs of the Club and to lend out such funds at such a rate of interest and on such terms and conditions as the Committee shall decide. 

Investments           

All investments made by the Committee and all heritable and moveable property including leases and subleases which shall belong to the Club or in which the Club shall have an interest, shall be vested or held in the name of the Trustees of the Club for the time being and the survivors and survivor of them and their successors in office as such Trustees, and the said Trustees shall hold all such investments and property on behalf of the Club and the Members thereof present and future. 

24   Legal Proceedings 

The Committee shall have authority to pursue or defend any proceedings before a Court or Tribunal taken by or against the Club, provided always that, where the value of the claim exceeds £5000 or is otherwise regarded by the Committee as of unusual importance, the Committee shall, (a) where proceedings are proposed to be raised by the Club or (b) as soon as possible after proceedings are raised against the Club, call a Special General Meeting of the Club with the attendance of the Solicitor to the Club to consider and determine whether or not to commence or continue the litigation. 

 25  Sections 

The Management Committee (under Rule 23 of the constitution) may delegate the organisation and running of leagues and competitions to each section.  All decisions taken by these sections must be approved by the Management Committee. The Ladies, Gents and Senior Gents shall have the right to form a section within the Club to organise their bowling activities.  ( A Senior Gent is one who is aged 55 on the 1st September of the current season).  Each section may elect from their members, a President, Vice President, Secretary/Match Secretary and such other Office Bearers and Committee as deemed necessary. 

Each section shall hold an Annual Meeting and the Office Bearers and Committee shall retire annually but shall be eligible for re-election. 

A Special Meeting of the section may be called by the Committee or on requisition in writing of at least twenty members of the section.  This meeting must be called by the Secretary/Match Secretary within twenty eight days of receipt of the requisition. 

Notices for the Annual and Special Meetings of the sections must be displayed within the Stadium indicating the date, time and venue of the meeting and the items on the agenda to be discussed. 

The quorum for each section Annual or Special Meeting is 20 

Copies of the minutes of all meetings shall be given to the Management Committee within seven days of the meeting.  Changes to league and competition rules may not be implemented until approved by a meeting of the Management Committee.  In considering such approval, the Management Committee shall have regard to the best interest of Falkirk Indoor Bowling Club.

Any monies raised by each section shall be vested in the Club. 

26   ANNUAL AND SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS 

  • The Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held on the first Wednesday in August at 19:30 in the Club Lounge. 
  • Notice: The Agenda, Accounts and all papers and reports shall be available at the club’s office at least 14 days prior to the Meeting from 10am to noon Monday to Friday inclusive and 7pm to 8pm Monday and Tuesday evening.. Copies of all these papers will be sent by email to those members that have provided their email address to the club. 
  • A Notice of Motion for the Annual General Meeting must be in the hands of the Secretary not less than twenty-eight days before the date of the Annual General Meeting. 
  • The Business of the Annual General Meeting shall consist of the election of Office Bearers and Members of Committee, considering and approving the Treasurer’s Annual Accounts, appointing an Independent Accounts Examiner and transacting any other competent business of the Club. 
  • A Special General Meeting may be called at any time by the Committee and must be called upon the written requisition of not fewer than twenty-five Members within categories (a) and (b) of the Club addressed to the Secretary specifying the business it is proposed to transact. Such Meeting shall be called and held within twenty-eight days from the date of receipt of such requisition. 
  • The General Committee shall be authorised to make any changes to the Constitution and the Rules of the Club to ensure compliance with the Licensing Acts or Regulations subject to notices indicating any changes be posted throughout the Stadium and that the changes be submitted to the next General or Special Meeting of the Membership for approval. 
  • Proposed Alterations to Constitution: Otherwise not less than 28 days’ notice of the proposed alteration or addition to the Constitution must be submitted to the Secretary in writing, setting forth in full such alteration or addition and this shall be stated in the Notice calling for the General or Special Meeting. 
  • Notice of a Special General Meeting of Members shall be deemed to be sufficiently given if a Notice is published in a newspaper circulating throughout Central region and a copy of such Notice is posted on the Club’s Notice Board. 
  • Honorary Members: On the recommendation of the Committee, the Annual General Meeting shall have the power to elect as Honorary Member, any person who has rendered distinguished service to the Club or to the game of bowls.  Honorary Members shall not be liable for the payment of subscription but shall have all the privileges of a Member.

27     Trustees

The Trustees of the Club shall be the President, Vice President and Secretary of the Club for the time being and their respective successors in office.  All property of the Club shall be vested in the Trustees, representing and acting for all the Members of the Club.  No personal liability shall attach to any Trustee except to the extent of such funds of the Club as may actually be received by them.  All legal documents shall be validly executed on behalf of the Club when signed by the Trustees for the time being. 

No profits or surpluses will at any time be distributed to members and if, on the winding up or dissolution of the Club, there remains after satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities, any property whatsoever, the same shall be given or transferred to some other organisation or organisations having objects similar to the Club.  Such organisation or organisations to be determined by the members of the Club by resolution at a General Meeting at or before the time of the dissolution and insofar as effect cannot be given to such a provision then to some charitable object. 

28   Principles of Good Practice for Protection of Children and vulnerable adults

It is the policy of the Club to safeguard the welfare of all children and vulnerable adults by protecting them from physical, sexual and emotional harm.  The Club is fully committed to safeguarding the well-being of its young members and vulnerable adults.  Officials and volunteers should at all times show respect and understanding for their rights, safety and welfare and should conduct themselves in a way that reflects the principles of the Club. 

29   Licensing

  • Sale of Liquor: The supply of excisable liquor to the Club will be under the control of the Committee. No member of the Committee and no Manager or servant employed by the Club will have any personal interest in the sale of excisable liquor therein or in the profits arising from such sale. 
  • No alcoholic liquor will be sold or supplied in the Club to any person under eighteen years of age. 
  • Opening Hours: The Committee shall determine the hours of opening and closing and the permitted hours shall at all times conform to those authorised in terms of the operating plan for the premises from time to time approved by the appropriate Local Authority in terms of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 and any amendment to the same. 
  • Visitors: Members shall have the right to bring visitors into the Club and will sign the Visitors Book, which will be available at all times on the premises. Any member doing so will be held responsible for the conduct of such visitors and any misdemeanour will be dealt with as in rule 20. 
  • Occasional License: Other than when an occasional licence has effect, no person is to be supplied with alcohol on the club premises unless that person is:-
  1. A member of the Club:
  2. A person who is on the premises at the invitation of a member of the club and is accompanied by that member; or
  3. A Member of another Bowling Club.
  4. Where a person under section (b) above is supplied with alcohol on club premises when an occasional licence is not in effect, there is to be entered in a book kept for this purpose:-

i      The date in question:

ii     The name and address of the person and

 iii   The name of the member accompanying the person. 

  • A person who has paid the appropriate rink fees to allow temporary participation in bowls in the club shall be treated as a temporary member for that day and shall be entitled to be served alcohol without the necessity of being accompanied by a member and having to be signed in the visitors book. 

30     Dissolution of the Club shall become effective only on a vote of not less than two-thirds of the Members within categories (a) and (b) on the roll of the Club Membership at the date of the Meeting which shall be convened for the purpose of considering any Notice of Motion for dissolution which has been lodged with the Secretary.

Determination of the question shall be by individual ballot, and members unable to be present at the Meeting may send their Ballot Paper to the Secretary prior to the Meeting.  Such Notice of Motion shall be made by the Committee or by not less than 20% of the Members within categories (a) and (b) in writing.  In addition to publishing the proposed Meeting in a local newspaper as hereinbefore provided, the Secretary shall give Notice of the Meeting to each Member within categories (a) and (b) by post not later than twenty-eight clear days before the date of such Meeting and such Notice shall include the terms of such motion.