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PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
1. NAME
The Association shall be called the ‘NORTH EASTERN
BRIDGE ASSOCIATION’
2. OBJECTS
The aims and objects of this Association shall be :
a. to organise duplicate, aggregate and
contract bridge matches and competitions and
associated social gatherings in the Counties of
Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland and the
Metropolitan County of Tyne & Wear and that part of
North Yorkshire delegated by the Yorkshire Bridge
Association to remain part of the above mentioned
Association.
b. to co-operate with similar Associations for the
advancement of the game.
c. to support the activities of the English
Bridge Union and to be a constituent member of it
and operate within its current Bye-Laws.
d. to employ
the funds of the Association in such a manner as its
Council may deem to be in the best interests of the
game.
3. MEMBERSHIP QUALIFICATIONS
To qualify as a member each person must either
belong to an affiliated Club in the area, or be a
direct member of the Association.
4. MEMBERSHIP
a. Membership of the Association shall embrace
membership of the English Bridge Union.
b. A member of the Association may also be a member
of another Association.
c. Every person joining the Association thereby
expressly agrees to comply with this Constitution.
d. Only members are eligible to represent the
Association in matches.
4.1 All members of the Association must be Player
Members of the EBU.
4.2 A Player Member of the EBU shall become a
member of the Association when their primary
allegiance to the Association is recorded with the
EBU.
4.3 A Player Member of the EBU whose primary
allegiance is with another Association can become a
member of the Association by meeting its terms and
condition in force at the time of the request for
membership.
4.4 A member f the Association must be a paid up
member for the relevant Membership Year in order to
vote at its Annual General Meeting and to
participate in its main competitions with that
Membership Year.
4.5 The Membership Year shall run for the twelve
month period from 1st April to 31st
March.
4.6 A member of the Association becomes a paid up
member through payments of any Association Pay to
Play county component when participating in events
at an affiliated Duplicate Bridge Club, and/or
through payment of an annual subscription fee for
their Association membership category.
4.7 If any Association member has not paid their
annual subscription fee by 31st May then
that Association member will not be able to vote at
the following AGM as a paid up Association member.
4.8 An Association member ceases to be a paid up
Association member on 31st May if at that
date the Association member has not paid any
outstanding annual subscription fee. That member
can subsequently become a paid up Association member
on payment of the current Membership Year’s
subscription fee, but this late payment shall not
override clause 4.7 above.
4.9 For the avoidance of doubt, if an Association
member is within a membership category that has a
nil Association Pay to Play county component and a
nil annual subscription fee for a Membership Year,
then that member shall automatically become a paid
up Association member for that Membership Year.
4.10 The Association Pay to Play county component
and each of the Association member category’s annual
subscription fee, for the Membership Year starting
the following 1 April, shall be determined by a
simple majority of the paid up members at the
preceding Annual General Meeting.
4.11 The Association membership categories shall be
as follows:
4.11.1 Ordinary Association Member-a Player Member
of the EBU who has their primary allegiance recorded
with the Association on the 1st April of
the Membership Year. An Ordinary Association Member
shall also be a new Player Member of the EBU whose
EBU Membership start date is within the Membership
Year and that member’s primary allegiance is
recorded with the Association on their EBU
membership start date.
4.11.2 Dual Member-a Player Member of the EBU who
does not have their primary allegiance recorded with
the Association by 1st April of the
Membership Year.
4.12 The Executive Committee of the Association may
honour long standing members for their service to
the Association by electing them to life membership
of the Association. A Life Member of the
Association shall automatically become a paid up
member of the Association for each Membership Year
whilst they remain a Playing Member of the EBU and
shall not be required to pay any annual subscription
fee for their Association membership category. In
addition a Life Member of the Association shall not
be required to pay the entrance fee to an of its
county competitions.
5. SUBSCRIPTIONS
a. The subscription shall be determined annually by
Council and this sum shall include the subscription
for membership of the English Bridge Union and
any county element of the Pay to Play Fee
b. All subscriptions shall fall due on the 1st
April each year and shall be paid to the Association
Secretary through an affiliated club except in the
case of direct members.
c. Each member on payment of his subscrieption
is entitled to receive a membership card and
programme.
d. Subscriptions shall be paid by no later than 31st
July in each year.
6. AFFILIATED CLUBS
a. Any bridge playing organisation in the area
covered by the Association may become affiliated to
the Association, subject to the approval of the NEBA
Council, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.
b.
Affiliated Clubs are obliged to abide by the rulings
and decisions of such Council in order to retain
affiliation privileges, provided that such rulings
are within the term of the English Bridge Union
Bye-Laws.
c. Any affiliated club is responsible for paying
any affiliation fees required by the English Bridge
Union to the Association which will pay the same to
the English Bridge Union.
d. The Association shall not be responsible for the
liabilities of affiliated clubs.
7. MANAGEMENT
a. The affairs of the Association shall be vested
in a Council which shall comprise the Chairman,
Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Chief
Tournament Secretary and Membership Secretary all of
whom shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting
together with the Chief Tournament Director,
Congress Secretary, Tournament Secretaries,
County Youth Officer,
and Team Selectors who shall be permanent co-optees
to the Council, together with one representative
from each club affiliated to the Association who
shall be elected by the club which they are
representing. Any co-optees to the Council shall be
entitled to vote at its meetings.
b. The day to day management of the Association
shall be deputed to a Committee of the Executive of
the Association consisting of the Chairman,
Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Chief
Tournament Secretary, Chief Tournament Director,
Congress Secretary and Membership Secretary and such
management Committee shall meet not less than four
times in each year and may co-opt any member of the
Association to its number. Any co-optees to the
Committee shall be entitled to vote at its meetings.
A quorum shall be three members.
c. The Council shall from time to time set up or
disband such Committees or Sub-Committee as are
thought proper, necessary or desirable for the
conduct of the business of the Association and shall
delegate to such Committee or Sub-Committee such
power and authority as may be considered desirable
for the purpose for which they are formed, the
terms of reference of such Committee or
Sub-Committees being laid down in the Minute of
Appointment. The decisions of any such Committee or
Sub-Committee shall be subject to the approval of
the Council.
d. The Council may from time to time deem it
necessary and have the power to co-opt any person to
assist in the furtherance of the Association, such
persons to have such voting rights as the Council
shall determine.
e. Any vacancy amongst the officers may be filled
by the Council until the next Annual General Meeting
and any vacancy in the club representatives shall be
filled by that club.
f. A representative who is absent from any Council
meeting may send a substitute who may speak or vote
in his/her place.
g. The quorum for a Council meeting shall be 8.
h. An Honorary Auditor shall be elected at the
Annual General Meeting to audit the accounts of the
Association.
i. Nominations for Chairman, Vice-Chairman,
Secretary, Treasurer and Auditor for the ensuing
year must be in writing and in the hands of the
Secretary not after than 7 days before the Annual
General Meeting, but in the absence of such written
nominations verbal nominations may be accepted at
the meeting.
j. The Chairman may not serve in that capacity for
more than 3 successive years.
k. The Council shall appoint delegates to the
E.B.U. Council in accordance with the Association's
entitlement as defined by the Bye-Laws of the E.B.U.
and such delegates shall be co-opted to the Council
(if not otherwise a member of the Council) with full
voting rights.
l. The Council may appoint such person or persons
to be Honorary President(s) or Honorary
Vice-President(s) of the Association as it shall
determine who shall hold office until death or
resignation or until removed from office by a
resolution of the Council.
m. In the event of parity of voting at any meeting
of the Council or any Committee or Sub-Committee of
the Association or at any General Meeting the
Chairman shall have a second or casting vote.
8. CONDUCT OF MEMBERS
Each member of the Association shall be required in
connection with the game of Contract Bridge and
variations thereof to conform to the standards of
fair play, courtesy and personal deportment
prescribed in the Bye-Laws and regulations for the
time being of the English Bridge Union. The
Association shall haw the powers and the procedures
for the enforcement of this requirement which are
set out in the Schedule of this Constitution (which
shall stand part of this Constitution and be subject
to the same provisions as this Constitution or its
amendment).
8.1 Each member of the Association shall be
required in connection with the game of Duplicate
Aggregate and Contract Bridge, to conform to the
standards of fair play, courtesy and personal
deportment prescribed by the Bye Laws and
regulations for the time being of the EBU
8.2 The Association shall have the powers and the
procedures for the enforcement of the requirement in
clause 8.1. They are set out in the Schedule of the
Constitution, and shall stand as part of the
Constitution and be subject to the same provisions
of the Constitution for its amendment..
9. MEETINGS OF COUNCIL
The Council will meet on not less than three
occasions during each year for the purposes of
determining the policy of the Association and
approving or disapproving so far as is necessary the
actions of the Executive Committee.
10. GENERAL MEETINGS
a. Notice of the Annual General Meeting shall be
posted to members at least 21 days prior to the date
of the meeting unless the date shall have been
published in the annual Programme, and the time,
place and business notified to the Clubs which are
affiliated to the Association.
b. Only members of the Association shall have the
right to vote at General Meetings.
c. The Annual General Meeting shall be held by May
31st in any year or as otherwise
determined by Council.
d. A statement of Accounts, duly audited up to the
31st March, shall be submitted by the
Treasurer for the Annual General Meeting.
e. An Extraordinary General Meeting of Members must
be called upon the instruction of the Council, or
upon the receipt by the Secretary of a written
requisition signed by at least 25 members, and
stating the nature of the business to be discussed.
In the latter case the Extraordinary General Meeting
must be held not less than 21 days and not more than
28 days after the receipt of the written requisition
by the Secretary. Notice of the Extraordinary
General Meeting shall be posted to affiliated clubs
not less than 14 days before agreed meeting.
f. A quorum for a General Meeting shall be 30
members.
11. COMPETITIONS
In determining conditions for Competitions, the
Council shall be empowered to restrict entry to paid
up members of the Association and to authorise the
charging of higher fees to non-members if otherwise
eligible to play.
12. ALTERATION OF THIS CONSTITUTION
a. The Constitution of the Association shall be
amended only at an Annual General Meeting of members
or at an Extraordinary General Meeting called for
the purpose.
b. Particulars of proposed alterations to the
Constitution shall be enclosed in the Notice of the
General Meeting.
c. Any alterations to the Constitution will be made
only if supported by at least two thirds of those
present and entitled to vote.
S schedule above referred to
1. This Schedule is required by Clause 8 of the
Constitution of the Association and prescribes the
powers and procedures for enforcing it.
2. The Council of the Association, shall appoint a
Conduct Committee and shall have power from time to
time as it may think fit to vary the composition of
that Committee. The number of members of the said
Committee shall not be fewer than three nor more
than seven. A quorum for a meeting of the Conduct
Committee shall be three of its members for the time
being. It shall act by simple majority vote. It’s
Chairman appointed by the Council (or whomsoever in
his absence the Conduct Committee shall select to
chair its meeting) shall ham a second and casting
vote in the event that there is a parity of voting.
3. i) The Association shall act by its Conduct
Committee for the enforcement of the standards
prescribed in the said Section 8 of this
Constitution.
ii) The procedures of the said Committee shall
conform muttatis mutandis to those prescribed in the
Bye-Laws of the English Bridge Union for enquiry by
its Laws and Ethics Committee into allegations of
misconduct by individual member. It shall have
powers to make findings of fact and decisions
consequent thereon in respect of allegations brought
to its attention: to be entertained and considered
by the said Conduct Committee an allegation that an
individual member of the Association has not
conformed to the said standards in Clause 8 hereof
shall be made in writing, lodged with the Chairman,
Vice-Chairman, or Secretary of the Association and
referred to its said Conduct Committee.
4. The Conduct Committee may decide to refer the
allegations to the English Bridge Union for
consideration by its Laws & Ethics Committee, either
before or after the Conduct Committee has completed
its deliberations. Such action discharges the
Conduct Committee from its responsibilities.
5. If the Conduct Committee does not use its power
in 4 above, and after it has made enquiries into the
allegation, and found a member in breach of the
standards, the Conduct Committee may do one or more
of the following :
rebuke the individual
censure and/or admonish the individual
ban the individual from some or all
competitions sponsored or licenced by the
Association for such period as it shall determine.
6. The findings and decisions of the Conduct
Committee shall be delivered to the individual in
writing and take effect 21 days after delivery.
Apart from a decision in 4 above, the
individual shall have a right of appeal against the
findings or decisions, and such appeal must be made
in writing to the Secretary of the Association
within the 21 day period. If an appeal is lodged,
any decision of the Conduct Committee is suspended
until the appeal is
determined.
7. Any appeal shall be referred to an Appeals
Committee appointed by the English Bridge Union
acting through its Laws & Ethics Committee (Appeals
Committee). The Appeals Committee may consider
the matter as it thinks fit, and confirm or vary
the findings or decisions of the Conduct
Committee.
8. The Appeals Committee may decide the allegation
should be referred to the Laws & Ethics Committee as
an allegation of misconduct under the Bye-Laws of
the English Bridge Union relating to Conduct. In
such cases the findings and decisions of the Conduct
Committee are nullified and the individual shall be
so informed.
Schedule of Disciplinary Procedures
1. Requirements of the Schedule
This Schedule is referred to under clause 8.2 of the
Constitution and prescribes the powers and
procedures for enforcement. It will comply with and
follows the EBU disciplinary procedures and any
variations thereof that are made from time to time.
The Association shall act through its Conduct and
Disciplinary Committees for the enforcement of
standards prescribed in clause 8.1 of the
Constitution. The Association shall have additional
powers as set out in the clauses below.
2. Receipt of allegation
Any person making a complaint against one or more
members of the Association, under the terms of
clause 8 of the Constitution, must to so in writing
to the Secretary of the Chairperson of the
Association.
3. Conduct Committee
The Executive Committee of the Association shall
appoint its Conduct Committee through its powers to
appoint sub committees under clause 7c of the
Constitution. The Conduct Committee shall be
responsible for investigating complaints against the
Association’s members and to determine whether a
Disciplinary Offence should be referred to the
Association’s Disciplinary committee.
The Conduct Committee shall consist of no fewer than
three members of the Association and no more than
five. A quorum for any meeting shall be three of its
members. It shall act by simple majority vote and
its appointed chairman, or whomsoever in his absence
the Conduct Committee shall select to chair a
meeting, shall have a second, or casting vote in the
event that there is parity of voting.
4. Disciplinary Committee
The Executive Committee of the Association shall
appoint the Disciplinary Committee through its
powers to appoint sub committees under clause 7c of
the Constitution. The Disciplinary Committee shall,
determine sanctions for offences admitted by the
defendant, hear charges of the offences and
determine whether those charges are proved and if
proved, to determine the sanction imposed.
The Disciplinary Committee shall consist of no fewer
than three members of the Association and no more
than five. At least three of its members must be
present when it makes a decision to uphold a
complaint and impose sanctions on the offending
members. It shall act by simple majority vote and
its appointed chairman, or whomsoever in his absence
the Disciplinary Committee shall select to chair a
meeting, shall have a second, or casting vote in the
event that there is parity of voting.
5. Conflicts of Interest and Independence of the
Conduct and Disciplinary Committees
Any member of either the Conduct or Disciplinary
Committee who is in any way personally involved in
the allegations within a complaint will be
disqualified from participating in either
Committee’s handling of the complaint.
A member of the Association cannot be a member of
both the Conduct and Disciplinary Committees.
6. The Complaints Process
6.1 Notice of Meetings
Where a written complaint is made, or a matter
otherwise comes to the attention of the Conduct
Committee, it shall first consider whether such
complaint or matter falls within the scope of the
Disciplinary Rules and whether further action is
warranted. If it does the Conduct Committee
secretary shall first write to the Defendant,
seeking the Defendant’s comments on the substance of
the complaint or matter that has been raised. The
Conduct Committee shall also be entitled to make
such further investigations and enquiries as it in
its absolute discretion considers appropriate. The
Conduct Committee shall also be entitled to seek
advise both from within the Association and from the
EBU Laws and ethics Committee, and to obtain
external legal advice.
6.2 Complaint not justified
If the Conduct Committee decides that the complaint
is not justified, all parties shall be notified and
the matters ended.
6.3 Complaint justified
If the Conduct Committee decides that the complaint
is justified, it may, in its absolute discretion,
offer a verbal caution to the offending member,
which if accepted ends the matter.
If the Defendant does not accept the verbal caution,
or the Conduct Committee decides a verbal caution is
inappropriate, the Conduct Committee shall refer the
case to a hearing by the Disciplinary Committee.
The Defendant shall be notified, in writing, within
two weeks of this decision and of his right to make
a written submission to the Disciplinary Committee
and to attend the hearing. The Defendant shall have
the right to be represented by legal counsel of his
choice or may be accompanied by a person to speak on
his behalf. The Disciplinary Committee shall give
at least two weeks notice of the hearing to the
Defendant.
6.4 Disciplinary Committee’s Sanctions
If after the hearing the complaint is upheld, the
Disciplinary Committee may in its absolute
discretion:
(a) Give a written reprimand to the offending
member(s), or
(b) Suspend the offending member(s) from all or
some of the competitions sponsored or licensed by
the Association for such period as it shall
determine.
If the complaint is against a member of the
Executive Committee then in addition to any other
sanctions applied, the Disciplinary Committee shall
have the power to suspend such member from the
Association’s Executive Committee and any of its sub
committees for such a period that it shall
determine.
Any sanctions imposed by the Disciplinary Committee
must be communicated to the offending member in
writing within twenty one days of the hearing.
6.5 Appeal
Each member found guilty of a Disciplinary Offence
by the Disciplinary Committee has the right to
appeal to the EBU Laws and Ethics Committee.
Appeals must be in writing and lodged with the
Secretary of the EBU Laws and Ethics Committee
within twenty one days of the written communication
of the Disciplinary Committee’s decision to the
offending member.
6.6 Referral to the EBU Laws a& Ethics Committee
At any time the Disciplinary Committee may refer a
complaint to the EBU Laws & Ethics Committee for its
consideration. In doing so the Disciplinary
Committee shall have fully discharged its
responsibilities under this Schedule.
7. Definitions
The terms Disciplinary Rules and Disciplinary
Offence have the meaning set out by the Bye Laws of
the EBU. |
