1. TITLE
The club shall be called the ‘ALDINGBOURNE SOCIAL CLUB’. Hereafter referred to as the ‘Club’.
2. OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the Club are:
(a) To promote good fellowship, entertainment and social activity for the benefit of its members.
(b) To support the ALDINGBOURNE COMMUNITY SPORTS CENTRE (hereafter referred to as the ‘Charity’) in the discharge of the Charity’s duties as agreed with the Management of the organisation.
3. CONSTITUTION
(a) The Club is a Member’s Club.
(b) Membership of the Club shall be open to all persons aged 18 and above. However, the Club may have Junior Members, minimum age 16 years with the classification ‘Junior’ on their membership card.
(c) Every member of the Club shall, subject to the rules and byelaws for the time being in force, produce herewith as an Appendix to this document, be entitled to use and enjoy, in common with the other members of the Club, the Club facilities.
(d) Members of the Club by reason of their membership shall not be under any financial liability except their annual subscription.
(e) The Club shall conduct its business in accordance with the Licensing Laws subject to matters contained within the ‘Grant of Licence’ from the ‘Charity’ currently in force.
4. MANAGEMENT
(a) The daily affairs of the Club, with the exception of such matters reserved for the Club in General Meetings by way of an agenda, including points raised under ‘Any Other Business’, shall be managed by a General Committee.
(i) The General Committee of the Club will, from time to time as the need arises, liaise with the Executive Committee of the ‘Charity’ on matters of mutual interest.
(b) The General Committee shall consist of the following: A Chairperson A Vice-Chairperson Hon. Secretary Hon. Treasurer Entertainment’s Secretary Membership Secretary, and Up to six other Members
(i) The Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, the Hon. Secretary and Hon. Treasurer will be known as the ‘Officers’ of the Club.
(ii) The duties of the Officers of the Club will be directed by the General Committee.
(iii) The above posts shall have been elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
(c) The General Committee shall have the power to co-opt any member to provide expert advice.
(d) The Officers of the Club shall be eligible for re-election at the AGM.
(e) Of a general vacancy occurs, then this may be filled by the General Committee and such person(s) shall be eligible for re-election at the AGM. (f) A Committee Member of the Club, Bar Manager or Assistant Bar Manager, must be present when the Club is open.
(i) Whenever an Officer of the Club or Committee Member is on the Club premises, He/She is automatically ON DUTY to assist in the exercise of discipline during a Club session.
(g) The posts of Bar Manager and Assistant Bar Manager shall be appointed by the General Committee.
(i) The posts of Bar Manager and Assistant Bar Manager will be unpaid posts.
(ii) Remunerations for the work performed by Club staff shall be agreed by the General Committee.
5. FINANCIAL
(a) Following the publishing of the annual accounts the Chairperson and Hon. Treasurer of the Club shall meet with the Trustees of the Charity to determine the disposal of the operating surplus of the Club’s funds with the object of furthering the interests of the Charity.
6. LIABILITY
(a) No person may, in the name, or at the expense of the Club incur any debt, or other liability, without the authorization, in writing, of the Chairperson, Hon. Secretary and Hon. Treasurer.
7. MEMBERSHIP
Subject to the determinations set out in Section 62 of The Licensing Act 2003.
(a) The General Committee shall elect persons to membership of the Club and shall have the power to refuse to elect persons to membership without assigning reasons subject to any considerations which may feel relevant under any enactments including the Human Rights Act.
(b) The name and address of any person applying for membership shall, for not less than two days before the Election Meeting, be prominently displayed in the Club.
(i) The above rule, 7(b), does not apply to renewals.
(c) Until such time as the Election Meeting has assigned membership to a person, that person has no rights or privileges or membership.
(d) Every applicant for membership shall be proposed and seconded by a member.
(e) The Club may have Junior members, minimum age 16 years with classification ‘Junior’ on their membership card.
(i) In order to be considered for Junior Membership, the form of Application must be countersigned by a Parent or Guardian and must show the Date of Birth of the Applicant.
(ii) Junior members may not purchase, attempt to purchase, request others to purchase on their behalf or consume intoxicating liquor on the Club premises.
(iii) Junior members may only purchase non-alcoholic drinks and beverages and other items in accordance with the Licensing Acts.
(f) The General Committee of the Club may also elect persons as Honorary Members of the Club for such a period (including life) as the General Committee shall in its discretion think fit.
(i) Such Honorary Members shall be entitled to full membership of the Club and shall be designated as Honorary Members in the Register of Members.
(g) The General Committee may provide Associate Memberships of the Club to enable the members of affiliated clubs and societies to purchase intoxicating liquor for the consumption on the premises.
(i) These Associate Members will have no voting rights at any meetings, nor will they be eligible to stand for election to the General Committee.
(ii) These Associate Members will have no right of entry to any of the Club’s entertainment functions.
(h) Members are expected to carry their Membership Cards at all times when using the premises.
(i) Membership cards must be shown on request.
8. CONDUCT OF MEMBERS
(a) If the General Committee feels that the conduct of any member, either inside or outside the Club’s premises, is contrary to the interests of the Club and injurious to its reputation it may terminate that persons’ membership. Before such action may be taken, the member concerned shall be called before the General Committee to explain his or her conduct.
(b) The decision of the General Committee, and the grounds for such decision, must be stated in writing in a short notice on the Club’s premises within 2 days of that decision.
(i) Such notices should remain on display in the Club’s premises for a period of 7 days.
(ii) Any person whose membership is terminated under this Rule, 8(a), shall be immediately excluded from the Club premises and shall have no claim against the Club, the General Committee or members thereof.
(iii) Following any Termination of Membership of the Club a person shall have the right of appeal after a 90 day period.
(c) Any Club Member, Guest, Associate Member or anyone having business on the Club’s premises who purchases or has purchased for him/her, or on his/her behalf, intoxicants will be liable to instant dismissal from the Club’s premises if he supplies the said intoxicants to a Juvenile.
(i) In the case of supplying intoxicants to a Juvenile by a Member then his/her Membership will be automatically terminated and such persons will thereafter be denied access to the Club.
9. SUBSCRIPTIONS
(a) Subscriptions will be payable to the ‘ALDINGBOURNE SOCIAL CLUB’.
(b) The annual subscription for the Members shall be determined by the General Committee and notified to Members at the AGM.
(c) Annual subscriptions shall be due and payable on 1st January each year, and before 31st January, each and every year.
(d) On the 1st January the Hon. Secretary shall have posted a notice in the Club room, requiring subscriptions to be paid.
(e) The General Committee may terminate membership of any Member failing to pay by the 31st January.
(i) Any person whose membership is terminated under this Rule, 9(e), shall be immediately excluded from the Club premises and shall have no claim against the Club, the General Committee, or members thereof.
(f) In addition to the annual subscription there shall be a joining fee for new or lapsed Members.
(i) The above Rule, 9(f), does not apply to Associate Members.
(ii) The joining fee shall be determined by the General Committee and notified to Members at the AGM.
(g) Temporary Members may be admitted for one calendar month providing they have been nominated and seconded by Club Members, have paid the prescribed free, but only after their names have been displayed in accordance with Rule 7(b) above.
10. GUESTS
(a) Members over the age of 18 years may introduce Guests.
(b) A Member may not introduce more than four Guests at any one session.
(c) The introducing Member must ensure that all guests sign the Visitor’s Book.
(i) Any Member introducing a Guest will be required to pay a subscription. The subscription charge will be determined by the General Committee and notified to Members at the AGM.
(ii) Current subscription rates should be displayed on the notice board.
(iii) A visitor may only attend the Club as a guest on six occasions in any 12 month calendar period.
(iv) Any subsequent visit will result in that person being required to enrol as a full Member of the Club.
(d) The Member introducing Guests must accompany them and will be held responsible for strict observance of the Club Rules.
(e) The admission of Guests shall be valid only for the session in which they sign in.
(f) The General Committee may terminate, in accordance with Rule 8(a), the membership of any person who takes any undue advantage of this Rule to the detriment of the Club.
(i) Any person whose Membership is terminated under Rule, 10(f), shall be immediately excluded from the Club premises and shall have no claim against the Club, the General Committee or Members thereof.
(ii) No person whose Membership is terminated under Rules 8(a) or 10(f) shall, at any time, be introduced as a Guest.
11. NON-MEMBERS
(a) Where written affiliation agreements exist between the Club and other bona fide clubs, societies and organisations, such Affiliated Members shall be Members of the Club.
(i) These Associate Members will have no voting rights at any meetings, nor will they be eligible to stand for election to the General Committee.
(ii) These Associate Members will have no right of entry to any of the Club’s entertainment functions.
(b) There may be admitted to the Club’s registered premises persons other than Members, or their Guests, and intoxicating liquor may be sold to such persons by or on behalf of the Club for consumption on the premises only providing they are bona fide members of visiting teams or other clubs (sec 67 Licensing Act 2003).
(c) Persons other than Members, or their Guests, may also be sold intoxicating liquor by or on behalf of the Club for consumption on the premises only providing they are attending a social function. Such sales however will be restricted to the ‘Stage Bar’ area as defined in the Supplemental Deed of License.
12. BYELAWS and RULE AMENDMENTS
(a) The General Committee of the Club shall have the power to deal with any contingencies not provided for in the Rules comprising the Constitution.
(b) Any rules brought into force under the above Rule, 12(a), shall be regarded as a ‘BYELAW’.
(i) All BYELAWS variance or/and revocation of byelaws shall be put to the next forthcoming AGM for inclusion in the Rules of the Club.
(ii) It is at the discretion of the General Committee that all such matters should be held over to the next AGM or that an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) should be called, unless Rule 12(f), below, is invoked in which case the procedures outlined in that rule should be followed.
(c) Until revoked all byelaws shall be binding on Members.
(d) No alteration, addition or deletion of the Rules comprising the Constitution shall be made majority except by a majority vote in favour at the AGM/EGM/SGM convened for that purpose.
(e) The Chairperson will rule on all matters of confliction or confusion, and his ruling shall be binding on all Members.
(f) If after due deliberation a minimum of ten Members find this ruling unacceptable in principle, then a letter stating their objections, signed by each Member, may be delivered to the Hon. Secretary to provoke the convening of an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM).
(g) Upon receipt of such a letter, as described in Rule 12(f), the Chairperson may give 21 days’ notice of an EGM and the decision of this meeting will be binding on all persons.
(h) Under the present Deed of Licence (14th November 1991) it is the duty of the Club to present any proposed changes before the ‘Charity’ prior to any AGM/EGM.
13. GENERAL MEETINGS
(a) There must be a general meeting of the Club (AGM) at least once every year and 15 months shall not lapse without an AGM occurring.
(i) Any date proposed for an AGM must allow a minimum of 21 days in order to advertise the date of the said AGM to the Members.
(ii) A notice advertising the date of the AGM must be placed in a public place within the Club’s premises for a minimum of 21 days prior to the date of the meeting.
(iii) The above also holds for the calling on an EGM or SGM.
(b) At all general meetings the voting shall be confined to Members of the Club. (i) Voting Members are defined as Honorary Members and paid-up Members aged 18 years and over.
(c) The business transacted at the AGM shall include the presentation of the audited accounts, the election of Officers of the Club and the General Committee and any other business.
(i) All matters so notified to the Hon. Secretary of the Club shall be included in the agenda for that AGM.
(ii) The inclusion of additional matters, i.e. Any Other Business, at an AGM, EGM or SGM shall be at the discretion of the Chairperson.
(d) Every motion, notified to the Hon. Secretary, must be put to the vote and every member present entitled to one vote only.
(e) In the case of equality of votes the Chairperson of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.
14. DISPUTES
(a) Any dispute arising out of, or not covered, by these Rules shall follow the procedures mentioned in Rule 12 (BYELAWS).
That is:
(i) If after due deliberation a minimum of ten members dispute a ruling or find a matter that is not covered by the rules then a letter stating their objections, signed by each member, may be delivered to the Hon. Secretary to provide the convening of an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM).
(b) Upon receipt of such a letter the Chairperson must give 21 days’ notice of an EGM and the decision of this meeting will be binding on all persons.
15. INTOXICATING LIQUOR
(a) The supply to the Club of intoxicating liquors, non-intoxicating drinks and tobacco products, shall be under the sole control of the General Committee.
(b) The General Committee shall as they think fit delegate the responsibility of the purchase of intoxicating liquor, soft drinks, tobacco products and other saleable goods to the Bar Manager or Assistant Bar Manager or to certain Committee Members who shall arrange for the purchase on intoxicating liquors, soft drinks, tobacco products and other saleable goods.
(c) The Bar Manager or in his/her absence the Assistant Bar Manager, or person appointed by the General Committee for the time being to oversee matters, shall arrange for the supply thereof to Members as directed by the General Committee.
(i) The prices should as far as possible be competitive to the retail prices prevailing in the district.
(d) The Bar Manager or in his/her absence the Assistant Bar Manager, or person appointed by the General Committee for the time being to oversee matters, shall keep a record of accounts containing all records of purchases and receipts. These shall be presented to the Hon. Treasurer at times he/she specifies.
(e) The Bar Manager or in his/her absence the Assistant Bar Manager, or person appointed by the General Committee for the time being to oversee matters, shall also report to the General Committee who will agree or vary such prices as the Bar Manager or in his/her absence the Assistant Bar Manager, or person appointed by the General Committee for the time being to oversee matters, may recommend.
16. OPENING HOURS
(a) The Club opening hours for the supply of intoxicating liquor will be the maximum hours authorised by the Local Licensing Authority subject to the provision laid down to the Grant of Licence from the ‘Charity’.
(i) All such times will be displayed within the Club’s premises.
(b) Any variations in the licensing hours allowable within the Licence granted by the Local Licensing Authority in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003 must be approved by the ‘Charity’ if it falls without the hours so specified within the Deed of Licence currently in force.
17. DISSOLUTION
(a) The Club shall be dissolved upon the vote of three fourths majority of the voting Members present at a Special General Meeting (SGM) of the Club called in accordance with Rule 13.
(b) Upon dissolution the property of the Club shall vest in not less than three Trustees to be appointed in the first instance from the Officers of the Club if that is not possible from within the membership.
(c) The Trustees will nominate one of their number as a Chairperson who shall take the necessary steps to distribute the Club’s property.
(d) All such property remaining after the satisfaction in full of all debts incurred in the name of the Club shall be distributed as seen fit by the Trustees.
18. GAMING MACHINES
(a) From time to time, as they may see fit, the General Committee may allow gaming machines to be installed within the Club’s premises.
(b) Gaming machines may only be played by persons over 18 years of age, as required by the current Gaming Act.
