GREEN OPENS FRIDAY 12th APRIL 2024
GREEN OPENS FRIDAY 12th APRIL 2024
CROMER MARRAMS BOWLS CLUB CONSTITUTION AND RULES (RATIFIED 25 MAY 2024)
The Members should acknowledge this document constitutes a legally binding contract to regulate the relationship of the members with each other and the Club. Any renewal or amendment to this document must be ratified by a meeting of members at an AGM/SGM.
NAME AND OBJECTIVE
The name of the Club shall be ‘CROMER MARRAMS BOWLS CLUB’ (hereinafter referred to within this constitution as the ‘Club’). The Club shall be affiliated to Bowls England, the English Bowling Federation and Norfolk Bowls Association.
The Aims of the Club are to provide facilities for, and to promote participation in, the amateur sport of outdoor flat green bowls in CROMER. The Club shall adopt and conform to Bowls England and English Bowling Federation Rules & Regulations and the current Laws of the Sport of Bowls. The objective of the club is the promotion of the game of bowls under the rules laid down by Bowls England and the English Bowling Federation. All members shall foster social activities for the club. The club is a member’s club and the management of the club shall be the direct responsibility of the Management Committee elected by the club members.
OFFICERS OF THE CLUB
The Officers of the Club shall be Full or Social Members of the Club and shall consist of PRESIDENT/CLUB CAPTAIN
MANAGEMENT SECRETARY/TREASURER/BOWLS SECRETARY/FIXTURE SECRETARY
CLUB COMPETITIONS SECRETARY/EBA LEAGUE CAPTAIN/EBF LEAGUE CAPTAINS/LADIES CAPTAIN
NANSA LEAGUE CAPTAIN/COUNTY DELEGATE/SAFEGUARDING OFFICER.
The Chairman will be elected by Committee members, at the first meeting after the AGM, and will have the casting vote. Officers shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting and shall hold office for the period of election, retiring at the end of the period of election. All Officers of the Club shall be eligible for re-election to the same office or another office at the end of their current period of election.
Officers’ roles within the Club:
Chairman: To Chair all relevant meetings of the Club; To have the casting vote at all relevant meetings of the Club in the event of equality
President: To represent the Club on match days and other special events
Management Secretary: To keep a register of Club members' contact details; To conduct the correspondence of the Club; To keep custody of all Club documents; To keep full minutes of all meetings of the Club, the Committee and Sub‐Committees
Bowls Secretary: To conduct the bowls correspondence of the Club
Treasurer: To collect all relevant fees from Club members; To make all relevant payments on behalf of the Club; To prepare Annual Balance Sheet for examination; To administer such insurance policy or policies as may be needed to fully protect the interests of the Club, its Officers and its members; To present Accounts for approval at the AGM
Fixture Secretary: To arrange matches as relevant with other clubs
Captain/s: To select relevant representative teams
Competitions Secretary: To arrange internal competitions for Club members to participate in
County Delegate: To act as a liaison between the Club and other relevant associations
Safeguarding Officer: To be the first point of contact for members, guests, children and parents for any issue relating to safeguarding; To ensure parents/guardians return all necessary documentation and that club records are kept up to date; To ensure any incidents and concerns are dealt with promptly and in accordance with these Procedures
MEMBERSHIP
The number of SOCIAL Members in the club must not exceed 49%.
There shall be the following categories of membership with power to vote at all relevant meetings of the Club as indicated hereunder.
(a) A FULL MEMBER – being a person who, at the date of election, shall have attained the age of eighteen years shall have one vote.
(b) A JUNIOR MEMBER – being a person who, at the date of election, is under the age of eighteen shall have NO vote. Such a member shall be one who at the commencement of the subscription year joins the Club other than as a full member.
c) AN HONORARY/LIFE MEMBER – who shall have one vote.
(d) A SOCIAL MEMBER – who shall have one vote.
No member may use the Club premises, or any of the facilities of the Club, until their membership is accepted.
Rights and privileges of members
The rights and privileges of each category of membership shall be as follows: ‐
(a) A FULL MEMBER shall have the full use of all Club facilities. Affiliation Fees shall be paid by the club to the relevant organisations.
(b) A JUNIOR MEMBER shall have the full use of all Club facilities. Affiliation Fees shall be paid by the club to the relevant organisations.
(c) AN HONORARY/LIFE MEMBER shall have the full use of all the Club facilities. Affiliation Fees shall be paid by the club to the relevant organisations.
(d) A SOCIAL MEMBER shall have the full use of the Clubhouse facilities.
Membership subscription fee:
The rate of Subscription Fee for each category of Membership shall be fixed by the Committee and reported to the members each year. The current rate of Subscription Fee shall be stated on the website and in member news.
Membership of the Club shall be open to anyone interested in the sport of outdoor flat green bowls on application regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or other beliefs. Membership may however be limited according to available facilities on a non-discriminatory basis.
Cromer Marrams Bowls Club is an outdoor flat green bowls facility. It is fully inclusive, promoting social interaction, fun and sport in a safe environment. It offers competitive and skills development opportunities to the highest level for the whole community. Its development is somewhat limited by the fact that it is in a rural environment with a limited catchment area. Although prepared to make itself available to all ethnic groups, the social composition of the area lacks diversity. The sport itself suffers from the public perception that bowls is a sport for the demographic group that embraces the elderly/retired.
Membership subscriptions will be kept 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 likely to bring the Club or sport into disrepute. Appeal against refusal or removal may be made to the members. The Secretary shall inform each candidate of their election or non-election.
All members shall pay their first annual subscription fee upon election to the Club, and thereafter by 1st May. In default of such payment, the election shall be void unless sufficient cause for delay be shown.
For members joining after 1st July, the subscription fee will be 50% of the annual subscription.
Green fees, match fees, other charges and allowances shall be fixed annually by the committee and notified to members.
Every member shall furnish the Secretary with up-to-date contact details that shall be recorded in the Register of Members and any notice sent to such address/es either by post or electronically shall be deemed to have been duly delivered. An application for membership shall be in the form prescribed by the Committee and shall include the name, address and contact details of the candidate.
Every member, upon election and thereafter, is deemed to have notice of, and undertakes to comply with, the Club Rules and any Byelaws and Regulations of the Club.
We adopt and follow all policies and guidelines approved by Bowls England and UK Anti-Doping. We follow all procedures set out in Bowls England Regulation 9, 9A and 9B. We will abide with all sanctions, recommendations and/or decisions from the Case Management Panel or National Disciplinary Panel (Bowls England Regulation 2.5.2)
All disciplinary matters and Appeal procedures will be dealt with in accordance with Bowls England Regulation 9 (Misconduct). Should any member be expelled, the former member shall not be entitled to have any part of the annual membership fee refunded and must return any property belonging to the Club.
Members of visiting teams may be admitted to the club premises and enjoy all the privileges of membership.
Complaints of any nature shall be addressed in writing to the Secretary.
A member of any Club affiliated to Bowls England and English Bowling Federation (a list whereof is published annually) may be authorised to use the premises of the Club.
All references to the Club in this Section shall mean each and every individual member of the Club from time to time.
Members are bound by the following Rule which shall also be exhibited in a prominent place within the Club premises:
Members of the Club may use the Club premises, and any other facilities of the Club, entirely at their own risk and impliedly accept:
(a) The Club will not accept any liability for any damage to or loss of property belonging to members.
(b) The Club will not accept any liability for personal injury arising out of the use of the Club premises, any other facilities of the Club either sustained by members or caused by the said members whether or not such damage or injury could have been attributed to or was occasioned by the neglect, default or negligence of any of them, the Officers, Committee, Trustees or Servants of the Club.
Membership of the Club and acceptance of these Rules by the member will be deemed to constitute consent to the holding of relevant personal data for the purposes of the Data Protection Act.
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
The Club financial year shall commence on 1st January.
The Club shall have bank accounts as necessary in the name of Cromer Marrams Bowls Club into which all money must be paid. All payments other than cash disbursements (less than £250), shall be paid by cheque from the Club’s Bank account and will require two authorised signatories (amounts over £500).
All Club accounts shall be submitted for audit at the end of the financial year.
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
The Committee may consist of the Officers, ex officio, and not more than 2 male and 2 female Full Members (who have attained the age of eighteen years) elected at the Annual General Meeting to hold office for the term of their elected period. Candidates for election to the Committee shall be those members of the retiring Committee eligible to offer themselves for re-election and such other full members whose nominations (duly proposed and seconded in writing by Full members of the Club) with their consent shall have been received by the Secretary at least twenty-eight days before the date of the Annual General Meeting in each year. Such nominations, together with the names of the Proposer and Seconder shall be posted to the Club premises at least fourteen days prior to the date of the Annual General Meeting.
If the number of candidates for election is greater than the number of vacancies to be filled then there shall be a ballot of those members present and entitled to vote at the Annual General Meeting. If the number of candidates for election is equal to or less than the number of vacancies to be filled then all candidates shall be deemed to be elected if majority of those present at the Annual General Meeting, and entitled to vote, vote in favour of such election. In the event of the ballot failing to determine the members of the Committee because of an equality of votes, the candidate or candidates to be elected from those having an equal number of votes shall be determined by lot or previously nominated person. If, for any reason, a casual vacancy shall occur, the Committee may co-opt another person to fill such a vacancy until the next following Annual General Meeting.
The number of SOCIAL Members on the management committee must not exceed 25% of the whole committee.
Co‐opted Members will be entitled to vote.
The Committee shall endeavour to meet bimonthly making such arrangements as to the conduct, place of assembly and holding of such meetings as it may wish.
The Chairman will be chosen by the committee members at the first meeting following the AGM.
Voting shall be by show of hands. In the case of equality of votes the Chairman shall be entitled to a second and casting vote.
Six members personally present shall form a quorum at a meeting of the Committee. Any conflict of interest must be declared to the Chairman prior to the start of the meeting. The Chairman will determine if the person may remain in the meeting and/or vote when the item is discussed.
Powers of the Committee
The Committee shall manage the affairs of the Club according to the Rules and shall cause the funds of the Club to be applied solely to the objects of the Club. The Committee shall ensure that the property and funds of the Club will not be used for the direct or indirect private benefit of Members other than as reasonably allowed by the Rules. No surpluses or assets will be distributed to members or third parties and all surplus income or profits will be reinvested in the Club. The Committee may appoint such subcommittees as it may deem necessary and may delegate such of its powers as it may think fit upon such terms and conditions as shall be deemed expedient and/or required by the law. A member of the Committee, of a subcommittee or any member of the Club, in transacting business for the Club, shall disclose to third parties that they are so acting. The Committee, or any person or sub-committee delegated by the Committee to act as agent for the Club or its members, shall enter into contracts only as far as expressly authorised, or authorised by implication, by the Committee.
No one shall, without the express authority of the Committee, borrow money or incur debts on behalf of the Club or its membership. In pursuance of the authority vested in the Committee by members of the Club, members of the Committee are entitled to be indemnified by the members of the Club against any liabilities properly incurred by them or any one of them on behalf of the Club wherever the contract is of a duly authorised nature or could be assumed to be of a duly authorised nature and entered on behalf of the Club.
The Management Committee shall have the power to elect Honorary Life Members.
It is the responsibility of the Management Committee to review and update the Club Constitution and Rules and ratify any changes at a committee meeting and inform the membership.
TRUSTEES
There shall be a minimum of 2 Trustees of the Club who shall be appointed from time to time as necessary by the Committee of the Club from among Full, Social or Honorary Members who are willing to be so appointed. A Trustee shall hold office for a maximum term of 10 years, or until they resign by notice in writing given to the Committee or until a resolution removing them from office be passed at a meeting of the Committee by a majority comprising two‐thirds of the members present and entitled to vote. All the property of the Club, including land and investments, shall be held by the Trustees for the time being, in their own names so far as it is necessary and practicable, on trust for the use and benefit of the Club.
In the event of the death, resignation, or removal from office of a Trustee, the Committee shall nominate a new Trustee (which can be the retiring trustee if they wish to serve a further term) in their place, and shall as soon as possible thereafter take all lawful and practicable steps to procure the vesting of all Club property into the names of the Trustees as constituted after such nomination. For the purpose of giving effect to any such nomination, the Management Secretary for the time being is hereby nominated as the person to appoint new Trustees of the Club within the meaning of Section 36 of the Trustee Act 1925 and they shall by Deed duly appoint the person or persons so nominated by the Committee.
The Trustees shall in all respects act, in regard to any property of the Club held by them, in accordance with the directions of the Committee and shall have power to sell, lease, mortgage or pledge any Club property so held for the purpose of raising or borrowing money for the benefit of the Club in compliance with the Committee’s directions (which shall be duly recorded in the Minutes of the proceedings of the Committee) but no purchaser, lessee or mortgagee shall be concerned to enquire whether any such direction has been given.
The Trustees shall be effectually indemnified by the members of the Club out of the assets of the Club from and against any liability, costs, expenses and payments whatsoever which may be properly incurred or made by them in the exercise of their duties or relation to any property of the Club vested in them, or in relation to any legal proceedings, or which otherwise relate directly or indirectly to the performance of the functions of a Trustee of the Club.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
An Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held each year in the month of October on a date to be fixed by the Committee. The Secretary shall, at least fourteen days before the date of such meeting, give notice to each member hereof and of the business to be brought forward thereat. This shall be posted electronically or on the club noticeboard. No business, except the passing of the Accounts and the election of the Officers, Committee, Trustees and Honorary Auditors, and any business that the Committee may order to be inserted in the notice convening the meeting shall be discussed at such meeting unless notice thereof be given in writing by a member entitled to vote to the Secretary at least 28 days before the date of the Annual General Meeting. The Committee may at any time, upon giving twenty-one days’ notice in writing, call a Special General Meeting of the Club for any special business, the nature of which shall be stated in the summons convening the meeting, and the discussion at such meeting shall be confined to the business stated in the notice sent to members.
The Committee shall call a Special General Meeting upon a written request addressed to the Secretary signed by at least 15 members. The Committee shall meet within 7 days of the requisite number of requests in order to call a Special General Meeting. The Committee shall give twenty-one days’ notice in writing of any such Special General Meeting. The discussion at such meeting shall be confined to the business stated in the notice sent to members.
At every meeting of the Club the PRESIDENT will preside, or in their absence, a Chair elected by a majority of those present shall preside. 15 members entitled to vote at the relevant meeting and personally present shall form a quorum at any General Meeting of the Club. All Full Members are entitled to vote at any General Meeting of the Club. Voting, except upon the election of members of the Committee, shall be by show of hands. In the case of an equality of votes the Chairman (or other nominated person) shall have a second or casting vote, on any matter.
On any resolution properly put to a meeting of the Club relating to the creation, repeal or amendment of any Rule, Byelaw or Regulation of the Club such Rule, Byelaw or Regulation shall not be created, repealed or amended except by a majority vote of at least two‐thirds of those present and entitled to vote. [Provided that no such change shall jeopardise the Club’s status as a Community Amateur Sports Club within the meaning of the Finance Acts, or in any event alter its objects or winding‐up provisions].
DISSOLUTION OF THE CLUB
If, at any General Meeting of the Club, a resolution be passed calling for the dissolution of the Club, the Secretary shall immediately convene a Special General Meeting to be held not less than one month thereafter to discuss and vote on the resolution. If, at that Special General Meeting, the resolution is carried by at least two thirds of the Members present, the Committee shall thereupon, or at such date as shall have been specified in the resolution, proceed to realise the assets of the Club and discharge all debts and liabilities of the Club. If, upon the winding up or dissolution of the Club, there remains after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities any property whatsoever, the same shall not be paid to or distributed amongst the members of the Club. Upon dissolution of the Club the Committee shall give or transfer the net assets remaining to one or more of the following: (a) to another Club with similar sports purposes which is a charity and/or (b) to another Club with similar sports purposes which is a registered CASC and/or (c) to Bowls England and English Bowling Federation for use by them in related community sports.
SAFEGUARDING
The club shall adhere to the Safeguarding Policy of Bowls England and English Bowling Federation and will ensure that all the contents are communicated to members and clearly displayed within the club premises for Members and Visitors.
The club shall adhere to the Equality Policy of Bowls England and English Bowling Federation.
CLUBHOUSE BAR AND LICENSING
The permitted hours for the supply of intoxicating liquor will be posted on the club notice board and the bar will be open at these hours or at such other hours as may be decided by the Committee subject to any restrictions imposed from time to time by the Licensing Authority. A member shall settle any indebtedness for refreshment or otherwise before leaving the Club premises, or in accordance with any byelaw relating to the settlement of such indebtedness.
The Club may adopt such Bylaws or Regulations as it considers appropriate for the good management of the Club and its facilities.
The club shall adhere to the requirements of the Licensing Act (or any subsequent Act) with regard to the purchase and supply of excisable goods.
Licensing Act
Purchase and supply of excisable goods
1.The purchase for the Club of excisable goods and the supply of the same upon Club premises shall be exclusively and solely under the control of the Committee, or of a special subcommittee appointed by the Committee.
2.Intoxicating liquor may only be sold for consumption on the Club premises to persons over the age of eighteen who are entitled to the use of the Club premises in pursuance of the Rules, Byelaws and Regulations for the time being in force. No Junior Member under the age of eighteen may purchase or attempt to purchase intoxicating liquor within the Club premises.
3.The Committee shall cause the Club bar to be opened (subject to terms of the Club premises certificate) at convenient times (and such times shall be prominently exhibited in the Club premises) for the sale of excisable goods to persons who are entitled to the use of the premises of the Club in pursuance of these Rules (except Junior Members as aforesaid) PROVIDED THAT visitors' names and addresses and the name of their introducer shall have been entered in the Visitor's Book upon entry to Club premises.
4.No person shall take a commission, percentage or other such payment in connection with the purchase of excisable goods for the Club. Any profit deriving from the supply of such goods shall (after deduction of the costs of providing such goods for the benefit of the Club) be applied to the provision of additional amenities or the purchase of property to be held in trust for the benefit of the Club.
5.Proper accounts of all purchases and receipts from excisable goods shall be kept and presented at the Annual General Meeting in each year and such information as the Secretary or Auditors may require shall be furnished to enable any statutory return or statement and the payment of excise or other duty or tax to be made.
CLUB RULES
The Club Rules will be set by the Management Committee.
The Club premises shall be open to members from 9.30am, and the green for play from 10am, through to dusk daily, except when the green is unavailable for play.
All players are to comply with the etiquette of the game (see Lawn Bowls Etiquette Policy).
Club uniform will be blue and yellow. When bowling in competitive matches members must wear bowls shoes, club shirts and grey trousers/skirts/tailored shorts unless whites has been stipulated.
At other times, including rollups/some club events, bowlers may wear smart casual clothes although regulation bowls shoes must always be worn.
Bowlers must change into their bowls shoes after they have arrived at the green to ensure that debris, gravel or harmful fungus are not taken onto the green.
Treat the green you are playing on with respect, it is costly to maintain, and everyone should try to deliver their bowls without causing divots in the turf.
Smoking, vaping, or the use of mobile phones is not permitted on the green.
The consumption of food and drink is not permitted on the green.
Well behaved dogs are allowed in the clubhouse. They can be brought onto the green surrounds but must always be kept on a lead and must not be allowed onto the green.
Please support at fixtures by arriving early to assist with ‘swishing’ the green and setting out equipment.
Availability sheets will be posted on the Club notice board, members should append their name on the sheet if they wish to be considered for selection.
A list of those selected will be displayed on the notice board; members are to tick their names to indicate that they know they have been selected and remain available to play.
Any member who has been selected to play and subsequently has to drop out must notify the Captain of the Fixture directly as soon as possible and must not just delete their name from the sheet.
All members selected to play must report to the team captain at least 15 minutes before the start of a game; failure to do so may result in a reserve being asked to play.
Reserves should attend at the discretion of the team captain at least 10 minutes before the start of a match.
Any member who has indicated his availability to represent the club in any organized competitions must play in the position(s) and team(s) they are selected in by the club’s captain’s.
Any member having a grievance concerning the fairness of the selection process shall be entitled to appear before the Committee to discuss the matter.
As a general rule all members should be given reasonable opportunity to play in friendly or Club matches. For league matches and competitions the emphasis may be on fielding a stronger team.
Members shall enter the names of all guests in the Visitor's Book. Not more than 6 guests may be introduced in any one day and the same guest may not be introduced more than 12 times in any calendar year.
A member shall not cause any communication in whatever form to be exhibited on Club Notice boards or premises without the prior permission of the Club Secretary/a committee member.
A member shall not knowingly remove, injure, destroy or damage any property of the Club and shall make restitution for the same if called upon to do so by the Committee.
Members, visitors and guests of the club have a right to:
Members may submit their views or concerns to the Bowls Committee in person or in writing.
The Bowls Committee will investigate and deal with concerns in a timely manner. They will advise all concerned parties of their decision, which will close the matter.
It is expected that members and visitors of the club will at all times:
Conduct is a matter of concern to all members – poor conduct has a negative impact, and can be harmful and destructive to the club.
It is the responsibility of all members to ensure that their behaviour is appropriate at all times.
If a member is offensive or abusive, responding in the same manner will also be considered a breach of the Code of Conduct. The only reasonable and acceptable response is to not engage in negative behaviour. It is acceptable to report the concern/matter to the Bowls Committee to be investigated under breaches of the Code of Conduct.
Any member representing the club must not engage in conduct which is violent, aggressive, inappropriate or prejudicial to the interests of the club. A member representing the club, for the purposes of this rule, is defined as anyone who:
Be punctual for your game, being late could be considered disrespectful to your opponents, and if in a team game, to your own colleagues too, and being rushed before an important game puts you at a disadvantage. Ensure you have dressed appropriately for the game you are about to play.
May 25th 2024
Webmaster Tony Gascoyne