Membership Rules

TO ALL MBSC MEMBERS

PLEASE NOTE THE UPDATES MADE TO THE CLUB’S RULES WHICH TAKE IMMEDIATE EFFECT – SEPTEMBER 2022

The object of the club shall be to provide facilities to the members for the playing of bowls and such other pastimes as the Board of Directors shall decide.
Candidates for full or student membership, not under the age of 18, shall be proposed and seconded by full members of the club. The full name, address, and e-mail of the candidate and the name of the proposer and seconder shall be entered on the membership application form and handed to the honorary secretary to be displayed for at least 14 days on the club notice board. Until elected as a member the candidate shall not be entitled to any of the privileges of the club
Candidates for membership shall be elected by the board of directors at their sole discretion.
The management of the club shall be entrusted to a Board of Directors consisting of the Chairperson Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer and six other members of the club elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM),each member to be elected for a three year period on a tri annual basis. The Board of Directors shall meet on the third Thursday of every month and at such other times as the Board shall determine and at “all meetings of the Board 5 shall form a quorum”
The Board shall have power at any time, and from time to time, to fill any vacancy among the officers and the other Directors. Any officer or member of the Board so appointed shall hold office only until the next following AGM but shall then be eligible for re-election.
Every member shall pay on being admitted to the club an annual subscription the amount of which shall be decided by the board from time to time, and such subscription shall be due in advance on the 1st day of October in each year.
No person at any time shall be entitled to receive at the expense of the club or of any member thereof any commission percentage or similar payment on or with reference to purchases of intoxicating liquor by the club: shall any person directly indirectly derive any or nor pecuniary benefit from the supply of intoxicating liquor by or on behalf of the club to members or guests apart from any benefit accruing to the club as a whole and apart from any benefit which a person derives indirectly by reason of the supply giving rise to or contributing to a general gain from the carrying on of the club.
The purchase for the club and the supply by the club of intoxicating liquor shall be at the discretion of a sub-committee of not less than three directors being members of the Board of Directors appointed by the Board for that purpose. Any changes in purchasing policy must first be ratified by the Board of Directors
Members and officials of visiting teams invited to the club to participate in organised games, tournaments and other recreational activities, shall for the duration of their visit be entitled to purchase intoxicants for consumption on the club premises within the permitted hours. Persons who are admitted shall be subject to the same rules as members, except they shall not attend or
No money or property of the club or any gain arising from the carrying on of the club shall be applied otherwise than for the benefit of the club as a whole or for some charitable benevolent purpose approved by the Board of Directors.
Full accounts of the financial affairs of the club shall be available to every member before the AGM
If any member shall fail to pay subscriptions within one month after it has become due the Secretary shall send a notice in writing or e-mail to the address recorded in the club records calling upon the subscription to be paid within 14 days. Payment after the end of November will incur a penalty sum, the same amount fixed by the Board for all such infractions. If the subscription is not then paid the Board shall be entitled to terminate the membership without further notice.
An AGM of the club shall be held in the month of December in each year and 15 months shall not elapse without a General meeting. At the AGM the following business shall be conducted:
a) The presentation, and if accepted, the passing of the accounts for the previous financial year ended on the 30th day of September prior to the meeting.
b) election of the directors.
c) The confirmation of the external accountant. d) Such other business as shall have been communicated to the Honorary Secretary and included in the notice of the meeting sent to the members.
An extraordinary general meeting may be convened at any time and shall be convened within 21 days on the requisition of one-fifth of the members of the club for the time being, or 15 members whichever is the less. Such requisitions must state the purpose for which such meeting is required.
The Honorary Secretary shall at least 14 days before any General Meeting contact every member to advise them of the date, time and business of the meeting.
The business of the meeting shall be limited to that provided by these rules and those further matters set out in the notice convening the meeting. The quorum at any General Meeting shall be one-fifth of the members of the club or 15 members whichever is the less.
At all meetings of the club each full member shall have one vote but the chairperson may use a casting vote.
The chairperson of the club shall preside at all meetings of the club but if not present within 15 minutes after the time appointed for the meeting or has signified an inability to be present the members present shall choose one of their number to be the chairperson of the meeting
The board shall have the power to expel any member who shall offend against the Rules of the Club or whose conduct shall in the opinion of the Board render that member unfit for membership of the club. Before any such member is expelled the Honorary Secretary shall give the member 14 days written notice to attend a meeting of the Board and incorporating details of the complaint. No member shall be expelled without first having the opportunity of appearing before the Board to answer any complaints made nor unless at least two thirds of the Board then present vote in favour of the member’s expulsion.
Only full members shall be allowed to introduce guests or prospective members to the club provided that no person whose application for membership has been declined or has been expelled from the club shall be introduced as a guest. The member introducing the guest shall enter the name and address of the guest together with the members own name in a book which shall be kept at the club house. No member shall introduce more than 4 guests at any one time without the prior consent of the Board of Directors. A visitor’s book shall be kept in the club house in which members must enter the names of the guests they introduce in addition to their own names. No member shall introduce any visitor to the club premises later than 15 minutes before the end of licensing hours. No one person may be introduced to the club more than 6 times in any one financial year. When a social occasion is organised in the club where large numbers of non-members may attend they may be considered as being temporary members on the occasion, but having no right to attend or vote at any club meeting. This should not be used to circumvent the rule precluding more than 6 visits as above, before membership is required. When visitors attend the club as a result of hiring the premises, or part thereof, they should be considered as temporary members, as above, but not restricted to 6 visits in any financial year.
The club rooms and the bar will be closed on Christmas Day. The bar will be closed at all times stated by the licensing authority, and the club will close at 12.00 midnight at the latest.
Members of the club are permitted to make up their own games on Saturday afternoons only. On all other occasions members’ names should be written on the boards provided for games on the snooker tables and taken in rotation.
All set matches for money, except for a club authorised event, should be strictly prohibited on the club grounds and premises as well as gambling or betting Any member who shall be guilty of this rule shall be reported to the Board who shall be empowered to take such action as it shall deem appropriate in the circumstances.
Any member damaging or defacing the property of the club shall be liable for the cost of repairs resulting from such damage.
Pets or other such domestic animals, except guide- dogs for the blind, shall on no account be permitted to enter the club’s pavilion, and must be on a lead when in the club’s grounds.
The greensman may close the Bowling Green if the weather conditions make such closure necessary or in any other case at their discretion.
Any complaints about an employee, or volunteer worker, of the club should be made in writing to the Honorary Secretary of the club, and not by personal reprimand to the individual.
Members should be provided with a copy of the Rules of the Club on application for membership, and no allegation of not having received the same absolve them from their effect. Copies of the rules should be kept at the bar for issuing by the steward when receiving a membership application.
Visitors under the age of 18 shall only be admitted to the club under the supervision of the member, or visiting adult team member, introducing them.
No handicaps or bowling matches or any functions are to be arranged with any club or body of people without the consent of the Board of Directors and a notice of such an event must be fixed on the notice board for at least 7 days.
Any member intending to terminate their club membership shall give notice, in writing or e-mail, to that effect to the Honorary Secretary. on or before the 30th of November, and in default thereof shall continue to be a subscriber for the ensuing season and be liable to past subscriptions accordingly.
For the purpose of these rules a full member is a member who holds a share in the company. A member may be considered for student membership if over 18 and in full time education, but not considered a full member.
Any change of address should be notified in writing or e-mail to the Honorary Secretary
Candidates below the age of 18 and above the age of 12 may be proposed and seconded for Junior Membership of the club by Full Members. The full name and address for the candidate together with their date of birth, and proposer’s and seconder’s names should be entered on a club membership application form and handed to the Secretary .
Every Junior Member shall pay on being admitted to the club, an annual subscription. Such subscription shall be due in advance on the first day in October in each year. In the event of one year’s subscription being unpaid after 14 days, notice in writing or e-mail being received, Junior Membership shall be withdrawn .
If a Junior Member on reaching the age of 18 wishes to be considered for full or student membership a formal application should be made as required by rule 2.
No Junior Member shall be allowed to purchase or consume intoxicating liquor or operate gaming machines whilst on the club premises.
Junior Members under the age of 14 shall not be allowed to remain on the club premises after
9.00 p.m. unless taking part in a recognised club activity. 39. No Junior Member shall be allowed to introduce guests or prospective members to the club.