Constitution

North Lonsdale Tennis Club: Constitution from December 2024.

1. The Club shall be called the North Lonsdale Tennis Club.

2. The objects of the club are to:

a) Provide facilities, encourage participation and to facilitate the playing of the game of Lawn Tennis in the area of Grange-over-Sands and amongst the community;

b) To take and retain membership of the CLTA (and by doing so become and remain registered as an associate of the LTA) and to comply and uphold the Rules and Regulations of the CLTA as amended from time to time and the LTA Rules and Disciplinary Code, the “LTA Safe and Inclusive Tennis Standards” and “related policies”, as amended from time to time and the rules and regulations of any body to which the LTA is registered and affiliated;

The related policies cover:

Diversity and inclusion;                                               Safeguarding Policy; 

Disciplinary Policy;                                                      Grievance Policy; 

Harassment Policy;                                                     Bullying Policy; 

Complaints Policy;                                                      Transgender Policy;

Whistle-blowing Policy;                                               Data Protection Policy.

And others as may be identified from time to time.

c) To do all the things which the Committee thinks fit to further the interests of the Club, to advance and safeguard the interests of the Game and to promote increases in participation in all levels of the Game.

3. The officers of the club shall be the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.

4. The committee shall consist of the officers, plus not more than eight elected members. The committee may co-opt further members at its discretion.

5. The Annual General Meeting shall be held during the month of November or December for which no less than 28 days’ notice shall be given. All members over the age of 18 with full playing rights may vote. Junior members are welcome to attend but may not vote.

6. The business of the AGM shall be:

i) to receive the Secretary’s report;

ii) to receive the Treasurer’s independently checked statement of accounts;

iii) to set subscriptions and match fees for the following year;

iv) to elect officers and committee members.

Formal proposals related to the business of the AGM must be forwarded to the Secretary at least 14 days before the AGM. Proposals require the names of a proposer and seconder.

7. The committee shall meet at least twice a year.

8. An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called at a written request to the Secretary stating the purpose and signed by 10 senior club members. The Secretary will call the meeting for which at least 28 days’ notice will be given.

9. A quorum at a General Meeting shall be 10 voting members, or 20% of the total membership eligible to vote, whichever number is smaller.

10. A quorum at a committee meeting shall be 4 committee members including at least one officer.

11a. A majority of two thirds of the voting members present shall be required to pass an amendment to the constitution or financial matter. Any other resolution is to be decided by a simple majority of voting members present.

11b. i) The committee cannot use the Sinking Fund without consulting the membership.

ii) The decision to spend some or all of the Sinking Fund can only be made by a General Meeting of NLTC, called with the usual period of notice.

iii) All senior members must have the opportunity to vote on the issue including provision for a written proxy vote.

12. Membership of the North Lonsdale Lawn Tennis Club is open to the whole community without discrimination.

13. a) The committee shall have the right to dismiss any member whose behaviour is unacceptable. The dismissal shall be conveyed to the member in writing. The dismissed member may appeal against this decision. This must be in writing to the Secretary. The Committee will meet to discuss the appeal. The dismissed member must attend and may bring another person of his or her choice to support the appeal.

b) Any disciplinary decision made by the committee must be consistent with the LTA Rules, Disciplinary Code, Inclusion Policy and wider jurisdiction; any disciplinary action may be referred to the LTA or CLTA (as appropriate).

14. Accounts shall be kept in the name of the North Lonsdale Lawn Tennis Club at a local bank or building society as agreed by the committee. At least 3 signatories must be authorised to conduct payments and transactions from the accounts, 2 of whom must authorise any individual transaction; the Treasurer must be one signatory, plus at least 2 other committee members.

15. On the winding-up of the Club, all assets shall be sold and all money held by the Club shall be distributed to charity as agreed by the Club members at the time.

16. The club is non-profit-making; any surplus income or gains will be reinvested in the club. Donations may be made to charities or other registered Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASC). Distribution of club assets, in cash or in kind, to members or third parties, is not permitted.

17. This Constitution may only be amended by a resolution passed at a General Meeting. Resolutions, with proposer and seconder, to be submitted to the secretary at least 14 days prior to the General Meeting.

(Amended and ratified at AGM, December 5 2024).