Constitution

Central Midweek Bowling League

Constitution (as of Dec 2022)

1. NAME.

The Association shall be called "The Central Midweek Bowling League" and shall be affiliated to Bowls England.

2. OBJECTS

The objects of the League are:-

a) To promote the level green game of bowls in general and within the administrative area of this League in particular.

b) To promote and foster friendly competitive bowls for men and women equally by organising such league and other competitions as may be considered appropriate from time to time.

c) To play matches, as a League, in furtherance of these objectives.

3. MEMBERSHIP.

New clubs, upon their application shall be admitted into membership subject to approval at the Annual General Meeting.

4. OFFICERS.

The Officers of the League shall consist of the President, Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Match Secretary and Competition Secretary. All the officers must stand for election at the Annual General Meeting with the proviso that the President cannot be elected for consecutive years and no person may hold more than two offices at any one time.

5. LIFE HONORARY MEMBERS.

The League shall have the power at an Annual General Meeting to elect Life Honorary Members on the recommendation of the Committee.

6. MANAGEMENT.

An Executive Committee consisting of the Officers and a maximum of four members of the League, who will also be elected at the Annual General Meeting, shall conduct the affairs and management of the League. The Committee shall meet at least twice in any one year. Five members shall constitute a quorum.

7. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.

The Annual General Meeting of the League shall be held in the month of November each year and to which the Secretary shall give not less than fourteen days notice. All duly seconded nominations and proposals should be forwarded to the Secretary not less than twenty-eight days before the meeting but, at the discretion of the Chairman, nominations and proposals may be taken from the floor at the meeting. Should it not have been possible to include the following with the notice of the meeting they shall be presented at the meeting.

Agenda; Minutes of the previous meeting; A statement of accounts; A list of nominations for Officers and Committee members. Nine attendees entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum.

8. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS.

A Special General Meeting may be convened at the discretion of the Executive Committee, or on the requisition of three clubs in membership, subject to the Honorary Secretary being notified, in writing, at least 28 days before the meeting. The requisition must state clearly the nature of the matters at issue and be signed by the Chairman and Secretaries of the three clubs. The Honorary Secretary shall notify all members of any Special Meeting, stating the matter at issue, at least twenty-one days before such meeting. Nine attendees entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum.

9. VOTING.

At the Annual General Meeting and any Special General Meeting voting shall be as follows:- Officers and Committee Members shall have one vote each. Clubs competing in the League shall have one vote per team. In the event of equality of voting the Chairman shall have the casting vote.

10. FINANCE.

a) All clubs shall pay an annual subscription for each team in the League. All players in other competitions shall pay an entrance fee. The subscriptions and fees shall be decided at the Annual General Meeting and must be paid before the season commences.

b) The treasurer shall keep a record of all monies received and paid out, all assets and liabilities of the League and present periodic financial reports to the Committee. The Financial Year shall end on 30th September in each year. An Annual Statement of Accounts, duly examined, shall be presented for approval at the Annual General Meeting, a copy having previously been sent to each club with the notice of the Annual General Meeting.

c) There shall be a minimum of three signatories, who shall be members of the Executive Committee, to the bank account and any two of these three signatories shall sign cheques.

11. CONDUCT.

It is expected that every participant in league and competition games will conduct themselves with good manners and show that level of sportsmanship required to achieve the objects of the League. Should the Committee become aware of incidents not meeting this expectation, or persistent breaches of playing rules, the Disciplinary Committee, consisting of three members of the Executive Committee shall have the power to ascertain the facts and impose such penalty as shall be considered appropriate.

Penalties may include deduction of points, disqualification from a competition or suspension or termination of the membership of any club or individual member.

The Appeals Committee, consisting of three members of the Executive Committee who are not members of the Disciplinary Committee shall hear an appeal against any decision of the Disciplinary Committee. Appeals shall be made in writing and must be submitted to the Honorary Secretary within 28 days of the decision of the Disciplinary Committee being received.

12. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION AND RULES.

Alterations of, or additions to, the Constitution of the League shall be made only at the annual General Meeting, or at a Special General Meeting convened for that purpose. Clubs in membership may propose alterations or additions to the Constitution and all such proposals, in writing, shall reach the Honorary Secretary at least 28 days before the meeting, together with the names of the proposer and seconder. The Executive Committee shall also be empowered to propose alterations and additions to the Constitution. The Honorary Secretary shall notify all members of such proposals at least 21 days before the Annual General Meeting or Special Meeting convened for that purpose.

The Executive Committee shall be empowered to decide on all matters relating to the League not provided for in this Constitution and also amend any of the Competitions Rules.

13. DISSOLUTION.

In the event of the dissolution of the League the accumulated funds shall be dispersed as directed by a resolution agreed by a meeting of the members present at an Annual or Special General Meeting called for this purpose. In the absence of any such resolution, for any reason whatsoever, the funds will be donated equally to the ECBA and ECWBA Benevolent Funds.

END.