OXFORD UNIVERSITY ALUMNI BRIDGE ASSOCIATION
Rules
1.
Name
The club is called the Oxford University Alumni Bridge Association.
2.
Objects
The objects of the club are to promote the game of contract bridge as a sport and a
recreational activity, and to organise conferences and other events for its members.
3.
Membership
Membership of the club is open to all alumni of the University of Oxford and to
friends and relations of alumni. Any person who wishes to become a member of the
club shall apply in writing to the Secretary.
4.
Subscriptions
The subscription payable for life membership of the club is £10.00 for individuals and
£15.00 for married couples. Separate charges will be made for participation in club
events organised by the committee.
5.
Honorary officers
The honorary officers of the club shall be the Chairman, the Treasurer, and the
Secretary. All honorary officers must be members of the club.
6.
Management
6.1
The club shall be managed by a committee of no fewer than three and no more
than ten members. The Chairman, the Treasurer, and the Secretary shall be ex officio
members of the committee. All members of the committee must be members of the
club.
6.2
The committee (including the honorary officers) shall be elected at the annual
general meeting in each year.
6.3
The committee may appoint a member to fill any casual vacancy that occurs.
The committee may also co-opt additional members of the committee, provided that:
6.3.1 the total number of members of the committee does not exceed the maximum
set out in para.6.1; and
6.3.2 the elected members (including members appointed to fill any casual
vacancies) always constitute a majority of the committee.
6.4
Subject to termination of office by resignation, removal or otherwise, all
members of the committee shall retire at the next annual general meeting following
their election, appointment or co-option.
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6.5
Retiring members of the committee may stand for re-election.
6.6
The committee may delegate to any one or more of its members the
responsibility for the administration or management of any of the club’s activities,
subject to report back to the committee.
6.7
The quorum for meetings of the committee shall be three members.
7.
Annual general meetings
7.1
An annual general meeting of the club shall be held once in every
calendar year. Unless the committee otherwise determines, the annual
general meeting shall be held at a residential weekend in September. The
annual general meeting shall transact the following business:
7.1.1 to receive the Chairman’s report on the club’s activities during the preceding
year;
7.1.2 to receive and, if approved, to adopt a statement of the club’s accounts to the
end of the preceding year;
7.1.3 to consider and, if approved, to ratify any alteration of or addition to the rules;
7.1.4 to appoint the honorary officers and other members of the committee;
7.1.5 to deal with any special matter which the committee wishes to bring before the
members and to receive suggestions from the members for consideration by the
committee.
7.2
Nominations for election as honorary officers and members of the committee
shall be sent to the Secretary at least 28 days before the annual general meeting.
Except in the case of retiring members of the committee who are seeking re-election,
each candidate for election must be proposed by a member of the club and seconded
by another member, and must submit written confirmation that he or she is willing to
serve if elected.
7.3
The Secretary shall send a notice convening the annual general meeting to the
members not less than 21 days before the meeting. The notice shall specify the
matters to be dealt with at the meeting and shall include the nominations for election
as honorary officers and other members of the committee.
8.
Special general meetings
8.1
A special general meeting may be convened at any time by the committee and
must be convened within 28 days from receipt of a requisition in writing signed by no
fewer than 20 members specifying the object of the meeting.
8.2
A special general meeting may be convened:
8.2.1 to consider and, if approved, to ratify any alteration of or addition to the rules;
8.2.2 to deal with any special matter which the committee wishes to bring before the
members;
8.2.3 to remove any member or members of the committee from office and to fill
any vacancy or vacancies caused by the removal; or
8.2.4 to deal with any special matter which the members requiring the meeting wish
to place before the club.
8.3
The Secretary shall send a notice convening a special general meeting to the
members not less than 14 days before the meeting. The notice shall specify the
matters to be dealt with at the meeting.
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9.
Procedure at general meetings
9.1
The Chairman shall preside over general meetings. If the Chairman is not
present at the start of the meeting, another member of the committee shall preside.
9.2
Each member attending a meeting shall be entitled to one vote, and resolutions
(other than a resolution to dissolve the club) shall be passed by a simple majority of
those present and voting. In the event of an equality of votes the chairman of the
meeting shall have a second or casting vote.
9.3
The quorum for general meetings of the club shall be ten members.
10.
Finance
10.1 All moneys payable to the club shall be passed to the Treasurer who will
deposit them in a bank account designated for the purposes of the club. No sum shall
be drawn from the bank account except by a cheque signed by the Chairman or the
Treasurer or the Secretary. Any sums not required for the club’s immediate use may
be invested as the committee in its discretion sees fit.
10.2 The income and property of the club shall be applied only in furtherance of the
objects of the club, and no part may be paid by way of bonus, dividend, or profit to
any member, but nothing shall prevent the reimbursement of expenses properly
incurred by any member on behalf of the club.
10.3 The Treasurer shall at the end of each calendar year prepare annual accounts
which shall be checked by another member of the committee before distribution.
11.
Honorary members
11.1 The committee may elect as an honorary member, without payment of any
further subscription, any person who has in the opinion of the committee rendered
services to the club.
11.2 The election will not take effect unless and until confirmed at the next annual
general meeting after the date of the election.
12.
Resignation
A member wishing to withdraw from the club must give notice in writing to the
Secretary.
13.
Expulsion
13.1 The committee may expel any member who offends against the rules of the
club or whose conduct, in the opinion of the committee, renders him or her unfit for
membership of the club.
13.2 Before any member is expelled, the Secretary must give him or her seven
days’ written notice and must inform him or her of the reason for the proposed
expulsion.
13.3 No member may be expelled unless he or she has first been given an
opportunity to appear before the committee and respond to the case for the proposed
expulsion, and at least two-thirds of the committee then present vote in favour of the
expulsion.
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14.
Alteration of rules
The committee may alter or add to these rules, but no alteration or addition shall take
effect until it has been ratified at the next annual general meeting or at a special
general meeting convened for the purpose.
15.
Dissolution
15.1 A resolution to dissolve the club may be proposed only at a special general
meeting and shall be effective only if carried by a majority of three quarters of those
present and voting at the meeting.
15.2 On the dissolution of the club any property remaining after the discharge of
the debts and liabilities of the club shall be transferred to the Oxford Society.
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