The Constitution of Repton Tennis & Rackets Club

1. The Club shall be called “Repton Tennis & Rackets Club”. It will be run as a Community Amateur Sports Club. The main purpose of the club is to provide facilities for and to promote participation in the amateur sport of Tennis in Repton and the surrounding area.

2. The management of the Club shall be in the hands of the General Committee consisting of the Chair, the Secretary, the Treasurer and the Welfare Officer, elected by ballot at the Annual General Meeting.

3. Membership of the Club shall be open to all persons irrespective of ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or beliefs, or of age, sex or disability except as a necessary consequence of the requirements of Tennis as a particular sport. All members of the club will be expected to adhere to the club’s Diversity and Inclusion Policy at all times

The Club may refuse membership or expel from membership only for good and sufficient cause such as conduct or character likely to bring the Club or sport into disrepute. Appeal against such a decision may be made according to the Club’s Complaints Procedure

4. The subscription for members and court fees for non-members shall be determined each year at the Annual General Meeting of the Club. All subscriptions shall be paid by September 1st. Members of visiting clubs shall be deemed Honorary Members for the day. 

5. Any casual vacancy occurring in the General Committee or among the Officials shall be filled by the General committee. Any person so appointed shall retain his office so long only as the vacating or retiring officer would have retained the same if no vacancy had occurred.

6. A Special Meeting of the Club shall be called by the Secretary on request in writing of ten members of the club. Four days’ notice shall be given of the meeting, which must be called within one month of the receipt of the request. The notice convening the meeting shall specify the business of the meeting.

7. The Club financial year shall end on the 31st day of October and the Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held by the end of February. Only members who shall be over the age of sixteen years at the date of the meeting shall be entitled to attend and vote thereat. Ten days’ notice of the meeting shall be given in writing to all members. All questions shall be decided by a majority of votes and the Chair shall in addition to his vote as a member of the club, have a second or casting vote. Every candidate for an office of the Club shall be proposed and seconded by two members entitled to vote, must have been members for the previous two years and be not less than sixteen years of age. 

8. Alterations to the Constitution of the Club shall be made only at the Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting called for that purpose.

9. The General Committee shall have power to formulate or revise bye-laws of the Club but not in such a way as to alter or amend the constitution.

10. The Accounts of the Club shall be examined by an auditor appointed at the Annual General Meeting and the statements of Accounts so examined shall be presented to the Annual General Meeting.

11. Applications for temporary membership shall be considered by the General Committee and the subscription fixed by the General Committee.

12. The General Committee shall have power to elect non-playing members and the subscription payable by them. The General Committee shall have power to elect a number of Vice-Presidents.

13. The General Committee shall have power to enter the Club in any competition sponsored by Derbyshire L.T.A. or by a similar body and to organise competitions for members of the Club, together with open tournaments on behalf of the Derbyshire L.T.A.

14. Any matter not covered by the Constitution and Bye-Laws shall be referred to the General Committee for decision.   

15. The General Committee shall have power from time to time to elect as honorary and/or life members of the Club, without entrance fee or subscription, ladies and gentlemen of distinction, or those who have rendered valuable service to the Club. Such honorary and/or life members shall enjoy the full privileges of the Club.

16.    Borrowing Powers

I.          If at any time the Club in general meeting passes a resolution authorising the General Committee to borrow money;

I. (a)       The General Committee or the Trustees acting at the direction of the General Committee may then borrow for the purposes of the Club the amount of money (either at one time or from time to time) and at the rate of interest, in the form and manner and upon the security specified in the resolution, and

I.(b)       the trustees must at the direction of the General Committee make any disposition of the Club property or any part of it and enter into any agreement in relation to the Club property as the General Committee thinks proper to give security for the loan and interest.

II.         Every member of the Club, whether he / she votes on a resolution authorising borrowing or not, and everyone becoming a member of the Club after the passing of such a resolution, is deemed to have assented to the  resolution as if he/she had voted in favour of it.

III.        Until any resolution is passed that supersedes this power, the General Committee or the Trustees acting at the direction of the General Committee may borrow up to the sum of one thousand pounds.

17. The income and property of the Club shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objects of the Club as set forth in this constitution, and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred, directly or indirectly, by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise, to the members of the Club or third parties.

18. The members may vote to wind up the Club if not less than three quarters of those present and voting support that proposal at a properly convened general meeting

The Committee will then be responsible for the orderly winding up of the Clubs affairs.

THE BYE- LAWS OF REPTON TENNIS & RACKETS CLUB

1. The courts are solely for the purpose of lawn tennis and no other sport.

2. The courts shall be reserved for use by

a. All members, senior and junior

b. Members of visiting clubs and open tournament players

c. Children from local schools, during schools hours

d. Non members on a ‘pay as you play’ basis

e. Members and non-members of specific groups engaged in coaching sessions.

The Committee will be responsible for allocating specific court time to accommodate people categorised in b, c, d and e above. At all other times, club members will have sole right to use the courts, with no prejudice between senior and junior members.

Management policies regarding court access and availability will be determined by the Club Committee and communicated to all members and other parties concerned.

3. Flat-heeled, rubber soled shoes shall be worn by all players.

4. The last set of players shall see that the nets are left properly secured.

5. No child under 10 years of age is allowed to play unless accompanied by an adult.

6. The Club will adhere strictly to its Safeguarding Policy and ensure that all people working with children are familiar with the policy contents.

7. All members and visitors should adhere to the club’s Code of Conduct at all times