1. Name

The Club shall be called Broadbridge Heath Tennis Club (the “Club”).
 

2. Definitions

“the Chairman” means the person elected from time to time to be the chairman of the Club in accordance with Rule 7;

“the Secretary” means the person elected from time to time to be the secretary of the Club in accordance with Rule 7;

“the Treasurer” means the person elected from time to time to be the treasurer of the Club in accordance with Rule 7;

“the CLTA” means the (Sussex) County Lawn Tennis Association;

“the LTA” means (LTA CLG) and its subsidiaries or such successor entity or entities as become(s) the governing body of the game of lawn tennis from time to time

“the Executive Committee” means the committee appointed pursuant of Rule 7 to manage the Club;

“the Members” means the members of the Club/registered place to play  admitted from time to time to membership of the Club in accordance with Rule 5.

“disciplinary code”  means the disciplinary code of the LTA in force from time to time               

3. Objects

The objects of the Club are:

a. to promote, improve, develop and support the interests of tennis;

b. to take and retain a membership of the CLTA (and by doing so become and remain registered as an associate of the LTA) and to comply with and uphold the Rules and Regulations of the CLTA as amended from time to time and the LTA Rules and the LTA Disciplinary Code and the rules and regulations of any body to which the LTA is registered or affiliated;

c. to make rules and regulations concerning the operation of the Club;

d. to do all such things as the Executive Committee thinks fit to further the interests of the Club or to be incidental or conducive to the attainment of all or any of the objects stated in this Rule 3.
 

4. Application of Profit

The Club is a non-profit making organisation. All profits and surpluses will be used to maintain or improve the Club’s facilities and in the furtherance of the Club’s objects. No profit or surplus will be distributed other than to another non-profit making body on winding-up or dissolution of the Club.
 

5. Membership

5.1. Categories of membership

Junior - Persons who are 8-18 years at the beginning of the Club’s membership year (1 April).

Student - Persons aged 25 or under and in full time education beyond secondary school at the beginning of the Club’s membership year (1 April).

Adult - Persons not falling in either the junior or student membership categories.

Family - Potentially beneficial membership category for adult and junior members living as a family unit. Each person covered by a single family membership will be a Member of the Club, adults being Adult Members and juniors, as defined, being Junior Members.

In some instances, at the absolute discretion of the Executive Committee, it may be appropriate to admit persons to Life or Honorary Membership of the Club. These types of membership will usually be given to Members in recognition of service to the Club.

All Club Members aged 18 and over shall be entitled to receive notice of, attend and vote at general meetings.

5.2. Admission of members

Any person who wishes to become a Member must submit an application in such a form as the Executive Committee shall decide. Every candidate for membership shall be considered by the Executive Committee, which shall, at its absolute discretion, decide whether to admit that candidate as a Member.

Each member agrees as a condition of membership:
a. to be bound by and subject to these rules ( as in force from time to time)
b. to be bound by and subject to the Rules and Disciplinary Code of the LTA

Rule a. and b. above confer a benefit on (the LTA) and, subject to the remaining provisions of this Rule, is intended to be enforceable by (the LTA) by virtue of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties)Act 1999.for the avoidance of doubt, the members do not intend that any term of these Rules, apart from a. and b. above, should be enforceable, by virtue of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999, by any person who is not party to this agreement.

The Club agrees that all unlicensed and unregistered coaches and, so far as reasonably practicable, players and other persons using the facilities of the club will be required, as a
condition of such use, to be  bound by and subject to these rules, the Rules and the DisciplinaryCode, such agreement to contain an express acknowledgement that the
Contracts(Rights of Third parties) Act 1999 applies and that the LTA and the club can enforce any breach at its option and in its sole discretion.
             

5.3 Subscriptions

The annual subscription for each type of Member shall be determined from time to time by the Executive Committee.

Subscriptions shall be due on 1 April each year. Any Member who has not paid their subscription by 1 June each year may be debarred from the privilege of membership at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

6. Expulsion

6.1 The Executive Committee shall have the power to expel a Member when, in its opinion, it would not be in the interests of the Club for him or her to remain a Member and the Management Committee may terminate the membership of any person, or impose any other sanction they determine to be appropriate, in connection with the breach of any condition of membershipset out in these rules.

6.2 A Member shall not be expelled unless he or she is given 14 days’ written notice of the meeting of the Executive Committee at which his or her expulsion shall be considered and written details of the complaint made against him or her.

6.3 The Member shall be given the opportunity to make written representations and/or to appear before the Executive Committee and at any such meeting to answer complaints made against him or her. A Member must not be expelled unless at least two-thirds of the Executive Committee then present vote in favour of his expulsion.
 

7. The Executive Committee

7.1 The Club shall be managed by an Executive Committee consisting of:

a. The Chairman;
b. The Secretary;
c. The Treasurer;
d. At least five, but no more than seven, other Members elected annually at the annual general meeting.

7.2 The Executive Committee members shall be proposed, seconded and elected at the annual general meeting. Any Member is eligible to stand for the Executive Committee and must be proposed and seconded by Members of the Club. If there is only one candidate standing to fill a vacancy, that candidate shall be elected unopposed at the annual general meeting. If there is more than one candidate for a particular vacancy there shall be an election, determined by a simple majority, at the annual general meeting. The Club agrees that each member of the Management Committee will be required, as a conditionof election or appointment, to be bound by and subject to these rules, the Rules and Discretionary code, such agreement to contain an express acknowledgement that the Contracts (Rights of  Third Parties) Act 1999 applis and that the LTA and the Club can enforce any breach at its option and in its sole discretion.

7.3 Members of the Executive Committee elected at the annual general meeting serve on the Executive Committee until the next annual general meeting when those persons retire but shall be eligible for re-election.

7.4 The Executive Committee shall have the power to fill vacancies in their number and co-opt up to two more Members to join the Executive Committee at their discretion. Those Members co-opted shall serve on the Executive Committee until the next annual general meeting when those persons shall retire but shall be eligible for re-election.

7.5 A member of the Executive Committee shall be deemed to have vacated office if:

a. he or she resigns his office by notice to the Club of at least two months; or
b. he or she is absent without sufficient reason for more than three consecutive meetings of the Executive Committee without permission of the Executive Committee and the Executive Committee resolves that his or her office be vacated; or
c. he or she is requested to resign by all of the other Executive Committee members acting together.

8. Proceedings of the Executive Committee

8.1 The Executive Committee meetings shall be held as often as the Executive Committee thinks fit provided there shall not be less than two meetings each year. For such meetings, five members of the Executive Committee shall form a quorum and must include not less than two of the Chairman, Treasurer or Secretary.

8.2 The Chairman shall be the chairman of the Executive Committee. The Chairman shall preside at every meeting of the Executive Committee at which he or she is present. If the Chairman is not present, the Treasurer or Secretary shall preside as appointed by the members of the Executive Committee.

8.3 Decisions of the Executive Committee shall be made by a simple majority and in the event of equality of votes the Chairman (or the acting chairman of that meeting) shall have the casting or additional vote.

8.4 The Executive Committee may from time to time appoint from its number such sub-committees as it considers necessary and may delegate to them such of the powers and duties of the Executive Committee as the Executive Committee may determine. All sub-committees shall periodically report their proceedings to the Executive Committee and shall conduct their business in accordance with the directions of the Executive Committee.

8.5 The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the management of the Club and shall have the power to enter into contracts for the purposes of the Club on behalf of all the Members.

8.6 Every member of the Executive Committee or agent of the Club shall be indemnified by the Club and the Executive Committee shall pay all costs, losses and expenses which any such member of the Executive Committee or agent may incur or for which he or she may become liable by reason of any contract entered into or act or thing done by him or her in good faith as such member of the Executive Committee or agent in accordance with instructions of the Executive Committee or of a general meeting of the Club or otherwise in the discharge of his or her duties. The Executive Committee may give to any member of the Executive Committee or agent of the Club who has incurred or may  be about to incur any liability at the request of or for the benefit of the Club such security by way of indemnity as may seem expedient.

9. Annual General Meeting

9.1 The annual general meeting of the Club shall be held within two months of the end of the summer playing season (which is 30 September) at such time as the Executive Committee shall decide to transact the following business:

a. to receive the Chairman’s report of the activities of the Club during the previous year;

b. to receive and consider the accounts of the Club for the previous year and the Treasurer’s report as to the financial position of the Club;

c. to elect the members of the Executive Committee;

d. to decide on any resolution which may be duly submitted in accordance with Rule 9.2 below;

e. to deal with any special matters which the Executive Committee desires to bring before the membership.

9.2 Notice of any resolution proposed to be moved at the annual general meeting shall be given in writing to the Secretary not less than 21 days before the meeting, unless otherwise agreed by the Executive Committee.
 

10. Extraordinary general meetings

An extraordinary general meeting may be called at any time by the Executive Committee and shall be called within 14 days of receipt by the Secretary of a requisition in writing signed by not less than five Members stating the purposes for which the meeting is required and the resolutions proposed.

11. Procedures at the annual and extraordinary general meetings

11.1 The Secretary, or designated member of the Executive Committee, shall email or send to each Member at his last known address written notice of the date of the general meeting together with the resolutions to be proposed at least 14 days before the meeting.

11.2 The quorum for the annual and extraordinary general meetings shall be 12 Members.

11.3 The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Club, but if he or she is not present at the meeting the Members present may choose one of the other members of the Executive Committee present to preside and if no other member of the Executive Committee is present or willing to preside the members present may choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.

11.4 Each Member present shall have one vote and resolutions shall be passed by a simple majority of those members present and voting.

11.5 The Secretary, or in his or her absence a member of the Executive Committee, shall take minutes at annual and extraordinary general meetings.
 

12. Alteration of the rules

These Rules may be altered by resolution at an annual or extraordinary meeting provided that the resolution shall not be passed unless carried by a majority of the Members present and voting at the general meeting, the notice of which contained particulars of the proposed alteration or addition.

13. Regulations

The Executive Committee shall have power to make, repeal and amend such regulations as it may from time to time consider necessary for the wellbeing of the Club. Such regulations and any repeals or amendments to them shall have effect until set aside by the Executive Committee.
 

14. Finance

14.1 All moneys payable to the Club shall be received by the person authorised by the Executive Committee to receive such monies and shall be deposited in a bank account in the name of the Club, or paid directly in to the Club’s bank account by electronic transfer. Withdrawls from the Club’s bank account may be made either by cheque or by electronic transfer. Cheques may be signed by either the Chairman or the Treasurer for amounts up to £500; for amounts greater than £500 cheques require the signature of both the Chairman and Treasurer. Disbursmennts made by electronic transfer greater than £250 require internal written authorisation by the Chairman which must be provided via email to the Treasurer before instructiona are issued to the bank. Any monies not required for immediate use may be invested as the Executive Committee in its discretion thinks fit.

14.2 Subject to Rule 16.3, the income and property of the Club shall be applied only in furtherance of the objects of the Club and no part shall be paid by way of bonus, dividend or profit to any Member.

14.3 The financial transactions of the Club shall be recorded in such a manner as the Executive Committee thinks fit by the Treasurer.

14.4 Full accounts of the financial affairs of the Club shall be prepared each year. The Club’s financial year runs from 1 October to 30 September and the accounts will cover this period. A report on these accounts shall be prepared by an independent person. The accounts must be made available to every Member when notice concerning the annual general meeting is given.
 

15. Borrowing

The Executive Committee may borrow money on behalf of the Club for the purposes of the Club with the sanction of a general meeting.
 

16. Dissolution

16.1 A resolution to dissolve the Club shall only be proposed at an extraordinary general meeting and shall only be passed by a majority of at least three-quarters of the Members present and voting.

16.2 The dissolution shall take effect from the date of the resolution and the members of the Executive Committee shall be responsible for the winding-up of the assets and liabilities of the Club.

16.3 Any property remaining after the discharge of the debts and liabilities of the Club shall be paid or distributed to another non-profit making body.