Constitution

NAME

The Club shall be known as the Haverfordwest Tennis Club (hereinafter called the “Club”).

The Club is situated at The Parade, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA61 1RT (hereinafter called the “Parade”).

AFFILIATION

The Club shall be affiliated to, bound by and subject to the articles of association of Tennis Wales Ltd. of the Lawn Tennis Association (hereinafter called the “LTA”).

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To:

(a) provide tennis, social and other activities and generally to encourage and facilitate the playing of tennis;

(b) provide and maintain, in accordance with the Club’s lease, the Club premises at the Parade;

(d) provide coaching and coaching facilities for children and beginners in Pembrokeshire;

(e) provide such other benefits to its Members as it shall think fit;

(f) affiliate to Tennis Wales Ltd (and by doing so affiliate to the LTA) and to comply with and uphold the Rules and Regulations of both bodies as amended from time to time;

(g) acquire, establish and operate for the Members' benefit the tennis court facilities of the Club, together with buildings and easements, fixtures and fittings and accessories as shall be thought advisable;

(h) make rules concerning the operation of the Club including, without limitation, rules concerning disciplinary procedures that may be taken against the Members;

(I) discipline the Members where permitted by the rules;

(j) do all such other things as the 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.

MEMBERSHIP

The Club shall consist of:-

(a) President.

(b) Senior Members, comprised of:-

(i) Adult Members, who shall be 18 years of age or over on the 1st April;

(ii) Young Adult Members, who shall be 19 - 24 years of age on the 1st April;

(iii) Family Members, who shall be 18 years of age or over on the 1st April and reside with at least one Junior Club Member;

(iv) Life Members, who may be elected at an Annual General Meeting.

(v) Country Adult Members, whose main residence shall be over 50 miles from the Club.

(i) Junior Members, who shall be under 18 years of age on the 1st April or still attending school;

(ii) Family Junior Members, who shall be under 18 years of age on the 1st April or still attending school and resides with at least one Senior Club Member.

(iii) New Junior Member who shall be under 18 years of age on 1st April or still attending school and who has not been a member of Haverfordwest Tennis Club in the previous 5 years.

(iv) Intermediate Member by invitation only and who shall be under 18 years on 1st April or still attending school.

(d) Parent/Guardian Members, who shall be 18 years of age or over on the 1st April, providing access to the Clubhouse facilities and who may use the Club courts to play with their child/children (who are Members) during the hours of play allocated for Juniors (see Rule R4.4). This category of Member shall have no voting rights.

(herein called “Member(s)”).

Senior membership shall consist of no more than 60 Senior Members per available non floodlit Club court or 80 Senior Members per available floodlit Club court.

Subject to C4.2, membership of the Club shall be open, and not unreasonably restricted on the grounds of sex, race or of political, religious or other opinions, to any person in the area who is prepared to accept and support the Aims and Objectives of the Club.

In accepting membership, a person agrees to and is bound by the Constitution and Rules of the Club and is subject to the LTA Rules and Disciplinary Code.

Only Senior Members shall be entitled to receive notice of, attend and vote at the Annual General meeting and any Extraordinary General meeting.

Junior Members will be represented on the Committee by one elected Member.

Members will be invited to renew their membership on the 1st April, the invitation to detail the available membership categories and respective subscriptions.

The method of admission of candidates for membership shall be a matter for the Committee, whose decision shall be final.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Fees shall apply to Senior, Family, Junior, Parent/Guardian Members and visitors and shall be determined at the Annual General Meeting.

Subscriptions must be paid before a Member may play on the courts or be entitled to the privileges of Membership.

Annual subscriptions are due on the 1st April each year and are payable to Haverfordwest Tennis Club. Any Member whose subscription is not paid by the 30th April shall be required to pay an amount decided upon by the Committee, in addition to their subscription, upon their request for renewal of membership.

Visitors may be allowed to use the courts 1,2 and 3 at the discretion of the Committee, providing they are accompanied by a fully paid-up Member of the Club. Responsibility for payment of their fee to the Treasurer rests with the Member. There will be a maximum limit of three visits per season.

Life Members, the Club Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary and Head Coach shall be entitled to have their subscriptions waived.

The Club Committee may decide upon other charges or subscriptions at its discretion, on a Season basis.

SEASON

The playing season (herein called the “Season”) shall commence on the 1st April each year and shall be continued throughout the ensuing twelve months or for such period as the Committee shall decide.

OFFICERS

The Officers of the Club shall be:

(a) Chairperson;

(b) Secretary;

The Officers shall hold office for a calendar year, being elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. All Officers shall retire but shall be eligible for re-election.

Any casual vacancy occurring may be filled by the Committee.

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

The management of the Club shall be vested in the Management Committee (herein called the “Committee”).

The Committee shall act for the Members, in accordance with the Constitution, in honesty and good faith. Liabilities incurred fall upon the membership.

The Committee shall comprise:

(a) Officers:

(i) Chairperson;

(ii) Secretary;

(iii) Treasurer.

(b) A further nine Members to include:

(i) Membership Secretary;

(ii) Men’s Captain;

(iii) Ladies’ Captain.

(iv) A Senior Member representing the Junior Membership named the Junior Coordinator.

(v) Safeguarding Officer

Meetings shall be convened by the Secretary giving 14 days notice and a minimum of 9 meetings to be held throughout the Season.

The date and time of each meeting to be agreed at the previous meeting. If a meeting has to be cancelled for any reason, a new date must be arranged as soon as possible.

In the absence of the Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson shall be appointed by the Committee Members present at the particular meeting.

Quorum for meetings shall be five. Committee Members should attend at least 50% of all meetings.

It shall be the responsibility of the Committee to set and implement the Club Rules, and composition of the Membership categories.

Every proposal at a meeting shall be carried by a simple majority of those present and eligible to vote. The Chair shall have a casting vote in addition to a deliberate vote.

The interpretation of the Club Constitution and composition of the Membership categories shall be vested in the Committee, who shall decide all questions relating to the Club, save otherwise those specified in, or involving an amendment to the Constitution.

The Committee shall have the power to appoint Trustees, who must be Senior Members of the Club, the number of which should be no more than four and no less than two.

The Committee shall have the power to appoint Sub-Committees, as they think fit, to assist in the undertaking of their duties.

The Committee may delegate any or all of its powers to such Sub-Committees at its absolute discretion.

The Committee shall have the power to co-opt Members as they think fit to assist in the undertaking of their duties.

The Committee may employ professional advice at its discretion.

The first Committee meeting after the Annual General Meeting shall confirm the Minutes thereof.