St Leonards & St Ives Tennis Club

Club Constitution

The Constitution
Last Updated - November 2005

  1. THE CLUB
    The Club shall be called the St Leonards & St Ives Tennis Club.
  2. COMMITTEE
    The Club shall be run by a committee which shall comprise a Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary, eight senior members and up to two junior members. The Officers shall retire at each Annual General Meeting as shall two other committee members. All retiring members may offer themselves for re-election. Up to four ex-officio members may be appointed at the discretion of the committee. Such ex-officio members would have no voting rights. A representative of the Parish Council will be invited to attend Committee meetings as an ex-officio member. The committee shall nominate representatives to serve on the Village Hall Management Committee. The committee can also elect an acting officer until the following Annual General Meeting in the event of that officer being unable to complete his term of office.
  3. GENERAL MEETING
    Every October there shall be held an Annual General Meeting of which at least 14 days’ notice will be given to all members of the Club. At any other time, a special General Meeting may be called at 14 days’ notice by the committee, or if at least ten members request such a meeting in writing to the Secretary. At all General Meetings, only senior members will be entitled to vote or to nominate a proxy to vote on their behalf.
  4. OBJECTS
    The objects of the Club are:
    (a) to provide facilities for and promote participation of the whole community in the sport of
    tennis
    (b) to provide and maintain Club premises at Braeside Road
    (c) to promote, improve, develop and support the interests of tennis
    (d) to affiliate to the Dorset LTA (and by doing so affiliate to the LTA) and to comply with and uphold the rules and regulations of the Dorset LTA and the LTA as amended from time to time and the rules and regulations of any body to which the LTA is affiliated
    (e) to make rules, regulations, bye-laws and standing orders concerning the operations of the Club including without limitation, regulations concerning disciplinary procedures that may be taken against Members
    (f) to do all such other things as the Committee thinks fit to further interest of the Club or to be incidental or conducive to the attainment of any or any of the objects stated in the Rule 4.

  5. MEMBERSHIP
    5.1 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.

    5.2 Eligibility for Membership

    5.2.1 Persons of either sex are eligible for {full} membership of the Club provided they are
    at least 18 years old.

    5.2.2 Persons below the age of 18 may be elected as Juniors/Infant Members without the
    right to hold Office or vote at general meetings.

    5.3 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 to the Club's members and decided by a majority vote.

    5.4 Classes of Members
    There shall be the following classes of Members for the Club:
    Full Member
    Social Member
    Junior Member
    Infant Member
    Only full Members shall be entitled to receive notice of, attend and vote at General Meetings. The other Members shall be entitled to all the other privileges of membership other than the right to receive notice of, attend and vote at General Meetings.

    5.5 Subscriptions:

    5.5.1 The entrance fee and annual subscription for each type of Member shall be
    determined from time to time by the Committee

    5.5.2 The Members shall pay an entrance fee and annual subscription fee set by the
    Committee

    5.5.3 No candidate who has been elected a Member shall be entitled to the privileges
    of membership until he has paid the entrance fee (if any) and his first annual subscription.

    5.5.4 Any Member whose entrance fee or subscription is not paid by such date as the
    Committee shall decide each year shall be deemed to have resigned his membership of the Club
    5.6 Resignations:
    A Member may withdraw from membership of the Club, Membership shall not be transferable
    in any event and shall cease immediately on death or dissolution or on the failure of the Member to comply or to continue to comply with any condition of the membership set out in these Rules.
    5.7 Honorary Life Membership
    Honorary Life Membership will be granted to members who shall be nominated at theAGM and be accepted by the majority of those present and voting. Life Membership may be offered from time to time at the discretion and on terms as agreed by the Committee.

  6. MANAGEMENT OF FUNDS
    The Committee shall have full power to invest the funds of the Tennis Club to the club’s advantage but shall not be liable for any loss or diminution of such securities.
  7. NOT FOR PROFIT
    The Income and Property of the Club shall be applied solely towards promoting the Club's objects as set forth in this Constitution and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred, directly or indirectly, to the Members of the Club.

  8. CLUB YEAR
    The Club’s financial year will run from 1st April each year to 31st March in the subsequent year.

  9. TRUSTEES
    The Club will appoint Trustees to the lease with the Parish Council for the building and courts: four Trustees who shall be Senior Members.
  10. BORROWING
    10.1 The Committee may borrow an agreed amount on behalf of the Club, for the purposes of the
    club from time to time, at its own discretion and with the sanction of the general meeting.

    10.2 When so borrowing, the Committee shall have power to raise in any way, any sum or sums
    of money and to raise the repayment of any sums or sums of money in such manner on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit, provided that in the event that the repayment of any sum or sums is to be secured the grant of such security must be approved by the Club at a general meeting.

    10.3 The Committee shall have no power to pledge the personal liability of any Member for
    repayment of any sums so borrowed.

  11. DISSOLUTION
    In the event of the dissolution of the Club, any assets remaining after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the Club, but shall be given or transferred to one or more of the following approved sporting or charitable bodies:

    (a) A registered charitable organisation(s).
    (b) Another Club which is a registered CASC.
    (c) The sports national governing body for use by them for related community sports.

  12. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
    Amendments to the Constitution shall only be made at General Meetings and with the approval of a simple majority of those present and entitled to vote.
  13. AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES
    Amendments to the Rules may be made at the discretion of the Committee.

Constitution as agreed at the AGM - November 2005