ALTON SOCIAL BOWLS CLUB
CONSTITUTION 

THE CONSTITUTION (REVISED 2025)

1. The Club will be called “ALTON SOCIAL BOWLS CLUB”,
Hereafter to be referred to as “the Club” and shall be affiliated to Bowls England. Leagues currently subscribed to are the North Hampshire Women’s Bowling Association, The Basingstoke and District Bowling Association, The Whitchurch League, Three Counties Bowls Fellowship, however this may change over time as agreed by the committee on behalf of the members.

2. OBJECT
To foster, develop and promote the game of Lawn Bowls at all levels, providing all members of the Community an opportunity to enjoy the sport and to develop individual skills in competitive and recreational bowls. In all dealings with other Bowling Clubs, members of the club shall promote sportsmanship and friendliness both on and off the green.

3. MEMBERSHIP

Membership of the Club shall be open to anyone interested in the sport on application, regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or other beliefs.

The Club may have different categories of membership and subscription on a non-discriminatory and fair basis. The Club will decide upon subscription levels that will not pose a significant obstacle to people participating. However, the number of members may be limited in recognition of the available facilities provided by the Club; if such an event should occur, the limitation would be on a non-discriminatory basis.

The Club Committee may refuse membership, or remove it, only for good cause such as conduct likely to bring the Club or sport into disrepute. Appeal against refusal or removal may be made to the members provided that The Club follows such disciplinary procedures as are recommended by Bowls England from time to time.

The Club membership will consist of:
3.1 Full Members.
Shall be playing members over the age of 18. Membership of the Club shall be open to any person who completes a membership application form and pays the relevant subscription /joining fee as determined by the Club.

3.2 Honorary Life Members.
“Honorary Life Membership” may be confirmed on a Full or Social Member of the Club by a unanimous vote at a Committee Meeting.

3.3 Junior Members
Shall be classified as any young player up to and including 18 years of age at the start of the season that is as of 1st April of that year or in full time education. Junior members will be entitled to the same playing privileges as that of a Full Member.

3.4 Social Members.
The Club Committee shall have the power to appoint any person a Social Member and shall be limited to such numbers as the Club Committee shall decide in the best interests of the Club. They shall have full and free use of the Club premises excluding the Green, and they shall be subject to the same rules and byelaws as other members except that they may not vote at any meeting or introduce visitors.

3.5 Temporary Members.
All members of visiting teams or visiting opponents in matches shall automatically become Temporary Members of the Club for the day of their visit only.

4. LIST OF MEMBERS
The Club Committee shall keep for reference, a list of members and their addresses as required under the Licensing Laws. Every member shall within fourteen days give to the Secretary notice of any change of address.

5. CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP
A member shall cease to be a member if he/she resigns by giving one month’s notice in writing; or if he/she is requested to resign by a resolution of the Club Committee; or if his/her annual subscription remains unpaid by the due date.

6. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS

Annual subscriptions can be paid in one or two instalments. The first is due by January 15th and the second by April 1st each year, this allows the club committee to understand how many competitions to enter and pay fees due to Bowls England etc. The amounts due in each phase to be decided by the Club Committee.
Any member who has not paid the full amount by the April 1st shall (temporarily) cease to be a member and will not be entitled to use the Club premises or play in any competitions.
The annual subscription will be recommended by the Club Committee prior to the Annual General Meeting and will be ratified by the members present.
The subscriptions will be as follows:
(a) Full Members the full amount as set by the Annual General Meeting.
(b) Junior Members up to and including 18 years of age, on 1st April, the full amount as set by the Annual General Meeting.
(c) Social Members will pay a reduced or no fee as approved by an AGM.

7. THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than the 30th November in each year, and not earlier than closure of the green on a date fixed by the Club Committee, 28 clear days written notice of the Annual General Meeting shall be given to Members. Members must advise the Secretary in writing of any business to be included in the agenda at the Annual General Meeting at least 20 days before the meeting. The Secretary shall circulate or give notice of the agenda for the meeting to Members not less than 14 days before the meeting by circulating a copy of the notice to every member by email and posting it on the Notice Board.

7.1 The business of the A.G.M. shall be to:-.

Confirm the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting and any General Meetings held since the last Annual General Meeting.
(i) Receive the accounts for the year from the Treasurer.
(ii) Decide the subscription rates and other fees for the forthcoming year.
(iii). Receive the annual report from the President or such other officer as is nominated by the
Club Committee.
(iv). Elect the Officers, Club Committee Members and Delegates of the Club as prescribed under Clause 7.2 referred to as “The Officers” who together with the Ladies and Men’s Captain shall form the Club Committee.
(v). Transact such other business received in writing by the Secretary from Members 14 days prior to the meeting and which is itemised on the agenda.

7.2 Election of Officers

All Officers, Members of sub-committees and delegates to outside organisations shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Club, from, and by, all members entitled to vote.
All Officers shall be elected for a period of one year, except for the Secretary and Treasurer who shall be elected for a period of three years. Retiring Officers may be re-elected to the same office or another office in the following year.
Nomination of candidates for election of Officers shall be made in writing to the Secretary at least 14 days in advance of the Annual General Meeting date.
The membership vote for Ladies & Gents Captains
Election of the Club Committee will be undertaken by a ballot.
Proxy votes will be accepted and counted in the ballot. Eligible members will only be permitted to use a proxy vote where they have provided their apologies (for absence) to the Club secretary, prior
to the A.G.M. Proxy votes are to be submitted to the secretary in writing 48 hours prior to the AGM.
If there is no nomination for a position the Club Committee has the power to fill the position and shall take in consideration any person who puts their name up late and any/or opinions and views given at the AGM.
The President of The Club will have the entitlement of a second and casting vote, which can be applied in all voting at either the A.G.M. or General and Special Meetings.

8. EXTRAORDINARY MEETINGS

The Secretary shall call an Extraordinary General Meeting in the following circumstances:
(a) Upon the direction of the Club Committee.
(b) At the request, signed by one fifth of the members, stating the special objectives thereof. (No business other than that for which the meeting is specifically called shall be brought before a Special General Meeting).
(c) At least 21 days’ notice of the meeting shall be given.

8.1 A Quorum.
25% of eligible members will form a quorum for General and Special Meetings.
50% of Officers will form a quorum for all Committee Meetings

At all A.G.M’s, General and/or Special Meetings the Chair will be taken by the President or in his absence, by a deputy appointed by the Club Committee.

9. VOTING AT MEETINGS

Decisions made at an A.G.M. General or Special Meeting shall be by a simple majority of votes cast by those members attending the meeting and entitled to vote. In the event of equal votes, the President shall be entitled to a second and casting vote.

Where voting is by ballot, a returning officer will be appointed prior to the voting to adjudicate the ballot and to notify the Chairman of the result of the ballot accordingly. Proxy votes can be allowed.
Voting rights are restricted to Full and Honorary Life Members and will be undertaken with recognition of the provisions. The rights and privileges of a member shall not be transferable.

10. CLUB COMMITTEE

The Club Committee shall consist of:-
a)President b)Secretary c)Treasurer d)Men’s Captain e)Ladies Captain f)Match Secretaries g) Competition Secretary h) Delegates for leagues and Affiliated Bowling Associations.
They shall control the management of the Club including the purchase of such articles as they deem necessary.
The President as Chairman, and in his absence, the delegated Vice President (decided by President or in his absence by club committee), shall have the casting vote.
Any vacancy caused by resignation or otherwise, may be filled by the Club Committee who have the power to co-opt.
The Club Committee shall meet not less than four times during its term.
10.1 Selection Team
The Club Committee have decided to have two selection teams, one for Women and the other for Men. These Selection teams will both be managed by the relevant Team Captains i.e. Ladies and Gents Captains and will have two other members. These additional members will be selected at the AGM by majority vote.
10.2. Bye – Laws

The Club Committee shall have the power to make such bye – laws, as they consider necessary, providing that no such bye – law conflicts with any of the Club Rules. The bye – laws and all changes to them will be displayed in the club house.

11. GREEN COMMITTEE

A Green Committee may be appointed by the Club Committee.
It shall be responsible for the maintenance of the Green and its surroundings. The Green Committee shall make recommendations to the Club Committee for all major expenditure above normal greenkeeping items e.g. fertilizers, top dressing, repairs/servicing of machines
The Club Committee may, if it wishes, appoint one of the members of the Green Committee to be the Green Keeper.
The composition of the Green Committee shall be displayed on the Club Notice Board.

12. FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONs

12.1 Loans

If on any occasion it is decided by the Club Committee that it is necessary to raise a loan, the details must be presented to the membership at a special AGM for their consideration and approval.

12.2 Audit of Accounts

An auditor shall be appointed by the Club Committee, and they shall audit the accounts presented to them by the Treasurer.

12.3 Non-profit Making

All surplus income or profits are re-invested in the Club. No surpluses or profits will be distributed to members or third parties.

13. INDEMNITY CLAUSE

Each member of the Club shall (to the extent that such person is not entitled to recover under any policy of insurance) be entitled to be indemnified out of all funds available to the Club which may lawfully be so applied against all costs, expenses and liabilities whatsoever reasonably incurred by such person in the proper execution and discharge of duties undertaken on behalf of the Club arising there from, or incurred in good faith in the purported discharge of such duties, save in any such case where any such costs, expenses and liabilities arise in connection with any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust.

14. DISSOLUTION

If at any Committee Meeting of the Club, a resolution is passed for the dissolution of the Club, the Secretary shall immediately convene a Special General Meeting of the Club to be held not less than one month thereafter to discuss and vote on the resolution.

If at that Special General Meeting, the resolution is carried by at least three-quarters of the Full Members present at the meeting, the Club Committee shall, thereupon, or at such date as shall have been specified in the resolution, proceed to realize the assets of the Club and discharge all debts and liabilities of the Club.

After discharging all debts and liabilities of the Club, the remaining assets will be disposed of in one or more of the following ways:-
i)To another club with similar purposes which is a registered charity and/or
ii)To another club with similar purposes which is a registered CASC and/or
iii) To The Club’s governing body for use by them for related community sports.

15. CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION

Any proposed alterations to the Club’s Constitution may only be considered at an Annual or Special General Meeting convened with the required written notice of the proposal.

Any alteration or amendment must be duly proposed and seconded. Such alterations shall be passed if supported by not less than two-thirds of those Members present at the meeting, assuming that a quorum has been achieved.

16. THE DECISIONS OF THE CLUB COMMITTEE

These decisions shall be final and binding where these rules are silent.
The Club Committee has the power to make and enforce bye- laws consistent with the Constitution.

Signed by Reginald George Roberts (President)

Date  5th November 2025

Signed by Richard Holden (Hon Secretary)

Date  5th November 2025

Signed by Florence May Ward. (Hon Treasurer).

Date  5th November 2025