Constitution & Rules

Constitution 2023-2024

1. Title

   The Club shall be called Handy Cross Indoor Bowls Club.

2. Objectives

   The objective of the Club shall be to promote the indoor game of bowls.

3. Membership
   1. Membership of Handy Cross Indoor Bowls Club is open to all regardless of race, creed, religion or gender.
   2. The Committee shall have absolute discretion to control the number of members admitted to the Club, subject only to clause 13 of this Constitution, and to accept or refuse individual applications for membership or renewal of membership.
   3. The minimum age of a member shall be at the discretion of the Club Committee. Regarding prospective members under 14 years of age the behaviour and action of that member on the green will be taken into account before granting membership.
4. Subscriptions
   1. The subscription is to be determined annually at the General Meeting.
   2. Membership subscriptions shall be paid in advance. It must be the responsibility of the joining member to obtain a receipt for the payment before he or she becomes an officially registered member and is eligible to partake in Club activities or National Competitions.
   3. The Membership year of the Club shall be the period commencing on 1st October and ending 30th September in the following year. Subscriptions not paid by the 30th September shall be deemed to have lapsed membership.
5. Rights, Privileges and Liabilities of Membership
   1. The rights, privileges and liabilities of each member shall be personal to him/herself and shall not in any circumstances be transferable. The member shall comply with the Constitution and Rules of the Club and shall not act in any way detrimental or prejudicial to the interest of the Club or its members.
   2. A list of members’ names, addresses, emails and telephone numbers will be will be stored on a computer at the club's control and will be subject to current legislation on the keeping of such records.
   3. Members are requested to inform the office of any change to this personal information within 7 days of the change being made.
6. Conduct of Members

   A member who disregards any regulation of the Club or is guilty of conduct, which, in the opinion of the Committee, renders him or her unfit for membership, shall be liable to expulsion. Such a member shall be furnished by the Committee with a statement in writing of the charge against him or her and shall be afforded an opportunity of answering them either verbally or in writing. If within a reasonable time no explanation is given, or if in the opinion of not less than a quorum of the members of the Committee at a meeting called for that purpose, the explanation is unsatisfactory, the member may be forthwith expelled.

7. Financial Year

   The financial year shall commence on the 1st April and end on the 31st March.

8. Election of Committee and Officers
   1. The A.G.M will elect the following Club officers and committee.

      President	Vice President
      Treasurer	Assistant Secretary
      Secretary	Club Vice Captain
      Club Captain	League Secretary
      Match Secretary	Fund Raising Organiser
      Competition Secretary	Almoner
      Health and Safety Officer	Office Manager
      Assistant Office Manager

   2. The Club Committee quorum shall be five members.
   3. All nominations for election duly proposed and seconded must be notified to the Secretary at least 21 days prior to the Annual General Meeting.
   4. Sub-Committees to be appointed to deal with ladies’ and men’s matches, competitions,
   5. The Committee has the right to co-opt members if necessary.
9. Audit of Accounts

   An independent audit of the accounts will be arranged by the Committee.

10. Functions of the Committee

    The functions of the Committee shall be:-

    1. To meet at least six times a year.
    2. To receive reports from the Club Secretary, Treasurer and other Officers.
    3. To consider and deal with matters of current administration and matters affecting the interests of the Club, whether raised by Members, Local Authorities or otherwise.
    4. To deal with all questions of emergency.
    5. To submit a report on the Club’s activities to the Annual General Meeting.
11. Annual Report and Statement of Accounts

    The annual report and duly audited statement of accounts shall be submitted to the Annual General Meeting. The date of the A.G.M. will be posted up on the Club notice board 28days prior to the Annual General Meeting. The agenda shall be posted on the Club notice board 14 days prior to the A.G.M. Such notices shall be deemed to be sufficient for Club Members.

12. Alteration of Rules

    These rules shall not be altered or rescinded, except with the consent of the majority of the members present and voting at the Annual General Meeting or at a special meeting convened for the purpose. All amendments must be received in writing by the Club Secretary at least 21 days prior to the meeting. Such notice must be proposed by a member and seconded by two other members.

13. Membership Limitations

    The number of members shall be determined by the committee. When the maximum number is attained a waiting-list shall be operated. However, residents of the Wycombe District Council area will not be denied membership because of this restriction.

14. Dress on the Green
    1. For all organised Club matches, leagues, competitions and roll-ups – grey clothing below the waist is to be worn which may include trousers, skirts, knee length shorts and cropped trousers with any visible socks ankle length. Leggings or blue denim fabric is not permitted. Footwear must be approved bowls shoes.
       Above the waist predominantly white or Handy Cross club shirt  is to be worn, and if desired a jumper/cardigan (either sleeved or sleeveless) in white or light grey can be worn. A Club jacket or similar dark blue top may also be worn. For organised roll-ups and League matches officially recognised branded bowls shirts may be worn.
    2. At non-organised roll-ups only, casual dress is permitted. For specific matches advanced notice will be given that appropriate white clothing below the waist with all white or HCIBC club shirts above the waist.
    3. Under no circumstances are members permitted to wear blue denim jeans on the green.
    4. Smooth soled Bowling shoes must be worn at all times on the green, and to protect the carpet from damage by dirt brought in from outside, members must not enter the bowls complex wearing their bowling shoes.
    5. Failure to comply with the above may result in action being taken under Section 6.
15. Health and Safety
    1. Under no circumstances may food or drink be consumed on the green.
    2. Bags, outdoor clothing and shoes should be left in the changing rooms.
    3. Any member preparing to play on the green must carry their woods along the walkways to their allocated rink. No woods may be bowled across the green to any rink.
    4. No animals are allowed on the club’s premises except for guide dogs, hearing dogs or assistance dogs for people with other disabilities.
16. Indemnity

    The members of the Committee and any Sub-Committee of the Club shall be indemnified, firstly out of the assets of the Club and in the event that the assets of the Club are insufficient then by the Members, against all costs claims and demands made against them, and incurred by them in the proper discharge of their duties. The amount payable by each member shall be in proportion to the subscription paid or payable by them in the accounting year in which the indemnity falls to be paid.

17. Notice of motion for the Annual General Meeting

    Any notice of motion for the A.G.M. must be made, in writing, to the Secretary at least 21 days prior to the meeting. Such notice must be proposed by a member and seconded by two other members.

    The above rules include all the changes approved by the members at annual AGMs