RULES
1. The Club shall be called the “THE RYECROFT PARK SPORTS CLUB” and shall have for its objects the provision of lawn tennis, bowling, social and other facilities for its members.
Membership of any section of the Club shall be limited at the discretion of the Executive Committee. However, no person shall be denied membership of the Club on the grounds of race, ethnic origin, creed, colour, age, disability, sex, occupation, sexual orientation, religion, political or other beliefs.
The Club is a non-profit-making organisation. All surpluses will be used to maintain or improve the Club’s facilities and in furtherance of the Club’s objects.
2. The general management of the club shall, except as otherwise provided by these rules, be deputed to an Executive Committee to be appointed at the Annual General Meeting and shall consist of the President, Hon. Treasurer, Hon. Secretary (who shall be ex officio members of all committees), three members of the Tennis Committee (normally Hon. Chairman, Hon. Secretary and one other), three members of the Bowling Committee (normally Hon. Chairman, Hon. Secretary and one other) and one member each to represent House Committee and marketing and sponsorship.
The members from the Tennis and Bowling Committees shall be elected at Annual General Meetings of the respective Sections, as provided for in Rule 3, and all other members elected at the Annual General Meeting. A quorum shall be seven members.
3. The nomination and election of Officers and Committees of the Tennis and Bowling Sections shall take place at Annual Meetings of the members of the respective sections, held prior to the Annual General Meeting.
The House Committee is elected at the Annual General Meeting and is the committee responsible for the control and supply of liquor and the sale of liquor to non-members.
Each Committee shall have the power to fill any vacancies in their numbers and co-opt additional members within the provisions of Rule 2.
Any member of a Committee who fails to attend a properly notified meeting on 2 successive occasions may be deemed to have ceased to be a member of that Committee, if a motion to that effect is duly proposed, seconded and carried by the relevant Committee.
Any member of the Executive Committee who fails to attend a properly notified meeting on 2 successive occasions may be deemed to have ceased to be a member of that Committee, the member to be informed in writing, and the appropriate Section or Committee to be asked to nominate another representative, who must be co-opted to the Executive Committee.
4. Nominations for the election of President, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer and Hon. Auditor shall be entered on a nomination sheet to be posted in the club Pavilion fourteen days prior to the date of the Annual General Meeting, or given to the Hon. Secretary in writing. No nomination shall be valid unless provided with the signature of the Proposer and a Seconder and entered on the Nomination Sheet or otherwise in the hands of the Hon. Secretary seven clear days prior to the date of the Annual General Meeting.
5. Nominations for the office of Vice-Presidents may be submitted to the Annual General Meeting, such office to be held until death or resignation, unless removed by a resolution of the Executive Committee or members.
6. The trustees of the Club shall be elected by the members and they shall hold office until death or resignation unless removed from office by a resolution of the Executive Committee or members. The number of Trustees shall be not more than four nor less than two, and the property of the Club shall be vested in them. They shall deal with the property as directed by resolution of the Executive Committee (of which an entry in the Minute Book shall be conclusive evidence) and they shall be indemnified against risk and expenses out of the Club property.
7. The Executive Committee shall be empowered to authorise the Trustees to borrow for the purpose of the club such money, either at one time or from time to time, at such rate of interest, and in such form and manner and upon such security as they shall specify.
8. Applications for membership shall be made either online via the ClubSpark system or on the prescribed form and submitted to the Executive Committee, along with the appropriate subscription payment, for approval by majority vote. Members shall not be entitled to any of the privileges of membership until the subscription is paid. Where the Executive Committee declines an application then any subscriptions paid will be refunded in full.
9. SUBSCRIPTIONS. The subscriptions from 1st April 2024 shall be as follows:
Notes:
a) All ages stated are as at 1 January at the start of the year.
b) All Sports Senior members aged 26 or over in full-time education, or unemployed, may apply for a discretionary subscription, subject to the discretion of the Executive Committee.
c) All Sports Senior members pay a half-price subscription if the member is out of the UK for more than 9 months in a year and a two-thirds rate if out of the UK for more than 6 months in a year.
d) Including £4 for bowls cabin.
10. Annually Paid Subscriptions - subscriptions for the season are due on 1 April each year and payable not later than 30 April of that year. Any member whose subscription is not paid by 30 April shall not be entitled to the privileges of membership. Any member whose subscription for the current year is unpaid by 31 July shall be deemed to have ceased to be a member of the club.
11. Monthly Paid Subscriptions – subscriptions are paid monthly and any member whose subscription is not paid by the end of the month shall not be entitled to the privileges of membership. Any member who has three months outstanding subscriptions shall be deemed to have ceased to be a member of the club.
Monthly memberships can be discontinued at any time. However, if a member wishes to re-join the club and the period between discontinuing and re-starting membership is less than 12 months, then all missing subscriptions must be paid before membership can recommence.
12. The Annual General Meeting of the members of the Club shall be held on the third or fourth Thursday in the month of November. Fourteen days’ notice of the meeting shall be given and exhibited in the Club’s Pavilion. Notices of Motion must be given in writing and must be in the hands of the Hon. Secretary twenty-eight clear days prior to the date of the relative meeting.
13. On the decision of the Executive Committee or at the written request of no more than 30 nor more than one fifth of the total number of members the Hon. Secretary shall call an Extraordinary General Meeting of the members and the object of such meeting, of which seven days’ notice must be given, shall be stated on the noticeboard convening the meeting.
14. The Executive Committee is empowered to make and enforce such Bye-laws as it considers desirable. Except as otherwise provided for the Bye-laws, rules governing play shall be formulated by the Committees representing the Sections concerned and after confirmation by the Executive Committee shall be duly enforceable. Rules governing play in the Billiards Room shall be made by the Executive Committee. Rules governing play of Table Tennis shall be made by the Table Tennis Committee. All Bye-laws and playing rules shall be exhibited on the noticeboards.
15. VOTING. Each member, aged 18 or over, who is entitled to the privileges of membership and whose subscription is not in arrears, shall be entitled to vote at any General Meeting of the Club, and at any properly convened meeting of a section of which he or she is a member.
16. RESIGNATIONS. Notice of resignations must be made in writing to the Hon. Secretary at least seven days prior to the following subscription payment falling due.
17. VISITORS. Upon introduction by a member and upon payment of the prescribed fee or fees, visitors may use the privileges of the Club provided that:
a) If residing within a radius of 10 miles from the Club they may not be able to avail themselves of such privileges on more than three occasions in any one year.
b) If residing outside the foregoing radius they shall be allowed the privileges on terms to be decided by the Executive Committee.
c) In every case the visitor’s name and address be entered in the visitors’ book, signed by the introducing member and the appropriate fee paid.
Members of visiting teams taking part in matches, competitions and other events organised by the Club shall be deemed to be temporary members of the Club for the day or days on which the events take place. The sale of liquor to non-members is prohibited unless they are bona fide guests of members.
18. The permitted hours for the supply of intoxicating liquor shall be those fixed from time to time by the Executive Committee in accordance with the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003 and as notified where necessary to the Magistrates clerk and exhibited in the club lounge.
19. ALTERATION OF RULES. No new Rule shall be made nor any of the Rules herein contained or hereafter made shall be amended, altered or rescinded except with the consent of a majority of the Members present at a General Meeting in respect of which proper notice has been given of such proposed changes or changes.
20. Upon complaint of unbecoming or refractory conduct, for example, rowdy conduct or the use of bad language, the Executive Committee shall investigate the case and, after investigation, shall deal with such member as they deem fit and, if they deem it necessary for the good running of the club and benefit of other club members, shall expel him or her from the club.
21. Additional Conditions Applicable to Tennis Section Membership:
21.1 Defined Terms - in the rules, unless the context requires otherwise:
“Disciplinary Code” means the disciplinary code of the LTA in force from time to time;
“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;
“member” means a member of the club/registered place to play;
“RULES” means the rules of the LTA as in force from time to time;
“Rules” means the rules of Ryecroft Park Sports Club in force from time to time
21.2 Each member agrees as a condition of membership:
(A) to be bound by and subject to the rules (as in force from time to time) and
(B) to be bound by and subject to the RULES and the Disciplinary Code
21.3 Rule 21.2 confers 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 rule 21.2, should be enforceable, by virtue of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999, by any person who is not a party to this agreement.
The Tennis 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 membership set out in this rule.
21.4 The Tennis Committee - the club agrees that each member of the Tennis Committee will be required, as a condition of election or appointment, to agree to be bound by and subject to these rules, the Rules and the Disciplinary Code, 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.
21.5 Coaches and players - 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 agree to be bound by and subject to these rules, the Rules of the LTA, and the Disciplinary Code, by using the said facilities they are deemed to so agree and expressly acknowledge 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.
22. The Executive Committee shall have the power to deal with any matters not covered by, and to give decisions on the interpretation of the foregoing Rules.
THE END