CONSTITUTION OF PARKSVILLE UNIT 429

AMERICAN CONTRACT BRIDGE LEAGUE

 

1.   (a) The name of the Society is "PARKSVILLE UNIT 429 AMERICAN CONTRACT BRIDGE LEAGUE" (hereafter known as "The Unit").

      (b) The Unit functions within the bylaws and regulations of the American Contract Bridge League and District 19

 2. The objects of the Society are:

(a) To promote and preserve the best interests of competitive contract bridge.

(b) To cooperate with and assist the League in the promotion and conduct of contract bridge tournaments.

(c) To prescribe rules of eligibility for participation in tournaments under its own auspices.

(e) To obtain facilities and amenities for Unit functions or tournaments and to obtain all licenses and permits for Unit activities for its members.

(t) To cooperate in the League's Charity Program, and to sponsor and conduct charity events with the object of realizing funds to be devoted to worthy humanitarian causes.

(g) To conduct such other activities as may be in keeping with its principal objectives.

 

BYLAWS OF PARKSVILLE UNIT 429

AMERICAN CONTRACT BRIDGE LEAGUE

 ARTICLE I

 UNIT JURISDICTION

The geographical area within which Unit 429 presently has jurisdiction, as assigned to it by the BOARD of DIRECTORS of the AMERICAN CONTRACT BRIDGE LEAGUE, is an area being at this date, Vancouver Island North of the MALAHAT in BRITISH COLUMBIA and the DISTRICT of POWELL RIVER

 

ARTICLE II

 MEMBERSHIP

Any person, normally residing within the playing area of the Unit is eligible for Membership in the American Contract Bridge League (hereafter known as ACBL) and the Unit.Members shall be bound by these BYLAWS, the Unit's CHARTER and the CHARTER and BYLAWS of the ACBLExcept as may otherwise be provided herein, a member shall enjoy and possess all rights of membership equally with all other members, and no person shall be denied membership because of race, creed or colour.Membership in the ACBL shall carry with it membership in the UNIT. If an ACBL member moves into this Unit's assigned area, that member shall, upon completion of the change of address process, become a member of this Unit, unless the member informs the ACBL that he/she wants to remain a member of his/her old Unit. One can only be a member of one Unit.

 

ARTICLE III

Annual dues shall be in the amount fixed by the ACBL and shall be payable on or before the expiration of the member's term of membership.

 

ARTICLE IV

MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

a.       The ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING shall be held on the Saturday morning of the Duncan Sectional Tournament at the site of the Sectional.

b.   The Board of Directors (hereafter known as “the Board) shall give posted notice on the Unit 429 website to members of such a meeting at least fourteen (14) days prior to the meeting.

c.       Special meetings of the members may be called at any time by the Board, or by the President, upon ten (10) days notice to all members. The notice of any special meeting shall contain an Agenda of the matters to be discussed at such a meeting.

d.      A quorum for the transaction of business at any Annual or Special meeting shall consist of twenty-five (25) members, and each member in good standing present shall have one vote.

e.       No proxies shall be permitted.

 

ARTICLE V

 UNIT BOARD OF DIRECTORS

a.       The affairs of the Unit shall be managed and conducted by the Board of Directors which shall consist of

1) One representative elected by each member club.

2)      Three members at large elected at the Unit's Annual General Meeting.

3)      The immediate past President.

b.      No member club shall have more than one member at large on the Board of Directors.

c.       Each club must elect an alternate member who will take the place of the Club Representative if he or she cannot attend the Board of Directors' meetings.

d.      Any Director who is absent from two consecutive meetings of the Board of Directors without acceptable reason, shall no longer be considered to be a member of the Board of Directors.

e.       TERM OF OFFICE

(i) Each Director shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting or until his successor has been duly elected or appointed.

(ii) The Unit's Year shall be from January 1 - December 31.

f.        VOTING PRIVILEGES

Every qualified member shall be entitled to vote for each Director to be elected. All candidates are entitled to have witnesses at the counting.

g.      V ACANCIES

Any vacancy on the Board shall be filled by the Board, and the person or persons so appointed shall hold office for the remaining term of office.

h.      MEETINGS

The Board shall meet immediately following the Annual General Meeting and thereafter at the call of the President. The Secretary shall call a meeting of the Board at the request of the President or upon request in writing of three of its members. Such notices shall be given not less than three (3) days prior to the date of the proposed meeting, unless the matter is of special urgency.

i.        QUORUM

A quorum of the Board, for the transaction of business, shall consist of not less than 1/3 of the Directors

j.        POWERS & DUTIES

Subject to the powers granted by other provisions of these Bylaws, and by the Laws of the Province of British Columbia, the Board shall have the following powers and duties:

(i) To acquire, hold, administer, maintain and dispose of all property of the Unit.

(ii) To lease and sublease upon such terms as it may see fit, such premises as it may deem necessary or advisable to occupy for the objects defined hereunder.

(iii) To administer the funds of the Unit for the objects defined hereunder.

(iv) To hire and discharge employees, and to supervise their conduct, and to fix their compensation.

(v) To conduct, manage, supervise and control all of the business of the Unit included in but not limited to, the conduct of tournaments, the selection of all dates and locations in connection therewith, and the making of all contracts in connection therewith.

(vi) To censure, suspend, expel or otherwise discipline any member. No such member shall be censured, suspended, expelled or otherwise disciplined until he/she has been furnished with written charges, to which he/she has had reasonable time to reply, or until after a hearing of which he/she has received reasonable notice. He/she may be represented by counsel. Disciplinary action by the Unit may be appealed to the National Board of Directors. The rights of the member against whom charges are pending, shall not prevent him/her to play in tournaments unless otherwise directed by the Board.

(vii) To submit to audit all receipts and disbursements of the Unit by an auditor duly appointed at the Annual General Meeting.

 

ARTICLE VI

UNIT OFFICERS

a.       NUMBER

The officers of the Unit shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary , and Treasurer

b.      ELECTION

The Board of Directors shall elect all officers from its membership at its first meeting following the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. The persons elected shall hold office until their successors have been duly elected or appointed.

c.       VACANCIES

 Vacancies shall be filled by the Board

d.      DUTIES

The duties of the Officers shall be as outlined in the Bylaws of the ACBL.

 

ARTICLE VII

 IMPEACHMENT

Any Officer or Director may be removed for cause at any meeting the Board provided a quorum of Directors is present, and that seventy-five percent (75%) of those present shall so vote. Any Officer or Director against whom impeachment charges shall be brought, shall be notified in writing, by Registered Mail, of the charges against him/her, at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting and shall be given an opportunity to be heard before the Board, and to be represented by counsel of his/her own choosing. The action taken by the Board shall be conclusive and final.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS

 Amendments to the Bylaws of the Unit may be made by the members of the Unit upon petition signed by at least twenty-five (25) members and submitted to the Secretary at least fourteen (14) days in advance of the Annual General Meeting, or any special meeting called for the purpose, or upon petition signed by at least five (5) members of the Board, or upon recommendation by majority of the Board. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to incorporate the text of the proposed amendment(s) in the notice of the meeting. The concurrence of seventy-five percent (75%) of all members present and voting shall be required to pass any amendment.

 

ARTICLE IX

 TOURNAMENTS

 The Unit shall have complete authority over all tournaments conducted by it, subject to the regulations of the ACBL.

 

ARTICLE X

 COMMITTEES

The President with the approval of the Board, shall appoint such committees as may be necessary or desirable, to perform the functions of the organization, and the President shall define their duties.The Conduct and Ethics Committee shall be comprised of: President and/or Vice-President, and four members of their choosing.

 

ARTICLE XI

The Seal of the Unit shall be in the custody of the Secretary, and shall be affixed only in the presence of any two officers of the Unit, unless otherwise resolved by the Board. The Secretary shall prepare and have custody of minutes of proceedings of all meetings of the Unit and the Directors as well as other books and records of the Unit which may be inspected by any member in good standing upon reasonable notice in writing being given to the Secretary to produce the same at the usual meeting of the Unit.

 

ARTICLE XII

 The Board shall have no borrowing powers except as may be authorized by an extraordinary resolution of the membership, which shall require a seventy-five percent (75%) majority of all members present and entitled to vote