MASONIAN BOWLS CLUB

CONSTITUTION of MASONIAN BOWLS CLUB

as amended October 2026

 

The Club

The society [hereinafter called "the club"] shall be named the Masonian Bowls Club.

Its objectives are to carry on the business of a club by providing for the use of its members facilities for lawn bowls and associated activities, a means of social contact and friendship, mutual help and support and recreation and the provision of hot and cold drinks and, when appropriate, food in the clubhouse together with all the other normal advantages of a lawn bowls club.

The club premises will be located at Dukes Meadow Market Drive Chiswick W4 2RX. The club's name shall be displayed on the outside of the building and marked in legible characters on all notices advertisements and other official publications of the club.

 

Club Rules

These Club rules may be amended only at an AGM. Notice of any proposed amendment shall be circulated to members by WhatsApp, the club’s website or  equivalent use of the internet and posted in the club for at least 10 days prior to the meeting, and any amendment shall require a majority of at least two thirds of the members present at such meeting, and no rules or amendments are valid until so agreed.

 

Membership

Membership of the club is open to all persons of any age from 12 upwards. All persons who have been approved to be members and have paid the relevant subscription, which is fixed at the AGM, shall be known and treated as members, There are two categories of membership:

• playing members;

• social members.​

 

Playing Members

Those who are within this category will have the full use of the club and the club house and all facilities and will be issued with a set of keys for both the clubhouse and the green, and will also be able to use the club for parties and get-togethers

 

Social Members

Those who are within this category will have the use of the club house for a nominated fee. Such use will require a playing member to run the bar, the cost whereof will be included in the fee. They will also be invited to attend any club activities.

                                                                       

Life Members and other honours

In addition to playing and social members, the committee shall have the power to recommend at the next AGM of the club, any member wishing to be considered for life membership. Such membership may be granted to members who have given exceptional service to the club. It shall also be open to the club to appoint any retiring President to hold the title “President Emeritus” for life.

 

Subscriptions

Subscriptions will be due at the start of each new season. On payment, members will be issued on request with a membership receipt for that year. Members must pay the current season's subscription by no later than 2 months after the season start date.

 

Annual General Meeting

An Annual General Meeting will be held at the end of the playing season when all business will be discussed and officers will be elected. This will be held in October of each year.

 

Officers and posts for election

The following officers and posts shall be filled by election at the AGM:

President

Secretary

Treasurer

Committee: 3 plus Treasurer and Secretary

Captain

Selection Committee: 3

Internal Competition Secretary

External Fixture Secretary

Delegates for Middlesex, Richmond & Barnes, Thames Valley and South Middlesex

Development Team: 2

Trustees: 2

 

Special General Meeting

This will be called prior to the start of the season where fixture cards will be handed out and subscriptions can be paid. In addition, names will be taken for inclusion into internal competitions, Richmond & Barnes, Thames Valley, & South Middlesex League. All playing members are required to enter at least one internal competition in each year.

 

The President

The President or his/her nominee shall take the chair at all General Meetings of the club. If a decision at any meeting chaired by the President or his/her nominee needs a casting vote, then the President or that nominee has that vote. Wherever possible the President shall represent the club at important occasions, and shall be in charge of the annual Championship finals game. 

 

The Secretary

He or she shall

• be present at all meetings and will take minutes which will be held on record,

• assist the Treasurer in the purchase of stock and other equipment that is used by the club, handing all receipts for spending to the Treasurer

• issue, if required, the minutes from the previous year for the members' approval.

• take direction from the committee of any alterations or changes to the rules.

 

The Treasurer

He or she shall be responsible for paying into the bank all funds received by the club from all sources, He or she shall also keep such accounts and pay such debts of the club as the committee shall direct and when required render to the AGM, an account of all monies received or expended by him.

 

The Committee

This will consist of 3 members of the club plus the Treasurer and the Secretary. It shall be chaired by the Secretary. It shall meet as often as is necessary and has the following authority and purposes:

• to resolve any dispute raised by or in respect of a member

• to authorise any large expenditure made for or on behalf of the club (as to which the Committee shall have sole authority),

• to recommend the granting of Life Membership and the title of President Emeritus

• to discuss and recommend for the AGM steps to be taken to maintain and improve the activities of the club

• in the event of a vacancy arising amongst the officers by death, resignation, or other cause, to elect a member to fill the vacancy until the next AGM

• to seek volunteers for elected posts

• to direct the Treasurer as to the keeping and rendering of accounts.

 

The Captain

He or she shall liaise with the selection committee on the team selection, and any disputes as to selection shall be decided by him or her.

On days when external matches are played, there is to be attendance at such matches and interaction with the opposition and its captain which will include

• selecting the green

• the completing of the score cards

• introduction on the green

• issuing teams with their cards

• after game speeches

• ensuring that the results are posted on the relevant WhatsApp group and notified to the person running the club’s website.

Those functions are to be carried out by the Captain personally unless he or she is unable to attend in which case the Captain must appoint, notify and brief a playing member of the club team to act as Captain of the Day and to carry out the above functions.

 

The Selection Committee

The selection committee will consist of 3 playing members who will meet and pick the team for the following games from the availability list. If there are not enough names on the list, members of this committee will then contact members to see if they are available.

 

The Internal Competition Secretary

He or she will manage all internal club competitions, including setting the calendar, arranging events, monitoring compliance with deadlines and issuing trophies.

 

The External Fixtures Secretary

He or she will be responsible for organising external fixtures with the relevant league and friendly competitions. and will in conjunction with the Captain be responsible for ensuring that such fixtures run smoothly.

 

Delegates to leagues and other external Lawn Bowls bodies

The delegates will represent the club at any meetings of such leagues or bodies to inform them of any of the club's concerns or disputes and shall be responsible for the collection of any trophies or monies at such meetings.

 

The Development Team

This will consist of 2 members who are highly motivated to see the club succeed; their task will be to organise events on days the club is not being used, to bring the next generation into bowls and otherwise publicise and enhance the activities of the club.

 

The Trustees

Their responsibility is to safeguard the assets of the club, its premises and Bowling Green. There shall be two trustees, one of whom shall be the Secretary.

 

Nominations

All members of the club have the authority to nominate any member to fulfil any of the positions that are required by the club. This can be done prior to the AGM which is fixed for a date in October. If no nominations are submitted for any position, the current holder will remain in post for the following year.

Personal information

Relevant personal information of members - names, addresses, contact details, league status etc, will be held by the Secretary and his delegate. Such information shall be used solely for the bona fide purposes of the club and communications between club and members. No personal information will be shared with any other body without the individual's consent.

 

Association with the club

It is requirement that the club inform English Bowls how many members there are, and it is also helpful to know what subscriptions the club will be receiving the following year. Accordingly, all members will be requested to inform the club at the AGM whether they intend to be members in the following year and, if so, of what type.

 

Friends and guests

A playing member may personally introduce friends or guests into the club for no more than two months, after this time such friends or guests will be asked, as a condition of continuing to attend the club premises, to become members for the agreed subscription. This condition shall not apply to the introduction by any playing member of his or her spouse/partner or other family.

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