BY-LAWS OF THE

BRIDGEWATER DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB




Article 1 Club Name

This club shall be known as the 'Bridgewater Duplicate Bridge Club', hereinafter 'the Club.


Article 2 Purpose and Objects

    1. The purpose of the club is to organize, maintain and promote Contract Bridge, including but not restricted to Duplicate Contract Bridge, in Lunenburg and Queens Counties, Nova Scotia.

    2. The Club shall:

a) organize, maintain and control its assets for the defined purposes of the Club;

b) hold regular, weekly Duplicate Bridge Games except where conflicts occur because of a national holiday;

c) enforce a Zero Tolerance Policy, as published by the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL), in and around the playing area; and

d) establish close relationships with, as well as encourage and assist in the development and organization of other bridge clubs in the area.


Article 3 Membership

    1. Membership shall be open to anyone who:

a) plays in a minimum of ten (10) weekly Club sessions in the previous twelve (12) months;

b) has not been suspended or expelled under these By-laws;

c) has paid any membership fees established by the Club Executive Committee; and

d) is a member in good standing, or is eligible to be a member in good standing of the American Contract Bridge League.

    1. Members must comply with these By-laws and any Club rules which may be established, from time to time, for the orderly operation of the Club.


    1. Failure to comply with these By-laws and Club Rules or any behaviour which disrupts the operation of the Club or brings the Club into disrepute, will be cause for expulsion from the Club, upon consideration by the Executive Committee.


Article 4 Officers of the Club

    1. Officers of the Club shall be:

a) President

b) Immediate Past President

c) Vice President

d) Secretary

e) Treasurer

f) Manager.






Article 5 Executive Committee

    1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Officers and at least two (2) but not more than four (4) Executive Members.

    2. At least one (1) of the Officers or Executive Members shall be a certified ACBL director.The Executive Committee shall:

a) supervise the operation of the Club;

b) determine the time and location of Club play;

c) determine the playing fees for weekly club and special games;

d) be responsible to determine and maintain Club Rules for the orderly transaction of Club business; and

e) appoint standing and special committees and their Chairpersons.


    1. Officers, Executive Members and Committee Chairs shall be responsible to the President and the Executive Committee for the prompt and effective performance of their assigned duties.


Article 6 Election of Officers and Executive Members

    1. Club Officers and Executive Members will be elected for a one year term. They will take office on January 1.

    2. Two months prior to the Annual Meeting the Executive Committee shall appoint a Past President as Chairperson and two (2) Club members, who have indicated they will not be standing for office, to serve as the Nominations Committee. In the event that a Past President is not available to serve as the Nominations Chairperson, the Executive Committee will appoint a suitable Club member to that position.

    3. The Nominations Committee will present candidates for election at the Annual Meeting. Further nominations may be made from the floor providing the nominee is in attendance or has provided written agreement to serve if elected.

    4. Election of Officers and Executive Members, when contested, shall be by secret ballot. To be elected a Nominee must receive a clear majority, fifty (50) per cent plus at least one (1) vote, of the total valid votes cast.

    5. The Nominations Committee will act as scrutineers during the elections.

    6. Should a vacancy occur in an Officer position, the vacancy will be filled by election at a General Meeting in accordance with these By-laws. The successful candidate will serve for the remainder of the term.

    7. Should a vacancy occur in an Executive Member position, the Executive Committee may appoint a member to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term.


Article 7 Duties of Officers and Executive Members

    1. The President shall:

a) be the Chief Executive Officer of the Club;

b) preside at all Annual, General and Executive meetings, when available;

c) promote and further the interests of the Club;

d) preserve the spirit of fair play; and

e) be an ex-officio member of all committees.

    1. The Vice President shall:

a) in the absence of the President, assume the President's duties and responsibilities.




    1. The Immediate Past President shall:.


a) provide advice and support to the President;

b) act as Nominations Chairperson when available.The Secretary shall:

a) keep a complete and accurate account of all business transacted at the Annual, General and Executive meetings;

b) present the recorded minutes at the next meeting;

c) conduct the Club correspondence except that which is the responsibility of the Manager;

d) provide notice of Annual and General meetings, including an agenda, to the Club membership at least two (2) weeks prior to the meeting;

e) maintain a list of the Executive Committee, Committee members and Committee duties;

f) provide information as requested by the Club membership;

g) provide copies of the Club By-laws and Club Rules to each officer, Executive Member and to any Club member, upon request; and

h) act as custodian of all contracts signed on behalf of the Club.

    1. The Treasurer shall:

a) receive all monies and make disbursements for expenses as provided for in these By-laws;

b) ensure all funds are deposited in a bank or institution designated by the Executive Committee;

c) maintain an accurate record of all monies received and paid out;

d) prepare financial statements and provide annual and quarterly reports to the Executive Committee;

e) recommend and Auditor, each year, to the Executive Committee for approval;

f) present investment recommendations, in accordance with Article 9.9, to the Executive Committee for approval.

    1. The Manager shall:

a) be the liaison with ACBL and any other Organizations or Associations that the Club may join;

b) be responsible for correspondence and negotiations with ACBL;

c) maintain the membership list;

d) prepare the calendar of regular and special games for approval by the Executive Committee;

e) make the approved schedule of events available to the membership;

f) negotiate rental agreements for weekly play and tournaments;

g) maintain an adequate supply of playing supplies;

h) determine member voting eligibility at the Annual and General meetings;

i) be the custodian of the Club property;

j) be responsible to ensure that a Director is scheduled for all games; and

k) perform all duties as laid out in ACBL Guidelines For Club Managers.

    1. Executive Members will perform duties as assigned by the President.


Article 8 Meetings

    1. The Annual Meeting shall be held within five (5) weeks of the end of the fiscal year (Article 9.1).

    2. General Meetings may be called by the President, as required.

    3. On written request of five (5) members in good standing, the President will call a General



Meeting within the next thirty (30) days. The request will include the purpose for the meeting.



    1. Notice of the Annual Meeting and all General meetings, including an agenda and starting time, shall be made by the Secretary, at all regular playing sessions two (2) weeks prior to the meeting. Expenditures requiring approval from the General Membership must be on the agenda with the notice of the meeting.


    1. The Agenda for the Annual Meeting shall include:

a) Minutes of the last Annual Meeting;

b) President's Report;

c) Business arising from the minutes;

d) Financial Report;

e) Manager's Report;

f) Unit representative's report;

g) Election of Officers and Executive; and

h) New Business.

    1. The quorum for the Annual and General meetings shall be twelve (12) members in good standing.

    2. Executive Committee meetings will be held a minimum of four (4) times per year.

    3. The quorum for Executive Committee meetings is sixty percent (60%) of the Executive Committee members.


Article 9 Financial

    1. The fiscal year shall be November 1 to October 31st.

    2. Whenever possible, all Club accounts will be paid by cheque.

    3. All cheques issued will be signed by two (2) duly authorized Signing Officers.

    4. Whenever possible, the Signing Officers will be the Treasurer and any one of the following: the President, the Vice President or the Club Manager. In the absence of the Treasurer any two (2) of the above Signing Officers may sign cheques to pay necessary club expenses.

    5. The Signing Officers of the Club may:

a) sign cheques for normal operating expenses, including supplies, up to $500.00 without approval of the Executive Committee;

b) sign cheques for other bridge expenditures up to $1000.00 with prior approval of the Executive Committee; and

c) sign cheques for other bridge expenditures after approval by a majority of voting members present at an Annual or General Meeting.

    1. An audit of Club accounts shall be performed, once a year, by an independent auditor, recommended by the Treasurer and appointend by the Executive Committee. This person need not be a chartered accountant and may or may not be a Club member.

    2. The Audited Financial Report shall be presented at a General Meeting not later than three (3) months after the end of the Fiscal Year.

    3. The Treasurer may establish and maintain a Petty Cash account.

    4. Investments of Club funds shall be in low risk and easily convertible instruments in Canadian dollars, including but not limited to Canadian Money Market Funds, Government of Canada bond issues and GIC's issued by a Canadian Chartered Bank.



    1. The Club shall not borrow funds for any reason.





Article 10 Observance of Club By-laws

    1. Members shall at all times observe and adhere to the By-laws of the Bridgewater

Duplicate Bridge Club.

    1. The provisions of the “Roberts Rules of Order” shall apply when they are applicable and not inconsistent with these By-laws.

Article 11 Amendments to Club By-laws

    1. These By-laws shall not be altered, amended, varied or added to except by Notice of Motion.

    2. Any Notice of Motion must:

a) be given in writing at the General Meeting prior to the one at which it will be given consideration;

b) detail such alteration, amendment, variation, deletion or addition;

c) be brought to the attention of Club members two weeks prior to the next General Meeting;

d) be signed by the member presenting the Notice of Motion;

e) receive a two-thirds majority of the voting members present at the General Meeting at which it is given consideration in order to amend the Club By-laws; and

f) record the number of votes 'for' and 'against' any Motions to amend the Club By-laws.

    1. General reviews of these By-laws will be conducted by a Committee approved at a General Meeting.


President: Original signed by Frank Harlow Secretary: Original signed by Mary Davidson



Date: Signed on December 16, 2009