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SABLES BOWLING ASSOCIATION

CONSTITUTION

1) NAME: The Association shall be called the “Sables Bowling Association”, hereinafter referred to as the Association, and shall be affiliated to Bowls South Africa.

2) DEFINITIONS: In this Constitution, unless the context otherwise indicates:

“AFFILIATED CLUB” means a Bowling Club, which is affiliated, to the Association.

“COUNCIL” means the Council of the Association, which shall consist of the Executive, together with a delegate from each Affiliated Club. “EXECUTIVE” means the President, Vice-President, Immediate Past President, Competition Secretaries (Men and Women) together with 4 (four) members elected under Clause 9 of this Constitution and any co-opted member/s “GUIDELINES” means rules of procedure relating to the general administration of the Association, which are not embodied in the Constitution, and which are not inconsistent therewith. “HONORARY LIFE MEMBER” means a person to whom such honour has been conferred in terms of Clause 10 of this Constitution. “ORGANISATION” means an organised system or Body of Persons e.g. The Sables Players Organisation The Sables Senior Men’s Organisation The Sables Senior Women’s Organisation “REGISTERED MEMBERS” means those members of an affiliated Club who are enrolled as such and in respect of whom the Club has paid affiliation fees in terms of Clause 5 (b) of this Constitution. “STANDING COMMITTEES” shall mean: The Sables Bowls (Umpires) Technical Officials Committee The Sables Bowls Coaches Committee The Sables Bowls Green Keepers Committee The Sables Bowls Constitution Committee The Sables Bowls Development Committee

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(and/or such Standing-Committees as circumstances may require. 3) OBJECTS:

a) The objects of the Association shall be generally to promote, safeguard and foster the game of bowls in the area under its jurisdiction in every legitimate way, by general control of the game through this Constitution and Regulations, in no way inconsistent with the Constitution and Bye-laws of Bowls South Africa.

b) To consider and deal with all matters which may, from time

to time, be submitted to the Association by any of its Affiliated Clubs, Standing Committees/Organisations, the Executive of Bowls South Africa, or any other organisation or body.

c) To act as a Court of Appeal to all matters concerning the

game, which fall within its jurisdiction. 4) MEMBERSHIP:

a) Membership of the Association shall consist of Affiliated Clubs situated within a radius of approximately 100 kilometres from Krugersdorp.

Any Bowling Club within the area under the jurisdiction of the Association and having a bowling green in use or actually in the course of construction, which conforms to the Laws of the Game, may apply for membership of the Association.

b) Each application for membership shall be submitted in

writing to the Association Secretary and shall be accompanied by:-

i) A copy of the Constitution of the Club/Organisation ii) A specimen of its colours iii) A list of Office Bearers iv) An indication of the members or anticipated number

of members.

c) Each such application shall be considered at the next meeting of the Executive after the date on which the Association Secretary receives it.

5. SUBSCRIPTIONS AND LEVIES:

a) Each affiliated Club shall, not later than the 31st October each year, render to the Association Secretary a return showing its total registered membership in detail.

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b) A Player may be a member of more than one Club within the District. The said Player shall be responsible for an affiliation fee to be paid through his Club of preference to the District not later than the 31st December; which will include amounts due to Bowls South Africa. The Club of preference shall be the only Club responsible for an affiliation fee.

c) Any Club, which fails to pay the affiliation fee referred to in

sub-paragraph (b) hereof by the 31st December of the year in which it falls due, shall forfeit all of its rights and privileges of its members so long as such fee or sum or amount remains unpaid.

d) Any Club removing the name of a person from its register of

members as a result of default or misdemeanour shall report such action to the Association Secretary. Such report shall be read at the next meeting of the Executive, which shall take such action as may be decided upon.

e) The Executive shall be empowered to impose upon

affiliated Clubs such levies as may be found necessary.

f) A Club wishing to affiliate before the end of the financial year shall be deemed liable for full affiliation fees and levies for that year

5) DISAFFILIATION:

Any Club wishing to disaffiliate from the Association must give Notice in writing of its intention to do so, and shall be liable for all fees and levies due in terms of Clause 5 up to the 31st December following the date of such Notice.

6) LAWS OF THE SPORT OF BOWLS, BOWLS SOUTH AFRICA

CONSTITUTION AND BYE-LAWS:

The Laws of the Sport of Bowls and the Constitution and Bye-Laws of Bowls South Africa shall be binding on the Association and on all affiliated clubs and registered members.

7) ASSOCIATION COLOURS AND EMBLEMS:

a) Association Badge: The Association Badge shall be a Sables Head on a Gold Oval background, and surrounded by a Laurel. Below the laurel shall be the words “SABLES BOWLING ASSOCIATION”.

b) Flag:

The Association shall have a distinctive flag of navy blue with the Association Badge depicted in the centre.

c) Badges:

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i) Lapel, Pocket and Merit Badges: The Association Lapel Badge, Pocket Badge and Merit Badge shall be replicas of the Association Badge.

ii) Merit Badge Award:

The presentation of the Merit Badge shall be confined to:

Past Presidents of the District from 1995 onwards, Officers and Past Officers of the Association viz. Vice-Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer and Competition Secretaries. In this regard to the three latter Officers, the award of the Merit Badge will be subject to their having served in their respective capacities for at least three (3) years.

Executive Members and Past Executive Members who have served a period of five (5) years on the Executive (not necessarily consecutive).

At the discretion of the Executive to be considered at the Annual General Meeting, a Merit Badge may also be awarded to persons who have rendered service of an exceptional nature to the District.

d) Tie (Men) / Scarves (Women):

i) The Association Tie shall be navy blue, incorporating

the Association Badge. ii) The Association Scarf shall be navy blue,

incorporating the Association Badge. e) Hatband:

The Hatband of the Association shall be navy blue in colour and carry the lettering “SABLES” in Gold.

f) Association Blazer:

The Association Blazer, shall be at the individual’s cost, and shall be plain navy blue with a breast pocket incorporating the Association Badge.

g) President’s Badge:

The President, each year, shall be supplied, at the expense of the Association, with a Blazer Pocket Badge and a special Lapel Badge, both recording the Office and year thereof.

h) Representative Blazer:

The Association’s Representative Blazer, shall be at the cost of the individual, and shall be of similar design to the

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Executive Blazer, with the Association Pocket Badge and a distinctive representative scroll. (These items awarded shall become the property of the recipient, although these may be taken away at the discretion of the Council, with the exception of the Blazer.)

i) The Standing Committees/Organisations, while under the

jurisdiction of the Association, may, at the discretion of and with the approval of the Executive, select their clothing, colours and emblem, other than the Association Representative’s Blazer as laid out in Clause 8 (h), which shall be worn by all Association Representatives on formal official events.

8. ADMINISTRATION:

a) The affairs of the Association shall be governed by the Council and managed by the Executive.

b) An Affiliated Club situated approximately 80 kilometres or more from Krugersdorp may appoint a Proxy Delegate, being a member of another affiliated Club. Proxy Delegates so appointed shall obtain consent from the Clubs of which they are members before accepting such appointment. Notwithstanding what is contained in this Clause, no Affiliated Club shall be permitted to represent by proxy more than one other Affiliated Club.

c) Each Association Standing Committee / Organisation shall appoint a Delegate to report to the Executive meetings.

9. OFFICERS / EXECUTIVE MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION:

Shall consist of:

a) A President who shall have served on the Executive for at

least two (2) years prior to being elected as such. Such President if so nominated in terms of Paragraph 10 (a) (i) shall be eligible to serve for a further period but may not serve in that capacity for longer than two (2) consecutive terms.

b) A Vice-President who must have served at least two (2) years

on the Executive, prior to being elected.

c) A Secretary, who shall be appointed by the Executive (who shall have no vote).

d) A Treasurer, who shall be appointed by the Executive (who

shall have no vote).

e) Two (2) Competition Secretaries, 1 Male and 1 Female, who shall each be a member of an Affiliated Club.

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f) Four (4) Executive Members, who shall be elected as

prescribed in Clause 11 of this Constitution.

g) Such other member/s who may be co-opted by the Executive from time to time at the sole discretion of the Executive for such purpose/s as the Executive may decide.

h) The immediate Past President, ex officio, who shall not be eligible to be elected as an Executive Member for at least two (2) years after his / her term of Office as President has been completed.

10) NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS:

a) Nominations of Executive Committee: Excepting for President and Vice President who shall be elected for a period of two (2) years, Executive Members shall each year be nominated by an Affiliated Club. The same procedure shall be followed mutatis mutandis with regard to the President and Vice President but such nomination shall take place every second year.

i) The nomination forms must be signed by the

Chairperson / President and Secretary of the said Club and the Nominee.

ii) The completed and signed nomination forms must be

lodged with the Association Secretary by the 15th of January prior to the next Annual General Meeting, together with the relevant nominee’s curriculum vitae.

iii) Not later than twenty eight (28) days before the Annual General Meeting, the Association Secretary shall despatch to each affiliated Club, Executive Members, Honorary Life Presidents (formerly W.T.B.A and W.T.W.B.A.) Honorary Life Members and Past Presidents, a list of Nominees. The list shall contain the following particulars in respect of each Nominee:-

a) Full Name b) Name of Club of which the Nominee is a

member c) Office (if any) held by the Nominee at the

time of nomination. d) Nominee’s relevant C.V. iv) The accidental failure to send such list to any of those listed in sub-clause (iii) or non-receipt thereof, by any of those listed, shall not invalidate the election of the Executive

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v) Notwithstanding the foregoing procedure, in the

event of there being no nominee for one or more of the Offices, nomination of eligible Nominees for such Office may be made at an Annual General Meeting.

b) ELECTIONS:

i) Election of the Executive shall take place at the

Annual General Meeting.

ii) Allocation of votes for the election of the Executive shall be by Affiliated Clubs proportionate to their number of registered members as follows:

Members Vote

1 - 50 1

51 - 100 2

101 - 150 3

151 and over 4

iii) Method of Election: The Association Secretary shall

despatch to each Affiliated Club, not later than twenty eight (28) days before the Annual General Meeting, ballot papers in the form as prescribed by the Executive from time to time.

iv) Ballot papers, duly completed, and giving no

indication of the identity of the voter, shall be placed in a sealed envelope, which in turn shall be placed inside another envelope. The outer envelope shall be sealed, and bear the signatures of the Chairperson / President and Secretary of the Affiliated Club.

v) Term of Office: The term of office of the Executive

members, Standing Committees and Organisations shall be from the date of election until the date of election of successors.

vi) Honorary Life Membership:

i) The Association shall have the power to confer

the honour of Honorary Life Membership of the Association. Nominations for Honorary Life Membership shall be made only by the Executive to an Annual General Meeting and shall not be subject to any prior notice.

ii) Honorary Life Presidents (formerly W.T.B.A.), Honorary Life Members (inclusive of W.T.B.A. and W.T.W.B.A.) and Past Presidents (inclusive of W.T.B.A. and W.T.W.B.A.) shall be entitled to

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take active part in all General Meetings, but shall have no vote.

11 VOTING:

The only votes, which may be cast at any Council Meeting of the Association, are those of duly authorised Delegates of Affiliated Clubs, and indeed in the proportions as laid down in Clause 10. Should there be a tie, the President shall have the deciding vote.

12. MEETINGS:

a) i) Annual General Meeting:

The Annual General Meeting of the Association shall take place in March of each year. The Executive shall decide the date, time and venue of the Annual General Meeting.

ii) Special General Meeting:

Special General Meetings of the Association may be called at any time by the Executive, or shall be called by the Association Secretary upon receipt of a requisition signed by the Chairpersons / Presidents and Secretaries of at least one third of the affiliated Clubs. The Executive shall decide the date, time and venue for Special General Meeting.

Any member of an affiliated Club shall have the right to attend General Meetings, but only appointed Delegates or registered Alternates, shall have the right to take part in the discussions.

iii) Executive Meetings:

The Executive shall meet at least once in each calendar month. The Executive shall agree the date, time and venue for Executive Meetings.

b) Notice of Meetings:

The Association Secretary shall send written Notice of all General Meetings to all Associated Clubs, Honorary Life Presidents (formerly W.T.B.A.), Honorary Life Members (W.T.B.A. and W.T.W.B.A.), Past Presidents (W.T.B.A. and W.T.W.B.A.), at least twenty-eight (28) days before the date of the meeting. The accidental omission to send any such Notice to, or the non-receipt of such Notice by any person entitled to receive it, shall not invalidate the proceedings of that meeting.

c) Quora:

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i) The quorum required for an Executive Meeting shall

be four (4) members of those entitled to vote. ii) The quorum required for any General meeting shall

mean delegates representing a majority of Affiliated Clubs.

iii) The quorum required for a Selection Committee

Meeting shall be three (3) of the appointed Selectors. i) If at any meeting, no quorum shall be present within

thirty (30) minutes after the time for which the meeting has been called, the meeting shall be adjourned to a date seven (7) days later at which meeting the Executive members / Delegates/ selectors present shall constitute a quorum.

d) Proceedings at Meetings:

Annual General Meeting:

The business to be transacted at an Annual General Meeting shall be:-

a) To read the Notice convening the Meeting.

b) To enrol Delegates of Affiliated Clubs entitled to

vote, and to record the attendance of Executive Members, Honorary Life Presidents (formerly W.T.B.A.), Honorary Life Members (inclusive of W.T.B.A. and W.T.W.B.A.), Past Presidents (inclusive of W.T.B.A. and W.T.W.B.A.), Selectors, Standing Committees and Organisations.

c) To record any Obituary.

d) To read and confirm the Minutes of the last Annual General Meeting and of any subsequent Special General Meetings and to deal with any business arising therefrom.

e) To receive the Annual Report and Financial

Statement for the preceding year, and to consider the adoption thereof.

f) To receive the Executive’s nominations for election of

Honorary Life Members, and to decide upon such nominations.

g) To fix Honoraria for the previous financial year.

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h) To deal with any correspondence pertinent to the business of the Annual General Meeting.

i) To discuss such matters as may have been referred

to the Annual General Meeting by the Executive j) To consider Motions of which due Notice has been given.

k) To elect Executive Members as defined in Clause 10 of this Constitution.

l) To appoint an Auditor / Examiner.

m) To confirm Chairpersons and Members of the Standing Committees.

n) To decide upon Association Championships and

League for the ensuing year and to fix fees therefor.

o) To confirm the Affiliation Fees and Club Levies for the ensuing year.

p) To confirm Delegates to Bowls South Africa and

Gauteng Bowls Board.

q) To appoint a member to the committee to manage the Benevolent Fund.

r) To consider any other business.

Special General Meetings:

All General Meetings of the Association other than the Annual General Meeting shall be Special General Meetings. The business to be dealt with at any Special General Meeting shall be stated on the Notice convening the meeting. Discussion of such matters and such Motions as may be stated on the Agenda, and any amendments thereof only, shall be allowed.

Executive Meetings:

The business to be transacted at Executive Meetings shall be: a) To read the Notice convening the Meeting. b) To record apologies. (Any member of the Executive being absent from three consecutive Executive meetings without permission from the Executive shall be deemed to have resigned from the Executive.)

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c) To read and confirm the Minutes of the last held Executive Meeting and to deal with any business arising therefrom.

d) To deal with correspondence.

e) To receive and consider the monthly report of the

Association Treasurer and to authorise the payment of accounts.

f) To receive any reports from the Association

Competition Secretaries in respect of Association Championships or League.

g) To appoint Sub-Committees and ad hoc Committees

and to delegate to such Committees such of its powers as it may consider desirable.

h) To deal with any other business pertinent to an

Executive Meeting. Chairperson:

The President of the Association shall occupy the Chair at every meeting at which he/she is present. In his/her absence the Vice-President shall preside. Should neither the President nor Vice-President be available, a quorum shall not be considered present and the meeting shall be cancelled.

Notices of Motion:

a) Notices of Motion to be moved by the Executive or an Affiliated Club at an Annual General Meeting, must reach the Association Secretary not later than the 15th of January preceding the date of the Annual General Meeting.

b) Notices of Motion for a Special General Meeting must

reach the Association Secretary not less than thirty (30) days before the date of the intended Special General Meeting to be called for consideration.

c) All Notices of Motion shall be circulated to all

Affiliated Clubs, Members of the Executive, Honorary Life Presidents (formerly W.T.B.A.), Honorary Life Members (inclusive of W.T.B.A. and W.T.W.B.A), and Past Presidents (inclusive of W.T.B.A. and W.T.W.B.A.) within thirty (30) days before the date set for the meeting, and shall be stated on the Agenda for General Meetings. Such Notices of Motion shall set forth in full the Resolution in the form in which it is to be considered.

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d) Notice of Motion to review or rescind any Resolution of the Council shall be given at the Meeting at which such Resolution was taken or within six (6) weeks thereafter, and shall be moved at the next meeting of the Executive or at a Special Meeting of the Council called for that purpose.

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a) Committees / Boards: i) Competition Committees (Men and Women):

The Council shall confirm at the Annual General Meeting the Competition Committees consisting of:

a) The Competition Secretary who shall be the

Convenor.

b) At least one (1) member of the Executive Committee.

c) Not more than two (2) members of any affiliated

Club, who need not be members of Council.

ii) The Executive shall appoint such Selection Committees as deemed necessary consisting of:-

a) The President, who shall be Chairperson but

shall have no vote.

b) The Association Secretary, who shall record Minutes, but shall have no vote.

c) At least six (6) Selectors who shall be Members

of Affiliated Clubs at least two (2) of whom shall be of either gender. The Selectors shall be appointed annually by the Executive in the month following the Inter-Districts (Provincial) Tournaments. If the Executive selects a Convenor for a selection committee, such Convenor shall act as Chairperson in the absence of the President.

d) Any Member of the Selection Committee

choosing to make himself / herself available for selection in any position shall excuse himself / herself from the meeting during the selection of that side or team.

iii) Benevolent Fund Committee:

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The Council shall, at the Annual General Meeting, appoint a Committee to administer the Association’s Benevolent Fund, which shall consist of, the President, Association Secretary, Association Treasurer, and one (1) other member elected by the Council.

b) Delegates:

i) Delegates to Bowls South Africa Council and to the

Gauteng Bowls Board:

Two (2) serving Members of the Executive shall be eligible for appointment as Delegates to Bowls South Africa and the Gauteng Bowls Board.

ii) Council Delegates should preferably be Office

Bearers from Affiliated Clubs, i.e. President / Chairperson, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. Two (2) Delegates shall be registered and two (2) Alternates shall be declared.

14) ADMINISTRATION:

a) The President:

i) Presides over all Executive, Council, Selection Committee and Benevolent Fund Committee Meetings.

ii) Assumes overall responsibility for the running of the

Association.

iii) Attends Functions and Prizegivings of the Association, invitations to other Districts, and any special event.

iv) Maintains regular contact with all Associated Clubs. b) Vice-President: i) Understudy to the President.

ii) In the absence of the President the Vice-President will take the Chair.

iii) Will take on the duties of the President during his/her

temporary absence.

iv) Attend Functions and Prizegivings of the Association.

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c) Immediate Past President:

The Immediate Past President shall assist the President and/or Vice President whenever required to do so and generally carry out such duties as are allocated to him/her.

d) Secretary:

The Association Secretary shall attend Executive, Selection and General Meetings, and shall keep a proper record of all business transacted at such meetings attend to all correspondence, and generally perform the duties appertaining to a Secretary.

The Association Secretary shall prepare an Annual Report on behalf of the Executive, and a draft of this report shall be submitted to the Executive for approval at a meeting to be held prior to the Annual General Meeting.

e) Association Treasurer:

The Association Treasurer shall attend Executive and General Meetings, and shall keep proper books of account, deposit all monies to the credit of the Association, and effect payment of all accounts due by the Association as authorised by the Executive. The Association Treasurer shall submit Income and Expenditure Statements at the monthly Executive Meetings, render to the Annual General Meeting, a Statement of Revenue and Expenditure Balance Sheet, duly certified by the Association’s Auditor / Examiner, and generally perform the duties appertaining to a Treasurer.

f) Competition Secretaries:

i) The Competition Secretaries shall keep all necessary data and records of Leagues, District Championships and undertake all Secretarial duties directly affecting League and Championships organised and conducted by the Association.

ii) The Competition Secretaries shall organise the Draw

and Venues of play for all Championships in collaboration with the Competition Committees.

iii) It shall be the responsibility of the Competition

Secretaries, in conjunction with the Association Treasurer, to collect the entry fees for all Championships and to arrange for all prizes for the League and Championship events.

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g) Executive Duties: Shall be to: i) Abide by the Constitution at all times.

ii) Manage the affairs of Bowls in the District (including discipline and the hearing of appeals).

iii) Be responsible to Council for its decisions. iv) Be the legal holder of the assets of the Association.

v) Appoint delegates to such sporting bodies to which the Association may be affiliated.

vi) Arrange staging of the Championship and events

within the District.

vii) Conduct or defend or settle any legal action in which the Association may be concerned.

viii) Appoint Team Managers, Coaches/Trainers and such

supporting staff, as it deems necessary, to all Provincial / Inter-District Sides and Teams to represent the District.

ix) Appoint such permanent office staff and remunerate

them accordingly, to ensure the smooth running of the administration.

x) Attend all Functions and Prizegivings of the Association.

xi) Delegate such powers to any Sub-Committee as it may deem necessary.

h) Selection Committees:

The Selection Committees shall be responsible for the selection of teams and sides to represent the Association. They shall also be responsible for nomination of Players to the National Selection Committee for consideration for the Bowls South Africa Masters Tournament and International sides or teams.

i) Emergency Committee:

The Officers (President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer) shall constitute the Emergency Committee of the Association and shall deal with all urgent business, which may require attention between Executive Meetings.

15) DECISIONS:

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Decisions of the Council shall be binding on the Executive, Selection Committees, Standing Committees and Affiliated Clubs, provided that such decisions are not in conflict with the Constitution, Guidelines and Laws of the Sport of Bowls as laid down by Bowls South Africa.

The Guidelines may be altered by the Executive at any stage 16. VACANCIES:

a) Executive Committee:

Any vacancy on the Executive during the year shall be filled by the Executive, from one (1) or more of the persons who were nominated for election, but who were defeated or at their discretion if no such person is available.

b) Competition Committee:

Any vacancy on the Competition Committee shall be filled by the Competition Secretaries and confirmed by the Executive. Should there be no nominees, the Executive shall be empowered to fill the vacancy by co-option.

c) Selection Committee:

Any vacancy on the Selection Committee shall be filled by the Executive, who shall appoint a replacement.

17) FINANCE:

a) General:

i) The Executive shall open an account in the name of the Association with such financial institution/s as it may from time to time decide upon.

ii) All monies received shall be paid to the credit of the

Association’s banking account.

iii) The Executive shall cause proper books and records to be kept in which a true and satisfactory account shall be recorded of all monies received and expended, and of all assets and liabilities of the Association.

iv) The Association Treasurer shall make no payments

until authorised at a meeting of the Executive or the Council. All payments shall be made by cheque or electronic transfer.

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v) Any payments which in the opinion of the Association Treasurer, cannot reasonable be held over until the next meeting of the Executive, may be made on the authority of the President, or in his absence, on the authority of the Vice President, but any such payment shall be submitted for confirmation at the next meeting of the Executive.

Vi) Any two of the following Officers, viz. President, Vice

President, Association Secretary and Association Treasurer shall sign all cheques and all applications for withdrawal.

vii) The Executive shall have the power to invest any

funds of the Association, not immediately required, in any financial institution/s carrying on business in the Republic of South Africa.

viii) The Executive shall have the power to negotiate

overdraft facilities with the Association’s Bankers and to obtain loans from any such financial institution/s, as may be deemed necessary for the financing of the Association’s activities.

b) Audit:

i) An independent qualified Auditor / Examiner shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting each year, and shall examine the books; vouchers and accounts of the Association, including those of various Funds created and administered by the Association, and issue a Certificate annually.

ii) The appointed Auditor / Examiner shall not be

a member of the Council. c) Financial Year:

The financial year of the Association shall be from the 1st January to 31st December.

d) Property:

All property and effects (including trophies) belonging to the Association shall be vested in and under the control of the Executive, and no individual or Affiliated Club shall have any right or title to such property and effects.

e) Honoraria:

The Association shall, at an Annual General Meeting, approve amounts to be paid as Honoraria, to the

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Association’s Secretary (if not permanently employed), Treasurer, Competition Secretaries and Examiner/s.

f) Travelling Expenses:

i) The Executive shall recommend, for approval by Council, an annual amount to be paid to the Association’s Officers in respect of travelling expenses. Distribution of the travelling expenses shall be the responsibility of the Executive.

ii) The Association’s Delegates to Bowls South Africa

Council and Bowls Boards shall be reimbursed for any reasonable expenses incurred in attending General Meetings, unless such Delegate/s would in any case be present at the venue of such Meetings.

g) Benevolent Fund:

i) The Association shall maintain a Benevolent Fund for the assistance of registered members of Affiliated Clubs in distress.

ii) Persons eligible for such assistance must be bona

fide members of a Club affiliated to this District, for a minimum period of three (3) years.

iii) In the event of the offices of Secretary and Treasurer

being a combined office, the Vice-President shall be the second Member of the Committee.

iv) The Benevolent Fund Committee shall be empowered

to receive and consider all requests for assistance and shall decide upon such requests to the exclusion of all other persons, reporting to the Executive only in respect of amounts granted or loaned.

v) All applications for assistance shall be channelled

through the Club President, directly to the Association’s President, in strictest confidence.

18) LEGAL PROCEEDINGS:

All legal proceedings shall be brought or defended in the name of the Association upon a Resolution for that purpose by the Executive, which shall be indemnified by the Association against any claim that might be made in respect of legal costs or disbursements.

19) LIABILITY OF MEMBERS:

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The liability of Affiliated Clubs and registered Members of the Association for the liabilities of the Association shall be limited to the extent of monies owing to the Association by such Affiliated Clubs or registered Members.

20) ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION:

a) No alteration of, or addition to, the Constitution of the

Association shall be made except at a General Meeting of the Association.

b) Six weeks notice must be given to the Association

Secretary in writing, setting forth in full, each proposed alteration or addition.

c) The Executive shall have the power to suggest and propose

alterations and additions to the Constitution and such alterations and additions shall be dealt with as provided in Clause 12 (a) (ii).

d) No alteration or addition to the Constitution shall be

effected unless carried by at least two thirds of votes represented at the meeting.

21) GUIDELINES:

The Executive shall have the power to introduce new Guidelines and amend existing Guidelines when necessary, provided such Guidelines and Amendments are not inconsistent with this Constitution.

22) DISCIPLINE:

a) The Executive shall have the power, on receipt of a written

report from any Affiliated Club, Competition Secretary or a Technical Official officiating on behalf of the Association to consider a complaint or report:

i) Of unseemly conduct, misbehaviour or malpractice

on the part of any player or players taking part in any Championship or League fixture organised by the Association, and after due examination of the facts, to take such disciplinary action against such player or players, as in its opinion the circumstances warrant.

ii) that any member of an Affiliated Club has been

suspended by such Affiliated Club for any period during dates of any Championship organised by this Association, to advise such member or members that all rights have been forfeited to participate in such

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Championship that may be in progress at the time of, or during any period of suspension.

b) The Executive shall have the power to refuse, for such

period of time as it may determine, the entry of an Affiliated Club or of a member of an Affiliated Club, found guilty of a malpractice, to any Championship held under its auspices.

c) It shall be competent for the Executive after due

investigation of the facts, and, if need be, the examination of witnesses and any relevant documentary evidence:

i) To suspend or terminate the affiliation of a Club.

ii) To discipline a member of an Affiliated Club in matters beyond the powers or authority of an Affiliated Club.

iii) Such Affiliated Club or member of an Affiliated Club

shall have the right of appeal in the manner set out in Clause 23.

d) It shall be competent for the Executive after due

investigation of the circumstances surrounding the failure of any entrant or entrants of any of the Association’s Championships, to present himself/herself/themselves, in terms of the published schedule of play to deny such entrant or entrants the right to enter for such Championships for such period as the Executive may decide or take such other action as they may from time to time decide.

e) Whenever disciplinary action is taken, the Executive shall

send full particulars to the Affiliated Club, Standing Committee or Organisation concerned.

f) A Defaulter at one Affiliated Club is a defaulter at all Affiliated

Clubs.

23) DISPUTES AND APPEALS: In the event of disputes arising between Affiliated Clubs, or between players of such Affiliated Clubs, or between players and an Affiliated Club, such Affiliated Club/s and or player/s, may appeal in writing to the Executive for a ruling. Should the aggrieved party not be satisfied with the ruling of the Executive, such party shall have the right to appeal to the Council. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no member of an Affiliated Club is permitted to correspond direct with the Association on sundry matters.

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It shall be competent for the Executive to appoint a Jury of Appeal where deemed necessary. In the event of any of the foregoing, legal representation will be permissible.

24) MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS: The Association shall maintain an up-to-date Register of the Colours of all Affiliated Clubs.

25) INTERPRETATION:

In case of doubt of the strict meaning of any article of the Constitution or Guidelines, the interpretation of the Executive shall be binding on all concerned.

26) EFFECTIVE DATE:

The date, upon which any alteration of this Constitution becomes effective, shall be at the rising of the General Meeting following the adoption thereof by the Association. AS AMENDED UP TO AND INCLUDING 2ND AUGUST 2014