Welcome to Ware
Bowling Club
Ware Bowling Club – Rules
Formally Approved at the 2023 WBC AGM (Held 16th November 2023)
1. THE CLUB
The Club shall be called ‘WARE BOWLING CLUB’. The Club shall only be dissolved at a Special General Meeting.
2. MEMBERSHIP
Membership will be open to everyone on an annual renewable basis. For the purpose of membership, the year will run from 1 May to the following 30 April.
a) Admission to Membership
Application to membership must be submitted on an official application form. Applicants will be invited to attend an informal meeting with senior club members; once the application is approved the membership will commence on payment of the appropriate fee.
b) Renewal of Membership
This will be automatic on payment of the annual subscription, due on or before the 30 April. Failure to pay the annual subscription by the 30 April will automatically terminate membership. Membership terminated in this manner can only be considered for renewal by a new application for membership.
c) Payments
All payments by whatever method shall be made payable to WARE BOWLING CLUB.
d) Exceptional Service to the Club
Members who give Exceptional Service to Ware Bowling Club will be nominated by the Committee to the following AGM for election as Honorary/Life members.
e) Expulsion. See Rule 6a)
3. CLUB ADMINISTRATION
The Club affairs will be conducted by a Committee to be elected annually (by ballot if necessary), at the Annual General Meeting. The Committee to have powers to fill vacancies in the interim if appropriate. The Committee may delegate any of their duties to a sub-committee of at least three members all of whom shall form a quorum.
a) Composition of Committee
The Committee shall comprise of: President, Secretary, Treasurer, Men’s Captain, Men’s Vice-Captain. Ladies Captain, Ladies Vice-Captain, Match Secretary, Internal Competition Organiser, Safeguarding Officer, Minute Secretary, plus up to 3 members to make a full Committee of 14. The retiring President to have the option to serve for one year as an additional Committee Member. In the event of there being insufficient nominations a vacancy can be declared.
b) Nominations for Committee Membership
Nominations to be proposed, seconded and signed by the nominee indicating their willingness to serve, and must be submitted in writing seven days prior to the A.G.M.
4. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
a) The Annual General Meeting for passing the income and expenditure statement of the past year (1 October to 30 September), the election of the Committee and discussion of all agenda items, to be held in the month of November or as soon thereafter as practicable, on the day to be fixed by the Committee.
b) Notice of the A.G.M, with copy of the income and expenditure statement and a copy of the agenda, shall be circulated to all members 14 days prior to the A.G.M.
c) A copy of the verified income and expenditure statement to be approved by the Committee, prior to being circulated to members.
d)
1. Nomination Sheet for Committee positions to be put on the notice board by the 1 September and taken down seven days prior to the A.G.M.
2. Items for Inclusion in the agenda must be submitted in writing by a member entitled to vote, to the Secretary at least 28 days before the date of the annual general meeting.
e) The outgoing committee shall deliver to their successors in office the income and expenditure accounts of the preceding year, correctly balanced and verified by the auditor duly appointed by the General Meeting.
f) All Members must sign the register. Social Members must sign a separate register and are not entitled to vote unless they are a committee member. Only Full Members, Honorary Members and social members serving on the committee shall vote at any General Meeting of the Club. Social Members may attend and speak but are not entitled to vote.
g) In the event of a vote for committee members at a general meeting, each member voting is required to cast a vote for the exact number of places available or their ballot paper will be void. The result of the ‘Vote’ to be announced with the details only if requested.
h) 20 Members shall form a quorum and the Chairman shall have both a deliberate and casting vote.
Continued........
5. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
The Secretary shall call a Special General Meeting whenever required to do so, upon requisition signed by at least twelve members, such special meetings to be held within 21 days.
6. CODE OF CONDUCT
a) If any Member, who by their conduct, brings the Club or the game into disrepute, they shall be called before the Committee to explain their actions. Any complaints must be made in writing and signed by complainant(s) and handed to a committee member. The Committee shall, after due enquiry, have power to expel any member, who shall thereupon forfeit their right and interest in the Club, but before expelling such member, shall first call upon them to resign. The right to appeal against any action taken by the Committee and procedures to be followed in the appeals process will be in accordance with Bowls England Regulation 9.
Ware Bowling Club and its members will adopt and follow all policies and guidelines approved by Bowls England, UK Anti-doping Rules and all procedures set out in Bowls England Regulation 9, 9a and 9b. The Club will abide with all sanctions, recommendations and/or decisions from the Case Management Panel or National Disciplinary Panel.
b) No Members shall be allowed to bowl when the green is in an unfit condition. All directives of the green keepers, including a NO PLAY NOTICE or MATS MUST BE USED FOR ROLL-UPS, must be strictly observed and are binding on all members.
c) All scheduled club games, dress as per fixture card, to include white tailored shorts, cropped trousers and correct bowls footwear for home games. Away games to be checked for their relevant club rules. Whites and club shirt can be worn to and from the Club. But, if not worn for tea, white top and greys must be worn. No dress code for ‘Roll-ups’. Other Representative Games e.g. Hertfordshire Bowls, EHBA, EHBL and EHDWBA, to be as per their rules.
d) When representing the Club – Club Stickers to be on woods. This includes weekend games.
7. LOSS OR DAMAGE
The Club will not be liable in the case of loss or damage to any personal property (including woods) whether in the lockers, inside or outside the pavilion or on the green or grounds. The Club will not be liable in the case of personal injury.
8. VISITORS
It is the responsibility of the member bringing visitors to the Club to ensure that they pay the appropriate green fees etc, conduct themselves in a reasonable manner and ensure that they are signed in the visitors' book before using the Bar.
9. CLUB COMPETITIONS
The running of the Club Competitions shall be controlled by the Internal Competition Organiser elected at the A.G.M., who will adjudicate in any disputes that may arise. The ruling of the Organiser shall be final and binding. See competition rules on competitions board.
10. TEAM SELECTION
Notice of all club games, both friendly matches (generally held on weekends) and representative matches will be displayed on the clubhouse notice board, inviting bowling members to put their names forward as available for playing if picked by the relevant team selectors. For friendly matches the selectors will be drawn from and in consultation with the Men's Captain, Men's Vice Captain, Ladies' Captain and Ladies' Vice Captain - the teams for these friendly matches will be chosen based on a balanced team, with regard to experience and playing strength and giving everybody a fair number of games. Teams picked for men's representative matches will be drawn from and in consultation with the Men's Captain, Men's Vice Captain and the managers of the Maltsters, Wolves and Cavers. Teams for Ladies' representative matches will be selected by the Ladies' Captain and/or Ladies' Vice Captain.
11. CHANGE OF RULES
Any modifications to the Rules shall be permitted only after discussion and voting at a General Meeting