MONTMORENCY BOWLING CLUB INCORPORATED

 

                                          CONSTITUTION - PURPOSES, RULES AND BY-LAWS

  SECTION 1

                                                                                                              Revised 08/05/05    06/05/2007

                                                                                                              Revised 17/10/07                         

                                                                                   NAME                        

 

1.   The name of the Club is  Montmorency Bowling Club Incorporated – (in these rules called “the Club”).

 

                                                                              INTERPRETATION

 

2.   (1)     In these rules, unless the contrary intention appears:-

                (a) “Board” means the Board of Management of the Club.

                (b) “Financial year” means the year ending on 31^st March.

                (c) “General Meeting” means a general meeting of members convened in accordance with Rule 29.

                (d) “Member” means a full member of the Club.

                (e) “Ordinary Member of the Board” means a member of the Board who is not an officer of the Board under Rule 42.

                (f) “RVBA” means the Royal Victorian Bowls Association Inc.

                (g) “VLBA” means the Victorian Ladies Bowling Association Inc.

                (h) “The Act” means the Associations Incorporation Act 1981.

                (i) “The Regulations” means regulations under the Act.

                (j) “The singular shall include the plural.

                (k) “A reference to the male gender shall include the female gender.

    (l)  “Month” means the calendar month.

   (m) “Rules” means the rules of the Club in force for the time being.

 

      (2)     In these Rules, a reference to the Secretary of the Club, is a reference:-

                (a) where a person holds office under these Rules as Secretary of the Board to that person; and

                (b) in any other case, to the Public Officer of the Club.

 

      (3)     The Board shall interpret the meaning of any words or expressions contained in these Rules in any case where doubt arises subject only to confirmation of contradiction by a general meeting called for the purpose.

 

STATEMENT OF PURPOSES

 

3.   The objects for which the Club is established are:-

                (a) To maintain and conduct a Club of a non-political, non racial, non sectarian character and to provide a clubhouse, bowling green and other conveniences for the use and recreation of the members at such place or places as decided by the members.

                (b) To raise and borrow any monies required for the purposes of the Club upon such terms and conditions and/or on such securities as may be determined.

                (c) To purchase, take, lease, exchange, hire or otherwise acquire any real or personal property and other rights and privileges necessary or convenient for the purpose of the Club.

                (d) To construct, alter, add to, or maintain all buildings and other property belonging to the Club.

                (e) To sell, mortgage, improve, manage, develop, lease, dispose of, turn to account or otherwise deal with all or any part of the property of the Club except that the Club is prohibited from making any distribution whether in money, property or otherwise to its members.

                (f) To affiliate with the RVBA and VLBA.

                (g) To apply for, hold and renew a club licence pursuant to the Liquor Control Act and any permit or authority thereunder.

                (h) To apply through an authorised officer of the Club to the Liquor Licensing Commission and the Raffles and Bingo Permits Board for a permit to conduct a game of Bingo in accordance with the Lotteries Gaming and Betting (Raffles and Bingo) Act 1977.

                (i) To formulate and put into effect such other objects as the members shall determine, but always to have in mind the advancement and best interests of the game of bowls and the engendering by association of fraternal feeling amongst bowlers.

                (j) To do all such things as are incidental or necessary for the purpose of the above objects.

                (k) As an Incorporated body to adhere to the rules, by-laws and regulations set down in the Associations Incorporation Act  1981.

 

 SECTION 2

 

MEMBERSHIP

 

4.   (1)     The Club shall consist of the following classes of Members:-

                (a) Full Members.

                (b) Life Members.

                (c) Honorary Members.

                (d) Special Members.

                (e) Social Members.

                (f) Junior Members.

               

      (2)     Full and Life Members, who alone shall be eligible to vote at meetings and to hold office in the Club, shall be entitled to all the privileges of the Club, while Honorary, Special, Social, and Junior Members shall be entitled to the privileges set out in these Rules.

 

APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

 

5.   (1)     A person aged not less than 18 years who is nominated and elected to membership as provided in these rules is eligible to be a member of the Club on payment of the nomination fee and annual subscription payable under these Rules.

 

(2)        A person who is not a member of the Club at the time of the Incorporation of the Club (or who was such a member at the time but has ceased to be a member) shall not be elected to membership:-

(a) unless he is nominated as provided in sub-clause (3): and

(b) his admission as a member is approved by the Board.

  

(3)        A nomination of a person for membership of the Club shall be made in writing in the form set out in appendix 1.

(a) The nomination form when properly completed shall be handed to the Secretary of the Club together with the appropriate nomination fee .                                                                                                                                                                                       

                (b) The Proposer and Seconder of the nomination of each candidate must have been a financial member of the Club for at

                       least 120 days prior to the date of the nomination of the candidate for membership.

 

(4)     As soon as is practicable after the receipt of a nomination form and a nomination fee the Secretary shall post the form on the Club’s notice board for exhibition at least seven days immediately preceding the day of election and an interval of not less than two weeks shall elapse between the date of nomination and election.

 

     (5)     Members shall be elected by the Board by ballot and

                (a) election shall be effected by a simple majority. In the event of a tied vote the application will fail.

                (b) the decision of the Board as to whether any candidate has been duly elected or not shall be final.

                (c) a record shall be kept by the Secretary of the Board voting at any election of Members of any classification.

 

      (6)  Upon a nomination being approved by the Board, the Secretary shall, with as little delay as possible, notify the nominee in writing that he is approved for membership of the Club and request payment within the period of 28 days after receipt of the notification of the sum payable under these rules as the first year’s annual subscription.

 

      (7)  The Secretary shall upon payment of the amounts referred to in sub-clause (6) within the period referred to in that subclause, enter the nominee’s name in the register of members kept by him and upon the name being so entered, the nominee becomes a member of the Club and the Secretary shall forward or hand to such member, a copy of the Rules, By-Laws and Regulations of the Club for the time being in force.

 

      (8)  If a newly elected member fails to pay his subscription within 28 days after notification of his election, his election shall be void unless he justify the delay to the satisfaction of the Board.

 

      (9)  The payment of the subscription or using the Club’s property shall imply a member’s acquiescence in the Rules, By-Laws and Regulations of the Club.

 

      (10)  Any person whose application for membership is rejected or whose election is voided under Rule 5(7) shall not again be nominated for a period of at least two years from the date of the rejection or voidance of membership.

 

      (11)   A right, privilege, or obligation of a person by reason of his membership of the Club:-

                (a) is not capable of being transferred or transmitted to another person;

                (b) terminates upon the cessation of his membership whether by death or resignation or otherwise.

 

LIFE MEMBERS

 

6.   (1)     Any person who shall have rendered special service or services to the Club may at any General or Special General Meeting, on the unanimous recommendation of the Board and on receiving the votes of at least three-quarters of the members present at such meeting, be elected a Life member of the Club with full privileges without payment of any annual subscription.

 

      (2)     A Life Member shall not be relieved of any financial obligation other than the Annual Subscription.

 

HONORARY MEMBERS

 

7.   (1)     Friends of members and members of other Bowls Clubs present at the Club for the purpose of playing bowls are Honorary Members for that day.

 

      (2)     Any member of any Bowls Club whose green is distant more than 20km from the Club premises may, on the introduction by a member of the Club, be elected by any two members of the Board as an Honorary Member for a period not exceeding fourteen consecutive days without payment of any subscription, and the Board shall have power to extend the period for a further fourteen consecutive days, if so desired, on conditions to be determined by the Board.

 

      (3)     Honorary Members may be elected and the period of their membership fixed or extended by an Election Committee consisting of any two members of the Board and the name and address of each Honorary Member, together with the name of the introducing member and the names of the members of the Board by whom they are elected shall be entered in a book to be kept for that purpose, and the introducing member shall be responsible for the bona fides of the person introduced.

 

      (4)     The Board shall have power to withdraw any or all privileges from Honorary Members, and Honorary Members are not and shall not be entitled to take part in any annual or special meeting nor vote upon any subject thereat.  They shall not have any right, title or interest in or to any of the property of the Club.

 

      (5)     No person shall be allowed to become an Honorary or Temporary Member of the Club or be relieved of the payment of subscription or other financial obligations, except as provided for by these Rules.

 

SPECIAL MEMBERS

               

8.   (1)     Public officials, civic or parliamentary dignitaries may be elected Special Members of the Club by the Board on such conditions and for such period as the Board shall determine.

 

      (2)     The Board of the Club shall have the power to elect Special Members on such conditions as shall be fixed by such committee.

 

      (3)     Special Members shall not be eligible to hold office or to vote at any meeting of the Club nor to participate in official bowls fixtures but shall be entitled to use the club-house facilities and accommodation of the Club.

     

SOCIAL MEMBERS

 

9.   (1)     Any person over the age of 18 years may be elected as a Social Member of the Club. Prospective new members should be nominated as per Rule (5).

 

(2)        Social Members shall be entitled to all the privileges of the Club other than the right to vote or to hold office or to take part in bowling on the Club green.

 

(3)        Subject to the provisions of Rule 11(3), Social Members shall pay an annual subscription to be determined by the Board.

 

JUNIOR MEMBERS

 

10. (1) No person under the age of 18 years shall be admitted as a member other than as a Junior Member. Prospective new members should be nominated as per Rule (5) and the relative nomination form shall include a clause permitting Junior Members to be present on the licensed premises of the Club and must be signed by the candidate’s parent or guardian.

 

(2)     On applying for Junior Membership the applicant must attend an interview with the Board and will be accompanied by his parent(s) or guardian.

 

 (3)     (a) Junior members under the age of Sixteen (16) years must at all times be accompanied by a Guardian (who is registered

             with the Club) at all competitions, social and/or practice matches and practice sessions including transport to and

             from every match.

 

       (b) Junior members as are all members of the Montmorency Bowling Club Inc., are protected against Harassment,

             Discrimination, Abuse, Vilification by a Code of Behaviour to protect the health, safety and well being of all the people

             participating in the activities of the R.V.B.A. & V.L.B.A.

             This Code of Behaviour is outlined in “Member Protection Policy of the R.V.B.A. & V.L.B.A.

       

      (4)     Junior Members shall not be entitled to purchase or consume liquor on the premises of the Club nor shall they be eligible to hold office or vote at any meeting of the Club, but shall be entitled to participate in such Bowls activities on the greens as the Board shall determine.

 

(5)     On attaining the age of 18 years, Junior Members shall be ineligible to continue in such membership class but shall be eligible for nomination and election to other membership as provided in these Rules without delay.

 

NOMINATION FEE AND ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION

 

11. (1) The nomination fees for all classes of membership shall be determined by the members at the Annual General Meeting, or at a Special General Meeting convened for that purpose.

               

      (2)     Any member transferring to another class of membership shall pay the difference between the entrance fees for the respective membership classes where a higher entrance fee is applicable.

 

      (3)     A defined annual subscription of not less than $10 or such lesser amount approved by the Liquor Licensing Commission for any particular class of member shall be fixed from year to year by the members at the Club’s Annual General Meeting and shall be due and payable in advance and immediately after being fixed at such Annual Meeting.

 

      (4)     The annual subscription for all classes of membership shall be determined by the members at the Annual General Meeting, or at a Special General Meeting convened for that purpose.

 

      (5)     If a member enters during the year the subscription for the then remaining portion of the year shall be fixed at the discretion of the Board, but shall be not less than that defined by the Liquor Control Act, 1987.

 

      (6)     The Board is empowered to prevent any member whose subscription is in arrear from exercising the whole or any of the privileges of the Club.

 

      (7)     If any members fails to pay the Annual Subscription within two (2) months of the commencement of the financial year in any year his membership shall thenceforth cease but should a sufficient explanation be made to the Board it shall have the power to restore his name to the register upon payment of the amount due.

 

      (8)     Should any member of the Club from any cause whatsoever cease to be a member for one or more years he may be readmitted without paying back subscriptions, provided a majority of the Board consent thereto.

 

      (9)     Any member contemplating absence for a period may on application to the Board be granted leave of absence for a period not exceeding two years, subject to the payment of a nominal amount fixed by the Board.

 

REGISTER OF MEMBERS

 

12. (1)  The Secretary shall keep and maintain, in a form approved by the Liquor Licensing Commission, a register of members in which shall be entered the full name, address and date of entry of the name of each member together with the date of the latest payment of his subscription and the register shall be available for inspection by members and officers authorised under the Liquor Control Act 1987 at the address of the Club.

 

      (2)     Every member shall communicate in writing any change of his address to the Secretary who shall register same.

 

(4)     The Board shall have the power to determine from time to time the maximum number of each class of membership.

 

(5)     The Board shall ensure that Full and Life Members constitute at least 60 per cent of the total membership of the Club excluding Junior, Special, or Honorary Members and persons who are members by reason only of reciprocal arrangements with another Club.

 

 

LIABILITY OF MEMBERS

 

13.    If a member, by any breach of these rules, or by any unlawful act, causes the Club or any officer of the Club to pay any money, such member shall be civilly liable to the Club or such officer for the amount so paid.

 

RESIGNATION AND EXPULSION OF MEMBER

 

14. (1)  A member of the Club who has paid all money due and payable by him to the Club may resign from the Club, by first giving one months notice in writing to the Secretary of his intention to resign and upon the expiration of that period of notice, the member shall cease to be a member.

 

      (2)  Upon the expiration of a notice given under sub-clause (1), the Secretary shall make in the register of members an entry recording the date on which the member by whom the notice was given ceased to be a member.

 

      (3)  Any member retiring from the Club, or ceasing for any reason whatever to be a member thereof, shall not have any right, title or interest in or to any property of the Club.

 

15.  (1)  Subject to these rules, the Board may by resolution:-

                (a) expel a member from the Club;

                (b) suspend a member from membership of the Club for a specified period; or

                (c) fine a member in accordance with The Regulations, if the Board is of the opinion that the member -

                      (i)    has refused or neglected to comply with these rules;

                              or

                      (ii)   has been guilty of conduct unbecoming a member or prejudicial to the interests of the Club.

 

      (2)     A resolution of the Board under sub-clause (1):-

                (a) does not take effect unless the Board at a meeting held not earlier than 14 and not later than 28 days after the service on the member of a notice under sub-clause (3) confirms the resolution in accordance with this clause; and

                (b) where the member exercises a right of appeal to the Club under this clause does not take effect unless the Club confirms the resolution in accordance with this clause.

 

      (3)     Where the Board passes a resolution under sub-clause (1), the Secretary shall, as soon as practicable, cause to be served on the member a notice in writing:-

                (a) setting out the resolution of the Board and the grounds on which it is based;

                (b) stating that the member may address the Board at a meeting to be held not earlier than 14 and not later than 28 days after service of notice;

                (c) stating the date, place and time of that meeting;

                (d) informing the member that he may do one or more of the following:-

                      (i)    attend that meeting;

                      (ii)   give to the Board before the date of that meeting a written statement seeking the revocation of the resolution;

                      (iii)  not later than 24 hours before the date of the meeting, lodge with the Secretary a notice to the effect that he wishes to appeal to the Club in a General Meeting against the resolution.

 

      (4)     At a meeting of the Board held in accordance with sub-clause (2), the Board:-

                (a) shall give to the member an opportunity to be heard;

                (b) shall give due consideration to any written statement submitted by the member; and

                (c) shall by resolution determine whether to confirm or to revoke the resolution.

 

      (5)     Where the Secretary receives a notice under sub-clause (3), he shall notify the Board and the Board shall convene a

          General Meeting of the Club to be held within 21 days after the date on which the Secretary received the notice.

 

      (6)     At a General meeting of the Club convened under   sub-clause (5):-

                (a) no business other than the question of the appeal shall be transacted;

                (b) the Board may place before the meeting details of the grounds for the resolution and the reasons for the passing of the resolution;

                (c) the member shall be given an opportunity to be heard;

                (d) the members present shall vote by secret ballot on the question whether the resolution should be confirmed or revoked.

      (7)     If at the General Meeting:-

                (a) two-thirds of the members present vote in favour of the confirmation of the resolution, the resolution is confirmed; and

                (b) in any other case, the resolution is revoked.

 

      (8)     (a) At the expiration of any financial year in respect of which any person shall have paid the subscription the Board, if it is of the opinion that it is undesirable in the interest of the Club that such person should continue to be a member, may decline to accept any further subscriptions from such person.

                (b) The Secretary shall notify such person of this decision and he shall thereupon cease to be a member of the Club.

                (c) The member shall have the same right of appeal and on the same conditions as stated in sub-clause (2).

 

16. Disputes and Mediation

      (1)     The grievance procedure set out in this rule applies to disputes under these rules between:-

                (a) a member and another member; or

                (b) a member and the Club.

 

      (2)     All disputes must, in the first instance, be referred to the Board in writing, must be duly signed and clearly set out the precise nature of the dispute.

 

      (3)     The parties to the dispute must meet and discuss the matter in dispute and if possible, resolve the dispute within 14 days after the dispute comes to the attention of all of the parties.

 

(6)     If the parties are unable to resolve the dispute at the meeting, or if a party fails to attend the meeting, then the parties must, within 10 days, hold a meeting in the presence of a mediator.

 

      (5)     The mediator must be:-

                (a) a person chosen by agreement between the parties; or

                (b) in the absence of agreement-

                      (i)  in the case of a dispute between a member and another member, a person appointed by the Board; or

                      (ii) in the case of a dispute between a member and the Club, a person who is a mediator appointed or employed by the   Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria (Department of Justice).

 

      (6)     A member of the Club may be the mediator.

 

      (7)     The mediator cannot be a member who is a party to the dispute.

 

      (8)     The parties to the dispute must, in good faith, attempt to settle the dispute by mediation.

 

      (9)     The mediator, in conducting the mediation, must:-

                (a) give the parties to the mediation process every opportunity to be heard; and

                (b) allow due consideration by all parties of any written statement submitted by any party; and

(c)     ensure that natural justice is accorded to the parties to the dispute throughout the mediation process.

 

      (10)   The mediator must not determine the dispute.

 

      (11)   If the mediation process does not result in the dispute being resolved, the parties may seek to resolve the dispute in accordance with the Act otherwise at law.

 

SECTION 3

 

BOWLS SECTIONS

 

17.  (1)     There shall be two Bowls Sections one of which shall comprise the members of the Club who are affiliated with the RVBA and the other shall comprise the members of the Club who are affiliated with the VLBA.

 

      (2)     The Sections shall each be responsible to the Board for the management and conduct of all Section Bowls activities including Pennant and Social Bowls, respective Club Championships, Association events and any other special events approved by the Board.

 

      (3)     The Sections shall be jointly responsible to the Board for the conduct of such mixed events as are approved by the Board.

 

      (4)     (a) The Sections shall seek affiliation with the RVBA and the VLBA as appropriate.

                (b) In playing Bowls members shall observe the Laws and Rules of the respective Associations.

                (c) Failure to observe any such Laws and Rules will render the offending player liable to disqualification from the match or competition.

 

 

 

(5)     Not later than the 15th April of each year the Sections shall each submit to the Secretary of the Board a copy of its Annual Financial Statement showing details of all monies received and expended in connection with its activities.  These      statements shall have been audited by the Auditors and all funds shall be dealt with as provided in Rule 41.

 

SECTION ORDINARY AND ANNUAL MEETINGS

 

18. (1)   Each Section may hold such ordinary meetings of its members as may be convened under these Rules, but shall hold a Section Annual Meeting at such date and place as the Section Committee determines provided that the Annual Meeting is at least one month prior to the Annual General Meeting of the Club.

 

      (2)     The business of the Section Annual Meetings shall be:-

                (a) to confirm the minutes of the last preceding Section Annual Meeting and of any Section Ordinary Meetings held since that meeting.

                (b) to receive from the Section President a report on the transactions of the Section during the last preceding year.

                (c) to elect officers of the Section, the members of the Section Committee and the Club Delegates.

                (d) to elect the Section Social Bowls Committee.

                (e) to elect the Section Pennant Selection Committee.

                (f) to determine the number of Pennant sides to be entered in Pennant Competitions but on the resolution of the members this matter may be referred to the Section Committee with power to act.

                (g) to transact any other business of which notice has been given.

                (h) to transact any other general business but any resolutions arising from such business shall be recommendations to the Section Committee only.

 

      (3)     The rules for general meetings of the Club, suitably modified to provide for equivalent section office bearers and the like, and for a quorum of one third of financial members of the section , shall apply to Section ordinary and annual meetings.

 

SECTION COMMITTEES

 

19.  (1)   The affairs of each of the Sections as provided in Rule 17(2) shall be managed by the respective Section Committees.

 

      (2)     The officers of each Section shall be:-

                (a) a President

                (b) a Vice President

(c) a Secretary

(d) an Assistant Secretary

(e) a Treasurer

 

(3)        The provisions of Rule 24 so far as they are applicable and with the necessary modifications, apply to and in relation to the election of persons to any of the offices mentioned in the sub-clause (2).

 

      (4)     Each officer of the Sections shall hold office for not less than 12 months and until his successor is elected but is eligible for re-election.

 

      (5)     In the event of a casual vacancy in any office referred to in sub-clause (2), the Committee may appoint one of its members to the vacant office and the member so appointed may continue in office up to and including the conclusion of the Annual Meeting next following the date of his appointment.

 

20.(1)       Each Section Committee shall consist of:-

                (a) the Officers of the Section; and

                (b) between seven and nine ordinary Committee members - each of whom shall be elected at the Section Annual Meeting.

 

(2)        Each ordinary member of the Committee shall, subject to these rules, hold office for not less than 12 months and until his successor is elected but is eligible for re-election.

 

(3)        The  members of  each Section Committee i.e. R.V.B.A. and V.L.B.A. shall have joint responsibility for catering for various Club functions/Pennant days, “housekeeping” , forming a Social Committee to run and organise Club social functions, and production of a Club newsletter.          

      (4)     In the event of a casual vacancy occurring in the office of an ordinary member of the Committee, the Committee may appoint a member of the Club to fill the vacancy and the member so appointed shall hold office, subject to these rules, until the conclusion of the Section Annual Meeting next following the date of his appointment.

 

 

CLUB DELEGATES

 

21.  (1)    Two Delegates to the RVBA and VLBA, at least one of whom shall be a member of the Committee, shall be elected by the Section Annual Meeting.

      (2)     Any Delegate absenting himself from two consecutive meetings of the RVBA or VLBA (or Country Association) without good and valid reason to satisfaction of the Committee shall be held to have vacated the office.

 

      (3)     The Committee shall have the power to fill any vacancy.

 

      (4)     The Delegates shall make regular reports to the respective Committees.

 

SECTION SOCIAL BOWLS COMMITTEE

 

22.  (1)    A Section Social Bowls Committee comprising 5 financial members shall be elected by the members at the Annual Meeting of the Section.

 

      (2)     The duties of the Social Bowls Committee shall be:-

                (a) to arrange the Section fixture programme for the year, including all social bowls, respective Club Championships, Association events and special events. All mixed social bowls to be arranged jointly by the R.V.B.A. and V.L.B.A. Sections as per Rule 17(2).  

                (b) to arrange teams for and control all Section fixtures;

               

      (3)     In the event of any member or members of the Social Bowls Committee vacating his or their position for any reason whatsoever, then such vacancy or vacancies shall be filled by another financial member or members to be appointed by the Section Committee.

 

(4)        The Social Bowls Committee shall have power to co-opt any financial member to assist in conducting tournaments, but a final decision on any matter within its duties shall rest entirely with the Social Bowls Committee.

 

SECTION PENNANT SELECTION COMMITTEE

 

23.  (1)     A Pennant Selection Committee comprising 5 financial members shall be elected by the members at the Section Annual Meeting.

 

      (2)     The duties of the Pennant Selection Committee shall be:-

                (a) to select teams and sides to represent the Section in Pennant fixtures; and

                (b) to select or recommend other playing representatives of the Section.

                (c) determine handicaps for Section competitions.

 

(3)        In the event of a casual vacancy occurring on the Pennant Selection Committee, the Section Committee may appoint a financial member to fill such vacancy.

 

(4)        The Pennant Selection Committee shall have power to co-opt any financial member to assist in its duties but a final decision on any matter within its duties shall rest entirely with the Pennant Selection Committee.

 

ELECTION OF OFFICERS, COMMITTEES AND VACANCY (See also Rule 44 ).

 

24.(1)    Nominations of candidates for election as officers of the Sections or as ordinary members of the Committees and nominations for the positions of Club Delegates to represent the Club at meetings of the RVBA or VLBA (and Country Association) and for the Social Bowls and Pennant Selection Committees:-

                (a) shall be made in writing, signed by two members of the respective Section and accompanied by the written consent of the candidate (which may be endorsed on the form of nomination); and

                (b) shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Section not less than 14 days before the date fixed for the holding of the Section Annual Meeting.

 

                The candidate, his proposer and seconder must all have been financial members of the Club for at least one year

                before the  Annual Meeting. Retiring officers shall be eligible for re-election.

 

(2)        If insufficient nominations are received to fill all vacancies on the Committee, the candidates nominated shall be deemed to be elected and further nominations shall be received at the Section Annual Meeting.

 

(3)        If the number of nominations received is equal to the number of vacancies to be filled, the persons nominated shall be deemed to be elected.

(4)        If the number of nominations exceeds the number of vacancies to be filled, a ballot shall be held.

        

      (5)   The ballot for the election of officers and ordinary members of the Committee shall be conducted prior to the commencement of the Section Annual Meeting by two scrutineers and a returning officer appointed by the Committee at such meetings.

                (a) The method of voting shall be by crossing out the name of the member or members nominated not desired and leaving the correct number of members to fill the vacant offices.

                (b) Ballot papers containing a greater or lesser number of persons to be elected shall be informal.

                (c) If event of a tie for the lowest place or places on the list of those to be elected, an extra ballot of those who had tied shall be taken to decide who shall be elected. In the event of the second ballot not determining a winner, the position shall be decided by drawing of a lot by the Chairperson.

                (d) Postal votes should be directed to the Secretary so that he receives them by mail prior to the commencement of the Annual Meeting . The Secretary shall hand all postal votes received by him to the Scrutineers at the Annual Meeting. Such postal votes must be sealed by the member in such a way that they shall be handed to the Scrutineers unopened.

 

      (6)     There shall be no restrictions on any member holding office on more than one Committee.

 

25. (1)     For the purpose of these rules, the office of an officer of the Section or of an ordinary member of the Committee becomes vacant if the officer or member:-

                (a) ceases to be a member of the Club;

                (b) becomes an insolvent under administration within the meaning of the Companies (Victoria) Code;

                (c) resigns his office by notice in writing given to the Section Secretary; or

                (d) fails to attend for three consecutive Committee Meetings without leave or apology delivered at or prior to the meetings.

 

      (2)     An officer or ordinary member of the Committee shall not be held to have resigned his office until his resignation has been accepted by the Committee.

 

PROCEEDINGS OF COMMITTEES – (i.e. BOTH  BOARD and SECTIONS) (See also Rule 44).

 

26. (1)    (a) The Board Committee shall meet periodically at least 10 Times in each year at such place and such times as the