NB: Copies of these Bye Laws are available upon request, either electronic via email or hard copy.

RELATING TO MEMBERSHIP

1:          

a)           Only a financially solvent Member of three months standing, may propose or second a new Member. The new Member must be personally known to both the proposer and the seconder.

b)           In exceptional circumstances and subject to vetting by the Board of Directors, a new Member, unknown to any existing Member, may be proposed and seconded by Company Directors only.

c)           New Members who are admitted to the Club, shall pay immediately the Membership subscription as set by the Board of Directors for the current year, to any Director or Member of Staff authorised to take subscriptions.

2:           Renewals of Annual Subscriptions fall due on the 1^st of January. Any Member who has not paid his/her subscription by the 31^st of January shall be reminded that their subscription is overdue. Any Member who has not paid their subscription by the end of March, will no longer be considered a bona-fide Member and must, therefore be deemed a guest, with all the implications that apply (see Bye Laws 9, 10 & 11). Members may, by prior arrangement with the Company Secretary, pay their subscription in instalments. The first instalment must be paid by the end of January and the balance not later than the end of the 31^st of March, otherwise the same conditions will apply.

3:           At the time of joining the Club, each Member shall be issued with a copy of these Bye Laws.

4:           At the time of joining the Club, a Member joining as a Shareholder shall purchase one share of the Meersbrook Bowling Club Limited, valued at One Hundred & Twenty Five pounds (£125). This entitles the Shareholder to one vote at the Company Shareholders Annual General Meeting.

5:           The Board of Directors will inform those Members who have not paid their subscription at the end of January each year that payment is overdue. Any Member who shall be three (3) months in arrears with their subscription, following the 1^st of January in any one year shall forfeit their membership. The only exception being if payment by instalment has been authorised.

RELATING TO MEMBERS FAMILIES & VISITORS

6:           Members Spouses, Partners & Children are welcome in the Club. In the interest of all, a reasonable standard of behaviour will be expected from the Children. It is the responsibility of the Member to whom the Children belong to control them and ensure that they do not infringe the law (See Bye Laws 7 & 22), and that their behaviour does not jeopardise the health and safety of or interfere with the enjoyment of other Members or Guests.

7:           The law states that Children under the age of eighteen (18) years of age will not be allowed to use the gaming machines.

8:           Only Guide Dogs & well behaved pets shall be allowed on the Club Premises. Pets must be always kept on leads whilst on the Club Premises in the interests of Members and Guests health and safety.

9:           A Member may introduce no more than four (4) Guests at any one time. These Guests are permitted to purchase alcohol, or liquor for consumption on the premises.

10:         No Guest residing within Twenty (20) miles of the Club may be introduced more than once per month. If residing outside this radius, then no restrictions apply.

11:         It is a requirement of the Law that Guests mentioned in 9 & 10 above must be signed in by the Member, at the time of entering the premises. It is requested that a Guest Fee of one pound (£1) be paid. Members signing in Guests will be responsible for their conduct.

RELATING TO CLUB HOURS

12:         The Clubhouse Bar will be open to Members as follows:

              MONDAY to FRIDAY                                    7:00pm to 11:00pm

              SATURDAY                                                   1:00pm to 11:00pm

              SUNDAY                                                      12:00pm to 10:00pm

CHRISTMAS DAY                                         12:00pm to 2:00pm

All opening times may be varied by the Directors, by notices published on the Club Premises, on the Club website and social media pages. All Staff are required by Law, to remove any drinks not consumed by twenty (20) minutes after the closure of the bar.

The Bowling Green will be open to Members as follows:

ALL WEEK                                                      10:00 to Dusk

These times may be varied by the Directors, by notices published on the Club Premises, on the Club website and social media pages. For matches that require the Bowling Green before the above stated times, prior arrangement must be made with the Bowls Section Committee. The closing of the Bowling Green for winter maintenance will be communicated by the Bowls Section Committee by notices published on the Club Premises, on the Club website and social media pages.

13:         All alcohol, liquors, minerals, and sundries will be supplied during the bar opening times to Members of the Club and their Visitors. Prices will be fixed by the Directors and a list displayed behind the Bar.

14:         The Directors may extend the permitted hours for special functions. All such requests should be communicated to the Directors.

RELATING TO RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES

15:         All games for which the Club has facilities, shall be played in accordance with the acknowledged rules of that game.

16:         Snooker and Bowls are organised by the relevant Committees and any rules made by these Committees and approved by the Directors, shall be binding on all Members.

17:         Games shall be played in such a manner, that any Member desiring a game, shall be allowed to join in the next game or rubber. Existing players should decide who should drop out.

18:         All visiting teams and parties must be signed in en bloc by the Home Team Captain or a Nominated Deputy.

19:         No Member or group of Members shall have the power to bar any Member or group of Members from playing their home league matches on the Club Bowling Green.

20:         Where the number of Bowls Teams in any one league necessitates the use of a rented Bowling Green for Home league matches, all teams concerned shall rotate on an annual basis, to use the rented Bowling Green for such matches.

GENERAL

21:         The Directors or any Members of Staff have the right to refuse to serve any Member, Visitor or Guest under the following circumstances:

a) The Person is not a fully paid up Member, or duly signed in Visitor.

b) The Person is found not to be complying with any Bye Laws or rules of the Club.

c) The Person is creating a disturbance.

22:         No Person under the age of Eighteen (18) shall be permitted to purchase or consume alcoholic beverages.

23:         In the interests of promoting a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all; Members, Members Families and Visitors should avoid the use of foul and / or abusive language.

24:         The Directors are responsible for the purchase of all beverages and no special benefit shall be afforded to any individual Member.

25:         At the discretion of the Directors, the premises may be made available for a celebration party of function, such requests must be communicated to the Directors giving at least Fourteen (14) days’ notice. If use of the Club is required when the bar is not normally open, the request must be received by the Directors, asking for the use of the Club, bar facilities and any catering requirements. At the Directors discretion there may be a charge for providing such facility. The main participants at such an event must be related to a Member, who will introduce the party and be responsible for their conduct. The constituent participants of such as party are permitted to purchase drinks for consumption on the premises, providing that the function has been approved.

The Company Secretary & Board of Directors

23^rd May 2021