Grappenhall Village Lawn Tennis Club

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GVLTC Official Club Rules

1.        Name and Objectives
 
1.1     The Club shall be called "The Grappenhall Village Lawn Tennis Club".
 
1.2     The object of the Club is to provide facilities for and promote the participation of the whole community in the sport of Lawn Tennis.
 
2.        Constitution
 
2.1     The Club is constituted as a Non-Profit Making Club.  In no circumstances during the continuance of the Club, nor at, nor after its dissolution, shall any assets or surplus funds be distributed to any member or other person nor to any organisation which is not itself either a registered Community Amateur Sports Club or a charity.
 
3.        Classes of Membership and Subscription Rates
 
3.1     Membership of the Club shall be open to all persons irrespective of ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or beliefs; or of age, sex or disability except as a necessary consequence of the requirements of Lawn Tennis as a particular sport.
 
The Club may refuse membership or expel from membership only for good and sufficient cause, such as conduct or character likely to bring the Club or sport into disrepute.  Appeal against such a decision may be made to the Club’s Members and decided by majority vote.

 
There shall be the following classes of membership:
 
3.1.1    Senior Playing Member - who shall be deemed to be a Member and able to play regularly for 12 months of the year.

3.1.2    Student Playing Member - who shall be over the age of 18 years on 1^st January and who is attending a full-time course of Further Education at College or University.  Student Members shall be entitled to all facilities of play and otherwise available to Senior Playing Members.

3.1.3    Junior Playing Member - who shall be under the age of 18 years on 1st January or still at school.   Junior Playing Members shall be entitled only to playing facilities at the Club and shall only be permitted to play under conditions and times to be decided by the Club and posted on the Notice Board.  Children under the age of 10 years may only use the courts (subject to availability) if, they are supervised by their parent, who is a member of the Club, or if they are attending an official coaching session run by a qualified Coach or a member of the Club who is over the age of 16 years.

3.1.4    Non-Playing Member - who shall be entitled to all Club facilities afforded to Senior Playing Members except that they shall not be entitled to play tennis except under rules and conditions applicable to Visitors nor shall they be entitled to vote in the election of Members for Team selection Committees.  No person shall be elected as a Non-Playing Member if, as a result of such an election, the number of Non-Playing Members shall exceed fifty per cent of the total number of senior and junior Playing members for the time being.

3.1.5   Occasional (Weekend) Member - who shall be entitled to all the Club facilities afforded to Non Playing Members except for the inclusion of tennis playing facilities from Friday evening to Sunday evening inclusive.  Occasional Members will not be entitled to play in the Club Open and Handicap tournaments. Or represent the Club.

3.1.6   Occasional (Weekday) Member - who shall be entitled to all the Club facilities afforded to Non Playing Members except for the inclusion of tennis playing facilities from Monday to Fridays between the hours of 10.00 a.m. and 15.00 p.m.  Occasional Members will not be entitled to play in the Club Open and Handicap tournaments. Or represent the Club.

3.1.7  Winter Playing Member - who shall be deemed to be a Member and play regularly for that period of the year from 1^st September and 31^st March inclusive. 
 
3.2     Subscription Rates
 
3.2.1  The level of subscriptions shall be as fixed at the AGM or Special General Meeting for a season - i.e. 1^st April to 31^st March.

3.2.2   All annual subscriptions will be due on 1^st April each year, except Winter Playing Members which shall be paid by 1^st September in each year.  Any Member in default will not be allowed to represent the Club in matches until their subscription has been paid.  Any Member who has not paid their subscription by 1^st May (1^st November for Winter Playing Members) will cease to be a Member.
 
4.        Election of Members
 
4.1     Honorary Life Membership shall be strictly limited and awarded at the AGM by way of reward for special services to the club.
 
4.2     Candidates desiring admission to the Club shall make application in writing to the Honorary Secretary.  Members shall be elected by a simple majority vote by the General Committee of the Club provided that the name and address of each candidate shall be prominently displayed on the Club Notice Board for 2 days prior to such selection.
 
4.3     No newly elected Member shall be entitled to any privileges of the Club until his or her subscription has been paid.
 
5.        Resignation
 
5.1     A Member wishing to resign must give notice to the Honorary Secretary in writing before 31^st march, otherwise such Members shall be liable for the ensuing season's subscription.
 
6.        Suspension or Expulsion
 
6.1     The General Committee shall have power to terminate or suspend the membership of any Member or to exclude any Member or Visitor whom it considers guilty of a breach of these Rules or of misconduct or offensive behaviour to any other Member, Visitor or Employee whether on the Club's premises or elsewhere.
 
7.        Injury, Loss of Property etc.
 
7.1  Members or Visitors leaving unattended vehicles, rackets,  clothing or other property at the Club do so at their own risk and the Club shall not be responsible for any loss, damage or injury resulting from this or any other cause.
 
8.        Visitors
 
8.1     Members may introduce up to 2 Visitors on any one date.
 
8.2     A Member introducing a Guest shall sign the name of the Guest in the Visitor's Book retained at the Club premises and shall also sign his or her own name as the introductory Member.
 
8.3     Visitors may play tennis upon payment of a fee decided by the General Committee.  The current fee shall be prominently displayed on the Club Notice Board.
 
8.4     No Visitor may play more than three times per season.
 
8.5     Visiting team Players may be admitted to the Club as Guests without signing the Visitor's Book.
 
9.        Officers
 
9.1     The Honorary Officers of the Club shall be the President, Chairman, Secretary and treasurer.  They shall be elected at the AGM for a term of one year, being eligible for re-election.
 
9.2     Vice-Presidents shall be elected annually at the discretion of the General Committee.
 
10.     Management
 
10.1  The Management of the Club shall be in the entire control of a General Committee and shall have power to settle all disputes and decide all questions not provided for in these rules.
 
10.2  The General Committee shall consist of the Honorary Officers of the Club together with the Subscription Secretary and up to nine Members who shall be elected at the AGM for a term of one year and shall be eligible for re-election.
 
10.3  Captains and Vice Captains shall be ex-officio Members of the General Committee.
 
10.4  Seven Members including Honorary Members and ex-officio Members shall be deemed to be a quorum.
 During the season, should any vacancy arise on any Committee, the General Committee shall have the power to co-opt.

 
10.5  The General Committee shall have powers as to the number of Club Members.
 
10.6  There shall be a Junior Committee to manage Junior affairs.  The Junior Committee shall consist of up to five Junior Members and up to four Senior Members.  One of the Senior Members should be co-opted to the General Committee to represent the views and comments of the Junior Committee.  The Junior Members of the Committee shall be elected at a general meeting of Junior Members held in October of each year.

11.1   An Annual General Meeting shall be held in the month of October each year, fourteen days notice in writing of which shall be given by the Honorary Secretary to all members except Junior Members.  The business to be transacted at such meetings shall be the consideration of the Reports and Balance Sheet, the election of officers and Committees, and any other business.  Twelve Members shall form a quorum, Junior Members shall not be entitled to vote at this meeting.  Not less than 10 days notice must be given to the Honorary Secretary in writing of any proposal to alter Rules or of any other special business to be brought before the Annual General Meeting, notice of which shall be posted on the Notice Board.  No New Rule shall be added or existing Rule changed except by a two-thirds majority present.  All amendments to Club Rules shall, within 28 days, be notified by the Honorary Secretary to the Clerk to the Justices, the Clerk to the Local authority and to the Superintendent of Police.
 
11.2   Special General Meetings of the Club shall be called by the Honorary Secretary when directed by the General Committee or on receipt of a requisition signed by seven Members of the Club, stating the object for which the meeting is to be called.  At least seven days notice must be given of every such meeting specifying the business it is proposed to transact at such a meeting.
  
11.3   Two Members shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting as Honorary Auditors.  They shall audit the accounts annually for the Annual General Meeting or when the need arises.  They shall hold office for one year and be eligible for re-election.

12.1   The General Committee shall cause title to:
 
          12.1.1  All land and interests in land held by or in trust for the Club; and
 
          12.1.2  All investments held by or on behalf of the Club
 
To be vested in not less than two and not more than four individual members appointed by them as trustees. 
 
12.2   Trustees shall act in accordance with the lawful directions of the General Committee and provided they shall act in accordance with the lawful directions of the General Committee the Trustees shall not be liable for the acts and defaults of the General Committee.
 
12.3   Trustees must be Members or Honorary Life members of the Club and may be removed as Trustees by the General Committee upon the General Committee giving not less than ten days notice to Members by the posting of a notice on the Club Notice Board except in the case of an emergency.

13.1   The Bar shall be managed by a Bar Committee which shall consist of the Honorary Secretary and the Honorary Treasurer and at least three other Senior Members who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting for a term of one year and shall be eligible for re-election.
 
13.2   The hours for the purpose of supplying intoxicating liquor shall be in accordance with the Club’s opening times, its license to sell intoxicating liquor and in accordance with the legislation pertaining at the time.
 
13.3   Intoxicating liquor shall not be knowingly sold or supplied to any person under the age of 18 years in the Club premises for consumption on or off the said premises, nor shall such a person knowingly be allowed to consume intoxicating liquor.
 
13.4   Intoxicating liquor may only be supplied to guests of Members admitted to the Club provided Rule 8 for Visitors has been satisfied.
 
13.5   Subject to approval of the General Committee, the Club premises or any part thereof, may be hired to other Societies, Organisations or individuals for dance, parties, conferences, or similar events, which events shall have been approved in advance in writing by the General Committee of the Club on not more than twelve occasions in any one year and on each occasion that such an event under this Rule takes place at the Club premises.  The Superintendent of Police shall be so informed in writing, not less than seven days before the function is due to take place, and intoxicating liquor may be supplied to the persons attending the function and for the purposes of this Rule the year shall run from 1^st April to the following 31^st March

14.1   There shall be Gents and Ladies Team Captains; Gents and Ladies Team Vice-Captains who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting for a term of one year, being eligible for re-election.

14.2   There shall be a Gents Team Selection Committee consisting of the Gents Team Captain and Vice-Captain and three other Members.
 
14.3   There shall be a Ladies Team Selection Committee consisting of the Ladies Team Captain and Vice-Captain and three other Members.
 
14.4   There shall be a Mixed team selection Committee consisting of the two Captains and two Vice-Captains plus one other Members from the other Selection Committees (13.2 & 13.3).

14.5   All Members of the Selection Committees shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting for a term of one year and shall be eligible for re-election.
 
14.6   The respective Captains shall be responsible for the posting of teams five clear days before any match.

15.1   Members waiting to play must take their turn.  After a set limited to 6-5, has been played, the court must be given up if other players are waiting.
 

15.2   Doubles shall take preference over singles.
 
15.3   Recognised tennis kit and shoes suitable for the courts shall be worn. 

15.4   Any Official of the Club or General Committee Member present on the courts shall have the power to decide whether or not the ground is suitable for play.

16.1  The Club shall be open daily (including Sunday) between 10.00am   and 11.30pm.

16.2   All complaints and suggestions shall be given to the Honorary Secretary in writing who will in turn raise the matter for consideration by the General Committee at the earliest opportunity.

16.3   A copy of these Rules shall be displayed at all times on the Club Notice Board.  A copy shall be issued to any member on request