MCIBA Constitution

 As amended AGM 2015/2017/2019.

TITLE

1.        The Association shall be called the Middlesex County Indoor Bowling Association.

OBJECTIVES

2.       The Association shall be an Associate Member of the English Indoor Bowling Association.

3.        The primary objects of the Association shall be:

(a)  To consolidate the Indoor Clubs of the County and to foster the indoor game of bowls within the County of Middlesex (as defined by the E.I.B.A.).

(b)  To associate with the E.I.B.A. in the general welfare of the game.

(c)  To organise Inter-County and other matches and Competitions among members of Affiliated Clubs.

(d)  To arbitrate, if called upon, on questions of bowling law and practice referred from Affiliated Clubs.

(e)  To maintain at all times suitable liaison with the Middlesex County Bowling Association.

MEMBERSHIP

4.       (a) The Association shall consist of Affiliated Clubs within the Middlesex County Area (as defined by the EIBA.) which have been accepted for affiliation by the EIBA. and are agreeable to give reasonable facilities for the holding of competitions and organised matches arranged by the Association compatible with the Club's domestic programmes.

(b)  Application for Affiliation shall be made in writing to the Hon. Secretary for approval by the General Purposes Committee of the Association.

(c) [i] Each Affiliated Club shall pay annually to the Association a Subscription and a Capitation Fee. The amounts of these shall be agreed at the Association’s Annual General Meeting in June each year in respect of the season commencing in September/October of the following year.

(c) [ii] The capitation fee shall be based on the Club’s male membership at 1^st January of the year when the indoor season commences and both the Subscription and the Capitation Fee for that season shall become due on 1st October and be paid by 15th November of that same year. Clubs failing to maintain such Subscription and Fee shall forfeit membership until all dues have been paid.

(c) [iii] Every club is required to provide, at the time the club pays its dues to the Association or immediately after its AGM, a list of their Officers for the ensuing year.

(d) Associate membership is available to ex county members from clubs that were demisedand who had not joined ANY other indoor clubs, on payment of an annual fee to be agreed at the Association’s Annual General Meeting in June each year

HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS

5.        The Association may, at the Annual General Meeting, on the recom­mendation of the General Purposes Committee, elect as Honorary Members gentlemen whose services in the interest of the game of bowls are such as to merit the distinction, each of whom shall have the right to attend and speak at all committee and general meetings of the Association. Any Member serving a term as President of the Assocaition will be honoured with Life Membership as long as there are no circumstances that the GPC warrants removing this honour.

MANAGEMENT

6.     (a) The affairs of the Association shall be managed by the General Purposes Committee which     shall consist of the Executive Officers of the Association, the two immediate Past Presidents plus       one nominated member from each indoor Club. The Club nominations for the General Purposes Committee should be received by the Hon. Secretary by 1st June annually. All members of the           General Purposes Committee shall have the power to vote and the President shall have the right to exercise a casting vote.

(b) The General Purposes Committee shall meet as often as is required to conduct the business of the Association, but a minimum of two meetings must be held, one in April and one in September of each year.

(c) Safeguarding - the Associaition will adhere to its Safeguaring policy which is shown under the seperate Safeguarding section.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

7.        The Executive Officers of the Association shall be the President, Senior Deputy President, Junior Deputy President, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Assistant Secretary, Hon. Treasurer, Hon. Match Secretary, Hon. Fixture Secretary, Hon. Tour Secretary, Team Manager and Hon. Competition Secretary. Affiliated Clubs should submit nominations for Executive Officers to the Hon. Secretary for consideration at the April meeting of the General Purposes Committee. The written nominations should be received by the Hon. Secretary at least 28 clear days before the date of the meeting and be signed by a responsible Officer of the Club concerned, together with the nominees written consent. The names of the nominees, together with any nominations of retiring Executive Officers, shall be proposed by the General Purposes Committee to the Annual General Meeting for the election by ballot. Nominations for Executive Officers may not be accepted from the floor at the Annual General Meeting.

The General Purposes Committee shall have the power to fill any vacancy during the year.

GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE

8.        The General Purposes Committee shall have the power to appoint each year Sub-Committees, including:

(a)  An Emergency Sub-Committee comprising the President, Senior Deputy President, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer and one other member of the General Purposes Committee. The Emergency Committee shall be called by the Hon. Secretary (or in his absence, by the President) at the request of two other members of the said Committee. The Emergency Committee shall have the same powers as the General Purposes Committee but shall at all times report to the GPC. The Emergency Committee may not overrule a decision made by the GPC.

(b)  A Selection Sub-Committee for Inter-CountyFriendly matches, consisting of the President (ex officio), Senior Deputy President (ex officio), Hon Secretary (ex officio), Hon. Treasurer (ex officio), Hon. Match Secretary (ex officio), and four other members of the General Purposes Committee. Such a Committee shall meet as required to select teams for Inter-County Friendly Matches. Players having applied for and been selected to play in all Middlesex representative matches must send their acceptance & match fee by return of post. After selection and acceptance players will only released in exceptional circumstances and match fees may not refunded. The Hon. Match Secretary shall be empowered to arrange the use of substitutes as necessary.

(c) A Selection Sub-Committee consisting of the Team Manager and two members and the President (ex officio), for Liberty Trophy and Home Counties League matches. One selector shall be elected from the North District and the other from the South District. These Districts to be as used in the draw for CountyCompetitions. The President shall only have the power of a casting vote in team selection. The Team Manager and Selectors shall not be available for selection for the Liberty Trophy team.

(d)  A Competitions Sub-Committee which shall consist of the Hon. Competitions Secretary (ex officio), Hon. Match Secretary and one member co-opted from the Association. The said Committee shall be empowered to deal with all matters arising regarding the playing of the CountyCompetitions in that it shall be specifically responsible for:

i)       The supervision of the draw for all competitions.

ii)      The notification of the draw to the competitors.

iii)    The enforcement of the competition rules.

iv)     The resolving of any and  all disputes arising between competitors,

v)      The booking of sufficient rink space for the semi-finals and finals days, together with all other arrangements required for those days,

vi)     Ensuring that all finals are played on the designated day at the designated venue, if possible.

COUNTYHONOURS

9        (1) Any member of an Affiliated Club may be eligible to receive and wear the Association’s badge provided that such member

[a] has not played for any other Indoor County Association in the same season, and

[b] has not entered any competition of another Indoor County Association in the same season.

           (2) A member shall qualify to receive and wear the Association’s Colts’ badge when he has played his first game for the Association.

           (3) A member shall qualify to receive and wear the Association’s full badge (and, where appropriate, the relevant flash) in any of the following cases:-

[a] when he has played for the Association in any two Liberty Trophy games; or

[b] when he has played for the Association in any four Home Counties Indoor League games; or

[c] when he has played as an unbadged finalist in any of the Association’s competitions, provided that he has played in every round of that competition or received a bye; or

[d] when he has played for the Association in a minimum of six inter-County friendly games which must include at least one game in each of four seasons which need not be consecutive.

[e] when he has played for the Association in any 3 Over 60’s inter county matches during a period of not less than two years.

      (4) In all cases except 9(3)[c], the cost of badge[s] and/or flash[es] shall be borne by the recipient.

GENERAL MEETING

10.     An Annual General Meeting shall be held in the latter half of June each year. Notices and agenda of such shall be forwarded to all Clubs by the Hon. Secretary not less than 28 days prior to the meeting. The agenda for the Annual General Meeting shall be as follows

(a)  Apologies for absence.

(b)  Minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting.

(c)  Matters arising from those Minutes.

(d)  To receive and adopt the annual report (to be submitted by the Hon. Secretary).

(e)  To receive and adopt the President’s Report

(f)  To receive and adopt the statement of accounts for the year recently ended (to be submitted by the    Hon. Treasurer).

(g)   To make any appropriate alterations to the Constitution, Rules & Objects of the Association.

(h)   To set the subscription and fees for the next relevant year/season.

(i)    Election of Executive Officers.

(j)   Election of other members of the General Purposes Committee.

(k)  Election of two Hon. Examiners.

(l)    Election of two members to the League Committee

(m)  Election of one member of the League Committee as League Secretary

(n)  To discuss any other competent business. (Only such business as shown on the published Agenda shall be transacted at an Annual General Meeting).

          All members of Affiliated Clubs may attend the Annual General Meeting and take part in the business of the meeting, but voting shall be restricted to the members of the General Purposes Committee plus two nominated delegates from each Club, Past Presidents and Honorary Life Members.

SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING

11.      A Special General Meeting may be called by the General Purposes Committee subject to fourteen days notice being given to each Affiliated Club of such meeting and the business to be transacted thereat.

ALTERATION TO RULES

12.      Alterations or amendments to the Constitution, Rules & Objects of the Association may be made only at the recommendation of the General Purposes Committee at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting called for that purpose. Note of any proposed amendments shall be sent to the Hon. Secretary who shall report the proposed amendments to a meeting of the General Purposes Committee.

APPLICATION FOR MATCHES

13.    Applications to play in County Matches can only be made by fully paid up Members of the Associaition except in the case of Life Memebrs who may apply and be treated equally for selection. the Match Secretary may call on the right to select non-affiliated palyers in the case of a shortfasll of applications from affiliated Members.