1. PREAMBLE
Pursuant to approval granted by the Sussex County Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club, "the Main Club", under its Rule 3(b), the Croquet Section of the Main Club shall henceforth be known as the Sussex County Croquet Club, "the Club", and shall be organised as an autonomous club for the playing of croquet.

2. MEMBERSHIP
There shall be three categories of membership:-
(i) Full membership for playing members
(ii) Social Membership for those wishing to use the Club mainly for social and recreational purposes
(iii) Student membership for those in full-time education

3. MANAGEMENT
(i) The officers of the Club shall consist of a Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary
(ii) The management of the Club shall be vested in a Committee consisting of the three officers and six additional members
(iii) All nine Committee members will serve for one year, after which they will be eligible for re-election at the Annual General Meeting
(iv) Nominations for Committee membership shall be notified to the Secretary at least fourteen days before the Annual General Meeting and displayed in the Club Pavilion.

4. THE COMMITTEE
(i) The Committee shall have the power to determine and regulate its own procedure.
(ii) The Committee shall have the power to co-opt additional members to serve for such period of time as it considers expedient,
(iii) The Committee shall appoint:-
(a) a Vice Chairman
(b) a Membership Secretary
(c) a Tournament Secretary
(d) two delegates to serve on the Management Committee of the Main Club
(iv) The Committee shall have the power, in the event of the retirement or resignation or incapacity of any officer of the Club, to appoint a person to serve in an acting capacity until the next Annual General Meeting
(v) The Committee shall set up Bye-Laws to assist in the day-to-day operation of the Club and review them annually
(vi) A quorum for the Committee shall consist of at least five members, to include either the Chairman or Vice Chairman

5. GENERAL MEETING
(i) The Annual General Meeting shall be held on a Saturday no later than the third Saturday in March, on a date to be decided by the Committee. The Treasurer shall present the Annual Statement of Accounts at this Meeting
(ii) The presence of thirty members shall constitute a quorum for the purposes of any General Meeting
(iii) The Committee shall have the power to convene an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Club should it decide that it would be in the interests of the Club. Further, the Committee shall be under a duty to convene such a Meeting if requested to do so by not less than twenty full members.
(iv) At least twenty-one days' notice of all General Meetings shall be sent to each member
(v) Voting at General Meetings shall be by a show of hands, except in the case of a contested election for the Committee. In the latter case voting shall be by secret ballot,
(vi) Social and Student members shall have the right to attend General Meetings but shall not be eligible to vote on resolutions nor participate in elections,
(vii) The Chairman, or in his absence the Vice-Chairman, shall preside at all General Meetings.

6. SUBSCRIPTIONS
(i) The annual subscriptions for each category of membership shall be decided by the Committee, whereupon they shall become payable on 1st January for the forthcoming year.
(ii) The level of subscription applicable to new members who join during the playing season shall be within the discretion of the Committee
(iii) Entry to Club competitions will be available only to fully paid-up members and students.

7. ELECTION OF MEMBERS
An applicant for full membership of the Club shall be proposed by one full member and seconded by another. An applicant for Student or Social membership shall be proposed by one full member. Acceptance will be subject to approval by the Committee.

8. HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS
By resolution passed at an Annual General Meeting, a person may be elected an Honorary Life Member in recognition of outstanding services to the Club. Such members shall enjoy all the rights of a full member.

9. AMENDMENT TO THE RULES
Any resolution to amend these Rules shall require a two-thirds majority of members present and voting at a General Meeting.

Revised March 2006

BYE LAWS

1. MANAGEMENT
The Committee is responsible for the overall management of the club and will delegate much of its work to Sub-Committees, each consisting of two or more club members. The Chairman of the club will be an ex-officio member of all sub-committees.
A list of responsibilities will be posted on the notice board.

2. USE AND CARE OF LAWNS
a) In general, play will not start before 9.00 am in summer and not before 10.00 am in winter. Lawns are available seven days a week until dusk.
b) The Committee may close a particular lawn or lawns as and when required.
During Tournaments and throughout the winter the Committee, when possible, will keep two lawns open for members. Heavily subscribed tournaments and lawn care, however, could be reasons to have only one, or rarely, no lawns available.
c) Members must not play on lawns when unfit for play for reasons such as being waterlogged; the presence of surface water or frost, or when the grass is heavily worn or muddy. Members should not walk on lawns except when in play.
d) The Committee will decide arrangements for the allocation of lawns and post details on the notice or blackboard. The priorities will generally be in the order: tournaments - matches - club competitions - coaching - friendlies and practice. Golf croquet will take priority for up to 6 lawns on 2 specified half days per week. Members should be prepared to 'double bank' if necessary.
e) The Contractor and groundsmen take their instructions from only the Grounds sub- committee. Members must not interfere with their work, nor give them instructions or requests of any kind. Any causes for concern should be reported to any member of the committee.

3. VISITORS
Subject to the availability of lawns, a member may invite a visitor to play during the summer season on payment of the current Green Fee. The visitor must be signed in and be limited to six occasions per year. Visitors to the club for tournaments and matches will be honorary members for the duration of their visit

NB: the current Green Fee is £5.00 per person per session (unless a different sum has been agreed previously for Corporate Events).

4 SOCIAL MEMBERS
Social members may play on six times (sessions) during the summer season.The Visitors'book must be signed on each occasion. A day of "Fun Doubles" will count as only one session.
A session is a morning, afternoon or evening

5. DRESS
Footwear must be worn and have flat soles with no heels. Clothing which is predominantly white must be worn for tournaments, inter-club matches and in club finals. Dress is otherwise optional but members should generally be circumspect in their dress at all times.

6. LOCKERS
Full playing members will be given priority in the allocation of lockers. When there are insufficient lockers available a waiting list will be compiled. The fee for renting a locker will be £5.00 per annum with effect from 2008

7. ETIQUETTE
Members should take care not to distract players by excessive noise or behaviour. Players should make themselves aware of the CA Rules and Regulations (part 4) concerning behaviour which includes the etiquette for double banked games (Law 52). During games advice must not be sought by players or be offered to them.

7. BAR
The club is licenced under the Licensing Act, 2003 and may only serve alcoholic drinks to members and their guests during the permitted hours, as shown in Schedule One of the certificate, which is displayed at the bar. See also Bye Law 3. Drinks may be served only by persons authorised by the Committee.
Prices will be fixed by the Bar manager in conjunction with the Committee.

8. NOTICES
Members should not put up notices nor alter notices without the authority of the Committee. The use of walls, doors etc. for any notices is to be deprecated. Adverts for croquet kit and equipment may be displayed in the entrance way of the clubhouse. All other personal adverts must be placed in the verandah room, or elsewhere in the area specifically designated for this.

9. SMOKING
Smoking is NOT permitted in any club building AT ANY TIME. The no smoking area extends to the tabled areas outside the clubhouse.
In the grounds cigarette ends should be deposited in litter bins or ashtrays and not thrown on the ground.

10. DOGS
Dogs are not allowed inside any of the buildings and must be kept on a lead at all times in the grounds.

11. SECURITY
The last member to leave should ensure that the Clubhouse and Pavilion including the Office are properly locked and, if last to leave the Car Park, must close and lock the gate. After dusk this gate should be closed. The gate in Victoria Road should be kept locked at all times.