Club Rules

SUSSEX COUNTY CROQUET CLUB

RULES

  1. PREAMBLE

Pursuant to approval granted by the Sussex County Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club (“the Joint Club”) under its Rule 2, the Croquet Section of the Joint 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.

  1. MEMBERSHIP

There shall be four categories of membership:-

  1. Full membership for playing members

  2. Social Membership for those wishing to use the Club mainly for social and recreational purposes including playing up to six times in the summer season

  3. Student membership for those in full-time education up to the age of twenty six years.

  4. Lifestyle membership for those wishing to be associated with the club, but not play croquet

  1. MANAGEMENT

  1. The officers of the Club shall consist of a Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary

  2. The management of the Club shall be vested in a Committee consisting of the three officers and six additional members

  3. All nine Committee members will serve for one year, after which they will be eligible for re-election at the Annual General Meeting

  4. 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.

  1. THE COMMITTEE

  1. The Committee shall have the power to determine and regulate its own procedure.

  2. The Committee shall have the power to co-opt additional members to serve for such period of time as it considers expedient.

  3. The Committee shall appoint:-

  1. Vice Chairman

  2. Membership Secretary

  3. Tournament Secretary

  4. Two delegates to serve on the Management Committee of the Joint Club

  1. 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

  2. The Committee shall set up Bye-Laws to assist in the day-to-day operation of the Club and review them annually

  3. A quorum for the Committee shall consist of at least five members, to include either the Chairman or Vice Chairman

5. PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT

The Committee may nominate (by at least a two thirds majority of Members voting at a Committee Meeting) someone suitably distinguished to become President or Vice-President of the Club, these offices being ceremonial. This proposal shall be voted on at the next General Meeting. These honours are intended to be for life, unless that person resigns or is removed by a Motion adopted at a General Meeting.

6. GENERAL MEETING

  1. 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

  2. The presence of thirty members shall constitute a quorum for the purposes of any General Meeting.

  3. 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.

  4. At least twenty-one days’ notice of all General Meetings shall be sent to each member

  5. 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.

  6. Social, Lifestyle and Student members shall have the right to attend General Meetings but shall not be eligible to vote on resolutions nor participate in elections.

  7. The Chairman or, in his absence, the Vice-Chairman, shall preside at all General Meetings.

7. SUBSCRIPTIONS

  1. 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.

  2. The level of subscription applicable to new members who join during the playing season shall be within the discretion of the Committee

  3. Entry to Club competitions will be available only to fully paid-up members and students.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE

  1. Complaints about conduct of members which is alleged to be detrimental to the interests of the club can be made to the Chairman or a member of the Committee. The complainant should be asked if they wish it be dealt with informally or formally.

  2. Informal complaint. The Chairman/committee member will decide who will deal with the complaint. Normally this designated person will speak to each of the parties and try to resolve the issue in the most appropriate verbal way.

  3. Formal complaint This must be received in writing. The committee will designate an investigator who will speak to members or others with knowledge of the matter including the complainant. The committee will also designate a sub group of 3 committee members. The sub group will receive the written report from the investigator. The investigator takes no further part in the process.

  1. The sub-committee shall decide if misconduct was found and if any sanctions will be imposed. They may issue a warning, or impose other sanctions such as suspending the member from organised club activities for a period of up to 12 months or requiring the member to attend a training course relevant to the matter which was the subject of the complaint or removing the member from a position or role held within the club, suspend the member for a period of not more than one month or until any unpaid amounts of money owing to the club have been paid, or expel the member. If damage to Club property has occurred, the member may be required to pay for repairs in addition to any other penalty. If the proposed sanction was to expel a member then this must first be approved by a majority of the whole Committee

  1. The outcome must be put in writing to the member. The member should also be informed that they have the right to appeal this decision within 7 days of receipt of the written decision..

  1. A three member panel from the committee, not involved in the complaint decision, should be appointed by the committee and hear any appeal within 14 days if possible. Generally if there is no new information provided and no fault found with the process, it is likely the decision will be upheld. The member may wish to attend or to rely on the written reasons for the appeal. They should also be allowed to be accompanied by another member if they wish.

  1. The appeal outcome should be conveyed in writing to the member after informing the committee. The panel’s decision is final.

  1. A suspended or expelled member may not enter the Club’s premises or grounds except to attend a hearing. For serious allegations, the Chairman may suspend the member immediately pending an investigation and credit subscriptions for this period of suspension.

  1. Appeals against suspension or expulsion may be made to a Panel of three members, appointed by the Committee from a list of about 6-8 members revised annually by the Committee. The Panel’s decision shall be final.

11. 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 2022


SUSSEX COUNTY CROQUET CLUB BYE-LAWS


1. MANAGEMENT
The Management 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 Grounds sub-committee may close a particular lawn or lawns as and when required.
 During Tournaments and throughout the winter the sub-committee, when possible, will keep
 two or more 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 Management Committee will decide arrangements for the allocation of lawns and post details on the notice board or blackboard. The priorities will generally be in the Order of tournaments – matches - club competitions - coaching - friendly games 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.   During the Winter period the lawns on Tuesdays mornings are not available for normal play..

e) The Contractor and grounds men 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
 sub-committee or the Management Committee
 
3. VISITORS
Subject to the availability of lawns, a member may invite a visitor(s) to play during the summer season on payment of the Green Fee per session (currently £10 for a four hour session). A session is a morning, afternoon or evening. The visitor must be signed in and be limited to four occasions per year. The host member is responsible for recording the date and name(s) in the Visitor’s book, collecting the fee and passing it to the Treasurer or a committee member. Visitors to the club for tournaments and matches will be honorary members for the duration of their visit. Children are defined as under 16 years.

4. SOCIAL MEMBERS
A social member is a member who has a past connection with the club or is a spouse/partner of a member
and wishes to keep in touch and enjoy social activities. Social members may use the lawns up to six sessions during the year.
A session is classed as a maximum of 4 hours play.
The visitor's book must be signed on each occasion.
Social members cannot enter club competitions and the non member rate would apply if they entered a tournament.
They do not qualify for CA membership.

5. DRESS
Footwear must be worn and have flat soles with no heels. Clothing which is predominantly white should 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 compiled. The fee for renting a locker is £5.00 per annum.

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.

8. BAR
The club is licensed 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 in the bar. Alcohol must not be served before 11.00 am on Sundays. See also Bye Law 3, “Visitors”. Drinks may be served only by persons authorised by the Committee.
Prices will be fixed by the Bar Manager in conjunction with the Management Committee.
Glasses and crockery must not be taken onto the playing surface.

9. NOTICES
Members should not put up notices nor alter notices without the authority of the Management 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 to the clubhouse. All other personal adverts must be placed in the verandah room.

10. SMOKING
Smoking is NOT permitted in any club building at any time. The no smoking area extends to the tabled areas outside the clubhouse when food is being eaten.
In the grounds cigarette ends should be deposited in litter bins or ashtrays and not thrown on the ground.

11. DOGS
Dogs are not allowed inside any of the buildings and must be kept on a lead at all times. During Tournaments and associated evening activities dogs must remain in the car park.

12. SECURITY
The last member to leave should ensure that the Canteen and Pavilion including the old office are properly locked, curtains pulled and, if last to leave the Car Park, must close and lock the gate. The gate in Victoria Road should be kept locked at all times.


Revised March 2022


Last update : 27/01/2023 18:28
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