By-Laws

Daytona Metropolitan Bridge Club by-laws

These by-laws were adopted at the membership meeting on September 11, 1996.

Special Notes:

Where Chairman or a male pronoun is mentioned in these by-laws, it refers to either male or female.  Where Board is mentioned, it refers to the Board of directors.

ARTICLE ONE   - PURPOSE

The purpose of  Daytona Metropolitan Bridge Club (DMBC)  is to promote the playing of duplicate bridge adhering to the guidelines set forth by the American Contract Bridge League  (ACBL).

ARTICLE TWO   -   MEMBERSHIP

Section 1   -   ELIGIBILITY

a)   A member shall be considered in good standing with the payment of the annual dues.   Membership fees are due on November 1st  ( the first day of the fiscal year ).   The amount of  the fees is to be determined by the Board.

b)   A member shall be in default if dues are not paid by November 30th of the same year.   If in default, a member will lose all rights and privileges.

Section 2   -   PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERS IN GOOD STANDING

Each member in good standing shall:

a)   Be entitled to vote at any meeting of the Club on matters that may come before the membership.

b)   Be entitled to participate in all activities of the Club.   Each member shall be subject to the rules of the Club and proper ethical conduct.

c)   Be eligible to vote for members of the Board and are also eligible for election to the Board.   Members in good standing are also eligible for appointment to committees established by the Board.

d)   A member shall be considered in good standing if dues are paid and he is not under suspension.

SECTION 3   -   DISCIPLINARY ACTION

a)   No action will be taken against any member until said member has had the opportunity to plead his case before the Board.   The member may be represented by counsel.

ARTICLE THREE   -   MEETINGS

Section 1   -   MONTHLY MEETING

a)   The Board shall meet on a regular basis at a date and time to be determined at the Board's first  meeting.   The president will require the secretary to advise Board members if there is a change in the meeting scheduled for any particular month or if a meeting is to be canceled.

b)   the order of business for the monthly meeting shall be:

      1)   Reading the minutes of the previous meeting.

      2)   Treasurer's report.

      3)   Report of the Managing  Director.

      4)   Reports of the committees.

      5)   Unfinished Business.

      6)   New Business.

Section 2   -   ANNUAL MEETING

a)   The annual meeting of the Club shall be held on the second Wednesday in November or at the discretion of the Board  on a different date after fiscal year end.   At this meeting, any member may force a vote by the members present on any issue of which the Secretary has been notified in writing at least two weeks in advance.   The Secretary shall post such request on the Club bulletin board at the time received.

Section 3   -   SPECIAL MEETINGS

a)   Special meetings of the membership shall be called by the Board President or by a majority of the Board or by written request of not less than thirty per cent (30%) of the members in good standing.   Such petitions shall be delivered to the Secretary  or, if unavailable, to any Officer of the Club who shall, within one week, issue a call for a Special Meeting to be held within two weeks of the receipt of such petitions.

Section 4   -   NOTICE OF MEETINGS

a)   Notice of the time and place of Annual Meetings shall be posted on the Club bulletin board at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting date.   Notices of the time and place of Special Meetings shall be posted at least ten (10) days prior to such meetings.   Notices of  Special Meetings shall state the purpose of the meeting and no other business may be transacted.

Section 5   -   QUORUMS

a)   Ten percent (10%)  of the membership shall constitute a quorum at membership meetings.

b)   Five Board Members shall constitute a quorum at Board meetings.

ARTICAL FOUR   -   ELECTIONS

Section 1   -   NOMINATIONS

a)   On or before the last day in September, the President will select four (4) non-Board Members to serve on the Nominating/Election Committee.

b)   The Nominating Committee will recruit volunteers willing and able to serve on the Board.

c)   Members of the Nominating Committee are ineligible for nominations.

d)   The Nominating Committee will post a list of nominees on the Club bulletin board at least two (2) weeks prior to the election.

e)   Additional Nominations, signed by any two Club members in good standing, must be included in the Committee's list of nominees.

Section 2    -   ELECTION PROCEDURES

a)   The members of the Election Committee will be responsible for conducting the election as outlined below.

b)   Voting will take place from 12:30 PM to 5:00 PM on election day.

c)   Printed and sequentially numbered ballots will show the names of all nominees previously posted on the bulletin board.

d)   As a ballot is being issued, a member of the Election Committee will note on a list of eligible voters the ballot number, and the member will write his initials next to his name.

e)   Before a ballot is deposited in the ballot box, the Committee must ensure that the ballot number has been removed.

f)   Members unable to be present at the election may obtain an Absentee Ballot from the Election Committee two weeks prior to the election.   If requested by mail, the member must include a self-addressed stamped envelope.   The issuance of such ballots will be recorded in a ledger.   These ballots must be returned to the Club no later than election day, in a sealed envelope marked "Ballot".   On election day, the Election Committee will annotate its ledger to indicate that an absentee ballot has been returned, verify that the member has not voted in person, remove the ballot number, and deposit the ballot in the ballot box.

g)   The Election Committee shall start counting the votes at 5:01 PM on the election day and post the results on the bulletin board.

h)   Only official ballots will be counted.   Voting by telephone, telegraph, fax, or any other means is unacceptable.

i)   The members elected will be installed at the Annual Meeting.

j)   Any member ( old or new ) who has paid his dues prior to close of polls is able to vote.

ARTICLE 5   -   BOARD OF DIRECTORS

a)   The Board shall consist of  nine (9) elected members of the Club.

b)   Three Directors shall be elected for a term of three (3) years each.   Additional Directors elected to fill vacancies shall be elected for one (1) or two (2) years based on the number of years remaining of the replaced Director's term.

c)   Missing three consecutive meeting by a Board member without cause is the equivalent of a formal resignation.

d)   The un-elected nominee who, in the preceding Annual Election received the highest number of votes shall fill any vacancy on the Board, other than at the time of the Annual Meeting.   Such successor or successors shall serve for the remainder of the Club year.

e)   No member of the Board shall serve more than two three year terms consecutively.

f)   The Board shall elect by majority vote those Board members who shall serve as President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

ARTICLE 6    -   OFFICERS

Section 1   -   BOARD OF DIRECTORS POSITIONS

a)   The officers of the Board shall consist of a President,  First Vice President,  Second Vice President,  Secretary,  and Treasurer.   All Board members are eligible to chair one or more of the committees list in Article 7,  Section 1.

Section 2   -   DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS

a)   The President shall chair all meetings and conduct them in accordance with Robert's Rules of order, unless they are inconsistent with the Club's By-Laws.   The President shall appoint all committees, both standing and special.   The President shall be a member ex-officio of all committees.   The President may call a meeting of the Board whenever necessary.

b)   The First Vice President shall, in the event of absence or disability of the President, assume and perform the duties of the President.

c)   The Second Vice President shall be the Membership Chairman and ensure that the Club's Managing Director maintains a roster of all members of the Club, complete with mailing addresses and telephone numbers.

d)   The Secretary shall record the minutes of all Board and Membership Meeting.

E)   Treasurer shall keep complete revenue and expense records, subject to auditing anytime.   The Treasurer is responsible for the timely deposit of revenues, the payment of operating expenses, and the selection of a bookkeeper.

f)   If the President 's office is left vacant, the First Vice President shall serve the remaining term.   If the offices of the Secretary or Treasurer are left vacant, other members of the Board shall fill them for the remaining term.

Section 3   -   REMOVAL OF BOARD MEMBERS

     Removal of a Board member by the membership will require a Special Meeting as described in Article 3, Section 3.   A separate action will be required for each board member removal.

ARTICLE 7   -   COMMITTEES

Section 1

 There shall be the following standing Committees.   The President with the approval of the Board will appoint chairmen.   Chairmen will select their own committee members.

                A) Tournament                    G) Entertainment

                B) Membership                    H)   Privilege Evaluation

                C)   Grounds                         I)   Sunshine

                D)   House                             J)   Purchasing

                E)   Grievance                       K)   Nominating/Election

                F)   Publicity                          L)   Education

The President may also, with the approval of the Board, appoint such additional committees as may be deemed necessary for the benefit of the Club.

Section 2   -   DUTIES

a)   The Tournament Committee shall set up all regular and special tournaments as may be approved by the Board.   The Tournament Committee shall have the responsibility of selecting trophies.   The decision of the committee shall be final unless reversed by the Board.

b)   The Membership Committee shall have the responsibility of recruiting as many new members as possible.

c)   The Grounds Committee shall have the responsibility of overseeing the proper maintenance of the Club's landscaping.

d)   The House Committee shall have the responsibility for overseeing the housekeeping functions of the Club and to report to the Board any improvements deemed necessary.   The chairman shall maintain a record of capital improvements, major repairs and acquisitions.

e)   The Grievance Committee shall hear all complaints, questions concerning ruling by directors, ethical conduct at the tables, etc..   Disciplinary actions must be approved by the Board.   The steps that should be taken are defined in the Standing Rules.

f)   The Publicity Committee shall be responsible for maximizing the Club's exposure in the media and other publications.

g)   Entertainment Committee shall be responsible for all social affairs such as annual dinners, special celebrations, etc..

h)   The Privilege Evaluation Committee shall decide if the privilege of a reserved North/South seat should be granted to a member either on a permanent or temporary basis.

i)   The Sunshine Committee shall be responsible for sending get well cards when warranted.

j)   The Purchasing Committee shall be responsible for buying housekeeping supplies and food for games.

k)   The Nominating and Election Committee duties are described in Article 4.

l)    The Education Committee duties are to investigate and propose bridge classes to the Board for the coming year.   There should be classes for new bridge players to build Club membership.   Consideration should be given to bridge education in the schools to help maintain the Club's exempt tax status.

ARTICLE 8   -   CLUB MANAGING DIRECTOR

A Club Managing Director (CMD) shall be appointed by the Board.   He shall be directly responsible to the Board for the proper conduct of all franchised duplicate bridge games conducted by the Club in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Club and the ACBL.   He shall be responsible for ordering of all game supplies and equipment.   He will maintain an up-to-date membership roster of the Club.   The CMD may not be elected to the Board.   He will attend all board meetings.   He shall be compensated for managing,  directing and teaching  Club games and classes as established by the Board.   The CMD shall be responsible for the hiring and firing of associate directors as well as their guidance, training and instruction to maintain a director staff  that conforms to the rules of the Club and the Board.

ARTICLE 9   -   ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR ANNUAL MEETINGS

a)   Reading of the minutes of the previous meeting.

b)   Report of the Election Committee.

c)   Introduction of new members elected to the Board.

d)   Reports of  retiring  Committee Chairmen.

e)   Unfinished  business.

f)   New business.

ARTICLE 10   -   STANDING RULES

Standing rules will be promulgated and published by the Board.   The Board can revise them only.   They refer to the day to day operation of the Club.

ARTICLE 11   -   AMENDMENTS

Amendments to this By-Laws will be made in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation of the Daytona Metropolitan Bridge Club.