The text of the draft as below. CLICK HERE to download a PDF copy.
The draft will remain on our website until the end of April. We welcome your comments, questions or feedback. If you wish to provide input, please send your views to the club email address or speak to president Peter Abbott or committee colleague at the club.
Once our committee is satisfied that we have a draft constitution acceptable to our members we will call a Special General Meeting to adopt it. We will advise details of that nearer the time.
Draft as at 31 March 2023
Establishment and Name
The Club shall be known as Norths Chess Club,
The Club was established in 1908 as the Chatswood Chess Club and has also been known as North Sydney Chess Club.
Objectives
The objectives of the Club are:
- To promote the game of chess in the Lower North Shore of Sydney and more generally.
- To conduct chess and chess related competitions and activities for the benefit of the members.
- To affiliate with bodies related to the conduct, governance, and development of chess in New South Wales, in Australia and internationally.
- To arrange social matches and activities for the benefit of the members.
- To cooperate with the other sporting and activity clubs within the North Sydney Leagues Club.
Not For Profit Status
The Club shall not be carried on for the profit or monetary gain of its members.
Officers of the Club.
The Officers of the Club shall be:
a) Presidentb) Secretary
c) Treasurer
Plus other officers as appointed at an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting.
All Officers of the Club shall have the responsibility of ensuring that the Objectives of the Club are maintained.
The Officers shall be decided at an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting after the positions have been vacated. If an excess number of persons are nominated for a position, that position shall be decided by a vote.
Committee
The Officers of the Club form the Committee.
The Officers of the Club may invite other members to join the Committee although voting rights at the Committee will be vested in the Officers of the Club.
The Committee may form sub-committees where necessary to achieve the objectives of the Club.
Delegates shall be elected where necessary to represent the Club at any meeting where the Club is associated.
Membership
The election of members shall be by the Committee.
All adult members must be or become financial members of the North Sydney Leagues Club. Junior members may be admitted at the discretion of the Committee provided such members are students and under eighteen (18) years of age.
A person may apply for membership by providing the required information on the prescribed membership application form and paying the membership fee and other fees as decided by the Committee.
Members who are in arrears with their membership fees or any other payments for twenty eight (28) days shall be deemed to be defaulters and shall be liable to be deprived of all benefits of membership.
Suspension of Membership
The Committee may, for any period or indefinitely, suspend from the privileges of membership any member who disobeys any resolution of the Committee or Annual General Meeting or who is guilty of any misconduct which, in the opinion of the Committee, warrants action, subject to the right of appeal to the Committee of the Club within ten (10) days.
Members Liabilities
The members of the Club shall have no liability to contribute towards the payment of debts or liabilities of the Club or the costs, charges or expenses of the Club except to the amount of any unpaid membership fees.
Management
Minutes of meetings are to be correctly recorded and produced at subsequent meetings. Proper books of accounts and registers of members are to be kept and produced where required by the Committee. Records may be kept in written or electronic form.
The Officers of the Club shall determine which Officers may have signing powers on the Club’s bank account.
Withdrawals from the Club’s bank account are to be approved by two (2) Officers.
The books of the Club shall be closed at 31 October each year.
Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting shall be called by the Committee at a date to be determined but no later than six (6) months after the Club’s financial year, with not less than fourteen (14) days notice to be given to members, for the purpose of electing Officers and transacting other business as specified in the notice convening the meeting.
Special General Meeting
A Special General Meeting may be called by the Committee or by any five (5) members of the club provided fourteen (14) days notice is given to the Secretary.
Notices
Notices of meetings of the Committee, Annual General Meetings and Special General Meetings may be advised at meetings of the Club, delivered personally or by prepaid post or by electronic means.
Quorum
No business will be transacted at any meeting unless a quorum of members is present. A quorum shall be:
a) Committee. At least three (3) Officers of the Club.
b) Annual General Meeting – five (5) members of the Club plus quorum of current Committee
c) Special General Meeting – five (5) members including the five (5) members calling the meeting plus quorum of current Committee.
Voting Powers
Only financial members shall be eligible to vote. In the event of a deadlock, the chairman of the meeting shall have a casting vote.
Membership fees and other fees
The Committee shall determine the level and method of payment of membership fees, tournament entry fees and any other fees for the Club’s competitions and activities.
Rules
This constitution may not be repealed or altered without the consent of seventy five (75) percent of the members present at an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting of the Club.
