1.1 Responsibility for the management of all Club affairs, in particular the use of the green, shall be vested in the Management Committee, which shall comprise the honorary executive officers.

1.2 The organisers of major Club events e.g. Open days, All Day Competitions; Social Events etc. shall be appointed by and may attend Management Committee meetings as required.

1.3 Management Committee meetings will be quorate when five members are present. No decisions can be reached unless the meeting is quorate.

1.4 The Management Committee shall form any sub-committees it deems necessary.

2.1 Classes of membership shall be:

2.1.1.1 Full 

2.1.1.2 Junior (up to 18 years) 

2.1.1.3 Social 

2.1.1.4 Life 

2.2 The above classes of membership shall be available only to those persons approved by the Management Committee and who have paid the prescribed annual/joining subscription by the specified date.

2.3 Only Full, Junior and Life members shall enjoy qualifying membership and be eligible to vote or accept nomination for office.

2.4 Membership shall, in ordinary circumstances and at the discretion of the Management Committee, be limited to 75 Full, Junior and Life Members.

2.5 No person may be admitted to membership or be admitted as a candidate for membership without application or nomination first being considered by the Management Committee and then communicated to all qualifying members. Any objections from the qualifying membership will be considered by the Management Committee. If application or nomination is refused there is no obligation to reveal the reason for refusal. 

2.6 Nominations for membership shall be on the approved form obtainable from the Secretary. 

2.7 Any member who is also a member of another club and registered to Uckfield Bowls Club for playing County or National Competitions, MUST play in either our Club shirt of white shirt (the shirt of another club will not be permitted.

2.8 Any member who is also a member of another club where both clubs play the following competitions: Mid Sussex League, John Spriggs League, Horam League, Nicholas Soames, Gladys Rowland, Edward Rowland or Tom Francis must make themselves available to play for Uckfield Bowls Club and only play for another club if authorised by the Committee and in no event play in such matches against Uckfield Bowls Club.

2.9 Any Club member who does not renew their membership by 31st March or who leaves the Club and later wishes to re-join, shall be required to complete the application process as per Rule 2.5.

2.10 Any Club member may be refused renewal of membership, or have their membership cancelled at the discretion of the Management Committee, if their membership is or would be detrimental to the morale and running of the Club. Appeals against such refusal or cancellation should be made in writing to the Management Committee and would then be communicated to all full members. Should the appeal be unsuccessful, there would be a right to further appeal in accordance with Bowls England Rules and Regulations.

3.1 If, in the opinion of the Management Committee, the conduct of any member is contrary to the interests of the Club the Management Committee will refer to Bowls England Regulation No 9 as detailed in the Rules and Regulations (Approved 23rd November 2013).

3.2 A Club Disciplinary Committee will be formed and deal with the disciplinary of any Club members following Rule No 9.

3.3 Any member expelled shall not be introduced by a member as a visitor to any part of the Clubhouse or grounds.

3.4 Any member carelessly or wilfully committing any damage to the property of the Club will, subject to the decision of the Management Committee, be called upon to repair or replace such property.

4.1 Any member of any Club visiting the Club premises in connection with any sporting event, 

social event or any other approved function shall be admitted whether on payment or otherwise. On such occasions alcoholic or soft drinks may be purchased by such persons for consumption on the premises but must be served by a Club member.

4.2 Guests - any member shall be allowed to introduce up to four guests on any one occasion, such persons not being members of the Club. Those guests introduced by members may purchase alcoholic or soft drinks. Members introducing guests shall be responsible for their conduct and adherence to the Rules and they shall not leave the Club premises before their guests.

5.1 Each member shall pay an annual subscription as set by the Annual General Meeting.

5.2 New members shall pay the joining fee as set by the Annual General Meeting.

5.3 Each member’s annual subscription becomes due on the 31st March each year and should be paid to the Treasurer.

5.4 Any newly elected member who has not paid the joining fee and the full annual subscriptions within thirty-one days shall not take part in any of the activities of the Club.

5.5 Members taking part in club matches will pay a match fee as set by the Annual General Meeting.

5.6 Members taking part in external competitions played on the Club green will pay a match fee as set by the Annual General Meeting.

5.7 Those who are not fully paid up members wishing to roll-up on the green may do so free of charge on three occasions; thereafter a charge of £1.50 per roll-up will apply. 

6.1 The Treasurer (Club Treasurer) shall keep such books of accounts and other records as shall show true evidence of the club finances at any time and shall be capable of annual audit.

6.2 The Treasurer shall maintain such bank and/or building society accounts in the name of the ‘Uckfield Bowls Club’ as are approved by the Management Committee.

6.3 Monies collected by and on behalf of the club shall be paid to the Treasurer as soon as is reasonably practical together with written details of how they are made up. All monies, whether by cash or cheque, received by the Treasurer shall be paid into the club bank or building society account as soon as possible.

6.4 So far as is practical all payments by the club over £200 shall be made by bank or building society cheque.

6.5 All cheques or instructions to the club’s bank or building society must be signed by any two from the Chairperson, Secretary or Treasurer.

6.6 Payments shall only be made against official invoices (endorsed by the member incurring the expenditure) or other document acceptable to the Customs and Excise for purposes of VAT.

6.7 No officer or member of the club shall commit the club to any expenditure or debt without the expressly minuted approval of the Management Committee.

6.8 The accounts of the club shall be audited each year by a Club-qualifying member who is not a member of the Management Committee but who is elected at the previous Annual General Meeting.

6.9 The Financial Year shall run from 1st October to 30th September annually.

6.10 The Treasurer will submit an audited account to the Annual General Meeting.

7.1 The Annual General Meeting shall be held before the end of the calendar year, for the purpose of receiving Annual Reports and electing Officers for the ensuing year.

7.2 A Special General Meeting may be called at any time by the Management Committee and shall be convened within 21 days or a request in writing, signed by a least 10 qualifying members and specifying the purpose of the meeting.  

7.3 14 days’ notice together with the agenda of the business to be transacted at these meetings will be communicated by email. Those members without email will receive a posted copy.

7.4 Qualifying members shall give notice of any motion for the Annual General Meeting in writing to the Secretary at least 14 days before the meetings. No business other than the election of officers to serve on the Management Committee shall be transacted at any general meeting unless one third of the qualifying members are present.

7.5 Only qualifying members shall be eligible to vote.

8.1 Honorary non-executive:

8.1.1 President: elected each year at the Annual General Meeting.

8.2 Honorary executive:

8.2.1 Chairperson, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer, Match Secretary, Greenkeeper, Club Captain, Vice-Captain(s), Competition Secretary, Mid-Sussex Delegate, County Men’s and Women’s Delegates.

8.3 Election of Officers (honorary executive)

8.3.1 All officers, elected from qualifying members, shall hold office until the next Annual General meeting, when they shall be eligible for re-election up to a maximum of three consecutive years except where an extension is approved by the members at the Annual General Meeting. The three years restriction does not apply to the President and Greenkeeper.

8.3.2 Nomination of a qualifying member for office shall be made in writing, by formally completing the prescribed form displayed on the Club notice board. All nominations must be proposed and seconded by qualifying members, after the nominee has personally signed their agreement to their name being put forward. 

8.3.3 The Management Committee may fill a vacancy for any office by appointing one of their own number or other qualifying member, until the next Annual General Meeting.

9.1 Dress for club matches, County competitions and external competitions shall be Club shirt and grey or white trousers, tailored shorts or skirts or as specified in the competition Rules.

9.2 Approved shoes must be worn on the green at all times.

9.3 Dress for casual play should be smart casual or Club tops.

9.4 The Management Committee may relax the dress Rules where circumstances permit.

10.1 For all club matches and club entries in competitions/championships members will be chosen by a selection panel comprising, Club Captain, Vice-Captain and one other (any two from three will select).

10.2 All Club matches and entries in competitions/championships shall be posted in the clubhouse, in advance of the date of play, so that any member may indicate their availability and wish to be considered for selection.

10.3 The selection panel shall endeavour to meet regularly, at least weekly throughout the playing season, to choose and display their selections in advance of the date of play. 

11.1 The green shall be open for the whole of the outdoor season – conditions permitting and subject to paragraph 11.5 below.

11.2 The green maintenance team will vary rink layout as they feel necessary, and reset them at least weekly.

 11.3 Subject to the rest of this paragraph, members playing in external competitions may choose their rinks (national competitions have precedence over county which have precedence over others).  

11.4 All games will be played in accordance with the Rules laid down by Bowls England.

11.5 The Greenkeeper (or their named representative) shall have sole jurisdiction over the closure of the green due to inclement weather.

12.1 All members to share in the cleaning and tidying of the clubhouse, changing rooms and kitchen.

12.2 All members to share in the provision of food for matches and assistance at Club events.

12.3 Members must exercise due care over their property whilst on site as the Club cannot accept liability for any loss or damage, however caused.

13.1 The Management Committee shall be responsible for having all stock owned by the Club checked at intervals of not more than six months.

14.1 Hours of Opening – The bar will be opened and closed at the discretion of the Management Committee within the normal permitted hours of the licence. These hours may be extended on any special occasion if approved by the Chairperson.

14.2 Conditions of Sale and Supply – The club shall be permitted to supply alcoholic and soft drinks for consumption on the premises, to those persons included in the Rules.  The sale of intoxicants on the club premises shall be subject to the same conditions with regard to persons under 18 years of age as is the sale and supply of intoxicants in licensed premises by virtue of the Licensing Acts.

14.3 All credit should be settled on the next visit to the club.

15.1 These Rules may only be altered by a meeting of the Management Committee.

16.1 All clauses in the Club Constitution form part of these Rules.

16.2 The Management Committee shall be responsible for the interpretation of these Rules and will decide upon any questions not covered in these Rules.