Article
I
Section A.
The name of this tournament shall be “The Worthing Unified
Open Bowls Tournament.”
The tournament will be managed under the patronage of The
Mayor of Worthing.
Section B.
The primary purpose of the tournament is to offer a
competitive lawn bowls event open to any player
irrespective of their gender or individual ability so long
as they conform to the rules of the sport and the rules and
regulations as may be in force temporarily for the
tournament. The tournament shall encourage the ideals of
the sport of lawn bowls and afford the opportunity for
entrants to succeed largely on their own playing skill. The
Tournament will be a recognised licenced event as described
by the Sports National Governing Body, Bowls England. The
tournament will be played in accordance with the Rules of
the sport as laid down by World Bowls except where local
lawn bowls bye-laws over-rides any such rule for the
purpose of the tournament. The tournament will consist of
competition events as previously decided by the tournament
organising committee. The competitions will attract a prize
fund the total of which will be decided at the discretion
of the organising committee and will be based on a
combination of entry fees and sponsorship funding from
external sources. The purpose of the tournament is to
further competitive play in the sport of lawn bowls between
men and women and encourage new players to take part in the
sport, sustain lawn bowls, improve the standard of the game
and enhance community social interaction.
Section C.
The
Worthing Unified Open Bowls Tournament will
adhere
to all lawn bowls rules, policies and procedures including
but not limited to World Bowls and the National Governing
Body, Bowls England Ltd.
Article II
Qualifying
Entrants
Section A.
Competitors
in the Worthing Unified Open Bowls Tournament shall be
members of an officially recognised and Affiliated lawn
bowls club but notwithstanding that requirement any person
whether a member of a bowls club affiliated or otherwise
will have the right of entry provided they adhere to the
laws of the sport. There shall be no age limit.
Section B.
Entrants under the age of 18 years at the commencement of
the tournament proper will require the signed consent of a
parent or legal guardian to allow them to play in the
tournament. The consent shall be returned with the
competitors official entry form.
Section C. The
Worthing Unified Open Bowls Tournament shall not
discriminate or prejudice any prospective entrant for the
purpose of competing in the tournament. Competitors in The
Worthing Unified Open Bowls Tournament are free to withdraw
or dissociate themselves from the tournament without fear
of retribution or harassment. The
Worthing Unified Open Bowls Tournament shall not
discriminate based on race, creed, color, sex, age,
national origin, disability or sexual orientation.
Article III
Officers
Section A.
The Patron of The Worthing Unified Open Bowls Tournament
shall be the standing Mayor of Worthing.
The Officers of The Worthing Unified Open Bowls Tournament
shall be The President, The Secretary and The Treasurer.
FIVE (5) additional members shall together with the
officers form the Principal Organising Committee.
The Organising Committee will have the authority to
temporarily co-opt any person onto the Committee as they
see fit to assist in the arrangements of the tournament.
Section
B.
Period
of Office
Officers will hold office for no longer than ONE (1) year
except in the position of President who shall be appointed
for a period of THREE (3) years and be eligible for
re-election with a simple majority vote from the floor at
the Annual General Meeting. There shall be no limit to the
number of years an individual can stand for office but all
persons standing for office must be proposed to the
Secretary in writing no later than 28 days prior to an
Annual General Meeting. The nominee must indicate to the
Hon. Secretary their willingness to stand for office prior
to an AGM.
Section C.
Powers
and Duties of the Officers.
The President will preside over the meetings of the
Tournament Committee and the Annual General Meeting and act
as an official representative of The Worthing Unified Open
Bowls Tournament. The position will be by election of a
simple majority of the membership at an AGM or EGM.
The Treasurer will be responsible for handling all funds of
The Worthing Unified Open Bowls Tournament as well as
maintaining accurate records of all financial transactions.
He /she shall also be responsible for ensuring the annual
audit of accounts for presentation at the Annual General
Meeting. The position shall be by election at an AGM.
The Secretary will be responsible for all administrative
matters concerning The Worthing Unified Open Bowls
Tournament and with the other members of the Organising
Committee make all necessary arrangements for staging the
tournament. The Secretary will be the principal point of
contact for the tournament and be responsible for the day
to day decisions necessary to progress the event.
Elected Committee members shall be responsible to The
Secretary and assist in making the tournament arrangements.
Article IV
Elections
Section A. Elections
of new officers shall take place each year at the Annual
General Meeting. Where more than one nomination is received
for the same position a ballot will take place of all of
the members present. The format of the ballot will be at
the discretion of the Secretary. In the event of a tied
count the President will cast the deciding vote.
Section
B. Any
person who is a member of a designated Worthing area club
or has competed in the Worthing Open at any time in the
previous FIVE (5) years is eligible to run for office and
be elected to the organising committee. All members have
the right to vote.
Section C. Members
who are running for office must accept the nomination in
writing to be received by The Secretary at least SEVEN (7)
days prior to an AGM.
Section D.
Officers shall be elected by a simple majority of the
members attending an AGM. A Ballot will be held where more
than one nominee is running for the same position. The
nature of the ballot will be at the discretion of The
Secretary. A secret (paper) ballot or a show of hands shall
be the acceptable methods.
Article V
Removal
of Officers and Committee Members
Section
A. Any
Officer or elected committee member shall be removed from
office for gross negligence, theft or any act that brings
the tournament into disrepute.
Section
B. An
Officer or elected committee member can only be removed
from office after all the evidence has been presented to
the remaining Officers and Committee members and a thorough
investigation has taken place. Written and oral evidence
will be taken into account. The Officer or Committee member
involved shall have the right to contest the evidence at a
formal hearing before the other Officers and Committee
members. After considering all the evidence as well as any
other mitigating factors the officer or committee member
concerned shall receive a decision in writing from the
Secretary within SEVEN (7) days of the hearing. The
decision shall be binding.
Article VI
Vacancies
Section
A. A
vacancy shall be declared when an officer or committee
member dies, resigns or is removed from office.
Section B. A
vacancy may be temporarily filled by any person co-opted
onto the organising committee by its members. The person
concerned can only stand for substantive office by going
through the election process at a AGM. They must stand down
once a permanent appointment has been made. The organising
committee shall have the right to call an EGM if it is
considered necessary to fill a vacancy with an elected
member.
Article
VII
Amendments
Section
A. Any
member of The Worthing Unified Open Bowls Tournament may
propose amendments to this Constitution by writing to the
Secretary at least 28 days prior to an AGM. The proposed
amendment shall be presented to the membership at an AGM
and voted on by a show of hands. A simple majority shall
decide the vote.
Section
B.
An EGM may be called with the agreement of five of the
sitting Officers and Committee Members. An Emergency
Meeting may be convened at any time with the agreement of
three of the sitting Officers and Committee members.