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CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS 

                       MACON DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB                                   

                                              ADOPTED MARCH 2002  

                                         REVISED DECEMBER 2008

ARTICLE I.        NAME

             The name of this organization shall be the Macon Duplicate Bridge Club.

ARTICLE II       PURPOSE

             The Macon duplicate Bridge Club is organized to promote bridge games for members and their guests.

ARTICLE III     AUTHORITY

              The Macon Duplicate Bridge Club shall operate as sanctioned by and in accordance with the rules of the American Contract Bridge League.

ARTICLE IV     MEMBERSHIP

              Membership registration will be renewed annually at a fee fixed by the board of Trustees in accordance with sound fiscal policy.

ARTICLE V       GOVERNMENT

               The affairs of the Club shall be conducted by the Board of Trustees in accordance with these articles and duly established By-Laws of the Club.  The board shall consist of

(1)          elected voting members:  the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary, the treasurer, and four Trustees elected for two year terms.  These eight elected members shall comprise the Executive Committte of the Board.

(2)          annually appointed voting members:  the Club Manager, the Tournament Coordinator, the Unit 114 Respresentative, the Bulletin Editor, the Immedicate Past President, and chairpersons of the standing committees:

      **      Publicity,  Membership, Hospitality, Buildings and Grounds and Sunshine.

The officers and trustees shall be elected annually from the membership, and none of these , with the exception of the Treasuer, shall serve more than two consecutive years in the same office.   In the event that the Office of President is vacated, the Vice-President shall assume the duties of the President until the next election.  In the event that another elective office becomes vacant, the Executive Committee shall appoint a club member to serve the unexpired term.

A quorum at general meetings shall consist of 25% of the membership.  A quorum at a Board of Trustees meetings shall consist of eight members.

ARTICLE VI   DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS, TRUSTEES, AND CLUB MANAGER. 

1.     The PRESIDENT shall preside at all meetings of the membership and of the Executive committee and the Board of Trustees, represent the Club at ceremonies and business transactions; with the approval of the Executive Committee, annually appoint the Club Manager, the Tournament Co-ordinator, the Unit 114 respresentative, the Bulletin Editor, and committees including but not limited to the standing committees.  The President shall be granted access to Club bank accounts by maintaining a signature card at the respective banking institutions.

2.      The VICE-PRESIDENT shall serve as President-Elect, assist the President in performance of the duties of the President, and in the absence of the President, shall assume the duties of the President.  The Vice-President shall organize and schedule directors for all regular Club games.

3.       The SECRETARY shall record the minutes of all meetings, prepare correspondence, maintain membership rolls, preserve signed copies of these Articles and By-Laws, certify to adopted changes thereto, and preserve the general records of the Club.

4.       The TREASURER  shall serve as the custodian of all funds and properties accruing to the Club, make payments for all authorized expenses, give an accounting of the finances of the Club whenever requested by the Board of Trustees, and present a written report, in a format presecribed by the executive board, to all Club members at the annual Christmas Party.   The Treasurer's records shall be audited annually by a committee appointed by the Executive Board.

5.       The TRUSTEES, in addition to their responsibilities as board members, shall serve as chair/co-chair of a standing committee.

6.       The CLUB MANAGER shall maintain all records of games played and number of tables at each session, make all monthly reports to the National Organization, inform them of all special games, ask permission for all special functions as required by the National organization, and order all supplies needed for the games.

ARTICLE VII.   DUTIES OF STANDING COMMITTEES

1.        MEMBSERSHIP Committee

The MEMBERSHIP Committee works to promote bridge, increase the number of players at games, and to increase the membership of the Macon Duplicate Bridge Club.  The committee containes two subcommittees, Partnerships and Novice Program.

The PARTNERSHIP Committee will arrange partnerships for players who wish to play in a club game, but have no partner.  There will be committee contacts in both Macon and Houston County.  The names and telephone numbers of these contacts will be listed in the Club Bulletin and in local newspapers for community awareness.

The NOVICE Program is responsible for encouraging new players to play duplicate bridge.  The committtee helps with partnerships for all the games at MDBC scheduled for novice players, and makes weekly calls to encourage attendance at these games.

2.          HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE

The Hospitality Committee shall plan the annual Christmas party and three or four games a year (Fourth of July,  Halloween, New Faces Games, etc) in which the committee coordinates and provides refreshments and possibly simple decorations.   These games are to promote membership growth and fellowship within the Club.  The committee may assist, but is not reponsible for Sectional Tournaments sponsored by the Club.  The committee works within the Club's annual suggested budget.

3.          BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS

The Buildings and Grounds Committee shall be responsible for all maintenance, repairs, and materials puirchased for the buildings and grounds, with the approval of the Board of Trustees.  These responsibilities shall include:

        1.  Maintaning adequate insurance on all property owned by MDBC.

        2.  Planning and execution of planting design and maintenance of grounds.

        3.  Preparing and enforcing guidelines for use of the buildings (rental, fees charged, alcohol            use, etc. )

        4.  Maintaining all equipment in good repair.

        5.  Purchasing supplies, at best price, needed for the Club (drinks, coffee, paper products,    

              candies, crackers, etc.)

4.             SUNSHINE COMMITTEE

The Sunshine Committee shall be aware of the needs of club members as to illness and deaths. Sympathy and get well cards will be brought to games for Club members to sign.  The committee may serve as coordinator for food and other needs to express the Clubs's concern for its membership.     

5.             PUBLICITY COMMITTEE

The Publicity Committee shall promote MDBC in the Middle Georgia area with information provided to news, radio, and TV media of weekly games/events and opportunities available for instructing beginners and new players to duplicate bridge.  The committee shall serve as liaison for other standing committees to provide media promotion of events planned by those committees.

6.            EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and the four Trustees.  It shall decide any issues that cannot wait un the next regulaly scheduled meeting of the full Board.  The President shall serve as Chairman of this committee and will make the report of its actions to the full Board at the next meeting.  Any action that is taken must have five affirmative votes from this committee in order to be implemented.  The committee will also approve annual appointments of standing committees, the Unit 114 Representative, the Club Manager, the Tournament Coordinator, and the Bulletin Editor.

                                                                    BY-LAWS

I.            By-Laws, including those regulating play, shall be established by the Board of Trustees and the membership at large.  No by-law shall be established in contradiction of laws, ordinances, or regulations of the American Contract Bridge League or other restrictions and applicable to the place of play.

II.          The place of meeting and play shall be determined by the Board of Trustees.

III.         A nominating committee, which shall include two Trustees, shall be appointed by the President.   The Committee's slate of officers shall be presented at the annual Christmas meeting and voted upon by the membership.  Nominations will also be accepted from the floor, provided those nominated have consented to their names being placed in nomination.

IV.        Officers of the Club, shall serve without pay, and no funds shall accrue to the benefit of any membere except to defray expenses incurred in the transaction of club business.  The Club Manager, in recognition of services rendered and time expended, shall be compsensated in a manner and amount to be dtermined by the Board of Trustees.

V.         There shall be a non-playing director at all games, except in an emergency.  The fee for a non-playing director shall be established by the Board of Trustees, in keeping with sound fiscal policy.  the fee for a playing director, should one be necessary, shall be established by the Executive Board.

VI.       Charter Members of the MDBC shall play without charge at all regular club games excluding special games and tournaments.

VII.     In the event of disbandment of the Club, all remaining properties shall be sold and/or donated to non-profit organizations, and all moneys remaining in bank accounts shall be forwarded to the Charity Fund of the American Contract Bridge League.

VII.    The Constitution and By-Laws of the Club may be amended after written notice to the membership upon a two-thirds vote of a meeting the membership.