Clear Lake Bridge Club

Clear Lake Bridge Club Bylaws Approved February 16, 2019

The Clear Lake Bridge Club is a Federal Not-for-Profit Corporation, incorporated in the State of Texas. The mission of the Clear Lake Bridge Club is to provide American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) sanctioned duplicate bridge playing opportunities for members and guests as well as promote bridge educational opportunities.

Article 1. Club Objectives

1. To provide a suitable location and environment for playing duplicate or rubber contract bridge.

2. To cooperate with ACBL in the promotion of bridge tournaments.

3. To encourage and enforce the highest standards of sportsmanship and ethics.

4. To cooperate with ACBL in charity programs.

5. To conduct such other bridge-related activities as may be deemed proper by the officers

   of the Club, hereafter known as the Board, or a majority vote at an Annual or Special Membership Meeting, hereafter as defined in Article 3.

The Clear Lake Bridge Club, above and hereafter known as the Club, will comply with the rules and regulations of the ACBL and ACBL Unit 174.

Article 2. Membership

1. No geographical restriction on eligibility for membership exits.

2. Membership is open to any individual who desires to play bridge, and no person will be

   denied membership because of race, creed, color, or gender.

3. Membership in the ACBL is not required to be a member of the Club, but it is required to

   accrue master points or otherwise receive any of the benefits of the ACBL.

4. A member in good standing, hereafter known as a Member, is defined as a person whose dues are current, who qualifies for membership in the ACBL, and who is not under suspension by the Board or the ACBL. Annual dues and playing fees will be determined

   by the board.

Article 3. Membership Meetings

1. The Board will fix the time and place of an annual membership meeting in the first quarter of each year, hereafter known as the Annual Membership Meeting.

1. Notice of the Annual Membership Meeting will be given at least thirty days prior to the meeting.

2. The Annual Membership Meeting agenda will include the election of Club officers and other business as the Board or Members will deem appropriate.

c. Notification of the Annual Membership Meeting agenda will be emailed to all members and posted on the Bulletin Board thirty days prior to the Annual Membership Meeting. The Nominating Committee Slate must be emailed and posted to the Bulletin Board fifteen days prior to the Annual Membership Meeting.

d. Agenda items from the floor must be delivered in writing to the President fifteen days prior to the meeting. The board must email the floor agenda items to members and posted to the Bulletin Board ten days prior to the meeting. Nominations for the Club Officers may be made from the floor without prior notice.

2. Additional meetings of the membership, hereafter known as Special Meetings, may be called by the Board or by petition of ten percent of the Members.

a. Notice will be emailed and posted at the Club at least thirty days prior to the meeting.

b. The Special Meeting notice will include an agenda and specific information of matters to be discussed and voted upon.

c. No other business will be acted upon at the Special Meeting.

3. At all Membership Meetings, each Member may vote in person or by proxy. All proxies

   will be in writing and filed with the Second Vice President.

4. The presence at any Membership Meeting, in person or by proxy, of twenty percent of

   the Members will constitute a quorum for any action.

5. Notification of all Membership Meetings, agendas, and specific information on items to

   be voted on at the meeting will be deemed sufficient if made by emailing to members

   and posting on the bulletin board within the required time limit.

6. If more than two candidates run for an office, the person with the most votes will be

   declared the winner. In case of a tie for first place, a runoff between the tied candidates

   will be held.

7. The President will appoint a Parliamentarian to assist in conducting all Membership

   Meetings.

Article 4. Club Officers

1. Any Member is eligible to be an officer of the Club. The officers of the Club are:

   1. President

   2. First Vice President

   3. Second Vice President

   4. Secretary

   5. Treasurer

   6. Past President for one year after serving as President

2. No term limits for board membership exist, but the Board member will be elected annually.

3. The Club membership will elect all officers, other than the Past President, at the Annual Membership Meeting, and the persons elected will hold office for one year or until their successors have been duly elected.

4. Any vacancy that arises among the Club’s officers will be filled by appointment by the remaining members of the Board. The person so appointed will hold office for the balance of the unexpired term.

5. The general powers and duties of the Board are to conduct, manage and supervise the business of the Club.

6. Removal of any officer will be accomplished by a majority vote at a Special Meeting so called for this purpose.

7. A Member may hold only one Board office at a time.

8. Other than the regular fee for directing a game, no member of the Board will receive

   compensation for any other service rendered to the Club, except for reimbursement of

   actual expenses incurred for the Club.

9. The Board will meet as necessary to conduct the business of the Club.

   1. Board Meetings may be face-to-face or electronic meetings by email, phone and voice-mail or other methods as the Board may find appropriate.

   2. All board meetings will be announced to all officers by mail or email with as much notice as possible and feasible.

   3. Issues can be voted on by email by a positive vote of 3 officers after notice to all

10. Duties

officers.
of officers:

1. President

   1. Assume the role of Club Manager as outlined in the ACBL Club Manager

      Handbook.

   2. Preside over all Club meetings and meetings of the Board of Officers.

   3. Establish meeting agendas.

2. First Vice President

   i. Perform the duties of the President in the President’s absence.
   ii. Perform other assignments as designated by the President or the Board.

3. Second Vice President

   1. Prepare proxy forms for use at Annual Membership and Special Meetings

      and make these available at the Club.

   2. Determine presence of a quorum, collect and record proxies, and cast all

      proxy votes as instructed by the proxy voters.

   3. Perform other assignments as designated by the President or the Board.

4. Secretary
   i. Attend all sessions of the Board and Membership Meetings and record the

   minutes of all meetings. If unable to attend the board meeting, the Secretary should notify the President, so another board member can be assigned to take the minutes of the meeting.

   ii. Perform other assignments as designated by the President or the Board.

5. Treasurer

   1. Ensure all needed Club-accounting functions are performed.
      1. Some-or-all-accounting functions may be performed by other Board members or an accounting service, if requested by the

      Treasurer and approved by a majority of the Board.

      2. Ensure all-necessary-government reports and payments are made correctly and on time. A federal 990 form must be filed annually to maintain the Club’s not-for-profit standing and avoid significant

         federal fines.

      3. Ensure that all-collected funds are deposited in Club Banking

         Accounts.

   2. Ensure that all-Club-financial records and reports comply with local, state,

      and federal laws and regulations.

   3. Perform other assignments as designated by the President or the Board.

f. Past President

1. The outgoing President will become a member of the board for one year,

   whenever a new President is elected.

   1. If the outgoing President is not available, or does not wish to serve,

      the new Board has an option of asking an earlier past President to

      serve.

   2. If the outgoing President is elected to another Board position, the

      Past President’s office will not be filled.

2. The position has full Board voting rights.

3. The Past President position will be vacant whenever the President has served for more than one year.

4. The position has no specific duty other than helping to maintain continuity moving forward with the new Board.

Article 5. Committees and Volunteer Positions 1. Nominating Committee

1. A nominating committee of at least three members will be formed two months prior to the Annual Membership Meeting. The Board will appoint a chair who will recruit the balance of the committee. Board members are not eligible to serve on the Nominating Committee.

   a. Any change to the committee membership during the year, requires Board approval.

2. At least thirty-five days prior to the Annual Membership Meeting the committee will prepare a slate of officers of no less than one nominee per office.

3. The nominating committee will also assist the Board in recruiting members for other committees and volunteer positions as needed.

2. Financial Review Committee

The Board may appoint a Financial Review Committee consisting of at least two Club members to conduct a review of the Club’s financial records. Board members during the period being reviewed are not eligible to serve on this committee.

3. Other Committees and Volunteer Coordinators

The Board may appoint other committees or positions as needed.

Article 6. Disbursement of Funds

The Club Treasurer will pay usual and normal operating expenses

1. Capital expenditures of over $1,500 must be approved by a majority of the Board.

2. Capital expenditures on new non-replacement equipment or facilities of over $3,000 must

   be approved by Members.

3. Maintenance items over $2,000 must be approved by the Board.

4. Two signatures are required on each check.

5. Only Board Officers will have signature authority for checks

6. No funds may be distributed to Members as dividends.

7. No Member will commit Club funds without prior Board approval, unless it is within

   the normal scope of their role in a Club committee or Coordinator position.

Article 7. Miscellaneous

1. Parliamentary Authority Roberts Rules of Order, current edition, will be the parliamentary authority of the Club.

   1. Amending these Bylaws

   2. These bylaws may be amended at a Membership Meeting by sixty percent of the

      votes cast by current Members.

   3. The proposed amendments will be included in the notice of the meeting, per the

      provisions stated in Article 3 of this document.

2. Dissolution of Club

   1. The Club may be dissolved at a Membership Meeting by sixty percent of the votes cast by Members.

   2. The Club assets will be given to Unit 174 of the ACBL or to one or more charitable organizations as decided by majority vote at the meeting dissolving the Club.

 2025 Annual Meeting minutes: Part 1 State of the Club

2025 Annual Meeting Minutes: Part 2 Discussion of Topics

2025 Annual Meeting Minutes: Part 3 Board Member and Volunteer list

2024 Annual Meeting minutes