Club Constitution

1. Name: County Business Club

2. Venue: Edgeley Park, Stockport

3. Meetings: Thursday mornings 7am – 8.30am Weekly

4. Membership:

• Restricted to one per profession. If numbers greatly exceed 40/50, then the Committee to confide with the Club with alternative meeting content to proactively avoid meeting on two days and dividing the Club.
• Membership is elected by existing members.
• Applicants must provide 2 trade references.
• A completed standing order form for breakfast charges is obligatory and must accompany all applications for new membership.
• Members and applicants are liable for any charges imposed by the bank for unpaid/returned cheques.
• Should any cheque or standing order remain unpaid after being presented 3 times, the members shall vote to remove the individual concerned from the Club.
• Where a Member’s business ceases to trade, if the individual representing that business wishes to represent another business then a further application must be submitted.
• If any member is absent from any meeting he agrees to abide by any decision made by the membership.

5. Requirements of Members: *Ethics – Members of CBC agree to arrive on time to the breakfast meeting, to contribute in an honourable and appropriate manner for the good of the members and the benefit of the Club. Members agree to abide by “good business practice” and show respect to fellow members and their businesses at all times.

• Regular attendance to County Business Club is essential for the success of the Club.
• Members are encouraged wherever possible to introduce new members to County Business Club.
• Wherever possible, arrange a substitute when the member is not able to attend.

6. Removal of Members:

• If a member is absent for an excessive period, the club members reserve the right to terminate his/her membership (i.e. more than 4 times per quarter).
• In the event that any member is acting in a manner that is prejudicial to the best interest of the County Business Club then in any such case the members reserve the right to terminate his/her membership.

7. Purpose:

• To develop an environment of mutual trust and friendship, which, together with a knowledge of each member’s business activities, will enable members to generate business for each other.
• To create an environment where this can be an enjoyable experience.

8. Organisation:

• The executive for the Club consists of the Chairperson and Deputy, Membership Co-ordinator and Deputy, Marketing Co-ordinator and Deputy, Treasurer and Deputy.

9. Subscriptions: *Financial – All monies due in respect of club activities, be it membership, event or charity related event, to be paid at the latest within a calender month from when the obligation arose.

• £100 per annum to be paid by cheque, any review of the renewal charges to be considered at AGM. A monthly meeting charge of £30 to be paid by standing order to cover the cost of breakfast. New members to pay by cheque up front for breakfast to enable standing order to be set up, minimum 1 month in advance.

10. Non-Profit Organisation:

• County Business Club is a non-profit making and is run by its members for the benefit of its members. All funds shall be maintained by the treasurer.

11. Auditors:

• To be appointed annually.

12. Applications:

• To be formally submitted to the Co-ordinator, but to be agreed by the members of the club.

13. Visitors:

• Always welcome, applicants to join after 3 visits.

14. Business Introductions:

• An introduction for a member by a member should normally mean that an appointment has been promised. Business introductions will only be passed to existing members of County Business Club.

15. Discipline: *Members have a duty of care to fellow members and should report any grievance, disputes, bad workmanship, poor service or other misconduct to yhe offending member. If this is not resolved then this should be highlighted to the CBC committee. *Any dispute between members as a result of a business introduction between each other or external referral is not the responsibility of the Club: however, in the first instance the committee will decide the appropriate action after full consultation with the member and they may discuss the matter within a closed meeting. *The Committee will adhere to the constitution at all times and may discuss any outstanding matters of a membership nature within a closed meeting.

16. General:

• Acceptance of membership will be deemed to be a complete acceptance of the Club’s Constitution.