Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons are the recognized times for general Club play for Ordinary and Student Members.
CHELSFIELD PARK LAWN TENNIS CLUB RULES 2003
1. NAME
The name of the Club shall be "The Chelsfield Park Lawn Tennis Club".
The Club is constituted by these Rules as a non-profit-making Members' Club. In no circumstances during the continuance of the Club nor at any time after its dissolution, shall any assets or surplus funds be distributed to any Member or other person nor to any organization which is not itself either constituted as non-profit-making or a charity.
3. AFFILIATION
The Club shall be affiliated to The Lawn Tennis Association through the Kent County Lawn Tennis Association and shall adopt and conform to the Rules of these organizations in so far as they can apply.
4. MEMBERS
The Club shall consist of Playing, Non-playing and Junior Members. The numbers in each category may be decided by the Committee. Persons between the ages of 15 years and 18 years may be admitted as Playing Members if their standard of play is satisfactory. Junior Members shall be over 12 years of age and under 18 years. All Residents of the Estate shall be eligible for membership. Non-residents may be admitted provided that the facilities of the Club allow. Juniors under the age of 12 shall be admitted to the Club at the discretion of the Committee.
5. MEMBERSHIP
Applicants for membership shall apply in writing to the Hon. Secretary, who shall submit such applications to the Committee. The Committee shall have absolute discretion to accept or reject any such application.
Playing Members shall be allowed to introduce visitors at the discretion of a Member of the Committee. The Member introducing a visitor must enter the name of the visitor in the Visitors' Book, sign the entry and pay the visitor's fee. A visitor residing within 15 miles of the Club may not play more than three times in any Subscription Year.
7. SUBSCRIPTIONS, ENTRY FEES AND VISITORS’ FEES
The annual subscriptions, any reductions allowed for prompt payment, entry fees and visitors’ fees for the following categories shall be agreed at the Annual General Meeting:
The Subscription Year shall be from 1st April to 31st March. Those transferring from the Junior Section to Playing Membership shall pay subscriptions proportionately from date of entry.
All Playing Members and at least one parent of a Junior Member shall also pay the required subscription to the Chelsfield Park Residents’ Association Limited, and this subscription may be paid to the Hon. Treasurer of the Club.
8. PAYMENT OF SUBSCRIPTIONS
The subscriptions of the existing Members shall become due on 1st April in each year and those of new Members on the date of notification of their election. In the event of a Member's subscription being unpaid at the expiration of six weeks after the due date or in the case of a new Member four weeks after election, his name shall be posted on the Notice Board and if unpaid at the expiration of four weeks after the posting of his name, he shall cease to be a Member but continue to be liable for the amount due.
9. ACCOUNTANCY YEAR
Except for the purpose of subscriptions (see Rules 7 and 8) the Club's Financial Year shall run from 1st October to 30th September and the accounts submitted to the Annual General Meeting shall be prepared accordingly.
10. JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP RESTRICTIONS
Junior Members shall be restricted to playing times specified in the Regulations, and all Junior Members must pay their Annual Subscription before playing.
11. OFF-PEAK MEMBERSHIP RESTRICTIONS
Off-peak Members shall be restricted to playing times specified in the Regulations.
12. RESIGNATIONS
Members wishing to withdraw from the Club or alter their subscription for the ensuing year to a lower scale shall give to the Hon. Secretary written notice of such intention on or before 1st April and failing to do so shall be liable for payment of the subscription for their existing category of membership.
13. COURT, PAVILION AND GRASS MAINTENANCE
All Playing Members and Junior Members of the Club are expected to assist with the maintenance work as deemed necessary by the Committee.
14. SUSPENSION OF MEMBERS
The Committee shall have power to suspend or exclude any Member or Visitor whom it considers guilty of a breach of any of these Rules or of misconduct, providing that the person concerned shall be given an opportunity of stating his case.
15. OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE
The Officers of the Club shall be a Chairman, an Hon. Secretary, an Hon. Treasurer, a Club Captain, a Junior Members' Organizer, a Maintenance Officer and a Social Secretary. The Officers shall be Members ex-officio of the Committee. The general management of the Club shall be in the entire control of a Committee comprising the Officers and one additional Member who must be under the age of 30 on the date of the A.G.M. at which he or she is elected or re-elected. A true statement of the accounts shall be kept by the Hon. Treasurer, such accounts to be closed on 30th September and audited by the Auditor appointed at the Annual General Meeting.
Officers and Members of the Committee shall be Members of 18 years or over with the majority normally resident on the Estate. Not more than two Non-playing Members may serve on the Committee at any one time. The elected Committee shall have power to co-opt additional Members and to fill casual vacancies. The Committee may delegate any part of its duties to a Sub-Committee appointed for the particular purpose in question. Such a Sub-Committee may be composed of any Members of the Club.
16. COMMITTEE'S DUTIES
The Committee shall make such Regulations as are thought desirable. Four shall form a quorum. In the case of an equality of votes the Chairman shall have a casting vote. Should any question arise that is unprovided for by these Rules and by the existing Regulations the Committee shall decide such question and the decision shall be final.
17. ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE
The Officers, Committee and any other officials shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting for one year and shall be eligible for re-election. Nominations for election or re-election, each with a proposer and seconder, shall be sent to the Hon. Secretary at least seven days prior to the Annual General Meeting. Should the nominations exceed the number to be elected they shall be submitted to a secret ballot of the Members entitled to vote and present at the meeting. In the event of there being insufficient nominations to fill all positions, any vacancies shall be filled by nominations at the Annual General Meeting by secret ballot if necessary.
18. GENERAL MEETING
The Annual General Meeting shall be held between 15th October and 30th November to receive the Chairman's report, the Hon. Secretary's report and the Hon. Treasurer's statement of accounts for the year and to elect Officers and Committee for the ensuing year. A Special General Meeting may be called by the Committee. On receipt of a written application signed by not less than 25% of the Playing Members, the Hon. Secretary shall call an Extraordinary General Meeting within 14 days of such application which shall specify the business for which the meeting is requested. No business shall be transacted by a Special or Extraordinary General Meeting other than that for which the meeting has been called.
The Hon. Secretary shall send to every Member at least 14 clear days notice of the Annual General Meeting, such notice to specify the Officers and Members of the Committee who are not seeking re-election, and at least seven clear days notice of a Special or Extraordinary General Meeting. The notice of a Special or Extraordinary General Meeting shall state the reason for the calling of the meeting. Non-receipt of the notice shall not invalidate the meeting nor the procedure thereat.
At a General Meeting ten shall be a quorum.
Every Member shall be entitled to be present and to speak at any General Meeting and on a show of hands or ballot every Playing and Non-playing Member present shall have one vote. In the case of equality of votes the Chairman shall have a casting vote.
19. DISPLAY
A copy of these Rules shall be displayed in the Clubhouse and all Members shall be deemed to be conversant with them.
20. DISSOLUTION
The Club shall be dissolved on the passing of a resolution to that effect at a Special or Extraordinary General Meeting, by two-thirds of the votes cast in person and by proxy. Such a General Meeting shall appoint a Committee to wind up the affairs of the Club and shall give general directions as to the disposal of any assets. (See also Rule 2).
21. ALTERATION OF RULES
These Rules shall not be altered except at a General Meeting after due notice and then only by the assent of two-thirds of the votes cast either in person or by proxy. Notice of any proposal to alter the Rules shall be sent to every Member prior to the Meeting.
REGULATIONS (2003)
(Subject to alteration from time to time by the Committee in accordance with Rule 16).
a) CLOSING OF COURTS
A Member of the Committee shall have power to prohibit play on either court.
b) MATCHES AND CLUB TOURNAMENTS
Matches and Tournaments may be arranged by the Committee or its delegate in accordance with policy agreed at the Annual General Meeting.
c) DRESS
White or recognized coloured tennis clothing may be worn including tracksuits in bad weather. White heel-less rubber soled shoes shall be worn on the courts. Trainers are not allowed.
d) JUNIOR HOURS OF PLAY
1. Monday from 4.30 p.m. on both courts (except Bank Holidays);
Tuesday and Wednesday from 4.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. on both courts;
Thursday from 4.30 p.m. to 6.0 p.m. on court two; Sunday mornings on court two and also on court one if not required by Playing Members, provided that the courts are not being used for matches and tournaments;
Junior Members may also play at any other time when Playing Members are not using the courts.
2. During school holidays on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons on court two and also on court one if not required by Playing Members.
3. At other times by invitation from Playing Members provided the courts are not required by Playing Members.
Playing Members may coach their children of under 12 years of age on any court at times not reserved for Junior Members if the court is not required by Playing Members.
e) HOURS OF PLAY FOR OFF-PEAK PLAYING MEMBERS
Wednesdays from 6.00 p.m. onwards;
Fridays from 4.30 p.m. onwards;
Saturdays from 2.00 p.m. onwards;
Sunday mornings until 1.30 p.m. (Junior Members would take precedence on court two).
f) HOURS OF PLAY FOR ORDINARY AND STUDENT PLAYING MEMBERS
1. At all times except when the courts are reserved for Junior Members.
2. Ordinary and Student Members may also play at times reserved for Junior Members if the courts are not being used by Junior Members.
g) CLUB PLAY
Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons are the recognized times for general Club play for Ordinary and Student Members.