RULES OF THE SQUARE CLUB

(founded 1st September 1948)

1. The name of the club is ‘The Square Club’ Bournemouth.
2. The objects of the club are to promote good fellowship. It is not solely a networking club, but it goes without saying that it is a very good place to engage with business contacts and friends in the local business community. 
3. The management of the club shall be entrusted to a committee elected by the club consisting of a chairman, secretary, treasurer and not more than ten other members of the club elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.  The immediate past chairman of the committee shall be an additional member thereof for one year (that is to say during the year immediately following their year of office) and will act as deputy chairman during that year.  Apart from the ex-officio officers the remaining members of the Committee shall automatically retire after serving three years and nominations of candidates for the vacant places are to be received by the secretary, in writing, countersigned by the candidate, prior to the AGM, provided always, however, that if vacant positions are not filled, the retiring members can offer themselves, if desired, for re-election and a Chairman Elect be appointed and serve on the Committee for 12 months prior to taking up office.  The club shall have the power to appoint a president of the club (whether for life or for a nominated period of time) and during their presidency they shall be an additional member of the committee.  The committee shall meet at regular intervals and at all meetings of the committee three shall form a quorum.  
4. Every candidate for membership shall be proposed and seconded by two members of the club, who have each previously attended at least three lunches as members of the club. 
5. A candidate for membership shall be elected by the committee at its sole discretion. 
6. With effect from 1 November 2010 every applicant for membership shall pay a joining fee, the amount of which shall be determined by the committee from time to time.  
7. The committee shall have power at any time and from time to time to fill any casual vacancy among the officers and committee.  Any officer or member of the committee so appointed shall hold office until the next following Annual General Meeting but shall be then eligible for re-election.
8. Full accounts of the financial affairs of the club duly examined shall be produced for inspection and approval at the Annual General Meeting.  An Annual General Meeting of the club shall be held in the month of November, or as the committee shall agree, in each year.  
9. The committee may call a special General Meeting when any question of urgent importance shall arise and shall be bound to do so on receiving a requisition signed by 15 or more members of the club or by a member who has been expelled by the committee and desires to appeal to a special General Meeting.
10. The secretary shall at least 7 days before any General Meeting send to every member to their email address as recorded in the club’s books a notice of the Meeting stating the time and the place where it will be held and the business to be conducted.  However, the notice of the dates for the year shall be deemed to be sufficient notice of the Annual General Meeting.  
11. The business at a General Meeting shall be limited to that provided by these rules and to those further matters set out in the notice convening the Meeting.  The quorum at any General Meeting shall be thirty members.
12. At all meetings of the club each member shall have one vote.
13. The chairman of the committee shall endeavour to attend most meetings of the club.  If unable to attend, the secretary or a committee member will be advised.  
14. The committee shall have power to expel any member who shall offend against the rules of the club or whose conduct shall in the opinion of the committee render them unfit for membership of the club.  Before any such member is expelled the secretary shall give them 7 days’ written notice to attend a meeting of the committee and shall inform them of the complaints made against them.  No member shall be expelled without first having an opportunity of appearing before the committee and answering complaints made against them nor unless at least two-thirds of the committee present vote in favour of their expulsion.
15. Each member shall be expected to attend a minimum of one meeting a year.  The committee shall have power to exclude members for failure to attend the requisite number of meetings in each year.  Any member that has not attended a lunch or communicated with the secretary within a 12 month period will have their membership revoked.
16. Members book on to each lunch and pay in advance. If a member fails to notify the secretary by the stipulated time that they will not be attending the meeting they shall be liable to pay the full dining fee. 
17. Visitors may be brought to the club without formality provided that no one visitor may be so brought to the club more than two times in any one year.  The committee may amend or suspend this rule it if happens to them that the interests of the club so require.
18. The committee shall be the sole authority for the interpretation of these rules and of the regulations made from time to time by the committee and the decision of the committee upon the question of interpretation or upon any matter affecting the club and not provided for by these rules or by the regulations shall be final and binding on the members.
19. These rules may be added to, repealed or amended by resolution at any Annual or Special General Meeting, provided that no such resolution shall be deemed to have been passed unless it is carried by a majority of at least two-thirds of the members voting thereon. 
20. The club expects those attending meetings of the club to adhere to smart/business or smart/casual dress code. 

updated 1st January 2024