Deschapelles Bridge Club
Founded April 14th, 1947
Guillame Deschapelles
(1780-1847)
was described by his
contemporaries as the finest whist player the world had ever seen.
He invented the coup that
bears his name.
A Deschapelles Coup is the
sacrifice of an unnecessarily high honor in order to force an entry into
partner’s hand.
Attached are Deschapelles
Revised By-Laws Oct. 2007
GENERAL REGULATIONS
Play shall begin promptly at 11:00 A.M.
Deschapelles’ playing policy is Zero Tolerance. “It strives to promote a friendly atmosphere
at the table, while eliminating unacceptable behavior, including rudeness,
intimidation, gloating, profanity, and a variety of other offenses. Automatic
penalties are part of the program. If you feel an infraction of Zero Tolerance
has occurred at your table, please call the director.” ACBL By-laws
The Board members give voluntarily of their time to assure
that Deschapelles is well run and the most prestigious women’s club. You, as
members, are asked to do your share. Greet guests, introduce yourselves and be
courteous. FILL OUT RESERVATION SLIPS.
GUESTS
There will be no guests at the Birthday Party in
April, Holiday Party and Club Championship games. “Open” Games are at the
Director’s discretion with President of Deschapelles’ Board approval, and
within the ACBL guidelines.
Only handicapped players may reserve special tables.
Club Championship games are established at the
beginning of the year and are published.
Guests must sign in at the front desk
before play begins. Guests must play a total of four times with a club
member to be considered for membership. The four times need not be in the same
calendar year. Should a guest play fewer than four times in one year, she may
play four times the following year until her application is submitted.
It is the responsibility of the sponsoring member or
members to submit an application to the Secretary of the Board as soon as the
guest has played the required number of times. Members bringing guests should
introduce them to the Director and the President of Deschapelles. Candidates
for membership are voted on at the first Board meeting following receipt of
application. (Board members may be polled for their vote privately by the
President or Membership Chair.) An acceptance letter is then sent to the
applicant informing her that she will become a member of payment of current
dues.
All disputes are to be settled by the Director.
CONSTITUTION AND
BY-LAWS
DESCHAPELLES BRIDGE CLUB
ARTICLE I: NAME
The name of this organization shall be Deschapelles Bridge
Club.
ARTICLE II: OBJECT
The Object of this organization shall be to promote meetings
of the members in the play of duplicate bridge games under the sanction and
rules of the American Contract Bridge League.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall consist of Charter members and those duly
elected by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS
The Board of Directors shall consist of a minimum of nine
and a maximum of fifteen (15) voting members – President, Vice-President,
Treasurer, Secretary, Membership-chairperson, and ten (10) Directors. Board
Members are to serve two-year terms.
ARTICLE V: TIME
Deschapelles shall meet each Monday of the year. On special
holidays, the game will be held at the Director’s discretion.
ARTICLE VI: FUNDS
All funds of Deschapelles Bridge Club – a not for profit
organization paying rent to the Cincinnati Bridge Association, shall be
provided as set forth in the by-laws.
ARTICLE VII: AMENDMENTS
This constitution can be
changed only by a majority two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of Directors.
Last amended Sept., 2007.
ARTICLE B I: NAME Deschapelles Bridge Club
ARTICLE B II: OBJECT
Section
1. The object of Deschapelles
Bridge Club is to have fun, play bridge, socialize, and meet other bridge
players.
Section 2. Deschapelles has a ZERO TOLERANCE policy
at all times.
A. “It strives to promote a friendly atmosphere
at the table, while eliminating unacceptable behavior, including rudeness,
intimidation, gloating, profanity, and a variety of other offenses. Automatic
penalties are part of the program. If you feel an infraction of Zero Tolerance
has occurred at your table, please call the director.” ACBL By-laws
Section 3. Duties of the game Director –
A. Call game promptly.
B. Arrive one hour before play begins.
C. Collect monies:
1. When the Director asks for volunteer
assistance, the Director is still responsible for the monies.
2. Volunteer assistance should be a Board member
or Hostess whenever possible.
3. Maintain discipline and insure orderly
progression of the game.
D. The Director shall be the Club Manager:
1. Handle all business correspondence with the
American Contract Bridge League.
2. Handle all business correspondence with the
Cincinnati Bridge Association.
E. Vacations:
1. Should the Director be on vacation, the
Director is responsible for trying to find a replacement first, and then ask
the President to assist.
F. Directing the game:
1. Responsible for duplimating the Boards before
each game.
2. Responsible for Hand Records and Printouts.
3. Responsible for posting scores on the
Internet.
G. Responsible
for all scoring disputes and ruling disputes.
H. The
Director is responsible for reporting any of his/her income from the games to
the IRS for taxes.
I. Chapter
4 of the ACBL by-laws defines the Director’s qualifications.
Section 4. In the event of two (2) sections or
more, we may have an assistant to the Director. Duties of the assistant shall
be determined by the Director. The Director is to have total responsibility for
rulings in all sections as well as her regular duties.
A. The Director
may request additional Director(s) and caddy(s) for the Holiday Party.
ARTICLE B III: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. The membership shall be limited to
women.
Section
2. An applicant’s name may be
submitted to the Board for consideration after she has played four (4) games as
a guest of any member in good standing.
Section 3. There shall be no guests, other than
houseguests, at the Birthday party, Holiday
party, and Club Championship games. Dates of such to be posted at all times and
in the printed calendar.
Section
4. An open discussion shall precede
the election of a new member. This election shall be conducted by a vote of the
Board of Directors.
A.
Any Board member may request a closed vote at any time.
Section
5. A quorum (2/3) two-thirds of the
Board of Directors is required to elect a new member.
A.
Board members may be individually polled for their vote
by the President or the Membership Chair should there not be a convenient
meeting scheduled.
Section 6. An applicant refused membership may,
after one (1) year re-apply for membership by attending four (4) more meetings
as a guest of any member.
Section 7. Former members who wish to be reinstated
shall pay delinquent dues for the number of years they have been inactive; or
shall follow the procedure used for prospective members, as stated above. This
ruling does not apply to former members who have moved out of town and returned
to Cincinnati.
ARTICLE B IV: OFFICERS
Section
1.
A. A
Nominating Committee of three (3) Board members will submit a slate of officers
(from the Board), on which all Board members must vote.
1. The slate of Board members should be ready
for approval at the December Board meeting.
2. The Nominating Committee is selected by the
President.
B. There will be a special Board meeting prior to
the Holiday Party to elect officers for the coming year. Results will be
announced at the Holiday Party.
C. The President will request a willing member
to fill any Board vacancy.
D. A two-thirds (2/3) vote (quorum) is required
for action by the Board of Directors.
E. Board
Members are elected for two-year terms.
F. The President may not serve more than two
consecutive terms.
G. Board Members may serve three (3) consecutive
terms, and then must take one year off the Board.
Section 2.
A. The
President shall preside at all meetings, keep order, and be responsible
that proper order of business is maintained. The President shall make
announcements at all games and advise the membership of the actions of the
Board. She has the power to appoint special committees and call special
meetings of the Board of Directors.
B. In
the absence of the President, the Vice-President shall perform all the
duties of the President.
C. The
Treasurer shall receive all monies paid into the organization, make
distribution of funds, and maintain adequate records of all receipts and
disbursements. The Treasurer shall also prepare a condensed report, showing
funds on hand, to be presented at Board meetings.
1. The Treasurer need not be responsible for the
Flower Fund. The Flower Fund is kept by volunteers on the Board and is
specifically “in-out” cash donations for mailing cards and sending flowers to
seriously ill members of the club. There is no accounting for this small donation
fund.
D. The
Secretary shall keep and preserve records of all meetings, and shall
– in conjunction with the President- take care of all correspondence for the
Club concerning Deschapelles membership.
E. The
Hostess/Reservation Chair:
1. To find a Hostess and partner for each month.
2. It shall be the responsibility of each Board
member to serve one month per year as reservation chairperson and hostess. The
reservation chairperson will assist in arranging partnerships for the
convenience of the members.
F.
The Membership Chair:
1. Responsible for posting the membership
applications on the bulletin Board.
2. Responsible for collecting Membership
applications and submitting them to the Board of Directors.
3. Maintaining the Deschapelles database in
conjunction with the Treasurer.
4. Posting all new members on the bulletin
Board.
5. Responsible for the bi annual calendar and
address book printing in conjunction with the Treasurer.
G. The
Board of Directors may perform all lawful acts for the proper and efficient management
of the organization.
ARTICLE B V: TIME
Section 1. Play shall begin promptly at designated
time.
A. Players who show up after play has started are
subject to penalty points determined by the director.
B. Chronic late
players are to be brought to the Board’s attention.
C. Players may
reserve tables only if they are handicapped.
ARTICLE B VI: FUNDS
Section 1. Annual club dues are payable September 1st
through April 30th.
Section 2. All new members accepted through
November 1st will be assessed annual dues.
Section 3. Guest entry fees shall be the same as
that of members.
ARTICLE B VII: AMENDMENTS
Require
2/3 (two-thirds) vote or quorum of the Board of Directors.
Revised October
1988, 2003, 2007