The CBPC Constitution

OBJECTS

• The Name of the Club shall be the Cambridge Business and Professional Club.
• The Club shall be formed of business and professional persons to meet in common harmony of thought and conversation.
• The Club shall meet for luncheon once monthly and on other occasions as and when agreed.
• Club members may entertain guests at luncheon meetings.
• To assist the cultural and educational line of thought, speakers shall be invited to attend as occasion demands to give brief talks.
• The Club may, at the discretion of members, promote or support charitable undertakings or subscribe to any funds of, or appeals from, such undertakings.

OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE

• The management of the Club shall be vested in the Committee.
• The committee shall consist of a minimum of 8 members who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting and the Committee shall have power to co-opt members as necessary with a quorum of 4 for committee meetings. 
• The Club Officers shall be elected by the Committee at the first Committee meeting following the Annual General Meeting.
• A President shall be elected annually by the Committee and as far as possible the Committee shall, at its discretion, elect members to the office of President in rotation. No member shall be elected to the President who has not served on the Committee for two consecutive years previous to election except in special circumstances which have prevented him/her so doing, in which circumstances the Committee may exercise discretion if they consider the member worthy of the office.
• If a committee member fails to attend three consecutive committee meetings without the committee’s prior approval then, at the Committee’s discretion, their membership of the committee will lapse.

VOTING

• Voting for all purposes shall be by a majority election or ballot.
• The President shall have the right of an additional casting vote.

NEW MEMBERS

• New members must be proposed and seconded by existing members on the appropriate forms which are to be duly lodged with the Club Secretary or Membership Coordinator.
• Acceptance of proposed new members shall be determined by the Committee of the Club. The Club Secretary shall circulate the proposed member’s application form to the Committee members to determine their acceptance.
• New members shall complete the appropriate membership forms which are to be duly lodged with the Club Secretary or Membership Co-ordinator.
• The Committee shall have power to terminate the membership of any member and any member whose membership has been terminated or any member who voluntarily resigns at any time shall forfeit all interest in any funds or property of the Club and shall not be entitled to refund of any subscription or part of subscription.

LUNCHEON MEETINGS

• Each member shall be responsible for the payment of his/her luncheon fees to the Treasurer and for the fees of his/her personal guests.
• The Club has introduced a dress code that should be adhered to during attendance at monthly lunches. The dress code is intended to act as a standard of dress that is expected to be worn at these times in order to reflect the business and professional nature of the Club. The dress code is business attire:
  • Gentlemen – Jacket with collared shirt and tie
  • Ladies – Business smart
  • No jeans or trainers

SUBSCRIPTIONS

• The subscription shall be such sum as is proposed and adopted by the Committee.

FINANCE

• The funds shall be lodged in a banking account in the Club’s name.
• Access to the account will be by the President, Treasurer and Secretary.
• A Balance Sheet prepared by the Treasurer and properly inspected shall be presented at the Annual General Meeting.
• Any payments – except regular payments to venues – above £200 must be agreed by the committee and minuted.

INTERPRETATION

• The decision of the Committee as to the interpretation of these rules shall be final.
• Alterations and additions to the aims, objects and rules shall be made if such motion is proposed and seconded in writing to the Club Secretary at least 14 days before the Annual or an Extraordinary General Meeting. Such motions to be carried shall require a two thirds majority of members present and voting.

HONORARY MEMBERSHIP

• The Committee shall have power to recommend that Honorary Membership be conferred on any member or ex-member of the Club or other individual whom they may consider desirable.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

• The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than the 30th June of each year.