CONSTITUTION

OF THE

ERC DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB

ARTICLE I – NAME

This organization will be known as the ERC Duplicate Bridge Club, hereinafter, referred to as the “Club”

ARTICLE II – PURPOSE

The purpose for which the Club is organized is to provide pleasure, encourage friendship and promote and advance duplicate bridge among Eastman personnel, their families, and guests.

ARTICLE III – OFFICERS

Officers shall consist of a President, Vice-President, and Secretary.  A Recreation Advisor will be appointed by the management of ERC.  The Executive Committee will consist of the elected officers and the immediate past President.

ARTICLE IV – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 – Club membership shall be limited to employees of Eastman Chemical Company, approved Eastman Contractors and Retiree's of Eastman Chemical Company/Kodak and Holston Defense Corporation.

Section 2 –   No person other than specified in Section 1 can participate as a member of the club with the exception of dependents who will participate as "associate members".  The "associate member" cannot vote or hold an elected office in the Club.  Membership in ERC is a prerequisite to membership in the Club. Grandchildren are not eligible for membership.

Section 3 – Termination of employment (Eastman Chemical Company retirees excluded) in any of the companies shall act as termination of membership in the Club and shall operate as a release of all rights, title, and interest in the property, effects and assets of the Club.

ARTICLE V – MEMBERSHIP PRIVILEGES

Any regular member of the Club is eligible to hold office. See ARTICLE IV Section 1 and 2.

ARTICLE VI - DUES

There are no dues collected from membership in the Club; however, a fee is collected from each participant at each Bridge Club meeting to defray expenses of the Club

ARTICLE VII – MANAGEMENT

Section 1 – The management shall be vested in the Executive Committee as defined in Article III.  The Executive members shall have control of the Club affairs with full power to act for it in all business matters.  The management of ERC reserves the right to overrule the Executive Committee on any matter.

Section 2 – The Executive Committee with the Recreation Staff Representative shall hold meetings as required to make such rules and regulations for the guidance of the members of the Club as are deemed necessary and are not herein determined.

ARTICLE VIII - QUORUM

Three members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for said meeting.

ARTICLE IX – CONTEST AND ENTERTAINMENT

Section 1 – All activities of the Club shall be conducted under the direction and with the permission of the Facilities Representative, Recreation.

Section 2 – The ERC Duplicate Bridge Club is franchised by the American Contract Bridge League, and conducts games and awards rating points in accordance with ACBL rules and regulations

ARTICLE X – RESIGNATIONS

Resignation of officers shall be tendered in writing to the ERC Representative and Executive Committee.  Termination of employment (except for retirement from Eastman Chemical Company) in any of the companies shall be considered sufficient notice of resignation.

ARTICLE XI – REMOVAL OF OFFICERS AND MEMBERS

Any officer or member may be removed by a three-fourths vote of the Executive Committee excluding the person in question.  The officer being removed must be notified prior to such an Executive Committee meeting.

BY- LAWS OF THE

ERC DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB

 ARTICLE I - DUTIES AND POWERS OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

President - The President shall preside over all business meetings of the Club.  He shall appoint the members of all committees except the Executive Committee and shall be an ex-officio member of all such committees.  He shall sign such papers as may be required by his office or as may be instructed by members of the Club at any regular or special meeting.  He may require such reports from the secretary and all or part of Standing Committees which, in his judgement, are necessary.  He shall keep records of all monies received and paid out by the Club.  The President shall perform other duties incident to his office.

ARTICLE II - DUTIES AND POWERS OF OTHER OFFICERS

Section 1 - Vice President: The Vice President shall perform the duties of the President in case of absence, resignation, or the inability of the latter to act and such other duties as may be assigned to him from time to time by the President.  The Vice President shall be responsible for efforts of the Club to promote Bridge and increase membership.

Section 2 - Secretary: The Secretary shall keep all necessary records (minutes) of the business meetings of the Club and shall sign such papers as may be directed by the President.  He shall issue ACBL rating point awards and complete monthly reports as required by ACBL.  In addition, he may be required to maintain records leading to annual "player of the year" awards given by the Club.

ARTICLE III - DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1 - There shall be an Executive Committee which shall consist of the elected officers and the Immediate Past President.  The Executive Committee shall be the governing body of the Club and shall make any and all decisions.  The Executive Committee shall work closely with the ERC Staff Representative and shall abide by all decisions of the ERC Facilities Representative, Recreation and/or the ERC Staff Team.

Specific responsibilities of the Executive Committee will include:

            A.  Annual schedule of regular and special events.

            B.  Schedule of Directors for regular and special events.

            C.  Manner of selection for "player of the year" and other awards.

ARTICLE III - DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (con't.)

Section 2 - There shall be a Nominating Committee, which is appointed by the President, in August of even numbered years.  This committee shall provide at least one nominee for each office listed in Article III of the constitution which is filled by election.

Section 3 - All committees not otherwise provided in these By-Laws shall be appointed from time to time by the President.

ARTICLE IV - MEETINGS

Section 1 - Such business matters as may be deemed necessary may be transacted by the members present prior to the start of any regularly scheduled event, provided the President or Vice President is present.

Section 2 - The Executive Committee shall meet upon due notice at such times and places as may suit its convenience, upon call of the President or upon request of a majority of its members.  The order of business shall be such as the Committee decides.

Section 3 - A quorum for an Executive Committee meeting shall consist of a majority of the members of the Committee.  In the absence of a quorum, the meeting shall adjourn to a later date.

ARTICLE V - VACANCIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1 - Whenever any vacancy shall occur among the officers or the Executive Committee, the vacancy shall be filled by the Committee at the next meeting.  Vacancies on the Executive Committee shall be filled from members of the Club, and the members so designated shall hold office until the next regular election.

Section 2 - Absence from three consecutive meetings, stated or called, of the Committee without satisfactory excuse shall be deemed sufficient cause for declaring a vacancy.

ARTICLE VI - ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Section 1 - The President, Vice President and Secretary shall be elected in September of even-numbered years for a term of two years beginning January 1.

Section 2 - Only those members who are active members in the ERC Duplicate Bridge Club are eligible to hold office or vote in the election of officers.

Section 3 - In the case of absence, death or inability of the President to perform the duties of his office, his position shall be filled by the Vice President.

ARTICLE VI - ELECTION OF OFFICERS (con't.)

In the case of death or inability of both the President and Vice President to assume the office of President, the office of President shall be filled by special election.  The date of this election shall be specified by the Executive Committee.

Section 4 - A Nominating Committee selected by the President shall present to the Executive Committee a list of candidates for each Club office.  Nominations may also be made from the floor.

Voting can be made by show of hands, voice or written ballot at the discretion of the officers.

The candidate for each office receiving a plurality of the vote shall be elected to that office.

ARTICLE VII - AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

To amend this Constitution and By-Laws, the proposed amendment must be subscribed to by ten members and presented by them to the ERC Staff Representative, who shall bring it before the Executive Committee at the next meeting thereafter.  In case the Committee, by a four-fifths vote majority, recommends its passage, the Recreation Staff Representative shall immediately post a copy of the amendment on the Club Bulletin Board, stating the time when it will by submitted for a letter ballot.  Such time shall not be less than one (1) nor more than four (4) weeks from the date of approval by the Committee.  For passage, the amendment must receive the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of all those voting.

ARTICLE VIII - LIABILITY

Eastman Chemical Company or the Eastman Recreation Club is not liable for any accidents that might occur in any of the Club activities.

ARTICLE IX - PROPERTY RESPONSIBILITY

Damage to the property of the Club, other than ordinary wear and tear, shall be paid by the member or members causing it.  If and whenever the Club ceases to function, all property becomes the property of ERC.

ARTICLE X - EXPENDITURES

At least two officers of the Club must authorize any expenditure before forwarding to the ERC Representative for approval.  If any officer of the Club has questions about the expenditure, he should contact their ERC Representative.  Expenditures of Club funds are not to be committed prior to approvals.

ARTICLE XI - RULES AND REGULATIONS

Section 1 - The standard rules of the American Contract Bridge League shall govern all matters relating to Duplicate Bridge events sponsored by the Club.

Section 2 - General rules of good conduct and sportsmanship will prevail at all times.  The President and Tournament Director, reserve the right to suspend any member of the Club from competition for their respective events.  Such action can be appealed only to the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE XII - DISSOLUTION

Upon the dissolution of the Club and the discharge of its debts and the settlement of its affairs, any funds and properties of the Club remaining thereafter shall become the property of the Eastman Recreation Club.