Constitution of the

International Fellowship of Bridge Playing Rotarians

IFBPR

 

1. TERMS OF THE FELLOWSHIP

The International Fellowship of Bridge Playing Rotarians is an internationally organized group of Rotarians, their Spouses and Rotaractors dedicated to enjoying and promoting bridge playing as an opportunity of fellowship, joined together by the first Object of Rotary–acquaintance and friendship–with the final result of the fourth Object–understanding, good will and peace, united in the ideal of service.

The Fellowship operates in accordance with the Rotary International policy, but is not an agency of, or controlled by, Rotary International.

 

2. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors consists of the following Officers: President

Vice-President

Treasurer

Last past-President

n. 3 Directors

The Board can nominate a Secretary and Line Managers, such as Country Managers, Webmaster, Editor and others, as needed for specific operative jobs. All persons must agree to donate the time required to perform the jobs they undertake.

 

3. NOMINATIONS and ELECTIONS

To be eligible to be nominated for the office of President and Vice-President a person must be a Rotarian in good standing.

The current President shall appoint a 3 member nominating committee by January 31st of the year of the Election. The committee shall consist of two members of the Board of Directors and one additional member of the Fellowship. The nominating committee will gather, from IFBPR members, nominations duly seconded, including the nominees qualifications and consent to serve. Nominations shall be submitted to the President no later than March 1^st. Officers can be re-elected.

The Committee shall e-mail ballots with qualified candidates to current members by March 15^th of the election year. For special cases and a limited period of time, ballots may be sent by traditional mail.

The winners will be determined by the majority vote of those ballots returned by April 15th of that year. They will take office from the following July 1^st for a four years term, being bridge an Olympic game with this length of time engagement.

Directors and Managers may be removed by the majority of the Board.

Honorary Members can be nominated by the Board.

 

4. DUES

The annual fees of 20 US$ or 20 €, subject to change by the Board of Directors, will be used to cover administrative costs, the cost of the Internet structure, mailings, rosters, elections, newsletters, reports and Rotarian services approved by the Board.

Fees are payable by July 1^st of each year.

Special rates and life time fees may be introduced by the Board of Directors.

Those members who do not pay their proper fees by October 30^th will be dropped from membership.

 

5. ANNUAL REPORTING

Each year the President, or a group of at least 15 members including one Director, will call an Annual General Meeting, if possible in connection with the RI Convention. New systems of on-line meetings can be considered, to involve more participants. An Annual Report, including financials, a current roster of membership, a calendar of events and other pertinent information will be sent to membership.

English shall be the official language of the Fellowship, currencies are: US $ and €.

 

6. ON LINE ACTIVITY

In addition to standard face-to-face bridge playing activity and paper use for communications, the Fellowship will strongly develop its future into bridge play on line and e-mail communications, to involve more members on a world wide basis, keeping costs under control.

 

7. WEB SITE

The www.ifbpr.org domain has been developed by a volunteer member as a hub for information and website links around the world. The Webmaster of this site will keep it to conform to the guidelines of the Board of Directors and of Rotary International.

 

8. HAUNTERS

Affiliate Membership of non-rotarians, who are often good candidates to become Rotarians, is encouraged. Their application form should be signed by 2 Rotarian Members and approved by the Board of Directors. Affiliate Members shall have all the benefits of membership, except the right to vote and to be elected Directors.

 

9. AMENDMENTS

Any 15 members may propose changes to this Constitution. The Board of Directors shall review the proposed changes and submit them together with a recommendation to the membership, who shall vote on it.

A 2/3 majority of the votes received is necessary to change the Constitution.

10. SUBMISSION

This Constitution was submitted by Enrico Carozzi, President of IFBPR, in a vote to Members on March 15^th 2004.