The Unity Club 1866

The Unity Club - Founded 1866
Updated June 2024

1. The Club to be formed of male and female Principals of: Auctioneers, Valuers, Surveyors, Architects, Solicitors, Gaugers, Representatives of Brewers, Wholesale Beer, Wine, Spirit and Mineral Merchants, Executives of multiple licensed retail operators with five or more permanent outlets and Estates Managers, all of whom are concerned directly or indirectly in the arrangement for or are required to attend changes of licensed premises in their business or professional capacity.

(1a) Membership is not extended to those who are resident upon Licensed premises.

(1b) Membership is not extended to those who personally conduct the business of a Publican.

(1c) Membership and cessation of Membership is at the strict discretion of the General Committee.

2. As and when vacancies occur, applications for Membership shall be made on the form that is available on the website, completed by the applicant, including details of his/her proposer and seconder and shall be submitted by email to the Secretary. Any such application must be supported by at least one of the Applicant’s Proposers or Seconders.

3. The Club shall be limited to one hundred and thirty five Members in addition to Honorary Members and Members of twenty five years standing, who shall be Senior Members

(3a) There shall be a Country List over and above the limited Membership of one hundred and thirty five and Senior and Honorary Members.

4. Upon retirement from his/her main occupation a Member shall be eligible for inclusion in the Country List provided that the Member has been a full Member for at least 10 years.

(4b) If upon retirement a Member requests by email to the Hon. Secretary he/she shall be placed on the Country List.

(4c) Such Country Members will receive the usual summons to attend meetings of the Club but shall not be entitled to vote.

(4d) Such Country Members shall pay the usual dining fee upon attendance as may be payable by full Members.

(4e) Nothing in this rule shall preclude a retired full Member from remaining a full Member by paying his/her annual subscription.

(4f) Nothing in this rule shall preclude a full Member from inviting a Country Member as a guest and paying the usual dining fee.

(4g) Rule fifteen shall not apply to Country Members.

(4h) Such Country Member shall be required to pay a reduced annual subscription as determined by the Committee.

(4i) All membership subscriptions are due and payable on January 1st of each successive year.

5. It shall be a condition of Membership of the Club that, on joining, every new Member shall purchase a Name Badge, and in addition male Members shall purchase a Club Tie. Costs for each of these items to be decided from time to time by the Committee.

(5a) Members must abide by the Dress requirements of the East India Club when meetings are held on their premises. These include the requirement that business attire must be worn by all male and female Members and their guests. In addition, all Members must wear their Unity Club name badge, and male Members must wear their Unity Club Members’ tie.

6. Any Member wishing to resign his/her membership of the Club must give notice in writing to the Hon. Secretary of his/her intention so to do prior to 31st December in each year, otherwise he/she shall be responsible for the following year’s subscription.

7. There shall be a Membership Joining fee as may be from time to time fixed by the Committee.

8. There shall be an annual Membership subscription at an amount as may be from time to time fixed by the Committee. The subscription shall become due on notification and shall apply to the Club’s financial year as referred to in rule 16.

9. Every Member shall receive a copy of these Bye Laws or have website access to same, at the time of his/her application to join the Club, and the same shall be binding upon all Members

10. The Club with the unanimous approval of those Members present at an Annual General Meeting may elect Honorary Members from within the body of the Club.

11. The Club shall appoint a President and such appointment shall be by election of the Members.

12. The Executive of the Club shall consist of The President, the Hon. Treasurer, and the Hon. Secretary. The Hon. Treasurer and the Hon. Secretary shall all be elected by the Members annually at the Annual General Meeting.

13. Once a year three Auditors shall be elected from the Members to investigate the accounts of the Club and report thereon at the AGM of the Club held in every year.

14. The Club’s financial year shall end on the 31st December of every year.

15. Each Member shall preside as Chair for one Membership meeting and he/she shall be taken in strict rotation from the Members list who have not previously taken the chair. Dispensation from this rule shall be at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

(15a) The elected Auditors shall be ex-officio officers of the Club for the year of their appointment.

(15b) Having been elected as an Auditor, no Member shall be elected again as an Auditor until a period of at least 5 years has elapsed since the previous election.

16. The Club Membership shall meet with its invited guests in the Spring, and at the end of November or in early December, of every year. A President’s lunch or evening meeting shall also be held, which all Members, including Country and Honorary Members, may attend.

17. Every Member who shall wish to stop for dinner shall pay at least seven days prior to the meeting such charge as may be fixed by the Committee as his/her proportion of the expenses.

(17a) All prospective members shall be required to confirm by returning to the Hon Secretary confirmation that they will abide by Rule 15 when required to sit as the Meeting Chair by rotation.

(17b) A prospective Meeting Chair shall be required to attend at least one Meeting and Lunch/Dinner during the two years’ prior to his/her office as Chair.

(17c) Any Member not wishing to hold office as the Meeting Chair shall be required to inform the Secretary at least one year prior to his/her otherwise intended office.

18. The Chair and every class of Member shall have the privilege of inviting guests to the dinner upon payment of such charge as may be fixed by the Committee. Payment to be made in advance at least seven days prior to the dinner.

19. The qualifications for attendance as a guest shall in principle be those as for Membership in rule 1, (1a) and (1b). However, persons may attend as invited guests whose trade or profession is in no way connected with the licensed trade.

20. The Hon. Treasurer shall hold the cash of the Club and dispose of same as directed by the Committee.

21. The Hon. Treasurer and the Hon. Secretary shall have the power to make arrangements for meetings, dinners etc of the Club and to examine and discharge all associated accounts.

22. None of these Bye Laws can be altered or any new Law be instituted without due notice being given prior to the Annual General Meeting Club and the same inserted in the next summons.