AVON LOCAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION
DRAFT CONSTITUTION FOR LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETIES
| 1 | Name |
| The Society shall be called . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . hereinafter referred to as "the Society". | |
| 2 | Objects |
| The objects of the Society shall be to encourage the study of and interest in local history. | |
| 3 | Membership |
| The Members of the Society shall be those who apply and pay the appropriate annual subscription, all subscriptions being payable in advance on the . . . day of . . . . . . . . in every year. Membership may be divided into different groups or categories with different rights and subscription rates, as determined by [the Committee/General Meeting]. Each member shall be entitled to receive notice of Meetings, to attend them and to vote at them. | |
| 4 | Application for Membership |
| Any person wishing to become a Member of the Society shall apply in writing to the Hon.Secretary. Membership of the Society shall not be unreasonably withheld. Any resignation from Membership should be put in writing addressed to the Hon.Secretary. | |
| 5 | Officers |
| There shall be a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers as the Annual Meeting shall appoint. The officers shall be elected at the Annual Meeting and hold office for a year, provided that the Committee shall have power to fill a vacancy arising in the course of the year. | |
| 6 | Committee |
| The Committee of the Society shall consist of the officers of the Society, ex officio, and . . . members elected at the Annual Meeting. The Committee shall have power to fill any vacancies arising in the course of the year. The Committee shall be constituted annually and shall meet at least twice in each year. The quorum for a meeting shall be one third of the membership. The Committee shall elect its own Chair (and Vice-Chairs) and determine its own procedures. It may set up sub-committees or delegate responsibilities to its members. | |
| 7 | Duties and Powers of the Committee |
| The Committee shall: | |
| (a) promote and organise activities in accordance with the aims of the Society; | |
| (b) admit members to the Society, and maintain a membership register; | |
| (c) administer the funds of the Society, and incur such expenditure and enter into such commitments as it deems necessary or desirable, and keep proper accounts of income, expenditure and balances; | |
| (d) ensure that Annual and Special Meetings are duly held; | |
| [(e) determine categories of membership and rates of subscription for each year] | |
| Provided that minutes are kept which record all material decisions or resolutions and the Committee or officers report to the Annual Meeting on what has been done in the Society's name and answer such questions as may then be put to them. | |
| 8 | Finance |
| The financial year shall end on . . . . . A banking account(s) shall be opened in the name of the Society and cheques may be signed by the Treasurer and one other Committee Member from a list approved by the Committee and notified accordingly to the Bank. The income and property of the Society how and whensoever derived shall be applied solely towards promoting the objects of the Society as set forth above; and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly to any Member or Members of the Society except in payment of legitimate expenses incurred on behalf of the Society. All dealings with the moneys and property of the Society shall be authorised by or consequent on general or particular resolutions of a Meeting of the Society or of the Executive Committee, and shall be properly recorded and accounted for. The Committee shall make available the accounts of the Society to the appointed Auditors and answer any questions arising therefrom. | |
| 9 | Annual Meeting |
| There shall be an Annual Meeting of the Society each year to transact the following business:- | |
| (a) to receive reports on the work and proceedings of the Society during the past year and to question the officers and Committee on these. | |
| (b) to receive and, if approved, to adopt a statement of the Society's Accounts for the preceding | |
| (c) to elect Officers and Members to serve on the Committee. | |
| (d) to appoint an Auditor or Auditors. | |
| (e) to vote on any resolutions of which notice has been duly given | |
| (f) to receive suggestions and proposals for the consideration of the Committee | |
| Notice convening the Annual Meeting shall be given or sent to Members not less than twenty-one days before the meeting and shall specify the matters to be dealt with. | |
| 10 | Special Meetings |
| A Special Meeting may be convened at any time by the Committee or by a requisition in writing sent by not less than one-fifth of the Members of the Society. Notice convening a Special Meeting shall be given or sent to Members not less than fourteen days before the meeting and shall specify the matters to be dealt with. | |
| 11 | Procedure at Meetings |
| The quorum for a Meeting of the Society shall be one [quarter] of the registered membership. Only members are allowed to move resolutions or to vote on them; or to nominate or second persons for election. The President shall take the chair; except in the absence of the President [or at a Special Meeting where notice has been given of a vote of no confidence in the Executive] when the members shall elect a person to chair the meeting. Only members who are willing to serve and are nominated and seconded by other members shall be eligible for election as Officers or Members of the Committee or to chair a Meeting. If there are no more eligible persons than there are places to fill then they are deemed to be elected. If there are more eligible persons than places, a ballot shall be held and the person(s) with most votes shall be elected. Resolutions may be passed by general consent (nem. con.) or by a majority of those voting, except for a constitutional amendment which shall require two thirds of the votes cast. The President or person appointed to chair the Meeting shall have a casting or additional vote in the event of equality of votes, or where the vote on a constitutional amendment falls short of two thirds by less than one whole vote. | |
| 12 | Constitution |
| No alteration of or addition to this constitution shall be made except by a resolution carried by a majority of at least two-thirds of the Members who are present at an Annual or Special Meeting the notice of which shall have contained particulars of the proposed alteration or addition (and provided that no alteration may be made which will cause the Society to cease to be Charitable at law). | |
| 13 | Dissolution |
| In the event of the Society being wound up any assets remaining upon dissolution after the payment of proper debts and liabilities shall be transferred to a charitable institution or institutions having similar objects to those of the Society. | |
| 14 | Headings |
| The headings in these Articles shall not be taken as part of them or in any manner affect the interpretation or construction of the same. |