Caithness Family History Society
Constitution
As
amended 28th October 2009
a)
The name of the organisation shall be CAITHNESS FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY,
hereinafter referrred to as "the Society".
2)
OBJECTS
a) The objects of the Society will be to
advance education through promoting and encouraging the public study of Family
History, Genealogy and Local History in
3)
POWERS
To
further the above objects the Society may:
a)
arrange associate membership with any organisation having similar interests;
b)
arrange and provide for or join in arranging and providing for the holding of
exhibitions, meetings, lectures, classes, seminars and training courses;
c) cause to be prepared and printed or
otherwise reproduced and circulated, free of charge or for payment, such papers,
books, periodicals, pamphlets or other documents or films or recorded tapes
(whether audio or visual or both) as shall further the objects;
d) purchase, take on lease or exchange,
hire or otherwise acquire any property and any rights and privileges considered
appropriate for the promotion of the objects and construct, maintain and alter
any building considered appropriate for the work of the Society;
e) sell, let, grant securities over,
dispose of or turn to account all or any of the property or assets of the
Society;
f) borrow or raise money for the
objects and accept gifts on such terms and on such security as shall be deemed
to be appropriate;
g) raise funds
and invite and receive contributions from any person or persons by way of
subscription or otherwise;
h) invest the
funds of the Society not immediately required for the objects in or upon such
investments, securities or property as may be thought fit, subject nevertheless
to such conditions (if any) as may at the time be imposed or required by law;
and
i) do all
such other lawful things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the
objects.
4)
MEMBERSHIP
a) Membership
is open to anyone interested in furthering the objects of the Society.
b) The Society,
which shall be non-profit making, will consist of all duly admitted members
whose subscriptions are fully paid. An Honorary President and an Honorary Vice
President, upon recommendation of the members of the Society may be appointed.
c) The Honorary
President and Vice President may attend and speak at meetings of the Society but
shall have no right to vote in that capacity.
d) The Society
may publish a regular magazine or newsletter, one copy of which shall be issued
to each member whose subscription is not in arrears.
5)
MANAGEMENT
a)
The affairs of the Society shall be managed by a Committee consisting of the
Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, Minute Secretary, Treasurer,
Membership Secretary and Librarian and not more than five other members. A
quorum of the Committee shall consist of not less than five members. The
Chairperson shall have his or her own and a casting vote if required and his or
her decision on all points of order shall be final. The committee shall have
powers to co-opt additional members to the Committee if deemed necessary.
b)
Office bearers and members of the Committee shall be elected annually and shall
be entitled to re-election unless otherwise provided by the Society. The
Society will appoint an Independent Examiner, who is not a member of the
Society, to independently examine and approve the annual accounts of the
Society.
6)
MEETINGS
a) Ordinary
meetings of the Society shall be held on the second Wednesday of the month from
September to June inclusive or on such other dates as the Committee shall
decide.
b) The Annual
General Meeting of the Society shall be held annually on the Second Wednesday of
October or such other date as may from time to time be arranged. Annual Reports
and audited Accounts will be submitted to the Annual General Meeting for
approval. The financial year end will be 31st August or such other date as may
from time to time be arranged. Subscriptions will be reviewed.
Nominations for
new Office Bearers and Members of the committee shall be accepted up to the date
of an AGM or Special Meeting and at such meetings, the nomination being signed
by the Proposer, Seconder and Nominee.
a) All funds
raised by or on behalf of the Society shall be applied to further the objects of
the Society and for no other purpose; this provision shall not, however, prevent
the repayment to Office Bearers or Committee Members of reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses.
b) The
Treasurer shall keep proper accounting records and shall prepare proper Accounts
annually and at such intervals as the Society may direct.
c) The Accounts
shall be audited at least once a year by the auditor who will be appointed
annually at the Annual General Meeting. If the auditor appointed at the Annual
General Meeting ceased to hold that appointment during the period between Annual
General Meetings, the Committee shall have the power to appoint a replacement
auditor to hold office until the next following Annual General Meeting.
d) A bank
account shall be opened in name of the Society with such banks or building
societies as the Committee shall from time to time decide. Such account shall be
operated by the signature of any two of the Office Bearers.
8)
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
No alterations of this Constitution shall be made
except at an Annual General Meeting of the Society when a two-thirds majority of
those present and voting shall be required. Notices of motion to amend the
Constitution must be in .the hands of the Secretary at least one calendar month
before the Annual General Meeting. No alteration shall be made which would have
the effect of causing the Society to cease to be recognised by FICO (
9)
DISSOLUTION OF THE SOCIETY
If the Committee by a simple majority decide at any
time that on the ground of expense or otherwise it is necessary or advisable to
dissolve the Society, it shall call a Special General Meeting of the Society of
which meeting not less than 21 days’ notice (stating the terms of the proposed
resolution) shall be given. If such decision is confirmed by a two-thirds
majority of those present and entitled to vote and voting at such meeting, the
assets held by or on behalf of the Society shall be disposed of in terms of the
decision of the majority of the members present. Any assets remaining after the
satisfaction of any proper debts and liabilities shall be given or transferred
to such other charitable organisation or organisations having objects similar to
the objects of the Society or otherwise as the majority of the members present
may determine.
Adopted at an Annual General Meeting of
the Society held on the Twenty Eighth day of October in the year Two thousand
and Nine, and signed for and on behalf of the Society by Miss Margaret Annie
Geddes Dunnett,
___________________________Chairperson
______________________________Secretary
_____________________________Witness
Witness Name ...............................................................
Address ............................................................................
.........................................................................................