Constitution
1. NAME
The Fylde Bird Club.
Fylde Bird Club
(‘the Club’) exists to promote bird recording, bird and habitat protection
and to provide a social forum for those with an interest in the birds of Fylde,
Lancashire and elsewhere.
3. MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the club
shall be open to all on payment of a subscription. Senior citizens, Students and
children may be granted membership at reduced rates. The subscription rates
shall be set by the membership at each Annual General Meeting (‘AGM’) and
will fall due at the end of the AGM.
Membership, and all voting rights, will be restricted to
fully paid up members. A member
will cease to be fully paid up if they have not paid an annual subscription
within 6 months of it being due unless they are a Life Member as defined above.
An individual’s membership of the Club may be terminated by a majority vote at a General Meeting or by the Committee at any time, in the event of a misdemeanour.
4. OFFICERS AND MANAGEMENT OF THE CLUB
The club shall
have positions of Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Auditor to be elected at each
AGM. A management committee will conduct the day to day administration of the
Club. The Committee will comprise the Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and not more
than 6 other members elected by the membership at the AGM. The term of all of
the above positions will be one year. Retiring committee members will be
eligible for re-election.
The Club may create the post of Honorary Life President for one senior member. This position would be offered in recognition of work performed in support of the Club and wildlife conservation. Should the position be vacant, a nomination may be made at the AGM. Should the AGM vote in acceptance and the nominee accept the position, then the offer and acceptance should be made in writing. This position does not provide an automatic seat on the Committee.
6. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS
An Annual General Meeting
shall be held each year to receive reports, to elect officers and committee members and to transact such other business as may be necessary.
Officers and committee members elected at the meeting shall not take
office until the meeting has closed.
All members shall receive at least 2 weeks written notice of AGM items.
An AGM will normally be held on the date of the programmed January Meeting. If the AGM is to be held on another date then the Secretary must provide all members with 2 weeks notice in writing.
7. EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETINGS
Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs) may be called at the discretion of the Committee, or on written request of at least ten members to discuss any major matters which may arise. The Secretary will provide at least 2 weeks written notice to all members stating the date and purpose of the meeting.
The only matters to be discussed shall be those for which the meeting is called.
8. FINANCE
(a) Records of the receipts and payment of the Club shall be maintained by the Treasurer, who will submit annual audited statements of account to the Club's Annual General Meeting.
(b) The Treasurer shall report on the Finance of the Club to each meeting of the Committee as necessary.
(c)
The Club
will not incur total expenditure in excess of total realised income, or incur
debts in excess of its assets. All
expenditure must directly or indirectly promote the objects of the Club as
defined in Clause 2, or otherwise be approved in advance by a business meeting
of the club.
(c) No expenditure may be made from the Club funds (other than in respect of routine payments) without the authority of the Committee.
(d) All income of the Club shall be deposited in bank accounts / building society accounts opened on the authority of the Committee and identified in the name of the Club. All cheques drawn on such accounts shall be signed by the Treasurer and either the Chairman or Secretary.
(d) For accounting purposes, the Club's financial year shall be from 1st November to the 31st October.
9. MISCELLANEOUS ADMINISTRATION
a)
In the
event of the winding-up of the club any residual assets and monies will be given
to an organisation promoting similar objects to the Club, to be determined by
the membership remaining at the time of winding-up.
b) The Club will consider membership applications from organisations with similar objects, and may itself subscribe to or otherwise support organisations with objects similar to those of the Club. Such decisions must be approved by an AGM.
c) The constitution shall only be amended by a simple majority of those voting at an AGM or EGM.
d) Quorums for AGMs and EGMs shall be 20% of the total membership.