Constitution

 

THE ALTON SOCIETY
CONSTITUTION AND RULES

Current version as adopted in November 2003

1 Name
The name of the Society shall be the Alton Society.

2 Aim
The aim of the Society is to improve Alton and its environment by:
(i) stimulating interest in the past, present and future of Alton and district;
(ii) working for the preservation and enhancement of local features of particular historical, cultural or aesthetic importance;
(iii) promoting and encouraging the rational and appropriate development of the Alton area and its amenities;
(iv) acting as a focus for obtaining and giving relevant information and advice and to provide a forum for public discussion;
(v) representing and advancing the views of the Society on the said matters to the authorities concerned as well as to the wider community.

3 Membership
Membership is open to all who live in or are interested in the town of Alton and the surrounding countryside.
Membership is as follows: (a) Individual, (b) Life, (c) Corporate, and (d) Honorary.
Honorary membership may be extended by the Society in Annual General Meeting to those persons who have been most active at any time in furthering the aims of the Society, the number of Honorary members at any time being limited to six.
Subscriptions in each of these categories will be decided at the AGM for the subsequent year.
Payment of subscriptions in advance will be a qualification for membership.

4 Officers
The Officers of the Society shall be a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer, and Membership Secretary.
The Officers shall be elected annually.
The Chairman shall be elected annually and after three consecutive terms of office shall only be eligible for re-election to the same office after a lapse of one year.
In the event of a Chairman not being elected and in the absence of a Vice-Chairman, the committee members may elect a Chairman for each Executive Committee meeting.

5 The Executive Committee
(a) The Committee shall consist of the Officers of the Society for the time being ex-officio, and nine elected members as representative as possible. Members shall be elected annually. The Committee may co-opt not more than three additional members to serve at any one time. These shall retire annually and be eligible for re-election. Casual vacancies may be filled by the Committee and a member so elected shall hold office for the unexpired period of service of the vacating member.
(b) There shall be not less than four meetings in each year.
(c) Five members shall constitute a quorum.
d) The Executive Committee may establish or dissolve sub-committees as deemed necessary, agree their terms of reference, designate Chairmen, and receive their reports.

6 Annual General Meeting
An Annual General Meeting shall be held each year after the close of the financial year on a date to be fixed by the Committee, of which not less than ten days notice shall be given to members of the Society. At this meeting a report of the Society’s activities during the past twelve months and a statement of accounts, duly audited, for the past year shall be submitted.
The Chairman, Vice-Chairman, other Officers, and the members of the Committee shall be elected and other business transacted; items for inclusion on the Agenda must reach the Secretary at least 24 hours before the meeting and be proposed and seconded by members of the Society.
The Constitution and Rules may be amended at any General Meeting of the Society by a majority of two-thirds of the members present and voting, provided that ten days notice of the proposed amendment has been given to members in writing.

7 Extraordinary General Meeting
An Extraordinary General Meeting of the Society shall be called at any time by the Committee or upon written request to the Secretary from at least one-tenth of the membership.

8 Dissolution
If the Committee decides it is necessary or desirable to dissolve the Society, they shall call a meeting of all members at not less than 21 days notice, informing them of the proposed dissolution. If the proposal is approved by at least two-thirds of those present and voting, the Committee may realise any assets of the Society after settling proper debts and liabilities and may dispose of any remainder by gift to a charitable institution with similar aims.