Constitution of The Badsey Society (founded 28th February 2002), amended at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Society on 23rd February 2010
Name and Objects
1. The name of the Society shall be “The Badsey Society”, hereinafter referred to as “the Society”.
2. The objects and aims of the Society are to promote the understanding and study of the parish and village of Badsey (including Aldington) in Worcestershire, and its surrounding area, past and present. The history, archaeology, folklore, flora, fauna and geology of the area are possible areas of activity. The Society’s activities will include meetings, lectures, education and publication in print and electronic media.
Membership
3. Membership of the Society is open to anyone who supports its objects and aims, and such persons shall become members on payment of the current subscription, which shall be due on joining and then annually on the first day of January thereafter.
4. Any member whose subscription is more than six months in arrears shall be deemed to have resigned from membership of the Society.
Management
5. The Society shall be managed by a committee which shall consist of a Chairperson, a Honorary Secretary, a Honorary Treasurer, and up to ten other members. The committee shall meet at least four times in each calendar year. Four members shall form a quorum.
6. The committee may make or repeal such rules, regulations and bye-laws, not being inconsistent with this constitution, as may be necessary for the proper management of the Society.
Finance
7. The Honorary Treasurer shall maintain a record of all receipts and payments of the Society, also an inventory of the Society’s assets.
8. The Society shall maintain an account at a recognised Bank or Building Society and all monies received shall be paid promptly into such account, except any amounts that are required for petty cash disbursements.
9. All cheques drawn on the account shall be signed by at least two members of the committee.
10. As soon as convenient after 31st December in each year the Honorary Treasurer shall prepare an Income and Expenditure Account for the year then ended together with a Balance Sheet as at that date.
11. The accounts shall be reviewed by an Independent Examiner, with suitable accountancy knowledge, who shall not be a member of the Society.
12. No member shall benefit financially from the Society, but reasonable out-of-pocket expenses may be claimed.
13. The Society has the power to raise funds in whichever way it deems necessary, such funds being used for the furtherance of the Society’s objects as set out in clause 2.
Distribution
14. The income and assets of the Society’s may be used only for the furtherance of the Society’s objects as stated in clause 2. No part of the Society’s income or property may be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of bonus or other distribution to the members of the Society.
General Meetings
15. An Annual General Meeting of members shall be held in February each year, or as soon as possible afterwards, for transaction of the following business:
(a) To receive from the committee a report of the Society’s activities during the preceding year;
(b) To consider the accounts for the preceding year;
(c) To elect a Chairperson, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer to hold office until the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting (a member may hold more than one of these offices simultaneously);
(d) To elect up to ten other members to the committee, also to serve until the next AGM;
(e) To consider such other business as may be submitted.
16. The Honorary Secretary shall convene an Extraordinary General Meeting on receiving a written requisition to that effect signed by at least ten members or one tenth of the total membership for the time being, whichever number is the lower. The meeting shall be convened within one month or receiving such requisition, which must specify the business to be discussed.
Winding Up or Suspension of Activities of the Society
17. If the Society is wound up or its activities suspended, the members in general meeting shall appoint four Trustees and the whole of the Society’s funds and assets shall be vested in such Trustees for a period not exceeding five years.
18. All income and assets of the Society during such period may be used only for the furtherance of the Society’s objects as set out in clause 2. No part of the Society’s income or property may be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of bonus or other distribution to the members of the Society, or to the Trustees.
19. The Trustees shall appoint other persons to fill any vacancies which may from time to time arise, so that their number remains at four.
20. If the Society resumes its activities within the five-year period, then the Trustees shall transfer such funds and assets in their possession to the Society, following which the body of Trustees shall be dissolved.
Dissolution
21. If the Society does not resume its activities within the five-year period, no assets shall be paid or distributed amongst the Society members or Trustees. The Trustees shall transfer such funds and assets in their possession to such other not-for-profit societies or organisations with similar objects within the surrounding area, as the Trustees in their absolute discretion shall decide. The body of Trustees shall then be dissolved.