Constitution

Our Constitution

Name

The name of the Society shall be “The Old Plymouth Society”.

Aims

The aims of the Old Plymouth Society are to promote interest in, research into, and the preservation of, the heritage of the City of Plymouth.

Membership

(a) Membership of the Society is open to anyone over the age of 11 years upon payment of the annual subscription.
(b) The Committee can withdraw membership from any person.
(c) All members are entitled to vote at the Annual General Meeting of the Society .
(d) Members names and addresses may be recorded on computer file, held strictly for the sole use of the Society.

Subscriptions

(a) The level of the annual subscription is to be decided at the Annual General Meeting of the Society
(b) The subscription will be due at the Annual General Meeting.
(c) Members unable to attend the Annual General Meeting may renew their membership by payment direct to the Membership Secretary.
(d) Subscriptions paid by new members, or those tendering renewals at any period other than at the Annual General Meeting, will provide membership from the time of payment until the next Annual General Meeting. However, the subscription of a new member joining the Society between New Years Day and the date of the Annual General Meeting shall be regarded as covering membership until the following Annual General Meeting.

The Annual General Meeting

(a) The Annual General Meeting is normally to take place in April.
(b) Notice is to be communicated in writing to all members by the Secretary no later than twenty-eight days in advance of the meeting.
(c) The agenda is to be circulated to all members by the Secretary no later than seven days in advance of the meeting.
(d) The Minutes Secretary is to make available the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting.
(e) In the event of a vote being required to be taken, those members personally present shall form a quorum.

Management

(a) The Society shall be managed by a Committee consisting of ten members and shall include the following officers: (i) Chairman, (ii) Vice-Chairman (iii) Treasurer, (iv) Secretary, (v) Membership Secretary, (vi) Minutes Secretary, and (vii) Publicity Officer.
(b) Each officer and the three other members of the Committee shall be elected or re-elected by the membership by majority vote at the Annual General Meeting. Nominations for election of Committee members shall be submitted in writing to the Secretary at least twenty-one days prior to the Annual General Meeting but late nominations can be accepted on the day at the discretion of the Chairman.
(c) If a Committee Member is unable to continue in office, the Committee may appoint a replacement until the Annual General Meeting.
(d) Notice of every Committee Meeting shall be communicated in writing to all Committee Members by the Secretary at least seven days in advance.
(e) The Minutes Secretary shall take minutes of meetings and provide copies to all members of the Committee.
(f) In the event of a vote being required to be taken, at least four Committee Members shall be required to form a quorum. In the event of a tie, the Chairman of the meeting shall have the casting vote.
(g) Any member of the Society may ask the Committee to meet to consider a particular concern of the member.
(h) The Committee may appoint at its discretion a President and Vice Presidents to serve for three year periods.
(i) The Committee may authorise affiliation with other societies.

Finance

(a) The financial year of the Society shall end on December 31st.
(b) The Treasurer is to account for all financial transactions of the Society and is to provide an audited financial statement at the Annual General Meeting.
(c) The Society’s accounts are to be audited annually by auditors appointed by the Committee.
(d) The income of the Society shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the aims of the Society.

Dissolution of an Unincorporated Association

If the Committee by a simple majority decide at anytime that it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the Society, it shall call a meeting of all voting members of the Society, for which meeting not less than 21 clear days notice (stating the terms of the Resolution to be proposed thereat) shall be given. If such decision shall be confirmed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at such meeting the Committee shall have power to realise any assets held by or on behalf of the Society. Any assets remaining after the satisfaction of any proper debts and liabilities shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institution or institutions having objects similar to the objects of the Society as the committee may determine.

Amendments and Omissions

(a) Any amendments to the constitution may only take place by majority vote at the Annual General Meeting.
(b) Any item not covered by this constitution shall be dealt with by the Committee.