NAME
The name of the Society shall be The Beaconsfield Society.
OBJECTS
- The Society is established for the following purposes and for the benefit of its members and local residents:
- Promote an awareness of the beauty, history and character of Beaconsfield and surrounding area
- Encourage the preservation, development and improvement of the features and amenities which go to make pleasing, convenient conditions in which to live and work.
- Stimulate public consciousness and appreciation of the preservation of areas of outstanding beauty.
- Encourage residents to become actively involved in the community.
- In furtherance of the said purposes but not otherwise the Society through its Executive Committee shall have the following powers:-
- To publish papers, reports and other literature.
- To make surveys and prepare maps and plans and collect information in relation to any place, erection or building of beauty or historic interest within the area of benefit.
- To hold meetings, lectures and exhibitions.
- To educate public opinion and to give advice and information.
- To raise funds and to invite and receive contributions from any persons whatsoever by way of subscriptions, donations and otherwise: provided that the Society shall not undertake any permanent trading activities in raising funds for its primary purpose.
- To do all such other things as are necessary for the attainment of the said purposes.
EXCLUSION OF POLITICS
The Association is solely instituted to protect the interests of Beaconsfield and its neighbourhood. Party politics shall be excluded.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall be open to all who are interested in actively furthering the purposes of the Society. No member shall have power to vote at any meeting of the Society if his or her subscription is in arrears at the time. Corporate members shall be such societies, associations, educational institution or businesses as are interested in actively furthering the purposes of the Society. A corporate member shall appoint a representative to vote on its behalf at all meetings but before such representative exercises his or her right to vote the corporate member shall give particulars in writing to the Honorary Secretary of such representative.
HONORARY MEMBERSHIP
The Executive Committee may recommend to the AGM that honorary membership of the Society be conferred on persons who have made an outstanding contribution to the promotion and protection of Beaconsfield.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
The subscription shall be determined from time to time by the committee and shall be payable on or before the anniversary of joining the Society. Should payment not be received within two months after this date, membership will be deemed to have lapsed.
MEETINGS
An Annual General Meeting shall be held in or about October of each year to receive the Executive Committee’s report and audited accounts and to elect Officers and Members of the Committee. The Committee shall decide when ordinary meetings of the Society shall be held.
Special General Meetings of the Society shall be held on the recommendation of the Executive Committee or at the written request of fifteen members.
Twelve members personally present shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of the Society.
The Committee shall give at least 7 days’ notice to members of all Meetings of the Society.
Each member is entitled to one vote at meetings.
VOTING RIGHTS
All Members are entitled to vote at meetings. Corporate Bodies are entitled to one vote also.
OFFICERS
Nominations for the election of Officers shall be made to the Honorary Secretary at least 14 days before the Annual General Meeting. Such nominations shall be supported by a seconder and the consent of the proposed nominee must first have been obtained. The elections of Officers shall be completed prior to the election of further Committee members. Nominees for election as Officers or Committee members shall declare at the Annual General Meeting at which their election is to be considered any financial or professional interest known or likely to be of concern to the Society.
The Officers of the Society shall consist of: Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer, all of whom shall relinquish their office every year and shall be eligible for re-election at the Annual General Meeting. A President and Vice-Presidents may also be elected at a General Meeting of the Society, for periods to be decided at such a meeting. The Executive Committee shall have the power to fill casual vacancies occurring among the Officers of the Society.
The named officers shall serve in that position for a maximum of five years.
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the management and administration of the Society, The Executive Committee shall consist of the Officers and not less than 2 and not more than 8 other members.
The Committee shall have power to co-opt further members (who shall attend in an advisory and non-voting capacity).
Nominations for new members of the Executive Committee shall be made to the Honorary Secretary at least 14 days before the Annual General Meeting. Existing members seeking re-election to the Executive Committee may be nominated “en bloc” 14 days before the Annual General Meeting.
The Executive Committee shall have the power to fill up to three casual vacancies occurring among the members of the Executive Committee between General Meetings.
The Executive Committee shall meet not less than six times a year at intervals of not more than two months and the Honorary Secretary shall give all members not less than seven days’ notice of each meeting. The quorum shall, as near as may be, comprise one third of the members of the Executive Committee.
The President and Vice-Presidents may attend any meeting of the Executive Committee but shall not vote at any such meeting. In the event of an equality in the votes cast, the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote.
DECLARATION OF INTEREST
It shall be the duty of every Officer or member of the Executive Committee who is in any way directly or indirectly interested financially or professionally in any item discussed at any Committee meeting at which he or she is present to declare such interest and he/she shall not discuss such item (except by invitation of the Chairman) or vote thereon.
EXPENSES OF ADMINISTATION AND APPLICATION OF FUNDS
The Executive Committee shall, out of the funds of the Society, pay all proper expenses of administration and management of the Society. After the payment of the administration and management expenses and the setting aside to reserve of such sums as may be deemed expedient, the remaining funds of the Society shall be applied by the Executive Committee in furtherance of the purposes of the Society.
AMENDMENTS
This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority of members present at an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting of the Society, provided that 28 days’ notice of the proposed amendment has been given to all members and provided that nothing herein contained shall authorise any amendment the effect of which would be to cause the Society at any time to cease to be a charity in law.
NOTICES
Any notice required to be given by these Rules shall be deemed to be duly given if left at or sent by prepaid post addressed to the address of that member last notified to the Secretary.WINDING UP
WINDING UP
The Society may be dissolved by a two-thirds majority of members voting at an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting of the Society confirmed by a simple majority of members voting at a further Special General Meeting held not less than 14 days after the proposal at an Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting. This motion shall be referred to specifically when notice of the meeting is given. In the event of the dissolution of the Society the available funds of the Society shall be transferred to such one or more charitable institutions having objects similar or reasonably similar to those herein before declared as shall be chosen by the Executive Committee and approved by the Meeting of the Society at which the decision to dissolve the Society is confirmed. On dissolution the minutes books and other records of the Society shall be deposited with the Civic Trust.