OUR CONSTITUTION
1: Name
The organisation shall be known as the Keighley and District Local History Society, hereafter referred to as the Society.
2: Objectives
The objectives of the Society are:
· To promote the study of the history of Keighley and District
·
‘To preserve/conserve the history of Keighley and District by procuring and archiving documents, photographs, recordings and artefacts relating to Keighley and District.To perform research into primary and secondary source materials, including oral sources and artefacts, relating to the history of Keighley and District
· To publish, from time to time, accounts of the aspects of the history of Keighley and District.
3: Membership
Membership of the Society shall be open to anyone who is interested in the objectives of the Society.
Membership shall be established on the payment of an Annual Membership Fee, to be determined each year at the Annual General Meeting and to be paid at the following January meeting. Annual membership shall be deemed to run from January to December. An appropriate proportion of the fee shall be charged to new members joining the Society later in the year.
Any member shall be entitled to a single vote in the affairs of the Society. In the event of a tie the Chairman shall have a casting vote.
An Attendance Fee, to be determined each year at the Annual General Meeting, shall be charged upon attendance at any meeting of the Society.
Visitors may attend meetings of the Society up to four times a year, and shall pay only the Attendance Fee for any meeting they attend, but they shall not be entitled to vote in the affairs of the Society.
It shall be part of the duties of the Secretary to keep a record of membership and of attendance at meetings.
4: The Committee
Constitution: The Committee shall consist of a Chairman, who shall also act as Chairman at any general Meeting of the society, a Vice Chairman, a Secretary, a Treasurer and a Publicity manager, together with two other members.
Duration of Membership: Membership of the Committee shall be for one year only, but with the possibility of re-election.
Election of Members: Members of the Committee shall be elected by members of the Society at the Annual General Meeting. In case no alternative candidate shall be presented for membership of the Committee, or for any particular post, re-election shall be assumed, providing that the previous holder of the position is willing to stand again.
Powers of Co-option: The Committee may decide to co-opt two additional members without consulting a General Meeting of the Society.
The Committee may invite experts to address it, but they shall not have any right to vote.
Quorum: The Committee shall be deemed quorate if three members are present.
Frequency of meetings: The Committee shall meet as the business of the Society requires. Powers and duties of the Committee and its Officers:
Financial: the Committee shall be responsible for:
· The collection of fees
· The depositing of monies under a suitable bank accounts
· The annual audit of the Society accounts by an independent auditor
· The payment of expenses properly incurred by members of the Society
· The payment of the fees and expenses of speakers if applicable
· The payment of any rents incurred by the Society
· The payment of charges incurred in the acquisition of any documents or equipment whose purchase has been authorised by a General Meeting of the Society
Organisational: The Committee shall be responsible for:
· The provision of suitable premises, appropriately equipped, for General Meetings of the Society
· The provision of suitable activities or speakers for each General Meeting of the Society
· After consultation with a General Meeting, or Meetings, of the Society, the choice of research projects to be pursued by the Society
· The recording of decisions taken by the Committee, or, where appropriate, by the Society
· The general publication of the findings of the Society with respect to any research project. Before any printed matter is released to the general public, it shall be approved by n General Meeting of the Society
· Publicising general meetings, research projects, publications and anything deemed suitable in the Keighley News and other local papers where appropriate.
5 Annual General Meeting
This shall take place in November of each year. The time, place and agenda shall be appointed by the Committee and shall be communicated to the members one month in advance of the meeting.
6 Special General Meetings
A Special General Meeting may be convened at the request of at least five members of the Society, made in writing to the Secretary and giving 21 days notice. Such a meeting shall be arranged by the Committee within 30 days of such a request. Agenda and motions submitted shall be circulated to all members.
7 General Meetings
Meetings shall be held on the second Wednesday of each month with the exception of August.
8 Alterations to the Constitution
This Constitution may be altered by means of a resolution given in writing to the Secretary at the Committee meeting prior to the Annual General Meeting and passed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at an Annual General Meeting, or at a Special General Meeting, called for that purpose. Any alterations of the Constitution shall have immediate effect, providing that they do not contradict any other provisions of this Constitution.
Dissolution
The Society may be dissolved at any time by means of a resolution agreed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at any Annual General Meeting or Special Meeting called for that purpose. The Society's assets shall be distributed as voted at the meeting, following the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, to another voluntary organisation with similar objectives.