SK58 Constitution

Constitution as adopted at our AGM 31st January 2001 (with Amendments January 2022).

CONSTITUTION FOR SK58 BIRDERS

1.0 NAME

1.1 THE GROUP SHALL BE CALLED SK58 BIRDERS, HEREAFTER TO BE REFERRED TO AS THE GROUP

2.0 OBJECTIVES OF THE GROUP

2.1 TO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE INTEREST IN ORNITHOLOGY, BY MEETINGS, LECTURES, DISPLAYS AND PREDOMINANTLY THROUGH RECORDING AND PUBLISHING BIRD RECORDS THROUGH REPORTS. ALSO INVOLVING WHEREVER POSSIBLE THE WIDER PUBLIC

3.0 POWERS

3.1 THE COMMITTEE WILL DETERMINE THE ACTIVITIES OF THE GROUP WITHIN ITS OBJECTIVES, TO ENSURE ITS OBJECTIVES ARE BEING MET AND TO ENSURE THAT THIS CONSTITUTION IS BEING ADHERED TO.

3.2 THE COMMITTEE SHALL GIVE SUPPORT TO THE LEADER, TREASURER AND SECRETARY AND TO MAKE ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENTS IN THE EVENT OF ANY (OR ALL) OF THOSE OFFICERS BEING UNABLE TO PERFORM THEIR DUTIES BY REASON OF ABSENCE, ILLNESS OR SIMILAR. IN THE ABSENCE OF THE LEADER, MEETINGS SHOULD BE CHAIRED BY ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE.

4.0 MEMBERSHIP

4.1 MEMBERSHIP OF THE GROUP SHALL BE OPEN TO ANY PERSON COMPLETING A MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION AND PAYING THE RELEVANT SUBSCRIPTION FEE AS DETERMINED BY THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE GROUP MEMBERS.

5.0 GENERAL BUSINESS

5.1 THE AFFAIRS OF THE GROUP SHALL BE CONTROLLED BY A COMMITTEE COMPRISING THE OFFICERS AND 3 OTHER MEMBERS ELECTED FROM, AND BY, THE MEMBERS OF THE GROUP. THE COMMITTEE SHALL MEET AT AGREED INTERVALS AND NOT LESS THAN FOUR TIMES A YEAR.

6.0 COMMITTEE

6.1 THE COMMITTEE MUST CONSIST OF AT LEAST 3 MEMBERS INCLUDING A LEADER AND A TREASURER

6.2 THE MANAGEMENT OF THE GROUP SHALL BE VESTED IN A COMMITTEE COMPOSED OF A LEADER, SECRETARY, TREASURER AND 3 OTHER MEMBERS

6.3 ALL OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE SHALL BE ELECTED AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE GROUP FROM AND BY, THE MEMBERS OF THE GROUP ON A DEMOCRATIC BASIS, FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR, BUT MAY BE REELECTED TO THE SAME OFFICE OR ANOTHER OFFICE THE FOLLOWING YEAR

6.4 THE DUTIES OF THE COMMITTEE SHALL BE:
i) TO CONTROL THE AFFAIRS OF THE GROUP
ii) TO KEEP ACCURATE ACCOUNTS OF THE GROUP FINANCES THROUGH THE TREASURER. THESE SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR REASONABLE INSPECTION BY MEMBERS AND SHOULD BE AUDITED BEFORE AND AVAILABLE AT THE AGM
iii) TO MAINTAIN A BANK ACCOUNT IN THE GROUP NAME REQUIRING AT LEAST TWO NAMED AND UNRELATED SENIOR OFFICERS TO SIGN EACH CHEQUE
iv) TO MAKE DECISIONS ON THE BASIS OF A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE. THE CHAIR SHALL BE ENTITLED TO AN ADDITIONAL CASTING VOTE IN THE EVENT OF TIED VOTES

7.0 PAYMENT OF BENEFITS

7.1 THOSE PAID OUT OF THE GROUP ACCOUNT ARE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COMMITTEE AND ONLY 'REASONABLE' REIMBURSEMENTS MAY BE MADE

8.0 GENERAL MEETINGS

8.1 THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE GROUP MUST BE HELD IN JANUARY EACH YEAR

8.2 THE LEADER,THE TREASURER, THE SECRETARY, THE MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY, PUBLICITY OFFICER, NEWSLETTER EDITOR AND GROUP RECORDER SHALL PREPARE A REPORT OF THE GROUP'S ACTIVITIES AND STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS FOR THE PRECEDING YEAR AND THESE SHALL BE PUT BEFORE THE MEMBERS

8.3 OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS SHALL BE ELECTED FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR

8.4 A SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING MAY BE CONVENED AT ANY TIME BY THE SECRETARY AT THE REQUEST OF THE COMMITTEE OR UPON A REQUISITION MADE TO THAT PERSON IN WRITING BY AT LEAST 10 MEMBERS.
THE SPECIAL BUSINESS FOR WHICH THE MEETING IS CONVENED SHALL BE STATED IN THE REQUISITION AND ALSO IN THE NOTICE CALLING THE MEETING AND NO OTHER BUSINESS SHALL BE TRANSACTED AT SUCH SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING

8.5 TEN MEMBERS SHALL FORM A QUORUM AT ANY GENERAL MEETING, (AMENDED FROM FIFTEEN)

9.0 ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION

9.1 NO ALTERATION OF THE CONSTITUTION OR RULES OF THE GROUP SHALL BE MADE OTHER THAN AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OR AT A SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE GROUP, AND PROVIDED THAT SUCH ALTERATION(S) SHALL BE APPROVED BY A MINIMUM OF TWO THIRDS OF THE MEMBERS PRESENT

9.2 THE CONSTITUTION MUST BE SIGNED BY A SENIOR OFFICER EVIDENCING ADOPTION

10.0 DISSOLUTION OR WINDING UP

10.1 IN THE EVENT OF THE DISSOLUTION OF THE GROUP ANY ASSETS AND FUNDS SHALL BE DISBURSED TO A SIMILAR ORGANISATION, ACCORDING TO THE WISHES OF A SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE MEMBERS CONVENED FOR THIS PURPOSE.

Andy Hirst
Chairman 31st January 2001

Paul Tennyson
Chairman 26th January 2022