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Gloucestershire Family History Society

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Constitution

(as amended at the Society EGM 8th November 2000)

1. Name

The name of the Society shall be the “Gloucestershire Family History Society”.

2. Address

The recognised address of the Society shall be that of the Secretary.

3. Objectives

  1. To promote and encourage the public study of British Family History, Genealogy, Heraldry, and local history with particular reference to Gloucestershire.
  2. To promote the preservation, security and accessibility of archival material.

In furtherance of the above objects: but not further or otherwise, the Society shall have the following powers:

  1. To hold lectures and discussions and organise research visits.
  2. To hold and maintain a library of printed other works.
  3. To preserve and transcribe and to publish original source materials including documents and monumental inscriptions.
  4. To pursue collaborative actions with similar societies and with established supportive bodies such as churches, libraries, record offices and educational institutions.
  5. To support the activities of the Federation of Family History Societies in its pursuit of these and similar objectives.

4. Affiliation

The Society may be affiliated to the Federation of Family History Societies and with other organisations whose objectives are deemed compatible and mutually supportive.

5. Area of Interest

The main area of interest shall be the County of Gloucestershire as it existed prior to 1st April 1974 following the Local Government Act of 1972, but not excluding the parishes under the Consistory of Bristol. Membership is not limited to people residing within this area.

6. Administration

  1. The Society shall be administered by an Executive Committee consisting of not more than 12 members. In addition there will be one representative from each branch, with full voting rights. The Honorary Officers of this Committee shall be Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. A quorum shall consist of 6 members.
  2. The Executive Committee may invite suitable persons to become President or Vice-President for a period of three years and this period may be extended by further periods of 3 years at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
  3. Each year one third of the Committee members shall retire by rotation: the longest in office to stand down first. Retiring Committee members shall be eligible for re-election by the membership and their term of office shall commence with the declaration of election results at the Annual General Meeting. Nominations may be submitted in writing beforehand or may be made from the floor of the AGM.
  4. The electorate shall consist of all fully-paid and honorary members of the Society and voting will be conducted at the AGM.
  5. The Executive Committee shall have the power to co-opt members to serve on the Committee providing that this does not cause the membership of the Committee to exceed 12 plus the branch representatives.
  6. Standing Orders. The Executive Committee shall produce, and periodically revise Standing Orders for the day-to-day running of the Society.
  7. Branches. The Executive Committee shall have the power to establish branches, for the furtherance of the Society’s objectives. Each branch so established shall comply with and be subject to the following regulations.
    1. The branch shall act in pursuance of the said objects and of the policy of the society and shall be subject to such conditions as may from time to time be laid down by the Society Executive Committee.
    2. ii). The Branch shall be deemed to have adopted the Standing Orders for Branches as prescribed from time to time by the Society Executive Committee unless it has with the prior approval of the Society Executive Committee adopted other rules.
    3. All subscriptions to the Society shall be deemed to be the monies of the Society, although they may be collected though the Branch Officers.
    4. The Society shall provide funds to a branch appropriate to its size and activities. A branch may, with the prior agreement of the Society Executive Committee open a Bank Account which shall be run in accordance with the policy laid down by the Society. The monies in the Branch Bank Account shall remain at all times the monies of the Society as a whole. The Branch Accounts must be kept in such form as may from time to time be determined by the Society Executive Committee and shall be subject to annual independent examination.
    5. All printed material, microfilm and other assets, however acquired, held by the branch shall be the assets of the Society.
    6. A Branch may be suspended at any time by a resolution of the Society Executive Committee and upon suspension shall cease all operations and any assets under its day to day administration shall be frozen until a resolution has been approved at the next Annual General Meeting dissolving the Branch or otherwise.

7. Membership

  1. Membership of the Society shall be open to all persons showing genuine interest in the support of the Society objectives.
  2. Classes of membership:
    1. Ordinary – For those living within the U.K.
    2. Family – For those of one family residing at the same address within the U.K. They will receive one copy of the journal between them, but all will have voting rights.
    3. Overseas – For those living outside the U.K.
    4. Honorary – May be conferred by the Executive Committee.
  3. Subscriptions shall be due 1st April annually. Subscription rates shall be determined by the Executive Committee.
  4. The Executive Committee may suspend from membership any member whose activities, in their opinion, are determined to be prejudicial to the Society, Such members will have the right of appeal. Such appeal shall be to an Extraordinary General Meeting of members, called by the Executive Committee.

8. Meetings

  1. An Annual General Meeting shall be held during the month of June each Year, when the Officers shall present their reports. Notice in writing of this Meeting shall be given at least 28 days prior to the event.
  2. An Extraordinary General Meeting may be convened at the request of the Executive committee or at the request of twelve members. with prior written notice furnished to the membership at least twenty-eight days before the meeting. A quorum at such meeting shall consist of not less than 25 members. Decisions at the meeting shall be by a simple majority.

9. Constitution

The Constitution amended at a General Meeting. –Notification of such Meeting shall be given to all fully paid up members. The Constitution shall be amended only if three quarters of those attending and voting, vote for such an amendment. Voting shall be by show of hands. No alterations or amendments shall be made to the Constitution which would cause the Society to cease to be a Charity at law.

10. Finance

  1. The income and property of the Society, whencesoever derived, shall be applied solely towards the promotion and execution of the objectives of the Society as defined at paragraph 3 above, and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly in any manner by way of profit to any member of the Executive Committee or Society, providing that nothing herein shall prevent the payment in good faith of reasonable and proper repayment of out-of-pocket expenses incurred on behalf of the Society.
  2. The Executive Committee or its treasurer on its behalf shall cause proper books of account to be kept with respect to all sums of money received and expended by the Society and the matters in respect of which receipts and expenditure take place.
  3. Once at least every year, the Society’s accounts shall be independently examined by one or more examiners. The report of the examiner(s) will be presented to the members of the Society.

11. Dissolution

The Society may be dissolved by a resolution passed by not less than three quarters of those present with voting rights at either an Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting called for the purpose and for which 28 days prior notice has been given in writing. Such a resolution may give instructions for the disposal of any assets held by the society after all debts and liabilities have been paid, the balance left to be transferred to some other charitable institution or institutions having objectives similar to those of the Society.

12. Trustees

The Executive Committee may appoint no fewer than 3 persons (and not more than 6 persons) to hold any property held by or in trust for the Society.

Updated 10 Mar 2007