Constitution
1. NAME
The Name of the Society shall be the DEANSHANGER VILLAGE HERITAGE SOCIETY
2. OBJECTS
The Society is established for the following purposes in the area comprising the Village of Deanshanger in the Parish of Passenham.
- To promote high standards of planning and architecture in or affecting Deanshanger
- To educate the public in the geography, history, natural history and architecture of Deanshanger
- To secure the preservation, protection, development and improvement of features of historic or public interest in Deanshanger
In furtherance of these the Society through its Executive Committee shall have the following powers:
- To promote civic pride.
- To promote research into subjects directly connected with the objects of the Society and to publish the results of any such research.
- To act as a co-ordinating body and to co-operate with the local authorities, planning committees, and all other statutory authorities, voluntary organisations, charities and persons having aims similar to those of the Society.
- To promote activities of a charitable nature.
- To publish papers, reports and other literature.
- To make surveys, prepare maps and plans and collect information in relation to any place, erection or building of beauty or historic interest in Deanshanger
- To hold meetings, lectures and exhibitions.
- To educate and to give advice and information.
- To raise funds and to invite and receive contributions by way of subscription or donations.
3. 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.
Junior members shall be those aged less than 18 years at the time their subscription is due and not entitled to vote at any meeting of the Society.
Corporate members have a single vote and shall appoint a representative to vote on its behalf at all meetings.
The subscription year runs from 1st January to 31st December.
4. SUBSCRIPTIONS
The subscriptions are:-
Full members per annum £1.00
Junior members per annum £1.00
Corporate members per annum £10.00
Rates will be determined by the Executive Committee and endorsed at the Annual General Meeting. Membership shall lapse if the subscription is unpaid three months after it is due.
5. MEETINGS
An Annual General Meeting shall be held in March of each year to receive the Executive Committee’s report, 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 at the written request of fifteen or more members whose subscriptions are fully paid-up.
Ten members shall constitute a quorum for a General Meeting of the Society.
The Committee shall give at least 7 days notice of Annual and Special General Meetings of the Society.
6. OFFICERS & EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Nominations for the election of Officers shall be announced at the Annual General Meeting. A Seconder shall support such nominations and the consent of the nominee must have been obtained. The election of Officers shall be completed prior to the election of further Committee members. Nominees for election as Officers or Committee members shall declare any financial or professional interest likely to be of concern to the Society.
The Officers of the Society consist of:
Chairman
Vice Chairman
Honorary Secretary
Treasure
The Executive Committee have the power to fill casual vacancies occurring among the Officers of the Society.
The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the management and administration of the Society. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Officers and five other members and have power to co-opt further members. The Officers and members of the Committee shall normally be resident or work in Deanshanger. The Executive Committee shall meet not less than six times a year at intervals of not more than two months.
A quorum shall be a minimum of four.
7. TEAMS
The Executive Committee may constitute Teams as shall be considered necessary. The Executive Committee shall appoint the Leader of each Team and all actions and proceedings of each Team shall be reported to and be confirmed by the Executive Committee. Members of the Executive Committee may be members of any Team.
8. DECLARATION OF INTEREST
It shall be the duty of every Member who is in any way directly or indirectly interested financially or professionally in any item discussed at any Committee meeting to declare such interest.
9. EXPENSES OF ADMINISTRATION 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. Remaining funds of the Society shall be applied by the Executive Committee in furtherance of the purposes of the Society.
10. INVESTMENT
All monies not required for immediate application shall be invested by the Executive Committee.
11. TRUSTEES
Trustees may be appointed by the Executive Committee, to oversee any freehold and leasehold property acquired by the Society. Any trustees shall be at least three in number or a trust corporation.
12. 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 14 days notice of the proposed amendment has been made accessible to all members.
13. WINDING UP
The Society may choose to dissolve itself subject to a majority vote at an Annual General or Extraordinary General meeting subject to all members being given 14 days notice of the intended dissolution.
In the event of dissolution the remaining funds of the society will be donated to one or more similar societies as determined by at least 5 members of the Society at the time of dissolution. On dissolution all Minutes, The Archive and Record Books of the Society shall be deposited with the County Records’ Office.