Winsford History Society

Preserving the history of Winsford

Constitution

  1. Name
    The name of the society shall be the Winsford History Society.
  2. Aims and Objectives of the Society
    1. The society was first established in 1966 to collect, collate and preserve historical information about Winsford and the surrounding area. It aims to develop and foster an interest in and appreciation of the history of Winsford and the surrounding area. The collection, collation and preservation of a collection of artefacts, books and diaries is also a primary objective.
      The society is to achieve these aims by:

      1. Providing a platform for discussion and promote research into the history of Winsford and immediate areas.
      2. Inviting speakers to contribute on matters of local or general interest
      3. Encouraging members to research a project and to record and present their findings to members.
      4. Publishing historical studies
      5. Creating of an archive of artefacts and documents relating to the history of Winsford and the surrounding area
    2. To achieve these objectives the society may receive money and funds by way of donations, contributions, affiliations, subscriptions, legacies and grants.
  3. Membership of the Society
    1. The society shall be open to all those interested in the aims and objectives of the society, whether or not they are a resident of Winsford. Members shall pay an annual subscription, to be determined at each Annual General Meeting of the Society and will be valid for the year from October to May 31st , payable in October of that year. Any person under the age of eighteen may become a member at a reduced rate.
    2. The Committee of the society shall have the power to refuse admission to the society, to refuse to renew the membership of any member and to terminate the membership of any member.
  4. Officers and Committee
    1. The Committee shall be nominated, seconded and elected by a simple majority of members present at the Annual General Meeting. Where the number of nominations exceeds six, elections shall be determined by secret ballot.
    2. b. The Committee shall comprise not more than seven members, being the three elected officers of the Society and four nominated from the floor.
    3. In the event of a casual vacancy or in the event of committee spaces being left unfilled following an AGM, the Committee may co-opt members to fill such vacancies.
    4. All officers and members of the committee shall retire annually but be eligible for re-election.
  5. General Meetings
    1. The Secretary shall call an Annual General Meeting of the Society in September of each year. Members shall be notified of such meeting by email or letter, with at least 14 days’ notice given. Such meeting will receive reports from the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer (who shall submit a simple set of accounts for the year), elect Officers of the Society and elect a Committee to serve for the ensuing year.
    2. Details of any resolution to be discussed at an Annual or other General Meeting shall be put in writing to the Secretary for inclusion in the Agenda for that meeting at least 21 days before such meeting takes place.
    3. A quorum shall be ten voting members of the Society.
    4. A Special or Extraordinary General Meeting of the Society shall be called at the request of the committee or by seven or more members of the society giving notice to the Secretary.
    5. At least seven days’ notice shall be sent to every member prior to the date of such meetings specifying the nature of the business to be discussed.
  6. Committee Functions and Duties
    1. The Committee shall meet as soon as practical after the Annual General Meeting and elect a Chairman and Vice-Chairman from within the membership of the Committee.
    2. The Committee shall have the power to co-opt up to three additional members.
    3. The Committee shall carry out the general policy of the society within the guidelines determined by the Annual General Meeting and provide for the administration, management and control of the affairs and property of the society.
    4. The quorum of the Committee shall not be less than four.
    5. Not less than fourteen clear days’ notice will be given of the Annual General Meeting.
    6. No Committee member shall serve more than nine consecutive years on the committee. No officer shall serve more than five consecutive years as an officer.
  7. Finance
    1. Society funds shall be utilised by the committee in accordance with the best interests of the Society, and in accordance with the Society’s aims and objectives.
    2. The Society shall maintain a bank account in the name of the Society; the signatories of the account shall be the officers named in paragraph 7c below.
    3. The Treasurer and Secretary shall have a payment mandate, and payments to a maximum of £250 will be authorised by those officers.
    4. Cheques for amounts in excess of £250 shall be authorised by the Committee
    5. The annual accounts shall be audited by an appropriate person decided upon annually by the Committee
    6. The Financial Year of the Society shall end on the last day of March each year.
    7. The income and property of the society shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objectives of the society as set forth in this constitution and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly in any manner by way of profit to any member of the society, save for the repayment of out-of-pocket expenses incurred on the society’s business and payment for work done on behalf of the society by way of reasonable remuneration.
    8. The Treasurer shall maintain proper books of account to be kept in respect of all income and expenditure by the society.
  8. General
    1. Alterations to the Constitution
      1. Alterations to the Constitution shall be required to receive the assent of a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting at the Annual General Meeting.
      2. A resolution for the alteration of the Constitution must be in writing and received by the Secretary by the 1st August that year
      3. Notice that such a resolution is to be put to the Annual General Meeting shall be included in all notices of that meeting.
    2. Society Dissolution
      1. The Society may be dissolved at an Annual or Emergency General Meeting by a resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of members present and voting at a meeting of the society of which at least twenty-eight days’ notice shall have been given to members.
      2. Such resolution should include instruction for the disposal of any financial assets or property held by or in the name of the Society, provided that if any property remains after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities such property shall not be paid among the members of the society but shall be given or transferred to such other institution or institutions (having objects similar to those of the Society) as the society may determine.
      3. In the event of the Society holding any property including office equipment, archive material, etc., such property shall be under the control of the Secretary and Treasurer.
      4. The Secretary shall maintain an inventory of all such property owned by the Society, or other property on temporary or permanent loan to the Society.
  9. Interpretation
    The Committee shall be the sole authority for the interpretation of the rules set out in this Constitution and on matters not covered by the rules.
  10. Adoption of Constitution
    This Constitution was adopted by members of the Winsford History Society on 4th January 2022
Winsford History Society ©
Preserving the past for the future