Name The name of the society is "Henfield History Group" (hereinafter called the 'group').
Objectives The 'group' is established to encourage research into family and local history connected with the parish of Henfield. To further these objectives the group may:
a. Procure and provide information;
b. Procure to be written and print, publish, issue and circulate gratuitously or otherwise any periodical, books, pamphlets, drawings or other documents and films/video recordings;
c. Arrange and provide for or join in arranging and providing for the holding of exhibitions, lectures, meetings, courses and classes;
d. Promote and carry out research, surveys and investigations and publish the results;
e. Promote and assist in the preservation of local records, antiquities and objects of historical research;
f. Co-operate with local authorities and bodies having objectives similar to those of the group;
g. Raise funds and invite and receive contributions from any person by way of subscription or otherwise;
h. Invest the monies of the group not immediately required for the said objectives in or upon such investments, securities or proprty as may be thought fit, subject to such conditions as may be imposed or required by law;
i. Do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the attainment of the said objectives.
Membership
a. Full membership of the group shall be open to all individual members of the public who are interested in furthering the objectives of the group on payment of the annual subscription which becomes due for renewal on the first day of April each year.
b. Each full member shall have one vote.
Meetings
a. The quorum for all annual, general and special meetings of the group shall be one third of the paid up full members of the group.
b. Each paid up full member present shall be entitled to one vote and in the case of an equality in the votes the chairman of the meeting shall have the casting vote.
c. Notification of all annual, general and special meetings of the group, together with a copy of the agenda, shall be given to each member not less than 14 days before such meetings.
d. The AGM shall be held each year as soon after the 1st of April as possible but not later than the last day of May.
e. Business to be discussed at the AGM: Chairman's Report, Treasurer's Report and presentation of audited accounts, election of committee members, election of officers, appointment of auditor, vote to be taken on the rate of subscription as recommended by the Committee.
f. A special general meeting shall be convened at the direction of the committee or on request in writing to the Secretary of one tenth of paid up full members of the group, and such a meeting shall be held within 28 days of such a request or direction.
Committee
a. There shall be a committee comprising of a Chairman, a Secretary, a Treasurer and up to five other members, who shall be paid up full members of the group.
b. The Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary and all other members of the committee shall all be elected at each AGM and shall be eligible for re-election.
c. At its first meeting following the AGM, the committee shall have the power to elect from its members a Vice-Chairperson for the ensuing year, who will take the chair at all meetings in the absence of the Chairman.
d. The quorum for committee meetings shall be 3 members.
e. The committee shall meet no less than 4 times a year.
f. The committee shall be responsible for all the administration and management of the group's affairs and shall be the custodian of all the group's assets whatsoever.
g. The Secretary shall be responsible for - drawing up all agendas, calling all meetings, the minutes of all meetings, records of members present at meetings, a register of members, correspondence, administration records, papers and documents and stationary.
The committee shall have power to -
h. Fill casual vacancies in its elected members by co-option between AGMs.
i. Require members of the group to declare business or professional interests in any of the group's affairs or activities.
Funds
a. The funds of the group shall be applied to further the objects of the group and for no other purpose.
b. The financial year shall end on the 31st March each year and membership subscriptions shall become due on the following day.
c. There shall be a bank account in the name of the group on the signatures of the Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and cheques shall be signed by any TWO of them.
d. The Treasurer shall keep a record of all the income and all the expenditure of the group and shall submit audited accounts at each AGM.
e. An Auditor shall be elected at each AGM, who may or may not be a member of the group and shall be eligible for re-election.
Amendments
The constitution may be amended by a two thirds majority of the paid up full members of the group present at an AGM or special general meeting.
Dissolution
a. The group may be dissolved by a two thirds majority of the paid up full members at an AGM or SGM.
b. In the event of a dissolution all the groups assets together with the groups administrative records and books shall be transferred to one or more statutory or voluntary bodies having objectives similar to, or reasonably similar to, the groups declared objectives in clause 2, and shall be chosen by the committee and approved by the meeting of the group at which the decision to dissolve was made.