Constitution of The Woodstock Society

Adopted at the AGM of 15 October 2018

1. Name   The name of the Society shall be The Woodstock Society.

2. Objects   The objects of the Society shall be:

(a) to encourage cultural and educational activities in Woodstock and the surrounding district;

(b) to stimulate public interest in and care for the beauty, history and character of the area of the town and its surroundings;

(c) to encourage the preservation, development and improvement of features of general public amenity or historic interest and the conservation of natural history and wildlife;

(d) to pursue these ends by means of meetings, exhibitions, lectures, publications and other forms of instruction and publicity.

3. Membership   Membership shall be open to all who are interested in the aims of the Society. Membership shall lapse if the subscription is unpaid twelve months after it is due.

4. Subscriptions   The subscription shall be payable on the first day of September each year and shall be at a level set at the discretion of the Committee.

5. Meetings   An Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall be held October each year to receive the Committee’s report and audited accounts and to elect Officers and Members of the Committee. A Special General Meeting (SGM) of the Society shall be held at the written request of six or more members. Such a request must be accompanied by the wording of any resolution which those members wish to be considered at the SGM. Ordinary meetings of the Society shall be on dates set by the Committee. At least twenty-one days’ notice shall be given of all general meetings.

6. Officers   The Officers of the Society shall consist of

       Chairman

       Vice-Chairman

       Secretary 

       Treasurer

       Speaker Secretary     

       Outings Secretary

The Officers shall relinquish their office every year but shall normally be eligible for re-election to that office at the AGM for a maximum of three occasions and to membership of the Committee for a maximum of six years or extraordinarily for a maximum of nine years.

7. Committee   The non-Officer members of the Committee shall retire at each AGM but may offer themselves for re-election.

The Committee shall be responsible for running the affairs of the Society and for raising funds and paying all proper expenses and donations for the furtherance of the Society’s objects.

8. Elections   Nominations for election or re-election of Officers and other Members of the Committee shall be made before the AGM.

Nominations must have a proposer and a seconder and be made with the consent of the nominee. If there are more nominees than vacancies the election shall be by a simple majority.

If a vacancy occurs between AGMs, the Committee may co-opt a replacement who shall remain in that position until confirmed as a full member at an SGM or the next AGM.

9. Investment   All monies belonging to the Society and not required immediately for its objects shall be invested by the Committee as it may think fit.

10. Amendments  The Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority at an Annual or Special General Meeting provided that twenty-one days’ notice of the proposed amendment has been sent to all members.

11. Winding-Up  The Society may be wound up at a Special General Meeting called in accordance with this Constitution and by a two-thirds majority of those present.

In the event of the winding-up of the Society the available funds of the Society shall be transferred to one or more bodies selected by the Committee and having objects similar to those herein.

October 2018