Constitution

APPLEDORE & DISTRICT AMATEUR RADIO CLUB CONSTITUTION
(as amended March 18th 2013)
1. NAME
The society shall be known as the Appledore and District Amateur Radio Club.
2. AIMS
The aim of the Club shall be to further the interests of its members in all aspects of Amateur Radio and associated activities.
3. MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall be open, subject to the discretion of the Committee, to all persons interested in the aims of the
Club.
(a) Full Members
Full Members must be 16 years of age or over, OR must hold the permission of any competent authority to install
and operate an amateur radio station.
(b) Student Members
Student Members must be in full time education, and under 25 years of age.
(c) Honorary Members
Honorary Membership may be granted to any person, who, in the opinion of the Committee, has rendered outstanding
service to the Club, either directly or indirectly.
Such membership shall carry the rights of full membership but shall be free of subscription.
(d) Guests
Members may invite guests to meetings. No visitor may attend more than three meetings in each year.
All members shall abide by the Constitution of the Club. The Committee shall have the power to expel any member whose
conduct, in the opinion of at least three-quarters of the full Committee, or a General Meeting, renders that person unfit to be a
member of the Club. No member shall be expelled without first being given an opportunity to appear before the Committee.
The Club is committed to the protection of minors and vulnerable adults and fully adopts the recommendation from the RSGB
entitled “Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults” which is appended to this Constitution.
4. SUBSCRIPTIONS
(a) The Annual Subscriptions for membership shall be set by the Committee, but ratified at a General Meeting.
(b) All subscriptions shall be due and payable at the beginning of the financial year. Members more than one month in
arrears shall have no voting rights.
(c) The financial year shall run from 16th February to 15th February.
(d) A member shall be considered to have resigned from the Club, if by the following May 31st the subscription remains
unpaid.
(e) The Committee shall have the power to waive or reduce the subscription in special circumstances for a period not
exceeding one year at a time.
5. FINANCE
All money received by the Club shall be promptly deposited in the Club’s Bank account. Withdrawals need the signature of
the Club’s Treasurer and one other nominated officer of the Club.
6. MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE
The Club’s affairs shall be administered by a Committee elected at the Annual General Meeting. The Committee, in whom the
Club’s property shall be vested, shall consist of :-
(a) A Chairman, who will preside at all meetings at which he is present.
(b) A Vice-Chairman, who will act as Chairman in the absence of the Chairman.
(c) A Secretary, who will be responsible for:-
(i) Keeping the Minutes of all meetings of the Club.
(ii) Ensuring that all correspondence is correctly handled.
(iii) Maintaining a master roll of Members and Honorary Members.
(iv) Maintaining a register of Club equipment.
(d) A Treasurer, who will be responsible for:-
(i) Keeping the Club’s accounts.
(ii) Advising the Committee on all financial matters.
(iii) Preparing the accounts for audit, and presenting them at the AGM
(e) Three Ordinary Committee Members.
(f) Not more than two co opted members who have full voting rights
(g) The Committee shall have the right to appoint Members to various Club Roles as and when the need arises.
Such appointments shall automatically include eligibility to be co opted in a non voting capacity onto the
Committee.
7. COMMITTEE STANDING ORDERS
(a) The Quorum for the Committee shall be four.
In the absence of a Quorum, business may be dealt with, but any decisions taken only become valid after ratification
at the next meeting at which a Quorum exists.
(b) Committee Meetings may be called by the Chairman, the Secretary, or any three Full Members of the Committee.
(c) The Chairman may vote; in the event of a tie he has a second casting vote.
8. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
(a) The Annual General Meeting shall normally be held on the third Monday of MARCH each year.
At least 21 days notice shall be given to each member in writing.
(b) The Quorum for the meeting shall be twelve.
(c) The Agenda of the meeting shall be:-
(i) Apologies for absence.
(ii) Minutes of the previous AGM.
(iii) Chairman’s Report.
(iv) Secretary’s Report.
(v) Treasurer’s Report.
(vi) Election of the new Committee.
(vii) Election of Auditors.
(viii) Other Business.
(d) Items (i) to (v) shall be chaired by the out-going Chairman; item (vi) by an acting Chairman who is not standing for
election to office; the remaining business by the newly elected Chairman.
(e) Nominations for Committee Members will be valid only if confirmed by the nominee, or previously in writing.
9. EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
(a) Extraordinary General Meetings may be called by the Committee, or not less than 8 members of the club; the date of
this next meeting being the earliest convenient as decided by the Committee.
At least 28 days notice in writing must be given to the Secretary, who in turn, shall give members at least 14 days
notice in writing of the Agenda.
(b) The Quorum for the EGM shall be half the Club membership.
10. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
The Constitution may be amended only at an EGM called for that purpose.
11. WINDING UP OF THE CLUB
(a) The decision to wind up the Club may be taken only at an EGM.
(b) The funds of the Club shall, after the sale of all assets and the payment of all outstanding debts, be disposed of as
directed by Members at the final EGM.