CONSTITUTION

1. Name.
The name of the Society shall be The Bletchley Archaeological and Historical Society.

2. Aim.
The aim of the Society shall be to promote the study of Archaeology and History in Bletchley and district.

3. Powers.
In order to achieve its aim the Society may:

	a)	raise money
	b)	open bank accounts
	c)	take out insurance
	d)	organise lectures, courses and events
	e)	Work with, affiliate to or be a member of appropriate regional or national organisations.
	f)	work with similar societies and exchange information and advice with them
	g)	do anything that is lawful which will help it to fulfil its aim

4. Membership

	a)	Membership of the Society shall be open to any individual who is:
	•	Interested in helping the Society to achieve its aim
	•	Willing to abide by the rules of the Society and
	•	Willing to pay any subscription agreed by the Management Committee, reviewed at the AGM and payable annually from 1st October.
	b)	The Management Committee shall have the right to terminate the membership of any member for any reason it deems appropriate so long as the member concerned has been given an opportunity, accompanied if the member chooses, by a friend, to respond to the Management Committee’s concerns.

5. Management.

	a)	The Society shall be administered by a Management Committee of not less than three and not more than twelve individuals elected at the Society’s Annual General Meeting (A.G.M.)
	b)	The Officers of the Management Committee shall be: the Chairperson, the Treasurer, the Secretary, the Membership Secretary and the Lecture Programme Secretary.
	c)	The Management Committee may co-opt onto the Committee, up to three individuals, in an advisory and non-voting capacity who it feels will help to fulfil the aim of the Society.
	d)	The Management Committee shall meet at least two times a year.
	e)	At least three Management Committee members must be present for a Management Committee meeting to take place.
	f)	Voting at Management Committee meetings shall be by a show of hands. If there is a tied vote then the Chairperson shall have a second casting vote.
	g)	The Management Committee shall have the power to remove any member of the Committee for good and proper reason.
	h)	The Management Committee may appoint any other member of the Society as a Committee member to fill a vacancy, provided that the maximum number of members prescribed is not exceeded.

6. The Duties of the Officers.

	a)	The duties of the Chairperson shall be to:
	•	Chair meetings of the Committee and the Society
	•	Represent the Society at functions/meetings that the Society has been invited to and
	•	Act as the spokesperson of the Society when necessary.
	b)	The duties of the Treasurer shall be to:
	•	Supervise the financial affairs of the Society and
	•	Keep proper accounts that show all monies received and paid out by the Society.
	c)	The duties of the Secretary shall be to:
	•	Prepare in consultation with the Chairperson the agenda for meetings of the Committee and the Society
	•	Take and keep minutes of all meetings
	•	Collect and circulate any relevant information within the Society.
	d)	The duty of the Membership Secretary shall be to keep a membership list.
	e)	The duties of the Lecture Programme Secretary shall be to:
	•	Organize lectures and lecturers for the Society’s programme

7. Finance.

	a)	All monies received by or on behalf of the Society shall be applied to further the aim of the Society and for no other purpose.
	b)	Any bank accounts opened for the Society shall be in the name of the Society.
	c)	Any cheques issued shall be signed by the Treasurer and one other member of the Management Committee nominated either at the AGM or at a Management Committee meeting.
	d)	The Society shall ensure that its accounts are audited or independently examined every year.
	e)	The Society may pay reasonable out of pocket expenses including postage to members or Management Committee members.

8. Annual General Meeting.

	a)	The Society shall hold an Annual General Meeting (A.G.M.) in the month of May.
	b)	All members shall be given at least fourteen days notice of the A.G.M. and shall be entitled to attend and vote.
	c)	The business of the A.G.M. shall include:
	•	Receiving a report from the Chairperson on the Society’s activities over the year
	•	Receiving a report from the Treasurer on the finances of the Society
	•	Electing a new Management Committee and
	•	Considering any other matter as may be decided.
	d)	At least nine members must be present for the Annual General Meeting.

9. Special General Meeting

A Special General Meeting (S.G.M.) may be called by the Management Committee or a minimum of nine Members to discuss any matter that it deems too urgent to await the AGM. The Secretary shall give all members fourteen days notice of any S.G.M. together with notice of the business to be discussed.

10. Alterations to the Constitution.

Any changes to this Constitution must be agreed by at least two-thirds of those members present and voting at any General Meeting.

11. Dissolution.

The Society may be wound up at any time if agreed by two-thirds of those members present and voting at any General Meeting. In the event of winding up any assets remaining after all debts have been paid shall be given to another Society with a similar aim.

12. Adoption of the Constuitution.

This Constitution was agreed and adopted at the AGM on 9th May 2013.

Signed ________________________________________________ (Chairman)