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You are here Constitution
1.NAME
The name of the society shall be the Stratford-upon-Avon Society.
2.STATUS & OBJECTS

The Society is a registered Charity (Reg No 251182) whose objects as specified in the registration are to promote and encourage the following by charitable means but not otherwise:

  • to promote high standards of planning and architecture in or affecting the area of the town and its surroundings.
  • to stimulate an interest and educate the public in the geography, history, natural history and architecture of the said area.
  • to secure the preservation, protection, development and improvement of features of historic or public interest in the said area.

To further the said purposes the Society, through its General Committee,or the Executive Committee acting on its behalf, shall have the following powers:

  • to act as a co-ordinating body with the local planning authority, planning committees and all other statutory authorities, voluntary organisations, charities and persons having aims similar to those of the Society.
  • to pursue these ends by means of meetings, exhibitions lectures, publications, other forms of instruction and publicity and promotion of schemes of a charitable nature.
  • to raise funds for the furtherance of these objects. and to invite and receive contributions from any person or persons whatsoever by way of subscription, donation and otherwise.
3 .MEMBERSHIP

(a) Membership shall be open to all who are interested in the aims of the Society. Membership shall lapse if the subscription be unpaid 12 months after it is due.

(b) Honorary Members - the Society may, through the General Committee, invite local persons of distinction and other persons who contribute their talents toward the objects of the Society, to be Honorary Members. This may be restricted in numbers and may be limited to the duration of an office.
4.SUBSCRIPTIONS

There will be five categories of subscription:

  • Individual Membership
  • Joint Household Membership
  • Student Membership
  • Corporate Membership
  • Corporate Web Sponsorship

Amounts for each category to be agreed by members at the Annual General Meeting. The Society may also receive donations from members and others to further the objects of the Society.
5.MEETINGS
An Annual General Meeting shall be held in or about March of each year to receive the Committee's reports and examine accounts and to elect officers and members of the General Committee. That Committee shall decide when meetings of the Society shall be held. Special General Meetings of the Society shall be held at the request of 20 or more members.
6.OFFICERS

Nominations for the election of Officers shall be made in writing to the Honorary Secretary at least 14 days before the Annual General Meeting. Such nominations shall be supported by a seconder and the consent of the proposed nominee must first have been obtained. The election of Officers shall consist of:

President, Vice-Presidents, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Hon. Secretary

Hon. Treasurer and Membership Secretary

all of whom, except the President and Vice Presidents (who serve until retirement) shall relinquish their office every year and be eligible for re-election at the Annual ` General Meeting provided the Chairman's term of office shall not exceed three consecutive years provided that the Society at its Annual General Meeting, upon due notice having been given to the members, by two-thirds majority of members present at the meeting, extend to four years the term of office of a Chairman who has just completed a term of three years and who is willing to serve as Chairman for a fourth year. A President and Vice-Presidents may also be elected at a General meeting of the Society for periods to be decided at such a meeting.
7.COMMITTEE

The General Committee shall consist of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Hon. Secretary, Hon Treasurer and Membership Secretary who shall be elected for one year term, and not more than 15 further members who shall be elected for a three year term, one third of whom shall retire annually. The Committee shall have power to co-opt further members (who shall attend in an advisory voting capacity).

Nominations for election to the General Committee shall be made in writing

before the Annual General Meeting, supported by a seconder, and the consent of the proposed nominee must have been obtained. If the nominations exceed the number of vacancies, a ballot shall take place.

The General Committee shall appoint an Executive Committee consisting of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and not more than four members of the General

Committee who may take decisions on behalf of the General Committee. If not appointed to the Executive Committee, the Hon Secretary and Hon Treasurer will be expected to attend its meetings in their official capacities.

Members of the Executive Committee shall also be the Trustees of the Charity.

8.DECLARATION OF INTEREST
It shall be the duty of every Officer or member of the General Committee who is in any way directly or indirectly interested financially or professionally in any item discussed at any Committee meeting at which he or she is present to declare such interest and he/she shall not discuss such item (except by invitation of the Chairman) or vote thereon.
9.EXPENSES OF ADMINISTRATION
The General Committee shall out of the monies received by the Society pay all proper expenses for administration and management of the Society, and shall use the residue of such monies as it thinks fit for and toward the objects of the Society
10.AMENDMENTS
The Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority of members present at an Annual General or Special General Meeting provided that ten days' notice of the proposed amendment has been sent to all members, and provided that nothing herein contained shall authorize any amendment permitting the expenditure of funds of the Society on any object which is not a charitable object.
11.WINDING UP
In the event of the winding up of the Society the available funds of the Society shall be transferred to such one or more charitable bodies having objects similar or reasonably similar to those herein before declared as may be chosen by the Executive Committee and approved by the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales. On dissolution the minute books and other records of the Society shall be deposited with the Stratford-upon-Avon Archives lodge with the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust at the Shakespeare Centre.