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Fowey Harbour Heritage Society

Our Constitution

FOWEY HARBOUR HERITAGE SOCIETY CONSTITUTION dated 27 February 2012 amended 25 April 2015

1. NAME

The Charity’s name is Fowey Harbour Heritage Society.

2. THE PURPOSES OF THE CHARITY ARE:

To advance the education of the public on the subject of the history and heritage of the Fowey Harbour area and to promote research for the public benefit in all aspects of that subject and publish the results.

3. TRUSTEES

The charity shall be managed by a committee of trustees who are appointed at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the charity.

4. CARRYING OUT THE PURPOSES

In order to carry out the charitable purposes the trustees have the power to

(1) manage the activities of the Society in furtherance of its purposes

(2) raise funds, receive grants and donations

(3) apply funds to carry out the work of the charity

(4) co-operate with and support other charities with similar purposes

(5) do anything which is lawful and necessary to achieve the purposes.

5. MEMBERSHIP

The charity shall have two types of membership

 Guide members: open to accredited Fowey Harbour guides or qualified Blue Badge Guides. Fee to be determined at the Annual General Meeting.

 General Members: people who support the work of the charity and are aged 18 or over can apply to the trustees to become a member. Once accepted by the trustees membership is annual based on payment of an annual membership fee. Fee to be determined at the Annual General Meeting.

The trustees will keep an up to date membership list.

The trustees may remove a person’s membership if they believe it is in the best interests of the charity. The member has the right to be heard by the trustees before the decision is made and can be accompanied by a friend.

6. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – AGM

(1) The AGM must be held every year with 14 days notice being given to all members telling them what is on the agenda. Minutes must be kept of the AGM.

(2) There must be at least 10 members or one tenth of the membership whichever is the greater present at the AGM.

(3) Every member has one vote.

(4) The trustees shall present the annual report and accounts.

(5) Any member may stand for election as a trustee.

(6) Members shall elect between 4 and 10 trustees to serve for the next year. Of these, four shall be elected as officers: a chairman, vice chairman, treasurer and secretary. All trustees will retire at the next AGM but may stand for re-election.

7 TRUSTEE MEETINGS

(1) Trustees must hold at least 3 meetings each year. Trustees may act by majority decision. In the event of a balance of votes the Chairman may use a discretionary casting vote.

(2) At least 4 trustees must be present at the meeting to be able to take decisions. Minutes shall be kept for every meeting.

(3) If trustees have a conflict of interest they must declare it and leave the meeting while this matter is being discussed or decided.

(4) During the year the trustees may appoint up to 3 additional trustees. They will stand down at the next AGM and may offer themselves for election.

(5) The trustees may make reasonable additional rules to help run the charity. These rules must not conflict with this constitution or the law.

8. MONEY AND PROPERTY

(1) Money and property must only be used for the charity’s purposes.

(2) Trustees must keep accounts. The most recent annual accounts can be seen by anybody on request.

Accounts to be checked by a trustee other than the Treasurer once per year and the result reported to the AGM.

(4) The trustees cannot receive any money or property from the charity, except to refund reasonable out of pocket expenses.

(5) Money must be held in the charity’s bank account. All cheques or bank transfers must be signed by 2 of the four officers of the society.

9. GENERAL MEETINGS

If the trustees consider it is necessary to change the constitution or wind up the charity, they must call a General Meeting so that the membership can make the decision. Trustees must also call a General Meeting if they receive a written request from the majority of members. All members must be given 14 days notice and told the reason for the meeting. All decisions require a two thirds majority. Minutes must be kept.

(1) Winding up – any money or property remaining after payment of debts must be given to a charity with similar purposes to this one.

(2) Changes to the Constitution – can be made at AGMs or General Meetings. No change can be made that would make the organisation no longer a charity.

(3) General Meeting – called on written request from a majority of members.

(4) Trustees may also call a General Meeting to consult the membership.