LIVERPOOL & S.W. LANCASHIRE FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY

CONSTITUTION

  1. To encourage the public in the study of Family History and Genealogy. In furtherance of the above object but not further or otherwise the Society shall have the following powers:-
  2. To provide educational facilities for the study of Family History.
  3. To produce a journal at regular intervals.
  4. To arrange a programme of lectures, visits and other activities connected with subjects of interest to the Society.
  5. To transcribe, index, and whenever possible publish material relevant to the interests of the Society.
  6. To become a member of the Federation of Family History Societies (Registered Charity No. 1038721) and have the power to guarantee its debts in the event of insolvency up to the sum of £1. The Society may also affiliate with other charitable organisations whose objects are deemed compatible and mutually supportive.
  1. Classes of membership and subscriptions shall be as recommended by the General Committee, and approved by the members at a General Meeting of the Society. Details of membership categories and subscriptions shall be published in all issues of the Society Journal and on the Society’s website. Voting rights at meetings are limited to one per fully paid-up membership.
  2. Membership shall lapse if the subscription is not paid on or before the 1st March in each year. All annual subscriptions, except the first, shall be payable on the 2nd January each year. A member may join the Society at any time during a year, and the full annual subscription at the appropriate rate shall be paid irrespective of the date of application for membership - entitling the member to receive all four issues of the journal for that year. The first annual subscription paid by a member who joins the Society after the 30th September in that year shall cover the period to 31st December in the following year.
  3. The General Committee shall have the right to remove from membership of the Society any member whose activities shall, in the opinion of the Committee, be deemed to be not in the best interests of the Society. The resolution of the General Committee that his or her membership be terminated may only be passed if:
  1. The member has been given 21 days notice in writing of the meeting at which the resolution will be proposed and the reasons why it is to be proposed;
  2. The member or, at the option of the member, the member's representative (who need not be a member of the Society) has been allowed to make representations to the meeting.
  1. Local Groups and Special Interest groups may be established to carry out the aims of the Society.
  2. Each group shall be responsible to and represented on the General Committee, and shall conform to the Society's constitution.
  3. Each group shall be administered by an elected Committee which shall consist of a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Projects Secretary and Programme Secretary. The Treasurer shall maintain financial accounts for the group and send an annual statement to the Society's Treasurer within six weeks of the end of the financial year. The group Committees shall have the right to co-opt any person(s) whose skills and experience are deemed to be of value to the Committee. Group Committees shall be elected annually by the members of that Group. The Group Committee shall nominate a representative to the General Committee.
  4. No person may hold the post of Chairman in 2 or more groups at the same time.
  1. The Trustees of the Society are Chairman, Vice Chairman, General Secretary, Treasurer, Editor, Internet Co-ordinator, Publications Officer and Minutes Secretary.
  1. The Society's affairs shall be administered by an elected General Committee the members of which are the Trustees of the Society and Projects Co-ordinator, Education Officer, Membership Secretary, Members’ Interests Secretary, Strays Co-ordinator and one representative elected by each Group of the Society. The General Committee shall have the right to co-opt any person(s) whose skills and experience are deemed to be of value to the Society.
  2. The General Committee may invite suitable persons to become President and/or Vice President of the Society. The President and Vice President shall have the right, ex-officio, to membership of the Committee but shall not have the right to vote.
  3. At General Committee Meetings, a quorum shall consist of 6 persons.
  4. The Chairman shall have the right to a casting vote when necessary.
  5. Each of the elected persons shall retire with effect from the conclusion of the annual general meeting next after his or her appointment but shall be eligible for re-election at that annual general meeting.
  6. The General Committee shall meet at least four times in each Calendar Year.
  7. The Society shall indemnify the General Committee of the Society from and against all acts done or purported to be done in good faith on behalf of the Society.
  1. An Annual General meeting shall be held each Calendar Year, within 15 months of the previous such meeting. A report on the Society’s activities since the last Annual General Meeting shall be presented and the Treasurer shall submit to the Meeting financial accounts which have been submitted to independent examination.
  2. An Extra-ordinary General Meeting may be convened by (i) the General Committee at any time at not less than 21 days notices (ii) no less than 25 members of the Society with voting rights, in writing to the General Secretary, at not less than 21 days notice. Such notice must be accompanied by all motions to be presented at the meeting, together with the names of the proposer(s) and seconder(s).
  3. Any amendment to the Constitution shall be circulated to the members at least 21 days before the Meeting, and shall require a majority of two thirds of the vote cast. Provided that no amendment shall be made that would cause the Society to cease to be a charity at law.
  4. All other motions shall require a simple majority.
  5. A quorum of 20 members with voting rights shall constitute a General Meeting.
  6. An Annual General Meeting shall elect the Trustees and Officers.
  1. The Society's Bankers shall be appointed by resolution of the General Committee.
  2. Cheque Signatories shall be any two of the Chairman, General Secretary, Publications Officer and Treasurer.
  3. In the event of a resolution by two-thirds of the voting members at a General Meeting to dissolve the Society, the Treasurer shall realise all its assets and discharge all its liabilities. A further General Meeting shall then be called, and the Treasurer shall submit the independently examined accounts. Any balance remaining shall then be distributed to such charitable organisation or organisations having similar aims and objects, as the Meeting shall direct. The Treasurer shall then make such distribution as directed and submit final accounts to the independent examiner. Copies of the resolution and final accounts shall be sent to the Charity commission.
  4. The Society shall stand dissolved.
6th July, 2011.