HALLING GARDENING SOCIETY

CONSTITUTION

Section    A         Name and objectives

1. Membership & subscription

2.The Committee

3. Annual & Extraordinary General Meetings

4. Finance

5. Dissolution

 

Section A. Name and objectives

The Society will be an unincorporated association established for the benefit of members and will be known as The Halling Gardening Society.

The Society will not participate in current political debate or activities.

Objectives:

To hold meetings with talks, social evenings, demonstrations, visits, etc. 

To organise flower and vegetable and craft shows for members and the public,

To organise projects to promote gardening.

Section B. Membership and Subscriptions

Any amateur gardener of or over the age of 14 may be a member of the Society but only those members of or over the age of 18 may vote at Annual or Extraordinary General Meetings and be capable of being elected officers or members of the Committee.

A person may be admitted to membership at the discretion of the Committee whose decision will be final.

A person may be removed from membership by the Committee if their conduct has or is likely to bring the Society into disrepute or has disrupted meetings. A person will be entitled to a personal hearing with a friend or representative present. The decision of the Committee will be final.

Subscriptions will be due on the 1st November each year and the membership and visitor rate will be determined from time to time by the Committee. Any person who has not paid by the following 1st April will automatically cease to be a member of the Society.

Some activities may attract additional fees as determined by the Committee.

Section C. The Committee

The Annual General Meeting will annually elect the Committee which will consist of up to nine people.    The Committee shall take office at the end of the meeting at which it is elected and shall hold office until the end of the next annual general meeting.  Retiring Committee members may be re-elected.

The Committee will meet as required. A quorum shall consist of four Committee members.

The Committee can invite any person to be Halling Gardening Society’s President.  This is an honorary position and has no voting rights.

The Committee may co-opt any voting member as required.    The Committee may determine membership of other organisations of allied interest and objects. 

The Committee will be responsible for administering the Society's responsibilities under the Data Protection Act and General Data Protection Regulation.

The Committee may meet virtually and shall have the power to agree temporary emergency variations to the normal conduct of the Society, valid for a period up to six months and renewable.

Section D. Annual and Extraordinary General Meetings

The Annual General Meeting of the Society will be held annually within six months of the end of the financial year. An Extraordinary General Meeting may be convened by the Committee or by the signed motion of any eight voting members of the Society.

At least 14 days’ notice of any meeting shall be given. The accounts of the Society will be available at the Annual General Meeting. In the case of an Extraordinary Meeting full details of the motions to be considered will be circulated in advance with the notice of the meeting.

The constitution may not be varied unless approved by at least two thirds of the members present voting at any Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting. Full details of the proposed amendment shall be circulated in advance with the notice of the meeting.

Section E. Finance

The Treasurer will be responsible for accounting for the receipt and payment of the Society’s funds and the preparation of the final financial statement each year in time for presentation at Annual Meetings. The financial statement shall be signed as correct by the Treasurer after having been independently examined and agreed  as correct by some suitable person. The financial statement will be distributed at the Annual General Meeting.  Any objections can be raised by members at the Annual General Meeting.

A bank account will be opened and maintained in the name of the Society and any cheque written on that account will require the signature of one of the two named signatories determined by the Committee. On-line banking may be arranged.  Funds may be used to further the Society’s objectives and the running of the Society plus relevant donations as agreed by the Committee.

All financial statements and paperwork will be available for inspection.

The Committee shall have the power to make appeals for funds, apply for grants, and solicit donations.

Section F. Dissolution

The Society may be dissolved by two thirds of the voting members of the Society at an Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting convened in accordance with the constitution. The dissolution resolution will include a proposal for the full and final disposal of all remaining funds, trophies and equipment.

Adopted on 6 November 2023 at a General Meeting held on that date.