Constitution

CONSTITUTION OF ANCRUM ASTRONOMY CLUB

1. Name

The name of the association is Ancrum Astronomy Club.

2.Objects

The association is a non-profit-distributing voluntary association, which aims to provide a friendly venue to enthuse and educate people of all ages in the hobby of astronomy.

3.Powers

(a)To organise regular meetings of members to develop their knowledge and skills in astronomy.

(b)To effect insurance of all kinds.

(c)To purchase, take on lease, hire, or otherwise acquire, any property or rights which are suitable for the association’s activities.

(d)To improve, manage, develop, or otherwise deal with, all or any part of the property and rights of the association.

(e)To sell, let, hire out, license, or otherwise dispose of, all or any part of the property and rights of the association.

(f)To borrow money, and to give security in support of any such borrowings by the association.

(g)To raise funds in pursuance of the association’s objects and to accept grants, donations and legacies of all kinds and any reasonable conditions attaching to them.

(h)To pay bona fide expenses and running costs incurred in pursuance of the objects.

(i)To employ such staff or consultants as may be required by the association from time to time.

(j)To do anything which may be incidental or conducive to the furtherance of the association’s objects.

4.Membership

(a)Membership of the association is open to anyone who supports its aims, as follows:

Full voting membership for anyone aged 16 and over.

Associate (non-voting) membership for anyone aged under 16.

(b)The Management Committee may, with just cause, refuse to admit any person to membership; any appeal against such a decision shall be considered at a General Meeting of the membership.

(c)The Secretary shall maintain a register of members, setting out the full name and address of each member, the date on which he/she was admitted to membership, and the date on which any person ceased to be a member.

(d)The annual membership fee will be set at the AGM.

5.General Meetings

(a)A General Meeting (AGM) will be held annually in September to receive an annual report by the chairperson, to consider the annual accounts and appoint an independent examiner, and to elect the Management Committee.

(b)A Special General Meeting may be called at any time by the Management Committee, or at the request of ten members of the association.

(c)The quorum for General Meetings shall be four voting members.

(d)At least fourteen days’ notice of General Meetings must be given to members unless otherwise specified by this constitution.

(e)If there is an equal number of votes for and against any resolution, the chairperson of the meeting shall be entitled to a casting vote.

6. Management Committee and Office Bearers

a)The Management Committee will consist of a minimum of 3, maximum of 5 full members who will manage the association on a day-to-day basis.

b)The quorum for meetings of the Management Committee shall be three persons.

c)At the first meeting after the AGM the Management Committee shall elect from among themselves the following office bearers: Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer.

d)In the event of casual vacancies, the Management Committee may co-opt up to one third of the maximum number of Committee members to serve until the next Annual General Meeting.

e)The Management Committee will meet at least 4 times a year; at least seven days’ notice of Committee meetings shall be given.

f)Minutes will be taken of proceedings at all meetings, including the names of those present, and these will be signed by the chairperson.

g)All Management Committee members shall retire from office at the Annual General Meeting but will be eligible for re-election.

h)Members of staff may not be members of the Management Committee.

i)A member of the Management Committee who has a personal interest in any transaction or other arrangement that the association is proposing to enter into, must declare that interest at a meeting of the Committee and may not vote in that respect.

j)If there is an equal number of votes for and against any resolution, the chairperson of the meeting shall be entitled to a casting vote.

7.Finances

(a)A bank account in the name of the association shall be kept. The signatures of two persons out of three appointed from the Management Committee shall be required for its operation; signatories shall not be related.

(b)A statement of accounts shall be made up to 31st May in each year and shall be independently examined in accordance with any current legislation.

8.Dissolution

(a)If the association determines that, for any reason, it is appropriate for the association to be dissolved, it shall convene a Special General Meeting giving at least 21 days’ notice and stating the terms of the proposed resolution.

(b)If the proposal to dissolve the association is confirmed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting, the association shall have the power to dispose of any assets remaining after satisfaction of debts to another voluntary association with similar aims and objectives in the Scottish Borders, as identified by those present and voting.

(c)At the time of dissolution, Tweeddale Astronomical Society will be the preferred voluntary organisation for the disposal of all astronomical assets belonging to the club. They would securely store all of the equipment and inventory once passed to them.

(d)At the time of dissolution, Tweeddale Astronomical Society have agreed to continue the membership of any fully paid up member of the club. This would allow them temporary membership of Tweeddale Astronomical Society for the remainder of that season. An offer to join Tweeddale Astronomical Society would be made at the end of the current Ancrum Astronomy Club membership subject to payment of Tweeddale Astronomical Society membership fees.

9.Amendments to constitution

This constitution may be amended by a resolution passed by not less than two thirds of those present and voting at a General Meeting, providing that due notice has been given including the terms of the resolution.No amendments may be made if their effect would be to render the Association ineligible for charitable recognition.

This constitution was adopted at a General Meeting of the Ancrum Astronomy Club on 6 December 2011.

The constitution was amended at the AGM, 3 January 2017 to reflect the inventory disposal agreement outlined in points 9. (c) & (d)

Chairman Peter Flannery

Vice Chairman

Secretary Neil Bird

Treasurer Chris Rainbow