LINCOLN HF WALKING & SOCIAL GROUP
CONSTITUTION
As Amended at the Annual General Meeting 26th January 2019
1. NAME
The Name of the Group shall be LINCOLN HF WALKING & SOCIAL GROUP
2. OBJECTIVES
The Objectives of the Group shall be to encourage and promote:
(1) The healthy enjoyment of leisure and the open air, with particular reference to walking.
(2) The appreciation and conservation of the environment and natures resources.
(3) Social and International Friendship
3. MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the Group shall be open to all whose interests are in accordance with the Objectives of the Group.
The Committee shall have the power to refuse, suspend or cancel any person’s Membership.
Prospective Members may attend two events before being asked to join.
4. SUBSCRIPTION
The Annual Subscription shall be at a level fixed by the Annual General Meeting, or other General Meeting of the Group, and shall be payable as from 1st. January in any year.
New Members joining the Group on or after 1st. October shall pay half the annual subscription, to cover the period to the end of the year.
5. MANAGEMENT
The Group shall be managed by a Committee consisting of President, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Membership Secretary, Treasurer, and up to six other Members, all of whom shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting. They shall serve until the next Annual General Meeting.
Nothing in this Rule shall prevent the Annual General Meeting from electing a life President if it so wishes.
At least 50% of the current Committee Members to be present to form a Quorum at a Committee Meeting.
The Annual General Meeting, when electing the Committee shall have regard to the desirability of at least half the Members of the Committee being shareholder Members of the HF
Vacancies may be filled by the Committee.
Officials and Committee Members shall act in an honorary capacity, but be entitled to be reimbursed all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.
6. GROUP EVENTS
(A) GENERAL
(1) All Members of the Group shall be entitled to take part in Group activities and may bring non-members to Social Meetings
(2) Only Members of the Group shall be entitled to attend Group activities held in Member’s homes
(B) WALKING EVENTS
Members and others taking part in Group Walking Events shall act in accordance with the directions of the Walk Leader, and shall not leave the party without first informing the Leader.
7. FINANCE
(A) GENERAL
(1) The Group shall be non-profit making, any available funds being used for the promotion and social welfare of the Members, in accordance with the Objectives of the Group, and for donations and subscriptions to charities and kindred organisations.
(2) The Committee shall direct and control all income and expenditure except for the disposal of surplus funds on dissolution. See Section 7 (E)
(B) TRUSTEES
The property and investments of the Group shall be vested in two Trustees who shall be Members of the Group and who shall be elected at an Annual General Meeting. They shall hold office while they continue to discharge their duties to the satisfaction of the Members, or signify, in writing, their intention to resign.
(C) ACCOUNTS
(1) The financial year of the Group shall be from 1st. January to 31st. December.
(2) Copies of audited accounts shall be presented to Members attending the Annual General Meeting.
(D) AUDIT
The accounts of the Group shall be audited by a person, not a Member of the Committee, appointed each year at the Annual General Meeting.
(E) DISSOLUTION
In the event of dissolution any surplus funds shall be distributed, or used, as directed by the Members in General Meeting, providing such direction is not contrary to the aims and objects of the Group.
In the absence of such direction the funds shall be transferred to the parent body (i.e. HF Holidays Ltd.)
8. MEETINGS
(A) ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Annual General Meeting shall normally be held in January each year, but in any event shall not be held later than the end of February. At the Annual General Meeting, the Secretary shall present a report on the year’s activities, and the Treasurer an audited Income and Expenditure Account. Officers and Trustees for the ensuing year shall be elected and an Auditor appointed.
Any item which Members desire to be included in the Agenda shall be notified to the Secretary at least fourteen days before the date of the meeting.
Notice of the Annual General Meeting shall be notified to Members by means of its inclusion in the Group’s printed programme.
(B) EXTRA-ORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
An Extra-Ordinary General Meeting may be called at any time by the Committee and shall be within twenty-one days from the date of receipt of a requisition, signed by not less than 10% of the Group Members.
The notice convening the meeting shall state that it is an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting, and specify the purpose for which it is being held.
9. CONSTITUTION AND RULES
Any addition or alteration to the Constitution and Rules shall be made only at an Annual General Meeting or Extra-Ordinary General Meeting, of which proper notice has been given to the Members.
Any addition or alteration shall be effective only if approved by at least two thirds of the Members present and voting.