(Updated October 2020)
Changes have been made to the constitution since the document shown below was published.
1) The annual subscription is £15.00 per member but the special family/couples rate has been discontinued and students in full time education now pay a minimum of £5.00.
2) The quorum of 12 paid-up members needed for a general meeting of the Society remains the same but the alternative of 50% of the paid-up membership (whichever is the lower) has been reduced to 25% of the paid-up membership.
This document is provided in good faith but should not be used for official Society business as it's accuracy has not been verified. Geoff, G0EVW - October 2001.
Name: The Society shall be known as the SOUTH DORSET RADIO SOCIETY.
Objects: The objects of the Society are to:-
a) Further the well being of every aspect of Amateur Radio.
b) Encourage the free exchange of information concerning every aspect of Amateur Radio and associated subjects.
c) Assist in the training of members who wish to attain an initial licence or upgrade.
d) Promote friendship and co-operation.
Membership: Membership shall be open to all persons who are interested in Amateur Radio and associated subjects. The committee shall have the right to suspend the membership of any person. In the event of a suspension of membership the person so affected shall have the right of appeal to a General meeting properly convened in accordance with the then current Constitution.
Non-Executive Officers: A President and/or Officers may be appointed by the Society at an AGM. These offices are non-executive in nature and do not preclude the holding of any other position in the Society.
Annual General Meeting: An Annual General Meeting will be held during April in each year.
All paid up members shall be notified at least seven days in advance by publication of the Agenda in writing. The business of the meeting shall include:-
a) The reading of the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting and any Extraordinary General meetings held during the year.
b) The presentation of reports from the Chairman and Treasurer.
c) The resignation of the present Committee; all members being eligible for re-election.
d) The election of officers and committee members for the ensuing year.
e) The fixing of the subscriptions for the ensuing year to cover all Levels of membership.
f) The nomination of two auditors for the coming year.
g) Any other business which shall affect the well being of the Society and may properly be discussed at a General Meeting. All such items should be notified to the Chairman in writing at least seven days before the date of the meeting. Nominations for election should preferably be notified to the secretary at least seven days before the AGM. Notification should state the names of the proposer and seconder together with confirmation that the nominee has agreed to stand for election. This does NOT preclude other nominations at the AGM.
Quorum: A quorum shall be twelve paid up members or fifty percent of the paid up membership, whichever shall be the lower. Voting may be by show of hands or by ballot as shall seem convenient to the Chairman of the Meeting. Only paid up members of the Society shall be entitled to vote and motions shall be carried by a simple majority.
Committee: The Society's affairs shall be administered by a Committee elected at the AGM and shall serve for one year. The committee shall comprise:
1) A Chairman who shall normally chair meetings of the Society and the Committee. The Chairman shall have a casting vote but that shall be his only vote.
2) A Secretary whose duties shall include the taking of minutes at General and Committee meetings, dealing with the society's correspondence and maintenance of a meeting attendance register.
3) A Treasurer who shall present an audited balance sheet at the AGM copies of which shall be sent to all paid up members with the notice of the Annual General Meeting. He shall be responsible for the receipt and disbursement of the Society's monies during the year.
4) Three ordinary members.
Committee quorum: The quorum of a committee shall be any four committee members. No valid meeting of the Committee shall take place unless all members shall have been notified in advance.
In the event of the resignation or death of any committee member the committee shall have the right to co-opt a member of the Society to fill the vacancy.
The editor of Catswhisker shall have the right to attend any meeting of the Committee but shall have no voting power. The committee shall have the power to co-opt any other member of the Society as an additional representative on the committee if it is considered that such member can make constructive contribution to the work of the committee.
The Committee shall be responsible for ensuring that there is adequate insurance cover against public liability at all Society meetings, functions, approved field days and other activities approved by the committee.
Funds: The Society's funds will be administered by the Honorary Treasurer at the direction of the Committee. Bank mandates are to be completed at the end of each Annual General Meeting with the authorised signatories comprising the members of the new Committee The Mandate should specify that all cheques or payment instructions are to carry TWO authorised signatures and that one of these MUST be that of the Treasurer.
Subscription: This is to be fixed at the time of the AGM. If after three months from the date of the AGM any members subscription shall be still outstanding he shall forfeit all rights of membership until the arrears shall have been paid in full. The Committee shall have the right to waive or reduce the subscription for that member should it be deemed appropriate and desirable.
Extraordinary General Meeting: An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called by the Committee or by the General request of not less than twelve paid up members addressed to the secretary specifying the matter to be discussed. Any such meeting and its agenda must be notified in writing to all paid up members not less than seven days in advance of the meeting. Voting may be by show of hands or by ballot as shall seem convenient to the Chairman of the Meeting. Only paid up members of the Society shall be entitled to vote and motions shall be carried by a simple majority.
Quorum: A quorum shall be twelve paid up members or fifty percent of the paid up membership, whichever shall be the lower. Voting may be by show of hands or by ballot as shall seem convenient to the Chairman of the Meeting. Only paid up members of the Society shall be entitled to vote and motions shall be carried by a simple majority.
Dissolution: Any decision to wind up the affairs of the Society must be taken at a General Meeting. After the approval of such a resolution the assets are to be realised and the net proceeds, after settlement of any outstanding debts, are to be distributed equally amongst the current members who are paid up.
Liability: The liability of each individual member shall be limited to the current years subscription.
Constitution: Amendment to the Society's constitution may only be made at an AGM or EGM called in accordance with these rules.
Licences: The Society's callsigns are available for use by any paid up member of the Society for approved activities. The log books are to be the responsibility of the member requesting the use of the call sign and that member is to be completely responsible for the correct usage of the callsigns. The logbooks are to be returned to the Society's nominated licence holder immediately after the use for which they were requested has terminated. Usage by approved instructors of training courses are normally entitled to priority.
Trophies: The trophies are to be awarded annually at the AGM. Any voting is to be by ballot. The cups, or other trophies, are to be retained by the winners only for the ensuing year.
This Constitution was adopted by the members at an Extraordinary General Meeting on the first day of February One thousand nine hundred and ninety four.