THE DERWENT PROBUS CLUB
CONSTITUTION
1. TITLE
The Club shall be called The Derwent Probus Club
2. MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall be open to all persons resident in the York/Selby area who are retired or partially retired or approaching retirement. The Committee may from time to time decide the criteria for membership. The total membership shall be determined by the Committee. An applicant for membership may be introduced by any member and admission or refusal shall be at the discretion of the committee. The Committee may recommend for approval by the members the appointment of Honorary members.
3. OBJECTS
The aim of the Club shall be to provide a regular meeting point for members and also to promote social well-being through companionship, discussion and other pursuits as may be agreed upon.
The Club shall be non-political and non-sectarian.
4. OFFICIALS
The Officials of the Club shall be the President, Vice-President (who shall be the President in the ensuing year) , the Honorary Secretary, the Honorary Treasurer, the Programme Secretary, the Social Secretary, the Welfare Officer, all of whom except the President shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting. The President shall serve for not more than two consecutive years.
5. COMMITTEE
The affairs and management of the Club shall be entrusted to the Committee. The Committee shall consist of the Officials referred to in rule 4 , plus trhe immediate Past President, and up to two other members, all of whom, with the exception of the President and the immediate Past President, shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting. A committee member not holding office shall serve in the same capacity for no more than three years. The Committee shall have powers to co-opt up to two members.
Four members of the Committee, of whom at least one shall be an official, shall form a quorum for Committee meetings.
6. MEETINGS
An Annual General Meeting shall be held in April each year.
The Honorary Secretary shall call a Special General Meeting on the written request of not less than ten members and shall give the members at least fourteen days notice of such a meeting. Ten members shall form a quorum for a Special General Meeting.
7. VOTING
Voting at all meetings shall be by a show of hands or by ballot if requested by the majority of members present. In the event of an equal division of the votes the President shall have the casting vote.
8. ORDINARY MEETINGS
Ordinary meetings of the Club shall be on the last Wednesday of each month with the exception of December. Members are expected wherever possible to attend these meetings, and in the event of not being able to do so, are requested to send an apology.
9. GUESTS
A guest shall not attend on more than four occasions in the same year.
10. SUBSCRIPTIONS
The Annual Subscription shall be paid on joining and thereafter in April of each year. The sum payable shall be agreed at the AGM.
11. ACCOUNTS
The Annual Accounts will be presented by the Honorary Treasurer at the AGM. They will be audited by an independent person who can be a member of the Club but who cannot be a serving Committee member.
12 FINANCIAL YEAR
The Financial year shall end on the last day of February.
13. BANK ACCOUNT
The Committee shall authorise up to four committee members, one of whom shall be the Treasurer, to be able to sign cheques and withdrawal forms on any account. All cheques and withdrawal forms shall be signed by any one of the appointed committee members.
14. WINDING UP
In the event of the Winding Up of the Club any surplus funds shall be donated to a charity or charities agreed by the Committee.
15. EMERGENCY POWERS
In the event of an emergency the officials of the Club shall be empowered to take whatever action they deem necessary.
16. ALTERATION TO THE RULES
These rules may be altered by a Resolution passed at any Annual General Meeting.