The Constitution
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The Constitution |
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The Society shall be called the Family & Community Historical Research Society
To promote and communicate research in family and community history within a scholarly framework, with a particular emphasis on the contribution of locally based and micro studies tot he understanding of the wider picture (and vice versa). The Society will work towards attaining these aims by such means as providing a framework for discussion and support for the Society's members, publishing a journal for the Society's members, promoting links between institutional and independent researchers, and encouraging activities and interaction at both national and a regional level.
In furtherance of its objectives the Society will have the power to promote and hold meetings and conferences, organise activities for its members, encourage and support local or subject networks, disseminate information, publish a journal and other publications, coperate with other societies with similar aims, and do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the achievement of the Society's objects.
Membership of the Society shall be open to all those with an interest in the pursuit of family and community history in a scholarly framework and who have paid the due subscription.
All paid members will be entitled to attend and vote at the AGM.
Networks of the Society's members can be set up as branches of the Society on the provision of information about their activities and membership, and will be entitled to receive such general assistance as from time to time determined by the Society's committee. (see addendum)
There will be an annual general meeting, notified by the Secretary at least 21 days in advance to all paid up members of the Society.
An Annual general Meeting shall be inquorate if less than 20 members are present twenty minutes after the notified time for the start of the meeting.
At the AGM the officers will report on the general activities of the Society during the year, including the activities of any networks. The Treasurer shall present accounts which will have been subject to an independent examination, for acceptance by the AGM. A member of the Editorial Committee will present a written or verbal report on the Journal.
The annual subscription for the following calendar year will be set at the AGM. The subscription will cover such things as preferential rates for the Society's conferences and other events (where these are open to non-members), support for participation in and/or for setting up an appropriate network, with local events, two issues per year of the Society's Journal, and other activities within the general objects of the Society, as decided from time to time.
An extra-ordinary General meeting (EGM) may be called by the Committee or at the request of not less than 33% of the members of the Society made in writing to the Secretary. Such requests shall specify the business for which the meeting is to be called. Upon receipt of such a request the Secretary shall within one calendar month give notice of the meeting to the Society. The agenda for an EGM shall comprise only the business for which the meeting has been called.
The Society's Officers will be:
 | Chairman |
| Secretary |
| Treasurer |
| Events Secretary |
| Membership Secretary |
The committee will consist of the officers, up to eighteen other members, and one representative from the Editorial committee for the Society's journal.
In selecting the committee membership, account must be taken of the need to ensure some presence from each active network, or if more than thirteen regional networks are formed, some means of representation.
The committee will have the power to co-opt up to four additional members between AGMs subject to majority agreement by the committee members and to appoint sub-committees for specified purposes.
Officers and committee members must be members of the Society and will be elected by the Society's members present voting at the AGM (in exceptional circumstances a postal ballot may be held).
Officers and committee members will be elected for two years in the first instance but may be removed earlier by resolution at the AGM. Their period of office may be extended by vote at the AGM for no more than two years at a time.
The committee will meet at least twice a year, with a quorum of one third of its members.
The Society will set up an appropriate bank account or accounts in the Society's name. Cheques drawn on the account will be signed by two officers from the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.
The Treasurer will be responsible for keeping the accounts, and for preparing a statement of account for the AGM after arranging for an independent examination.
This constitution can be amended by a two thirds majority of paid up members present and voting at the AGM providing that the proposed amendments have been notified in writing to members no less than seven days before the meeting.
The Society, as a formally constituted body, can be dissolved by a two-thirds majority of paid up members present at any quorate AGM and any remaining assets disposed of as the meeting directs.
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Copyright FACHRS 1999, 2000
This page was last updated 29 November 2005