PREAMBLE
The Pinner Local History Society (previously called the Pinner and Hatch End Local Historical and Archaeological Society) was formed in 1972 to promote an interest in the study of history in all its aspects amongst the public with a special reference to the history of Pinner and its environs. The Society has since its foundation sought to encourage such interest by means of public lectures, conferences and visits, and by the preparation of and support for publications on such subjects.
OBJECTS
The objects of the Society shall be to encourage the study of and interest in local history and archaeology in all its aspects with a special reference to the history of Pinner and its environs and to achieve these objects the Society shall have the following powers:-
GIFTS
The Society shall be entitled to receive whether by way of loan, gift, or bequest any books, manuscripts or other historical documents or articles which appear to the Committee to be relevant to the objects of the Society, and the Committee in their absolute discretion shall make such arrangements as seem appropriate for retention and/or display of such items.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the Society shall be open to all persons who have been or may be elected by the Committee and they shall continue to be members subject to the provisions for cessation herein contained. There shall be two categories of members namely ordinary members and honorary life members. Admission to the Society will be available only to those who have paid the appropriate subscription for their class, such subscriptions to be determined by the Committee and reported to the Society at its Annual General Meeting. Ordinary membership shall be divided into the following classes of members:
The Rules appertaining to each class of membership shall be determined from time to time by the Committee and any changes proposed therein reported to the Society at the next Annual General Meeting.
Subscriptions shall be payable upon admission to the Society and subsequent annual subscriptions shall become due and payable on the first day of April each year provided that any initial subscription becoming due in February or later in any year shall cover membership until the 31st March in the following calendar year.
Any member whose subscription is in arrear may be removed from membership of the Society at the absolute discretion of the Committee provided that at least one application for payment of the outstanding amount shall have been made either by the Treasurer or any other person nominated by the Committee for that Purpose.
PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERSHIP
All members of the Society are entitled to one free copy of the Society's Newsletter as issued except that Family Members shall receive only one copy per family subscription.
All members shall be entitled to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Society and any lecture or meeting of the Society free of charge except that the Committee reserves the right to impose a charge where deemed advisable for particular meetings. Associate Members will be required to pay any entrance fee that may be required of non-members. All members will be eligible to attend Conferences or Visits organised by the Society, on payment of the appropriate fee.
The Committee shall be empowered at its absolute discretion to arrange for members to receive publications at a discount, if considered appropriate.
HONORARY OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE
The affairs of the Society shall be conducted by the Committee, which will control and manage the whole effects of the Society.
The Committee shall consist of a President, a Chairman, a Vice Chairman, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and six Ordinary Members, all of whom shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting to hold office for one year but who shall be eligible for re-election.
The Research Group Leader shall be appointed annually by the Committee at its first meeting following the Annual General Meeting and shall be ex-officio a member of the Committee. In addition one or more member(s) may from time to time be elected at the Annual General Meeting as Vice-president(s) to hold office for one year but who shall be eligible for re-election. Such Vice-Presidents(s) shall not automatically be members of the Committee but may be co-opted thereto at the absolute discretion of the Committee.
Every person whom it is intended to nominate as a candidate for election to the Committee shall be nominated in writing by not less than two members of the Society and such nominations should be in the hands of the Secretary not less than fourteen days before the Annual General Meeting and shall be accompanied by the written consent of the person so nominated to serve if elected. No person who is not a member of the Society shall be eligible for membership of the Committee.
POWERS OF THE COMMITTEE
Upon election the Committee shall have the undermentioned additional powers:
ACCOUNTS
The financial year of the Society shall end on the 31st March in each year and at the conclusion of the financial year the Treasurer shall prepare appropriate accounts for the Society and arrange for the audit thereof.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Annual General Meeting of the Society shall be held between the 15th April and the 31st May in each year. Any Resolution to be laid before the Annual General Meeting shall be in the hands of the Secretary not later than the 15th March in the year in question. Each member of the Society shall be entitled to twenty-one days notice of the time and place of the Annual General Meeting and the Secretary shall arrange to deliver written Notice thereof to the last address notified by the member of the Society. The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting or the non-receipt of such notice by any member entitled to receive notice thereof shall not invalidate any Resolution passed or proceedings held at that meeting. Each Annual General Meeting of the Society shall receive the report of the Secretary, Report of the Research Group Leader and the audited accounts with the Treasurer’s Report thereon and notification of the annual subscription and deal with other matters arising. At each Annual General Meeting the officers and committee members shall be elected as set out above and also an Auditor shall be appointed to serve for one year but shall be eligible for re-appointment.
SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
A Special General Meeting of the Society may be convened at any time by the Committee. Such a Meeting shall also be called by the Secretary in the event that he/she receives a request for such a Meeting signed by no less than twenty members of the Society. The requirements for delivery of notice of such a meeting shall be the same as those for the Annual General Meeting of the Society.
QUORUM
Twenty members present shall constitute a Quorum at the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting of the Society.
VOTING
At an Annual or Special General Meeting of the Society each member of the Society present shall be entitled to one vote and a Resolution shall be passed by a majority of those present and voting. Voting shall be by show of hands except that any member present may demand that a formal ballot be taken.
CONSTITUTION
The Constitution may (subject as hereinafter provided) be amended by a two-thirds majority of the members present at an Annual or Special General Meeting provided that twenty-one days notice of the amendments intended to be proposed shall have been published in the Society’s Newsletter or sent by post to every member at his/her last recorded address and further provided that nothing herein contained shall authorise any amendment which might cause the society to cease to be a charity at law. No alteration may be made in the objects clause, the dissolution clause or in this clause without previous permission of the Charity Commission.
DISSOLUTION OF THE SOCIETY
In the event of the dissolution of the Society any assets remaining after satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities shall be given to another charitable institution or institutions having similar objects to the Society.
