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Constitution

FENLAND WOODTURNERS CLUB CONSTITUTION AND RULES

Name

The club shall be known as the Fenland Woodturners Club.

Aims

The club was formed for the purpose of providing a forum for woodturners of all abilities to exchange views, and to meet socially and to generally provide encouragement for the development of the craft.

Club Meetings

Meetings are held once a month on the last Wednesday of the month (except in December when it is earlier). Meetings start at 7.00pm and finish at around 10.00pm, currently meeting at the Spalding Common Community Hall PE11 3AS. Half of the meetings have a professional wood turner to demonstrate projects and methods. Interspersed with these are Natter Nites which provide an opportunity for members to discuss their projects and gain from other members.

Membership

Membership is open to all, juniors (under 16’s) are welcome accompanied by an adult. Membership is granted on the payment of the annual subscription, which is decided each year at the AGM by the members, payable at the AGM or by the February meeting. Membership runs from February 1st to January 31st the following year. As the Club is owned by the members and is not a business in the unlikely event of the Club becoming insolvent, then all the members are equally responsible for part of the debt.

Equal Opportunities

All members are equal, and all have the same opportunities.

Data Protection

The Club is compliant with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), as incorporated into the UK law by the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA18). A copy of the Club’s policy is available from the Secretary, is issued to all new members and published on the Club’s website.

Committee and Officers

The committee will consist of the Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary and at least two other members. The officers and committee members are elected at the Annual General Meeting each year

It is the responsibility of the Chairperson to control the meetings and to keep order in the Club.

The Treasurer is responsible for keeping a record of all income and outgoings and to issue a balance sheet to present at the Annual General Meeting.

The Secretary’s duties include taking minutes of all meetings to maintain a record of decisions made, responsibility for keeping members details and data in compliance with GDPR as outlined above. Duties also include booking demonstrators and to conduct all communications related to the Club.

AGM

The Annual General Meeting is held at the January meeting, when the following business shall be transacted.

  1. To confirm the minutes of the previous annual general meeting.
  2. To receive the Chairperson’s report.
  3. To receive the Secretary’s report.
  4. To receive the Treasurer’s report and explanation of the accounts for the preceding year.
  5. To elect the officers and the committee for the coming year.
  6. Any other business, by leave of the Chairperson

An Extraordinary General Meeting can be called at any other time by the committee or by a quorum of fifteen members by giving 28 days’ notice.

Rules and Procedures

The rules of the Club are as outlined in this or any other document issued by the Club, these maybe subject to change. As part of the rules, the committee can co-opt members to join the committee should the need arise. It is the responsibility of individual members to respect the committee and other members at all times. The committee are authorised to make decisions on day-to-day spending, but any major spending must be put to the members for authorisation.

Changes to the Constitution

Changes to the constitution must be approved by the members at an Annual General Meeting or an Extraordinary General Meeting by a majority vote of members.

Dissolution of the Club

If for any reason it becomes necessary to dissolve the Club, then all debts must be cleared and all assets sold, the balance of the funds remaining would then be distributed to the paid up members at the time of dissolution.