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NOTE: Recognition of a society as a charity gives it exemption from Income Tax considerations. For a society to constitute a charity, its objects must by law embrace one of a number of purposes, and civic societies are usually granted such a status on the grounds of ‘Purposes beneficial to the community’ and ‘Advancement of education’. Charitable, as used in this constitution, has therefore to be considered as a term of law.
NAME The name of the Society shall be THE HIGH WYCOMBE SOCIETY.
OBJECTS The aims and objectives of the Society shall be to promote and encourage the following by charitable means but not otherwise:
1. the protection and enhancement of the built and natural heritage of High Wycombe,
2. the adoption of high standards of architecture and town planning in the locality,
3. the improvement of the environment and the amenities enjoyed by local people, and
4. the stimulation of public interest in and care for the history and character of the town and its surroundings.
These objectives shall be pursued by means of meetings, exhibitions, lectures, publications and the promotion of schemes of a charitable nature.
MEMBERSHIP Membership shall be open to all who are interested in the aims of the Society. Membership shall lapse if the subscription is unpaid 6 months after it is due.
SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscription rates shall be as determined from time to time by the Executive Committee of the Society and confirmed by members at an Annual or Special General Meeting. The annual subscription rates shall be attached to the Constitution as an appendix.
MEETINGS An Annual General Meeting shall be held in or about March of each year to receive the Executive Committee's report and audited accounts, and to elect officers and members of the Committee. This Committee shall decide when ordinary meetings of the Society shall be held and shall give at least 14 days notice of such meetings to all members. Special General Meetings of the Society shall be held at the request of 25 or more members. 25 members personally present shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of the Society.
OFFICERS Nominations for the election of officers shall be made at or before the Annual General Meeting. Such nominations shall be made in writing supported be a seconder and the consent of the proposed nominee must first have been obtained. The election of officers shall be completed prior to the election of further Committee members. The officers of the Society shall consist of: Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer, all of whom shall relinquish their office every year, and shall be eligible for re-election at the Annual General Meeting. A President and Vice-Presidents may also be elected at a General Meeting of the Society for periods to be decided at such a meeting.
COMMITTEE The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers and not more than 12 further members. The Committee shall have power to co-opt further members (who shall attend in an advisory and non-voting capacity). The President and Vice-Presidents may attend meetings of the Executive Committee, but may not vote at such meetings. Nominations for election to the Executive Committee shall be made at or before the Annual General Meeting. They must be in writing, supported by a seconder, and the consent of the proposed nominee must first have been obtained. If the nominations exceed the number of vacancies, a ballot shall take place. The Executive Committee shall be responsible for running the affairs of the Society, and may take decisions on its behalf.
APPEALS The Executive Committee shall have power to make appeals, solicit donations and canvas monies for carrying out the objectives of the Society.
EXPENSES OF ADMINISTRATION The Executive Committee shall, out of the monies received by the Society, pay all proper expenses of administration and management of the Society and shall use the residue of such monies as it thinks fit for or towards the objects of the Society.
INVESTMENT All monies at any time belonging to the Society and not required for immediate application for its objectives shall be invested by the Executive Committee upon such investment securities or property as it may think fit, but so that monies subject to the jurisdiction of the Charity Commissioners or of the Secretary of State for Education and Science shall only be invested in such securities as may for the time being be prescribed by law.
INTELLECTUAL AND OTHER PROPERTY All documentary material produced jointly as part of collaborative projects of the Society, such as surveys, study papers, archival files, photographs, project reports and articles, and all material, equipment and apparatus purchased by the Society, shall be the property of the Society. The existence of such material, equipment and apparatus shall be recorded by the Hon. Secretary and the arrangements for its safe keeping shall be determined by the Executive Committee. This is without prejudice to the right of individual contributors to retain intellectual ownership of work they have personally produced based on their own research, including articles submitted for publication in the Society's Newsletter.
BORROWING The Executive Committee may borrow for the objects of the Society such monies at such a rate of interest and in such a manner as it may think fit.
AMENDMENTS The Constitution may he amended by a two-thirds majority of members present at an Annual or Special General Meeting, provided that ten days notice of the proposed amendment has been sent to all members and provided that nothing therein contained shall authorise any amendment permitting the expenditure of funds of the Society on any object which is not a charitable object.
WINDING UP In the event of the winding-up of the Society, the available funds of the Society shall be transferred to such one or more charitable bodies having objects similar to those before declared as may be chosen by the Executive Committee and approved by the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales.
END OF CONSTITUTION
HISTORY
29 November 1968: Constitution adopted.
30 April 1971: Amended.
16 April 1992: OBJECTS paragraph amended at 1992 AGM.
7 April 2006: INTELLECTUAL AND OTHER PROPERTY paragraph added at 2006 AGM.