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NAME AND OBJECTS OF CLUB
The Hoddesdon and Broxbourne
Conservative Club, hereinafter referred to as "the Club", shall be situated
at 76 High Street, Hoddesdon, Herts EN11 8ET, or such other place as the
majority of members shall determine.
Its objects shall be to carry on
the business of a club and, in so doing, to promote by all proper means the
principles of Conservatism, and the implementation of the Conservative
Party's policies.
The Club shall be affiliated to
and inter‑affiliated with, the Association of Conservative Clubs Limited,
subject to the rules and regulations thereof.
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MEMBERSHIP |
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Election
The
election of members shall be vested solely in the Committee and unless there
is unanimity by the Committee for the election of a candidate a ballot shall
be held. Two votes against admission shall exclude a candidate. |
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Only
Conservatives, being subscribing members of a Conservative Association
affiliated to the National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations,
not being under 18 years of age, shall be entitled to be eligible for
membership. |
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Any
two members of not less than three years standing may propose and second a
candidate for membership and shall be able from personal knowledge to vouch
for his respectability and fitness to be a member and both of them shall
sign the nomination form, as shall the candidate, who, by so doing, shall
pledge himself to support the leaders of the Conservative Party and to abide
by the Rules of the Club now, or hereafter, in force, in the event of his
being elected a member.
Candidates for membership shall be interviewed by the membership
subcommittee who will make appropriate recommendations to the General
Committee.
No full-time employee
of the Club shall be eligible for membership.
No
member shall propose more than three candidates for election in a period of
twelve months. |
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The
name, address and occupation of each candidate, and the names of his
proposer and seconder shall be posted on the Club notice board at least
seven days prior to the date of interview. |
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Any
member who is of the opinion that any candidate so proposed would not be a
desirable member, shall inform the Secretary and Administrator who shall
communicate the objection to the Committee. |
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The Committee may
require the attendance of any proposer, seconder and their candidate to
answer such questions as may be put to them.
If
they do not appear before the Committee when required to do so, or send a
satisfactory excuse for not doing so within four weeks, the candidate's
election shall not be proceeded with.
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8
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No candidate shall be
admitted to the privileges of membership until he has been elected by the
Committee, notified by his proposer and paid his first subscription,
together with a joining fee of such sum as shall from time to time be
determined by the Committee, and in any circumstances no candidate for
membership shall be admitted to the privileges of membership until two days
shall have elapsed between nomination and election to membership. |
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Special Classes of Membership
Honorary Members
(a)
The Committee shall have power to elect from time to time as honorary
members without joining fee or subscription, persons of distinction or
those who have rendered valuable service to the Conservative cause or
the Club. The agent for the Broxbourne Parliamentary Conservative
Association
shall be a temporary honorary member, not having a vote at any meeting
of members nor having any voice in the management of the Club.
An interval of at least two days shall elapse between their election
and admission as members.
Country Members
(b) The Committee shall
have power to elect from time to time as Country Members without joining fee
any ordinary subscribing member who has moved normally beyond 30 mile radius
from the Club. Country Members shall not be entitled to hold office, attend
or vote at General Meetings, and shall be subject to such further
regulations as the Committee may from time to time lay down.
Retired Members
(c) The Committee shall
have power to elect as Retired Members without joining fee ordinary members
who have attained the age of 65. Election shall take place on the first of
January following the 65th birthday and those elected shall enjoy the same
privileges as ordinary members. |
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Disqualification of Candidates
No
rejected candidate shall again be proposed as a member until the expiration
of twelve months from the date of such rejection.
No
person who shall have been expelled from this or any other Conservative Club
affiliated to or inter‑affiliated with the Association of Conservative Clubs
Limited, shall ever again be proposed as a candidate, or make use of the
Club premises, except by consent of the Committee.
No
person who has at any previous time been a member of the Club, shall be
eligible for re‑election before the period of one year therefrom has
elapsed, unless he pays all subscriptions, otherwise due from him had he not
ceased to be a member.
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11
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Resignation of Membership
Any
member wishing to resign should send a written notice to the Secretary
and Administrator, together with the subscription due up to the date
of its taking effect, and shall thereupon cease to be a member. |
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SUBSCRIPTIONS
The
ordinary subscription shall from time to time be determined by the
Committee. The subscription for Country Members and Retired Members shall
also be determined by the Committee. To the first subscription shall be
added a subscription to the Broxbourne Parliamentary Conservative
Association. A new member shall permit his name and address being given to
the said Association together with the subscription to that Association.
Subscriptions shall be paid in advance on admission and subsequently on the
first day of January each year. |
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A
suspended member shall remain liable to pay his subscription. |
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Every member shall
produce evidence of his identity, whenever called upon to do so by any
person authorised by the Committee to make such demand on the Club premises. |
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Non‑Payment of Subscription
If
any member fails to pay his subscription within twenty-eight days after the
same has become due, he shall be considered in arrears, and notice of the
default shall be sent to him by the Secretary and Administrator; and if the
sum due be not paid within another fourteen days after such notice has been
sent he shall cease to be a member and his name shall be removed from the
register of members.
If,
however, the delay in payment can be accounted for to the satisfaction of
the Committee, the Committee may at its discretion direct that any member
shall be exempt from the foregoing provisions.
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No
member in arrears shall be permitted to make use of the Club or take part in
its affairs. |
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CHANGE OF ADDRESS
Any
member changing his address shall, within fourteen days, give notice to the
Secretary and Administrator in writing of such address, and until such
notice is given, all communications and notices sent to his last address
shall be deemed to have been served upon such member. |
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INTER‑AFFILIATION TICKET HOLDERS
Members of Clubs
inter‑affiliated with the Association of Conservative Clubs Limited, subject
to the Rules and Regulations of that Association, may on presentation of
their inter-affiliation ticket be admitted to the Club premises and
intoxicating liquor may be supplied to them by or on behalf of the Club for
consumption on the premises. He shall sign the inter-affiliation book.
Affiliates whose permanent habitation is within a radius of ten miles of the
Club are only permitted to visit the Club once a month. More frequent visits
are possible only at the discretion of the Secretary and Administrator
acting for the Committee.
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CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall terminate:
(a)
On resignation (Rule 11).
(b)
On non‑payment of subscription (Rule 15).
(c)
On expulsion (Rule 31).
(d)
On death.
(e)
On cessation of membership of a Conservative Association as defined in
Rule
3.
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OFFICERS
The
Officers of the Club shall consist of four Trustees, who shall be elected
according to Rule 26, a President and not more than two Vice‑Presidents, and
a Chairman and Vice-Chairman (who shall be Chairman and Vice‑Chairman of the
General Committee — the Chairman having a second or casting vote) and a
Treasurer elected in accordance with Rule 29.
The
Secretary and Administrator shall be appointed in accordance with Rule
24(3).
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COMMITTEE MEMBERS
There shall not be more
than twelve Committee members.
The
senior four Committee members in length of service from the date of last
election shall retire at each Annual General Meeting and shall be eligible
for re‑election. In the event of there being more than four nominations, the
four replacement Committee members will be elected by ballot in the week
preceding the Annual General Meeting.
If
two or more Committee members have served for the same period those to
retire shall be selected by the Chairman by lot.
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THE COMMITTEE
The
Committee shall consist of the Officers and Committee members referred to in
Rules 20 and 21.
The
Committee shall meet at least once a month. Five members shall form a
quorum. |
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Any
member of the Committee being absent from three consecutive meetings of the
Committee shall, unless he sends a written explanation which the Committee
shall deem satisfactory, cease to be a member of the Committee.
Any
member or members of the Committee not being the whole of the Committee
shall cease to be members thereof on resignation and such resignation shall
be deemed to be effective upon receipt by the Secretary and Administrator of
written notification.
Any
member of the Committee ceasing to be a member of the Club, or who is
suspended from the privileges of membership, shall cease to be a member of
the Committee.
Any
vacancy so caused shall be filled as provided in Rule 39.
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24
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(1)
The Officers and Committee members shall receive such honorarium, as the
Committee or a General Meeting shall from time to time determine.
(2)
Any Officer or employee dealing with the moneys of the Club shall give such
security as the Committee may from time to time determine, and shall
discharge their duties under the direction of the Committee.
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Appointment of Secretary and Administrator
(3)
A person shall be appointed Secretary and Administrator and shall receive a
fixed salary. Such person shall not be an ordinary member of the Club, or
have voting rights. At the Committee's discretion he shall have full use of
the Club’s facilities.
A
written contract of service shall be sufficient evidence of his appointment
under this section and the terms thereof shall be substituted for all
provisions in these Rules relating to the election, term of office,
retirement and dismissal from office and similar matters relating to the
Secretary and Administrator.
On
vacating the position of Secretary and Administrator the Committee
may at their discretion permit him to pay forthwith a subscription under
Rule 12 whereupon he shall become an ordinary member without compliance with
the usual formalities of election but he shall not be admitted to the
privileges of membership until two days have elapsed from his so becoming a
member.
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DUTIES OF OFFICERS |
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President, Vice‑Presidents and Chairman
The
President, or in his absence one of the Vice‑Presidents or the Chairman,
shall preside at all meetings (other than Committee and subcommittee
meetings) of the Club. |
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Trustees
(a) All the property whether real
or personal shall be vested in the Trustees and shall be held by them in
accordance with the terms of the Trust Deed dated January 1930 upon trust
for the Club and for furthering the objects of the Club as provided by
Rule
1 of these Rules. In the event of the Club being dissolved all such property
after payment of the outstanding obligations of the Club (if any) shall be
held by the Trustees for furthering Conservative principles in such manner
as the Trustees shall in their absolute discretion determine.
The Trustees shall have power,
subject to authorisation by the Committee, to mortgage or charge the
premises and other property of the Club for the purposes of raising such
moneys as may be required to carry on the Club for the benefit and
convenience of its members.
Every Trustee shall be entitled to
be indemnified by the Club from and against all liability costs damages
claims and demands incurred or suffered by him arising out of and in
connection with anything done by him bona fide as such Trustee of the Club
or at the request of and in accordance with a resolution of the Committee
and the Trustees shall be authorised to charge the assets of the Club in
their hands to satisfy any such liability. If the assets of the Club shall
be insufficient for the purpose aforesaid then a special subscription shall
be raised from and become payable by those persons who shall at the time
such indemnity is invoked be members of the Club who shall contribute
thereto such amounts as shall be determined by resolution of the Committee.
(b) The Trustees shall be elected
at a General or Special General Meeting by a majority of the members present
and entitled to vote thereat, and shall remain in office during the pleasure
of the Club.
Any or all of the
Trustees may be removed in accordance with the terms of the Trust Deed dated
January 1930 or by a majority of three‑fourths of the members present at a
Special General Meeting called for that purpose in the following manner:
The Secretary and Administrator
shall summon the meeting:
(a) at the direction of the
Committee, or
(b) upon a request forwarded to
him signed by one‑fifth of the members or 30 members whichever is the less
stating the objects of such meeting,
and he shall
thereupon give fourteen days' notice thereof by circular sent by him to all
members who have paid their current year's subscription, and to the
Trustees, and by a notice posted in the Club premises.
In case of a vacancy
caused by removal, resignation or death another Trustee shall be elected at
a Special General Meeting called for that purpose in the manner as provided
in Rule 40.
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Treasurer
The
Treasurer shall be responsible for seeing that all moneys, whether received
by himself, the Secretary and Administrator, any other official, the
Steward, or any other employee of the Club, are duly paid into the
Club's bank at least once a week. He shall also see that all debts of the
Club are paid as directed by the Committee (with the exception of petty cash
payments and normal trading) by cheques signed by any two of the authorised
signatories. Electronic payments shall be made by the Secretary and
Administrator on the authorisation of the Treasurer. He shall, at every
regular meeting of the Committee (or more often if required) produce a
management report of the finances of the Club showing that the
foregoing duties have been carried out.
He
shall keep such accounts, documents and other papers of the Club, not
otherwise kept by the Secretary and Administrator, in such manner and for
such purposes as the Committee may direct.
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Secretary
and Administrator
The
Secretary and Administrator shall on all occasions in the execution
of his office act under the superintendence, control and direction of the
Committee.
He
shall receive moneys on account of the Club and pay the same to the
Treasurer or direct to the Club's bank. He shall keep such accounts,
documents and papers of the Club in such manner and for such purposes as the
Committee may direct.
He
shall summon and attend all meetings of the General Committee, and summon
all meetings of the finance and bar and membership subcommittees. He
shall attend all General Meetings.
He
shall in every year prepare or cause to be prepared the balance sheet and
income and expenditure account and submit the same to the Auditor of the
Club.
He
shall keep upon the Club premises a register of the names and addresses of
the Club members and a record of the latest payment of their subscription.
He shall ensure that
the Club is registered in accordance with the current licensing laws.
He
shall be responsible for the insurance of the Club against fire and burglary
and in respect to liability for accidents occurring to Club employees and
for any other purposes directed by the Committee.
He shall comply with
the requirements of HM Revenue & Customs with regard to the deduction of
income tax from the wages or salaries of employees and with the requirements
of the National Insurance Acts in respect to such employees.
He
shall be supplied by the Committee with copies of the Rules and shall be
bound to deliver a copy thereof to any member on such payment as the
Committee may from time determine.
He
shall carry out such other duties as are reasonably incidental to his
office.
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AUTHORITY OF THE COMMITTEE
The Committee shall
conduct the general business of the Club, regulate the internal management,
have power to enforce Rules, and make such bye‑laws as may be necessary for
the conduct of the Club in conformity with these Rules.
At
the first meeting after the Annual General Meeting the Committee shall
appoint a Chairman and Vice‑Chairman, a Treasurer and a Political Liaison
Officer, from out of their own number.
It will appoint a
finance and a bars and a membership subcommittee and may appoint other
subcommittees, which shall manage the several departments of the Club under
the supervision of the Committee.
The
appointment and dismissal of the Secretary and Administrator
appointed in accordance with Rule 24, the Steward and all other Club
employees shall be vested solely in the Committee.
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30
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No
resolution passed by the Committee shall be rescinded unless notice shall
have been given at a previous meeting of the Committee of intention to
propose such rescission. |
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(a)
The Committee shall have power to reprimand, suspend for a period not
exceeding one year, or expel any member who shall infringe any Rule or whose
conduct in or out of the Club premises, shall in their opinion, be
prejudicial to the Conservative cause, or to the character or interests of
the Club; and any member guilty of conduct likely to endanger the welfare,
unanimity or good order of the Club, or whose political opinions or actions
are found to be inconsistent with the Rules shall be expelled by the
Committee.
(b)
The Chairman or Secretary and Administrator shall be empowered to order the
immediate withdrawal of any member whose conduct on the Club premises is in
conflict with the Rules of the Club, and who, after warning, persists
therein. The matter must be reported to the Committee at a meeting which
must be held within seven days of the committal of the alleged offence. Such
member shall have no right of re‑entry to the Club premises until summoned
to appear before the Committee.
(c)
In all cases other than as provided for in paragraph (b) of this rule, any
complaint or complaints against a member shall be considered by the
Committee at their next regular meeting held in accordance with
Rule 22, and
the Committee shall be empowered to require the member concerned to withdraw
from the facilities of membership upon receipt of the notice summoning him
to appear before them until the date of the meeting to which he shall be
summoned.
(d)
If the Committee are of the opinion that the complaint or complaints do not
warrant them summoning him to appear before them, the member in question
must be immediately notified to this effect and he shall be free to resume
his rights as a member.
(e)
If the Committee are of the opinion that the complaint or complaints against
a member does warrant them summoning him to appear before them, at least
seven clear days notice in writing shall be given by the Secretary and
Administrator to the member of his being so summoned, and the notice shall
contain a statement detailing the complaint or complaints brought against
him.
(f)
No member shall be reprimanded, suspended or expelled without being first
summoned before the Committee, and full opportunity afforded him to defend
himself, nor unless a majority of at least two‑thirds of the Committee then
present vote for his being reprimanded, suspended or expelled. The
Committee's decision shall be final.
Should the member fail to appear before the Committee having given no prior
reasonable explanation for his failure his case can proceed and be dealt
with by the Committee in his absence.
(g)
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this rule the Committee shall
not be obliged to summon a member to appear before them in respect of an
offence of which he has already been convicted and sentenced by any court of
law.
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The
Committee, or any Officer authorised by them in writing, shall have power to
give orders to tradesmen and others for goods and other things necessary for
carrying out the purpose of the Club; but nothing in this rule shall empower
the Committee, or any Officer authorised by them to incur expenditure except
such as is consistent with the purposes for which the Club is established.
No
claim will be recognised or paid for any work done or for any goods supplied
to the Club, without an order from the Committee, or from any Officer
authorised by them.
Members of the Club shall be entitled to contract with the Club for supply
by them of goods and services, other than the audit of the Club's accounts,
but shall not participate in any discussion or vote upon any motion relative
thereto, either at a Committee meeting or a General Meeting.
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ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Every candidate for office shall be proposed and seconded by two members
entitled to vote. His current subscription must have been paid and he must
have been a member for the previous two years, and be not less than 18 years
of age. |
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Each
member of the Club shall have one vote for each vacancy, and no member shall
give more than one vote to any candidate. |
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At
least three weeks prior to the day appointed for the commencement of the
ballot a notice shall be posted on the Club notice board by the Secretary
and Administrator, inviting the nomination of candidates for the office of
committee member or Officer of the Club. The notice shall remain so posted
for ten days. |
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36
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The
names of all candidates for office in the Club, together with the names of
their proposers and seconders, shall be entered on a nomination sheet which
shall be posted on the Club notice board seven clear days before the day
appointed for the commencement of the ballot and shall remain so posted
until the result of the ballot has been declared. |
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(1 )
The Committee shall appoint three scrutineers to carry out the ballot under
their direction, and the result of the ballot shall be declared at the
ensuing General Meeting.
No
Officer or committee member of the Club or candidate may be appointed a
scrutineer.
(2)
In the case of a tie between two or more candidates, the names of such
candidates shall be written on pieces of paper, which shall be placed in a
receptacle, from which the Chairman of the meeting shall draw as many names
as there are vacancies to be filled.
The
names thus drawn shall be declared duly elected.
(3)
If a member is elected for two offices, he shall choose which office he
wishes to fill.
The
vacancy thus arising shall be filled by the unsuccessful candidate with the
highest number of votes, but if there shall be no such candidate, the office
shall be filled by the method prescribed in Rule 39.
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38
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The
number of hours and dates during which the ballots shall remain open shall
be determined by the Committee and a notice put up on the Club notice board
to that effect. |
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39
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Casual Vacancies
Any
casual vacancies, except vacancies occasioned by removal under Rule 41,
occurring amongst the Officers (other than Trustees), and committee members
shall be filled up by the Committee, who shall appoint a person to fill the
office. Any person so appointed shall retain his office so long as the
vacating Officer or committee member would have retained the same if no
vacancy had occurred. |
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40
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Resignation of the Committee
In
the event of the whole Committee resigning at any time, the Secretary and
Administrator together with the Trustees shall obtain
nominations during the following three days, and a ballot shall be held
within seven days of such resignation for the election of a new Committee.
The
result of the ballot shall be declared at a Special General Meeting called
by the Secretary and Administrator within ten days of such
resignation.
The
time and notice required for nominations under Rule 36 and for Special
General Meetings under Rule 47, shall not apply in this case.
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41
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Removal of Committee and Election of new
Committee
The
Committee, or any member or members thereof, may be removed by a majority of
three‑fourths of the members of the Club present and voting at a Special
General Meeting called for that purpose.
The
election of a new Committee or any member or members thereof shall take
place in the manner prescribed in Rule 40 upon resignation of the Committee.
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APPOINTMENT AND DUTIES OF THE AUDITOR
(1) The members, at the
Annual General Meeting, shall elect an Auditor ie an Independent examiner
who publicly carries on the business of an accountant to audit the
accounts for the ensuing year.
(2)
The Auditor shall audit the accounts and for that purpose shall have access
to all books of the Club.
(3)
He shall examine the accounts and the receipts and expenditure, funds and
effects of the Club, and shall verify the same with the vouchers relating
thereto, and shall either sign the same as found by him to be correct and
duly vouched, or shall report in what respects he finds them incorrect or
unvouched.
(4)
No member of the Club shall be the Auditor.
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GENERAL MEETINGS |
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43
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Annual General Meeting
An
Annual General Meeting shall be held in each year on a day to be fixed by
the Committee and not more than fifteen months shall elapse between each
Annual General Meeting. |
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44
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Notice of such Annual
General Meeting shall be sent to all members and shall be posted on the Club
notice board for at least twenty-one clear days before the date appointed
for the meeting.
Notice of any motion for inclusion in the agenda of the Annual General
Meeting must be submitted in writing to the Secretary and Administrator
within ten days of the posting of the notice summoning the meeting.
The
agenda for the Annual General Meeting shall be sent to members and shall be
posted on the Club notice board for a least seven clear days before the date
appointed for the meeting. No business other than that specified in the
agenda shall be transacted at the meeting.
A
copy of the balance sheet and income and expenditure account for the year,
with the report of the Auditor, shall be posted on the Club notice board at
least seven days before the Annual General Meeting.
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45
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At
the Annual General Meeting a statement of affairs, the balance sheet, income
and expenditure account and report of the Auditor shall be presented,
together with a report of the ballot for the committee members and Officers. |
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46
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Special General Meetings
The
Secretary and Administrator shall summon Special General Meetings as
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