Elgin Writers

Amended May 2014

TITLE

The Association shall be known as Elgin Writers.

OBJECTS

The objects of the club shall be the promotion of a mutual association of writers for the common benefit of all and the encouragement of the art in all its branches. The club shall be non-party, non-sectarian and non-racial.

METHODS

In pursuance of these benefits the club may rent its own premises.

MEMBERSHIP

Membership of the club shall be open to all persons accepting its objects and agreeing to be bound by the rules as here stated. The lower age limit for membership shall be 16 years of age.

EXECUTIVE

The Executive of the club shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer and at least 2 Ordinary members. The Executive shall be elected at the annual general meeting of the club for a period of one year, but shall be eligible for re-election and have the power to fill vacancies arising during its term of office by co-option. Any member of the Executive who fails to attend two consecutive committee meetings without adequate reason will be deemed to have resigned office.

SUBSCRIPTION

The subscription for ordinary members and for postal members shall be such a sum as may be agreed for any current year at the annual general meeting. The subscription shall be payable as and when decided by the club executive.

REFUSAL, CANCELLATION AND CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP

1) The Executive reserve the right to grant or to refuse membership to any person, and may, if desirable, limit the membership of the club to a stated number.

2) The Executive shall have the power to cancel the membership of any person acting in a manner detrimental to the interests of the club. Any person so dealt with may, after fourteen days’ notice in writing to the Secretary, appeal against such decision at a general meeting of the club whose decision shall be final.

3) Any member whose subscription is in arrears for a period of three months shall be deemed to have resigned. Resignation will be complete after notice has been served by the Secretary in writing regarding such arrears of fees. If no reply is received within seven days, such a person may not vote at any subsequent meeting of the club nor possess any right of membership.

MANAGEMENT

The financial year of the club shall end fourteen days before the annual general meeting in each year. The accounts, duly audited, shall be presented to the members at the annual general meeting. An auditor (or qualified person with accounts experience) from outside the Elgin Writers membership will be appointed by the Executive to look over the accounts and sign them off at least fourteen days prior to the annual general meeting.

MEETINGS

Ordinary Meetings shall be held according to the printed syllabus of the club, subject to the discretion of the Executive.

Annual General Meetings shall be held not more than one month after the annual audit.

Extraordinary Meetings may be held at the discretion of the Executive, or upon the written application of ten members served upon the Secretary. Such meetings must not be held earlier than one month nor later than three months from the date of such application.

VOTING

Each member shall exercise one vote at all meetings of the club where any question is being decided. The Chairman/President may exercise a casting vote. The form of voting shall be at the discretion of the Chairman/President.

NOMINATION AND NOTICE OF MOTION

All nominations for office in the club must be delivered in writing to the Secretary fourteen days prior to the Annual General Meeting. One month’s notice of motion must be given of any proposed alteration to the constitution.

AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION

The constitution of the club may be altered only by a three-fourths majority of members present at a general meeting of the club, provided always that due notice of motion is given.

DISPOSAL OF CLUB PROPERTY AND MONIES

In the event of the club ceasing to function as a viable entity, the President shall convene a meeting of all remaining eligible members and formally wind up the club. Property and monies remaining after all outstanding debts have been discharged will be gifted to a suitable similar club in the area or as agreed by the majority of the remaining eligible members.

Wednesday 19th November 1997
Amended as per Annual General Meeting dated 24th May 2006
Amended as per Extraordinary General Meeting dated 9th February 2011
Amended as per Annual General meeting 29th May 2013
Amended as per Extraordianry General Meeting 28th May 2014