Saltdean Gardening Club Constitution

Objectives

To promote the enjoyment of gardening.
To encourage the sharing experience and interest in a variety of plants and good practice.
To arrange talks and demonstrations on various aspects of gardening.
To organise plant sales, visits to gardens and other places of interest to members of the Club.

Members

The Club shall consist of: Ordinary members, Life members and Honorary members. Life members are persons who have rendered the Club eminent services. Honorary membership may be granted to organisations with objects in sympathy with those of the Club Life members and Honorary members shall be elected at a General Meeting on the recommendation of the committee. The total number of Life members and Honorary members shall not at any time exceed 10 in number. Ordinary members and Life members shall have the same rights and privileges.

Honorary members shall have limited rights and privileges. Members shall be entitled to one vote at any General Meeting. Each member shall receive a copy of the constitution.

Subscriptions

Ordinary members shall pay such annual subscription as a General Meeting of the members shall from time to time determine. Subscriptions shall be due in JULY each year.

A membership card shall be issued to each paid up Ordinary member, each Life member and the representative of each organisation having Honorary membership.

Finance

The funds of the Club shall be used solely for furthering the Club's objectives. All funds belonging to the Club shall be deposited in a bank account held in the same name as the Club. Cheques drawn on the account shall be signed by two officers of the Club nominated by the duly elected committee. The financial year for the Club shall end on the 31st June

Annual accounts shall be prepared, audited, and submitted for approval of the members at the Annual General Meeting.

Charitable donations may be granted using proceeds from an event organised specifically for that purpose and subject to prior approval by the members at the AGM or an Extraordinary General Meeting.

General Meetings

An Annual General Meeting shall be held once a calendar year within three months of the end of the financial year to transact the following business:

to receive and adopt the Annual Report of the Officers and the accounts of the preceding financial year
to elect officers and members of the committee
to appoint an Auditor
to transact any other business of which notice has been given to members or which the Chairperson shall rule is in order

A quorum at a General Meeting shall consist of 10% of Ordinary members.

At General Meetings decisions shall be made by a simple majority of those present with the Chairperson having a casting vote. Any motion to amend the Constitution or to dissolve the Club shall require majorities as specified in the relevant section of this Constitution.

Voting shall be by a show of hands unless the Chairperson of the meeting shall direct that a ballot be taken.

Extraordinary General Meeting

At least 21 days’ notice is to be given prior to the calling of an Extraordinary General Meeting to all members specifying the business of the meeting. No other business may be transacted at such a meeting.

Officers and Committee

Officers of the Club shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting - Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary and eight members of the Committee. Persons so elected shall form the Management Committee of the Club and shall be responsible for the activities, programmes and all day-to-day administration of the Club.
Nominations for Officers and Members of the Committee must be received by the Secretary, in writing, together with the nominee's consent, not less than 14 days before the date of the AGM
A quorum for the Committee shall be 5 members of whom one should be an officer

RHS Insurance

The Club shall be affiliated to the Royal Horticultural Society and shall be insured by them (RHS) to cover public liability.

Alteration to the Constitution

The Constitution may be altered only at a General Meeting of the Club, of which due notice has been given and which specified the proposed alteration. A motion to amend the Constitution shall require a majority of two-thirds of votes cast.

Dissolution

A motion to dissolve the Club shall require an Extraordinary General Meeting. Such motion shall incorporate specific proposals for the distribution of surplus assets of the Club after settlement of liabilities. A motion to dissolve the Club shall require a majority of three quarters of votes cast.