AUGUST 2022
Constitution for the Bath Rambling Club
1. NAME
The name of the organisation shall be The Bath Rambling Club.
2. OBJECTIVES
a) That membership shall be open to all.
b) To encourage all members to lead walks for the Club in due course. Initially, new members may need the assistance of more experienced walkers. All prospective leaders are encouraged to pre-walk in pairs.
c) To offer different levels of walks on most Sundays and to offer midweek walks.
d) To arrange short holidays whenever possible and any other activities that are authorised by the committee.
3. MEMBERSHIP
a) The annual membership fee covers the costs of insurance, room hire, donations to speakers at functions, correspondence/telephone calls, production of the programme and promotion of the Club’s activities.
b) The membership fee is due on 1st September each year.
c) Members share transport to the walks and a contribution towards the driver’s expenses is recommended at the driver’s discretion.
d) Visitors may walk two trial walks and then the membership fee must be paid.
4. MANAGEMENT
a) The Committee shall consist of a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer/Membership Secretary and such other Committee members as deemed necessary.
b) The Committee may, at its discretion, appoint a Vice-Chairman from the existing members of the Committee.
c) The management of the Club is vested in the Committee.
d) All members of the Committee retire annually, but are eligible for re-election.
e) The Committee decides when and where it meets.
f) Four Committee members form a quorum.
g) The Chairman has the right to a casting vote.
5. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
a) The Annual General Meeting shall be held within two months of the end of the preceding financial year to:-
i) Consider the Committee’s reports and the audited Statement of Accounts up to 31st August.
ii) Appoint the Committee for the following year.
iii) Confirm the examiner of accounts for the following year.
b) An AGM shall be deemed ineffective unless attended by a quorum of at least one sixth of the total number of members.
c) Members may offer other items for discussion by giving notice in writing to the Secretary at least fourteen days before the AGM.
d) Should members wish to propose alterations to the Constitution, these shall be notified to the Secretary four weeks before the AGM.
6. FINANCE
a) The financial year ends on 31st August.
b) The Treasurer/Membership Secretary shall keep proper financial records and report regularly to the Committee.
c) All Club accounts shall be held in the bank and/or Building Society approved by the Committee.
d) The accounts of the Club, made up to 31st August each year, shall be examined by the examiner of accounts confirmed at the AGM. The examiner of accounts shall have right of access to the books, invoices and accounts of the Club and shall certify the correctness of the accounts for presentation at the next AGM.
Anna Schlesinger, Chairman
Valerie Smith, Secretary
Annex A to Constitution of Bath Rambling Club - Duties fo the Committee
1. Duties of the Chairman
The Chairman shall take the chair at all indoor meetings of the Club. In the absence of the Chairman, any Member of the Committee may be elected to preside by those present.
2. Duties of the Secretary
The Secretary shall prepare and issue notices of all meetings of the Club, specifying the business to be transacted and, in consultation with the Chairman, shall prepare the agenda for Club meetings. He/she shall record their proceedings as well as those of the AGM. He/she shall conduct all necessary correspondence.
3. Duties of the Treasurer
The Treasurer shall be accountable for all monies due to the Club and shall pay them into the Club’s Account. He/she shall make all payments authorised by the Committee and keep account of all receipts and payments. The Treasurer may delegate the responsibility for collecting and banking certain Club monies to a Committee Member nominated by the Members of the Committee. The accounts made up to the end of the financial year shall be audited and presented at the AGM.
4. Duties of the Membership Secretary
The Membership Secretary shall keep an up-to-date official list of Members. (The list of Members should include their telephone numbers and addresses.) He/she shall forward to new Members a copy of the Constitution, and shall distribute copies of the Club’s publications to all Members. A copy of the Club Membership List is also to be given to every member of the Committee and information passed in order that the list can be kept reasonably up to date.
5. Duties of the Rambles Secretary
The Rambles Secretary is responsible for producing the Club’s programme of walks. The programme is to be produced every six months and is to include items of information which are of interest to Club Members.
6. Duties of the Social/Publicity Secretary
The Social/Publicity Secretary has the responsibility of arranging and organising all aspects of the Club’s Social Events and publicising the Club’s activities.
7. Duties of the Examiner of Accounts
The accounts of the Club, made up to the 31st August in each year, shall be examined by the examiner of accounts elected at the AGM.