Hampstead Horticultural Society

RULES

The Society shall be called the HAMPSTEAD HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

1. The office of the Society shall be at the address of the Honorary Secretary.

2. The objects of the Society shall be to encourage by lectures, shows or other means the cultivation of vegetables, fruit and flowers, to promote co-operation amongst members and to further the welfare of the Society.

3. Membership shall be open to residents in Camden, Hampstead and neighbouring boroughs. Candidates for membership shall apply to the Secretary who shall submit their names to the Committee for election. The Committee shall have the right to deselect or oppose membership to any person whose actions are considered detrimental to the society or who brings the Society into disrepute.

4. Subscription and Finance:   Members shall pay an annual subscription of £8.00 except retirement pensioners and juniors under 18 for whom it shall be £7.00, the subscription to be paid on joining the Society and thereafter on 1st January in each year. Members will be sent a subscription reminder in January with the Programme Booklet, but if after the second newsletter in April the subscription is still outstanding, the member’s name will be deleted.

5. Management: The Officers of the Society shall comprise: Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Membership Secretary, Show Secretary, Treasurer. The committee will comprise the Officers and up to 12 members who shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting of the Society. All members of the Committee shall be eligible for re-election, but must notify the Secretary of their willingness to stand for election. The President and Vice-President shall be ex-officio members of the Committee. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall each serve for a term three years. The Committee may co-opt members to fill vacancies occurring on the Committee. Five members shall form a quorum.

6. Arrangements for Committee meetings, which should be at least quarterly, shall be made at previous Committee meetings when possible. In emergency the Chairman and Secretary of the Society may call a meeting with not less than 48 hours clear notice. The Annual General Meeting at which the accounts for the past year shall be presented shall be held not later than the end of March in each year. Ten members shall form a quorum.

7. No alteration shall be made in these rules except with the approval of an Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting called for the purpose. Any proposed alteration or addition to these rules must be made in writing to the Secretary not less than one month before the meeting for inclusion on the Agenda.

8. Audit: The annual accounts should be examined by an independent examiner or by one member of the Society who is not a member of the Committee. It is not necessary for this member to have accounting qualifications.

9. If the Society is to be dissolved at any time, the dissolution must be approved by a two-thirds majority of the members present at an AGM or a Special General Meeting which shall specify the terms of dissolution, with 28 days notice of such a meeting. Any surplus funds held by the Society after meeting all its debts and liabilities shall be given to any like association or charity having similar objectives to those of the Hampstead Horticultural Society (subject to consultation with the Royal
Horticultural Society).