The Constitution and Rules as amended and adopted at the Annual General Meeting 2022 are:
NAME
The Club shall be called the TEESMOUTH BIRD CLUB.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the Club are to advance the study of and public education in ornithology and to undertake conservation projects for the benefit of birds. In furtherance of these objectives, but not otherwise, the Club will:
i. Institute research on the birds of the former County of Cleveland (now the 4 unitary authorities of Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees) and publish the results of such research, such as the ‘Cleveland Bird Report’.
ii. Advertise and hold meetings for the reading of papers, visual presentations, discussion of records and dissemination of information.
iii. Co-operate in national ornithological enquiries.
iv. Co-operate with other conservation bodies for the benefit of birds and their habitats.
v. Support, develop and promote the properties owned and leased to or from the club.
vi. Encourage the protection of birds and their habitats, including opposing harmful developments which have significant environmental impacts.
vii. Seek to develop training opportunities, in association with other conservation bodies, where appropriate.
viii. Prepare, monitor, review and update when necessary a ‘Strategic Plan’ for the future development and direction of the Club.
ix. Seek sponsorship for bird conservation projects through membership subscriptions, grants, sale of Club products, donations and other sources of income, provided that the Club shall not undertake any substantial trading activities and shall conform to any relevant requirements of the law.
x. Establish and maintain effective channels of communication.
MEETINGS
The Club will hold an Annual General Meeting of which all members shall receive at least 14 days notice. The same notice shall be given of any Extraordinary General Meeting. At a General Meeting, 15 paid-up members shall constitute a quorum. An Extraordinary General Meeting can be requested by the Club Trustees or by a minimum of 20 paid-up members.
For meetings of Club Trustees, one third of Trustees shall constitute a quorum.
ORGANISATION
The Officers of the Club shall be a Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.
The board of Club Trustees shall consist of the Officers and at least three other members, all of whom shall be elected Trustees. The board shall also have the power to co-opt non-elected additional members, as necessary, up to a maximum of 12 Trustees. No more than one third of Club Trustees shall be non-elected members.
The Officers and elected members of the Club Trustees shall resign annually but shall be eligible for re-election at the Annual General Meeting. Elected Trustees shall not serve for more than four consecutive years and shall not be eligible for re-election for one year.
The Club Trustees shall appoint a Recorder, who shall chair the Records Sub Committee. It shall also appoint such other persons for specified duties as shall from time to time be appropriate. The Recorder shall be responsible for the publication of the ‘Cleveland Bird Report’, assisted by the Records Sub Committee.
MEMBERSHIP
The classes of membership shall be:
i. Ordinary Members.
ii. Associate Members, namely Juniors aged 10-17 years inclusive, those receiving full-time education and Senior Citizens.
iii. Life Members.
iv. Honorary Members.
The first three classes are open to any interested persons, subject to the right of the Club to expel any member whose actions are inconsistent with the Objectives of the Club or who fails to pay the appropriate subscription, provided that the members shall have the right to be heard by the Club Trustees before a decision is made. Honorary Members must be nominated by the Club Trustees and elected at a General Meeting. This class of membership is limited and will be awarded only to persons who have given exceptional service to the Club. Only those members over the age of 18 are allowed, by law, to vote at any meetings or be a Club Trustee.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
The rates of subscriptions shall be determined by the Club at Annual General Meetings based on a proposition supported by two thirds of the numbers present. Annual subscriptions fall due on 1st January each year and if not paid by 31st March, membership shall be deemed to have lapsed.
MEMBERS’ ENTITLEMENTS
Members shall be entitled to receive a copy of the ‘Cleveland Bird Report’ and to have access to Club buildings (including hides) and any private land, for which the Club has special, permitted access arrangements with the owners.
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS
The Club will maintain banking accounts at the discretion of the Club Trustees. Account signatories shall be Club Trustees and dual signatory authority is required for all instructions and withdrawals including cheques or electronic methods.
Annual financial accounts will be maintained by the Treasurer and presented at the Annual General Meeting. The presented accounts will be checked by the Chair or Vice Chair except where a higher level of examination is required by Charity Commission guidance.
CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION
The Constitution can be altered at an Annual General Meeting or an Extraordinary General Meeting, provided that the proposition is supported by two thirds of the members present. No amendment shall be made which shall cause the Club to cease to be a charity at law.
DISSOLUTION OF THE CLUB
If, at a Special Meeting called for the purpose, the Club decides to dissolve, then after payment of all outstanding debts, the assets remaining shall not be paid to members but will be transferred to a charitable organisation with similar objectives.
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