Constitution

Blackburn and District Camera Club

Amended rules approved at the Annual General Meeting held on 14 January 2019. These rules supersede all others prior to the date quoted above.

Name of Club.
1. The club shall be called “The Blackburn and District Camera Club” by which name it shall be known in all its transactions. Hereafter in this document it will be referred to as “the Club”.
Objectives of the Club.
1. To educate and encourage all members to advance their photographic knowledge and extend their creative talents by lectures, tuition, discussion and debates, competitions and in any other way deemed suitable by the Committee.
Constitution of the Club.
1. These rules will be published on the Club’s website.
2. Membership of the Club shall be open to all regardless of age, sex, race or religion with all members enjoying equal privileges under these rules.
3. Any members under the age of sixteen shall be accompanied to meetings by a responsible adult.
4. No limit will be placed on the numbers of members to the Club.
5. For the transaction of the Club’s business there shall be selected annually, by nomination and ballot at the Annual General Meeting, a Committee consisting of a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and up to eight Club members. Other officers may be co-opted by resolution of the Committee.
6. The Committee (a minimum of four to form a quorum) shall have the authorisation to fill up any vacancies as they occur in the committee and also make such bye -laws as may, from time to time, be deemed expedient.
7. The Club’s year shall run from 1st January to 31st December.
8. An Annual General Meeting shall be held in January in each year with each Club member being notified of such, a minimum of fourteen days prior to the date set.
9. Items on the agenda should be:
  1. The minutes of the last A.G.M., which should be read and approved including any amendments that may arise,
  2. The Treasurer’s report including the audited accounts for the year,
  3. The reports of other officers,
  4. Any other business.
10. Should any member wish to raise any points for discussion at the A.G.M. then these should be submitted to the Secretary in writing at least fourteen days before the date of the A.G.M
Conditions of Membership.
1. There will be no joining fee.
2. The committee reserve the right to withdraw Club membership should a member’s actions or behaviour bring the name of the Club into disrepute.
3. Any person being six months in arrears shall be considered to have resigned.
4. Any person shall, upon ceasing to be a member of the Club, forfeit all rights to take part in the activities of the Club and to retain any property of the club.
5. Each member must provide the secretary with a current e-mail address and communicate any change in contact details to the Secretary. All notices sent to such address will be considered to have been delivered.
6. No member will be allowed to use the Club for commercial purposes but will be permitted to advertise goods or services to members or others either via the club newsletter or other club publication.
Privileges of Membership.
1. On being accepted as a member of the Club and having paid full subscription, a member shall be entitled on application to the Secretary to use photographic equipment belonging to the Club.
2. Members are at liberty to introduce visitors to any of the usual meetings of the Club, but the Committee shall have the authority to refuse admission or limit the number of such visitors.
Subscriptions.
1. The annual subscription for each ensuing year will be reviewed and fixed at the Annual General Meeting and shall be due thereafter.
2. New members joining the Club during the Club year can be charged a pro-rata rate of subscription.
Accounts
1. The accounts of the Club shall be audited annually by two Auditors, these to be elected at the A.G.M. A copy of the balance sheet made up to December 31st shall be available for each member.
2. All cheques shall bear the signature of two official appointed by the Committee.
3. The funds of the Club shall be under the control of the Committee and all accounts passed by them. No accumulated funds shall be paid as dividends, gifts, divisions or bonuses unto or between any of the Club members.
4. The Club can only be wound up at an A.G.M. or Special General Meeting if two thirds of the Club members present vote in favour of a winding motion.
5. Assets of the Club, in accordance with Rule 7.3,cannot be distributed between members but must be given to another Photographic Organisation(s), a local school, or sold and the proceeds given to a registered charity or charities as decided by the Committee.
Special General Meetings.
1. A Special General Meeting shall be called by the Committee on the requisition of eight members, such requisition to be sent in writing to the Secretary, along with every Club member being informed fourteen days before the date of the proposed meeting.
2. In all cases of Special General Meetings, no business shall be transacted except that stated on the requisition and notice calling a meeting.
3. No rule shall be altered except at a Special General Meeting or Annual General Meeting and a minimum of fourteen days notice shall be given of such meetings at which any alteration of rules is to be considered. Particulars of any proposed alteration of the rules to be made known to all members.
Interpretation
1. In case any matter arising that is not provided for in these rules, or by the objectives of the Club, or there are any doubts as to the interpretation of such rules or objectives, the same shall be determined by the Committee whose ruling shall be final.
Bye-law.
1. Members of the Club shall conform to any rules and regulations of the premises the Committee has hired on behalf of the Club and for the purpose of holding an official Club function.