Constitution

Fàilte gu làrach-lìn Chomunn Eachdraidh Nis

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Ness Heritage Centre
Ness, Isle of Lewis
Scotland
HS2 0TG

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CONSTITUTION

Comunn Eachdraidh Nis

(Ness Historical Society)

NAME:
The name of the society shall be COMUNN EACHDRAIDH NIS, hereinafter referred to as the society.

AIMS:

The aims of the society which shall be a voluntary body, shall be as follows:

(a)	To promote as a primary objective the social welfare of the Ness area and in so doing to promote, in the interests of social welfare and education, an active interest in the history, heritage and culture of the Ness area.
(b)	To bring together all individuals and organisations which share such interests.
(c)	To raise funds towards the furtherance of the forgoing aims and to pass such funds as may be deemed necessary to the Ness Historical Trust, retaining such as are sufficient for the expenses of the society.
(d)	To organise and arrange exhibitions, displays, lectures and other events relating to the work of the society.
(e)	To co-operate with universities, colleges, schools and other reputable agencies which have an interest in the work and aims of the society.
(f)	To support the work of Urras Eachdraidh Nis (Ness Historical Trust).
(g)	To nominate Trustees to Urras Eachdraidh Nis (Ness Historical Trust).
(h)	To take all other lawful steps as shall be deemed necessary towards the fulfilment of the aims of the society.

MANAGEMENT:

The business of the society shall be conducted by a management committee of twelve members elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.

At the discretion of the committee co-opted members up to a number not exceeding four.

A casual vacancy shall be deemed to have occurred in the membership of the committee inter alia:

(a) on the death of a member.

(b) on the resignation of a member intimated in writing.

Casual vacancies of the elected members and co-opted members may be filled by co-option at the discretion of the committee.

DUTIES OF COMMITTEE:

The management shall be responsible for the general policy of the society, for raising funds for the furtherance of the aims of the society and for the support of Urras Eachdraidh Nis, for the co-option of additional members as provided herein and the filling of casual vacancies on the committee and they shall have powers to appoint sub-committees for any particular purpose.

OFFICIALS:

At the Annual General Meeting of the society the committee shall appoint from amongst its elected members a Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Honorary Treasurer, all of whom shall be eligible for re-appointment for successive terms of office. In addition the society shall appoint either: (a) a Secretary from amongst its members or (b) a clerk from outwith its member, whose duties shall include the administrative work of the society and liaison between the society and Urras Emohdraidh Nis. The society may appoint such other staff and office-bearers as it deems necessary.

SUB - COMMITTEES:

Sub-committees formed by the management committee shall in the exercise of the powers delegated to them conform to all regulations which shall be imposed upon them by the management committee.

MEETINGS:

(a)

The society shall meet throughout the year as often as in deemed necessary and in any event not less than six times in each calendar year. In addition the society shall in the month of November each year convene an Annual General meeting whose agenda shall include: (1) the society Annual Report (2) an audited statement of accounts (3) the election of committee and office-bearers as hereinbefore provided and (4) any other business competent : not less than fourteen days notice of the Annual General Meeting shall be given by newspaper advertisement or otherwise : any other general meeting of members hold in a calendar year shall be an Extra - Ordinary General Meeting.

(b)

The quorum at all meetings of the committee shall be one-third of the members of the committee.

EXTRA - ORDINARY GENERAL MEETINGS:

Extra - Ordinary General Meetings may be convened for any particular purpose by the Chairman or Vice-Chairman at the request of the committee or upon receipt of a requisition in writing signed by at least six members : Fourteen days notice of such meetings shall require to be given and such notice shall specify the purpose of such meeting.

FINANCE:

All monies raised by or on behalf of the society shall be applied to the aims of the society and to maintain its administrative structure. The Honorary Treasurer shall keep such books and records as may be necessary to maintain an accurate record of receipts and expenditure and shall prepare annually an abstract of intromissions. These books shall be audited by a suitably qualified auditor or other such person or persons acceptable to the society from year to year. A copy of the abstracts certified by the said auditor or persons shall be transmitted immediately after the Annual General Meeting of the society to Urras Eachdraidh Nis for the general information of the Trust.

FUNDS:

All funds of the society shall be lodged in a bank account opened in the name of the society at a suitable branch of a bank to be appointed by the committee : such account shall be operated upon by the Chairman or Vice-Chairman with the counter-signature of the Treasurer under mandate from the committee.

STANDING ORDERS:

The society shall have powers to draw up Standing Orders for the proper conduct of the business at all meetings of the society.

ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION:

No part of the foregoing constitution may be altered, deleted or extended except at an Annual. General Meeting or an Extra - Ordinary General Meeting called for the purpose : a clear majority of two-thirds of members present entitled to vote and voting shall effect such change after such amendments has been proposed and carried.

TERMINATION:

Should the aims herein defined be frustrated and become incapable of being realised or be realised through some other agency then all funds and securities in the ownership of the society shall be put at the disposal of Urras Eachdraidh Nis (Ness Historical Trust) and such organisation shall require to bear in mind any conditions attaching to gifts or loans made to the former Organisation.