Cam Decorative & Fine Arts Society

CAM Decorative and Fine Arts Society : CONSTITUTION

(including 2008 amendments)

1. NAME

The Society shall be called the CAM Decorative and Fine Arts Society.

2. OBJECTS

As a Member Society of the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies

(NADFAS) the Society shall have as its objects the promotion and advancement of the

aesthetic education of the public, the cultivation, appreciation and study of the fine arts,

and the giving of aid to the preservation of our national artistic heritage for the benefit of

the public.

3. POWERS

For the pursuit and fulfillment of the Society's objects its powers shall include the following:-

(a) The arrangement of lectures for Members of the Society.

(b) The arrangement of study groups, tours and visits to private houses, museums, exhibitions and

other places of interest for Members of the Society.

the public.

(d) The arrangement of voluntary preservation and recording work by its Members in relation to the

decorative and fine arts.

(e) To purchase, take on lease, hire or otherwise acquire any real or personal property or premises

including halls or lecture rooms and any rights, privileges or interests which the Society may think

necessary for the promotion of its objects.

(f) To subscribe, donate or guarantee money for any purpose connected with and calculated to

advance the objects of the Society.

(g) To raise and utilise funds for the furtherance of the objectives but without the power to pledge the

personal liability of any Member for the repayment of any sums borrowed.

4. MEMBERSHIP

(a) The Society shall have Ordinary Members and may have Honorary Members if the Committee so

decides.

(b) Membership is open to all members of the general public who so apply.

arts or who have done valuable work for the Society. An Honorary Member may attend all meetings

and events of the Society in the same manner as an Ordinary Member but shall not be liable to pay

a subscription nor be entitled to vote at any General Meeting of the Society. An Honorary Member

who at the time of election as such was an Ordinary Member may elect to remain an Ordinary

Member as well and in the event shall continue to be liable to pay a subscription and vote at

General Meetings of the Society.

5. THE OFFICERS

(a) THE TRUSTEES

The Trustees of the Charity will be the officers of the Society. They shall be the Chairman, the

Vice-Chairman, the Treasurer and the Secretary all of whom shall be nominated annually by the

Committee for election at the Annual General Meeting. Neither the Chairman nor the Vice-

Chairman may hold office in such post for more than three consecutive years. The Treasurer and

the Secretary shall not normally hold office for more than three years but the Committee

may extend this up to a maximum of five years to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities.

(b) THE CHAIRMAN

The Chairman, or in his absence an appointee of the Committee, shall preside at

all General Meetings and Committee Meetings of the Society. The decision of the

Chairman of the Meeting upon any question of order, voting, adjournment of the

Meeting or interpretation of the Rules of the Society shall be final. The Chairman

of the Meeting shall have an additional casting vote in the event of equality of

votes on any matter under consideration by the Society. The Chairman shall

attend and represent the Society at all NADFAS General Meetings, Area and

National Meetings or appoint a deputy to attend.

The Committee may appoint Honorary Officers, who shall be a President and up to three

Vice-Presidents, in recognition of their services to the decorative and fine arts or

to the Society. These appointments shall be for a period of five years and may be

renewed for a further five-year term but no Honorary Officer shall hold that office

for more than ten years in total. An Honorary Officer shall be entitled to all the

rights and privileges of Ordinary Members except the right to vote at General

Meetings.

6. THE COMMITTEE

(a) The Committee shall manage the affairs of the Society and administer its funds.

(b) The Committee shall consist of not more than fourteen members including the Chairman,

Treasurer and Secretary.

Committee at the Annual General Meeting. Nominations must be given to the Secretary not less

than 28 days before the Annual General Meeting. Committee Members shall retire each year but

be eligible for re-election.

(d) No Committee Member may serve for more than three years unless elected from the Committee

to be an Officer when they may serve a maximum of three years in each post with the possibility

of extension as provided in Rule 5(a).

(e) Members of the Steering Committee forming the Society may serve an additional year.

(f) Casual vacancies amongst the Committee during the year may be filled by the Committee.

Persons so appointed shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting after the

appointment and shall be empowered to vote.

(g) The Committee may co-opt up to four additional members to the Committee. Co-opted Members

shall have the right to attend and speak at Meetings of the Committee but not have the right to

vote. Co-opted Members shall be appointed for a specific period, not exceeding two years.

(h) The Committee may appoint sub-committees accountable to it for such purposes as it

determines.

(i) The Committee may make Rules regulating the conduct of meetings other than

General Meetings, attendance of visitors, charges for visitors and otherwise for

the regulation of the Society's affairs.

(j) The Committee shall meet as required and not less than four times each year. A quorum shall

consist of over one half of the number of the elected Members of the Committee, one of whom

should be an Officer

7. FINANCE

(a) The Society's financial year shall end on March 31^st in every year after the financial period of

the Society ending on December 31^st 2006.

(b) An Independent Financial Examiner shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting, whose

duties shall be to examine and report on the annual Accounts of the Society for submission to

Members. The first Examiner shall be appointed by the Committee.

on behalf of the Society. The funds of the Society will be paid into current, deposit or investment

accounts in the name of the Society with such banks, building societies or investment institutions

as the Committee shall agree. Cheques and other instruments shall be signed by

not fewer than two Officers or other signatories authorised by the Committee, provided always

that one of the two persons signing cheques or other instruments shall be the Chairman or

Treasurer.

(d) Payment for outings, study days or other events will be due at the time of booking and will not

normally be refundable.

8. SUBSCRIPTION

(a) The subscription for Ordinary Members of the Society shall be such a sum as may be determined

by the Committee from time to time. The first payment shall be due on election to membership

and due annually on May 31^st in every year.

(b) A member whose subscription is not paid in full within 28 days of the due date shall thereupon

cease to be entitled to rights and privileges of Membership but may at the discretion of the

Committee be reinstated on payment of all arrears.

additional to a Member's subscription.

9. GENERAL MEETlNGS

(a) The Annual General Meeting shall be held at such time and place as shall be determined by the

Committee. Written Notice, including the Agenda, the text and proposers and seconders of any

Resolutions, shall be given 21 days before the Meeting.

The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be:-

(1) To receive the examined Accounts of the Society and the Report thereon.

(2) To receive the Committee's Report on the activities of the past year.

(3) To elect Officers and Committee of the Society.

(4) To elect an Independent Financial Examiner of the Accounts of the Society.

(5) To consider any resolutions of which due Notice has been given.

(6) Informally to discuss any other business with the permission of the Chairman.

(b) The election of Officers and of the Committee shall be by a show of hands unless there are more

candidates than there are vacancies to be filled, in which case the relevant election shall be by

ballot of those present at the Meeting.

(d) An Extraordinary General Meeting must be convened within 28 days, at the request of the

Committee or of at least 20 Members of the Society. Resolutions to be considered must be given

in writing to the Secretary, who will give all Members 21 days written Notice of the Meeting,

stating the time and place of the Meeting, which shall be determined by the

Chairman and the text of the Resolutions.

(e) Except under Rule 9 (b) voting shall be by a show of hands and by simple majority (abstentions,

for the avoidance of doubt, not constituting a vote) save where an increased majority and/or

majority of those present and entitled to vote is expressly required. In the event of equality of

votes, the Chairman of the Meeting shall cast an additional vote. Proxy voting shall not be

permitted.

10. RESOLUTIONS

Notice of Resolutions to be brought forward shall be given in writing to the Secretary at least 35

days prior to the holding of a General Meeting. Any such Resolution shall have been duly seconded

and shall be set forth in the Agenda with the name of the proposer and seconder. Save with the

consent of the Committee, a Resolution which does not comply with the foregoing may not

be proposed at a General Meeting.

11. MEMBERS' ADDRESSES AND DATA PROTECTION ACT

(a) Members shall notify any change of address to the Society.

(b) Where the names and addresses of Members are held in a computer, Members must consent to the

disclosure of such information to the National Association of Decorative & Fine Arts Societies, or to

other societies, companies or Areas affiliated to NADFAS or the Society.

12. AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION AND RULES

These Rules may be amended by a written Resolution of which due Notice has been given in

accordance with Rule 9 (a) and 9 (d) passed at a General Meeting by at least two thirds of the

Members present and voting. These amendments must be in compliance with the Charities Act 1993

and will be subject to agreement by the Charity Commission.

13. TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP OF THE SOCIETY

If the conduct or action of any Member shall, in the opinion of the Committee, be injurious to or

inconsistent with the character, objects or interests of the Society, the Committee shall, if requested,

grant the Member a hearing before it. If the complaint is upheld the Committee may request in writing

such member to resign. Any member so requested who does not resign within one month from the

date of such a written request shall cease to remain a Member of the Society.

14. WINDING-UP THE SOCIETY

If a Resolution to wind up the affairs of the Society shall have been duly proposed and carried at a

General Meeting (at which a Member of the NADFAS Executive is present) by at least two thirds of

those present, so much of the assets shall be realised as may be necessary to discharge liabilities of

the Society and all the remaining assets shall be made over to the Charity Commissioners.

I5. WITHDRAWAL FROM THE ASSOCIATION

(a) A Member of the National Executive Committee should be invited to a General

Meeting at which withdrawal from the Association is to be proposed. If no reply

is received to the invitation then the Meeting shall proceed.

(b) According to the Constitution and Rules of the National Association of Decorative

& Fine Arts Societies, six months previous written Notice must be given to

NADFAS before a Member Society withdraws from the Association.

to be entitled to the use of the NADFAS name and shall cease to be called the

"CAM Decorative and Fine Arts Society." The Society shall return to the

Association all confidential documentation issued by NADFAS.

16. INTERPRETATION

In these rules, where the context admits, the masculine shall include the feminine and the singular

shall include the plural and vice - versa. The decision of the Committee on any question of

interpretation of these Rules shall be final and binding upon all

members and guests of the Society.

CAMDFAS, April 2009