THE CONSTITUTION OF
FAMILY ROOTS FHS (EASTBOURNE & DISTRICT)
As approved at the AGM of 14th April 2005

1. NAME
   The name of the Society shall be "Family Roots" or such other name as the Executive Committee may from time to time decide.



2. OBJECTS
   The objects of the Society shall be:-



• to promote and encourage the public study of family history and genealogy with particular reference to persons living in or associated with the Eastbourne area.



• to promote the preservation, security and accessibility of archival material.



3. POWERS
   In furtherance of the above objects, but no further or otherwise, the Society shall have the following powers:-



• to hold lectures and discussions and organise visits for Society members and friends.



• to hold and maintain a library of printed and other works for the use of Society members.



• to preserve source material and transcribe and publish such material including documents and monumental inscriptions.



• to pursue collaborative actions with similar societies in the interests of genealogy.



• to promote and to engage in educational activities including the issue of a regular journal and the publication and sale of other appropriate material.



4. AFFILIATION
   

   The Society is a member of the Federation od Family History Societies (Registered Charity No. 1038721) and shall have the power to guarantee its debts in the event of its insolvency up to the sum if £1. The society may also affiliate with other charitable organisations whose objects are deemed compatible and mutually supportive.

   
   
   
5. MEMBERSHIP
   
   • Membership of the Society shall be open to all persons showing genuine interest in the support of the Society's objects.
   
   
   
   • Classes of membership shall be determined by the Executive Committee of the Society and may include Honorary, Ordinary and Joint membership.
   
   
   
   • Fully paid up Ordinary and Joint members shall have full voting rights.
   
   
   
   • Subscriptions shall be payable at the time and at a rate determined by the members at a general meeting.
   
   
   
   • The Executive Committee of the Society may by unanimous vote and for good and sufficient reason suspend or recommend the termination of membership of any member. That suspension to become termination or to be set aside by the membership at the next following Annual General Meeting of the Society or an Extraordinary General Meeting convened in accordance with the procedure outlined in Clause 8(b) below. PROVIDED THAT such member will have the right to be heard (accompanied by a friend) by the Executive Committee before a final decision is taken by the Executive Committee.



6. ADMINISTRATION
   
   • The Society shall be administered by an Executive Committee consisting of not more than 12 members. The Honorary Officers of this Committee shall include Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Librarian, all of whom must be voting members of the Society. A quorum of the Executive Committee shall consist of 6 of those serving on the Committee.
   
   
   
   • The members of the Executive Committee shall be elected annually by the membership and their terms of office shall commence with the declaration of the election results at the Annual General Meeting. Nominations should be submitted in writing to the Secretary not less than 14 days before the day on which the Annual General Meeting is to take place. If insufficient nominations have been received to fill the vacancies, the Chairman of the meeting may, at his discretion, take nominations from the floor.
   
   
   
   • The Executive Committee shall have the power to co-opt members to fill casual vacancies (up to the next General Meeting) on the Executive Committee, as well as to invite individuals on an annual basis to undertake other tasks which are deemed to be necessary for the proper and effective administration of the Society's affairs.
   
   
   
   • All Executive Committee members shall be eligible for re-election on completion of their annual term of office.
   
   
   
   • If required by law Auditors or Independent Examiners of the Accounts of the Society shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting to carry out the audit or examination duties referred to in clause 9(c) below.



7. GENERAL MEETING
   
   • An Annual General Meeting shall be held during the month of April when the Officers shall present their reports. Notice in writing of this meeting and the agenda of items to be considered shall be given to members entitled to attend and vote at least twenty-eight days prior to the event.
   
   
   
   • An Extraordinary General Meeting may be convened either at the request of the Executive Committee or at the request of 6 members with prior written notice furnished to the members at least twenty-eight days before the meeting setting out the business to be discussed. A quorum at such a meeting shall consist of not less than 20% of the total membership on that day. Except as specified in Clauses 8 and 1.0 below, decisions at the meeting shall be by simple majority.
   
   
   
   • Only those paid-up members present shall be entitled to one vote at an Annual General Meeting or an Extraordinary General Meeting



8. CONSTITUTION
   
   • Subject to the following provisions of this clause, the Constitution may be altered only at an Annual General Meeting or at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Society at which proper Notice has been given such Notice to include notice of the Resolution setting out the terms of the proposed alteration. The Resolution must be passed by not less than two-thirds of the votes of Society members present and voting at the meeting.
   
   
   
   • Proposals for constitutional amendments shall be submitted to the Executive Committee of the Society at least 28 days prior to the day on which the Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting is to be held.



9. FINANCE
   
   • All income and property of the Society, shall be applied solely towards the promotion and execution of the objects of the Society as defined in Clause 2 above, and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly in any manner to any member of the Executive Committee or Society providing that nothing herein shall prevent reimbursement of proper out-of--pocket expenses incurred on behalf of the Society or the payment of an approved fee when engaged as a speaker.
   
   
   
   • The Executive Committee shall cause proper books of account to be kept with respect to all sums of money received and expended by the Society and the matters in respect of which such receipts and expenditures take place.
   
   
   
   • The Society's financial year shall commence on 1 February and accounts shall be prepared in relation to this financial. year. A copy of the accounts shall be presented for approval to the members at the Annual General Meeting. A copy shall be made available to all Society members as soon as practicable. Where appropriate or necessary the Society's accounts shall be audited or independently examined as required by law prior to being presented to the members



10. DISSOLUTION
    

    The Society May be dissolved. by a resolution passed by not less than three quarters of those members present with voting rights at either an Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting called by the Executive Committee following their decision that it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the Society and for which twenty-one days' prior notice (stating the terms of the resolution to be proposed) has been given in writing. Such a resolution shall include instructions for the disposal of any assets held by the Society (after all debts and liabilities have been paid) such that they shall be transferred to another charitable organisation having objectives similar to those of the Society

    
    
    
11. INDEMNITY
    

    The Members of the Executive Committee shall each be indemnified by the Society against any liability claims or demands arising from any action done in good faith by them on behalf of the Society or its Members in the administration of the Society.