DARC Constitution

Name

Aims

Membership

Membership shall be divided between the following categories:

• a. INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP.
  This category of membership is specific to the individual whose name appears on the Membership Form.

  Individual members shall have the following rights:
  

  1. To receive a copy of the Club Membership Pack containing a copy of this Constitution.
  2. To receive a copy of each issue of the Club newsletter published during the current year of membership.
  3. If nominated, to stand for election as an officer of the Club.
  4. To vote and speak at meetings.
  5. To introduce or second propositions and/or nominate or second nominations for the Club officers.
  6. To participate fully in Club activities.

• b. FAMILY MEMBERSHIP.
  This category of membership extends to cover the immediate family of the person or persons named on the Membership Form. Family Members shall have rights of an Individual Member, though limited to receiving one copy of the Club Membership Pack and newsletter per membership (rather than per person). Each Family Membership shall be limited to a maximum of two votes on any occasion where a vote may be required.

• c. HONORARY MEMBER (no subscription required).
  A person may, for meritorious service to the Club or the Acorn RISC community in general, be made an Honorary Member for life with that Member's consent, by a vote of the Members present at an Annual General Meeting. An Honorary Member shall receive a copy of each issue of the Club newsletter.

All Members shall abide by the Constitution of the Club. The Committee shall have power to expel any Member whose conduct, in the opinion of at least three-quarters of the full Committee, renders that person unfit to be a Member of the Club. No Member shall be expelled without first having been given the opportunity to appear before the Committee.

Guests will be welcome at Club meetings subject to the payment of the current visitors charge.

Subscriptions

• a. The annual subscription for the forthcoming year shall be decided at the Annual General Meeting and be based on a recommendation by the outgoing Committee.
• b. All subscriptions shall be due and payable after the Annual General Meeting. Members in arrears have no voting rights.
• c. The financial year shall run from 1 April to 31 March. Members joining during the year shall pay pro rata rounded up to the nearest pound.
• d. A Member shall be presumed to have resigned from the Club if by 31 June following the AGM the subscription has not been paid.
• e. The Committee shall have the power to waive or reduce subscriptions in special circumstances.

Finance

Membership of the Club's Committee

• a. A Chairman who at his/her discretion will preside at all meetings at which he is present. No Member may hold this position for more than two consecutive years but may be re-elected after a break of one year.
• b. A Vice-Chairman who will deputise for the Chairman as required.
• c. A Secretary who will be responsible for:
  
  1. preparing and circulating an agenda for and keeping minutes of Committee meetings and Annual and Extraordinary General Meetings of the Group;
  2. ensuring that all correspondence is correctly handled;
  3. maintaining a master roll of Members in all categories;
  4. maintaining a register of the Club's equipment.
• d. A Treasurer who will be responsible for:
  
  1. keeping the Club's accounts;
  2. advising the Committee on all financial matters;
  3. preparing the accounts for audit and presenting them at the AGM.
• e. A Programme Co-ordinator.
• f. A Publicity Officer who will be responsible for promoting the Club and encouraging new members.
• g. An Editor of the newsletter who may appoint up to two administrative assistants.
• h. A Public Domain Librarian to maintain the Club's Public Domain Library and provide a comprehensive Public Domain service to Club Members.
• i. A Webmaster who will be responsible for the creation and maintenance of the Club's Web site.
• j. Not more than two co-opted Members with full voting powers.

Committee Standing Orders

• a. The quorum for the Committee shall be 4. In the absence of a quorum business may be dealt with but any decisions taken only become valid after ratification at the next Committee meeting at which there is a quorum.
• b. Committee meetings may be called by the Chairman, the Secretary or any three full Members of the Committee.
• c. The Chairman may vote. In the event of a tie he has a second, casting vote.

Annual General Meeting

• a. The Annual General Meeting shall normally be held as part of the April Club meeting each year.
• b. The quorum for the meeting shall be 10.
• c. The agenda for the meeting shall be:
  
  1. Apologies for absence.
  2. Minutes of the previous AGM.
  3. Chairman's report.
  4. Secretary's report.
  5. Treasurer's report.
  6. Election of the new Committee.
  7. Appointment of auditors.
  8. Other business.
• d. Items 1) to 5) shall be chaired by the outgoing Chairman, item 6) by an acting Chairman who is not standing for election to office, and the remaining business by the newly elected Chairman.
• e. Items to be raised by Members under other business which are likely to be controversial or give rise to a vote must be notified to the Secretary not less than 10 working days before the AGM.

Extraordinary General Meeting

• a. Extraordinary General Meetings may be called by the Committee or not less than 10 Members of the Group, the date of the meeting being the earliest convenient as decided by the Committee. At least 28 days notice in writing must be given to the Secretary, who in turn shall give Members at least 14 days notice in writing of the agenda. No other business may be transacted at the EGM.
• b. The quorum for the EGM shall be 8.

Amendments to the Constitution

Winding up the Group

• a. The decision to wind up the Group may only be taken at an EGM.
• b. The funds of the Group shall after the sale of all assets and the payment of all outstanding debts, be disposed of as directed by Members at the final EGM.