Tickhill and District Local History Society

Constitution

1 Name of the Society

The Society shall be known as the “Tickhill and District Local History Society”, hereafter referred to as “the Society”.

2 Objective

The main objective of the Society shall be to increase the awareness of and interest in the history of Tickhill, including local and social history in general.

3 Activities

In furtherance of the above objective the Society is empowered to:

• Organise public meetings of an historical nature with guest speakers, at which members of the Society and paying visitors may attend.

• Promote the wide availability of historical information and materials via, for example, local history displays, newsletters, articles and websites.

• Seek to engage the local community and others in contributing and sharing information, materials and personal knowledge and experiences relevant to local history.

• Undertake research into aspects of the history of Tickhill and the surrounding area and make available to the public the results of such research.

• Undertake the compilation and organisation of local history material which shall form the archives of the Society.

• Provide comment and give advice, where possible, on matters appertaining to the history and heritage of Tickhill and District.

• Organise visits to places of local and general historical interest.

• Maintain links with other local history groups in the South Yorkshire/North Nottinghamshire area, with the Doncaster and District Heritage Association and other relevant parties.

• At the discretion of the Committee to make appropriate donations or subscriptions which support the Society’s aims, for example by promoting the Society’s contribution to Tickhill’s culture and environment or fostering links to specific interest groups. Donations and other such gifts relevant to the Society must be made from current surplus funds, be approved by the Committee and must not commit the Society to ongoing onerous expenditure.

• Carry out such other activities as are consistent and commensurate with the objectives of the Society.

4 Membership

Membership of the Society shall be open to all on payment of an annual subscription. The subscription will be the same for all members on an individual basis, except for Honorary members for whom membership will be free. Honorary membership may be granted by the Committee to any person who has given exceptional service to the Society.

5 Subscriptions and Meeting Fees

• The Annual Subscription for the year commencing each 1 September shall be determined by the Committee and shall be payable at the date of joining.

• Meeting fees for non-members shall be determined by the Committee for the year commencing 1 September and shall be payable on the day of each meeting by those actually attending.

• From time to time there may be an additional charge to attend a specific meeting, such reasonable charge to be determined by the Committee having taken into account the exceptional reasons for incurring any additional costs and expenditure.

6 Committee

The Committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) to take place each year prior to 31 December. It shall consist of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and up to five Ordinary Members. Nominations may be sought from members of the Society to fill vacancies on the Committee. In exceptional circumstances, a committee member not fulfilling their role may be required to resign by a simple majority of the Committee. The Committee shall meet normally not less than four times a year.

7 Finance

The Treasurer is accountable for the funds of the Society and is authorised to operate a bank account in the name of the Society. The Annual Accounts ending on 31 May shall be reviewed by a responsible person approved by the Committee, who has not been a bank signatory for the Society for any part of the accounting period under review. The Annual Accounts shall be presented to the AGM. All transactions shall be signed or authorised by two authorised signatories who will normally be the Treasurer and one other member of the Committee. Expenditure approved by the Committee shall include, but not be limited to, fees and expenses of visiting speakers etc.

8 Dissolution of the Society

The Society shall be dissolved by a resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at a Special Meeting convened for the purpose, for which twenty one days’ notice shall have been given to members. Such resolution may give instructions for the disposal of any assets held by or in the name of the Society, provided that if any property remains after satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, such property shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the Society, but shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institution or institutions having objects similar to some or all of the objects of the Society, as the Committee may determine and, if in so far as effect cannot be given to this provision, then to some other charitable purpose.

Should any such dissolution take place, it shall be provided that any archives belonging to the Society shall remain available to the public of Tickhill being lodged with Doncaster Archives or being retained by Tickhill Community Library.

9 Constitutional Amendments

Any amendments to this Constitution recommended by the Committee shall receive the assent of not less than two-thirds of the members of the Society present and voting at a meeting, provided that notice of any such amendment shall have been received by the Secretary in writing, including by email at least twenty one clear days before the meeting at which the amendment is to be brought forward.

At least fourteen clear days’ notice in writing, including by email of such a meeting, setting forth the terms of the amendment(s) to be proposed, shall be sent to each member of the Society.

4 February 2024