Haworthia Society: Constitution of the Haworthia Society

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Constitution of the Haworthia Society

The rules governing the conduct and activities of the Haworthia Society.
(As amended at the BGM, 2002).

1) NAME

The Society shall be called "The Haworthia Society".

2) OBJECTIVE

The objective of the Society shall be to advance knowledge of plants in the genus Haworthia and other allied genera by providing the following services to all Members:

Publication of a periodical called the "Haworthiad" which shall contain information about cultivation, propagation, uses, taxonomy, conservation, natural distribution, major collections, personalities and related matters.
Distribution of seeds and plant materials.
Organisation of events such as lectures, visits and plant shows.
Other services as chosen by the Committee.

3) MEMBERSHIP

Membership of the Society shall be open to all people interested in the Objective of the Society. All applications for membership shall be in writing and accompanied by at least one year's subscription fee. All subscriptions shall be for one calendar year from the first day of January and back issues shall be sent if a subscription is received later during a year.

If a subscription renewal has not been received by the last day of March, then that Member shall be deemed to have resigned and shall not receive the Haworthiad and other Services, unless their subscription is renewed.

A Life President, who pays no subscription, shall be elected at a General Meeting in recognition of outstanding services to the Society.

Life Vice Presidents, who shall pay no subscription, may be elected at a General Meeting in recognition of exceptional service to the Society or to the study of the Genera. Such individuals, duly proposed and seconded, shall be nominated to or by the Committee at least two months prior to the next General Meeting. If the nomination(s) is/are approved by the Committee, the proposal(s) may then be put to the General Meeting without prior notification to the Membership or the nominated individual(s).

In addition, Honorary Members, who also pay no subscription, but benefit the Society in other ways during a year, shall be elected by the Committee each year. Their names shall be listed annually in Haworthiad.

The Committee shall have the power to expel any Member for conduct detrimental to the best interests of the Society, subject to that Member having had the opportunity to put his or her case to the Committee. In the event of expulsion, or of any Member resigning during any year, no portion of any subscription paid shall be refunded.

4) GENERAL MEETINGS

The Society shall hold a Biennial General Meeting (BGM) where the following business shall be transacted:

To receive the Minutes of the previous BGM.
To receive the Chairman's Report about the health and progress of the Society.
To receive the Treasurer's Report about the financial state and membership of the Society.
To elect the Honorary Officials and, occasionally, the Life President and/or Life Vice Presidents. Nominees should be prepared to describe what they could offer the Society.
To approve proposed alterations to the Rules.
To deal with other relevant business.

Extraordinary General Meetings shall be called at the discretion of the Committee or upon receipt by the Secretary of a written request giving a reason supported by the signatures of not less than twenty five members.

Participation at General Meetings shall be open only to Members. Not less than two month's notice of the time, date and place of General Meetings shall be given by the Secretary in a preceding Haworthiad. Decisions shall only be taken by a proposal receiving the assent of at least two-thirds of those Members present and the quorum shall be ten Members.

5) NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICIALS

Officials shall be elected at BGMs and shall thus serve for approximately two years. A vote shall be held when the number of nominations exceeds the number of vacancies. Nominations in writing, bearing the signature of a proposer and seconder and the written and signed consent of the nominee, shall be submitted to the Secretary before the start of the BGM.

Serving officials, nominees, proposers and seconders must all be Members. Officials who resign or are unable to fulfil their duties shall, if possible, immediately inform the Secretary in writing and the Committee shall have the power to co-opt a replacement to serve until the next BGM.

6) OFFICIALS

The Honorary Officials who serve the Society and who collectively make up the Committee shall be:

The Chairperson, who shall chair Meetings and Events. In the absence of the Chairperson, at any one Meeting or Event, another Official shall be invited by the Committee to act as Chairperson.
The Secretary, who shall minute Meetings, conduct the correspondence and business of the Society in accordance with the decisions of the Committee, maintain a register of Members and solicit nominations for officials.
The Treasurer, who shall receive, expend and keep all monies of the Society in accordance with the decisions of the Committee and shall present, in the Haworthiad, annual accounts which have been audited by two Members who are not Officials. The Treasurer shall in addition enrol new Members and deal with related matters.
The Editor, who shall procure, organise and edit material for publication in the Haworthiad.
The Seed and Plant Distributor, who shall procure, publicise and distribute seed and plant material.
Two additional Committee Members, to publish and distribute the Haworthiad and generally assist with the running of the Society, in accordance with the decisions of the Committee.
The Committee may co-opt, to assist with special projects and/or the running of the Society, additional Committee Members, who may serve until the next BGM.

7) MANAGEMENT

The Society shall be managed by the Committee, which shall meet at least twice per year at times, dates and places chosen at the previous Committee Meeting. Decisions shall be taken by majority votes and the quorum for the transaction of business shall be four officials.

Minutes shall be kept of all Meetings by the Secretary and a copy shall be sent to each Official before the next Committee Meeting. These minutes shall be approved at the next Committee Meeting and signed by the Chairperson. Concise accounts of the General Meetings shall be published by the Secretary in Haworthiad.

The reasonable second class travelling expenses of Officials for attendance at Committee or General Meetings and reasonable other expenses shall be refunded by the Society when requested. Receipts shall be produced whenever possible.

8) DISSOLUTION

The Society shall only be dissolved by a proposal passed at a General Meeting. Any property or assets which remain, after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, shall not be paid to or distributed amongst Members but shall be given or transferred to such other society or institution, having objectives similar to the Objective of this Society, as the General Meeting shall determine and, if this cannot be put into effect, then to some other charitable purpose.

9) ALTERATION TO RULES AND CONSTITUTION

Initial adoption and subsequent alterations to these Rules shall only be made at a General Meeting. Notice to propose alterations or additions to these rules shall be given in writing to the Secretary not less than four months prior to a general meeting with a draft of the proposed new Rule(s) and shall bear the signature of a proposer and seconder who are Members. The Secretary shall include a copy of the Proposal in the Haworthiad before the General Meeting.

The Committee shall be the sole authority for the interpretation of these Rules and their decision shall be final.

Issue 2.0

CJM, Oct. 2002

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