Constitution

 

1. TITLE

1.1 The association shall be called The Société Perillos, hereafter referred to as ‘the Society’ and is affiliated to the Société Perillos, as registered in France under the law on associations of 1901.

1.2 The association is an unregistered friendly society, conform to the Friendly Societies Act 1974 and 1992, identified as a General Service Society, to promote co-operation in social and cultural pursuits.

2. OBJECTS

2.1 To provide a point of contact and co-operation for interest and research in the history, legends and mysteries of the French town of Opoul-Perillos, as well as any inroad into these aspects, as deemed relevant.

2.2 To invite and receive contributions from any appropriate person or organisation by way of subscriptions or donations, provided that in raising funds the organisation shall not undertake any substantial permanent trading activities and shall conform to any relevant requirements of the law;

2.3 To collect subscriptions from members;

2.4 To buy, take on lease or in exchange any property necessary for the achievement of the objects and maintain and equip it for use;

2.5 To sell, lease or dispose of all or any part of the property of the Society, subject to any consents required by law;

2.6 To borrow money and charge all or any part of the property of the Society with repayment of the money so borrowed, subject to any consents required by law;

2.7 To promote the study and research into aspects specified in 2.1 by means of journals and other publications;

2.8 To hold seminars, lectures, discussions, conferences, demonstrations or meetings;

2.9 To promote public awareness of items specified in 2.1;

2.10 To act as an consultative body for the purpose of consultation in matters of public and professional interest relating to 2.1;

2.11 To invest monies of the Society as it shall from time to time determine;

2.12 To publish a newsletter that shall constitute the official record of the meetings and other activities of the Society in furtherance of its objects;

2.13 To establish or support any charitable trusts, associations or institutions formed for all or any of the objects;

2.14 To co-operate with other charities, voluntary bodies and statutory authorities operating in furtherance of the objects or of similar charitable purposes and to exchange information and advice with them;

2.15 To do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the achievement of the objects.

3. MEMBERSHIP

3.1 Ordinary membership of the Society shall be open to any person completing a membership form and paying the relevant subscription as determined by the Annual General Meeting of the Society members. Ordinary members shall be entitled to one vote.

3.2 Student membership shall be open to individuals fulfilling the same requirements as for ordinary membership, but who are, in addition, engaged in full-time study in an institution of higher education. Student members shall be entitled to one vote.

3.3 Life membership shall be open to individuals:

3.3.1 who were previously ordinary members of the Society for a period of at least five years and who have reached the age of 70 and indicated that they wish to continue their involvement in the Society; life members shall continue to receive notices of the Society but shall not be required to pay further subscriptions; life members shall be entitled to one vote.

3.3.2 ordinary members of the Society who have opted to complete a membership form and paying the relevant subscription as determined by the Annual General Meeting of the Society members. Life members shall be entitled to one vote.

3.4 Honorary membership shall be open to any individual so nominated by the Committee; in general, these will be persons of eminence who have contributed to the advancement of the objects of the Society; they will not be required to pay a membership subscription, nor shall they be entitled to vote, unless specifically given as right by the Committee at the time – and only then – of awarding honorary membership upon a person.

3.5 The Society, its Officers or the Committee can decline a person requesting membership, without the need to provide any specific reason for this denial.

3.6 Membership becomes active at the time of written confirmation by the Society and/or the cashing of the membership fee, whatever comes first.

3.7 A Full Member is defined as a member who is entitled to vote, as defined in categories 3.1 to 3.4.

4. TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP

4.1 The Committee may unanimously and for good reason terminate the membership of any individual member, provided that the individual concerned shall have the right to be heard by the Committee, accompanied by a friend, before a final decision is made. The individual member will have the possibility to submit, in lieu of a physical hearing, a written argument, which will warrant a written response of the Committee to the member.

4.2 In case of termination, membership fees will be returned as:-

4.2.1 In the case of termination of an Ordinary or Student member (3.1 and 3.2), any subscription will be returned on a monthly pro ratio basis, taking into account the date of payment received and the date of the decision.

4.2.2 In the case of termination of a lifelong member, as defined in 3.3.2, any subscription will be returned on a pro ratio basis, by comparison of the lifelong membership fee to the ordinary membership fee, taking into account the date of payment received and the date of the decision.

5. OFFICERS

5.1 The Officers of the Society shall be as follows:-

Chairman
Secretary
Treasurer
Liaison Officer (see 5.4)

5.2 The Officers will assign amongst themselves the responsibility of membership administrative, financial records, meeting minutes and any other housekeeping task deemed necessary or required by law.

5.3 An individual can hold more than one office, though not more than two. A minimum of two Officers are thus required, excluding the third Officer, as defined by 5.4.

5.4 The Chairman of the French Société Perillos will perform the role of “Liaison Officer”.

6. ELECTION OF OFFICERS

6.1 Officers are elected ad perpetuum and positions will only become vacant when elected officers submit their resignation from office.

6.2 Vacant Offices shall be filled at the Annual General Meeting of the Society, from, and by, the Members of the Society.

6.3 Vacancies will be announced in the invitation to the Annual General Meeting of the Society.

6.4 Offices will be elected by a simple majority of votes from those Full Members attending the meeting. In the event of equal votes, the Chairman shall be entitled to an additional casting vote.

7. GENERAL COMMITTEE

7.1 The affairs of the Society shall be controlled by a General Committee consisting of the Officers of the Society. The General Committee shall meet at agreed intervals and not less than one time a year.

7.2 The duties of the General Committee shall be:-

7.2.1 To control the affairs of the Society on behalf of the Members.

7.2.2 To keep accurate accounts of the finances of the Society. These should be available for reasonable inspection by Members at the Annual General Meeting. The Society shall maintain a bank current account and the following Officers shall be authorized to sign Society cheques: Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary, having the right to sign each individually.

7.2.3 To co-opt additional members of the Committee as the Committee feels is necessary. Co-opted members shall not be entitled to a vote on the Committee.

7.2.4 To make decisions on the basis of a simple majority vote. In the case of equal votes, the Chairman shall be entitled to an additional casting vote.

8. GENERAL MEETINGS

8.1 The Annual General Meeting of the Society shall be held not later than the end of March each year. 28 clear days written notice shall be given to Members of the Annual General Meeting by posting the notice on the Society website. Members must advise the Secretary of any business to be moved at the Annual General Meeting at least 21 days before the meeting. The Secretary shall give notice of the agenda for the meeting not less than 14 days before the meeting.

8.2 The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be to:-

8.2.1 Confirm the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting and any General Meetings held since the last Annual General Meeting.

8.2.2 Receive the accounts for the year from the Treasurer.

8.2.3 Receive the annual report of the Committee from the Secretary.

8.2.4 Elect the Officers of the Society, if any vacancies are present.

8.2.6 Review Society subscription rates and agree them for the forthcoming year.

8.2.7 Transact such other business received in writing by the Secretary from Members 21 days prior to the Meeting and included on the agenda.

8.3 Special General Meetings may be convened by the General Committee, or on receipt by the Secretary of a request in writing, from not less than 20 Full Members of the Society. At least 28 days notice of the meeting shall be given.

8.4 At all General Meetings, the chair will be taken by the Chairman or, in their absence, by a deputy appointed by the Society or by Full Members attending the meeting.

8.5 Decisions made at a General Meeting shall be by a simple majority of votes from those Full Members attending the meeting. In the event of equal votes, the Chairman shall be entitled to an additional casting vote.

8.6 The General Committee is the sole authority to determine the chosen location of any meeting, including the Annual and any Special General Meeting.

9. FINANCES

The income and property of the Society shall be applied solely towards the purposes of the Society as set forth in this constitution and no proportion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise whatsoever by way of profit to any member of the Society, provided that nothing herein after shall prevent the payment in good faith of reasonable and proper payment to any servant of the Society or the repayment of reasonable out of pocket expenses to any member or Officer of the Society.

10. ALTERATION TO CONSTITUTION

10.1 Any proposed alterations to the Society Constitution may only be considered at an Annual or Special General Meeting, convened with the required written notice of the proposal. Any alteration or amendment must be proposed by a Full Member of the Society and seconded by another Full Member. Such alterations shall be passed if supported by not less than two-thirds of those Full Members present at the meeting.

11. DISSOLUTION

11.1 If at any General Meeting of the Society, a resolution be passed calling for the dissolution of the Society, the Secretary shall immediately convene a meeting of the General Committee of the Society to be held not less than one month thereafter to discuss and vote on the resolution.

11.2 If at that meeting, the resolution is carried by at least two-thirds of the Full Members of the General Committee, the Secretary shall convene a Special General Meeting of the Society to be held not less than one month thereafter to discuss and vote on the resolution

11.3 If at that meeting, the resolution is carried by at least two-thirds of the Full Members present at the meeting, the General Committee shall thereupon, or at such date as shall have been specified in the resolution, proceed to realize the assets of the Society and discharge all debts and liabilities of the Society.

11.4 After discharging all debts and liabilities of the Society, the remaining assets shall not be paid or distributed amongst the Full Members of the Society, but shall be given or transferred to some other voluntary organization having objects similar to those of the Society.