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WORCESTER-BIRMINGHAM CANAL SOCIETY
CONSTITUTION AND RULES
1 The Society shall be known as the Worcester-Birmingham Canal Society.
2 The objects of the Society shall be as follows:
(a) to promote the preservation, maintenance, improvement and restoration of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal and adjacent waterways (hereinafter called "The Waterways") for the use and benefit of the public. (b) to promote the fullest use of the Waterways by all forms of waterborne traffic and for all forms of water-related, commercial local amenity, tourist and recreational activities for the benefit of the public; and (c) to promote the education of the public in the history and use of canals and waterways and of the Waterways in particular.
3 In furtherance of the above objectives, but not further or otherwise, the Society shall have the following powers:
(a) to assist financially or otherwise the appropriate bodies (whether official or voluntary) concerned with or interested in the preservation, maintenance, improvement or restoration of the Waterways; (b) to promote visits, meetings, publications, exhibitions, lectures and any other likely collection and dissemination of knowledge about the past, present and future use of the Waterways; (c) to cleanse, scour, keep and preserve the Waterways. (d) to secure publicity for the promotion of the objects of the Society; (e) to purchase or take on lease or in exchange, hire or otherwise acquire in any manner any real or personal property; (f) to do all such other things as will further the attainment of the above objects or any of them.
4 All persons supporting the objects of the Society as defined in Clause 2 shall be eligible for membership.
(a) 'There shall be the following classifications of membership:- Individual Adult; Family (including children up to the age of eighteen years); Junior (under eighteen years of age) and Corporate. (b) The Committee have power to refuse any membership application and no reason shall necessarily be given. (c) The Society shall provide membership application forms. (d) Any person or organisation having paid their first annual subscription shall be bound by the Constitution. (e) Membership subscriptions become due on the 1st October. (f) Membership of the Society shall lapse two months after failure to renew subscription.
5 (a) The Management of the Society shall be carried out by a Committee consisting of Four Officers (Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer) together with not less than two and not more than nine Society Members. (b) The Officers of the Society shall be elected at the AGM and shall retire every year, but may offer themselves for re-election. (c) Those seeking election as Officers shall be nominated by a proposer and seconder who shall be fully paid-up members. The persons nominated shall endorse their willingness to stand for election. Nomination forms must be received by the Secretary not less than three weeks before the AGM.
6 (a) The candidates for the Committee shall be nominated by a proposer and a seconder who shall be fully paid-up members. The person nominated shall agree to stand for election. (b) In the event of a contested election a ballot of those present shall be held and two tellers appointed to collect and count the votes. (c) The four candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected to serve for two years; the remaining elected candidates to serve for one year. If candidates are elected without a ballot being necessary, then those to serve for two years shall be determined by the Committee at their first meeting.
7 The Annual General Meeting of the Society shall be held each year to:
(a) receive the Chairman's Report. (b) receive an audited financial statement for the previous financial year ending 31st March. (c) determine the annual subscription rates. (d) elect Officers and Committee members. (e) appoint Auditors. (f) appoint Solicitors (if deemed necessary). (g) consider any proposed alterations to the Constitution. (h) deal with business brought forward by the Committee or members' resolutions. Such resolutions duly proposed and seconded must be received by the Secretary not less than forty-two days beforehand and shall be circulated to all members before the meeting.
8 A notice convening the AGM shall be sent to all members, together with an Agenda.
9 A Special General Meeting may be called by written application of twenty-five members, to be held within eight weeks. Notice convening this meeting shall be circulated to all members not less than fourteen days before the date of the meeting.
10 Only fully paid-up members over eighteen years of age may vote. Corporate memberships must nominate a representative to place their vote.
11 The Chairman shall call a Committee meeting every month but a special Committee meeting may be called on the written application of three Committee members. Any member of the Committee absenting himself or herself for three consecutive meetings without apology shall be deemed to have resigned form the Committee.
12 The Quorum at a Committee meeting shall be five, to include one of the Society's Officers.
13 Vacancies on the Committee may be filled by the Committee and any Society member thus co-opted holds office until the next AGM.
14 The Committee may make rules of procedure , not at variance with this Constitution, for the conduct of its meetings. Also those of any sub-committee to which it may delegate authority.
15 The Society may affiliate with any other organisation having similar aims as defined in Clause 2 of this Constitution, if this is approved by a two-thirds majority of those members present at the AGM.
16 Any other organisation may affiliate to the Society at the discretion of the Committee. Its Secretary shall then receive a copy of the appropriate Society publications and may send a nominated observer to Society Committee meetings on prior application; these privileges to be reciprocal.
17 The Committee is authorised to prepare a news sheet and other matter for members' benefit.
18 The Committee may call upon any member to resign, providing that a resolution is passed by a two-thirds majority of the Committee. A member called upon to resign shall have the automatic right to appear before the Committee.
19 Alterations to this Constitution can only be made at the AGM or a Special AGM, notice of which specifies any proposed changes. Any alteration made to the Constitution must have a two-thirds majority of those present voting in favour of the resolution, provided that no alteration is made to this Clause, Clause 2 and Clause 23.
20 The Hon. Treasurer shall have charge of the funds of the Society. Accounts shall be paid on the signature of any two of the following:- Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.
21 The Society shall have a President who shall be invited by the Committee to hold office for the following year.
22 Vice-Presidents may be appointed by the Committee. The Committee reserves the right to terminate their tenure of Office.
23 If, upon the winding up or dissolution of the Society there remains after the settling of all liabilities any property whatsoever, this shall not be paid to or distributed among members of the Society but shall be given or transferred to such registered charity or charities established for similar charitable purposes as the Society shall decide.
7th May 1986 as amended 14th September 2006