Page 1.
1 NAME AND OBJECTS.
1.1 The name of the society is the Salford Astronomical Society and it's
objects are to advance the science of astronomy, to promote research
in astronomy and associated sciences, to circulate information on
astronomical and kindred sciences by lectures, publication of articles,
books and transactions, to accquire equipment and generally to
encourage and promote an interest in atronomical study and observation
amongst its members and the general public, particularly in Salford and
the neighbourhood thereof.
2.0 MEMBERSHIP.
2.1 The society shall be composed of Ordinary, Junior and Honorary Members.
2.2 Honorary members shall be such persons as shall be proposed by the
council and approved by a general meeting of the society. They shall be
entitled to vote at meetings but shall not be liable to pay any
subscription.
2.3 A junior member means an ordinary member who, on the 1st September, in
the session in question, shall be under the age of 18 years or, if a
full time student under the age of 21 years. A junior member shall have
no right of voting at meetings.
3 ELECTION OF MEMBERS.
3.1 Applicants for membership shall be proposed, by an ordinary member or
honorary member in writing addressed to the honorary secretary. The
applications shall be considered by the council at its first meeting
after the receipt of such applications, or at the first practicable
opportunity thereafter. The council may, if it think fit, prescribe a
Form of Application.
3.2 The election of a candidate shall rest with the council, subject to
confirmation by a general meeting. At the first ordinary general
meeting of the society held after consideration of applications by
the council, a list of the candidates elected by the council shall be
read and put to the meeting for confirmation. However, if any member
desires a ballot, the election of all the candidates in such a list,
shall be deemed to be confirmed. If a ballot is demanded, it shall be
taken at the close of the same meeting and shall be conducted in such
a manner as the council shall prescribe.
4 SUBSCRIPTIONS.
4.1 The annual subscrption for ordinary members shall be œ and that
for junior members shall be œ , or such other greater or lesser
sum as shall be determined from time to time by the council, subject
to confirmation by a general meeting. The first subscription shall be
due upon confirmation of election (rule 3) and until it is received
by the honorary treasurer, no rights of membership shall exist.
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SUBSCRIPTIONS (continued)
4.2 The annual subscription becomes payable each year on 1st September and
if it is not paid by the end of January following, the member's rights
shall be suspended. The honorary treasurer shall send reminders of
unpaid subscriptions not later than 10th January in each session. If
any such subscription is not paid by 31st March following, the
defaulting member shall cease to be a member of the society unless the
council shall order otherwise. The council may, st any time, reinstate
such a member upon such terms, as it thinks fit.
4.3 The society shall have a right to require new members to pay an entrance
fee and the council shall have the power to decide, whether an entrance
fee is to be charged and to fix the amount thereof.
5 CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP.
5.1 Any member desiring to resign from the society shall do so in writing
to the honorary secretary. Such resignations shall only be accepted, if
all monies due to the society have been paid by the date of the receipt
of the resignation.
5.2 Whenever there may appear cause, other than the non-payment of monies
due to the society for the expulsion of any member from the society,
the council may have a special general meeting of the society for that
purpose. If, not less than 20 members, other than junior members, be
then present and 3/4's of the members present vote by ballot, that such
member shall be expelled, the chairman of the meeting shall declare the
same accordingly, provided that prior to the meeting, the member in
question shall have the right to appear in person before the council, at
a meeting, at which the question of his/her conduct shall be considered.
The member shall also have the right to make a personal statement to the
special general meeting.
5.3 Any person shall, on ceasing to be a member, lose all right or claim on
the society and its property and funds without prejudice to any existing
liability to the society.
6 MEETINGS.
6.1 The meetings of the society shall consist of the ordinary meetings, the
annual general meeting and special general meetings as hereinafter
defined. Members and honorary members shall alone, have the right of
voting at any such meetings.
6.2 The ordinary meetings shall, if possible, be held once each month from
September to April inclusive, or as the council may direct. Visitors
may, subject to the general approval of the council, attend such meetings
but may not vote on any question.
6.3 The annual general meeting shall be held in April or May in each year
for the purpose of the election of officers and councellors, the
presentation of the financial accounts by the honorary treasurer, the
election of an honorary auditor and of any other business which the
council or members desire to be discussed. Notice of this meeting shall
have been deemed to have been given by the issue of a syllabus card to
each member in which the date is quoted.
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MEETINGS (continued)
6.4 A special general meeting of the society may be called by the council
for any purpose which they deem necessary and the honorary secretary
shall give 14 days notice of such a meeting together with the agenda,
therefor by exhibition of a notice in the observatory and/or in writing
to each member. A special general meeting shall also be called by the
honorary secretary, upon requisition to do so, signed by not less than
10 ordinary or honorary members and stating the purpose for which they
require the meeting to be called. Upon the receipt of such a requisition,
the honorary secretary shall give notice in writing to each member of the
agenda and date of the meeting, which shall be sent within 7 days of the
receipt of the requisition; the date of the meeting shall not be earlier
the 14 days from the date of receipt, nor later than 4 weeks. If the
meeting is not so convened, the requisitioners### may themselves, convene
the meeting in the manner prescribed above.
6.5 The proceedings of any meeting, shall not be invalidated by the accidental
omission to send notice of the meeting to any person who should receive
such notice, with the exception of the notice to be given to a member who
is in question under rule 5.
6.6 The certificate of the honorary secretary or any person employed by him,
shall be sufficient evidence that the notices required by this
constitution and laws, have been duly observed.
6.7 At the ordinary meetings and the annual general meetings, 10 members
shall form a quorum. In the case of a special general meeting, a quorum
shall consist of 20 ordinary and/or honorary members.
7 OFFICERS AND COUNCIL.
7.1 The management of the society shall be vested in a council elected from
ordinary and/or honorary members. Junior members may not be councellors
but may be invited to attend council meetings in a consultative capacity.
7.2 The council shall consist of:
(1) The officers, namely the chairman, 2 or more vice presidents, the
honorary secretary(s) and the honorary treasurer.
(2) Four councellors.
7.3 Officers and councellors for the ensuing year, shall be nominated by the
council in the form of a list, showing the name of the person nominated
and the position for which he or she is nominated and this list shall be
exhibited at the ordinary meeting in March each year. Any 2 ordinary or
honorary members may nominate another member for any position by notice
to the honorary secretary, such notice to be received by him not later
than 10 days before the annual meeting. In any case where a vote is
necessary, this shall be by ballot at the annual general meeting, which
will appoint scrutineers for the purpose.
7.4 The officers and council shall be elected at the annual general meeting
each year and shall hold office for one year from the time of election.
They shall be eligible for re-election.
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OFFICERS AND COUNCIL (continued)
7.5 In the event of a casual vacancy arising in the officers or councellors
positions, the council shall have the power to fill the vacancy for the
period up to the end of the session during which it arises.
8 PATRON AND PRESIDENT
8.1 The society in general meeting may, from time to time, elect a patron
and/or president but shall not be obliged to do so. Persons so elected,
shall be deemed to be honorary members.
9 POWERS AND PROCEDURE OF COUNCIL
9.1 The council shall manage the property, proceedings and affairs of the
society and controll the investment and expenditure of the funds thereof,
all in accordance with the constitution and laws of the society.
9.2 The council shall have the power to make, vary and rescind regulations
consistent with the objects of the society. This constitution, laws and
such regulations, shall remain in force until the council or a general
meeting decides otherwise. Notice of, at least, 14 days shall be given
to the honorary secretary of any motion to be made at such a general
meeting for the alteration or abrogation of such regulations.
9.3 The council may regulate its own procedure and may delegate any of its
powers to any one or more of its body. The council may co-opt any
member(s) of the society up to 3 in number. 5 members of the council
will form a quorum.
9.4 The council may appoint committees, whether of their own number, or from
other members of the society and may delegate to them, such powers as it
thinks fit. The acts done by such committees shall, however, be subject
to the full council's approval.
9.5 The council shall have power to appoint such officials or servants as
may be necessary and also to displace or remove any such officer or
servant without being called upon, to give any reasons for so doing.
It shall have power to hir rooms, to engage lectures, to determine what
lectures shall be given, to fix the remuneration of lectures, to provide
public lectures or demonstrations, to rent rooms for the publication of
such matters as it thinks fit, to make grants in aid of astronomical
research or publication, to purchase instruments, furnishings, books,
lantern slides and any other items necessary for the advancement of the
objects of the society, to defray all necessary charges and generally to
do whatever may seem to it, to be calculated and promote the objects of
the society.
9.6 No act done by the council, whether within the powers of the council or
not, shall receive the express or implied sanction of the members
in general meeting, or shall afterwards be impeded by any member of the
society, on any ground whatsoever, but shall be deemed an act of the
society.
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10 DUTIES OF OFFICERS.
10.1 The chairman, or in his absence, one of the vice presidents, or failing
that, a member of the council present, shall preside at all council
meetings. The chairman shall have a casting in addition to a deliberative
vote.
10.2 The honorary secretary(s) shall conduct the general secretarial business
of the society, with such assistance as the council from time to time
determine. He/she shall be responsible for keeping minutes of all meetings
of the society of the council and of any committees appointed by the
council or the society.
10.3 The honorary treasurer shall receive all monies due to the society and
shall make payments authorised by the council. He/she shall keep proper
and regular accounts of all receipts and payments and shall submit these
to the council when required. He/she shall prepare the annual accounts
in the form directed by the council of the society, duly balanced to the
preceeding 31st, March and audited by the honorary auditor who is
appointed by the previous annual general meeting.
11 CONDUCT OF THE OBSERVATORY
11.1 (a) Persons who, in the opinion of the director of the observatory, are
suitably qualified to operate the 45cm telescope, may be appointed as
wardens of the observatory and cards of authorisation shall be issued,
to enable them so to act.
11.2 (b) No other persons shall be allowed to use the 45cm telescope, except in
the presence of and under the direct supervision of a warden.
11.3 (c) All persons using the 45cm telescope, shall complete an application
form for observing time and shall leave the completed form in the
observatory, in the appropriate tray, after completion of the other
formalities laid down in the observing regulations posted in the
observatory.
11.4 (d) Failure to comply with these rules may result, in the case of a
warden, withdrawal of the warden's card. In the case of a member,
suspension from the facilities of the observatory.
12 DISSOLUTION
12.1 The society shall not be dissolved without the consent of the council and
2/3's of the whole of the members of the society entitled to vote at
meetings in special general meeting.
12.2 In the event of the society being dissolved, its property shall be
collected together and handed to the custody of 2 or more trustees, of
whom 2 shall be the Mayor of Salford, for the time being, and the
Director of Education of the city of Salford, for the time being, to hold
the said property for a successor society, or for the use of the City of
Salford.
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13 ALTERATION OF CONSTITUTION AND LAWS
13.1 This constitution and its laws shall not be altered except at a special
general meeting called for the purpose, of which at least 14 days' notice
has been given to members, such notice to specify the exact change(s) or
alteration(s) to be made. At such a meeting and alteration, addition or
change, must be approved by a majority of 2/3's of the ordinary members
and/or honorary members present and entitled to vote, with a minimum of
15 recorded votes or a 1/4 of the number of members on the roll, whose
subscription is not in arrear, whichever is the greater.
13.2 Adopted by resolution of special general meeting
of the members of the Salford Astronomical Society
on 3rd May, 1972.
(signed) A. Taylor,
Honorary Secretary.