Constitution


1 Name

1.1 The name of the club shall be Wight Balance Photography +

2 Aims & Objectives 

2.1 To practise and instruct each other in all branches of Photography in a spirit of friendship and cordiality by holding meetings for the interchange of ideas, lectures, papers, demonstrations etc., by members and non-members

2.2 To co-operate with the efforts of other Associations, Societies or Clubs formed for like or similar purposes

2.3 To encourage and assist with the production of photographs for displays, competitions and instructional purposes, by members, or at designated times by non-members

3 Membership

3.1 Applications for membership must be submitted by an existing member of the club in writing to the Secretary, who will publish the application within 7 days of receipt for members to inspect

3.2 Candidates for membership shall be subject to the approval of the Committee. Candidates may attend up to two meetings without charge before applying to join the club

3.3 No candidate approved by the Committee shall be deemed to be a member of the club until he/she shall have paid his/her first subscription

3.4 Candidates under the age of eighteen years (Junior members) shall be admitted to the Club only with the written consent of a parent or legal guardian

3.5 Junior members shall not be eligible to vote at Club meetings nor be elected to the Committee

3.6 Membership shall be terminated if the Committee decides that the member has acted in breach of the Constitution or consistently in a manner detrimental to the name of the Club

4 Subscriptions

4.1 The Club Year for subscription and administrative purposes shall run from April 1st to the following March 31st. The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the club shall be held on the last Wednesday in March, or such earlier date as may be determined by the Committee in consultation with the membership

4.2 Each member shall pay an annual subscription, the amount of which shall be decided at the previous AGM

4.3 Junior Members shall pay a reduced annual subscription and attendance subscription at the discretion of the Committee

4.4 A member whose annual subscription is unpaid for two months shall be considered in arrears. The Committee shall have the power to terminate the membership of any member whose subscription is deemed unreasonably in arrears

4.5 Candidates elected to membership after the 6th month of the club year shall pay a reduced subscription for the remainder of the club year at the discretion of the Committee

5 Management

5.1 The club shall be managed by an elected Committee consisting of a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and one other member

5.2 The Officers and Committee shall be elected at the AGM each year

5.3 The Committee shall meet quarterly or more frequently as required and four officers shall constitute a quorum. In the event of a tied vote on any issue the Chairman shall have a casting vote.

5,4 If a member of the Committee fails to attend any three consecutive Committee meetings without reasonable explanation, he/she automatically shall cease to be a member of the Committee

5.5 Should a vacancy exist or occur during the Committee year of office, the Committee shall have the power to co-opt a member for the remainder of that year without the need to call an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM). The Committee shall also have the power to co-opt members as required for other specific purposes

5.6 The Committee shall not have the power to incur a total liability which exceeds the total funds in hand without the consent of an AGM or EGM

5.7 All property of the Club shall be the responsibility of the Committee, to be used in the interests of the Club

5.8 Any such property shall be held by members known as Custodians, nominated by the Committee and answerable to the Committee in the execution of their duties. The minimum number of Custodians shall be two and the maximum number shall be four.

5.9 The Club may only be dissolved with the consent of eighty percent of members present at an EGM called specifically for that purpose

6 Meetings

6.1 The AGM shall be held at the end of the Club year to receive annual reports from the Chairman and Treasurer, and for the election of Officers and Committee for the ensuing year. The Secretary shall give one month's notice of the AGM to the members by the normal methods of Club communication

6.2 An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called on presentation of a written request to the Secretary, stating the reason(s) for calling the meeting and signed by not less than ten percent of the members

6.3 It shall be the duty of the Secretary to give twenty eight days clear notice of the calling of an EGM. The notice shall set out the matter(s) to be debated and no other business shall be conducted at the EGM

7 Rules

7.1 All new Rules or alteration of existing Rules shall be made at the AGM or at an EGM called specifically for the purpose, and shall be shown on the Agenda of the meeting

7.2 Notice of proposed revision or amendments of existing Rules or proposed new Rules shall be sent to the Secretary not less than 28 days before the date appointed for the AGM, or accompanying the request for an EGM

7.3 A copy of the Constitution shall be supplied to every member of the Club

7.4 In the event of anything occurring not provided for or not clear in the foregoing Rules, the Committee shall have the power to deal with same at their discretion

8 Responsibilities of Officers

8.1 The Chairperson Shall:-

 8.1.1 Preside at the Annual General Meeting

 8.1.2 Exercise a general supervision and interest in the affairs of the Club

 8.1.3 Represent the Club on important occasions

 8.1.4 Be available for consultation when required

 8.1.5 Be responsible for the conduct of the Committee in managing the affairs of the Club

 8.1.6 Preside at all committee meetings, maintain order and direct the course of the committee’s deliberations towards fulfilling the Club’s avowed aims

 8.1.7 Remain impartial in all his/her dealings with members

8.2 The Secretary Shall:-

 8.2.1 Make, keep and render available whenever required a list of all members of the Club

 8.2.2 Conduct all correspondence of the Club

 8.2.3 Keep minutes of the AGM, EGM and Committee meetings

 8.2.4 Implement such administrative matters for and on behalf of the Club as authorised by the Committee

8.3 The Treasurer Shall:-

 8.3.1 Collect all subscriptions and monies due from whatever source and shall be responsible for the recording of all cash transactions and for the banking of monies received as soon as possible and not later than 7 days after receipt

 8.3.2 Hold a cash float and draw up an annual statement of Income and Expenditure and Balance Sheet, which after independent examination shall be presented at the AGM or EGM convened for the purpose

8.4 The Vice Chairperson Shall:-

 8.4.1 Deputise for the Chairperson as and when necessary.


Constitution adopted at the inaugural meeting of the Club on February 26th 2008 at The Riverside Centre, Newport, IOW, amended at an AGM held on May 7th 2008, and further amended at an AGM held on May 6th 2009