| Constitution and Rules of the National Dahlia Society |
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| (as agreed at AGM March 2010) |
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| 1 The Society shall be called "The National Dahlia Society" |
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| 2. Objectives of the Society. |
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The objectives of the Society are to encourage, improve and extend the
cultivation of the Dahlia; by means of publications, the holding of exhibitions,
judging examinations, conferences, lectures, bureaux and trials or by any other
means. |
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The objectives of the Society are to encourage, improve and extend the
cultivation of the Dahlia; by means of publications, the holding of exhibitions,
judging examinations, conferences, lectures, bureaux and trials or by any other
means. |
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| 3. Patrons. |
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New Patrons of the Society are to be recommended by the Executive Council and
approved by the members at an Annual General Meeting. Their election shall be
considered an honour. Patrons are permitted to attend Executive Council and
Northern Committee meetings with the power to vote at such meetings. All Patrons
having been so honoured are Patrons for life unless Rule 11 applies. |
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| 4.Officers. |
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4.1 Officers of the Society shall consist of; Patrons, Past
Presidents, President, Chairman, Vice- Chairman, Treasurer and General
Secretary. The General Secretary shall be appointed by the Executive Council,
who shall also be empowered to fix the remuneration of the General Secretary. The General Secretary’s Contract of Employment will be available to all Members
of the Executive Council. |
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The President, Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Treasurer, shall be elected
annually at the Annual General Meeting. |
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The President, Past Presidents and Patrons are exempt from subscriptions. |
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Nominations in respect of all Officers that are required to be elected shall
be received by the General Secretary, no later than noon on 1st
December, from a Proposer and Seconder, in writing and signed by all parties, on
a nomination form, approved by the Executive Council and available on request
from the General Secretary. |
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The General Secretary will send an acknowledgement within 5 days of the
receipt of the nomination paper to the Proposer, Seconder, Nominee and Chairman
of the Executive Council. Nominations shall be restricted to fully paid up
members of the Society in accordance with the rules of the Constitution. Nominations to be included on the Annual General Meeting notice. All members who
wish to stand for election as officers are also required to sign and return the
Confidentiality Form C1 to the General Secretary prior to the AGM. |
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4:2 In the event of the loss of the President whilst in office, the duties to
pass to the Chairman of the Executive Council. Similarly with the loss of
Chairman, the duties to pass to the Vice Chairman. In the event of the loss of
both Chairman and Vice- Chairman, and/or the Treasurer an emergency meeting of
the Executive Council shall be called to elect Caretaker Officers as appropriate
to serve until the next Annual General Meeting. |
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| 5 Vice- Presidents. |
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New Vice- Presidents shall be recommended by the Executive Council and
approved by the Members at an Annual General Meeting. Appointments shall be
restricted to persons who have given distinguished service to the Society,
chosen as outlined in Rule18:7. Appointments are for life unless Rule 11 applies.
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| 6 Management. |
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6.1 The management of the affairs of the Society shall be vested in the
Executive Council, which shall consist of the Officers and up to twenty-one
other members. Members of the Executive Council, other than certain Officers,
shall be elected to serve for three years. They must retire at the end of this
period, and will be eligible for re-election. Up to seven of the seats to be
contested each year. Nominations must be received by the General Secretary no
later than noon on 1st December in the same manner as outlined in
Rule 4. All members who wish to stand for Executive Council are also required to
sign and return the Confidentiality Form C1 to the General Secretary prior to
the AGM. |
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6:2 In addition to the members of the Executive Council mentioned, two seats
shall be reserved for two members of the Northern Committee, who shall be
elected in accordance with Rule 19, and such members are required to sign and
return the Confidentiality Form C1 to the General Secretary before they can
attend Executive Council meetings. Three further seats shall be reserved for
regional representatives from Scotland, Wales and Ireland respectively, who will
have no voting rights, but such representatives are required to sign and return
the Confidentiality Form C1 to the General Secretary before they can attend
Executive Council meetings. |
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6:3 The Executive Council shall have the power to co-opt, on a simple
majority, any fully paid-up member of the Society to fill any vacancy arising on
the Executive Council. Co-opted members will be required to sign the
Confidentiality Form, C1, before attending an Executive Council meeting. |
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6:4 All business transacted at Council and Committee meetings shall be
confidential to the Council or relevant Committee, until ratified at the next
Executive Council meeting. All members of the Executive Council are required to
sign and abide by the Confidentiality Form C.1. |
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6.5 Any expenses and reimbursements will be paid in accordance with current
Standing Orders. |
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| 7 Executive Council Meetings. |
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The Executive Council shall meet as often as is deemed necessary. Ten members
to form a quorum. All business will be conducted in accordance with the
Society’s Standing Orders. All ratified minutes of the Executive Council and
Standing Committees shall be available to any fully paid-up member or Affiliated
Society on application to the General Secretary. |
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| 8 Attendance at Executive Council
meetings. |
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Any member of the Executive Council, other than a regional representative,
who misses any three meetings of that Council in one year, not necessarily
consecutively, AGM to AGM, shall cease to be a member of Council. The Council
shall have the power to waive this rule if it considers the best interests of
the Society would be served by the member’s retention on Council. Council
members can apply for leave of absence which may be granted at the discretion of
the Council. |
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| 9 Membership Subscriptions. |
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9.1 The minimum annual subscription shall be determined, from time to time,
by the Executive Council, with a two-thirds majority in favour of those present
there and voting. All subscriptions shall become due on the 1st
November each year. |
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9.2 Any Officer or member of the Executive Council, whose subscription is in
arrears on the 1st March, shall cease to be a member of the Council. Any other member whose subscription is not paid by the 31st of
October, shall cease to be a member of the Society. |
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9:3 Categories of membership: |
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Ordinary members |
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Affiliated Societies |
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Life Members |
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Members over sixty five years of age |
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Joint ordinary members |
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Joint members where one or both partners
is over sixty five |
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Student members between the ages of
eighteen and twenty five |
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Junior members (a person under the age
of eighteen), but without voting powers or concessionary rights |
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All categories of members may enrol at
the current rate for that category on application to the General Secretary |
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All subscriptions are subject to Value Added Tax, at the current
rate agreed with HM Customs and Excise. |
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| 10 Privileges of Membership. |
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Members shall have the privilege of exhibiting at the Society’s exhibitions,
and be entitled to receive gratis, a copy of the Society’s Annual and Winter
Bulletin each year. Additional copies of these and other Society publications
may be purchased on application to the General Secretary. No member may be
entitled to these privileges until their subscription for the current year has
been paid. Additionally, new members upon enrolment shall receive gratis, a copy
of the Society’s cultural guide and a copy of the current edition of the
Classified Directory. |
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| 11 Conduct of Members. |
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The Executive Council shall be empowered to reprimand, suspend or expel any
officer/s, member/s, or Affiliated Society/Societies, whose conduct, in the
opinion of the Council, is considered prejudicial to the interests of the
Society. This power shall be exercised only on a two-thirds majority vote of the
Executive Council members present at a meeting specially convened for this
purpose, at which the member/s or Affiliated Society/Societies have the right to
attend, and the right to appeal at the next Annual General Meeting. Each case
will be considered on its individual merit and appropriate sanctions and length
of suspension decided by the Executive Council. After expulsion any subsequent
re-admission to the Society will be at the discretion of the Executive Council.
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| 12 Affiliated Societies. |
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12.1 Any Society may become affiliated to the National Dahlia Society upon
payment of a minimum yearly affiliation fee, and shall have the privilege of
exhibiting in classes provided for Affiliated Societies at the National Dahlia
Society’s exhibitions. They may appoint one of their members as a
representative, to attend and vote on the Affiliated Society’s behalf at all
General Meetings of the Society, as outlined in Rule 15:4 |
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12:2 An Affiliated Society, having paid their current affiliation fee will be
entitled to receive gratis, a copy of the Society’s Annual and Winter Bulletin
each year. Additionally, new Affiliated Societies upon enrolment shall receive
gratis, a copy of the Society’s cultural guide and a copy of the current edition
of the Classified Directory. |
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| 13 Medal Certificates and Medals. |
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13.1 On application to the General Secretary, an Affiliated Society shall be
entitled, where there are six or more dahlia classes in one show, to a Silver
Medal Certificate, to be awarded for the best exhibit of dahlias in the show by
an individual or joint exhibitor. |
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13:2 On application to the General Secretary, an Affiliated Society shall be
entitled to a Bronze Medal Certificate, to be awarded for an exhibit of dahlias
at the discretion of the Affiliated Society where there are fewer than 6 dahlia
classes. |
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13:3 Medals of the National Dahlia Society may be purchased and offered for
competition, on the same conditions as those for Medal Certificates, provided
that not more than one Silver Medal is offered at any one Affiliated Society
show. |
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13:4 No Medal Certificate or Medal shall be awarded by an Affiliated Society
for any exhibit of flowers other than dahlias. |
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13:5 When National Dahlia Society Silver and Bronze Medals are awarded by
Affiliated Societies, the Medal Certificates must be awarded with the
appropriate Medals and for the same exhibits. |
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13:6 Dahlia exhibits at shows of Affiliated Societies should be judged in
accordance with National Dahlia Society rules, by qualified National Dahlia
Society Judges, as laid down in the current Classified Directory of Dahlias. |
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| 14 Affiliated Societies Medal of Honour. |
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An Affiliated Society may apply to be awarded the Affiliated Societies’ Medal
of Honour, for presentation by them to a member who has rendered outstanding
service in extending the interest of the dahlia. Application must be made on the
special form, available from the General Secretary. The Medal of Honour may only
be awarded if the application is approved by simple majority of the Executive
Council. The cost of the Medal shall be met by the Affiliated Society. |
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| 15 Annual General Meeting. |
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15.1 The Annual General Meeting of the Society shall be held not later than
the 31st March. Notice of meeting and the Society’s Audited Annual
Accounts made up to 31st October shall be posted to all members not
less than twenty one days before the date of the meeting. |
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15:2 The purpose of the Annual General
Meeting is to receive the Report of the Executive Council; elect Officers
(rule 4), elect members of the Executive Council (rule 6) and Auditors for
the ensuing year; to confirm the appointment of new Patrons (rule 3) and new
Vice-Presidents (Rule 5), to accept the Audited Accounts and for the
transaction of other previously notified business, as detailed on the
circulated agenda. Twenty members shall form a quorum. |
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15:3 The election of each candidate shall be on an individual basis in the
following circumstances: |
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a. Where any Officer’s post is contested, and/or |
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b. In the case of elections for the Executive Council,
where there are more candidates than vacancies. |
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15.4 Nominations for election to the Executive Council must be received by
the General Secretary by noon on the 1st December, as specified in
rules 4 and 6. Every fully paid up member and joint member (with the exception
of junior members) shall be entitled to one vote each. |
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15:5 An Affiliated Society may nominate a member of that Society to exercise
a vote on behalf of that society. |
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15.6 Voting by Postal Ballot will only apply to voting on the following: |
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a. Proposed alteration(s) to the Constitution and/or |
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b. The election of Officers ( with the exception of Patrons and Vice
Presidents) where any post is contested and/or |
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c. Election of Executive Council members where there are more candidates than
vacancies. |
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15.7 Postal voting papers will be sent to all fully paid up members and
Affiliated Societies whose subscriptions have been received by noon on the 1st
December and who are eligible to vote in accordance with Rule 9.3. |
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Any eligible member wishing to vote by post must return the voting papers in
accordance with the instructions on the voting papers. All voting papers must be
received not less than 10 days before the date of the AGM. It is the
responsibility of each member to ensure that the voting papers are received in
accordance with the voting instructions and by the deadline for the return of
voting papers. |
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15.8 Any eligible member who decides not to vote by post may vote in person
(or by proxy in the case of Affiliated Societies) at the AGM. Any eligible
member who wishes to vote at the AGM must bring with them to the AGM their
postal voting papers which will be exchanged for AGM Voting Papers. Any eligible member who
cannot provide their postal voting papers when attending the AGM will not be
given AGM Voting Papers and will therefore be unable to vote in person at the
AGM. Any eligible member who has voted by post can still attend the AGM and take
a full part in the AGM with the exception that they will not be eligible to vote
at the AGM. |
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15.9The minutes of an AGM will be presented at the following AGM only for
approval as an accurate account of that meeting. Any decisions taken at an AGM
will come into force immediately after that AGM or at a date agreed at that AGM. |
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| 16 Extraordinary General Meeting. |
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An extraordinary meeting of the Society can be called at any time, on a
requisition signed by not less than twenty paid up members and containing a
specific motion relating to the precise business for which the meeting is called
being delivered to the General Secretary. If the motion is considered in the
opinion of the Officers of the Society to adhere to the aforementioned criteria
the General Secretary shall convene a meeting between 4 and 6 weeks after
receipt of the requisition. A motion cannot be in contravention of the
Constitution and no business other than that specified on the requisition can be
discussed. Any motion passed by a majority will come into effect immediately
after the EGM or at a date agreed at the EGM. Twenty paid up members shall form
a quorum. |
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| 17 Alteration of Constitution and Rules. |
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Notice of any proposed alteration of the Constitution and Rules must be given
in writing, with proposed amendments in precise terms, to the General Secretary,
no later than noon on the 1st December. The proposed alteration to be
notified to the members, by the General Secretary, not less than twenty-one days
before the Annual General Meeting. No part of the Constitution and rules shall
be altered except by a two-thirds majority vote passed at the Annual General
meeting and will include postal votes if applicable |
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| 18 Standing Committees. |
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The Executive Council may appoint from its members suitable Standing and
Sub-Committees. Each Standing Committee shall consist of up to seven members. Each Standing and Sub-Committee shall appoint its own Chairman. Four members
shall form a quorum. They will report their recommendations to the Executive
Council for approval, except where they are given powers to act. The Past
Presidents, President, Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Executive Council, The
Treasurer, General Secretary, and the Chairmen of Standing Committees, shall be
ex-officio members of all Standing Committees, with the power to vote. The
following Standing Committees shall be appointed at the first meeting of the
Executive Council following the Annual General Meeting. |
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18.1 Finance Committee. The Finance Committee’s duties shall be to exercise
financial control of the Society’s funds. Recommendations of any other Standing
Committee involving expenditure shall be submitted to this Committee, who shall
report on the financial implications of the proposals to the Executive Council. This Committee must include the holder of the post of
Honorary Treasurer. |
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18:2 Publications Committee. The Publications Committee’s duties shall
comprise the preparation and publication of the Society’s Annual and Winter
Bulletin, the Web Site and such other duties, of a like nature, as may be
submitted to it by the Executive Council. |
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18:3 Classification Committee. The Classification Committee’s duties shall be
to classify dahlia cultivars, and to produce a Classified Directory of dahlias
for sale to members of the Society and such other duties, of a like nature, as
may be submitted to it by the Executive Council. |
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18.4 Judging Committee. The Judging Committee’s duties shall be to formulate
rules for judging, and to select judges for the Societies exhibitions. It shall
also organise and conduct judging examinations and seminars and such other
duties of a like nature, as may be submitted to it by the Executive Council. |
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18.5 The Show Committee. The Show Committee’s duties, in conjunction with the
General Secretary, shall be to organise and administer the Society’s annual
shows, and to collate and prepare the show schedules for publication by the
Publication Committee. |
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18.6 The General Purposes Committee. The duties of the General Purposes
Committee are to promote the extension of the Society’s interests at relevant
events, to review and modify the Constitution and Standing Orders as and when
necessary and any other duties of a like nature as may be submitted to it by
the Executive Council. This will include other duties not covered by other
Committees. |
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18:7 Honours Committee. The Honours Committee shall consist of the following:
The President (who shall be Chairman), Past Presidents, Patrons, Chairman and
Vice-Chairman of the Executive Council, Treasurer, General Secretary, Chairmen
of Standing Committees; Finance, Show, General Purposes, Publications, Judging
and Classification and the Chairman of the Northern Committee. Nominations, from
any paid up member, for awards shall be received by the General Secretary, or
the Honours Committee Chairman, by the 31st October; otherwise the
nomination will not be accepted. All details shall be confidential to the
Committee, both prior to and after the meeting, until notified to the Executive
Council. |
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| 19 Northern Committee. |
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The Northern Committee shall be elected at the Northern Annual General
Meeting from fully paid up members resident in the north of England between the
Rivers Trent and Tweed. The Chairman and Secretary will be elected at the
Northern Annual General Meeting, Two members of the Committee will be elected at
the Northern Annual General Meeting to become full members of the Executive
Council, in accordance with Rule 6.2 The Northern Committee shall forward to the
Executive Council, minutes of all meetings held. They may make recommendations
to the Executive Council concerning shows in their area, but may not commit
themselves or the National Dahlia Society, financially or otherwise, without the
authority of the Executive Council. Secretarial expenses may be paid from a
petty cash account maintained for that purpose. The account, together with all
vouchers shall be submitted to the Executive Council as and when required. Other
duties of the Northern Committee shall be as set out in the Standing Orders as
agreed by the Executive Council. |
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| 20 Exhibition Trials Committee. |
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The Exhibition Trials Committee shall consist of up to six members nominated
by the Executive Council and up to six members from the Northern Committee. The
Chairman shall be an Executive Council member. The duties shall be to arrange,
manage and adjudicate the Exhibition Trials, in accordance with the agreed
judging procedures as designated by the Executive Council. |
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