The Webb Deep-Sky Society Constitution
1) Name
The Society shall be named the Webb Deep-Sky Society in honour of the Reverend Thomas William Webb (1806-1885)
2) Motto
The Society motto shall be ``Caeli scrutamur plagas'' we sweep the regions of the heavens.
3) Aims and Objects
The charitable aims and objects of the Society shall be: To advance education in the science of astronomy and in particular the observation of double stars, nebulae and star clusters and such other astronomical objects.
4) Membership
(a) Membership shall be open to any person resident anywhere in the world upon payment of the appropriate membership subscription. Members shall be entitled to receive one copy of the Deep Sky Observer (DSO) free of charge during their first membership year. Any member more than six months in arrears shall be liable to be struck from the membership list and may only be reinstated on payment of such sum as may be determined by the Committee. (b) Honorary Life. Membership. The Committee shall have the power to confer from time to time honorary life membership on any member for services given to the Society. Such honorary life members shall pay no further subscriptions but shall otherwise be entitled to all the benefits of membership including election to office and shall have full voting rights at all meetings.
5) Subscription and Finance
The Society shall be funded from the subscriptions of its members and from the sale of its publications all proceeds of which after meeting all expenses properly incurred by the Committee in pursuance of its aims and objects shall be deposited in a bank account in the name of the Society and used solely for the purpose of pursuing its charitable aims and objects. The membership subscription rate shall be determined by the Committee as the figure necessary in conjunction with the income from the sale of its publications to maintain the Society and keep it solvent. The Committee shall be empowered to determine a differential rate of subscription for members resident in the United Kingdom and for members resident elsewhere and also a differential rate for all bona-fide students wherever they may reside.
6) Organisation and Administration
The Society shall be administered by a Committee comprising - President/Chairman, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Directors of Sections, Editor of the Society journal, Meetings Secretary, Website Manager, Southern Sky Secretary and North America Secretary'. The Committee shall meet twice annually including the Annual General Meeting. A valid quorum shall be any three members of the Committee. Decisions in Committee shall be by a simple majority, A Director of a Section who holds another post on the Committee shall have only one vote. The Chairman or acting Chairman may have an additional casting vote in the event of a tie. The Committee shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. Nominees for election to the Committee shall be proposed and seconded and declare their willingness to serve. Retiring members of the Committee shall be eligible for re-election.
7) Meetings
The Society shall hold an Annual General Meeting of which due notice shall be given to all members, A valid quorum for an Annual General Meeting shall be ten members or 20 per cent of the membership, whichever shall be the lesser. An annual statement of account shall be prepared by the Treasurer in advance of the Annual General Meeting for adoption each year. An Extraordinary General Meeting shall be held upon the receipt by the Committee of written notice signed by not less than ten members or twenty per cent of the membership, whichever is the lesser. Such notice shall state the business to be discussed and only such business shall be discussed at such an Extraordinary General Meeting, which shall be held within three months of receipt of written notice by the Committee. Due notice of such meeting will be given to all members. Only those attending at any General Meeting shall be entitled to vote and decisions shall be by a simple majority, with the sole exception of notions seeking to alter the constitution, which shall be determined as set out in Clause 9 of this Constitution, The Chairman or acting Chairman stay have an additional casting vote in the event of a tie.
8) Powers of the Committee
The Committee shall have the power to decide any point not specifically contained in this Constitution and take any action it may deem necessary for the benefit of the Society provided always that such action is lawful.
9) Alterations to the Constitution
This constitution shall not be altered except by a majority vote of two-thirds of those attending and voting at a valid Annual General Meeting and in particular no amendment or alteration shall be made to this Constitution which would cause the Society to cease to be a charity at law.
10) Dissolution
The society may be dissolved by a Resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at a Special General Meeting convened for the purpose of which 21 days' notice shall have been given to the members, Such resolution may give instructions for the disposal of any assets held by or in the name of the Society, provided that if any property remains after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities such property shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the Society but shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institutions having objects similar to some or all of the objects of the Society as the Society may with the approval of the Charity Commissioners or other authority having charitable jurisdiction.
APPROVED BY THE WEBB DEEP-SKY SOCIETY COMMITTEE as empowered by the A.G.M. resolution of May 20th 1983.
CHANGES TO ARTICLES 1 and 6 empowered by resolutions passed at A.G.M. Dec 2nd, 2006.
