WEST YORKSHIRE GEOLOGY TRUST
CONSTITUTION AND RULES
Adopted on the 28th day of June 1995
Amended (name change only) 18th day of July 2007
NAME
1. The name of this Trust is West Yorkshire Geology
Trust, hereinafter referred
to as `the Trust'. (The Trust was formerly known as the West
Yorkshire Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological Sites
Group and
the new name was adopted at
a committee meeting at Ogden Water on 18th July 2007).
VISION STATEMENT
2. The Trust believes that
`Geological and geomorphological sites should be protected because
they tell us about the history and development of the earth. They are
essential to the education, culture and natural heritage of the county'.
AIMS OF THE TRUST
The Trust aims to:
(i) Encourage public enjoyment of rocks, fossils and landforms
(ii) Identify and review a list of geological and geomorphological sites
(RIGS) (iii) Encourage the use of RIGS for educational purposes
(iv) Support and encourage local authorities to protect RIGS through the
planning process
(v) Encourage owners and occupiers of RIGS to protect and enhance them
for use by others
(vi) Provide advice and information on RIGS
THE WORK OF THE TRUST
In furtherance of these aims the Trust will:
(I) Produce a list of objectives annually which will be used to measure
the progress of the Trust towards its aims.
(II) Hold regular meetings and discussions
(III) Undertake a survey of extant geological and geomorphological features
throughout the county.
(IV) Publish criteria for the selection of RIGS
(V) Select a series of RIGS representative of the county
(VI) Work with owners and occupiers of selected RIGS and other interested
parties, to develop the RIGS for use and enjoyment by the public.
(VII) Publish information on RIGS for use by schools, colleges, universities
and other members of the public.
MEMBERSHIP
5. The Trust shall be non-party political and non-sectarian.
6. The initial membership of the Trust shall be those persons indicating
their wish to be members at the date of the adoption of this Constitution
and Rules and thereafter membership shall be open to anyone. The Secretary
shall keep an accurate record of the names, addresses and dates of joining
and leaving the Trust.
7. Membership subscriptions shall be fixed by the Trust in General Meetings.
Any member in arrears with his or her subscription four months after a
General Meeting shall, unless otherwise sanctioned by the Committee, cease
to be a member.
GENERAL MEETINGS
8. An Annual General Meeting (AGM) of all members of the Trust shall
be held each year. The first shall be held immediately after the adoption
of this Constitution and Rules. Subsequent AGMs shall be held in the month
of June in each year thereafter. Notice of AGMs shall, on its date having
been fixed by the Committee, be publicised at not less than three ordinary
meetings of the Trust prior to that date.
9. On not less than two weeks written notice to each member, an Extraordinary
General Meeting (EGM) may be called at any time by the Committee of its
own motion or must be called by the Committee to be held within three
weeks of a written request so to do by not less than four members of the
Trust.
10. At every General Meeting, every member present shall be entitled
to one vote on each motion raised, with an additional casting vote to
the Chairperson for the time being. Motions shall be carried or rejected
on a simple majority. There shall be no voting by proxy.
THE COMMITTEE
11. The affairs of the Trust and all matters not provided for in this
Constitution and Rules shall be managed by a Committee consisting of the
following Officers: Chairperson, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer
and up to three other Committee members.
12. The Officers and Committee members shall be elected at an AGM and
shall hold office for a period of twelve months. Officers and Committee
members shall be eligible for re-election.
13. Nominations for Office and Committee membership, with the consent
of the nominee, may be made either prior to and in writing (duly seconded)
or during the AGM.
14. The Committee shall meet regularly and through its Secretary keep
minutes of its proceedings. A quorum of the Committee shall number three.
15. Any member of the Committee may resign from Committee membership
by written notice to the Secretary and the resignation shall take effect
from the receipt by the Secretary of such notice. A casual vacancy in
the membership of the Committee may be filled by a successor appointed
by the Committee.
FINANCIAL
16. The financial year of the Trust shall commence on the adoption of
this Constitution and Rules and thereafter on 30th April every subsequent
year.
17. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the day-to-day handling of
the finances of the Trust and shall keep such proper books of account
as will enable him or her to present at every AGM or at any other time
if required (on reasonable notice) by the Committee an accurate report
and statement concerning the Trust's financial affairs.
18. Bank accounts shall be operated by the Treasurer in the name of the
Trust and the Treasurer and one other Committee member shall sign all
cheques and negotiable instruments.
19. Auditors, who may not be Officers or Committee members, shall be
appointed at an AGM or EGM of the Trust to act until the next AGM. They
shall be charged with the audit of the Trust's Accounts and the statement
of Account to be presented at the following AGM and they shall indicate
the results of their audit upon such statement.
ALTERATION OF RULES
20. These Rules may be revoked, added to or altered or new Rules adopted
by a simple majority of members voting in General Meetings of which not
less than two weeks written notice specifying the terms of such resolution
to be put has been given to the members.
DISSOLUTION
21. The Trust may be dissolved by a resolution made at an EGM called
for the purpose of which not less than three weeks written notice shall
be given. The resolution shall provide for the realisation and, after
meeting the Trust's debts and liabilities, disposal of the Trust's assets
to a body having the same, or, as near as may be, similar objects of the
Trust or otherwise for educational purposes as the meeting shall resolve.
Chairman
Alison Quarterman alison@wyorksgeologytrust.org
Secretary
Richard Bell richard@wyorksgeologytrust.org
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