Constitution of the Norfolk Historic Buildings Group

1. Name
The name of the Group shall be 'Norfolk Historic Buildings Group', herein referred to as 'the Group.'

2. Objectives
The objectives of the Group are to:

• Promote the collection and recording of information about all types of historic buildings in the County of Norfolk
• Share this information with interested parties through any or all of the following:­ talks, group visits, training exercises, workshops, conferences and publications.

3. Membership Criteria
Membership of the group shall be open to all on payment of an annual subscription, the fee for which shall be reviewed annually.

4. Officers
The Group shall have the following officers:

• Chairman
• Treasurer
• Membership Secretary
• Committee Secretary
• Events Secretary.

These shall be elective offices held for two years and each officer shall be eligible for re-election. The terms of office of the Chairman and Membership Secretary shall not expire in the same years as that of the Treasurer and the Committee Secretary.

5. Committee
There shall be a Committee of the Group with the following composition:

[a] Ex Officio: Chairman, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Committee Secretary, Events Secretary.

[b] Ordinary: Not more than eight elected members to hold office for two years. Each member shall be eligible for re-election.

[c] Co-opted: Not more than three members, with voting rights, co-opted by the committee, such appointments to be reviewed annually by the committee.

6. Meetings
General Meetings:
The AGM of the Group, of which at least twenty one days notice in writing shall be given to all members by the Committee Secretary, shall be held during the months of either June or July (starting in 2002). The committee may at any time, and shall within twenty one days of receiving a request in writing of any ten members, summon a special General Meeting of which no less than twenty one days notice shall be given in writing by the Secretary to each member, specifying the business to be conducted.
The business of the AGM shall be to receive the annual accounts, to approve the annual subscription, to appoint an auditor, to elect officers and members of the committee and to consider any proposal of which due notice has been given.
Twenty registered individual/family members or ten percentage of total registered membership, whichever is the greater, shall constitute a quorum.
Committee Meetings:
Committee meetings shall be held not less than twice in every year. Five members shall constitute a quorum.

7. Subscription

[a] There shall be three categories of membership:

[i] Individual
[ii] Family membership which shall consist of a single mailing to an individual member and one other nominated person at the same address.
[iii] Corporate membership which shall consist of a single mailing to one address, allowing the nomination of up to two persons for participation in events.

[b] Subscriptions shall run from 1st April each year (except for the initial 'year' which will consist of fifteen months)

8. Committee Powers
The committee shall have the general management and direction of funds and affairs of the Group and in particular, but without prejudice, to the generality of the foregoing.

[a] Funds the committee of the Group shall have the general management and direction of funds resulting from their activities and in particular may pay the whole or any part of the expenses of any
member incurred in or about the execution of any of his functions or duties on behalf of the Group. Cheques shall require two signatures, one of which to be the Treasurer, the other to be either the Chairman or Events Secretary.
[b] Rules the committee may make, and from time to time vary, rules not inconsistent with this constitution;
[c] Committee Changes the committee may fill casual vacancies which may occur from time to time in its membership;

9. Auditor
An auditor, who shall not be a member of the committee, shall be elected at the AGM.

10. Alterations
No alteration may be made to this constitution unless and until approved by the Annual General Meeting after due notice.

11. Notices
Notices to the Group shall be deemed sufficiently served if sent by ordinary prepaid post to the member at the address registered on the membership form.

12. Winding-up
The committee shall, on the winding-up of the Group, pay the surplus funds of the Group to such charitable organisation(s) as it considers has similar aims to the Group

Adopted by a General Meeting of the Group as described herein on 28 February 2001

Signed
Adam Longcroft
Chairman

Signed
Michael Brown
Secretary