Rules - The French Porcelain Society

The name of the Society shall be The French Porcelain Society.
The principal objects of the Society shall be to advance the study of French porcelain of all periods and to further public knowledge and appreciation of it.
In furtherance of these objects the Society may in particular:
1. Edit and publish such material as the Council of the Society may select
2. Organise the distribution of publications
3. Organise Events and other occasions
4. Award bursaries to aid academic research
The Society shall aim to meet annually at the time of the International Ceramic Fair.
The Society shall consist of such members, either individuals or institutions, who are interested in furthering the objects of the Society and who apply to the Secretary to become members. All members shall pay an annual subscription. Any member who fails to pay his annual subscription within 3 months of the due date for payment shall automatically cease to be a member, unless the Council shall otherwise decide.
The name of the Society and of its publications shall not be used by any member for the purpose of trade or profit. The copyright of all articles appearing in the Society’s publications shall be vested in the Society and the Author.
All members shall receive free of charge such publications as the Council may from time to time determine.
The affairs of the Society shall be administered by a Council consisting of a Chairman and two honorary officers – namely, Treasurer and Secretary and as many ordinary members as the Council deem necessary. The Council shall be elected each year at the Annual General Meeting. Vacancies in the Council occurring between Annual General Meetings may be filled by the Council appointing another ordinary member to be a member of the Council and any member so appointed under this Rule shall continue as a member of the Council until the next Annual General Meeting after this appointment, and shall be eligible for re-election at the Meeting. Members of the Council should attend Committee Meetings at least once a year.
The Council may also elect an Honorary President and Honorary Vice Presidents, not exceeding 6 in number, who shall thereby become honorary members of the Society. They shall be persons distinguished by their services to the general objects of the Society.
The Secretary or any member of the Council appointed by the Council as his deputy shall keep a Minute Book and record therein the business transacted at meetings of the Council and at Annual General Meetings, and such Minutes shall be signed, after adoption, by the Chairman at the appropriate meeting next following.
The Council shall have power to co-opt persons whenever necessary provided that the number of members so co-opted shall not exceed one third of the membership of the council.
The funds of the Society shall be kept in such Bank as the Council shall direct. The bank account shall be held in the name of the Society. Cheques drawn upon the Society’s account shall require the signature of the Treasurer and of one other Officer of the Society. The council shall have power to invest surplus monies in such manner as they see fit. The accounts of the Society which are to be kept by the treasurer, made up to 31st March each year, shall be submitted to an Auditor, or Auditors, who shall be appointed by the Society at the Annual General Meeting.
In no circumstances shall any of the assets of the Society at any time be given or refunded to any member except by way of re-imbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, or as proper remuneration for services rendered to the Society by any member (not being a member of the Council).
An Annual General Meeting, at such time and place as the Council may appoint, shall be held, on not less that fourteen days notice being given to members, normally in June each year, to receive the Annual Report and Statement of Accounts, to elect the Officer and Members of the Council and the Auditors, and to transact the general business of the Society. If after an hour for the appointed for an Annual Meeting a quorum be not present the meeting may nevertheless transact such business as is thought necessary notwithstanding the absence of a quorum.
Ten members or one-tenth of the membership whichever is the greater shall form a quorum for a Meeting of the Society. A quorum for a meeting of the Council shall be one-third of the membership of the Council.
The Council or any ten members of the Society by requisition to be signed by those members and addressed to the Secretary may convene an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Society of which not less than 42 days notice shall be given to members. If after an hour from the time appointed for an Extraordinary General Meeting a quorum be not present, the Meeting shall be dissolved.
The President of the Society or, in his absence, the Chairman of the Council, shall take the chair at a Meeting of the Society and if neither be present the Meeting shall elect a Chairman.
At any General Meeting of the Society or of the Council, the resolutions of those present (in person or by proxy) shall be passed (save as provided in Rules 19 and 20 herein) by a majority. Voting shall be by show of hands. At General Meetings of the Society and of the Council the Chairman shall, if necessary, have a casting vote in addition to his vote as a member of the Society or of the Council. No member of the Society who is in default of his/her annual subscription may vote at any General Meeting of the Society.
The Society may be dissolved by Special Resolution passed by two-thirds majority of those present (in person or by proxy) and voting at an Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting of the Society convened for the purpose, of which at least 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 institution or institutions having objects similar to some or all of the objects of the Society.
Alteration to this constitution shall require a special resolution passed by two-thirds of the members present (in person or by proxy) and voting at an Annual General Meeting or an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Society. A resolution for the alteration of the constitution must be received by the Secretary of the Society at least 21 days before the meeting at which the resolution is to be brought forward. At least 21 days’ notice of such a meeting must be given by the Secretary to the membership and must include notice of the alteration proposed. Provided that no alteration made to clause 2 (objects) clause 19 (dissolution) or this clause, shall take effect until the approval in writing of the Charity Commissioners or other authority having charitable jurisdiction shall have been obtained; and no alteration shall be made which would have the effect of causing the Society to cease to be a charity in law.
At any General Meeting of the Society a member shall be entitled to vote by proxy in writing, signed by the member, to be received by the Secretary not less than 24 hours before the time appointed for the meeting, directing the Chairman to vote on his behalf in favour of or against any particular resolution or in favour of any particular candidate or candidates for election to the Council or authorising the Chairman to vote in his discretion on behalf of the member.
Any period provided for in these rules for the giving of notice of a General Meeting of the Society shall be treated as running from the date that notice is posted to the member. The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting to, or the non-receipt of notice of a meeting, by any member entitled to receive notice shall not invalidate the proceedings of that meeting.
A copy of the Rules shall be sent to every member on joining.

June 2007