WPG Constitution

Wadebridge Photography Group Constitution
Formulated April 1998 – Updated July 2024
1. NAME.
Wadebridge Photography Group
Formulated as Wadebridge and District Camera Club.
The name was changed by Member Votes at the AGM 2024.
The club shall be known as Wadebridge Photography Group.
2. AFFILIATION.
Subject to Resolution by Annual General Meeting or Special General
Meeting, the Club shall be affiliated to the ‘Cornwall Photographic
Alliance’ (CPA), and/or the ‘Photographic Alliance of Great Britain’
(PGAB), through the ‘Western Counties Photographic Federation’
(WCPF).
3. THE AIMS OF THE CLUB.
(a) To promote and foster all aspects of photographic endeavour
amongst Club members.
(b) To support and encourage individuals whether novices or advanced
workers in the field.
(c) To maintain a friendly, positive atmosphere for the benefit of all
members.
(d) To encourage visits by individuals and groups to and from clubs and
associations with similar interests.
(e) To organise competitive and non-competitive events for the
participation and enjoyment of all members.
4. MEMBERSHIP.
Membership of the club shall be open to any person interested in, or
practising photography, as an amateur or professional, who agrees to
actively support the Club’s objectives.
Honorary Membership may be granted at the discretion of the Committee.
Membership of the Club implies an undertaking to comply with and abide
by the rules and Constitution of the Club.
The Committee shall have the power, after due consideration, to
terminate membership.
5. SUBSCRIPTIONS.
All subscriptions shall be determined at the Annual General Meeting, and
shall be payable at the start of each Season. Receipts shall be issued by
the Honorary Treasurer. Members joining on or after the 31 st December
(i.e. mid-season) may pay a reduced subscription at the discretion of the
Honorary Treasurer.
6. INSURANCE.
The club shall maintain Insurance cover in accordance with the
recommendations of the PAGB.
7. MANAGEMENT.
The affairs of the Club shall be conducted by a Management Committee consisting of:
The Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Competition Secretary, and such other named Officers
as may be deemed necessary, and up to five ordinary members.
The retiring Chair shall remain in office as ‘Immediate Past Chair’.
The Officers and Committee shall be elected at the Annual General
Meeting, and be eligible for re-election each year.
Nominations, with the nominee’s permission, for Officers and Committee
members, from paid up members, should be received by the Secretary by
8 o’clock, 2 weeks before the Annual General Meeting and announced
that evening.
8. COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
Committee meetings shall be convened at the request of the Chair or at
least two other Committee Members. All Committee members shall be
given notice of meetings.
The Committee shall be given the power to form sub-committees for
special purposes, and may co-op up to two ordinary members to serve on
such sub-committees.
The Chair shall be an ex-officio member of all sub-committees.
9. QUORUM.
A minimum of five members shall form a quorum at Committee meetings.
At Annual General and Special General Meetings, one third of the total
membership shall form a quorum.
10. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS.
The Annual General Meeting shall be held during the month of April each
year. Business shall include the Minutes of the previous AGM, Annual
Reports from the Officers, a Statement of Accounts, the election of
Officers and Committee Members, and Any Other Business at the Chair’s
discretion. Each member shall have one vote. The Chair may exercise a
casting vote if necessary.
11. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS.
A Special General Meeting may be called by the Chair or on receipt of a
requisition signed by not less than one quarter of the members. Such
requisition must contain full details of the matter(s) to be discussed. At
least seven days notice shall be given.
12. ACCOUNTS.
Accounts for the year shall be presented at each Annual General Meeting.
13. MONIES.
All monies received on behalf of the Club shall be kept in safe custody by
the Treasurer.
Cheques drawn on any account which may be held by the Club must be
signed by the Treasurer and one of the following Officers nominated by
the Committee and registered at the bank.
14. COMPETITION RULES.
Rules governing all internal Club competitions shall be decided by the
Committee and made known to all members. Competition Rules may be
amended during the year by the Committee or at the Annual General
Meeting.
15. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.
Amendments to the Constitution shall be made only at the Annual
General Meeting, or at a Special Meeting convened specifically for this
purpose.
Notice of any proposed amendment(s) shall be given in writing to the
Secretary at least fourteen days before the meeting. Details of the
proposed amendment shall be given in the notice convening the meeting.
16. COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE.
Whilst the intention is, at all times, to maintain a friendly and supportive
environment, there may be occasions when there is a difference of
opinion with regard to the interpretation of a Rule, or Rules, governing a
Club competition etc. In the event of a query or dispute the following
procedure should be followed:
(1) The nature of the complaint should be notified in writing to the Club
Chair, who will informally try to resolve the issue.
(2) If the issue cannot be satisfactorily resolved in this way, the
Committee will investigate the nature of the complaint and give a
ruling. The result of any such ruling shall be binding upon all parties.
17. MISCELLANEOUS.
In the event of anything occurring not provided for, or not clear, in the
foregoing rules, the Committee shall have the power to deal with such
matters at its discretion.
18. DISSOLUTION OF THE CLUB.
In the unlikely event of the dissolution of the Club, all surplus funds shall
be transferred to such organisation, or organisations, as the Committee
shall in its absolute discretion decide. In the event of such a decision, all
assets of the Club are to be realised and transferred as outlined above,
subject to payment of any outstanding debts incurred by the Club or its
members or Officers in connection with the operation of the Club.
The Club may be dissolved only by consent of three quarters of the
members present at a Special General Meeting called for that purpose.
Such a meeting shall appoint a Liquidator to handle the disposal of the
funds and assets.