constitution and rules

CONSTITUTION
1. This Guild shall be named The Fly Dressers Guild. Its object being the
cultivation of the art of fly dressing.

2. No member shall use the name of the Guild or logo in the pursuance of
professional or commercial interests.

3. The prior consent from the Executive Committee is required for the use of the
Guild name or logo in connection with any trade or other exhibition.

4. Local branches or their authorised representatives (being Guild Members)
may use the Guild name and logo at local trade shows or exhibitions.
Insurance for an event is the responsibility of the branch unless the event is
organised by the Executive Committee

5. The President and Vice Presidents shall be elected at an Annual General
Meeting and any proposals to change those previously elected shall be
notified to the General Secretary by the 1st September preceding the Annual
General Meeting.

6. Life Vice-Presidents shall be the subject of recommendation by the Executive
Committee and the approval of the Annual General Meeting.

7. The Guild shall not be dissolved so long as 16 members are willing to
continue.

8. Should it be dissolved, the assets of the Guild, after the discharge of all
liabilities, shall be donated to a registered charity or charities for their sole use
or benefit, nominated by a majority of members.

MEMBERSHIP
9. There will be nine categories of membership within the Guild

a) Ordinary members – adults 16 or over and under 65 years of age
b) Overseas members – those who live outside the United Kingdom
c) Retired members – over 65 years of age
d) Disabled members – claiming incapacity benefit or registered disabled
e) Junior members – under 16 years of age
f) Family members – up to two adults and their offspring under the age
of 16 residing at the same address
g) Honorary members – bestowed in recognition of outstanding
contribution to the Guild. This to include life vice presidents.
h) Trade members – commercial organisations which offer benefits to
members of the Guild.
i) Affiliate members – non members who have contributed to the Guild in
the previous year

10. Only ordinary, retired, disabled, overseas and family (One vote per family)
may vote at any AGM or SGM. Each member has one vote. Each member
may use a proxy vote to cast their vote in writing to the General Secretary
24hrs before the meeting either by letter or e-mail.

MANAGEMENT
11. The general management of the Guild shall be vested in the Executive
Committee which shall have full power to arrange and transact all the
business of the Guild, to deal with any matters that may arise which are not
provided for herein, and have power to co-opt members and appoint Sub-
Committees for special purposes.

12. The Executive Committee shall consist of the following Officers:

	Chairman	1
	Vice-Chairman	2
	General Secretary	3
	Treasurer	1
	Membership Secretary	2
	Editor	3
	Public Relations Officer	1
	Equipment Officer	2
	Fishing Competitions Secretary	3
	Advertising Manager	1
	Development Officer	2
	Flydressing Competition Secretary	3
	Web Site Manager	1
	plus not more than six others without portfolio.3,1,2,3,1,2

13. A minimum of five Executive Committee members shall form a quorum.

14. At each Annual General Meeting 1/3 of the Executive Committee shall retire
at the end of their three year term. The year of retirement by rotation is
indicated by the 1, 2 or 3 after each Officer above. Retring members are
eligible for re-election

15. Executive Committee meetings shall be held as necessary, but not less than
four per year. Adequate notice will be given to each member of the dates of
such meetings.

16. Any member of the Guild, not being a member of the Executive Committee,
may be invited by the consent of the Chairman to attend any Executive
Committee meeting and shall be eligible to take part in any discussions but
shall not be entitled to vote thereon.

17. The Annual General Meeting shall be held within a period of 13 months of the
previous AGM. Members may invite non-members to this meeting; each nonmember
shall sign a book kept for this purpose. Non-members may not take
part in any discussion unless permission is given by the Chairman, neither
may they vote. Where an elected committee member holds more that one
post, they are only classed as one member.
A quorum for an AGM will be greater than the number of elected executive
committee members. Valid membership cards must be shown as proof of
membership. A simple majority of the votes cast will decide.

18. The Chairman shall have power to call a Special General Meeting (SGM) for
any specific purpose. A SGM can also be called at the request of 10 or more
members, given in writing to the Secretary. At such an SGM, which shall be
called within three months of such request, no vote may be taken on any
proposal(s) other than for which the SGM was called.
A quorum for an SGM will be 15 paid up members of the Guild at the time of
the SGM. Valid membership cards must be shown as proof of membership. A
simple majority of the votes cast will decide each motion.

19. The Constitution and Rules may only be altered or rescinded at an Annual
General Meeting or Special General Meeting called for the purpose. The only
exception is where not to change the constitution may leave the Guild liable to
prosecution. Under such circumstances the Executive will make the
necessary changes and such will be reviewed at the next AGM.

20. Alterations proposed to the Constitution and Rules shall not be deemed to
have been approved (with the exception of rule 19) except by a simple
majority of Members entitled to vote at an AGM or SGM or by postal vote(s)
lodged with the General Secretary prior to the meeting commencing.

21. Proposal to alter the Constitution and Rules (other than the exception in Rule
19) or include other items on the agenda for an AGM must be submitted by a
member, in writing, to the General Secretary at least seventy days prior to the
date set for the AGM.

22. The Treasurer shall receive all monies payable to the Guild and shall make
such payments as are necessary. Cheques shall be signed by the Treasurer
and countersigned by the Chairman, or other appointed Committee member.
The Treasurer shall be accountable to the Executive Committee at each
meeting and shall submit an audited statement of accounts at the AGM.

23. A financial Auditor shall be appointed annually by the members at the AGM

24. Each applicant for membership of the Guild shall complete the printed
“Application Form” and return to the Membership Secretary. Or via the web
site application form

25. The Executive Committee reserves the right to terminate membership of the
Guild or to refuse any application for membership, specifying the reason for
doing so. The member involved has the right to appeal to the President,
stating the circumstances. The President will respond within 28 days of
receiving the appeal.

SUBSCRIPTION AND ARREARS
26. The Guild annual subscription is payable in advance to the Membership
Secretary and due at the end of the month in which the member joined. The
amount of the annual subscription for all categories of membership shall be
decided at the AGM, upon the advice of the Executive Committee.

27. The approved annual subscription will be communicated to the membership
following the AGM.

28. Any member, whose annual subscription renewal has not been received by
the Membership Secretary within 3 months of the membership date, shall be
removed from the current membership list.

29. All members will be entitled to receive the Journal. The frequency of
publication is to be decided by the Executive Committee. Family members
will receive one copy pre family.

BRANCHES WITHIN THE UNITED KINGDOM
30. Members may organise local branches subject to the prior approval of the
Executive Committee.

Branch management must conform to Rules 9, and 15.

31. The Branch Committee shall comprise a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer
(Officers) plus not more than six members elected to the Committee.

32. All Officers and Committee members shall stand for election annually at the
Branch Annual General Meeting (BAGM). The business of the branch shall be
conducted by the Branch Committee in accordance with the wishes of the
BAGM, which shall be held at least once each calendar year but not later than
15 months after the date of the last BAGM. All changes in branch officers
must be notified to the Guild General Secretary immediately after the BAGM

33. A branch may levy its own local subscription or fee to enable it to become
financially independent. All members of the branch are required to pay the
Guild annual subscription in order to retain the branch affiliation. The Guild
will have no responsibility for the finances of branch.

34. A branch may, at its discretion, collect the two amounts together from its
members. In this event the branch shall send the Guild subscriptions in bulk,
with details, to the Membership Secretary as soon as possible after collection.

TRADE MEMBERSHIP
35. Trade members shall be allowed to use the Guild logo suffixed with “Trade
Member” on their letterhead.

36. A list of Trade members shall be published annually.

37. Trade members will be expected to display Guild promotional material on
their premises or in their literature.

38. Trade members will pay the ordinary member subscription and be required to
provide references at the time of application