Club Rules

1. The Name of the club shall be Stalybridge Photographic Club (SPC).

2. Although SPC remains politically neutral, it is necessary for members to adhere in full to the requirements of any venue facilitating meetings. This includes all allocated venue subscriptions.

3. The objects of the club shall be:

a) To promote and encourage all aspects of photography for the benefit of the club and its members, and the local community.

b) To give prizes at, to support, and give exhibitions of photography.

c) To promote, protect, and advance in every legitimate way the interests of the club and members of the club.

4. The club shall consist of patrons, honorary members, officers (chairman, secretary, treasurer), a committee and an unlimited number of members. The management of the club shall be in the hands of the committee, consisting of officers (chairman, secretary, treasurer) and at least one, but not more than four other members.

5. The offices of Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer may not be held by the same person. Officers of the committee can only hold one current post of office

6. For committee meetings, a quorum shall consist of three members of the committee including at least two officers and one non-office holding committee member.

7. The officers and members of the committee shall be elected annually but shall be eligible for re-election by nomination.

a) Nominations for new officers to be submitted in writing to the Secretary at least seven days prior to the Annual General Meeting. Nominee, proposer and seconder to be members of the club. Permission of the nominee to be obtained prior to submitting.

b) Nominators for general committee members may be submitted in writing to the secretary at least seven days prior to the Annual General Meeting.

9. A casual vacancy caused by an officer retiring during his term of office may be filled by the committee. The person elected to serve until the next Annual General Meeting.

10. The Secretary or Treasurer shall have the power to accept any new members. Any prospective new member who attends four club meetings shall be required to join the club.

20.

a) The financial year of the club shall be from 1st August to 31st July of each year and the accounts audited by a person appointed by the members, such an honorary auditor must not be a member of the committee.

b) The subscription year shall be from 1st Dec to 30th Nov. The combined subscriptions of SPC and any related venue subscriptions to be paid in full within 14 days of the commencement of the subscription year. (See rule 2.)

21. The Annual General Meeting shall be held on the last recognised club meeting in September each year. The Annual General Meeting to be called for the following purposes:

a) To receive the reports of the Chairman and Treasurer and attendance of the officers and committee for the proceeding year. The Treasurer is to have available at the meeting the original signed and audited accounts and formal evidence of the club’s assets.

b) To elect officers and committee. To discuss any resolution placed on the agenda, for which twenty-one days prior notice has been given to the secretary.

c) The election of officers and committee at the Annual General Meeting shall be by ballot of those members present at the meeting. The committee may, at any time (and they shall upon a requisition signed by any six members of the club and specifying the business for which such meeting is required) summon a special General Meeting of the club. If within twenty-one days after the receipt of any such requisition the committee do not summon a General Meeting, the requisitioners or any other six members of the club may do so.

22. The rules of the club shall not be altered except at a General or Special Meeting.

23. All members shall receive a current copy of the rules, and be issued with all amendments to these rules.

24 For wholly new members annual subscriptions to SPC are to be applied on a sliding scale basis reduced according to the next financial quarter to the date where full membership is required.

Reprinted : Jan 2006

11. No person shall be allowed to take part in any meetings, or proceedings of the club, or to compete for club trophies, or prizes (except in the "open” section of any exhibition or competition if so allowed by the committee) until their subscription, or any sum of money they may owe to the club has been paid, or at the discretion of three members of the committee.

12. Only persons who are paid up members 30 days prior to a General Meeting may vote at that General Meeting.

13. The management of, and the property of the club shall be vested in the committee. The committee shall also have the power to make or rescind bye-laws and decide upon all matters in dispute not provided for by the rules, and appoint sub-committees for any special purpose.

14. The committee meetings shall be called as often as the Chairman and Secretary may deem advisable, seven days notice is to be given of all committee meetings. The Chairman to have the casting vote where necessary. There shall be a minimum of four committee meetings during the club year.

15. An account shall be maintained with a Bank in the name of Stalybridge Photographic Club, and all club money lodged to that account. All payments over £50-00 to be made by cheque and signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by one of two appointed signatories. Over the sum of £150-00, a third signatory will be required. The committee shall have the power to invest monies which they consider surplus to the running of the club.

16. The annual subscription shall be confirmed at an Annual General Meeting.

17. Any person who loses or fails to return a cup or trophy belonging to the club, shall be barred from receiving further cups or trophies for such a period as the committee may decide.

18. In the event of the club ceasing to exist, a General Meeting shall be called to decide on the disposal of the assets. Cups and trophies to be returned to the donor or their heirs or assigns, or to another photographic club for their safe keeping.

19. If any conduct of any member shall, in the opinion of the committee of the club, be injurious or likely to be injurious to the character or interest of the club, the committee of the club may, at a meeting, the notice convening which includes as an object the consideration of the conduct of the members, determine that a Special General Meeting of the club shall be called for the purpose of passing a resolution to expel him or her. Notice of the Special General Meeting shall be sent to the accused member giving particulars of the complaint, and advising him or her of the place, date and hour of the meeting that he or she may attend and offer an explanation. If at that meeting a resolution to expel is passed by a two-thirds majority present and voting, his or her name shall forthwith be erased from the list of members, and he or she may, within two calendar months from the date of such a meeting, appeal to the club, upon and subject to such conditions as the club may impose.