Constitution & Rules

Midlands Potters Association

ADOPTED 09/07/1980 (AMENDED 1985, 90, 92, 2004, 12, 13, 18, 19, 21)

Name

The name of the Association shall be Midlands Potters Association.

Objectives

The aim of the Midlands Potters Association is to promote the sharing and communication of ideas, techniques and experiences among those interested in ceramics.

Membership

Membership of the Association shall be open to all individuals who are interested in craft/studio pottery.

Administration

Membership records will be held on computer.  The records will consist of information supplied by the members and may include: members name, address, telephone number(s), email address, subscription information, website, studio address, opening times and personal statements.

Records are held for the purposes of distribution of printed copies of the newsletter, correspondence, distribution of electronic copies of the newsletter, electronic notification of events and exhibitions, area group meetings and committee meetings.

Disclosure of membership records is limited to the following:

  • the publication of a list of members for the administration of the Association by the committee officers and committee members.
  • members may choose not to be contacted via telephone, email or by post but not all three.
  • membership lists may not be passed to third parties.
  • master copies of the membership list will be held by the Membership Secretary, Treasurer, Secretary and Exhibitions coordinator.

Committee

The Committee shall consist of the following elected officers:

  • Chairperson
  • Vice-chairperson
  • Treasurer
  • Membership Secretary
  • Newsletter Editor
  • Exhibitions Coordinator
  • Secretary

The Committee may co-opt up to three non-voting ordinary members for specific purposes as, and when, required.

Officers are elected for three years and may be re-elected for a maximum of three terms holding the same office.

Officers will be elected at an annual general meeting.  All officers must be fully paid-up members of the Midlands Potters Association.

The Committee shall be quorate when at least one third of the officers are in attendance at a meeting.

Rules

  1. Membership of the Committee
    1. a.  Committee members shall be nominated, proposed and seconded by two members of the Association and elected at the AGM.
    2. b.  A ballot will be held at the AGM in the event of more than one nomination being received for any post.
  2. Subscriptions
    1. The annual subscriptions of the Association shall be such sum as may be fixed at the Annual General Meeting.  Subscriptions shall become due on the first day of October each year.
    2. Members whose subscriptions are three months in arrears shall be automatically deemed to have resigned from the Association.
  3. Meetings
    • a) Committee meetings shall be held not less than three times in a year and may be virtual, as deemed appropriate by the Committee. Three members shall constitute a quorum.  In the absence of the Chairperson and Vice-chairperson those present may elect a Chairperson for the meeting from among their members.
    • b) The AGM of the Association, of which at least 42 days’ notice should be given to all members by the Secretary, shall be held during the months of October or November each year.  The Committee may at any time, and shall within 30 days after receiving a request in writing of any 10 members, summon an Extraordinary General Meeting, of which not less than 30 days’ notice shall be given to each member by the Secretary, specifying the business to be transacted.
    • c) The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be to:
      • receive a report from the Committee:
      • receive annual accounts and to appoint an auditor:
      • consider any proposals of which due notice has been given:
      • elect those officers and committee members whose three-year term of office had ended.
  4. Accounts
    All funds and assets in the possession of the Association shall be held, paid and applied as the Committee may direct within the objects of the Association and pending such direction all funds shall be held in a separate bank account in the name of the Association with such bankers as the Committee may from time to time direct. All cheques drawn on such bankers shall be signed by any two of the Chairperson, Vice-chairperson, Secretary or Treasurer, or a nominated committee member. Documents requiring endorsement, other than financial, shall be sufficiently endorsed if signed by any one of them.
  5. Policy
    All requests to the MPA for financial support will be referred to the Committee for consideration.  Their decision will be final.
  6. Committee
    Powers and duties
    The Committee shall have the general management and direction of the funds and affairs of the Association and in particular (but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing):
    • a) may nominate any of its delegates to serve on another body.
    • b) may pay the whole or any part of the expenses of any member in or about the execution of any of his functions and duties on behalf of the Association.
    • c) may make, and from time to time, vary rules not inconsistent with this Constitution, etc.
  7. Auditors
    One auditor, who must not be a member of the Association, should be elected at the Annual General Meeting.
  8. Alterations
    No alteration may be made to this Constitution except by, and with the authority of, a resolution submitted in writing to the Secretary either as in Clause 3b or not less than 30 days before a General Meeting, and passed.
  9. Notices
    Notices to members shall be deemed sufficiently served if sent by ordinary prepaid post or via email to the address of the members registered on their subscription form.
  10. Winding up
    The Association shall, on the winding up of the MPA, pay any surplus funds of the Association towards other such Associations or Charities that fulfils, in its discretion, the aims and objectives of the MPA.