The new Constitution was adopted at the Society’s AGM on October 17th, 2023

 1. NAME

The name of the Society shall be the Codsall and Bilbrook History Society.

 2. OBJECTS

The Society is established for the public benefit for the following purposes in the parishes of Codsall and Bilbrook (including Codsall Wood and Oaken) which area shall be referred to as “the area of benefit”.

 (i) To secure the preservation, protection, development and improvement of features of historic or public interest of significance in the area of benefit.

(ii) To stimulate an interest in local history in the residents in the area of benefit.

 In furtherance of these aims we have:

had signs erected to preserve the name of Claypit Lane and Dead Woman’s Grave.

The Beating the Bounds walk around the Codsall Boundary has become an annual event.

The collection of historic/ new photographs has continued to expand.

The codsallhistory.org website is used to promote an interest in our talks, publications and photographs.

In furtherance of the said purposes the Society shall have the following powers:

1) To promote research into subjects directly connected with the objects of the Society and to publish the results of any such research.

2) To publish papers, reports and other literature

3) To make surveys and prepare maps and plans and collect information in relation to any place, erection or building of historic interest within the area of benefit.

4) To hold meetings, lectures and exhibitions.

5) To educate public opinion and give advice and information.

6) To raise funds and to invite and receive contributions from any person or persons whatsoever by way of subscription, donation or otherwise; provided that the Society shall not undertake any permanent trading activities in raising funds for its primary purpose.

3. MEMBERSHIP

Membership shall be open to all who are interested in:

Actively furthering the purpose of the Society.

No member shall have the power to vote at any meeting of the Society if their subscription is in arrears at the time.

4. SUBSCRIPTIONS

The annual subscription shall be £10 or such other sum as shall be agreed at the AGM, will be due on 1st September each year. Membership shall lapse if the subscription is unpaid six months after it is due.

5. MEETINGS

a) The Annual General Meeting shall be held in the Autumn of each year to receive the audited accounts and to elect Officers and members of the Committee and an auditor or examiner of the Society’s accounts.

b) The Committee shall decide when ordinary meetings of the Society should be held and shall give at least fourteen days notice of such meetings to the members.

6. OFFICERS

Nominations for the elections of officers shall be made at least 14 days before the Annual General Meeting provided that the AGM may by resolution agree to the making of nominations at that meeting.

Such nominations shall be supported by a seconder and the consent of the proposed nominee must first have been obtained. The election of Officers shall be completed prior to the election of further Committee members. The Officers of the Society shall consist of:

Chairman

Honorary Secretary

Treasurer

All of whom shall relinquish their office every year and shall be eligible for re-election at the Annual General Meeting.

7. EXPENSES OF ADMINISTRATION

The Committee shall, out of the funds of the Society, pay all proper expenses of administration and management and the setting aside to reserve of such sums as may be deemed expedient; the remaining funds of the Society shall be applied by the Committee in furtherance of the purposes of the Society.

8. WINDING UP

The Society may be dissolved by a two-thirds majority of members voting at an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting of the Society confirmed by a simple majority of members voting at a further Special General Meeting held not less than fourteen days after the previous meeting. If a motion for the dissolution of the Society is to be proposed at an AGM or Special General Meeting this motion shall be referred to specifically when notice of the meeting is given. In the event of the dissolution of the Society the     available funds shall be transferred to one or more charitable institutions having objects similar to those declared as chosen by the Committee and approved by the Meeting of the Society at which the decision to dissolve the Society is confirmed. On dissolution the Minute Books and other records of the Society shall be deposited with the County Archivist.

We certify that this Constitution is the revised Constitution adopted at the Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 17th October 2023.

………………………………Chairman

………………………………Treasurer