NBS Constitution

1, Name - The Society shall be known as the Northern Budgerigar
2, Area of benefit - The Area boundaries shall be as set out by the Parent Body, the Budgerigar Society, and in accordance with their rules.
The N.B.S Area shall include; Cumbria - Darlington - County Durham - Gateshead - North Tyneside - Northumberland - South Tyneside – Stockton on Tees - Sunderland-Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland 
3, Aims and Objectives –
3:a. To promote the breeding and development of the budgerigar in all our Affiliated Societies.
3:b. To protect the interests of Budgerigar Breeders and Exhibitors.
3:c. To support the exhibition of Budgerigars by granting Patronage to shows and assisting them in other ways.
3:d. To assist the public generally in the objects and activities of the Society.
3:e. To assist and work in union with the Affiliated and Associated Societies within the area.
3:f. To serve the Parent body in a closely knit area organisation.
4, Equal Opportunities - The N.B.S in the conduct of it's affairs, shall at all times prohibit discrimination or harassment on the grounds of Nationality, Race, Ethnicity, Gender, Sexual Orientation, Age, Disability, Political or Religious opinion.
The N.B.S shall maintain a non-political stance in the conduct of its affairs.
5, Membership - Application for membership is open to any person having an interest in the budgerigar fancy or hobby, and who supports the aims and objectives, and abides by the Constitution. Should an application for membership be refused, or an existing member be excluded from the N.B.S, they will have the right to request the reason for this action, in writing, from the Secretary. In the event of any refusal the applicants subscription shall be returned. Successful applicants will be issued with an N.B.S Ring Code Number. The N.B.S Annual Subscription shall be from 1st January to 31st December of each year.
The Annual Subscription/s are as follows;
Single full membership. £11. Life membership - 15 times the current single full membership.
Partnerships. £11 each member. (Both subscriptions are payable at the same time)
Disabled members, Juniors and Senior Citizens £6. (Disabled members will need to provide proof of their disability status)
Related Partnerships of the same address, 1.5 times the current single full membership
Junior Member. A person aged between eight years and sixteen years on the 1st January and paying a junior subscription, must exhibit in the junior classes.
Only fully paid up members shall be allowed to compete for Society Trophies and Society Patronage Awards. Should a ring code number lapse through non-renewal of membership for a period of ten years, other than by a member becoming deceased, the Society shall have the right to re-allocate that ring code number.
In the case of a surviving partner, the use of the code number shall continue.
6, Management - The N.B.S Chairman to conduct the meetings and to have the casting vote.
Discussion shall be allowed at all open meeting's, with a one hour time limit, at the discretion of the chairman.
Resolutions to be passed on to the Committee for ratification.
a) The affairs of the Society shall be managed by the N.B.S. Committee.
b) The affairs of the area shall be managed by the N.B.S. Council.
c) There shall be one fixed Council meeting each year, in March. The secretary shall have the power to call extra Council meetings should the need arise. The Affiliated Societies shall send a delegate to each Council meeting. The delegate must be a fully paid up member of the N.B.S.
d) The A.G.M. of the Society shall take place on the first Sunday in February each year, where the Officials of the Society and B.S. delegates will be elected. Notice of the A.G.M. of the Society to be advertised or members notified not less than 7 days prior to the meeting.
e) Nominations for N.B.S Officials and B.S delegates to be taken at the January meeting. The Officials of the N.B.S and the B.S Delegates shall be elected at the A.G.M, by the members present at the meeting. Provided that a member has notified his intention to be available for election, in writing, then the members absence from the A.G.M. shall not debar his election, if agreed.
f) The N.B.S. Committee shall be composed of; President, President Elect, Honorary Life Presidents, Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Social Secretary, Patronage Secretary, Minute Secretary, Publicity Officer, Show Secretary, retiring President in an ex officio capacity. Also any other fully paid up member who has been duly nominated, seconded, and elected by the members present at the A.G.M.
g) All notices of motion must be received by the Secretary no later than the date of the nominations meeting. Notices of motion received would be presented to the A.G.M.
h) Extraordinary General Meetings shall be called by the Committee upon written request by not less than 12 fully paid up members.
i) Any alterations to these rules may only be made at the A.G.M or Extraordinary General Meeting. The proposed alteration/s must have the support of at least two thirds of the members present.
j) The N.B.S Committee shall have the Authority to set up sub committees for the organisation and development of any activity considered to be for the benefit of the Society and/or the members.
k) Members shall be presented with a copy of the Society rules and shall make themselves acquainted with all the rules of the Society for the time being in force, and shall be deemed to have full knowledge thereof at all times, and shall be bound thereby.
l) Two tellers to take charge of any ballots for nominations.
m) The N.B.S Officers Honorarium shall be automatically be presented at an A.G.M for ratification/discussion and approval, by the members present.
7, Finance
a. All monies raised and provided by/or on behalf of the N.B.S. shall be used to further the aims of the N.B.S.
b. Bank accounts shall be opened in both current and high interest accounts in the name of the N.B.S.
c. There will be three named cheque signatories. All cheques to be signed by two of the named signatories
d. The Secretary/treasurer will be responsible for the N.B.S financial affairs and for maintaining a record of the accounts, and making regular reports to the Committee
e. A balance sheet and report shall be presented at the A.G.M. to the members present at that meeting.
f. The financial year of the N.B.S shall be from January 1st to 31st December of each year
g. All extraordinary items of expenditure over or equal to a single paid life membership fee, shall be approved by the Committee, Council, A.G.M, or E.G.M, only after consideration of a minimum of three written quotes.
h. If the Society by a simple majority decides that it is necessary, or advisable, to dissolve the Society, it shall call a meeting of all members of the Society who are entitled to vote. At least 21 days notice of the meeting must be given. If the decision to dissolve is confirmed by a simple majority of those present, the Committee shall have the power to dispose of assets held by, or in the name of, the organisation, provided they are given, or transferred to, some other voluntary organisation having objects similar to those of the Society. If at any time it shall appear from the accounts of the Society, that there is a deficiency, each member shall be liable for an equal share of that deficiency. (Including Honorary life members)
8, Complaints/Members Conduct
Upon receipt of any complaint against the conduct of any member considered to be prejudicial to the interests of the N.B.S, the Committee shall request the secretary to notify the member concerned of the complaint, inviting the member to state his/her case, in writing, within eight days. Copies of all relevant statements or complaints shall be provided for either party to consider. Should a reply be considered unsatisfactory, or no reply be received, the member shall be invited to attend a meeting of the Committee, to be called within 28 days. If the member fails to attend, the matter shall be dealt with in the members absence. If the Committee shall be satisfied by a majority of not less than two thirds of the members present that such member has acted contrary to the interests of the N.B.S, the secretary shall be empowered to reprimand, suspend, or request the member for his resignation, and to remove the members name from the list of members forthwith.
Right of appeal.
Any member who has been found to have acted contrary to the interests of the N.B.S, the member will be notified, in writing, by the Secretary, of the decision taken. If a member is dissatisfied with this decision, he/she will have a right of appeal. The member shall in the first instance notify the Secretary of the N.B.S, in writing, of his/her dissatisfaction, and request that the complaint be reconsidered. He N.B.S. Committee will re-consider the appeal and notify the member of any decision taken. There would no further right of appeal, and the decision taken would be final. The procedure for any complaint regarding the non adhering to show rules as detailed by the parent body , the Budgerigar Society, shall be covered by this rule.
9, General.
Any matters not dealt with herein shall be dealt with by the Council as it shall deem fit.