RULES AND CONSTITUTION

1. NAME

The Society shall be called ‘The International Euphorbia Society’ (henceforth referred to as ‘the Society’).

2. OBJECTS

The objects of the Society shall be to advance the education of the public by the study, cultivation and conservation of plants of the family Euphorbiaceae.

3. OFFICIALS

The Officials of the Society shall be:

a) The Honorary President who shall act as a figurehead for the Society and advise on botanical accuracy of material considered for publication in the journal.

b) The Chairman who shall chair committee meetings, AGMs and EGMs. In the absence of the Chairman at any one meeting, the Committee may invite one of its members to act as Chairman for that meeting. The Chairman will also maintain a list of members and generally assist other committee members in particular with regard to the preparation of the journals and any other publicity material.

c) The Hon. Secretary who shall conduct the correspondence and business of the Society and generally act in accordance with the decisions of the Committee.

d) The Hon. Treasurer who shall receive, expend and keep and submit proper accounts of all monies of the Society in accordance with the decisions of the Committee, and shall present proper accounts, duly audited by an appointed Accountant at each AGM. The Treasurer will also keep a record of members and will send out journals to paid up members.

e) The Hon. Editor who shall be responsible for the preparation and publication of the Society Journal liaising with the Chairman and designer.

f) The Hon. Assistant Editor who shall be responsible for liaising with the Editor and assisting him.

g) The Hon. Publicity Officer who shall be responsible for publicizing the activities of the Society at every event, arranging advertising, social events and conventions, and whatever else may be agreed from time to time by the Committee.

h) The Hon. Librarian who shall be responsible for setting up and maintaining a comprehensive library of printed material and photographs or slides relating to the family Euphorbiaceae.

i) The Seed Bank Secretary who shall be responsible for the purchasing and distribution of seed for the Society.

4. MANAGEMENT

The Society shall be managed by a Committee consisting of the Chairman, the Hon. Secretary, the Hon. Treasurer, the Hon. Editor, the Hon. Assistant Editor, the Hon. Publicity Officer, the Librarian, the Seed Bank Secretary and other Committee Members.

a) The Committee may appoint such sub-committees as it deems necessary.
b) The Committee shall meet at such places. Times and dates as it may decide.
c) The quorum necessary for the transaction of business at a committee meeting shall be four.
d) Minutes shall be kept of all Committee Meetings and entered into a ‘Minute Folder’, copies of the Minutes shall be sent to each Committee Member. These Minutes to be approved by the Committee and signed by the Chairman at the subsequent meeting.

5. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS AND EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETINGS

a) The Society shall hold an AGM not later than 31st December of each year, when the following business shall be transacted:

i) To receive the Chairman’s report
ii) To receive the Hon. Treasurer’s annual report and audited accounts for the preceding year.
iii) To elect Officials and Committee members.
iv) To deal with any other relevant business.

b) Attendance at General Meetings shall be open to all Members of the Society, and notice of the date, time and place of the meeting given in the Journal.

6. NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICIALS

The election of officials and Committee shall be by majority vote at the AGM, when the number of nominations exceeds the number of vacancies. Nominations, in writing, bearing the signature of the proposer and the seconder, shall be submitted to the Hon. Secretary not less than one calendar month prior to the AGM.

a) A list of elected officials will appear in each issue of the journal
b) If any Official resigns or is otherwise unable to continue to fulfill his duties, the Committee shall have the power to co-opt a replacement to serve until the AGM.
c) The Hon. President is elected for life. All other officials shall be elected annually.

7. MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION, SUBSCRIPTION AND EXPULSION

a) Membership of the Society shall be open to all persons interested in the aims of the Society.
b) All applications for membership shall be in writing and accompanied by one year’s subscription or such sum as may be decided by the Committee.
c) All subscriptions shall be due on January 1st. Notification will be given in the preceding issue of the Journal. Subsequent Journals will not be sent until subscription is received by the Treasurer or Secretary.
d) The Committee shall have the power to expel any member for conduct detrimental to the best interests of the Society, subject to that Member having had an opportunity to put his case to the Committee.

8. ALTERATION TO THE RULES

Any alteration to these rules and/or any additional rules must be made at an AGM. Notice to propose an alteration/addition shall be given to the Hon. Secretary not less than one calendar month prior to the AGM and shall bear the signature of the proposer and seconder. A copy of the proposed alteration/addition shall be included in the notice of the AGM sent to members.

9. INTERPRETATION OF THE RULES

a) The Committee shall be the sole authority for the interpretation of these rules and their decision shall be final.
b) The Society may be dissolved by a resolution passed at an Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting held in accordance with this constitution. Such resolution may give instructions for the disposal of any assets held by or in the name of the Society provided that if any property remains after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, such property shall not be paid to or distributed amongst the members of the Society, but shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institution or institutions having objects similar to some or all of the objects of the Society as the Society shall determine, and insofar as effect cannot be given to this provision then to some other charitable purpose.