Bylaws

CONSTITUTION OF ‘THE INTERNATIONAL ELIZABETH VON ARNIM SOCIETY’

AGREED 2ND FEBRUARY 2016 BY SKYPE MEETING

NAME OF THE GROUP:
The group will be known as The International Elizabeth von Arnim Society

AIMS:
To foster scholarly work on the life and writing of the writer known as Elizabeth von Arnim (hereafter referred to as von Arnim).

OBJECTIVES

To encourage scholars from around the world to exchange ideas on the writing of von Arnim.

To maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date website of bibliographical material.

To maintain virtual contact with interested scholars around the world via the website and the members’ Jiscmail group.

To work as a non-profit organisation to arrange conferences and promote meetings, lectures, study groups and expeditions associated with the life and work of von Arnim.

To produce a peer-reviewed ejournal.

To publish original work and scholarly papers of the members online.

To promote the readership of the works of von Arnim, possibly by means of an online reading group.

COMMITTEE

The first AGM and subsequent AGMs shall formally appoint and name members of the Interim Steering Committee.  The Interim Steering Committee will be appointed for one year only.

Thereafter, officers of the Steering Committee members will be duly elected by members and hold their terms of office for three years.

The Committee shall include four officers and three co-opted members:

Officers: President, Vice-President and website editor, Secretary/Communications Officer, Treasurer

Co-opted members of the committee: Bibliography and website manager, Bibliography and membership secretary, and Jiscmail manager

The number and members of the Committee may be amended at any subsequent AGM if notice of the proposal is given with notice of the meeting.

Committee members shall receive no remuneration but reasonable expenses may be considered for re-imbursement once a full membership has been established.

The quorum for the Committee meetings shall be no fewer than three.

The Committee will be responsible for the management of the Society, including:

  • Determining questions of membership
  • Fixing charges
  • Arranging conferences on von Arnim and her works
  • Maintaining a website and editing the content of ‘blogs’
  • Publishing articles etc.
  • Deciding dates of meetings and organising virtual meetings
  • Any insurances and licences as far as they are needed
  • All other matters of administration including affiliation to other bodies relevant to the objects of the Society (e.g. The Katherine Mansfield Society)

Procedure – A simple majority will be required for a decision, with the President having the casting vote.

OFFICERS:

The President, Vice-President, and other officers shall be appointed at each AGM, and elected by the members.

The President is responsible for chairing meetings of the Committee, but in his/her absence the Committee may appoint a chairman for that meeting.

The Secretary/Communications Officer shall be responsible for setting agendas and notifying members of meetings, taking minutes, correspondence with members and others.

The Treasurer is responsible for managing the finances of the Society, and may open and operate bank accounts on a resolution of the Committee, who will determine who the signatories will be. The Treasurer will keep accounts which will be subject to independent examination annually, and submitted to the Committee for adopting prior to the AGC at which they are to be presented for approval.

 

Co-opted members of the committee:

The Membership Secretary shall be responsible for keeping a register of members and collecting dues to pass to the Treasurer.

The Website and Bibliography Managers shall assist the website editor in creating, maintaining and editing a full list of bibliographical material for the website.

The Jiscmail Manager shall be responsible for editing the content of Jiscmails to be sent to members

CASUAL VACANCIES:

Any vacancies among officers of committee members may be filled by resolution of the remaining Committee members.

CHARGES:

Once elected, the Committee shall open a bank account, fix an annual budget and membership subscription for members to cover the general administrative costs of the society, including the setting up and maintenance of the website.

The Committee shall draw up budgets for any additional activities including occasional conferences and publications.

MEMBERS:

The von Arnim Society will be open to anyone, regardless of race, age, religion, gender or sexual orientation.

An annual subscription will be decided at the Annual General Meeting and will be due at the first meeting of the year.

Every member shall have one vote at the AGM.

Honorary Life Members may be appointed by the AGM and have full membership rights.

MEMBERSHIP LISTS

These will be collated and updated by the membership secretary.

ELECTIONS

AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION:

The constitution may be amended only at a General Meeting of members, and only if notice of the proposed amendment is given with the notice of the meeting.

NOTICE OF MEETINGS:

Annual or Special General Meetings require 2 weeks’ notice to all members by email or post.

DISSOLUTION OF THE SOCIETY:

Dissolution requires a resolution of a majority of members present and voting at a General meeting of members. In the event of dissolution of any funds remaining after payment of debts are to be divided equally among the members.