RULES OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION
(Registered Charity No 249877) ("the Union")
A - OBJECTS
The object of the Union is the advancement of the science of ornithology.
B - MEMBERSHIP & SUBSCRIBTION
- B.1 Membership of the Union shall be open to anyone interested in
furthering the objects of the Union (subject to rule B.4) who pays the
appropriate subscription or (in the case of Honorary Members) who is
elected by Council under rule B.2.3.
- B.2 Members may be:-
- B.2.1 Ordinary or Sustaining Members who pay the appropriate
annual subscription which falls due on 1 October in each year.
- B.2.2 Life Members who have either:-
- B.2.2.1 paid the appropriate life membership subscription, or
- B.2.2.2 been Ordinary or Sustaining Members for an unbroken
period of 50 years whereupon they shall not be required to pay
any further subscription.
- B.2.3 Honorary Members who shall not exceed 20 in number at any
time and who shall be elected following the consideration of a
nomination from any member by Council in recognition of their
outstanding contribution to ornithology.
- B.2.4 Corresponding Members who were elected as such prior to the
abolition of this category of membership until their membership
expires on 30 September 2000.
- B.3 Applications for membership shall be reported to the next meeting
of Council for acceptance.
- B.4 Council shall have the power to terminate the membership or refuse
to accept an application for membership of anyone who has in its
opinion:-
- B.4.1 acted in a manner injurious to the reputation or interests of
the Union, or
- B.4.2 acted in a manner which harms the promotion of ornithology
including (without limitation) committing a breach of any current
ethical guidelines published or adopted by the Union or committing an
offence under legislation relating to the protection or conservation of
birds or their habitats.
- B.4.3 Provided the individual concerned shall have the right to be
heard by Council accompanied by a friend or representative if desired,
before a final decision is made.
- B.5 The subscription rates for each category of member shall be
determined from time to time by Council. Council may set reduced
subscription rates for members under the age of 25 years or over usual
retirement age at the date of application or renewal or such other
categories of members as they consider appropriate.
- B.6 Any member who has not paid their annual subscription by 31 March
next following the date upon which it was due shall cease to be a member
but the Union may at its discretion restore the membership of any member
who pays their subscription after this date.
C - OFFICERS & COUNCIL
- C.1 The business of the Union shall be conducted by the Council.
- C.2 The Council shall consist of the following elected or co-opted
from the membership of the Union:-
- C.2.1 The officers who shall be:-
- C.2.1.1 The President
- C.2.1.2 Two Vice-Presidents
- C.2.1.3 The Treasurer, and
- C.2.1.4 The Secretary
- C.2.2 Eight ordinary elected members, and
- C.2.3 The chairmen of any permanent committees constituted under
rule C.7 if not already elected members who shall be appointed and
co-opted by the elected members of Council and whose appointment
shall be ratified at the next Annual General Meeting, and
- C.2.4 (If rule 4.2 applies) The President elect for the period of
one year between their election and the commencement of the four
year term of office.
- C.3 Officers and elected members shall be elected by members at an
Annual General Meeting. Candidates nominated by Council shall be
notified to the membership at least 21 days before the meeting. Any
other nomination may be made by at least five members in writing signed
by them accompanied by the written consent of the candidate and received
by the Secretary no later than 15 February.
- C.4.1 Each officer and elected member shall serve for a term of four
years unless elected to another post on Council during such term. A year
for the purposes of this rule shall run from the close of an Annual
General Meeting to the close of the next. Only the Treasurer and
Secretary shall be eligible for immediate re-election save that an
ordinary elected member shall be eligible for election as an officer.
- C.4.2 Council may nominate or invite nominations for the next
President of the Union to be elected at the Annual General Meeting at
the beginning of the last year of the current President's term of
office. If the next President is so elected, he or she shall be a member
of the Council for the year between the election and the commencement of
his or her term of office.
- C.5 Council may co-opt a member of the Union to fill any vacancy which
arises until it can be filled at an Annual General Meeting.
- C.6 A member of Council who fails to attend three consecutive meetings
may be asked to resign or be removed by Council if no satisfactory
explanation is given or evidence is not produced that such
non-attendance was due to circumstances beyond his or her control.
- C.7 Council may delegate matters relating to the Union's affairs to
committees constituted and appointed from amongst the membership of the
Union for such purpose or to its employees where such matters are
suitable to be so delegated. Council will retain responsibility for such
matters and shall ensure that committees act within the scope of
standing orders and that employees carry out their tasks within the
scope of their job descriptions so as to ensure compliance with these
rules and the law relating to charities. The proceedings of committees
shall be fully and promptly reported to Council.
- C.8 The Editor of "Ibis", the Administrator and such other
employees or members of the Union as Council considers appropriate shall
attend meetings of Council and be entitled to speak subject to the
discretion of the chairman of the meeting but shall not be entitled to
vote.
- C.9 Council shall be entitled to take out policies of insurance or
indemnity covering their individual or joint liability for any
negligence, default and, with the prior approval of the Charity
Commissioner, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to the Union
and pay any premium for such cover; providing that such insurance or
indemnity shall not extend to any act or omission which Council or any
member knew to be a breach of duty or a breach of trust or which was
committed by Council or any member in reckless disregard of whether it
was a breach of duty or a breach of trust or not.
D - MEETINGS
- D.1 The following provisions shall apply to meetings of Council:-
- D.1.1 Council shall hold at least four ordinary meetings a year.
- D.1.2 The President or any three members of Council may call a
special meeting of Council on at least 14 days prior notice in
writing to all other members of Council, such notice specifying the
business to be discussed. If the business is the co-option of a
member to Council, at least 21 days notice shall be given.
- D.1.3 There shall be a quorum when at least five voting members
(of whom at least two are Officers) are present.
- D.2.1 The Annual General Meeting shall take place on a date in March
or April and at a place in the United Kingdom decided by Council of
which not less than 21 prior days written notice has been given to
members.
- D.2.2 The Annual General Meeting shall transact the following
business:- D.2.2.1 The adoption of the report of Council
- D.2.2.2 The approval of the preceding year's accounts
- D.2.2.3 The election of Officers and ordinary members of Council
and the ratification of the appointment of the chairmen of permanent
committees, and
- D.2.2.4 Any business notified to the secretary no later than 15
February.
- D.3 A Special General Meeting of the Union may be summoned by Council
or upon a written request from at least 50 members. At least 21 days
prior written notice shall be given to the members. Only the business
for which it has been convened shall be discussed.
- D.4 The following provisions shall apply to all meetings of Council or
General Meetings:-
- D.4.1 The meeting shall be chaired by the President or (if he is
unable to attend) a Vice-President nominated by him. If no
Vice-President is in attendance then the members present shall
appoint a chairman from amongst those present before transacting any
other business.
- D.4.2 Anyone present who has a financial interest in the subject
matter of any business or who is a relative, employee or associate
of someone with such interest shall declare their interest before it
is discussed. They shall withdraw from the meeting during the
discussion of such business if so requested by the chairman and
shall not vote on any resolution concerning such business.
- D.4.3 Save as provided otherwise, all questions at a meeting shall
be decided by a simple majority of those present and voting. In the
event of a tied vote, the chairman shall have a second deciding
vote.
- D.4.4 Written minutes shall be kept of the proceedings at all
meetings.
E - FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION
- E.1 Council shall have the power to transfer funds from ordinary
current revenue accounts into any special reserve account.
- E.2 Any sums which:-
- E.2.1 are or were donated or bequeathed to the Union on condition
that the capital should not be expended
- E.2.2 Council determines should be transferred from ordinary
current revenue accounts into any special reserve account
- E.2.3 are received by way of life subscription shall be held by a
trust corporation or at least three trustees (not being current
members of Council) appointed by Council.
- E.3 Any reserve, endowment or capital sums as referred to in rule E.2
shall be applied in accordance with:-
- E.3.1 the terms of any gift or bequest
- E.3.2 the requirements of the law relating to charities
- E.3.3 the principles of good management of a charity's assets and
the advice of the Union's professional advisors.
F - CHANGES TO RULES
- F.1 These rules may be changed by a resolution passed by not less than
two thirds of members present and voting at a General Meeting of the
Union.
- F.2 The notice of any General Meeting at which a resolution to change
the rules is to be considered shall include the terms of the amendment
proposed.
- F.3 No change shall be made to those rules which would have the effect
of making the Union cease to be a charity at law.
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