Constitution
(as approved at the lst Meeting of the Group
on Saturday, 27th February, 1993
and amended at A.G.M., 27/2/1997)

1. NAME OF GROUP

The name of the group shall be The Friends of Waverley Library Group.

2. INTERPRETATION

Throughout this Constitution unless the contrary intention appears -

"Group" means the Friends of Waverley Library Group
"Executive" means the Executive Committee of the Group
"Library" means Waverley Library

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVE

The aims and objectives of the Group shall be:

(a) to lend community support to the Library and its activities;
(b) to promote the Library in the community;
(c) to assist in raising funds for specific Library purposes;
(d) to enrich the cultural life of the community by active involvement with the Library's programme of talks, exhibitions, concerts, etc;
(e) to act as advocates for increased support for libraries from all levels of government;
(f) to offer such practical assistance as may, from time to time, be appropriate;
(g) to seek discount benefits for members of the group from appropriate booksellers and other agencies.

4. MEMBERSHIP

4.1 It is intended that the Group should represent through its membership and as far as possible the full range of library and allied needs and interests of the community.

4.2 Membership of the Group shall be open to all persons and organisations.

5. THE EXECUTIVE

5.1 The business of the Group shall be managed by an Executive consisting of a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, and at least two additional members, one of whom shall be the Library Manager or his/her representative ex officio.

5.2 Members of the Executive shall be elected from amongst the financial members of the Group at each Annual General Meeting for the ensuing term.

5.3 The offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be combined each year should it be so determined by majority vote at a General Meeting, or in the case of a casual vacancy, by the remaining members of the Executive.

5.4 The Executive Committee shall have the power to co-opt.

5.5 Subject to this Constitution and to any directions of a General Meeting the Executive may regulate its own affairs as it sees fit.

5.6 The Executive shall have the power to invite a person from either the general community or membership of the Group to hold the position of Patron. This position is honorary and subject to review from time to time.

6. MEETINGS

6.1 The Annual General Meeting and election of members of the Executive shall be held in February of each year.

6.2 Additional meetings of the Group shall be held as determined by the Executive.

6.3 Notice of meetings shall be by advertisement in local newspapers; leaflet distribution; and notification on Library notice boards.

6.4 Notice of the Annual General Meeting shall be forwarded, in writing, by the Secretary, to reach all members of the Group, at least two weeks prior to the date of that meeting.

6.5 The quorum at a General Meeting shall be a minimum of 10% of the total financial membership or ten (10) members, whichever is the lesser.

6.6 The quorum at any meeting of the Executive shall be three members of the Executive.

7. VOTING

7.1 Voting rights shall be restricted to members aged 12 years and over.

7.2 Each member organisation shall be entitled to one vote on any issue.

8. FINANCE

8.1 The financial year shall be from 1 st January to 31 st December.

8.2 An accurate record of all receipts and payments shall be kept by the Treasurer and presented as an audited financial statement for adoption by the Group at its Annual General Meeting each year.

8.3 Cheques shall be signed by any two members of the Executive Committee.

9. SUBSCRIPTIONS

9.1 Annual membership subscriptions shall become due on the first day of March each year.

9.2 Any member failing to pay annual membership subscription before the first day of June in any year shall become liable to have their name removed from the list of members, by the Committee.

9.3 Should any members find they cannot pay their subscription on its due date, they may apply, in writing, to the Committee which may grant them an extension of time to pay. Each case, of course, will be treated on its merits.

9.4 Any member who is unfinancial by the 30th August each year, shall forfeit all right to membership and any interest in the Group.

9.5 The subscriptions payable by members shall be such as may be prescribed from time to time by the Committee, and shall be ratified by the first Annual General Meeting following such prescriptions.

10. AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION

10.1 Proposed amendments to the Constitution of the Group shall be forwarded in writing to be in the hands of the Secretary no later than four weeks prior to the date of the Annual General Meeting.

10.2 Proposed amendments to the Constitution shall be circulated to all members together with the notice of the Annual General Meeting.

10.3 Changes to the Constitution shall require a two-thirds majority of financial members present at the Annual General Meeting.