Constitution

KENNET BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION CONSTITUTION

Name:
The name of the Association is the Kennet Beekeepers Association (KBKA). It is an independent association but affiliated to the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) through the Wiltshire Beekeepers Association, an Area Association Member of the BBKA.

Objects:
To promote and develop interest in beekeeping in all its forms throughout, but not exclusively, the Kennet area.
To represent the interests of its members at all levels.

Membership:
This shall be open to any applicant who completes an application form together with the payment of the relevant subscription.

Full Member shall be one who has paid both the association subscription and capitation fees as prescribed by the Wiltshire Beekeepers Association.

Partner Member shall be a partner of and reside at the same address as a Full Member and be one who has paid both the association subscription and capitation fees as prescribed by the Wiltshire Beekeepers Association. A Partner Member cannot vote at General Meetings.

Honorary Member shall be one nominated by the Committee but will have no affiliation with the BBKA.

Associate Member can be a full member of another association, or a social member, and will only pay the association subscription.

Country Member shall be one who has paid both the association subscription and capitation fees as prescribed by the Wiltshire Beekeepers Association but who does not keep bees and does not pay BDI.

Junior Member shall be one aged between 10 and 18 years and be affiliated to a Full Member. A Junior Member cannot vote at General Meetings and may only attend association events with a nominated guardian.

Subscription:
An annual association subscription shall be recommended by the appointed association Committee before the Annual General Meeting from which it will take effect and be ratified by the Annual General Meeting. For full members the annual compulsory capitation fees and optional Bee Disease Insurance will be added to the agreed Association subscription. Subscriptions will run from the First of October to the following 30th September or any part of the year thereof.

Administration:
The Secretary will call an Annual General Meeting on the first full week of October in any year and will provide fourteen days’ notice to members together with an Agenda. At the meeting an election will take place to appoint the Officers of the Association: a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and upto six further Committee Members. All Officers and Committee Members will be appointed for a period of one year but may seek re-election after their period in office. Officers will be elected by a show of hands at the Annual General Meeting having been proposed and seconded by a paid up member of the Association present at the meeting.
The quorum for a meeting will be a minimum of 20% of the paid up members of the Association.
The Committee will be responsible for all activities of the Association during the year and will meet at least four times a year, or more if needed. A quorum for a Committee Meeting shall be at least five to include at least two Officers of the Association.
A Special General Meeting may be called at any time on a motion called by at least twelve paid up members giving fourteen days notice.
Branch meetings shall be held throughout the year a decided by the Committee and a programme communicated to all members via the Association’s website.
Alterations:
No alterations or amendment of these rules shall take place except by ballot of Full Members at the Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting, called for the specific purpose of such alteration or amendment.
Winding Up:
In the event of the Association ceasing to exist, those remaining Officers shall clear any outstanding debt, and pass residual funds, if any, to the Wiltshire Beekeepers Association to hold in trust for ten years, after which they will become the property of the Wiltshire Beekeepers Association. If the Wiltshire Beekeepers Association is no longer extant, the funds will be passed to the British Beekeepers Association.
***This constitution was signed by:
Robert Carpenter-Turner (Chairman) & John Barber (Secretary) on 5th October 2018***
Link to printable version of Kennet Beekeepers Association Constitution