The Society shall be called The Writing Equipment Society.
The aim of the Society shall be to facilitate:
The acquisition, preservation and dissemination of knowledge (including the transfer of practical skills), relating to both heritage and contemporary writing instruments, accessories and associated ephemera
The opportunity for Society members to interact and share related experiences.
Membership of the Society shall be open to all those with an interest in writing instruments and accessories.
The appropriate membership subscription shall be payable annually on the anniversary of the member joining the Society. Membership subscription rates shall be determined by Council and reviewed periodically.
The Society Council reserves the right to assign a zero-fee Honorary Lifetime Membership, to any member who it deems has materially contributed to the operation and furtherment of the Society.
The Society shall be managed by a Council consisting of: Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and a maximum of 5 further Officers, as the Council deems necessary. Additional Council members will have responsibilities allocated according to and agreed by the Council members at any given time. For meeting purposes, a quorum shall be 50% of Council members.
The Society’s financial year shall be the 31st March.
The society intends to publish a minimum of three journals a year to its members, which will be made available either digitally or in printed format.
A Special General Meeting may be convened at any time by Council to deal any special matter which Council may wish to place before members. Notice convening such a meeting shall be sent to members not less than twenty-one days before the meeting date and shall specify the matters to be dealt with. Council may determine that such a meeting will be held by any appropriate internet-based meeting application.
Council is empowered to expel any member of the Society whose conduct has, in the opinion of Council, rendered him or her unfit for Society membership.
Any member against whom a complaint has been made shall be informed of the details of such complaint and shall receive at least twenty-one days’ notice of the meeting convened to consider the issue. They have the following rights if they choose to exercise them:
To attend a meeting of Council which shall hear the complaint
To answer the complaint. Council shall be under a duty to review all the available evidence.
No decision to expel shall be valid unless a majority of Council members approves it.
