The Open University Bellydancing Club
Club Constitution
1. Title
The name of the Club shall be The Open University Bellydancing Club, hereinafter called “the
Club”. The aims and objectives of the Club shall be to promote the dance at the Open
University. The Club is affiliated to the Open University Club.
2. Equity policy
The Bellydancing Club exists to provide social and recreational facilities to staff and to the
general public. We are committed to providing an inclusive culture in which all individuals are
encouraged to participate and we believe that a diversity of membership will enrich the
experience for all club members. We will make reasonable adjustments in order to meet the
circumstances of those people who use the club services and facilities We may at times be
limited by prohibitive costs or other barriers, but we encourage individuals to talk to us about
their needs and we will do what we can to meet these.
3. Headquarters
The Headquarters of the Club will be the Open University Club Studio.
4. Management of the Club
The management of the Club is vested in a Management Committee. This shall comprise of:
Chair, Secretary (who shall be the point of contact for the Club), Treasurer and Events
Organiser. All the above positions are elected annually. At any Management Committee
meeting three committee members must be present to carry on the business of the meeting.
The Management Committee has the power to fill any vacancy which may arise and may coopt members as required. The Management Committee will organise various sub-committees
as may be required. The Chair of any such sub-committee must be from the Management
Committee. The Management Committee positions are all honorary.
The Treasurer will always be a member of Open University staff and a majority of members of
the Management Committee will always be members of staff.
5. Membership
Membership of the Club is open to the following categories:
- members of the staff of the Open University and Post Graduate Research Students while
studying with the University.
- retired and former members of staff
- members of the general public
6. Subscriptions
There will be an annual subscription payable by members of the Club.
7. Annual General Meeting
A General Meeting shall be held during the month of February in every year, to receive the
Committee's reports, elect officers and deal with any matters specified on the Agenda.
The Honorary Secretary must give every member 15 days notice of the meeting; this notice to
be displayed on Open University Club notice boards. Notice of any business which members
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wish to place on the Agenda must be given in writing to the Honorary Secretary at least 7
days prior to the meeting.
Only Club members shall be allowed to vote at the Annual General Meeting, although the
Meeting will be open to the public. Members may vote to exclude non-Members for part of the
Meeting, if necessary.
During an AGM, if the current Chair is standing down, they shall continue to preside over the
meeting until its close, whereupon the new Chair will then occupy the post.
The minutes or a written report of the Annual General Meeting shall be submitted to the Open
University Club Administrator not later than four weeks after the Annual General Meeting.
8. Special General Meeting
A Special General Meeting must be called by the Honorary Secretary within fourteen days of
receipt of a request in writing signed by at least ten members of the Club, stating the business
to be brought before such a meeting.
Only Club members shall be allowed to vote at the Special General Meeting, although the
Meeting will be open to the public. Members may vote to exclude non-Members for part of the
Meeting, if necessary.
9. Alteration in Rules
No alterations or addition may be made to the Constitution and Laws except by an Annual
General Meeting or a Special General Meeting called for that purpose. Notice of any
proposed amendment must be given as provided in Rule 8.
10. Notice of Meeting
The Honorary Secretary shall give at least seven days notice to every member of the time
and place of any other General Meeting and the business to be dealt with and no other
business shall be dealt with at such a meeting.
11. Grades of membership
There will be only one grade of membership – Full Member.
12. Relationship with the Open University Club
A copy of the Constitution and Laws of the Club shall be lodged with the Open University Club
and be available for inspection by all members.
The Treasurer shall:
(a) attend the Open University Club’s Finance Committee Meetings as appropriate
(b) present to the Open University Club Treasurer accounts and current financial
statements as prescribed in 7 (3) (c) of the Open University Club Constitution
(c) present to the Open University Club Treasurer a budget of expenditure and anticipated
income for the forthcoming year as requested.
The Club shall be required to provide at least one representative, who shall be a member of
the Club and who shall not represent any other Club, at the Open University Club’s Annual
General Meeting.
The affiliated Club is an organ of the Open University Club and shall be bound by the
Constitution of the Open University Club.
13. Affiliation to Other Bodies
None
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