Rules of the Club
1. That this Society be called the BEDFORD CAMERA CLUB.
2. The Club aims to provide its members with assistance, education and enjoyment in photographic matters in a friendly atmosphere by means of lectures, competitions, demonstrations of process, outdoor excursions and other methods.
3. The affairs of the Club shall be controlled by a committee of 12 members, consisting of the President, Vice President or Immediate Past President, General Secretary, Treasurer, and such other officers as are deemed necessary together with elected members. Five to form a quorum. The committee shall have power to co-opt any other members of the club as occasion arises. No President shall serve in that capacity for more than two years consecutively.
4. The Officers and Committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting, which shall be held during the month of May. A Committee Meeting is to be held before the Annual General Meeting to arrange the business of the Annual General Meeting. The Committee shall have the power to fill any vacancy in its numbers that may occur during the year.
5. No alterations in the Rules of the Club shall be made except at the Annual General Meeting, or a Special General Meeting duly convened for that purpose, and no rule shall be altered without a two-thirds majority of the members present. Notice of any proposed alteration to be sent in writing to the General Secretary seven days prior to each Annual or Special Meeting.
6. A Special General Meeting may be convened at seven days notice by the Committee or by the General Secretary, at the request of ten members in writing. The request must state the reason for calling the meeting.
7. The Club’s Financial Year shall be from the 1st April to the following 31st March. The Subscription Rate and the entrance fee shall be recommended by the Committee and submitted to the Annual General Meeting for approval. Subscriptions are payable at the first meeting of the Winter Programme. Any member whose subscription remains unpaid on the 1st November will be regarded as lapsed. (See the Competition Rules concerning eligibility to enter competitions.)
Members joining after the 31st December shall pay half the annual subscription but new members joining after 31st March shall pay a full subscription which will include their membership for the following season.
8. Visitors brought to a meeting by a member or on their own shall pay a visitor fee which has been determined by the Committee. Such fee may be deducted from the annual membership fee for that season if that person subsequently joins. A person may attend a maximum of three meetings in one sea- son without becoming a member.
9. The Club meetings shall be held as the Committee determines (normally weekly during the Winter Season).
10. Members who plan to resign are requested to inform the Secretary or Membership Secretary in writing.
11. Any balance standing to the credit of the Club at the end of the financial year, shall be applied solely for the benefit of the Club or promotion of its objects, and members of the Club shall not receive payment either directly or indirectly for their services or in any other respect except legitimate expenses incurred for and on behalf of the Club. In the event of the dissolution of the Club, any assets of the Club shall be devoted to any objects similar to those of the Club.
12. The Club may confer Honorary Life Membership (H.L.M.) upon any member who has given outstanding service to the Club. Election of H.L.M.s shall be made at the A.G.M. after nomination by the Committee. H.L.M.s have the right to attend Committee Meetings but have no voting power unless they have been elected to the committee.
13. The Club will not discriminate on grounds of sex, race (including colour, ethnic or national origin), sexual orientation, disability, gender reassignment, religious or political belief, pregnancy or maternity, marital status or age.
14. Membership of the Club shall be open to individuals who will pursue the aims of the Club and who have paid the membership subscription.
15. The Committee may unanimously and for good reason refuse or revoke membership of any individual provided that the individual concerned shall have the right to be heard by the Committee before the final decision is made. These rules were formulated and adopted on 4/4/1906, and amended 8/5/1922, 9/11/1926, 4/4/1946, 6/6/1950, 27/5/1952, 6/5/1978, 4/5/2004, 3/5/2016 and 9/5/2023.