THE
BRITISH TARANTULA SOCIETY CONSTITUTION
6th SEPTEMBER 1997
As from 1984
the Society is known as THE BRITISH TARANTULA SOCIETY. It is managed by
a Committee of fifteen (15) members, consisting of Chairman, Vice-Chairman,
Secretary, Treasurer, Editor, Breeding Directory Co-Ordinator, Exhibition
Organiser, librarian and six(6) other members. The Committee meets a minimum
of four (4) times annually and any Committee member absent from three
consecutive meetings, without fair reason, shall be required to resign
and have his or her post offered as a new appointment. The Committee shall
have the power to increase the number of members sitting at any time should
it be deemed necessary.
The Committee shall be allowed to invite members onto the Committee. Such
an invitation shall be the result of a two-thirds majority vote of the
Committee.
The aims of the Society:
1. To further the correct keeping, study and breeding of Theraphosids,
scorpions and associated fauna.
2. To produce a quarterly Journal to help the Society fulfill its role
as a platform for debate amongst amateur arachnologists and to provide
an organ for publishing any relevant information submitted by a member
or of interest to a member.
3. To encourage the participation in long-term captive breeding programmes,
to both relieve the pressure on indigenous habitats and create a supply
of specimens for amateur arachnologists.
4. The Committee has created a service known as "THE BREEDING DIRECTORY"
in order to promote and aid captive breeding within the Society, membership
of this directory being open to B.T.S. members ONLY; a co-ordinator is
appointed by the Committee and the service is free on submission of the
relevant information.
5. Members have the right to market their captive bred spiders at shows
via the B.T.S. stand for which service a commission of 25% is charged.
This service is open to all members and the prices charged for their spiders
will be agreed with the Hon.Treasurer beforehand. NOTE: this service may
have to be restricted if large numbers of surplus spiderlings of a particular
species become available.
6. To share and pool knowledge amongst members which will assist in keeping
arachnids in general. An extension of this is the supply of a basic information
pack to all new members.
7. To encourage participation in the identification and classification
of new and existing species and to promote the use of Scientific Names.
8. To educate and allay fears of individuals concerning common prejudices
towards tarantulas. To encourage SAFETY in the keeping of all arachnids,
including the policy of not handling tarantulas.
9. To meet annually, in May, for an Exhibition with trade stands, lectures
and awards for livestock, artwork and photography.
10. To meet annually, for an ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING with
presentation of accounts for the year ended 3lst March and for members
to receive reports of the Society's Officers on the year's work.
11. In order to acquire extra funds beyond members' subscriptions the
Society will market various goods which the Committee deems suitable.
12. The Committee shall encourage members to set up local groups to promote
social contact amongst members.
13. To encourage activity between international members and other International
Societies as far as possible.
14. To encourage members to undertake a DIPLOMA COURSE in sex determination
of immature theraphosids.
15. To maintain and extend the Society's REFERENCE LIBRARY.
16. To continuously monitor the activities of the B.T.S. and to update
The Constitution annually as necessary. The Constitution, or any part
thereof, may be amended, suspended or repealed by a two thirds majority
of those voting in a ballot at the Annual General Meeting, provided that
there is at least three months notice of any proposed change.
MEMBERSHIP Membership shall be open to all persons of any nationality,
interested in the objectives of the Society and who make formal application
and pay the prescribed subscription.
On acceptance of membership the member will receive a basic information
pack containing a copy of this Constitution.
Members subscriptions shall) be ratified by the Committee at the Annual
General Meeting. All members in good standing have the right to vote.
All members in good standing have the right to hold office.
Any member of good standing may propose, in writing to the Committee,
a change to the Constitution. Such a proposal, if approved by the Committee,
shall be submitted with a recommendation to the members.
The privilege of membership shall include the right to receive four (4)
JOURNALS, to vote in ,accordance with the Constitution and to participate
in all activities and functions of the Society.
A member whose subscription has not been paid within one calendar month
of the due date shall forfeit the privileges of membership.
A class of Honorary membership shall be established enjoying all the privileges
of membership. An individual who has rendered valuable service to the
Society, or who has promoted its work, or the interests of arachnology,
may be elected at the Annual General Meeting by proposal of the Committee.
FINANCE
All funds raised by the Society from subscriptions, contributions, sales,
donations or bequests shall be used, at the discretion of the Committee,
for the administration and activities of the Society and for the production
of the Society's publications.
The Society's accounts shall be published annually and presented for adoption
at the Annual General Meeting.
Honorary Members shall be free of liability to pay subscriptions.
The society is organised for non-profit purposes and does not contemplate
pecuniary gain to its members thereof.
DISSOLUTION
If on dissolution of the Society, there are any assets remaining after
the satisfaction of all debts . and liabilities, these should be paid
or transferred, at the discretion of the Committee to the members.
HON-SECRETARY
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