Club Constitution

Worplesdon Garden Club Constitution

1. The Association shall be called the Worplesdon Garden Club

2. The object of the Club shall be the encouragement by lectures, shows and otherwise, of the cultivation of vegetables, fruit and ornamental plants.

3. The Club shall consist of a Chairman, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer and a General Committee of not less than four members, besides ordinary members.

4. Committee members shall be elected at the A.G.M. and may serve for up to three consecutive years from election or re-election at the A.G.M.  Officials can serve for three years from appointment or re-appointment at the A.G.M.

5. Club Officials should endeavour to retire in rotation.

6. The Committee may elect a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer from amongst the members of the Committee. 

7. The Committee shall have power to co-opt members to fill vacancies or to aid the committee as need arises.

8. Four members of the Committee shall form a quorum.

9. Members shall pay an annual subscription, as from time to time decided at the A.G.M.

10. All subscriptions shall become due on 1st January each year.

11. A meeting shall be held during February, called the Annual General Meeting, at which the accounts of the year shall be submitted.  Seven clear days’ notice shall be given. 

12. On the requisition signed by ten members, the Hon. Secretary shall within fourteen days call an Extraordinary General Meeting, of which four clear days’ notice shall be given.

13. At the Extraordinary General Meeting only such business as shall have been requisitioned and embodied in the notice shall be transacted.

14. A person, not a member of the Committee, shall be appointed annually to audit the accounts.

15. Members’ personal data will be held in accordance with General Data Protection Regulations and will not be shared to external parties or organisations.

16. In the event of the dissolution of Worplesdon Garden Club, any remaining financial assets after the settlement of all liabilities and obligations, shall be distributed equally among three charities or organisations as determined by the Committee, according to the following guidelines:

    1. A national horticultural charity or related organisation.  For example, The Royal Horticultural Society (Charity Number 222879), Perennial/Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Society (Charity Number 1155156), National Garden Scheme (Charity Number 1112664).

    2. A local (within 15-miles of Guildford) horticultural charity or related organisation.  For example, The Therapy Garden Normandy (Charity Number 1076055), The Rosamund Community Garden Guildford (https://www.guildfordcommunitygarden.org.uk/).

    3. One or more local (within 10 miles of Guildford) Garden Clubs or Horticultural Societies.

Founded as Worplesdon Garden Club by Miss Joan Heard in 1969

Constitution amended at the AGMs held on 12th February 2019 and 11th February 2025