Constitution

The Constitution of The London Art History Society was updated and approved by the membership at the AGM in November 2015.

• President: Professor William Vaughan
• Vice Presidents: Clare Ford-Wille, John McNeill

1. The full title of the Society shall be The London Art History Society.
   The address of the Society shall be that of the Secretary for the time being.
2. The Aims of the Society are as follows:
   • By the provision of a programme of free lectures and other events at moderate cost, to enable members to broaden and deepen their interest in and knowledge of the history of art.
3. Membership shall be open to all persons interested in the subject on payment of the required membership fee.
4. The Society shall normally have a President. The President, who shall be eminent in the profession and an acknowledged scholar in the field, will be chosen by the Committee and invited to serve for a suitable term.
5. The members may, following nomination by the Committee, elect not more than three persons to be Vice Presidents and elect Honorary Life Members.
6. The Society shall have such Officers as are deemed necessary for the satisfactory running of the Society, but these shall include at least a Chairman, a Secretary, a Treasurer and a Membership Secretary.
   All Officers shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting for a period of three years and shall be eligible for re-election for a further period of three years.
7. The Committee of the Society shall consist of not more than fifteen persons in addition to the elected Officers. Committee members other than elected Officers shall retire after three years but may then stand for re-election. Members who fail to attend at least half the scheduled meetings of the Committee in any one year without good reason shall be required to stand down in favour of another nominee.
8. A Quorum shall consist of five elected members of the Committee, at least one of whom must be an elected Officer.
9. Powers of the Committee.
   1. To manage the affairs of the Society within the terms of the Constitution.
   2. To set up subcommittees to plan and manage specific activities of the Society.
   3. To co-opt up to three Members to the Committee as they consider fit, to serve until the next Annual General Meeting, when they may be proposed and stand for election.
   4. To choose the President and nominate persons for Vice Presidents) and Honorary Life Members in accordance with Clause 5 above.
   5. To suspend a Member, and if necessary, after giving such a person an opportunity of being heard, to expel that Member, who shall have the right to appeal at the next Annual General Meeting.
10. Elections.
    • Officers and Members of the Committee, any Vice President and Honorary Life Members shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Members in accordance with Clauses 5, 6 and 7 above.
    • Candidates for office or Committee shall be nominated and seconded, and their names received in writing at least 7 days before the date of the Annual General meeting; nominees must have given their prior consent. Where candidates exceed the number of places, a paper ballot shall be held.
    • One third of Committee Members, normally the longest serving, shall retire each year but may stand for re-election.
11. General Meetings.
    • An Annual General Meeting shall be held in November each year, or as near to that date as is convenient.
    • An Extraordinary General Meeting shall be called within thirty-one days of the receipt by the Secretary of a request in writing signed by not less than twenty Members, or at any time at the request of at least five Members of the Committee.
    • A minimum of fourteen days’ notice of Annual General and Extraordinary Meetings shall be given to the Members, stating the agenda for any meeting.
    • Matters at meetings shall be decided by a majority of Members there present and voting, except motions for amendment of the Constitution which shall be subject to a two-thirds majority vote.
    • The Society cannot be dissolved except in accordance with a motion passed at an Extraordinary General Meeting.
12. The Finance of the Society.
    • The Financial Year of the Society shall run from 1st September in any year until August in the next year.
    • The accounts of the Society shall be independently examined each year before the Annual General Meeting. Sufficient accounts shall be laid before Members at the Annual General Meeting.
    • The Annual Subscription shall be such sum as the Committee shall from time to time determine and shall be payable by each member (excluding Honorary Life Members) on September 1st each year.
    • The Society will aim to cover the cost of Ordinary Activities (evening lectures, the Review and administration) from subscription received in any one year. Other activities, for which a charge is made, shall be charged at a rate sufficient to cover their reasonably estimated costs with the aim of breaking even. If the Committee expects that, because of the popularity of activities or any other reason, the Society is likely to have a surplus of income over expenditure in any one year, the committee may decide to make donations to Charities or other Good Causes associated with the History of Art. Any donations made will be reported at the next AGM.
    • The Committee will ensure that appropriate controls are in place to secure the funds of the Society. This will include the use of financial limits on cheque signing authorities, nominated signatories, and controls on banking and internet banking activities.
    • In the event of the Society being dissolved, any money accruing after payment of all outstanding debts shall be made over to a charity associated with the History of Art, as the Officers and Committee at such time shall determine.