(Revised February 1991)

(Amended at AGM, Easter 2006)

(Proposed Revision for approval at AGM, Easter 2009)

  1. Name
    The name of the Association shall be “Ackworth Old Scholars’ Association”, that being the name adopted at the inaugural meeting held at the time of the Ackworth School General Meeting, 1882, by resolution.
  2. Objects
    The objects of the Association shall be those set out in the inaugural resolution aforesaid, namely:-
    1. To cherish a kindly feeling amongst Old Scholars of Ackworth School and to promote their welfare.
    2. To promote the welfare of Ackworth School and the children therein. The objects shall be promoted in all or any of the following ways namely:-
      1. By holding gatherings of Old Scholars for social and other purposes.
      2. By issuing an Annual Report to all members giving (inter alia) details of the meetings of the Association and Guilds, The School Life, the activities of Past and Present Scholars, changes in the School and in the district around the School, and other matters which may be of interest to Old Scholars.
      3. By providing grants, annual or otherwise, from the surplus funds of the Association for such objects as shall be for the benefit of the School, the children attending the School and the Old Scholars thereof.
      4. By any method resolved by the Annual General Meeting of the Association.
  3. Membership
    1. The following may be members of the Association.
      1. Former pupils of the School
      2. Past and present Members of the School Staff
      3. Past and present Members of the School Committee
      4. Such members of the family as defined in clause 3b(iv) hereof.
    2. There shall be five classes of members.
      1. Ordinary members paying an annual subscription
      2. Life Members paying one subscription entitling them to membership for life
      3. Lifelong Members, being those former pupils of the School who accept the offer of this category of membership free of any subscription or other payment. They will be full members of the Association for life unless they choose to resign and shall be entitled to all the privileges of such membership.
      4. Associate Members, those being the immediate family of Old Scholars and paying an annual subscription or one subscription entitling them to membership for life. Immediate family shall be deemed, in this instance, to include the following: parent, spouse, widow, widower, partner, son, daughter, brother, sister.

      Prospective Associate Members shall be eligible to join at the age of 18 and shall be proposed by an Old Scholar Member of the Association and shall be invited to apply for membership, in writing, to the General Secretary. Such applications shall be considered by the Executive Committee and, if approved, submitted to the Annual General Meeting of the Association for ratification. Associate members will be able to enjoy all the privileges of membership of the Association but shall not be eligible to vote or hold office.

  4. Subscriptions
    1. The minimum annual subscription shall be fixed from time to time by the A.G.M.
    2. The minimum Life Membership subscription shall be fixed from time to time by the A.G.M.
    3. Subscriptions shall be due immediately on the issue of the Annual Report, which shall appear on or about October 1st. in each year.
    4. If the subscription of any member is in arrear for two years he or she shall be notified thereof. If no subscription is forthcoming within two months of the despatch of such notice his or her name shall be removed from the List of Members.
    5. All members of the School staff are entitled to be members free of subscription, whilst so employed
  5. Officers
    The Officers of the Association shall be a President, a Chairman, a Treasurer, a Secretary or Secretaries, an Editor and sub-editors of the Annual Report who shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting of the Association to hold office until the next Annual General Meeting when they shall retire. The officers shall be eligible for re-appointment annually.
  6. Executive Committee
    1. The Executive Committee (hereinafter referred to as the Committee) shall be responsible for managing all the day to day affairs of the Association. It may expend the Association’s Funds and may make such decisions as are necessary to conduct the business of the Association between the Annual General Meetings. It shall report such decisions, which shall be minuted, to the Annual General Meeting.
    2. The Committee shall consist of the Officers of the Association as appointed by the Annual General Meeting and the following who shall be invited to attend:

      The Head or their Deputy, the Bursar and a representative of each of the Guilds.

    3. The Committee shall have powers to co-opt.
    4. The Committee shall meet at least three times every year. Five members of the Committee shall form a quorum.
    5. The Committee may call an Extraordinary General Meeting for the purpose of discussing business which, in the opinion of the Committee, is urgent and important, by giving fourteen days’ notice sent to members by post to their address as given in the last Annual Report, specifying the day, time and place of the meeting and the business to be transacted thereat.
    6. The Committee may hold a postal ballot of all members on any matters relating to the affairs of the Association. The decision of such a ballot shall be deemed to be final.
  7. The Nominations Committee
    1. The duties of the Nominations Committee shall be to submit to the Executive Committee, before each A.G.M., the names of Old Scholars:-
      1. To serve as President of the Association.
      2. To serve as Officers of the Association.
      3. To serve as the A.O.S.A. Representative on the School Committee for a period of four years.
      To assist them in their work, the Committee shall regularly request the Guilds to supply names of Old Scholars who may be suitable for nomination.
    2. The Nominations Committee shall consist of:-
      1. The Chairman of the Executive Committee
      2. The General Secretary
      3. The Easter Secretary
      4. The Head of the School
      5. Four ordinary members of the A.O.S.A. who shall be appointed by the Annual General Meeting and who shall serve for four years.
      6. Such other Officers of the Association as the Nominations Committee may find helpful to have present for a particular appointment.
    3. The Nominations Committee shall appoint a chairman from its members. The Secretary shall be the General Secretary of the Association.
    4. A quorum shall be a minimum of five Nominations Committee members for meetings held at Easter. If necessary at other times, a minimum of four shall have been in communication with the General Secretary.
  8. Annual Meeting
    1. The Annual General Meeting of the Association shall be held at the School at the time of the Easter Gathering there of Old Scholars for the following purposes:-
      1. To receive from the Treasurer a report, balance sheet and statement of account for the preceding financial year.
      2. To receive a report or reports from the Secretary or Secretaries of the Association to include any decisions made by the A.O.S.A. Executive Committee since the time of the previous Annual General Meeting.
      3. To consider any resolution which may be duly submitted to the Meeting.
      4. To appoint the Officers of the Association.
      5. Generally to conduct the affairs of the Association.
    2. Should there be an Easter Gathering of Old Scholars at the School, a notice giving the day, time and place of holding the Annual General Meeting inserted in the Official Programme of the Gathering shall be sufficient notice to members and an Annual General Meeting held in pursuance of such a notice shall be deemed to be duly constituted.
    3. Should there be no Easter Gathering of Old Scholars, The Executive Committee shall decide at what time and place the Annual General Meeting shall be held and what notice shall be given to members thereof.
  9. Life Membership Subscriptions
    The disposal of Life Subscriptions shall be determined by the Annual Meeting.
  10. Guilds
    1. The Annual General Meeting may, by resolution, give status of Guild to any group of Old Scholars in any district which has produced evidence satisfactory to the Executive Committee that an organisation has been formed which functions regularly to the advantage of Old Scholars in that district.
    2. The Status of Guild shall carry the right to appoint one representative to attend meetings of the Executive Committee.
    3. If in the opinion of the Executive Committee a Guild ceases to function, the Executive Committee shall have power to take from such Guilds the status of Guild.
    4. All Guilds must be financially self-supporting.
  11. Alteration of Constitution
    1. These rules shall not be altered except at an Annual General Meeting of the Association and by a two-thirds majority of those present.
    2. Notice in writing of any proposed alteration must be sent to the Secretary and signed by five members of the Association and must be received by the principal Secretary in time to allow of its insertion in the issue of the Annual Report next preceding, the Annual General Meeting at which it is to be considered.
  12. Winding-Up
    In the event of the winding up of the Association, the funds shall be dealt with by the members by resolution at the Annual General Meeting or at an Extraordinary General Meeting or by postal ballot shall direct.
  13. Definition
    The School herein referred to is that conducted by the Religious Society of Friends at Ackworth, near Pontefract, West Yorkshire.