This constitution was adopted by the membership at a Special General Meeting of the Belfast Celtic Society on the 17 of November 2003. Signed: Pádraig Coyle (Chairperson) and Paddy McIlroy (Honorary Secretary)

1. Name

The name of the Association is the Belfast Celtic Society (hereinafter called "the Society").

2. Administration

Subject to the matters set out below the Society and its property shall be administered and managed in accordance with this constitution by the members of the Management Committee, constituted by clause 6 of this constitution ("the Committee").

3. Objects and Powers

3.1 The Society is established to advance education in Belfast and its environs of Ireland, but not exclusively (hereinafter called the "area of benefit") by:

a) Studying and encouraging the study of the history and cultural heritage of Belfast Celtic Football and Athletic Club;

b) Raising awareness among the general public in the area of benefit and beyond and encouraging appreciation of and knowledge of the historical and cultural heritage of Belfast Celtic Football and Athletic Club;

3.2 Powers

In furtherance of the above aims but not further or otherwise the Society may:

a) provide or secure the provision of educational programmes, training, and recreational
activities for the benefit of the public in the area of benefit;

b) establish, maintain and equip premises and facilities in the area of benefit for the furtherance
of the objects;

c) purchase, acquire and obtain artefacts and materials in furtherance of the objects,

d) provide or assist in providing classes, workshops, training, seminars, lectures, discussions, exhibitions, outings and events;

e) procure to be written and printed, published, issued, distributed and circulated reports, or periodicals, books, pamphlets, leaflets or other documents or information;

f) recruit, train and employ volunteers with relevant skills, for the furtherance of the above aims; promote and carry out or assist in promoting and carrying out research, surveys and investigations in the area of benefit, provided the useful results are published;

h) co-operate to such extent as may be necessary with statutory authorities and voluntary
organisations engaged in the furtherance of the above objects or any of them;

i) raise and accept money by way of grants, donations, bequests, legacies or other lawful method and give, donate or disburse grants and loans to such related organisations or projects as are by law deemed charitable PROVIDED that in the exercise thereof the Society shall not engage in any form of permanent trading;

j) purchase, take on lease or in exchange, hire or otherwise acquire any property and any rights and privileges necessary for the attainment of the said objects and construct, maintain and alter any buildings or edifices so necessary as aforesaid;

k) subject to such consents as may be required by law to sell, let mortgage, dispose or turn to account all or any of the property or assets of the Society which shall be deemed necessary for the furtherance of the Society;

l) employ and pay any person or persons not being a member of the Management Committee referred to below ("the Committee") to supervise, organise and carry on the work of the Society and make all reasonable and necessary provision for the payment of remuneration to employees;

m) All such other lawful things as are necessary for the attainment of the said objects.

4. Membership

4.1 The Society is an inclusive, non-sectarian, anti-racist organisation in the spirit of the Belfast
Celtic Football and Athletic Club. Membership of the Society shall be open to the following,
irrespective of age, gender, ethnic identity, nationality, sexual orientation, race, religion or political opinion:

a) Individuals in the area of benefit whose applications are accepted by the Committee, and who
pay the annual subscription fee fixed by the Society may be admitted as Members. Members
shall have the power to vote at General Meetings, and those aged 18 or over shall have the
right to be nominated for election to the Committee. The Committee shall not unreasonably
reject any application for membership.

4.2 The Committee shall make rules governing the conditions for and rights and privileges of
members, shall make regulations for the admission to and termination of membership and shall
keep up-to-date records of paid-up members PROVIDED THAT any member affected by a
proposal to terminate her or his membership shall have the right to state a case against such
proposal.

5. Management Committee

5.1 Except as provided otherwise in this constitution the policy and general management of the affairs of the Society shall be directed by the Committee which shall meet not less than 3 times a year and shall consist of not less than 5 members of the Society aged 18 or over, elected at an Annual General Meeting.

5.2 The Committee elected at an Annual General Meeting shall have the power to co-opt 3 further members, who shall be Full Members or Associate Members and who shall serve until the conclusion of the next following AGM PROVIDED THAT the number of co-opted members shall not exceed one-third of the total membership of the Committee. Co-opted members shall have the right to vote.

5.3 The Chairperson, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer and Intemet Co-ordinator who shall be the Honorary Officers of the Society, shall be voting members of the Society, and shall be elected annually by and from the members of the Committee at their first meeting following the Annual General Meeting. The office of Chairperson shall not be held by any one person for more than three consecutive years.

5.4 Any member of the Committee who fails to attend 3 consecutive Committee meetings without reasonable excuse shall lose her/his place on the Committee which may be filled by co-option in accordance with Clause 5.2 above.

5.5 The Trustees shall be notified of and shall be entitled to attend all meetings of the Committee but without the power to vote.

6. Functions of the Committee

6.1 The Committee may make such regulations as they consider appropriate for the efficient conduct of the business of the Committee and the Society.

6.2 The Committee may appoint such staff NOT being members of the Committee as they consider necessary on such terms and conditions as they may determine.

6.3 The Committee may establish sub-committees, consisting of members of the Society or other persons, and shall determine their terms of reference, membership and duration. All such subcommittees shall make regular reports on their work- to the Committee.

6.4 The Committee shall have the power to suspend or exclude any member who is in breach of the Rules and/or Constitution of the Society. Any member so suspended or expelled shall be entitled to seek a review of the suspension or expulsion in accordance with the review procedure which shall be subject to the approval of the members of the Society at its Annual General Meeting.

6.5 The Committee shall have the power to appoint a member of the Society to serve as President of the Society for three years. The Committee shall also have the power to appoint a member of the Society to serve as Vice President of the Society for three years. The President and the Vice President shall be eligible to be re appointed to serve for a further term or terms of three years.

6.6 The proceedings of the Committee shall not be invalidated by any failure to elect or any defect in the election, appointment, co-options or qualification of any member.

7. Chairing Meetings

All meetings of the Society or of the Committee or of any of its sub-committees shall be presided over by its Chairperson failing whom those present may elect one of their number to take the Chair. The Chairperson of any meeting shall have a second or casting vote.

8. Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting shall be held at such place and time, not being more than 15 months since the previous Annual General Meeting, as the Committee shall decide.

8.1 The business of the Annual Meeting shall include:

a) to receive and approve reports on the activities of the past year from members of the Committee;
b) to receive and approve the annual accounts of the Society and to appoint an auditor or any
independent person to audit or examine the annual accounts as the Annual General Meeting
shall decide;
c) to elect the Committee according to such nomination and voting procedure as the Society may from time to time decide;
d) to deal with resolutions and such other matters, notice of which shall have been given 14 days
in advance of the AGM to the Secretary of the Society by the member proposing such
resolutions or other matters.

9. Special General Meetings

The Executive Committee may call a special general meeting of the Society at any time. If at least 10% of the members request such a meeting in writing stating the business to be considered the Secretary shall call such a meeting. At least 21 days' notice must be given. The notice must state the business to be discussed.

10. Rules of Procedure at all Meetings

10.1 Voting: Subject to the provisions of Clause 13 hereof all questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a simple majority of those present and entitled to vote thereat. In case of an equality of votes the Chairperson shall have a second or casting vote.

10.2 Minutes: Minute books shall be kept by the Committee and all other sub-committees and the appropriate Secretary shall enter therein a record of all proceedings and resolutions.

10.3 Quorum: The quorum at General Meetings of the Society shall be 5 and at meetings of the Committee shall be 3 or such other number as the Committee may from time to time determine.

10.4 Standing Orders: The Committee shall have power to adopt and issue Standing Orders and/or Rules or policies for the Club or its Committee. Such Standing Orders and/or Rules or policies shall come into operation immediately PROVIDED ALWAYS that they shall be subject to review by the Club in A.G.M and shall not contradict this constitution.

11. Finance

11.1 All income of the Society, wheresoever derived, shall be applied to the purposes of the Society as set out at sub-clause 3.1 above and to no other purpose PROVIDED THAT nothing herein contained shall prevent the payment of legitimate out-of-pocket expenses to members of the Society engaged upon the approved business of the Society.

11.2 The financial year of the Society shall run from 1 April to 31 March.

11.3 The Committee shall open a bank account or accounts in the name of the Society at Abbey Business Bank, Business Banking Centre, Newport, Gwent and shall specify those members of the Committee (being not less than two members of the Committee) authorised to sign cheques on behalf of the Society.

11.4 The Committee shall authorise the keeping of proper books of account, and shall designateresponsibility for the preparation of an annual Statement of Accounts for submission to an Annual General Meeting.

12. Trust Property

The title to any real or personal property which may be acquired by or for the purposes of the Society shall be vested in Trustees who shall be nominated by the Committee and who shall hold such property in trust for the Society. The number of Trustees shall be not less than three or more than six. Trustees shall be entitled to attend meetings of the Society but (unless they are also members of the Society) shall not have the power to vote.

13. Alterations to the Constitution

Any alteration to this Constitution shall receive the assent of not less than two-thirds of the members of the Society present and voting at a Special General Meeting called at not less than 14 days' notice to members for that purpose PROVIDED THAT no alteration shall be approved which would cause the Society to cease to be a charity at law.

14. Dissolution

14.1 If on the grounds of expense or otherwise the Committee shall decide upon the dissolution of the Society, a resolution to dissolve shall be considered by an Extraordinary General Meeting called at not less than 14 days' notice to members for that purpose.

14.2 The Society shall be dissolved only by a majority of two-thirds of members present and voting at such Meeting.

14.3 Following a decision to dissolve, the assets of the Society shall following satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, be transferred to one or more associations having charitable objects similar or related to those of the Society, as determined by simple majority at such Meetings.

15. Indemnity

The Society shall indemnify and keep indemnified every officer, member, volunteer and employee of the Society from and against all claims, demands, actions and proceedings (and all costs and expenses in connection therewith or arising therefrom) made or brought against the Society in connection with its activities, the actions of its officers, members, volunteers or employees, or in connection with its property and equipment EXCEPT THAT this indemnity shall not extend to liabilities arising from wilful and individual fraud, wrongdoing, or wrongful omission on the part of the member sought to be made liable. The Treasurer shall effect a policy of insurance in respect of this indemnity.

Circulation (on 1 March 2004): Founder Members