Title: Ulster Place-Name Society

 

CONSTITUTION

As adopted 30/5/52 and amended 13/11/86

Name and Aims

1. The Society shall be called the Ulster Place-Name Society.

2. The objects of the Society shall be:

  • to undertake a survey of Ulster place-names;

  • to issue periodically to members a bulletin devoted to aspects of place-name study, and ultimately to publish a series of volumes embodying the results of the Survey;

  • to hold meetings periodically for the diffusion of knowledge of Ulster toponymy amongst its members;

  • to engage in any other activities which will promote the work of the survey, including co-operation with other bodies of similar interests.

Headquarters

3. The headquarters of the Society shall be in the Queen's University of Belfast. The records of the Society shall be deposited in the Library of the Department of Celtic in Queen's University, or elsewhere within the precincts of the University as may be determined by the University Librarian.

Government

4. The affairs of the Society shall be managed by a Council consisting of (1) 7 elected members namely Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and four other members of the Society and (2) the following ex-officio members, namely the Head of the Department of Celtic, Queen's University; the Director of the Institute of Irish Studies, Queen's University; the Editor of the Society's bulletin; a place-names officer appointed by the Ordnance Survey of Ireland. The council may appoint three co-opted members. The Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer shall hold office for a period of three years which may be extended by a further terms or terms; the ordinary members shall hold office for three years and shall not be eligible for re-election to that office until a year has elapsed. Co-opted members shall hold office for one year. The council shall meet at least twice a year.

At meetings the Council the Chairman or the acting Chairman shall have a casting vote.

5. The Hon. Secretary shall be the executive officer of the Society and shall conduct its correspondence. He/she shall prepare an annual report on the activities of the Society for submission to the Annual General Meeting.

6. The Hon. Editor will be responsible to the Council for the Society's publications, in particular for the publication of the Society's annual journal. The Hon. Editor will be assisted by an Editorial Board consisting of three persons who will be appointed by the Council. One of the Board should be the Professor or Head of the Department of Celtic, Queen's University, or a member of that Department.

7. The Hon. Treasurer shall receive subscriptions and donations and make payments on behalf of the Council, and shall open an account on behalf of the Society at an approved bank. He/she shall prepare an annual financial statement for submission to the Council and to the Annual General Meeting.

8. One auditor shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting.   

Membership

9. Suitable persons shall be admitted to membership by the Hon. Secretary, but their admission shall be subject to confirmation at the meeting of the Council next following. 

Libraries, Societies and Institutions shall be admitted to Institutional Membership of the Society on the same terms as private persons, and shall be entitled to send a representative to meetings, with power to vote on their behalf. Such representatives shall not be appointed to the Council unless they are themselves subscribing members of the Society.

10. Members and Institutional Members shall pay an annual subscription determined from time to time at the Annual General Meeting. Subscriptions shall be paid in advance and become due of the first of November each year. Members whose subscriptions are in arrears shall not be entitled to receive the publications of the Society or to vote at General Meetings.

Publications

11. All members of the Society (save those who may be debarred by clause 10) shall receive, free of charge, the Society's bulletin.

12. The Council shall appoint an Editor or Editors of the Society's publications.

General Meetings

13. There shall be an Annual General Meeting of the Society in the month of November. The meeting shall consider the annual report and the annual financial statement, and shall proceed to the election of the officers and of members of the Council for the following years.

14. The Council may call a Special General Meeting at any time, and shall be bound to do so on receiving a representative signed by not less than ten members.

15. At least seven days' notice shall be given to members of the time, date and place of an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting.

16. Any alteration of the Constitution must be approved by an Annual General Meeting or by a Special General Meeting of the Society. Notice of any proposed changes in the Constitution must appear on the Agenda of such meetings.

17. The Council may from time to time make such regulations as may appear necessary for the proper conduct of the Society's affairs, provided they do not conflict with any article of the Constitution then in force. Such regulations shall become immediately operative, but shall be submitted to the approval of the next Annual General Meeting.

Dissolution

18. (a) The Society may be dissolved by Special Resolution adopted by an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting convened for that purpose by notice in accordance with clause 15 hereof, stating the wording of the Special Resolution to be proposed. 

18. (b) In the event of the dissolution of the Society the records and registers and publications of the Society shall be donated to the Department of Celtic in Queen's University, and the funds of the Society shall be given or transferred to the Department of Celtic in Queen's University.  

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