The South London Bacchanalian Society
Beer Appreciation in London and Worldwide for over 30 Years
UK flag

THE CONSTITUTION

Bar picture

  1. OBJECT

    1. The Society exists to propagate the appreciation of Beer and if necessary, other inputs of Bacchanalian nature, in as many different localities as possible.

  2. MEMBERSHIP

    1. Committee Members

      1. A Committee Member is expected to convene at least one Meeting in each calendar year and attend at least four.
      2. The Committee may exceptionally choose to promote to the Committee a suitable existing Ordinary Member. The new Committee Member must then be elected at an AGM by at least four Committee Members, and must have been present at over 100 Meetings as defined in the Minutes.
      3. A Committee Member who fails to appear at any meeting as defined in the Minutes during any one calendar year shall be recategorised as Ordinary Member.
      4. The Committee shall uphold the Object of the Society as outlined in (i). Should it be deemed by four or more Committee Members that any other committee member has failed to do so, that member may then be recategorised as Ordinary Member.

    2. Ordinary Members

      1. New Members shall present themselves at a Meeting of the Society, where they shall present a suitably worded Manifesto, which shall in its content, involve the buying of Drinks for all existing Members present.
      2. The new Member must then be elected by at least three Committee Members, who must be present at the Meeting. The new Member may possess a Title, at these Members' discretion.
      3. They should attend at least one Meeting a year.
      4. An Ordinary Member who fails to appear at any meeting as defined in the Minutes during any two consecutive calendar years shall be recategorised as Lapsed Member.
      5. Should it be deemed by four or more Committee Members that any Ordinary Member has failed to uphold the Objective as outlined in (1), or who has displeased the Committee in any other manner, that member may then be recategorised as a Lapsed Member.

    3. Honorary Members

      1. This is intended for occasional guests of the Society who distinguish themselves at a Meeting of the Society according to the Object stated in (1)

      2. Honorary Membership may be granted by decision of any two Committee Members. Honorary Members remain so for Life and need not attend further Meetings.

    4. Lapsed Members

      1. A Lapsed Member is created according to the procedures outlined above. The Lapsed Member may appeal for reintroduction into the Society by attending a meeting and buying the Committee as many pints as is deemed necessary

  3. MEETINGS

    1. Definition

      1. A Meeting shall be defined as the presence of two or more Committee Members.

      2. It shall be opened by the Chair when two or more Members meet and begin progress to, or are already in, a place where they may pursue the Object outlined in (1).

      3. It shall be closed by the Chair when Members mutually depart, become senseless, or become sober. If the Chair is not present, or is incapable of performing this role, as may be the case, the Secretary shall open and close Meetings. If the Secretary is not present either, any other committee member shall act.

    2. Convening of Meetings

      1. Any Member may convene a Meeting. The member who convenes the meeting is expected to be present at it.

    3. Minutes of Meetings

      1. The Member who convened the Meeting shall write the minutes.

      2. All Meetings must be minuted. Committee Members may may provide records of non-constitutional Research if it is deemed to be interesting to other Members with regard to the furthering of the Object outlined in (1)

      3. Any Member who disputes points made therein can submit a modified version.

      4. Any Member responsible for minutes not producing them for the next Meeting shall buy an extra round. This shall only apply when a period of over three weeks falls between the two Meetings.

    4. Annual General Meeting

      1. In order to preserve the integrity and timelessness of the Society, this shall be held on the Saturday nearest to the Secretary's Birthday. However, if this Saturday clashes with the Chairman�s Father-in-Law�s annual War Veterans� Reunion, this shall be moved to the previous or next Saturday. The location shall be provided.

      2. Owing to the overarching cultural significance of both events, the Annual General Meeting shall not coincide with the Eurovision Song Contest.

    5. Disputes

      1. All Members should have a drink and attempt to resolve the Dispute.

      2. If this is not possible, a Disputes Sub-Committee should be formed with the objective of increasing the complexity of the Dispute so that it is rendered null and void.

      3. Any dispute regarding direction must be resolved by convening in the nearest pub and purchasing drinks for consumption during the discussion.

    6. Extraordinary Course Modification Clause

      1. The Convener should devise a programme of research if a Meeting is held in territory unfamiliar to other Members but more familiar to him. In the event of disagreement or uncertainty as to the course laid down by the Convener, any other Committee Member may invoke the Extraordinary Course Modification Clause. This requires that the Convener state in detail his proposed course for the next half hour, and then the Invoker of the E.C.M. Clause shall propose an alternative strategy. Then all persons present (Members of all types and their guests) shall vote. The strategy receiving the most votes shall be defined as a continuation of the Meeting, while the other one shall be deemed unconstitutional, should it be followed, unless two Committee Members are present.

      2. At any Meeting, the Convener should bear in mind the Object outlined in (1), as should anybody invoking the E.C.M.

    7. Royal Oak Retreat

      1. If a Member arrives first at a venue, but deems it to be unsatisfactory, he may invoke the ROR and go home, provided that enough other Members are expected to be present to render the meeting constitutional.

      2. The Invoker of the ROR must subsequently explain his reasons for doing so to the Convener.

      3. The Convener may not invoke the ROR.

      4. A Member may not invoke the ROR if other Members are already present.

      5. Once a member has invoked the ROR, he must make every effort to inform other Members who were planning to attend the Meeting, of his actions. Wireless Telegraphy is an acceptable form of communication here, while Wireless Telepathy is not.

    8. Gastropubs

      1. The Society should, where possible, avoid gastropubs.

    9. Guests

      1. Any Guest of the Society may appeal for Ordinary Membership, or be awarded Honorary Membership. If requesting the former, the conditions outlined in (2) should be adhered to.

    10. Closure of Meetings

      1. Wherever possible, the Secretary shall announce the next Meeting before the previous one closes; or if the Secretary is not present, another Committee Member.

  4. ASSOCIATED SOCIETIES

    1. Other Bacchanalian Societies, which can demonstrate their allegiance to the Object outlined in (1), can be accepted as Associated Societies of the SLBS. Ideally this association should be formed by the attendance of at least two Committee Members of the SLBS at a Meeting of the other society, or the appearance of at least two Committee Members of the other Society at a Meeting of the SLBS.

Cheers !!!

Top

[Home] [Constitution] [The Membership & email] [The Meetings] [Archive Pictures] [Member Home Pages] [Membership Pictures]
[Links] [British Beer Bottle Labels] [British Beermats] [Favourite Pubs] [Contact Us]

Copyright � 1974 - 2008 by The South London Bacchanalian Society
All rights reserved
1