Its object shall be to encourage, improve and advance beekeeping; to check and eliminate bee diseases and to assist members in every way possible

The Association shall consist of President, Vice-President, ordinary, and honorary life members.

Only the ordinary members shall have the power to vote on any matters discussed at General Meetings.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The management of the Association shall be vested in the Executive Committee which, in addition to its Chairman, Vice-Chairman and officers, shall consist of up to twelve ordinary members, all being elected at the Annual General Meeting.

The officers of the Association shall be the Secretary, Membership Secretary, Treasurer and Show Secretary. The duties of the Secretary and Treasurer shall be governed by their respective terms of reference. Any of these offices may be combined at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

Such honoraria as may be paid to these officers shall be decided at the Annual General Meeting.

Membership of the Executive Committee shall be open to any ordinary members whose nomination has been formally proposed and seconded. Such nominations are to be deposited with the Secretary up to and including the Annual General Meeting. The Executive Committee is itself empowered to nominate members to the Committee.

Members of the Executive Committee shall serve for a period of 12 months.

The Executive Committee shall have the power to co-opt up to four additional members and shall be empowered to appoint from its members such other officers as it deems necessary for its efficient working, e.g. librarian, BBKA delegate, publicity officer, etc.

The Executive Committee may appoint such sub-committees as it deems necessary; the Chairman and Vice-Chairman are to be ex-officio members of all such sub-committees. None of these appointments require ratification by the Annual General Meeting.

To further the aims of the Association, the Executive Committee shall appoint such area representatives, as it deems necessary.

The Chairman of any meeting shall have a vote and casting vote.

To assist in the smooth running of the Federation of Norfolk Beekeepers, a member of West Norfolk and King's Lynn Beekeepers' Association shall serve on the Executive Committee of the Norfolk Beekeepers' Association; likewise a member of Norfolk Beekeepers' Association shall serve on the Executive Committee of the West Norfolk and King's Lynn Beekeepers' Association. Such appointments shall be approved by both Associations. The same person may serve in each capacity providing s/he is a member of both Associations.

Apart from the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and officers appointed by the Annual General Meeting, the Committee shall consist of a maximum seventeen members, twelve elected, four co-opted and the representative of Norfolk Beekeepers' Association. Five members shall be deemed necessary for a quorum.

Special meetings of the Committee may be called at any time the Chairman authorizes or when any three members of the Committee give six days notice in writing of such desired meeting.

No member of the Executive Committee is permitted to partake in the discussion or vote in any debate in which s/he has a financial interest. Such an Interest must be declared beforehand and at the discretion of the chairman that person may present relevant information for discussion. Failure to observe this requirement shall result in disqualification from the Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee shall have the power to refuse any person membership of the Association, for reasons it thinks fit; it may likewise expel a member and return their subscription pro rata. In both instances the Association will make every effort to liaise with the person(s) concerned prior to such action.

GENERAL MEETINGS
An Annual General Meeting shall be held before the end of March each year. Special General Meetings shall be called by the Secretary at the written request of not less than twelve members; such request must be accompanied by the reasons for such a meeting.

Seven days notice must be given before any General Meeting is called.

Apart from the appointment of the Executive Committee, the Annual General Meeting shall fix the annual subscription for the forthcoming year starting 1 st January following. It shall also be empowered to discuss such matters as are requested in writing to the Secretary not less than fourteen days before such a meeting.

The appointment of honorary life members shall be made at the Annual General Meeting.

MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the Association shall be obtained by forwarding the relevant details with the payment of the annual subscription to the Membership Secretary, to whom renewal subscriptions should be paid.

The Annual Subscription for members shall become effective at the beginning of the next financial year, 1 st January and shall be considered in arrears if unpaid by the 31 st March of that year.

The annual subscription shall include such monies as are required for the business of the Association together with fees for affiliation as set by the British Beekeepers' Association, such fees being automatically increased in-line with the affiliation fee set by the British Beekeepers' Association without further vote by the A.G.M, and with Bee Disease Insurance cover for three colonies of bees as required by Bee Disease Insurance Ltd. Insurance cover for more colonies can be obtained by payment of the required premium.

Non-Beekeeping members will not be required to pay BBKA affiliation fees or BDI payments.

Membership of the Association shall cease twelve months after the payment of the last subscription.

New members joining the Association after 30 th June shall pay six months' membership; such members will not have insurance cover by the Bee Disease Insurance Ltd until paying their first annual subscription on 1 st January following.

Members under 16 years of age at 1 st January shall have free membership of the Association.

Membership of the Association entitles all members to partake in the activities and benefits organized by both the West Norfolk and King's Lynn Beekeepers' Association and the Norfolk Beekeepers Association.

BRANCH ASSOCIATIONS
The Association, subject to the approval of the Annual General Meeting, shall have the power to approve the formation of branches of the Association. Such branches shall appoint their own committees to work in close association with the parent body to whom lists of members and balance sheets must be submitted annually at times requested by the parent body.

Each branch association shall be represented on the Executive Committee of the parent Association by its Secretary and up to two members elected for that purpose by the branch association, these representatives being in addition to the members of the Executive Committee.

Branch associations shall not have the power to pledge the parent association financially or otherwise

SHOWS, EXHIBITIONS and YEARBOOK
In addition to the Annual General Meeting, the Association shall hold at least one public exhibition of honey and hive products; such an exhibition shall include a honey show and sale of honey together with related products. Such shows and sales shall be governed by the exhibition regulations obtainable on request from the Show Secretary. The aims of such exhibitions shall not only be competitive but also educational.

The Association shall contribute to the publication "Federation of Norfolk Beekeepers' Yearbook"

REVISION OF CONSTITUTION AND RULES

Any amendments or additions to the Constitution shall only be approved by the member, at an Annual General Meeting.

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Click here for a copy of the BBKA Constitution (2006)