GENERAL POLICY
The general policy of the group is clearly laid down in its Constitution The principal aim is to .bring together interested people for the mutual exchange of views, opinions and information pertaining to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Whilst the majority of members tend to believe that JFK was killed as the result of a conspiracy, there is no bar on potential members if their views are pro Warren and they believe Lee Harvey Oswald to be the sole assassin.
The overall object of the group is to assist the worldwide research community generally in establishing the truth behind the planning, execution and aftermath of the Kennedy Assassination.
AIMS
The principal aim of the Group shall be to bring together interested people for the mutual exchange of views, opinions and information.
Within that context, regular contact will be established and maintained with individuals and members of similar research groups in the United Kingdom and throughout the world.
The overall object of the Group will be to assist the worldwide research community generally in establishing the truth behind the planning, execution and aftermath of the events of 22nd November 1963 in Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas.
HISTORY
FORMATION:
The first informal meeting under the title Dealey Plaza UK was held at Charlton Kings, just outside the pleasant Gloucestershire town of Cheltenham, on Sunday 17th September 1995.
The inaugural business meeting was convened in the town of Waltham Abbey, Essex (15 miles NE of London) on Sunday 7th January 1996.
That first official gathering was attended by just 15 people, some of whom had travelled a considerable distance to be there. A draft Constitution had already been drawn up and circulated to potential members and after a few changes at the discussion stage, it was adopted.
A General Committee, charged with the efficient running of the group’s business, was elected, levels of annual subscription were agreed and the group was up and running.
CONSTITUTION
1.TITLE
The group shall be called Dealey Plaza UK, with the sub-description The British Group dedicated to the study of the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
2. AIMS AND OBJECTS
The principal aim of the Group shall be to bring together interested people for the mutual exchange of views, opinions and information. Within that context, regular contact will be established and maintained with individuals and members of similar research groups in the United Kingdom and throughout the world. The overall object of the Group will be to assist the worldwide research community generally in establishing the truth behind the planning, execution and aftermath of the events of 22nd November 1963 in Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas.
3. MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall be open to all persons, in the United Kingdom or elsewhere, interested in any or all aspects of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and subsequent events thereto. Members shall be of the following classes:
a. Members who shall be normally resident in the United Kingdom, though not necessarily of British nationality, shall be 18 years of age or older.
b. Junior Members who shall be normally resident in the United Kingdom, though not necessarily of British nationality and (1) under 18 years of age or (2) under 24 years of age and in full time education as a student at a University or other Institute of Further Education.
c. Overseas members who would be normally resident outside the United Kingdom, may be of any age.
d. Life Members who shall be elected at an Annual General Meeting or at an Extraordinary General Meeting convened for such purpose, and who shall reside in any part of the world. Such Life Membership is to be bestowed in recognition of outstanding contributions to research in furtherance of the Group’s aims and objects or in recognition of outstanding or long service in support of the Group.
Members of classes’ b. and c. above, together with retired or unemployed Full members, will pay amended subscriptions, such amounts to be decided by the Committee. Members of class (d) above will not be required to pay a subscription for those years in which they hold that class.
4. APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
Application for membership will be made through a standard application form obtainable from the Membership Secretary. All such applications will be considered by the Committee and successful applicants will be asked to remit their first year’s subscription (or part thereof per Rule 7 below) to the Membership Secretary.
5. RESIGNATION
Any member may resign from the Group by giving one month’s notice in writing to the Secretary and shall, upon the date of expiry of such notice, cease to be entitled to the benefits of membership. He shall, however, remain liable for any unpaid subscriptions or other dues owing to the Group.
6. TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
The Committee shall, in its absolute discretion, have the power to terminate the membership of any member and such decision shall take effect from the date of dispatch, by Recorded Delivery post, to the member at his last known address, of its decision. A member whose membership has been terminated under this rule shall be refunded a due proportion of his subscription.
7. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION
The annual subscription shall be fixed by the Committee and shall be subject to amendment by the Committee as and when conditions require. All subscriptions shall fall due on the 1st January each year. Such subscriptions shall, as provided by Rule 4 above, be paid on first election to membership but on that occasion shall be pro rata to the period remaining until the following 1st January. Subscriptions shall be paid to the Membership Secretary.
8. FINANCIAL YEAR
The Group’s financial year shall be a twelve month period ending on 31st December.
9. MANAGEMENT
a. The management of the Group shall be vested in a Management Committee which shall consist of the Honorary Officers who are:the Chairman, the Vice Chairman, the Secretary, the Treasurer and the Membership Secretary plus two Full members.
b. All members of the Committee shall retire each year and those to fill their places shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting. All members of the Committee shall be eligible for re-election.
c. The Committee shall have the power to co-opt additional members at its discretion, such decisions to be communicated to the general membership as soon as is practical, and the reason for such co option being detailed.
d. The Secretary shall convene all meetings of the Group and the Committee and shall keep minutes of all business sessions of General Meetings, Extraordinary General Meetings and Committee Meetings.
e. The Treasurer shall, under the authority of the Committee, discharge all the accounts and at the Annual General Meeting each year shall submit an audited statement of income and expenditure for the last financial year. He shall also be responsible for the day-to-day running of the Group’s finances, including the maintenance of the Group’s bank account, the paying in of monies and the issue of cheques. Such cheques shall be signed by the Treasurer and either the Chairman or Secretary.
f. The Membership Secretary will be responsible for forwarding membership application forms to potential members on request and he will maintain a roll of all Group members. He will establish from each individual member whether that member is willing for his name and other details to be communicated to other members of the Group, such details to be appended to the Group membership roll.
g. The Committee shall be responsible for the proper custody of the property of the Group and will make those arrangements it feels appropriate for the safe keeping of such property.
h. The Committee shall have the power to fix its own quorum.
i. The Committee shall have the power to arrange such services (including the publication of books, journals and other papers) as may seem beneficial to the members.
j. The Group’s annual subscription, including any variants for other than Full Members, shall be fixed by the Committee subject to approval by the members at the Annual General Meeting.
10. GENERAL MEETINGS
General Meetings shall be understood to be the normal, regular meetings of the Group. They will normally be held on a monthly basis. It shall be the policy of the Group to hold such meetings at various venues throughout the United Kingdom, such arrangements being the responsibility of the Committee.
11. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
a. An Annual General Meeting shall be held once every year. Included in the business of any such meeting, a financial statement shall be presented by the Treasurer, followed by the election of the Group Management Committee. Nominations for Honorary and/or Life Membership shall also be considered and decided by ballot. Only paid up Full and Overseas Members, plus all existing Honorary and/or Full Members will be entitled to vote at an Annual General Meeting, either in person, by proxy or by such other means as the Committee may decide and notify in advance.
b. The Secretary shall give 14 days notice in writing, or by some other appropriate means, to every member of the Group, irrespective of their class of membership, of the intention to hold an Annual General Meeting. c. The quorum necessary for the transaction of business at an Annual General Meeting shall be eight voting members in addition to any members of the Committee present.
12. EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
An Extraordinary General Meeting may be requested by a minimum of five voting members who must state clearly the business to be transacted at such meeting. No other business may be introduced at such meeting. The Secretary will convene such meeting at the earliest possible date and will notify all voting members by the quickest possible means.
13. ALTERATION TO CONSTITUTION/RULES
No alteration to these Constitution/Rules shall be made except at an Annual General Meeting or at an Extraordinary General Meeting specifically called for that purpose. The proposed alterations shall be clearly set out in the notice convening such meeting.
14. INTERPRETATION
Wherever he, him or his occurs in these Constitution/Rules, it shall be taken to include she, her or hers also. Interpretation of the wording of these By-laws shall be at the discretion of the Committee The above Constitution and Bye-laws were formulated and agreed at the General Meeting of Dealey Plaza UK held at Waltham Abbey, Essex on 7th January 1996 and were amended at the Annual General Meeting held at Walsall, West Midlands on 2nd March 1997 and at London on 3rd March 2002.
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