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OBA Rules

Old Boys' Association Rules

(For a downloadable copy of the OBA rules please click here)

1.     Identity

1.1.   The Association is called "The Merchant Taylors' Old Boys' Association" and its members are called "Old Crosbeians"

1.2.   The colours of the Association are black, yellow, light blue and maroon.

2.     Object

2.1.   The object of the Association is to promote the welfare of the School, its pupils and its Old Boys and to form a connecting link between them.

3.     Management

3.1. The affairs of the Association are managed by the Council and, where determined by these rules, by General Meetings of the membership.

4.     Membership

4.1. There are two classes of membership: Members and Honorary Members.

4.1.1.  Members are all Old Boys of Merchant Taylors' School, Crosby, subject to para 4.3 below.

4.1.2. The following are deemed to be Honorary Members whilst in post: the Headmaster, male Teaching and Support  Staff and male Governors.

4.1.3. Former Headmasters, former male teaching and Support  Staff and former male Governors, and such other persons as Council considers appropriate may be elected as Honorary Members by Council.

4.1.4. The admission of all new Members and Honorary Members is subject to Council’s approval.

4.2. Members and Honorary Members have the same privileges and are entitled to take a full part and vote in the affairs of the Association.

4.3.The Council has the power to exclude any person from membership or expel any Member or any Honorary Member from membership of the Association if, in the opinion of four-fifths of members present at a meeting of Council, he has been guilty of conduct injurious to the welfare and interests of the Association or the School. Any fees paid by him are forfeit.

4.4.  Any member wishing to withdraw from the Association must give notice in writing to the Hon. Membership Secretary.

5.     General Meetings

5.1.   The Annual General Meeting is to be held within six months of the end of the financial year {31 December} on a date to be decided by Council.

5.2.   The AGM is called by the Hon. Secretary giving notice to all members {see para 9.1} specifying the business to be transacted, including:

5.2.1.      Consideration and passing of Accounts and adoption of Report, if any;

5.2.2.      Election of Officers and Council;

5.2.3.      Appointment of the Scrutineer to the Association’s Accounts;

5.2.4.      Such other business, if any, as is contained in the notice convening the meeting.

5.3.   A Special General Meeting may be called by the Hon. Secretary at the request of the President or upon the requisition of fifteen members.

5.4.   Seven days notice {see Para 9.1} must be given of a Special General Meeting specifying the business to be transacted. No other business may be transacted at a Special General Meeting other than that specified in the Notice convening it.

5.5.   Any twenty Members present at a General Meeting are entitled to demand a Poll upon any question within the scope of the Meeting. The method of taking the Poll is decided by the Chairman of the Meeting.

6.     Council

6.1.   Council will meet not less than twice each year.

6.2.   Seven days' notice {see Para 9.1} of each meeting is given by the Hon. Secretary to all Members of Council.

6.3.   Council consists of:

6.3.1. The President, the Vice-President(s), the Immediate Past President;

6.3.2.  The Hon. Secretary, the Hon. Treasurer, the Hon. Membership Secretary, the Hon. Communications Officer, and such Assistants to each post as are considered expedient by Council;

6.3.3.  One representative Trustee of the each of the Association’s trusts;.

6.3.4.  The Headmaster, a male Assistant Teacher appointed by the Headmaster as Liaison Officer, up to two representatives of the Sixth Form and the Association's representative on the Governing Body of the School;

6.3.5. Council has the power to fill vacancies by co-opting Members at either the Annual General Meeting or at any subsequent Council meeting. Co-opted Members will serve until the following AGM.

6.3.6. Council has the power to co-opt other members as it sees fit.

6.4.   Office holders outlined in 6.3.1 and 6.3.2 and Members of Council are elected at the Annual General Meeting to hold office for one year.

6.5.   Any member of the Association wishing to stand for Office or as a Member of Council may do so by putting themselves forward for election at the Annual General Meeting

6.6.   Council has the power to make Bye-laws, provided they are not contrary to existing Rules. Bye-laws have the same effect as Rules of the Association passed in General Meeting but see Section 7.2

6.7.   Council has the power to authorise the formation of Branches of the Association which are subject to these Rules and any other conditions the Council may decide.

6.8.   Council has the power to appoint sub-committees for a specific purpose. Sub-committees do not have executive powers unless specifically granted by the Council.

6.9.   Meetings of the Association and Council are chaired by the President, or in his absence, a Vice-President or the Immediate Past President.

6.10.  Meetings of sub-committees are chaired by a member appointed by Council to be chairman.

6.11.  The Hon. Communications Officer coordinates and publishes the Association's publications as agreed by Council.

6.12.  The Hon. Secretary, or a deputy appointed by Council, keeps Minutes of all meetings of the Association and Council.

6.13.  The Hon. Secretary summons all meetings of the Association and Council, giving such notice as is required by these Rules.

6.14.   The Hon. Secretary is responsible for the safekeeping of all the Association's records and these Rules under the advice of Council.

6.15.  The Hon. Treasurer receives and pays all monies due to or by the Association and keeps a proper account of all financial transactions of the Association.

6.16.   An Annual Statement of the Association's financial affairs, made up to 31st December, is to be submitted by the Hon. Treasurer to the following Annual General Meeting.

6.17.   The Annual Statement of the Association’s financial affairs will be subject to an independent review by a qualified Scrutineer.

6.18.  The Hon. Membership Secretary registers Members and keeps such membership records as the Council determines.

6.19.  The Association's nominated representative on the Governing Body of the School is elected at the Annual General Meeting to hold office for three years and may be re-elected.

6.20.  Council has the absolute discretion to appoint as Honorary Vice-President for Life a Member, Honorary Member or other person deemed fit who has not otherwise held the office of President or Vice-President.

7.     Rules

7.1.   No change in these Rules may be made except at a General Meeting.

7.2.   Bye-laws made by the Council under Rule 6.5 must be confirmed at the next General Meeting, failing which they lapse.

8.     Trusteeship

8.1.   The property of the Association is to be vested in not fewer than two and not more than four Trustees appointed by the Council for three years and confirmed in General Meeting. Trustees are eligible for re-appointment.

8.2.   The Trustees are authorised to invest the Association's funds in accordance with Council's directions in the light of appropriate professional advice, such advice not being necessarily limited to investment in Trustee Securities.

8.3.   An Annual Audited Statement of the Association's trusteeship affairs, made up to 31st December, is to be submitted by the Trustees to Council.

9.     General Matters

9.1.   Notice of meetings as referred to in these rules may be served in writing, by email, by any other electronic means as Council sees fit or in any publication that is delivered to the membership at their last known address.

9.2.   Where a Member or Honorary Member is expelled from the Association under Rule 4.3 notice will be given in writing and considered duly delivered when posted to, or delivered by hand at, his last known address.

9.3.   Voting at all Meetings of the Association and Council is by show of hands, except where otherwise provided in these Rules.

9.4.   Motions are carried by a simple majority, except where otherwise provided in these Rules.

9.5.   The Chairman has a second, casting vote in case of an equality of votes.

April 2012