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1.0 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.

2.0 OBJECT

2.1

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

3. MEMBERSHIP

3.1

There are three classes of members: Ordinary, Honorary and Life.

3.2.1

Only Old Boys of Merchant Taylors' School, Crosby, are eligible for Ordinary membership.

3.2.2

Ordinary Members either pay the annual subscription (and so qualify for full service membership service for the calendar year of payment) or have paid the impost on School fees under the amended terms of the 1992 scheme (and so qualify for full membership for ten years from the year of leaving School and thereinafter retain, as Life Members, the right to take part and vote in the Association's affairs but are not entitled by right to receive communications from the Association) or have paid a lump sum under Rule 3.2.5. (and so qualify for full membership service for the rest of their life) or have left School for sixty years (and so qualify without further payment for full membership service for the rest of their life).

3.2.3

The annual subscription for Annual Members shall be fixed from time to time by the Council, which has full discretion to deal with special cases.

3.2.4

The annual subscription is payable on 15th March each year and any Annual Member whose subscription remains unpaid or partially unpaid on the following 31st December may be deemed to have relinquished the Ordinary membership.

3.2.5

The lump sum for Paid-up Members is calculated : up to age 38, at fifteen times the prevailing annual subscription; from age 39 to age 55, at ten times the prevailing annual subscription; from age 56 onwards at five times the prevailing annual subscription.

3.2.6

Ordinary Members are entitled to take full part and vote in the affairs of the Association and are entitled to receive all communications published by the Association.

3.3.1

The Council has the power to elect past and present Headmasters, Assistant Masters and male Non-teaching members of the School staff as Honorary Members having the same privileges as Ordinary members.

3.3.2

The Headmaster for the time being and the Assistant Masters for the time being are deemed to be Honorary Members having the same privileges as Ordinary members.

3.4.1

Only Old Boys of Merchant Taylors' School, Crosby, are eligible for Life Membership.

3.4.2

Life Members are members of the Association who do not qualify for Ordinary membership under Rule 3.2.2.

3.4.3

Life Members retain the right to take part and vote in the Association's affairs but are not entitled by right to receive communications from the Association.

3.4.4

Life Members who have left School for sixty years may be deemed Ordinary Members.

3.4.5

Life Members may transfer to Ordinary membership by paying the annual subscription or lump sum.

3.5

Election of Members is made by the Council in such a manner as it decides.

3.6

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

4.0 GENERAL MEETINGS

4.1.1

The Annual General Meeting is to be held, if practicable, on the first Friday of the Summer term.

4.1.2

It is called by the Hon. Secretary giving Notice in writing to all Members so entitled specifying the business to be transacted:
a) Consideration and passing of Accounts and adoption of Report, if any;
b) Election of Officers and Council;
c) Such other business, if any, as is contained in the Notice convening the meeting.

4.2.1

A Special General Meeting is to be called by the Hon. Secretary at the request of the President or upon the requisition in writing of fifteen Members.

4.2.2

Seven days' notice in writing is given to all Members so entitled.

4.2.3

The Notice specifies the business to be transacted and no business is transacted at a Special General Meeting other than that specified in the Notice convening it.

4.3.1

Any twenty Members present at a General Meeting are entitled to demand a Poll upon any question within the scope of the Meeting.

4.3.2

The method of taking the Poll is decided by the Chairman of the Meeting.

5.0 MANAGEMENT

5.1.1

The Council is responsible for the management of the affairs of the Association.

5.1.2

The Council meets not less than twice each year.

5.1.3

Seven days' notice of each meeting is given by the Hon. Secretary to all Members of Council.

5.2.1

The Council consists of:

1. The President, the Vice-Presidents and Immediate Past President.
2. The Hon. Editor, the Hon. Secretary, the Hon. Treasurer, the Hon. Membership Secretary and such Assistants to each post as are expedient;
3. The Headmaster, an Assistant Master appointed by the Headmaster as Liaison Officer, up to two representatives of the Sixth Form and the Association's representatives on the Governing Body of the School.
4. Up to twelve other Members.

5.2.2

Office holders outlined in 5.2.1 (a) and (b) are elected at the Annual General Meeting to hold office for one year.

5.2.3

The Members of the Council are elected at the Annual General Meeting to hold office for three years, not being eligible for re-election to Council for the year immediately following other than as Officers.

5.2.4

The Council has the power to fill vacancies by co-option.

5.3

The 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.

5.4

The 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.

5.5.1

The Council has the power to appoint sub-committees for a specific purpose.

5.5.2

Sub-committees do not have executive powers unless specifically granted by the Council.

5.6

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

5.7.1

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

5.7.2

The Council may elect one of its members to be Chairman of Council.  He is elected for three years and may be re-elected for one further consecutive period of three years.  In the absence of the President and Vice-Presidents from any Council Meeting, the Chairman of Council is the first to be called upon to deputise.

5.7.3

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

5.8

The Hon. Editor prepares and publishes the Association's Handbook and newsletters and any other publication agreed by the Council.

5.9.1

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

5.9.2

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

5.9.3

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

5.10.1

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.

5.10.2

An Annual Audited 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.

5.11

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

5.12

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

5.13

The Council has the absolute discretion to appoint as Honorary Vice-President for Life an Old Crosbeian who has not otherwise held Presidential or Vice-Presidential office.

6.0 RULES

6.1

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

6.2

Bye-laws made by the Council under Rule 5.3 must be confirmed at the next General Meeting, failing which they lapse.

7.0 TRUSTEESHIP

7.1

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.

7.2

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.

7.3

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

8.0 GENERAL MATTERS

8.1 

Every Notice to a Member is considered duly delivered when posted to, or delivered by hand at, his last known address.

8.2.1

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

8.2.2

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

8.2.3

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