Midlands of England Wales-JOHN CARMICHAEL, 49 Park Road, Glasgow, C.4. U.S.A.-Col. Walter Scott, 495 Broadway, New York City, N.Y. CONSTITUTION. 1. The Federation shall consist of the members of each affiliated Club. 2. The Council shall consist of Hon. Presidents, Hon. VicePresidents, President, two Vice-Presidents, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer, Editor of the Burns Chronicle, and the Auditors-all of whom shall be elected annually, and be eligible for re-election; also any three members of, and nominated by, each affiliated Club. 3. Past Presidents of the Federation shall, ex-officio, be members of the Council. 4. The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, the two Vice-Presidents, the Hon. Secretary, the Hon. Treasurer, the Editor of the Burns Chronicle, and representative members elected by the various districts as shown in the subjoined schedule. These representative members shall be elected annually, and the results reported to the Secretary of the Federation one month before the Annual Conference, on the basis (a) of one member for the first five clubs, and one member for every additional ten clubs in each district; (b) but that for Edinburgh, London, the five Overseas Dominions-Newfoundland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa-and the United States of America, one club in each shall qualify for admission as a district. If no member is elected by a district, the Executive Committee shall have power to fill the vacancy. The Executive Committee shall meet quarterly, on the fourth Saturday of September, December, March, and June, and when called by the Hon. Secretary, for the transaction of the business of the Federation. 5. Clubs outwith the United Kingdom may be represented by proxy at the Annual Conference of the Federation. OBJECTS. 1. To strengthen and consolidate by universal affiliation the bond of fellowship existing amongst the members of Burns Clubs and kindred Societies. 2. To purchase and preserve MSS. and other relics connected with the Poet. 3. To repair, renew, or mark with suitable inscriptions, any buildings, tombstones, &c., interesting from their association with Burns. 4. To encourage and arrange School Competitions in order to stimulate the teaching of Scottish History and Literature. RULES. 1. The Headquarters of the Federation shall be in Kilmarnock. 2. Burns Clubs, St. Andrew Societies, and kindred Associations may be admitted to the Federation, after application in writing to the Hon. Secretary, enclosing a copy of their Constitution and Rules and a list of their Office-Bearers, which shall be submitted to the Executive Committee at their next meeting, and the Clubs shall be enrolled if there are not more than two dissentients. 3. The Registration Fee shall be 42s., on receipt of which the Diploma of the Federation shall be issued. 4. Each Club shall subscribe 21s. per annum towards the funds of the Federation. Clubs failing to pay this subscription for two consecutive years may be struck off the Roll of the Federation. Any surplus profits resulting from the sale of the Burns Chronicle shall be added to the general funds. 5. Members of every kindred Association registered by the Federation shall be entitled to receive a pocket Diploma on payment of 1s. 6. The funds of the Federation shall be vested in the Executive Committee for the objects before mentioned. 7. The Annual Conference of the Council shall be held on the second Saturday of September, at such place as may be agreed upon, when reports on the year's transactions shall be submitted by the Hon. Secretary and the Hon. Treasurer, and Office-Bearers shall be elected for the ensuing year. 8. Nominations for the offices of President and Vice-President must be lodged with the Hon. Secretary one month before the Annual Conference. 9. Nominations by districts for membership of the Executive Committee must be lodged with the Hon. Secretary one month before the Annual Conference. 10. Notice of any amendment or alteration of the Constitution or Rules of the Federation to be considered at the Annual Meeting must be lodged in writing with the Hon. Secretary not later than 30th June. BENEFITS. 1. Registered Clubs are supplied free with copies of newspapers containing accounts of meetings, demonstrations, &c., organised, conducted, or attended by the Council of the Federation. 2. Exchange of fraternal greetings on the anniversary of the Poet's natal day. 3. Members of Registered Clubs who have provided themselves with pocket Diplomas are entitled to attend meetings of all Clubs on the Roll of the Federation, they being subject to the rules of the Club visited, but having no voice in its management unless admitted a member according to local form. 4. Members are entitled to be supplied, through the Secretaries of their respective Clubs, with copies of all Works published by the Federation, at a discount of 33 per cent. 5. A list of Lecturers, Essayists, and Judges for Children's Competitions will be supplied to Clubs on application. |