The club will be called The Pall Mall Property Club (hereinafter referred to as The Club) and it may also be known as PMPC.
The Club was founded in 2001 by a group of individuals, some of whom still represent our present committee; this constitution was subsequently adopted in 2003. The reason for its foundation was prompted from sheer frustration and an inability to find a true and respected meeting forum within property related sectors of the marketplace.
The Club is a non-profit voluntary association and all income including subscriptions, guest fees and sponsorship by third parties is applied for the benefit of the Club Members.
Since formation our Club has gone from strength to strength and is today well known for its professionalism and for the quality of its members and attendees, for which we are all justly proud.
The Club aims to provide a platform from which its Members and their guests can benefit and develop mutual business interests and relationships. It further aims to promote and maintain a high level of professionalism from within and be an institution which is outwardly known and respected by all who come into contact with it or its Members.
To achieve these aims and objectives the Club holds regular meetings of its Members and organises social and industry educational events. The meetings are informal in nature and are for the purposes of providing a forum for social and networking of the Members and their guests in a relaxed environment and social setting.
Whilst some meetings may be arranged with a guest sponsor, meetings shall not be for the promotion of direct business nor marketing of goods or services, but Members shall be free to associate with each other and guests with a view to overall business development. Any business so conducted between Members and their guests shall be solely the responsibility of the individuals and their businesses, and the Club shall not in any respect seek any financial reward nor accept any liability for business so conducted.
Membership of The Club will be restricted to persons aged 18 and over, due to the provision of alcohol sales upon the premises at which meetings are held.
Membership will be open to any interested person over the age of 18 regardless of sex, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or other beliefs. In all respects the Club shall, in relation to Membership, comply with the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 (or any legislation amending or replacing it).
Admission to Membership shall be at the absolute discretion of the Club Committee, and a prospective member shall be admitted only upon receipt and acceptance of an invitation to become a Member from the Club Committee.
Membership annual subscription fees shall be set by the Club Committee. In the event of any Member not paying the annual subscription fee within two months of the due date, the Member may be suspended and, in the event of continued non-payment, their membership discontinued.
All Members joining the Club shall be deemed to accept the terms of this Constitution and any Bye-laws adopted by The Club, in particular the requirement to conduct themselves in accordance with high standards of ethical, professional, business and social behaviour, and to act in a courteous and professional manner towards other Members and their guests. Members shall respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person and will treat everyone equally, regardless of age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, religious belief, sexuality or social/economic status.
It shall be the duty of each Member to respond to meeting invitations and to notify the Club Committee in advance of their intended attendance, and to provide the number and details of any guests they intend to invite. The Member shall be responsible for the behaviour of their guest(s) and for payment of any guest fees, it not being acceptable that a guest should pay their own guest fee. The Club Committee reserves the right to limit the number of guests attending any meeting and to refuse admittance of a specific guest.
A Member having duly paid the annual subscription shall be entitled to attend any meeting or social event of the Club without charge, save that they shall be liable to pay for their own purchases of any food, drinks or services not expressly provided for by the Club.
Any member of the Club is encouraged to volunteer to assist and promote the Club, and in particular to serve as a committee member. The Club Committee shall be appointed from time to time by the existing members of the Club Committee, and shall consist of not less than four and not more than six members at any time.
The key official roles and titles shall be:
A Member of the Committee shall devote such of their time to the operations of the Club as is required for the Club to operate in a financially sound manner and in accordance with the Aims and Objectives. There shall be no limit as to the time that a Member may serve upon the Committee, but it is expected that a Committee Member shall resign if they consider themselves (or are considered by the other Committee Members) to:
In the unlikely event of a Committee Member failing to resign, the Committee may by majority vote remove that Member as a Committee Member.
The Committee shall encourage the growth of Membership and shall invite prospective candidates to join. In considering an invitation, the Committee shall have regard to the following criteria for any prospective member:
The Committee may suspend or remove a Member in circumstances including: conduct likely to bring the Club into disrepute; failure to attend meetings on a regular basis; failure to pay subscriptions or guest fees; failure to act in accordance with the rules of any venue at which meetings are held; or allowing their guests to act contrary to the Aims and Objectives of the Club.
The Committee, and in particular the Treasurer, shall ensure the good financial management of the Club — maintaining a bank account, ensuring all funds are properly deposited and applied only for the Club’s purposes, reviewing the Club’s financial standing, setting subscriptions and guest fees, maintaining records of guest and sponsorship receipts, and preparing annual accounts and budgets. Save in relation to dishonesty, a Committee Member shall not be held personally liable for any decision or action undertaken bona fide for the benefit of the Club. The Committee may make a long-serving Member a lifetime Honorary Member, who shall continue as a full Member without any requirement to pay subscriptions.
A General Meeting of the Members shall be held from time to time as determined by the Committee, along with its arrangements and agenda. There shall be no requirement for an Annual General Meeting. The agenda shall be distributed to all Members by email not less than 14 days in advance. The quorum for a General Meeting shall be 10 members present.
Votes may be given personally or, if a Member is unable to attend, by proxy. A vote shall be by show of hands unless the Committee decides upon a written ballot. The instrument appointing a proxy shall be delivered by email to the Chair not less than three days before the meeting, appointing either the Chair or another named Member present at the meeting.
This Constitution shall only be amended at a General Meeting at which 75% of those voting, in person or by proxy, approve the proposed amendment. Any Bye-Laws published by the Committee for the better functioning of the Club may be reviewed and amended from time to time at the Committee’s absolute discretion, provided that no Bye-Law shall be inconsistent with this Constitution.
