THE MORRIS RING CONSTITUTION
OBJECT AND DEFINITION
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The object of the Morris Ring shall be to encourage the
performance of the Morris, to maintain its traditions and to
preserve its history; to bring into contact all the Men's Morris
Clubs or Teams. The purpose of the Ring is not to replace or
supersede the existing organisations, but to subserve them. The
Clubs shall in all respects retain their independence.
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The Ring shall be an association of Men's Morris, Sword and
Mummers Clubs and Teams. Any established Men's Club or Team
which meets regularly for Morris or Sword Dancing or Mumming,
and which endeavours to uphold the standards and dignity of the
Morris, shall be eligible for Membership of the Ring.
GENERAL MEETING
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A Meeting of Representatives of the Member Clubs shall be held
annually for the conduct of business. Each Club shall have one
vote. Additional meetings may be called at the Squire's
discretion. In addition, a General Meeting of the Member Clubs
must be held within six weeks of a written request by at least
one third of the Member Clubs. A notice of this Meeting must be
given at least three weeks before the Meeting.
OFFICERS
- There shall be three Officers of the Morris Ring, to be
called The Squire of the Morris Ring, The Bagman of the Morris
Ring and The Treasurer of the Morris Ring. The Squire may appoint
a deputy for any Officer in case of need. In the event of a
vacancy occurring in the Office of Squire, the Advisory Council
shall take such action as it thinks fit, pending an election to
that Office.
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The Squire, Bagman and Treasurer shall be elected biennially at
the Annual Meeting of Club Representatives. The elections of
Squire and Bagman shall take place in alternate years. The
election of the Treasurer shall take place at the same time as
the Squire. The Squire may not, but the Bagman and Treasurer
may be re-elected. The Officers shall be elected by an absolute
majority of the votes cast. If there are more than two
candidates, Clubs shall indicate their order of preference and
a transferable voting system will operate. A short biographical
sketch, photograph and the nominating Club's supporting
statement of not more than two hundred and fifty words, shall
be submitted for each candidate, for circulation by the Bagman.
ADVISORY COUNCIL
- The three Officers, Officers Elect and all Past Officers of
the Ring together with the nine Elected Members shall constitute
the Advisory Council of the Morris Ring. The duty of the Advisory
Council shall be to consider how best to further the objects of
the Morris Ring and to take action in an emergency. The Advisory
Council shall meet at least once a year. In such cases where it
is entrusted with executive powers, a quorum shall consist of
five members, including three Elected Members.
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Three Elected Members of the Advisory Council shall be elected
at the Annual Meeting of Club Representatives each year. They
shall serve for three years and will be eligible for
re-election. For the sole purpose of choosing elected Members.
Member Clubs will be allocated to nine areas within the United
Kingdom and may only vote in one area. The candidate for an
area must be a member of one of the area clubs, be nominated by
at least one of those clubs and be elected by a simple majority
of votes cast by Clubs in that area. Clubs from overseas shall
be represented by the Officers. The only co-options to the
Advisory Council are to be replacements for Elected Members, as
appointed by the Squire.
ADMISSION INTO THE RING
- Admission of a Club into Membership of the Ring shall, after
recommendation by the Officers, be effected by a majority of
votes cast at the annual Meeting of Club Representatives. Each
Club so admitted shall be provided with a Symbol of its
Membership of the Ring, and shall, from within its members,
depute a correspondent whose name and address shall be
communicated to the Bagman, together with an indication of the
central geographic location of the Club and details of the
costume of the Club.
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Clubs whose standards fall below those generally accepted by
the Member Clubs, may, following the advice of the Officers, be
suspended from Membership of the Ring if at least two thirds of
the votes cast at the Annual Meeting of Club Representatives
are in favour of such suspension.
GENERAL
- There shall be at least one gathering of Morris Men in each
year, to be sponsored or Arranged by the Morris Ring.
- The Ring shall encourage research into all aspects of the
Morris and conserve its history as it is able.
- There shall be an annual subscription from each Club, the
amount to be determined from time to time by the Annual Meeting
of Club Representatives.
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Any alteration to the Constitution shall require at least two
thirds of the votes cast at the Annual Mooting of Club
Representatives to be in favour of the alteration.
PERIODS OF NOTICE
- Member Clubs shall have at least six months notice of the
date of the Annual Meeting of Club representatives.
- Nominations for the positions of the Officers and the Elected
Members of the Advisory Council, proposed alterations to the
Constitution and formal resolutions for discussion at the Annual
Meeting of Club Representatives shall be received by the Bagman
at least three months before the Meeting.
- Details of the nominations for the positions of the Officers
and the Elected Members of the Advisory Council, proposed
alterations to the Constitution and formal resolutions for
discussion at the Annual Meeting of Club Representatives shall be
circulated by the Bagman to Member Clubs at least one month
before the Meeting.
- Clubs unable to send representatives to the Annual Meeting may, in the case of elections, send a postal vote to the Bagman, to arrive at last seven days before the Meeting.
This Constitution was agreed at the Annual Meeting of Club Representatives at Nottingham, 25th February 1978, and amended at the Annual Meetings at Sheffield, 26th February 1983, Yateley, 21st March 1987, Cheddar 16th March 1991 and Moulton 21st March 1992.
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