About Aylesbury AS

	Aims of the Society The Aims of the Society (AAS) is to advance the education of the public in Astronomy. In furtherance of the foregoing objective, but not otherwise, the AAS shall have the following powers: to hold meetings and demonstrations to arrange expeditions to provide an Observatory and organise observation programmes to provide instruction in the use of equipment and to do all other lawful things necessary to attain the above Objective

	Observing Observing Nights may take place at the Society's Observatory on Friday nights providing an observing group including at least two adults (age 18 and over) can be formed. We have a Schmidt-Cassegrain GOTO telescope available as well as a number of binoculars and telescopes that belong to members of the society. You are also welcome to bring your own equipment to the site if you need assistance on how to get the best out of it. Please note that you should arrange your own insurance of the equipment as the society cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage to equipment on our site Members wishing to observe should telephone Peter Biswell or Peter Gillespy (details in the Contacts section). For reasons of safety, members should not go up to the Observatory alone.

	Equipment and Facilities Telescopes The Society currently uses a 12" GOTO Meade telescope which was kindly donated to the Society by the widow of one of our founder members, Tony Black. The Society also has portable 6 and 8 inch reflectors. We are also restoring the dome of the Colin Hunt building to provide a facility for members of the public to attend open evenings (when weather permits). Binoculars We have a small number of binoculars available for members to use at the remote. Other The Society has a number of other items available including eyepieces, diffraction gratings, mirror grinding equipment and presentation equipment. If you are interested in using any of the societies equipment, please get in contact with us.

	Society Constitution 1. The Object of the Society (AAS) is to advance the education of the public in astronomy. In furtherance of the foregoing object, but not otherwise, the AAS shall have the following powers: i) to hold meetings and demonstrations ii) to arrange expeditions iii) to provide an Observatory and organise observation programmes and instruction in the use of equipment iv) to do all other lawful things necessary to attain the above Object 2. The Committee are empowered to act for the AAS and to decide any matter not covered in these rules; they are jointly responsible to the members for the general running of the AAS, and are to consist of 3 members and 4 officers, namely: - the Chairman, to take charge of all meetings and day to day affairs, - the Vice-Chairman to assist the Chairman as required, - the Secretary to keep the Minutes of all meetings and deal with correspondence, - the Treasurer to manage the AAS's finances as the Committee directs and to keep accounts which are to be audited at least once a year. The Committee are to be elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and may co-opt members to fill any vacant places or offices, appoint extra members, officers and sub-committees as they think best. They must all retire at the next AGM, but may stand for re-election. 3. The Trustees are the two members in whom the AAS's Observatory at Winchendon is vested under the terms of the Lease. They are empowered to attend, speak and vote at any meeting of any committee or sub-committee of the AAS, and either may require the Committee to call an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM). 4. Membership is open to any interested person and all members may attend and speak at all Ordinary and General Meetings, but only those over 17 who have paid the subscription agreed at the last AGM may vote. All members may use the AAS's Observatory, but those who are not used to the equipment or who are under 18 must be accompanied by an experienced members. Members should not use the Observatory alone and must understand that the AAS cannot accept liability for accident or loss. 5. Ordinary meetings are normally held at 8pm on the first Monday in each month with the May meeting being the AGM. The meeting may be moved to another date if the first Monday is a public holiday and extra meetings of all sorts shall be held whenever possible. 6. Extraordinary General Meetings may be called by the committee at any time and shall be called without delay if one trustee or any five members demand it. Written notice of all General Meetings, Annual or Extraordinary is to be sent to all paid-up members at least two weeks before the date of the meeting and 15 members or half the paid-up membership, which ever is smaller, shall constitute a quorum. 7. The Annual General Meeting is to be held in May and the Agenda is to include: - the minutes of the previous AGM, - the Annual Report presented by the Committee, - the Reports of the Treasurer and of the Auditors, - the amounts of the Annual Subscriptions for the next twelve months, - any proposed changes in the Constitution or Rules, - the election of the Committee and of two Auditors for the next twelve months and any other business. 8. This Constitution other than clauses 1 (Objects), 8 (this clause) and 9 (Dissolution provisions) may be varied or deleted or added to by a resolution passed by a three-fourths majority of the members of the AAS present and voting at an AGM or an EGM but no amendment shall be made which would cause the AAS to cease to be a Charity in Law. 9. The Dissolution of the AAS may be effected only by the resolution passed by a three-fourths majority of the members of the AAS present in person or by proxy at an EGM convened for that purpose of which notice has been served on every then member of the AAS at his last known address in the United Kingdom. If a motion to dissolve the AAS is carried by the said majority the AAS's surplus assets (if any) shall not be distributable among the membership but shall be disposed of for such charitable institutions or purposes having objects similar to the AAS as the Committee shall decide.