The society are given the opertunity to comment on all Listed Building Application to West Lothian Council. And gives constructive comment’s on the conservation and history of these buildings and conservation areas as required.

We have seven talks over the next season stating on 16th September 26 and ending on May 19th 2027 with the ‘Scottish Land Question’ at Mackinnon Scout Hall in Linlithgow. We look forward to seeing everyone during the year. Remember to pass on the word to all like minded people or bring a Friend with you to any of the talks. Everyone is welcome.

We hold 7 meetings per year in various locations around West Lothian. They take place on a Wednesday evening at 7.30pm. The meetings take the form of a talk with an invited speaker with time afterwards for tea/coffee and a chat.

An annual membership fee is requested and are due on the 1st October each year. This can be paid by connections onto the link here

Individual membership is £20/annum

Family Membership is £40/annum

Life Membership £200

Junior Membership £5/annum

Jane Boyle. Chairperson

Elizabeth Henderson Vice Chair & Membership

Sybil Cavanagh Syllabus

Philip Wilson Finance

Walter Wood Amenity

Anne Baillie. Secretary

1. The name of the Society shall be THE WEST LOTHIAN HISTORY AND AMENITY SOCIETY.

2. The object of the Society shall be the study of the history of Scotland and, in particular, of West Lothian in all aspects and of the historic records and surviving monuments of its past; the publication of authoritative papers bearing on these subjects; the encouragement throughout West Lothian of a balanced appreciation of historical buildings and sites and of the need for their preservation and recording; and to provide advice to local authority planning committees on demolition or alteration of listed buildings, and also of buildings in a conservation area.

3. Membership shall be open to all who are interested, upon payment of an annual subscription, to be decided at the Annual General Meeting, to be paid by 31st October each year. Membership may be individual; family; or Youth, for those under 18 years of age. Individual life membership is available.

4. Office -bearers of the Society shall be annually elected and shall comprise a Chairperson Vice-Chairperson, Treasurer, Syllabys Secretary, Secretary, Amenity Secretary and Membership Secretary. The Treasurer will be responsible for the Society’s funds and accounts and for the presentation annually of a statement of these independently examined. The Secretary will be responsible for the conduct of the Society’s correspondence, other than that which is the direct responsibility of other office bearers, the preparation of agenda and minutes of Council meetings and General meetings. The Syllabus secretary will be responsible for booking speakers and Programmes of meetings and arrange the venues for meetings. The Membership Secretary will be responsible for maintaining details of all members of the society, their contact details and membership status in accordance with the Society’s Privacy Statement. Collect and arrange banking of fees paid by members. Communicate with members about all matters relating to the Society. In addition to these office bearers a temporary editor may be appointed by the council to supervise the preparation and publication of such papers as the Society may from time to time publish.

5. Honorary Office-bearers may comprise an Honorary President and Honorary Vice-President.

6. The Council shall consist of office-bearers and other elected members. Every effort should be made to recruit new members to the committee. Long serving office-bearers and committee members positions should be reviewed every 3 years. The Council may co-opt additional and temporary members as advisors on special subjects.

7. An Annual General Meeting shall be held each year in May at which office bearers and Council members shall be elected, and an annual statement of accounts received. The AGM Quorum will be seven members. A minimum of five other meetings will be arranged each year. The Council shall have power to call Extra-ordinary General Meetings as required and must do so on the demand of any twelve members of the society.

8. At the annual General Meeting the Council shall be empowered to make such arrangements as are necessary for meetings, publications and research projects, and to arrange for the custodianship of archives and objects that may be committed to the Society’s care.

9. The income and property of the Society wheresoever derived shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the purposes of the Society as set forth in the Constitution, and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly to any member of the Society by way of dividend or bonus oe otherwise howsoever by way of profit to any member of the Society.

10. DIGITAL COMMUNICATION: In the event of restrictions being imposed on the ability to meet in person (eg global pandemic/Government Lockdown) and in order to ensure good governance , digital communication technology may be used to enable meetings to be held with members not able to be physically present. There may also be hybrid meetings ie some members taking part via digital communication technology and some being physically present. Voting may be done by electronic or other means provided that all members at the meeting are enabled to vote should they wish to do so.

A quorum shall consist of both those physically present and those using digital communication technology. The choice of digital technology channel shall be at the discretion of the committee. Digital communication technology may be used for organisations meetings even when government restrictions for meeting in person are removed.

11. The terms of the constitution shall be altered only at the Annual General Meeting of the Society and upon two weeks notice to members of details of the purposed change and then upon a two-thirds majority vote of the meeting.

12. 20th May 1992

13. Amended 22nd May 2002

14. Amended 16th May 2007

15. Amended 6th October 2021

Adoption of this amended Constitution was approved at the Management Meeting held on 6th October 2021

Signed Andrew Simpson (Chair) for and on behalf of the Management Committee