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Constitution

. Posted in Twinning Association

INCORPORATING AMENDMENTS MADE AT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF 18 APRIL 2011.

  1. TITLE

The title of the Association shall be the Bridport – St. Vaast La Hougue Twinning Association.

  1. AIMS

The aims of the Association shall be to promote and foster friendship and understanding between the people of Bridport and the surrounding area and those of St. Vaast la Hougue and the surrounding area, in particular:

    1. To encourage visits by individuals and groups to and from the linked towns and their surrounding areas and the development of personal contacts and by so doing broaden the mutual understanding of the social, cultural, educational, recreational, civic and commercial activities of the linked towns.
    2. To assist fund-raising activities to support the aims of the Association.
    3. To promote or support such other activities as may further the aims of the Association.
  1. ORGANISATION
    1. Patron of the Association

The Mayor of Bridport (in office) shall, if so willing, be the Patron of the Association.

    1. President of the Association

The President of the Association shall be elected at each Annual General Meeting.

    1. Honorary Vice-Presidents of the Association

Honorary Vice-Presidents may be appointed at an Annual General Meeting.

    1. Officers of the Association

The officers of the Association shall be the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Membership Secretary.

    1. Management Committee

The affairs of the Association shall be conducted by a Management Committee which shall be elected at each Annual General Meeting. The Management Committee shall have all the powers conducive or incidental to the attainment of the aims referred to and to the management and control of the Association. The Management Committee shall consist of members elected at the Annual General Meeting- Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, two members nominated by Bridport Town Council and two other Ordinary Members elected by the membership.
The Management Committee shall be broadly representative of organisations, education, trade and commerce and individuals in Bridport.
The quorum shall be one third of the members (including co-opted members) of the Management Committee.
The Management Committee shall have power to set up sub-committees which shall have the right to co-opt to their membership with the right to vote.

  1. MEMBERSHIP

Membership shall be open to all persons who are in agreement with the objects of the Association.

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CONSTITUTION (Cont’d)

  1. VOTING

Only members present at a meeting shall have the right to vote. The Chairman shall have a casting vote.

  1. MEETINGS

The Management Committee shall call an Annual General Meeting between 1st May and 31st May each year. Extraordinary General Meetings may be convened on the written application, by at least ten members of the Association, to the Secretary.
Notices of motions for the Annual General Meeting and Extraordinary General Meetings shall be received by the Secretary at least fourteen days before the date of the meeting.
The Management Committee shall meet quarterly and the Secretary shall give all members of the Management Committee not less than seven days notice of the date and place of the meeting and an agenda of the business to be transacted at such a meeting. The Chairman in consultation with the Secretary shall be empowered to cancel any such meetings should this be deemed necessary.
Decisions of the Management Committee shall be made by the majority of votes of those present at the meeting. The Chairman shall have a casting vote.
The President, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Membership Secretary, Treasurer shall be ex-officio members of all sub-committees.
The Chairman and/or Secretary of the Association may invite to any of the meetings of the Management Committee or sub-committees in a consultative or advisory capacity such person or persons as they think fit. Such person(s) will not be qualified to vote.
A quorum of a General Meeting shall be not less than ten of the members of the Association.
A quorum of a sub-committee shall consist of one third of voting members, the Chairman having a casting vote.

  1. FINANCE

The Association’s financial year shall run from 1st April in each year to 31st March of the following year.
The income and property of the Association shall be applied solely toward the carrying-out of the aims of the Association as set forth in the Constitution.
At each Annual General Meeting an audited statement of accounts and Balance Sheet for the previous year shall be presented.
The President shall nominate and Auditor annually to audit the accounts of the Association.
All cheques shall be signed by any two of three of the designated signatories of the Committee. The signatories being the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.

  1. AMENDMENTS OF CONSTITUTION

Amendments to the Constitution may be made only at a General Meeting of the Association by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the votes of those present and entitled to vote.

  1. DISSOLUTION OF ASSOCIATION

In the event of the Association being dissolved, any property or monies remaining after its debts and liabilities have been settled shall be transferred to some purpose or organisation whose aims correspond as nearly as possible with those of the Association or, in the absolute discretion of the Management Committee to a charity or charities.