28/01/2010 - Updated Forum Constitution |
EARL SHILTON BUSINESS FORUM
CONSTITUTION
1 Title
The Chamber shall be called ‘‘Earl Shilton Business Forum ’’
2 Aims
2.1 To promote and support business activity in the Earl Shilton area
2.2 To represent the interests of Forum Members in dealing with third parties
2.3 To promote co-operation between Forum Members
2.4 To facilitate the delivery of training and information to Forum Members
2.5 To provide a forum for social meetings between Forum Members
3 Membership
3.1 Any business (or branch of a business) based in or carrying on business in the Earl Shilton area may apply to be a Member of the Forum
3.2 Members will be charged an annual membership fee. Members joining during the second half of the Forum’s financial year shall be charged half of the annual membership fee. These fees shall be set annually by the Forum at its AGM
3.3 The Management Committee of the Forum shall have the power to refuse membership to any applicant and to terminate membership for failure to meet the obligations of membership or for conduct prejudicial to the aims of the Forum. In such circumstances the applicant or member may make a written appeal to the Chairperson
4 Organisation
4.1 The officers of the Forum shall be:
4.1.1 Chairperson
4.1.2 Treasurer
4.1.3 Secretary
4.1.4 Market & Publicity Co-ordinator
4.1.5 Training Co-ordinator
4.1.6 Grants
4.2 Officers of the Forum shall be appointed for the period until the subsequent AGM; all officer holders are eligible for re-election, but no Members may serve as Chairperson for more than two consecutive years
4.3 All Members of the Management committee of the Forum shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. Members of the Management Committee are eligible for re-election
4.4 The Forum, it’s Officers and Committees will adopt a policy based upon equal opportunities
5 Management Committee
5.1 The affairs of the Forum shall be conducted by the Management Committee which shall have the powers conducive or incidental to the attainment of the aims and objectives of the Forum
5.2 The Management Committee shall consist of not less than six members, including the Officers, who shall be elected by the Forum from among its listed voting members at the Annual General Meeting
5.3 The Management Committee shall have the power to co-opt additional members, normally from within the Forum’s membership, as the needs arise and such co-opted members shall have the right to vote at all meetings.
5.4 The quorum at meetings of the Management Committee shall be three members
5.5 Meetings shall be chaired by the Chairperson; in the absence of the Chairperson, the meeting shall elect a Chair for that meeting
5.6 The Chair may invite to any meeting of the Management Committee, in a consultative or advisory capacity, such persons they may think fit, but such persons will not vote
5.7 Decisions of the Management Committee shall be made by majority votes cast by those present at the meeting with the power to vote. In the event of equality of votes, the Chair shall a second or casting vote
5.8 The Management Committee shall meet at least quarterly throughout its term of office
5.9 Minutes will be kept of all meetings held by the Management Committee
6 General Meetings
6.1 The Management Committee shall convene an Annual General meeting of the Association once every calendar year
6.2 The business of the Annual General meeting shall include:
6.2.1 accepting the Officers Reports
6.2.2 accepting the Accounts
6.2.3 the Election of the Officers and of the Management Committee
6.2.4 setting annual subscription fees
6.3 The Secretary shall summon a Special General Meeting of the Forum at any time on written request signed by at least twenty per cent of the members of the Association being delivered to him containing details of the matters to be discussed
6.4 At least twenty-one days notice shall be given to members of the Forum of General Meetings
6.5 The person presiding at a General Meeting shall be entitled to refuse to permit the discussion of any business unless at least seven days’ notice of the intention to discuss it has been given to m
6.6 The Chair at General Meetings shall be taken by the Chairperson of the Forum; or in their absence by the Treasurer. In the absence of both the Chairperson and the Treasurer the meeting shall elect a chair
6.7 The quorum at a General meeting shall be the lesser of 25% of the Membership (rounded done to the nearest whole number) or 15 Members, but shall not be less than three
6.8 Minutes will be kept of all the General Meetings
7 Finance
7.1 The Forum will open a Bank Account in the name of the Forum
7.2 All monies received on behalf of the Forum shall be placed in the custody of the Treasurer and deposited into the Forum’s bank account as appropriate
7.3 No expenditure undertaken on behalf of the Forum shall be undertaken unless authorised by the Management Committee
7.4 All cheques shall be signed on behalf of the Forum by the Chairperson and the Treasurer
7.5 The Treasurer shall keep financial records and accounts of all payments and receipts of the Forum and shall present financial reports at Management Committee meetings and General meetings
7.6 The income and property of the Forum shall be applied solely towards the achievement of the aims and objectives of the Forum as set forth in the constitution
7.7 At each Annual General Meeting a statement of accounts and balance sheet for the immediate preceding financial year shall be presented, which shall be audited
7.8 The Forum’s financial year shall run from January 1st each year to December 31st.
8 Subscriptions
8.1 Annual subscriptions from continuing members are due immediately after Annual General Meeting
8.2 Any Member who fails to pay a subscription before the date of Annual General Meeting next year after the one at which it became due shall be disqualified from voting or holding office until the Member pays. The Management Committee reserves the right to terminate membership of the Forum for failure by any members to pay their annual subscriptions
8.3 The Secretary shall keep up-to-date a register of members of the forum
9 Amendments to the Constitution
9.1 Amendments to this constitution shall only be made at a General Meeting of the Forum following the circulation to members at least fourteen days in advance of the meeting of the details of the proposed changes
9.2 A proposal for the amendment of the constitution shall not be carried unless it is supported by at last two-thirds of the votes cast by those present at the meeting
10 Dissolution of the Forum
In the event of the Forum being dissolved, any property or monies remaining after its debts and liabilities have been settled shall be applied to some purpose or organisation whose objects correspond with those of the Association, or, if that is not practicable, to such charity or charities as the Management Committee may decide.
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