Statut

Constitution

1. Name
The name of the group shall be Polonia Chesterfield Association.

2. Aims
The aim of group shall be to:
a) Help members of the Polish community in Chesterfield with issues concerned with employment, living standards, health and education,
b) Integrate with the local community,
c) Preserve Polish culture and traditions.

3. Powers
The group shall have the following powers to:
a) Raise funds and apply for, invite, obtain, collect and receive contributions, grants, subscriptions, fees and otherwise,
b) Employ and paid worker to assist in the attainment of the aims of the group,
c) Rent or own property and equipment necessary to achieve the aims,
d) Affiliate to any local or national group or association that the Management Committee decides is appropriate and disaffiliate from any group or organisation if continued affiliation be, in the Management Committee’s view, against the interests of the group,
e) Do all such other lawful things as shall further the attainment of the aims.

4. Membership


a) Member of the group shall be open to adults (18 years old and over) who have got Polish roots and are able to speak the Polish language and who are interested in furthering the work of group,
b) The Annual General Meeting decides upon the value of the membership, which all members are obligated to pay,
c) All members may attend and vote at the Annual general meeting and shall be eligible for election to the Committee,
d) The committee may terminate any membership of any member bringing the group into disrepute. The member concerned shall have the right to be heard by the committee before a final decision is made,
e) Persons under age of 18 could be junior members in the association.
Persons who not fulfil the requirements stated at point a) could be associated members. Those members are not eligible to stand for elections, nor vote in elections.

5. Management Committee

a) A committee consisting of Chair, treasurer and Secretary and two to four other members shall be elected to manage the affairs of the group,
b) All officers and members shall be elected annually at the AGM,
c) The officers and Committee Members shall serve until the conclusion of next Annual General Meeting after their election and are eligible for re-election,
d) The Committee may fill any casual vacancy on the Management Committee including vacancies among the Officers and any person appointed shall serve until the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting,
e) The Committee may co-opt up to two person on the Committee and they shall have full voting rights,
f) The Committee may appoint such people as it thinks fit as advisers, advisers shall not have voting rights,
g) The Committee shall meet a minimum of four times per year,
h) Establish such sub-groups that the Management Committee feel is necessary to achieve the aims of the group. Any such groups shall not enter into legal or financial agreement without the prior authority of the Management Committee.

6. General Meetings

6.1 The Annual General Meeting

a) The Annual General Meeting of the group shall be held once a year. This shall be held not more than fifteen months after the holding of the preceding AGM.
b) At least 21 days notice shall be given to all members.
c) The purpose of the Annual General Meeting is to:
(i) Receive and adopt the Annual Accounts,
(ii) Receive the Annual Report from the Committee,
(iii) Elect members and officers for the Committee,
(iv) Consider any motion before the meeting,
(v) Appoint an appropriate person to independently examine the books.

6.2 Special General Meetings

a) Special (emergency) General Meetings may be called by the Management Committee whenever they feel it is necessary for the organisation and all members will have at least 21 days notice of the meeting. The notice of the meeting shall give details of the business to be discussed at the meeting,
b) The Secretary shall call a Special General meeting within 21 days of receiving a written request to do so signed by no less than twenty members,
c) Only the business specified in the notice for the meeting shall be discussed at the Special Meeting.

7. Rules of proceedings at all meetings

a) The Quorum (the minimum members needed for a meeting to go ahead) at:
(i) A General Meeting shall be twenty
(ii) A Management Committee shall be four

b) All questions at any meeting shall be decided by a simple majority in the event of a tie the Chair shall have a casting vote (a second vote).

8. Funds and Finance

a) All founds shall be devoted to the objects of the group,
b) A bank account shall be opened in the name of the group,
c) All cheques shall be signed by 2 of 3 signatories authorised by the Committee none of whom shall be related or live at the same address,
d) The financial year shall run from the 1st of April.


9. Alterations to the Constitution

Amendments to the constitution may be made by a resolution passed by a majority of the members at the Annual General Meeting or Special/Emergency General Meeting. Proposed alterations should be circulated to the membership not less than 21 days before the date of the meeting.


10. Dissolution

A resolution to dissolve the group must be passed at a General Meeting and carried by a two-thirds majority of those present. Any assets held by the organisation after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities shall be given or transferred to an organisation which similar aims.

This constitution was adopted on 21.03.2010