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ARBORETUM RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION
CONSTITUTION


1  Name

The Association shall be called the Arboretum Residents’ Association (ARA).

2  Aims

The aims of the Association shall be to keep members aware of issues affecting the Arboretum, to foster community spirit, to provide a channel through which residents may voice their opinions and concerns.

3  Membership

Membership shall be open to all residents of the Arboretum who are interested in the aims of the Association.

4  Finance

The funds of the ARA shall be managed by the committee under the guidance of the Treasurer who will keep proper books of accounts.  All money received by the ARA shall be promptly deposited in the Association Bank account.

Withdrawals shall require the signature of the Treasurer and one other nominated officer of the Association.

The annual accounts shall be closed on the 30 May each year.

An Annual report shall be prepared by the Chairman and the Treasurer each year.

5  Membership of the Association’s Committee

The Association shall be administered by a Committee elected at the Annual General Meeting.  The appointment of officers (other than the Chairman) and committee members will last for one year after which time they can be re-elected.

The committee shall consist of:

a)  A Chairman who shall preside at all meetings at which he/she is present.  No member may hold this position for more than five consecutive years.  The Chairman may be re-elected after a break of one year.

b)  A Vice Chairman who shall act as a Chairman in the absence of the Chairman.

c)  A Secretary who shall be responsible for:

I     keeping the minutes
ii    ensuring all correspondence is correctly handled
iii   maintaining a master roll of members
iv   maintaining a record of equipment

d)  A Treasurer who shall be responsible for:

i     keeping the Association’s accounts
ii    advising the committee on all financial matters
iii   preparing the accounts for audit and presenting them at the Annual General Meeting.
iv   to act as a signatory on cheques

e)  8 Ordinary Committee Members.

f)  Co-opted members, as appropriate, who are not permitted to vote.

g)  The quorum for the committee shall be over 50%, in the absence of a quorum business may be dealt with, but any decisions taken only become valid after ratification at the next meeting at which a quorum exists.

h)   Committee meetings may be called by the Chairman, the secretary, or any vote.

i)  Any member of the committee who fails to attend two consecutive meetings, and who has not notified the secretary of their inability to attend, shall be considered to have resigned from the committee.

6  Annual General Meeting (AGM)

a)   The Annual General Meeting shall normally be held in June each year.

b) Notice of AGMs shall be made in writing to all members giving at least 14 days’ notice of date, venue and time.

c)   The Agenda for the Annual General Meeting shall be:

i      Apologies for absence
ii     Minutes of the previous AGM
iii    Chairman’s report
iv    Treasurer’s report
vii   Election of the new Committee
viii  Any other business

d)  Nominations for Committee members will only be valid if confirmed by the nominee at the meeting or previously in writing.

e) Officers will be elected from within the committee at the first meeting following the Annual General Meeting.

7  Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM)

a) An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called by a unanimous vote of the committee, the date of the meeting being the earliest convenient decided by the Committee.  Notice of EGMs shall be made in writing, giving members at least 14 days’ notice of date, venue and time.  EGMs may only discuss the motion proposed in the notice.

8  Amendments to the Constitution

a)  Amendments to the constitution shall be made only at an AGM, or at an EGM called for that purpose
 

9  Winding up of the Association

a)  The decision to wind up the Association may be taken only at an EGM.

b) The funds of the Association shall, after the sale of all assets, and the payment of all outstanding debts, be disposed of as directed by members at the final EGM.




Signed ……………………………………………………… Chairman


Date ……4 July 2006……………………………………………………