Go Greener in East Renfrewshire

CONSTITUTION  OF EAST RENFREWSHIRE GO GREENER

Rule 1 - Name  

The Organisation shall be known as "Go Greener", hereinafter known as "the Organisation".

Rule 2 - Aims and Objectives

The Organisation is not-for-profit and;

The Aims and Objectives of the Organisation are to:-

• raise the awareness of the impact of Climate Change/Global Warming,
• raise the awareness of the impact of current behaviour and lifestyles on the local and world environment ,
• enlighten and persuade local people to make the necessary changes in behaviour and lifestyle in order to make a difference,
• be imaginative, innovative and forward thinking in developing new approaches and ideas,
• reach out to engage and involve every person, living, working or involved in the East Renfrewshire Council area and,
• provide funds towards such aims

Rule 3 - Equal Opportunities

The Organisation shall uphold equal opportunities and work for good relations among all members of the organisation, specifically prohibiting any conduct which discriminates or harasses on the grounds of race, nationality, colour, gender, disability, age, sexuality, religion or political beliefs.

Rule 4 - Membership

Membership of the Organisation shall be open to every person, living or working in the East Renfrewshire Council area and,

Membership of the Organisation shall be open to all, irrespective of race, nationality, colour, gender, disability, age, sexuality, age, political or religious beliefs.
        
Members must conduct themselves in a reasonable manner at all meetings or in premises used by the Organisation.

Membership can be suspended or ended for conduct that contravenes the objects of the Organisation, by a majority of those present and voting at any Committee or Forum Meeting.  

A member whose membership has been suspended shall be entitled to have that suspension reviewed at the next Forum Meeting of the Organisation.

The Organisation shall have the power to affiliate to any other appropriate body whose objects may be of benefit to the work of the Organisation.

Rule 5 - Structure

The structure of the Organisation shall be the Forum of which all members of the Organisation are eligible to attend and the Committee which is referred to under Rule 6.

Rule 6 - The Committee

The business of the Organisation shall be conducted by a Committee elected at each Annual General Meeting.

The Committee shall consist of at least six and not more than fifteen members.

The composition of the Committee shall as far as possible represent the character of the overall membership.

The Committee members shall stand down at each Annual General Meeting and may be re-elected.

There shall be at least 6 Committee meetings each year.  
 
Casual vacancies on the Committee may be filled as required by co-option. Such co-opted member(s) appointment(s) should be ratified by the Forum at the meeting following their co-option.

The Committee can, in addition to the maximum number allowed on the Committee co-opt up to an additional 3 members. The criteria for co-option is to be a matter for the Committee to decide but should in the first instance be to fill gaps in skills not present within the Committee.

Rule 7 - Officers of the Committee

The Committee shall appoint a Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer.

The Chairperson shall conduct all the meetings of the Organisation.

The Vice Chairperson (or in her/his absence another Committee member) shall conduct all the meetings of the Organisation where the Chairperson is absent.

The Secretary shall be responsible for:

• convening all meetings and giving prescribed notice to members;
• ensuring that minuted records are kept of all meetings of the Organisation;
• maintaining a register of members of the Organisation.

Minutes of all Forum Meetings and Committee Meetings shall be available from the Secretary for all members.
    
The Treasurer shall:

• open and maintain a banking account in the name of the Organisation;
• keep records of the Organisation's income and expenditure;
• present a financial report at each Committee Meeting.
  

The accounts shall be examined by an independent person thought capable of carrying out a sufficiently thorough assessment. Should legal or operational requirements deem that an audit be carried out then the Organisation shall appoint an Auditor at any time and at each subsequent Annual General Meeting when required. Annual accounts shall be prepared in accordance law and set before each Annual General Meeting.

All cheques shall be signed by the Treasurer and one other Committee member nominated by the Committee as signatories.  

Additional Appointments

The Committee shall have the power to appoint additional officers as required

Sub-Groups

The Committee may appoint sub-groups as may be required to carry out specific tasks for the Organisation.  Such sub-groups shall be directly accountable to the Committee.

The Committee shall agree in advance the terms of reference of any sub-group, which may then act and apply any finance raised by itself or on its behalf only within those terms.

Where any sub-group is to continue in existence beyond the Annual General Meeting following its appointment, its members shall submit themselves for re-election at that meeting and annually thereafter.

All sub-groups shall keep proper accounts of income and expenditure, and a proper record of all meetings, and shall report on them or deliver as required by the Committee or Forum Meeting.

The Committee or Forum may dissolve any sub-group whereupon the accounts, records and assets, financial and otherwise of the sub-group shall pass into the hands of the Core Group.

Any member(s) or officer(s) delegated to represent the Organisation in consultation with any other body shall act on the instructions of the Organisation and shall report back to the following Committee or Forum Meeting, whichever is sooner.

Rule 8 - Forum

All individuals either self appointed or appointed by a body, club or other grouping are members of the Forum. Meetings of the Forum will be called by the Committee and will not be less frequent than four a year including the Annual General Meeting. The agenda for Forum Meetings is the responsibility of the Chairperson and Secretary. Decisions at Forum Meetings shall be binding on the Committee.  All decisions shall be taken by a simple majority of full members present and voting. All members shall be given not less than 14 days notice of any Forum Meeting.

Rule 9 - Annual General Meetings

The Committee shall call an Annual General Meeting every year in the month   of October. At this meeting:

• the Committee shall present an annual report of the Organisation;
• sub-groups shall present an annual report and accounts of their activities;
• the Committee shall present audited accounts of the Organisation for the previous year;
• the Committee and officers of the Committee will be elected;
• an independent auditor will be appointed;
• any resolutions put forward by members will be considered;
• any amendments to the constitution will be voted on.
  

All members and those eligible for membership shall be given not less than 14 days notice of the Annual General Meeting.

Any resolutions for consideration must be submitted to the Secretary not less than 7 days before the Annual General Meeting.
 
Rule 10 - Special General Forum Meetings

The Secretary shall call a Special General Forum Meeting at the request of a majority of the Core Group; or on receipt of a written petition by not less than10 members of the Organisation giving reasons for their request.  The Secretary shall give not less than seven days notice of holding of a Special General Forum Meeting, which shall take place within 21 days of the receipt of the request or petition.

Rule 11 - Quorum

The quorum for Committee meetings of the Organisation shall be one-third of it's  membership. The quorum for all Forum Meetings shall be no less than 10 members.

Rule 12 - Notice of Meetings

Notice of all meetings where required shall be advertised and shall include the date, time and place of the meeting and an Agenda of matters to be discussed.

Rule 13 - Alterations to the Constitution

Any proposal to alter this Constitution must be submitted to the Secretary of the Organisation not less than 21 days before the meeting at which it is to be discussed.  Not less than 14 days notice shall be given of such a meeting, together with the wording of the proposed alteration(s).  Any alteration shall require the approval of two-thirds of those present and voting at the meeting.

If the Committee, (or if a Committee no longer exists any 6 members of the Organisation,) decides that the Organisation should be dissolved, they shall give at least 14 days notice to all those eligible for membership of a meeting at which the matter shall be discussed.  

For the sole purpose of dissolution a quorum need not apply, and the Organisation may be dissolved by a two-thirds majority of those present.  The assets, financial and otherwise, remaining when the Organisation has satisfied its liabilities, shall be transferred to such other community based not-for-profit organisations as hold similar objects to those detailed above.