West Cornwall Badger Group
CONSTITUTION

1 OBJECTIVES

The Objects of the Group are to encourage understanding and the study and research for the advancement of knowledge of badgers, to promote and enhance their welfare and conservation, to encourage tolerance and appreciation of and respect for all animal life and to engage in such activities as will promulgate and advance public education concerning badgers.

2 STATUS

a. The Group shall be non-profit making, non-party political and non-sectarian, and will use any lawful means to further its objectives.

b. The Group may affiliate to or obtain membership of such organisations as the Committee considers appropriate provided such affiliation or membership is in all respects consistent with the objects of the Group.

3 MEMBERSHIP

a. Membership shall be open to any persons who support the Objects of the Group.

b. A person shall be deemed to be a member of the Group if they have completed the prescribed Membership Application Form and have paid the current subscription.

c. All members shall be entitled to attend at any General Meeting of the Group and those aged 18 or above may vote thereat and stand for election to the Committee.

d. A person shall cease to be a member of the Group if their subscription falls six months in arrears.

e. A person shall cease to be a member of the Group if their conduct is considered to be directly detrimental to the objectives of the Group by not less than two thirds of the General Committee

Such a person will be given reasonable notice in writing of a meeting convened by the General Committee to consider such a matter and may in writing or in person submit an explanation of the conduct in question to the General Committee before a vote is taken.

Failure to communicate with the Committee, on receipt of such reasonable notice, in writing or in person will be accepted as that person’s intent to resign from membership of the Group and their name will be removed from the record of members.

f. A member may resign membership by written notice to the Group or to any member of the Committee.

g. The Committee shall maintain an up to date record of the names and addresses supplied by all members of the Group and that record shall be conclusive for the purpose of any notice required by virtue of this Constitution. The group's membership records will remain confidential to the committee.

h. The Committee shall have power to extend to any person at its discretion honorary membership of the Group and to revoke the same in like manner. An honorary member may receive publications of the Group and participate by invitation in activities of the Group, but shall not have the right to vote at any General Meeting of the Group or to stand for election to the Committee.

4 SUBSCRIPTIONS

a. The subscription for membership of the Group shall be determined annually by the Committee.

b. All subscriptions to the Group shall be due on 1st February each year.

c. A person joining the Group during the months of November, December and January and paying the due subscription shall be deemed to be a member without further subscription until the end of the next following membership year.

5 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

a. The Annual General Meeting of the Group shall be fixed to take place not later than three calendar months after the end of the financial year of the Group (31st January).

b. At least twenty-one days notice shall be given to members that a meeting is to take place.

c. A Committee member, as agreed by the other Committee members present, shall preside at the Annual General Meeting of the Group.

d. No business shall be transacted unless a quorum of not less than ten members, or one tenth of the membership, whichever shall be the greater, of whom one shall be an officer of the Group, is present.

e. Every member attending the Annual General Meeting shall be entitled to one vote on each/any motion proposed.

f. The Agenda for the Annual General Meeting shall consist of the following:

i Apologies for absence
ii Adoption of Minutes of previous AGM
iii Co-ordinator’s Report
iv Presentation and Adoption of Accounts
v Any other Reports
vi Notices of Motions
vii Election of Members of the Committee
viii Any other business

g. Notices of motions or additions to the Agenda must be in writing signed by the proposer and seconder and must be received by the Secretary not less than seven clear days before the meeting. Any motion on proper notice will be put to the meeting unless in the opinion of the Committee it is vexatious or frivolous. Such motion shall be put to the meeting notwithstanding the opinion of the Committee if so requested by not less than ten members of the Group attending and entitled to vote at the General Meeting.

h. Nominations to the Committee must be must be supported by a Proposer and a Seconder

6 SPECIAL MEETINGS

Shall be called at the request of a majority of the Committee or not less than ten members of the Group, who shall give reasons in writing to the Secretary.

7 MANAGEMENT

a. The Group shall be managed by a Committee to be elected at the Annual General Meeting.

b. The newly elected Committee shall meet as soon as reasonably possible to elect the officers of the Committee.

c. The Committee shall consist of up to 12 persons who will determine the titles and duties of the officers

d. All members of the Committee shall retire each year but shall be eligible for re-election. Retiring members shall not require the support of a Proposer and Seconder to stand for re-election.

e. Should there be more candidates than twelve for election to the Committee, members attending the Annual General Meeting may vote by ballot for not more than twelve candidates. Two Committee members as agreed by the other Committee members shall conduct such an election.

f. The Committee shall have power to appoint members to fill casual vacancies that occur during the period of office of the Committee.

g. The Secretary or some other person appointed for this purpose shall keep minutes of all meetings of the Committee which shall be available for inspection by any member of the Group upon reasonable request.

h. Four members, including at least one officer, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the Committee.

i. The Committee shall have power, for the furtherance of the objects of the Group and for the proper and efficient running of the Group for that purpose, to raise and spend money, to insure and to do on behalf of the Group anything of whatsoever nature which the Group could lawfully do except those things which are by the virtue of this Constitution required to be done by the members of the Group in General Meeting.

8 FINANCE

a. All monies raised by or on behalf of the Group shall be applied in furthering the objects of the Group provided that the Group shall not undertake any permanent trading activities in raising funds for the said objects.

b. The Treasurer shall open a banking account in the name of the Group, all cheques to be signed by the Treasurer, or the Treasurer's nominee, and any one of: Co-ordinator, Deputy Co-ordinator, Secretary.

c. The Treasurer shall keep proper accounts of the finances of the Group and report thereon to the Committee as required by them.

d. At the end of the Group’s financial year the accounts shall be audited by a person experienced in audit work that is not a member of the Committee.

e. The audited accounts are to be certified: “We/I have audited the accounts for the financial year (year) in accordance with approved auditing standards. In my/our opinion, the attached accounts provide a true and fair view of the financial state of affairs of the West Cornwall Badger Group as at 31st January (year)” and signed by the auditer.

9 ALTERATIONS TO CONSTITUTION

Any alteration to this Constitution shall require the approval of a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at the Annual General Meeting at which it is discussed.

Any resolution for the alteration of the Constitution must be received by the Secretary at least fourteen days before the meeting at which the resolution is to be brought forward.

10 DISSOLUTION

The Group may be dissolved by a Resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at a Special General Meeting convened for the purpose. Notice of such meeting shall be not less than twenty-one clear days.

Such resolution may give instructions for the disposal of any assets held by or in the name of the Group, provided that if any property remains after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities such property shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the Group but shall be given or transferred to such other group, society or organisation determined by the Committee whose objects are similar to those of the Group and the Group shall thereupon forthwith be dissolved.

The above constitution was adopted at a special meeting of the members of West Cornwall Badger Group held in Penzance on 26th February 2001

www.cornwallbadgergroup.org.uk