CONSTITUTION
CONSTITUTION OF BHUTANESE WELFARE ASSOCIATION (BWA) IN
THE UK
ARTICLE 1: NAME
The name of the
community group shall be Bhutanese Welfare Association in the UK, abbreviated
as ‘BWA’, hereinafter as also called as ‘Association’.
ARTICLE 2: AIMS
AND OBJECTIVES
To
promote social inclusion for the public benefit by working with people who are
socially excluded on the grounds of their ethnic origin, religion, belief or
creed (in particular, members of the Bhutanese community) to relieve the needs
of such people and assist them to integrate into society, in particular by:
2.1
Providing a local network group that encourages and enables members of the
Bhutanese community to participate more effectively with the wider community.
2.2
Increasing, or co-ordinating, opportunities for members of the Bhutanese
community to engage with service providers, to enable those providers to adapt
services to better meet the needs of that community.
ARTICLE 3:
MEMBERSHIP
The Community
Group shall have three types of Membership: Individual member, Honorary Member
and Junior Member. Membership of BWA
shall be open to anyone who is interested in helping the association to achieve
its aims and is willing to adhere to the rules of the association. However, The
Management Committee shall have the power to refuse membership to an applicant,
where it is considered such membership would be detrimental to the aims, purposes
or activities of the association.
3.1 Individual Members
People aged
eighteen years or over whose applications for membership are accepted by the
committee, shall be called Individual Members and shall have voting rights.
3.2 Honorary Members
Honorary members
are identified by the Management Committee. The Committee may invite or
nominate distinguished persons, who are active promoters or supporters of the
association’s aims and objectives to be honorary members. The honorary members
shall not be liable to any subscription or fees and do not enjoy voting rights.
3.3 Junior Members
Provision of
Junior Membership is given to age groups 16 & 17, who shall not be liable
to any subscription or fees and shall not be qualified for voting as well as standing
as candidates for Management Committee.
ARTICLE 4: LOSS
OF MEMBERSHIP AND REINSTATEMENT
Any member shall
forgo his/her membership in the following circumstances.
4.1 Resignation
Any member may
cease to be a member by tendering resignation in writing to the Secretary of
the Management Committee. Resignation shall not alleviate a member of unpaid
dues, or other charges previously accrued.
4.2 Termination and Suspension of Membership
Membership of
any member, in case of violation of the Community Group’s norms, or if in its
opinion his/ her conduct is prejudicial to the interests and objects of the
group may be suspended, expelled or terminated by a decision of 2/3 majority of
the committee. Member shall also forfeit membership due to non-payment of
monthly and annual dues or expiration of membership. Membership is not
transferable and shall cease upon the death of the member.
4.3 Reinstatement
Revocation of
suspension or expulsion of membership shall be determined by 2/3 majority of
the committee. The member concerned shall have the right to be heard by the
Management Committee, accompanied by a friend, before a final decision is made.
ARTICLE 5: MANAGEMENT
COMMITTEE: (TRUSTEES)
BWA shall be
administered by a Management Committee consisting of not less than four members
and not more than ten members elected in the association’s Annual General
Meeting. The Officers of the committee consists of Chair, Vice-Chair,
Treasurer, Secretary and other committee members. A member of the Management
Committee can resign whenever he/she wishes to, taking effect immediately. A
written resignation must be submitted to the Chair, and the Chair shall have
the ultimate authority to accept the resignation. In the event of the
resignation by the incumbent Chair, the Management Committee, by consensus,
shall appoint a Chair from amongst its members. The incumbent Chair should
submit resignation to the Secretary of the Committee, if he/she wishes to
tender resignation.
5.1 Meeting of Management Committee
The Management Committee
shall meet at least four times a year. At least two-third Management Committee
members must be present at a committee meeting to make any important decisions.
5.2 Duties of Management Committee
The Management
Committee shall have the powers and responsibilities for overall policy and
direction and shall hold accountability for the activities of the association. The committee shall also have the power to
levy membership and other fees, and the members shall pay such subscriptions or
fees, as determined from time to time.
5.3 Eligibility for Management Committee
To stand as a
candidate of Management Committee, any Individual Member must be aged 18 years
or over and have held the membership of the association for a minimum of one
year.
ARTICLE 6:
PROGRAMME DIRECTOR & OTHER EMPLOYEES
The Management
Committee may hire a Programme Director to runs the day-to-day responsibilities
of the association, including carrying out the association’s goals and
policies. The Programme Director shall attend all committee meetings, report on
the progress of the association and carry out the duties described in his/her
job description.
ARTICLE 7: ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM)
& GENERAL ELECTION
The association
must hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) every year by giving at least 21 days
notice to all its members. However, the General Elections are held after every two
years in annual general meetings. There must be at least 2/3 of the total
members and every member should have one vote to elect new committee members.
ARTICLE 8:
MONEY AND PROPERTIES
Money and
property must only be used for the organisational purposes. The Trustees must
keep record of everything. The most recent annual accounts can be seen by
anybody on request. Trustees cannot receive any money or property from the
association, except to refund reasonable out of pocket expenses. Money must be
held in the association’s bank account.
All cheques must be signed by two authorised signatories.
ARTICLE 9:
ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION
Any changes to
this Constitution must be agreed by at least two-thirds of those members present and voting at any General
Meeting.
ARTICLE 10: RESIDUAL
The Management
Committee by a 2/3 majority shall decide all issues not covered in this
document.
ARTICLE 11:
DISSOULATION
The association
may be wound up at any time if agreed by two-thirds of those members present
and voting at any General Meeting. In the event of winding up, any assets
remaining after all debts have been paid shall be given to another group(s)
with similar aims.
CERTIFICATION
This constitution
was adopted on 27th of July 2011 and further amended on the AGM of
25th July 2014 and a general meeting on 30th of December
2017 having been approved by two third majority in the meetings.
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Secretary: Date:
