SHIPSTON ON STOUR TWINNING ASSOCIATION
THE CONSTITUTION
1. Name of the Association
The name of the Association shall be the Shipston-on-Stour Twinning Association.
2. Aims of the Association
(a) To promote and foster friendship between the people of Shipston-on-Stour and District and those of Torigni-sur-Vire and District in France, and those of other towns with which the Association may later form links.
(b) To encourage visits by individuals and groups to and from linked towns, particularly by children and young people, and the development of personal contacts, and by so doing to broaden the mutual understanding of the cultural, recreational, educational and commercial activities of the linked towns.
(c) To organise fund raising activities to foster the aims of the
Association.
3. Membership
Membership shall be open to all persons or organisations in sympathy with the aims of the Association. There shall be three categories of membership:
(a) Individual membership
(b) Family membership
Being open to all members of a family excepting sons or daughters over the age of eighteen years.
(c) Corporate membership
Corporate membership does not of itself entitle members or employees of the organisation which is a member to the rights of individual or family membership. Corporate membership entitles not more than two members of the organisation to the rights conferred on individual or family members.
4. Committee
The affairs of the Association shall be conducted by the management committee, consisting of fourteen members. The Mayor of Shipston-on-Stour shall be invited to be the Honorary President of the Association and to be an ex-officio member of the Committee. The Committee shall be elected by the Association, being broadly representative of organisations, associations, clubs and individuals in Shipston-on-Stour and District.
(a) The Committee shall have the power to co-opt and co-opted members shall have the right to vote.
(b) The quorum shall be five.
(c) The Committee shall have the power to set up sub-committees, which shall have the power to co-opt to their membership with the power to vote.
5. Election of Committee
The Committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Association. The Association shall appoint a Chairman, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer and such other officers as it deems necessary, including an Honorary Auditor.
6. Sub- Committees
The Committee shall be ex-officio members of all sub-committees.
7. Annual General Meeting
The Management Committee shall call an Annual General Meeting of the Association between January the first and March the first each year, giving each member at least twenty eight days notice in writing. Notice of any propositions must be given in writing to the Honorary Secretary at least fourteen days before the meeting.
8. Voting at the Annual General Meeting
(a) Only members present at the meeting shall be entitled to vote.
(b) Each individual member shall be entitled to one vote. Each family or corporate membership shall be entitled to two votes.
(c) A member shall be entitled to vote in one capacity only.
(d) The Chairman shall have a casting vote.
9. Subscriptions
All subscriptions shall be determined at the Annual General Meeting and be payable within three months thereof.
10. Accounts
Audited accounts to December thirty first of each year shall be submitted to each Annual General Meeting.
11. Money
All monies received on behalf of the Association shall be kept in safe custody by the Honorary Treasurer and all cheques drawn of the Association shall be signed by any two of the Chairman, Honorary Treasurer or Honorary Secretary.
12. Amendments to the Constitution
Amendments to the Constitution shall only be made at the Annual General Meeting or a special general meeting. Notice of the proposed amendment shall be given in writing to the Honorary Secretary at least fourteen days before the meeting and details shall be given in the notice convening the meeting. No such amendment shall be carried unless not less than two thirds of the members present and voting at the meeting vote in its favour.
13. Dissolution of the Association
In the event of the dissolution of the Association, all surplus funds shall be transferred to such charity or charities as the Committee shall in its absolute discretion decide.