Red River Rescuers Draft Constitution
1) NAME
The name of the group shall be the Red River Rescuers, hereafter referred to as the Group.
2) OBJECTS
The objects of the Group shall be:
(i) To improve the biodiversity in a number of areas in the Red River Valley Local Nature Reserve near Camborne, Cornwall and other nearby sites that are currently suffering encroachment by succession species to enable a wider range of flora and fauna to flourish, and hopefully encourage the return of nationally scarce or endangered species that used to exist at the various sites. For instance, at the Bell Lake Marsh site we hope to see the return of the Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly and the Marsh Fritillary Butterfly amongst others;
(ii) To provide practical opportunities to learn about nature;
(iii) To encourage the goodwill and involvement of the wider community in the above;
(iii) To foster community spirit and encourage civic pride in the areas described.
3) POWERS
In furtherance of the objects, but not otherwise, the Management Committee may exercise the power to:
(i)Promote the health and well-being of working together as a group irrespective of age, sex, ethnicity/race, ability, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or political
view.
(ii) Promote environmental improvement and conservation by educating, encouraging and assisting the local population in environmental practice, working in partnership with similar groups and organisations.
(iii) Invite and receive contributions and raise funds where appropriate, to finance the work of the Group, and to open a bank account to manage such funds.
(iv) Publicise and promote the work of the Group and organise meetings, training courses, events or seminars, etc,.
(v) Work with groups of a similar nature and exchange information, advice and knowledge with them, including co-operation with other voluntary bodies, charities, statutory and non-statutory organisations.(vi) Employ staff and/or volunteers (who shall not be members of the Management Committee) as are necessary to conduct activities to meet the objects.
(vii) Take any form of action that is lawful, which is necessary to achieve the objects of the Group.
4) MEMBERSHIP
(i) The Group will not have any formal members other than the committee, but individuals can register their interest in supporting the Group and join in Group activities on a volunteer basis. Individuals registering their interest consent to their personal details being gathered by the Group and stored on a database. These personal details will only be used for Group purposes and will never be passed on to any third party unless required to by law. These details will immediately be removed from the database at the request of the individual concerned.
5) MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
(i)The Group shall be administered by a management committee of no less than three (3) people, who must be at least 18 years of age. Members will be co-opted by the existing committee and serve for an undetermined period until choosing to retire or being asked to step down by a majority of the committee.
The management committee shall consist of:
-One or more Co-ordinators (in the case of more than one they shall be known as Joint Co-ordinators and have equal status);
-Treasurer;
-any additional officers the Group deems necessary at the meeting required to carry out the required activities.
6) MEETINGS
(i) The committee shall meet at least three times a year. Meetings shall enable the Group to discuss actions and monitor progress to date, and to consider future developments.
(ii) All members shall be given at least fourteen (14) days’ notice of when a meeting is due to take place, unless it is deemed as an emergency.
(iii) Two-thirds of committee members must be present in order for a meeting to take place.
(iv) It shall be the responsibility of the nominated Co-ordinator to chair all meetings or a designated deputy in his/her absence. All meetings must be minuted and accessible to interested parties.
7) FINANCE
(i) Any money acquired by the Group, including donations, contributions and bequests, shall be paid into an account operated by the Management Committee in the name of the Group. All funds must be applied to the objects of the Group and for no other purpose.
(ii) Bank accounts shall be opened in the name of the Group. Any deeds, cheques, etc., relating to the Group’s bank account shall be signed by at least two (2) of the following committee members: Co-ordinators; Treasurer.
(iii) Any income/expenditure shall be the responsibility of the Treasurer who will be accountable to ensure funds are utilised effectively and that the Group stays within budget. Official accounts shall be maintained, and may be examined annually by an suitable independent person who is not a member of the Group. An annual financial report shall be presented at the first committee meeting following the financial year end, copies of which will be available to any interested party. The Group’s
accounting year shall run from 01 April to 31 March.
8) ALTERATION OF THE CONSTITUTION
(i) Any changes to this constitution must be agreed by a majority vote at a special committee meeting.
(ii)Amendments to this constitution or dissolution of the Group must be conveyed to the Co-ordinator(s) formally in writing. The Co-ordinator(s) and other officers shall then decide on the date of a special committee meeting to discuss such proposals, giving officers at least four weeks (28 days) notice.
9) DISSOLUTION
(i)The Group may be dissolved if deemed necessary by the committee in a majority vote at a special meeting. Any assets or remaining funds after debts have been paid shall be returned to their providers or transferred to Cornwall Wildlife Trust or a similar group at the discretion of the Management Committee.
This constitution was adopted on (date) by the people whose names appear below. They are the first Committee Officers for the Group and by signing agree to be bound by all the provisions contained within it:
Steven Paul Jones - Joint Co-ordinator
Josephine Susanne Poland - Joint Co-ordinator
Gary Richard Barlow - Treasurer
The name of the group shall be the Red River Rescuers, hereafter referred to as the Group.
2) OBJECTS
The objects of the Group shall be:
(i) To improve the biodiversity in a number of areas in the Red River Valley Local Nature Reserve near Camborne, Cornwall and other nearby sites that are currently suffering encroachment by succession species to enable a wider range of flora and fauna to flourish, and hopefully encourage the return of nationally scarce or endangered species that used to exist at the various sites. For instance, at the Bell Lake Marsh site we hope to see the return of the Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly and the Marsh Fritillary Butterfly amongst others;
(ii) To provide practical opportunities to learn about nature;
(iii) To encourage the goodwill and involvement of the wider community in the above;
(iii) To foster community spirit and encourage civic pride in the areas described.
3) POWERS
In furtherance of the objects, but not otherwise, the Management Committee may exercise the power to:
(i)Promote the health and well-being of working together as a group irrespective of age, sex, ethnicity/race, ability, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or political
view.
(ii) Promote environmental improvement and conservation by educating, encouraging and assisting the local population in environmental practice, working in partnership with similar groups and organisations.
(iii) Invite and receive contributions and raise funds where appropriate, to finance the work of the Group, and to open a bank account to manage such funds.
(iv) Publicise and promote the work of the Group and organise meetings, training courses, events or seminars, etc,.
(v) Work with groups of a similar nature and exchange information, advice and knowledge with them, including co-operation with other voluntary bodies, charities, statutory and non-statutory organisations.(vi) Employ staff and/or volunteers (who shall not be members of the Management Committee) as are necessary to conduct activities to meet the objects.
(vii) Take any form of action that is lawful, which is necessary to achieve the objects of the Group.
4) MEMBERSHIP
(i) The Group will not have any formal members other than the committee, but individuals can register their interest in supporting the Group and join in Group activities on a volunteer basis. Individuals registering their interest consent to their personal details being gathered by the Group and stored on a database. These personal details will only be used for Group purposes and will never be passed on to any third party unless required to by law. These details will immediately be removed from the database at the request of the individual concerned.
5) MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
(i)The Group shall be administered by a management committee of no less than three (3) people, who must be at least 18 years of age. Members will be co-opted by the existing committee and serve for an undetermined period until choosing to retire or being asked to step down by a majority of the committee.
The management committee shall consist of:
-One or more Co-ordinators (in the case of more than one they shall be known as Joint Co-ordinators and have equal status);
-Treasurer;
-any additional officers the Group deems necessary at the meeting required to carry out the required activities.
6) MEETINGS
(i) The committee shall meet at least three times a year. Meetings shall enable the Group to discuss actions and monitor progress to date, and to consider future developments.
(ii) All members shall be given at least fourteen (14) days’ notice of when a meeting is due to take place, unless it is deemed as an emergency.
(iii) Two-thirds of committee members must be present in order for a meeting to take place.
(iv) It shall be the responsibility of the nominated Co-ordinator to chair all meetings or a designated deputy in his/her absence. All meetings must be minuted and accessible to interested parties.
7) FINANCE
(i) Any money acquired by the Group, including donations, contributions and bequests, shall be paid into an account operated by the Management Committee in the name of the Group. All funds must be applied to the objects of the Group and for no other purpose.
(ii) Bank accounts shall be opened in the name of the Group. Any deeds, cheques, etc., relating to the Group’s bank account shall be signed by at least two (2) of the following committee members: Co-ordinators; Treasurer.
(iii) Any income/expenditure shall be the responsibility of the Treasurer who will be accountable to ensure funds are utilised effectively and that the Group stays within budget. Official accounts shall be maintained, and may be examined annually by an suitable independent person who is not a member of the Group. An annual financial report shall be presented at the first committee meeting following the financial year end, copies of which will be available to any interested party. The Group’s
accounting year shall run from 01 April to 31 March.
8) ALTERATION OF THE CONSTITUTION
(i) Any changes to this constitution must be agreed by a majority vote at a special committee meeting.
(ii)Amendments to this constitution or dissolution of the Group must be conveyed to the Co-ordinator(s) formally in writing. The Co-ordinator(s) and other officers shall then decide on the date of a special committee meeting to discuss such proposals, giving officers at least four weeks (28 days) notice.
9) DISSOLUTION
(i)The Group may be dissolved if deemed necessary by the committee in a majority vote at a special meeting. Any assets or remaining funds after debts have been paid shall be returned to their providers or transferred to Cornwall Wildlife Trust or a similar group at the discretion of the Management Committee.
This constitution was adopted on (date) by the people whose names appear below. They are the first Committee Officers for the Group and by signing agree to be bound by all the provisions contained within it:
Steven Paul Jones - Joint Co-ordinator
Josephine Susanne Poland - Joint Co-ordinator
Gary Richard Barlow - Treasurer