Cavan Cross Cultural Community Network (4C)
Constitution
April 2018
MISSION STATEMENT
To provide a representative platform that will empower and support people to engage and participate through training, development and information provision in order to promote integration and influence policy at local level, foster mutual respect and celebrate diverse cultures.
3. Powers
To the extent that the same are essential or ancillary to the promotion of the main object of the body as heretofore set out, the body may exercise the following powers:
Cavan Cross Cultural Community Network (4cs)may engage in fund-raising activities for the benefit of the members
Cavan Cross Cultural Community Network (4cs)may make representations to present the concerns of the members at local and national level
Cavan Cross Cultural Community Network (4cs)may co-opt people onto their committee with expertise in a particular area so as to advise and assist the committee in their work
Cavan Cross Cultural Community Network (4cs)may organise events and meetings in any part of Ireland to promote and achieve their objects
Cavan Cross Cultural Community Network (4cs)may work in partnership with other bodies to access funding and other benefits for their members.
4.1.Membership of Association
Membership of the Association is open to allinterested parties regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, family status, religion or travelling community.
The secretary will be responsible for keeping a list of members and ensuring that all proper documentation is in place.
The committee, which has been newly elected at the outset, will serve for 5 years. Thereafter the committee shall be elected once every 5 years from among the membership. This election will take place at the AGM and all members who attend are entitled to vote at the AGM.
4.3.Election of Committee
Two weeks before the AGM members of the Association are given the opportunity to allow themselves to be nominated for election to serve as an officer on the committee. Names of those eligible and available for election will be proposed and seconded by 2 members of the Association. Final voting for the office bearers shall be held by secret ballot at AGM. These members will thus make up the new committee to serve for the next year.
At the start of the first committee meeting after the registration of the Association and the adoption of the Constitution, the committee will ensure that the election has taken place of the Chair,, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Secretary, and the Public Relations Officer. Thereafter office bearers shall be re-elected or elected at each AGM
After 5 years officers must stand down as office bearers for 1 year before becoming eligible for re-election again to an office.
These shall be held no less than 6 times a year. The members of the committee must either attend the meeting or send their apologies in the event of being unable to attend. All committee members will be notified of the meeting in advance and furnished with minutes of the previous meeting and any other relevant documentation.
All committee members shall be invited to committee meetings. The quorum for committee meetings shall be 5 members including the Chair. The quorum for an association meeting shall be 10 in addition to the committee. Decisions will be made by voting and the majority will carry the vote. The Chair will have a casting vote in the event that a vote is evenly split.
This shall be held in the first instance no later than 15 months after the adoption of the constitution by the Association. After this it shall be held annually within 15 months of the preceding meeting. The AGM must be advertised in writing to all members of Cavan Cross Cultural Community Network (4cs) with at least 14 days notice advising of procedures for election of committee or any other matters to be dealt with at the AGM
5.1.The income and property of Cavan Cross Cultural Community Network (4cs) shall be applied solely towards the promotion of its main object as set forth in this Constitution. No portion of the body’s income and property shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise howsoever by way of profit, to the members of the body. No Officer shall be appointed to any office of the body paid by salary or fees, or receive any remuneration or other benefit in money or money’s worth from the body.
However, nothing shall prevent any payment in good faith by the body of:
5.2.Reasonable and proper out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any Officer in connection with their attendance to any matter affecting the body. Any such matter shall be agreed by the committee who will set the rate for expenses and put in place policy and procedures for payment of any such expenses. The treasurer will be responsible for any such payment.
Extraordinary General meetings must be called to make alterations to the Constitution. These must be advertised in writing 7 days prior to the meeting to all members of the Association stating the proposed alteration. Decisions shall be by proposing, seconding and simple majority vote of those members present at the meeting.
7.Winding-up
If upon the winding up or dissolution of the body there remains, after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities, any property whatsoever, it shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the body. Instead, such property shall be given or transferred to some other charitable institution or institutions having main objects similar to the main objects of the body. The institution or institutions to which the property is to be given or transferred shall prohibit the distribution of its or their income and property among its or their members to an extent at least as great as is imposed on the body under or by virtue of Clause 5 hereof. Members of the body shall select the relevant institution or institutions at or before the time of dissolution, and if and so far as effect cannot be given to such provisions, then the property shall be given or transferred to some charitable object.
8. Keeping of Accounts
The Treasurer will be responsible for ensuring that the Association’s monies are accounted for and spent in accordance with any funding requirements or decisions of the committee. All expenditure and income will be recorded and a financial report made on a three monthly basis informing the members of the balance of monies and any other matters of relevance. The treasurer will keep all bank statements and correspondence in a safe place and make them available to committee members should they need to see them. Signatories to the bank account must be officers of the committee, in number of at least 2.
Annual accounts shall be kept and made available to the Revenue Commissioners on request if required.
Signed:
Chairperson
Secretary
Treasurer