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Memorandum
of Association (click here
for PDF copy)
The
name of the Company (hereinafter called 'the Association') is Association
forCounselling and Therapy Online.
The
registered office of the Association will be situated in Great Britain.
The
Association is established:
a)
to promote, maintain, improve and advance online therapy as a
recognized modality within the professions of counselling and
psychotherapy;
b)
to be the representative body for professional online therapists
who are members of the Association; membership of ACTO is open
to counsellors and psychotherapists who have completed their training
in the UK, who work to the professional guidelines of a UK accrediting
body such as BACP or UKCP and who have preferably received further
training in the skills of online therapy; they may conduct their
practice either from the UK or abroad;
c)
to act as an advisory body in the education and training of online
therapists working in either paid or unpaid settings, whether
full or part time with a view to raising the standards in the
principles, practice and skills of online therapy for the benefit
of the community and in particular for those who are the recipients
of online therapy;
d)
to advance the education of the public in the part that online
therapy can play generally and in particular to meet the needs
of those members of society where development and participation
in therapy is impaired by mental, physical or social disadvantage
or disability.
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In
furtherance of the said object but not further or otherwise:
a)
to forge links with online therapy associations in other countries
and any associations in the UK whose members practise online therapy
including the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
b)
to protect the rights and status of Association members working
from the UK or abroad;
c)
to keep and publish a register of members which may include their
qualifications, appointments and experience
d)
to formulate standards of professional conduct and competence
for those engaged in online therapy and incorporating guidelines
for online therapy which other UK professional accrediting bodies
may have introduced (e.g. BACP Guidelines for Online Therapy)
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e)
to set up and administer such systems for the registration of
online therapists, supervisors, trainers and other persons, organisations
or activities related to online therapy as may be deemed appropriate
f)
to cause to be written, printed and published or otherwise reproduced
and circulated, gratuitously or otherwise, periodicals, magazines,
books, leaflets or other documents or films or recorded tapes
g)
to promote and facilitate the dissemination and exchange of information
on matters of professional interest among members and others by
the holding of online conferences, meetings, seminars for the
reading of papers and reports, by the publication, by electronic
or other means, of periodicals, books, monographs or papers and
by the promotion, compilation and publication of research studies
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h)
to formulate a development plan which would include establishing
services (including advisory services to the public and the membership)
for the public good and online therapy in general.
i)
to foster and undertake research into any aspect of the objects
of the Association and its work and to disseminate the results
of any such research
j)
to establish and maintain a library of material relating to online
therapy and to afford members facilities for the use of the same
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k)
to co-operate with any voluntary or statutory body in any charitable
project directed to the furtherance of the above objects;
l)
in furtherance of any one or more of the objects of the Association:
a.
to receive any subscriptions, gifts, endowments or bequests
of money, property or other assets whether subject to any special
trust or at the discretion of the Executive Committee and used
for the furtherance of the Association under the instruction
of the Executive Committee and complying to the Associations
policy and procedure.
b.
to purchase, take on lease or licence or in exchange, hire or
otherwise acquire any real or personal property as instructed
by the Executive Committee and with full legal instruction.
c.
subject to such consents as may be required by law to sell,
lease, let or mortgage or otherwise dispose of any assets belonging
to the Association as instructed by the Executive Committee
m)
to issue appeals, hold public meetings and take such other steps
as may be required for the purpose of procuring contributions
to the funds of the Association in the shape of donations, subscriptions
or otherwise
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n)
to acquire, establish and hold any copyright, patent, translation,
publication, right of publication or other intellectual property
right which may appear useful to the Association and to protect,
prolong, register, renew, exercise, develop, use or manufacture
the same for any one or more objects of the Association
o)
to organise, finance, and maintain alone or in conjunction with
one or more other professional therapy bodies or other cognate
professional bodies, schemes for the regulation and discipline
of the Association's members in matters of professional or business
conduct
p)
to draw, make, accept, endorse, discount, execute and issue promissory
notes, bills, cheques and other instruments, and to operate bank
accounts in the name of the Association
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q)
to borrow or raise money for the objects of the Association on
such terms and (with such consents as are required by law) on
such security as may be thought fit PROVIDED THAT the Association
shall not undertake any permanent trading activities in raising
funds for the objects of the Association
r)
to invest the monies of the Association not immediately required
for its objects in or upon such investments, securities or property
as may be thought fit, subject nevertheless to such conditions
(if any) and such consents (if any) as may for the time being
be imposed or required by law and subject also as hereinafter
provided
s)
to establish and support any charitable association or body and
to subscribe or guarantee money for charitable purposes calculated
to further the objects of the Association
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t)
to employ and pay any person or persons to supervise, organise,
carry on the work of and advise the Association
u)
to insure and arrange insurance cover for and to indemnify its
officers, servants and voluntary workers and those of its members
from and against all such risks incurred in the course of the
performance of their duties as may be thought fit
v)
to be subject to the provisions of Clause 4 hereof, to pay reasonable
sums or premiums for or towards the provision of pensions for
officers or servants (not being a member of the Executive Committee)
for the time being of the Association or its dependants
w)
to amalgamate with any companies, institutions, societies or associations
which are charitable at law and have objects altogether or mainly
similar to those of the Association and prohibit the payment of
any dividend or profit to and the distribution of any of its assets
amongst its members at least to the same extent as such payments
or distributions are prohibited in the case of members of the
Association by this Memorandum of Association
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x)
to pay out of the funds of the Association the cost, charges and
expenses of and incidental to the formation and registration of
the Association
y)
to establish where necessary local branches (whether autonomous
or not)
z)
to do all such other lawful things as shall further the above
objects or any of them.
The
income and property of the Association shall be applied solely towards
the promotion of its objects as set forth in the Memorandum of Association
and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred, directly or
indirectly, by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise howsoever by
way of profit, to members of the Association and no member of its
Executive Committee shall be appointed to any office of the Association
paid by salary or fees or receive any remuneration or other benefit
or money's worth from the Association. Provided that nothing herein
shall prevent any payment in good faith by the Association:
a) of reasonable and proper remuneration to any member, officer
or servant of the Association not being a member of its Executive
Committee for any services rendered to the Association;
b)
of interest on money lent by any member of the Association or
the Executive Committee at a rate per annum not exceeding two
per cent less than the base lending rate prescribed for the time
being by a clearing bank selected by the Executive Committee or
three per cent whichever is the greater;
c)
of reasonable and proper rent for premises demised or let by any
member of the Association or of the Executive Committee;
d)
of fees, remuneration or other benefit in money or money's worth
to a company of which a member of the Executive Committee may
be a member holding not more than 1/100th part of the capital
of that company;
e)
to any member of the Executive Committee reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses; and
f)
of any premium in respect of any insurance or indemnity to cover
the liability of the directors (or any one of them) which by virtue
of any rule of law would otherwise attach to them in respect of
any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of
which they may be guilty in relation to the Association. Provided
that any such insurance or indemnity shall not extend to any claim
arising from wilful fraud or wrongdoing or willful neglect or
default on the part of the directors (or any of them).
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The liability of the members is limited.
Every
member of the Association undertakes to contribute to the assets
of the Association, in the event of the same being wound up while
s/he is a member, or within one year after s/he ceases to be a member,
for payment of the debts and liabilities of the Association contracted
before s/he ceases to be a member, and of the costs, charges and
expenses of winding up, and for the adjustment of the rights of
the contributories among themselves, such amount as may be required
not exceeding one pound.
If
upon the winding-up or dissolution of the Association there remains,
after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities, any property
whatsoever, the same shall not be paid to or distributed among the
members of the Association, but shall be given or transferred to
some other charitable institution or institutions having objects
similar to the objects of the Association, and which shall prohibit
the distribution of its or their income and property to an extent
at least as great as is imposed on the Association under or by virtue
of Clause 4 hereof, such institution or institutions to be determined
by the members of the Association at or before the time of dissolution,
and in so far as effect cannot be given to such provision, then
to some other charitable object.
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Articles of Association
Interpretation
1.
In these Articles:
- 'the
Association' means the Company.
- 'the
Act' means the Companies Act, 1985.
- 'the
Committee' means the Executive Committee of the Association known
by whatever title it shall from time to time determine.
- 'the
Seal' means the common seal of the Association.
- 'Secretary'
means any person appointed to perform the duties of the Secretary
of the Association.
- 'the
United Kingdom' means Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
- Expressions
referring to writing shall, unless the contrary intention appears,
be construed as including references to printing, lithography,
photography, and other modes of representing or reproducing words
in a visible form.
- Unless
the context otherwise requires, words or expressions contained
in these Articles shall bear the same meaning as in the Act or
any statutory modification thereof in force at the date at which
these Articles become binding on the Association.
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Objects
2.
The Association is established for the objects expressed in the
Memorandum of Association.
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Members
3.
The number of members with which the Association proposes to be
registered is unlimited.
4.
Membership of the Association shall be divided into two categories,
namely organisational and individual membership
a)
Each category of membership of the Association may have classes
and sub-classes as laid down from time to time in the regulations
made under Article 68 below.
b)
Application or membership shall be made to the Secretary of the
Association by email and in such form and containing such information
as the Executive Committee may from time to time prescribe. The
Association may, before ay decision on any application is made,
require any additional information.
c)
The Executive Committee or any sub-committee or working group
set up for the purpose may decline any application made to the
Association for membership. Any decision so made shall be final
and no reasons shall be required to be appended to that decision.
d)
Every member of the Association shall be bound to further, to
the best of their ability, the objects of the Association and
shall observe all regulations laid out herein and any regulations
made under Article 68.
e)
A member of the Association shall cease to be a member on the
following grounds unless the Executive Committee determines otherwise:
a)
if the application on the basis of which membership was granted
contained or referred to information which was false or misleading
provided that due notice is given and the said member be given
an opportunity to make representations to a meeting convened
for that purpose
b)
if such member resigns by giving notice by email of resignation
c)
if the member becomes of unsound mind
d)
if the person is excluded from membership under Article 4.6
below
e)
if they otherwise cease to qualify for membership under the
Articles.
Provided always that any member who ceases to be a member shall
remain subject to any liability imposed on them by the Memorandum
and Articles of Association or any regulations made under these
Articles.
f)
Any member of the Association may be excluded from membership
of the Association by a resolution of the Executive Committee
acting upon the recommendation of a sub-committee of that Executive
Committee whose function is to consider the conduct of such
members in accordance with the regulations made under these
Articles for the time being in force provided that due notice
is given and the said member be given an opportunity to make
representations to a meeting convened for that purpose.
5.
Unless the members of the Executive Committee or the Association
in General Meeting which is held online shall make other provision
pursuant to the powers contained in Article 68, the Executive Committee
members may in their absolute discretion permit any member of the
Association to retire provided that after such retirement the number
of members is not less than three.
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General Meeting which is held online
6.
General Meeting which is held online
a)
A General Meeting which is held online of the Association shall
be held once in every calendar year as its Annual General Meeting
which is held online, at such time and place as may be determined
by the Executive Committee, provided that every Annual General
Meeting which is held online shall be held not more than fifteen
months after the holding of the last preceding such meeting.
b)
The above General Meeting which is held online of the Association
shall be called Annual General Meeting which is held online. All
other General Meeting which is held online shall be called Extraordinary
General Meeting which is held online.
c)
The Executive Committee may call an Extraordinary General Meeting
which is held online whenever it thinks fit and Extraordinary
General Meeting which is held online shall also be convened on
such requisition or, in default, may be convened by such requisitionists
as provided by the Act.
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Notice
of General Meeting which is held online
7.
An Annual General Meeting which is held online and a meeting called
for the passing of a special resolution shall be called by at least
twenty-one days' notice by email. Other meetings shall be called
by at least fourteen days' notice by email. The notice shall specify
the place, the day, and the hour of meeting and, in case of special
business, the general nature of that business and shall be given,
in manner hereinafter mentioned or in such other manner, if any,
as may be prescribed by the Association in General Meeting which
is held online, to such persons as are, under the Articles of the
Association, entitled to receive such notices from the Association
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8.
The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting to, or the non-receipt
of notice of a meeting by, any person entitled to receive notice
shall not invalidate the proceedings at that meeting.
Proceedings at General Meeting which is held online
9.
All business shall be deemed special that is transacted at an Extraordinary
General Meeting which is held online and all that is transacted
at an Annual General Meeting which is held online shall also be
deemed special, with the following exceptions:
a)
the consideration of the accounts and balance sheet
b)
the consideration of the reports of the Executive Committee
c)
the declaration of the results of elections held pursuant to Article
33
d)
the appointment of and the fixing of the remuneration of the Auditors.
10.
No business shall be transacted at any General Meeting which is
held online unless a quorum of members is present at the time when
the meeting proceeds to business: members present in person or by
proxy entitled to cast one hundred votes between them shall be a
quorum. If within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting
a quorum is not present, the meeting, if convened upon the requisition
of members, shall be dissolved; in any other case it shall be adjourned
to the same day in the next week, at the same time and place, or
to such other day and at such other time and place as the Executive
Committee may determine.
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11.
The Chairman of the Association shall Chairman every General Meeting
which is held online of the Association, or if s/he shall not be
present the President or Vice President or any member of the Executive
Committee present who has been proposed and seconded by voting members
shall Chairman the meeting.
12.
The Chairman of the meeting may, with the consent of any meeting
at which a quorum is present (and shall if so directed by the meeting),
adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place, but
no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than
the business left unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment
took place. When a meeting is adjourned for thirty days or more,
notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of
an original meeting. Otherwise it shall not be necessary to give
any notice of an adjournment or of the business to be transacted
at an adjourned meeting.
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13.
At any General Meeting which is held online a resolution put to
the vote of the meeting shall be decided on by means of an online
poll
a)
by the Chairman of the meeting; or
b)
by at least three members present in person and entitled to vote;
or
c)
by any member or members present in person and representing not
less than one-tenth of the total voting rights of all the members
having the right to vote at the meeting.
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Unless a poll is so demanded, a declaration by the Chairman that
a resolution has on a show of hands been carried or carried unanimously,
or by a particular majority, or lost and an entry to that effect
in the minutes of proceedings of the Association shall be conclusive
evidence of the fact without proof of the number or proportion of
the votes recorded in favour of or against such resolution.
14.
If a poll be demanded in the manner aforesaid, it shall be taken
at such time and place, and in such manner, as the Chairman of the
meeting shall direct. Every voting member present in person or by
proxy shall be entitled to vote. The result of the poll shall be
deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was
demanded. The demand for a poll may be withdrawn.
15.
In the case of an equality of votes, whether on a show of hands
or on a poll, the Chairman of the meeting shall be entitled to a
further or casting vote.
16.
A poll demanded on the election of a Chairman, or on a question
of adjournment, shall be taken immediately.
17.
Subject to the provisions of the Act, a resolution by email signed
by all the members entitled to receive notice of and to attend and
vote at General Meeting which is held online (or being organisations
by their duly authorised representatives) shall be as valid and
effective as if it had been passed at a General Meeting which is
held online of the Association duly convened and held. Any such
resolution by email may consist of two or more documents in like
form each signed by one or more members.
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Votes for Members
18.
Every voting member shall have the number of votes laid down by
regulations made under Article 68 below.
Votes may be cast by email or by online poll either in person or
by proxy as the Executive Committee in its sole discretion shall
determine.
The demand for a poll shall not prevent the continuance of a meeting
for the transaction of any business other than the question on which
a poll has been demanded.
19.
No member shall be entitled to attend or vote at any General Meeting
which is held online unless all monies presently payable by her/him
to the Association have been paid.
20.
A member entitled to vote may appoint any other member who is qualified
to vote as her/his proxy.
21.
An instrument appointing a proxy shall be in such form as the Executive
Committee shall from time to time approve.
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Organisations Acting by Representatives at Meetings
22.
Any organisation which is a member of the Association may by resolution
of its Executive Committee or other governing body authorise such
person as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting
of the Association, and the person so authorised shall be entitled
to exercise the same powers on behalf of the organisation which
s/he represents as that organisation could exercise if it were an
individual member of the Association.
Executive Committee
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23.
There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of Chairman and
Deputy Chairman, together with not less than five or more than nine
other members.
24.
The Executive Committee members are expected to cover all personal
costs properly incurred by them in participating at online Executive
Committee meetings or General Meetings of the Association or in
connection with the business of the Association.
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Borrowing Powers
25.
The Executive Committee may exercise all the powers of the Association
to borrow money, and to mortgage or charge its undertaking and property,
or any part thereof, and to issue debentures, debenture stock and
other securities, whether outright or as security for any debt,
liability or obligation of the Association or of any third party.
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Powers and Duties of the Executive Committee
26.
The business of the Association shall be managed by the Executive
Committee which may pay all expenses incurred in the formation of
the Association, and may exercise all such powers of the Association
as are not required to be exercised by the Association in General
Meeting which is held online. Any such requirement may be imposed
either by the Act or by these Articles or by any regulation made
by the Association in General Meeting which is held online; but
no such regulation shall invalidate any prior act of the Executive
Committee which would have been valid if that regulation had not
been made.
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27.
All cheques and other negotiable instruments including online bank
transfers, and all receipts for monies paid to the Association,
shall be signed drawn accepted, endorsed or otherwise executed,
as the case may be, in such manner as the Executive Committee shall
from time to time determine.
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28.
The Executive Committee shall cause minutes to be made:
(a)
of the names of the Executive Committee members present at each
Executive Committee meeting; and
(b)
of all resolutions and proceedings at all meetings of the Association,
and of the Executive Committee.
Disqualification
of Executive Committee Members
29.
The office of Executive Committee member shall be vacated if the
member:
a.
becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with
her/his creditors generally; or
b.
becomes prohibited from being a Executive Committee member by
reason of any order made under Section 295 of the Act or by virtue
of Section 72 of the Charities Act 1993; or
c.
becomes incapable by reason of mental disorder, illness or injury
of managing and administering her/his property and affairs; or
d.
resigns her/his office by written notice to the Association.
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Election of Honorary Officers & Other Executive Committee Members
30.
Members elected to the Executive Committee shall hold office from
the close of the Annual General Meeting which is held online at
which her/his election was declared to the close of the third Annual
General Meeting which is held online thereafter (or such shorter
period as the Executive Committee may prescribe to secure rotation).
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31.
One quarter of the members of the Executive Committee shall stand
for election each year and can serve for up to two years (or such
shorter period as the Executive Committee may prescribe to secure
rotation). Retiring members shall be eligible for re-election but
no member may serve for a period exceeding seven consecutive years
without a two-year break (disregarding any period served as an Honorary
Officer).
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32.
The regulations enacted under these Articles shall prescribe all
matters relating to the election of elected members, the procedure
for conducting the elections and for the resolution of doubts or
difficulty by the Chairmanman, or some other member nominated by
her/him to have a casting vote in the event of a tie.
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33.
The Association at the meeting at which a Executive Committee member
retires in manner aforesaid may fill the vacated office by electing
a person thereto, and in default the retiring Executive Committee
member shall, if offering her/himself for re-election, be deemed
to have been re-elected, unless at such meeting it is expressly
resolved not to fill such vacated office or unless a resolution
for the re-election of such member shall have been put to the meeting
and lost.
34.
The Association may from time to time by ordinary resolution increase
or reduce the number of Executive Committee members.
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35.
Subject to provisions of any regulations made under Article 68 below,
the Executive Committee shall have power at any time to appoint
any person to be a Executive Committee member, either to fill a
casual vacancy or as an addition to the existing members but so
that the total number of Executive Committee members shall not at
any time exceed any maximum number fixed in accordance with these
Articles. Any Executive Committee member so appointed shall hold
office only until the next following Annual General Meeting which
is held online, and shall then be eligible for re-election.
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36.
The Executive Committee may at any time and from time to time by
resolution appoint any person whether or not a member of the Association
to be Patron of the Association and may determine the period for
which s/he shall hold office.
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37.
There shall be a Chairman elected for a period of two years at the
Annual General Meeting which is held online. The Chairman, or in
her/his absence the Deputy Chairman, shall Chairman all General
Meeting which is held online of the Association and all meetings
of the Executive Committee. The Chairman shall be entitled to attend
any meeting of all sub-committees and boards of the Association
howsoever they may be constituted. The Chairman shall be entitled
to delegate to the Deputy Chairman or to any one or more members
of the Executive Committee any or all of her/his powers and duties
for such period and subject to such conditions and generally as
s/he shall think fit. The same individual shall not hold office
as Chairman for more than two consecutive terms.
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38.
There shall be a Deputy Chairman elected for a period of two years
at the Annual General Meeting. The same individual shall not hold
office as Deputy Chairman for more than two consecutive terms.
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39.
There may be an Honorary Treasurer appointed each year by the Executive
Committee, who shall be a voting member of the Executive Committee
whose term of office, subject to annual re-appointment, shall be
two years.
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40.
The Association may by ordinary resolution, of which special notice
has been given in accordance with Section 303 of the Act, remove
any Executive Committee member before the expiration of her/his
period of office notwithstanding anything in these Articles or in
any agreement between the Association and such member. The Association
may by ordinary resolution appoint another person in place of an
Executive Committee member removed under this Article.
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41.
The Executive Committee may resolve that an Executive Committee
member should be removed if s/he is absent without permission from
three successive meetings provided that due notice is given and
the said Executive Committee member be given an opportunity to make
representations to a meeting convened by the Executive Committee
for that purpose.
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42.
The Executive Committee may resolve that an Executive Committee
member be removed from office for good cause provided that a three
quarters majority vote of members present and voting is achieved
and provided that due notice is given and the said Executive Committee
member be given an opportunity to make representations to a meeting
convened by the Executive Committee for that purpose.
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Proceedings of the Executive Committee
43.
The Executive Committee shall meet together at least quarterly for
the dispatch of business and may adjourn, and otherwise regulate
its meetings, as it thinks fit. Questions arising at any meeting
shall be decided by a majority of votes of Executive Committee members
present and voting. In the case of an equality of votes the Chairman
shall have a second or casting vote. An Executive Committee member
may, and the Secretary on the request of an Executive Committee
member shall, at any time summon an Executive Committee meeting.
It shall not be necessary to give notice of an Executive Committee
meeting to any member for the time being absent from the United
Kingdom.
44.
Subject to any provision in the regulations enacted under these
Articles, the Executive Committee shall regulate its own proceedings
and shall prescribe its own quorum.
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45.
The Executive Committee may act notwithstanding any vacancy in its
body, but, if and so long as its number is reduced below the number
fixed by or pursuant to the Articles of the Association as the necessary
quorum of members, for the purpose of increasing the number of members
to that number or of summoning a General Meeting which is held online
of the Association, but for no other purpose.
46.
The Executive Committee may appoint on such terms as it thinks fit
such sub-committees and boards as it thinks fit.
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47.
Any sub-committee or board appointed by the Executive Committee
may be composed of members of the Executive Committee or members
of the Executive Committee and other persons (whether or not members)
or of other persons (whether or not members).
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48.
All acts done by any meeting of the Executive Committee or of a
sub-committee, or by any person acting as a Executive Committee
member, shall, notwithstanding that it be afterwards discovered
that there was some defect in the appointment of any such member
or person acting as aforesaid, or that they or any of them were
disqualified, be as valid as if every such person had been duly
appointed and was qualified to be a Executive Committee member.
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49.
A resolution by email, signed by all the Executive Committee members
entitled to receive notice of a Executive Committee meeting, shall
be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a Executive
Committee meeting duly convened and held, and may consist of several
documents in like form each signed by one or more Executive Committee
members.
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50.
Subject to Section 283 of the Act the Secretary shall be appointed
by the Executive Committee for such term at such remuneration and
upon such conditions as the Executive Committee may think fit; and
any Secretary so appointed may be removed by it: provided always
that no Executive Committee member may occupy a salaried position
of Secretary.
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51.
A provision of the Act or these Articles requiring or authorising
a thing to be done by or to a Executive Committee member and the
Secretary shall not be satisfied by its being done by or to the
same person acting both as Executive Committee member and as, or
in place of the Secretary.
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Accounts
52.
The accounting records shall be kept at the registered office of
the Association or, subject to Section 227 of the Act, at such other
place or places as the Executive Committee thinks fit, and shall
always be open to the inspection of the Officers of the Association.
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53.
The Executive Committee must comply with the requirements of the
Act and of the Charities Act 1993 as to keeping financial records,
the audit of accounts and the preparation and transmission to the
Registrar of Companies and the Charities Commission of annual reports,
annual returns and annual statements of account.
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54.
The Executive Committee shall from time to time determine whether
and to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions
or regulations the accounts and books of the Association or any
of them shall be open to the inspection of members not being Executive
Committee members, and no member (not being Executive Committee
member) shall have any right of inspecting any account or book or
document of the Association except as conferred by statute or authorised
by the Executive Committee or by the Association in General Meeting
which is held online.
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55.
A copy of every balance sheet (including every document required
by law to be annexed thereto) which is to be laid before the Association
in General Meeting which is held online, together with a copy of
the Auditor's report and the Executive Committee's report, shall
not less than fourteen days before the date of the meeting be sent
to every member of, and every holder of debentures of, the Association.
Provided that this Article shall not require a copy of those documents
to be sent to any person of whose address the Association is not
aware or to more than one of the joint holders of any debentures.
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Notices
56.
A notice may be served by the Association to any member or other
person either personally, by post and email. If any such notice
or other document is served by post and email it shall be sent to
the last address of the member concerned which is recorded by her/him
with the Association. It shall be deemed wherever that address may
be to have been served on the third day following that on which
it was posted unless at the place of receipt that latter day is
a Sunday or a public holiday in which case service shall be deemed
to have occurred on the first day thereafter which is not one of
such exceptional days.
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57.
Notice of every General Meeting which is held online shall be given
in any manner herein before authorised to:
a.
every person being a legal personal representative or a trustee
in bankruptcy of a member where the member but for her/his death
or bankruptcy would be entitled to receive notice of the meeting;
b.
the Auditor for the time being of the Association; and
c.
each Executive Committee member.
No other person shall be entitled to receive notices of General
Meeting which is held online.
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58.
Any notice or other document, required by these Articles, the regulations
enacted under these Articles, or any regulation thereunder, to be
sent to any member may be a written or printed notice, and (save
where provision to the contrary is made) may be sent to a member
either separately or with or as part of a publication of the Association.
59.
In these Articles or any regulations made hereunder the expression
'notice' includes a voting paper which is distributed by electronic
means e.g. online poll or email poll.
Amendment
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60.
The provision of the Articles may, by special resolution in General
Meeting which is held online, be added to, amended or revoked. Such
amendment shall require the number voting in favour of the resolution
to be not less than three quarters of the number of members present
who were entitled to vote and voting.
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61.
Any amendment requires a resolution by email duly proposed and seconded.
A resolution must be received by the Secretary not less than twenty-eight
clear days before the date proposed for the General Meeting which
is held online. At least twenty-one clear days' notice by email
of such meeting, together with a copy of the resolution or resolutions
to be proposed, shall be sent by the Secretary to each member of
the Association.
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62.
Clause 7 of the Memorandum of the Association relating to the winding
up and dissolution of the Association shall have effect as if the
provisions thereof were repeated in these Articles.
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63.
Regulations
a.
The Executive Committee may from time to time make such regulations
as it may deem necessary or convenient for the proper conduct and
management of the Association and for the purposes of prescribing
classes and conditions of membership, and in particular but without
prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, it may thereby regulate:
i. the admission and classification of members of the Association,
and the rights and privileges of such members, and the conditions
of membership and the terms on which members may resign or have
their membership terminated, membership fees, subscriptions or
other fees or payments to be made by members.
ii. the conduct of members of the Association in relation to one
another, and to the Association's employees.
iii. the setting aside of the whole or any part or parts of the
Association premises at any particular time or times for any particular
purpose or purposes.
iv. the procedure at General Meeting which is held online and
meetings of the Executive Committee and sub-committees in so far
as such procedure is not regulated by these Articles.
v. And, generally, all such matters are commonly the subject matter
of Association regulations.
b.
the Association General Meeting which is held online shall have
power to alter or repeal the regulations and to make additions to
them and the Executive Committee shall adopt such means as it deems
sufficient to bring to the notice of members of the Association
all such regulations, which so long as they shall be in force, shall
be binding on all members of the Association. Provided, nevertheless,
that no regulation shall be inconsistent with, or shall affect or
repeal anything contained in, the Memorandum or Articles of the
Association.
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