Rural-WEB Constitution
CONSTITUTION for Rural-WEB,
a society based in Woodhouse Eaves, Leicestershire
1. NAME
The Society shall be known as Rural-WEB.2. AIMS
The aims of Rural-WEB shall be to further the interests of its members, and the villagers of Woodhouse Eaves and environs, in achieving cost effective high speed access to the internet through local points of presence. This may also include the provision of wireless LANS or WANS.3. MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall be open, subject to the discretion of the Committee, to all persons interested in the aims of the Society.(a) Full members. Full members must be 18 years of age or over or must be eligible to install and operate an unlicensed wireless LAN node. They must have a household or business in the area.
(b) Student members. Student members must be under 25 years of age and in full-time formal education.
(c) Partner Organisations. Rural-WEB has one 'founding partner' St.Paul's Community Centre of Woodhouse Eaves. Other partner organisations may also be invited in. Once voted in as 'Partner Members' they have equal voting rights as any full member.
(d) Guests. Members may invite guests to meetings. No visitor may attend more than three meetings in each year. All members shall abide by the constitution of the Society.
(e) Expulsion. The Committee shall have power to expel any member whose conduct, in the opinion of at least three-quarters of the full Committee, renders that person unfit to be a member of the Society. No Member shall be expelled without first having been given an opportunity to appear before the Committee.
4. SUBSCRIPTIONS
(a) The annual subscriptions for membership shall be set by the Committee.(b) All subscriptions shall be due at schedules agreed by the committee. Members in arrears have no voting rights.
(c) The financial year shall run from 1 July to last day of June
(d) A member shall have deemed to have resigned from the Society, if, the subscription or other payments has not been paid 45 days after due date. In the case where services are being provided, action to trigger a response may be taken before the 45 day threshold in accordance with pre-published guidance notes.
(e) The Committee shall have the power to waive or reduce subscriptions in special circumstances for a period not exceeding one year at a time.
5. FINANCE
All money received by the Society shall be promptly deposited in the Society’s bank account. Withdrawals or payments require the signature of the 2 out of 4 of the specifically nominated Society’s Committee members.6. MEMBERSHIP OF THE SOCIETY’S COMMITTEE
The Society’s affairs shall be administered by a Committee elected at the Annual General Meeting. The Committee, in whom the Society’s property shall be vested, shall consist of:(a) A Chair who will preside at all meetings at which s/he is present. No member may hold this position for more than two consecutive years. S/he may be re-elected after a break of one year.
(b) A Secretary who will be responsible for:
(i) keeping the minutes of all meetings of the Society.
(ii) ensuring that all correspondence is correctly handled.
(iii) maintaining a master roll of members
(iv) maintaining a register of Society equipment.
(v) will act as Chair in the absence of the Chair
(c) A Treasurer, who will be responsible for:
(i) keeping the Society’s accounts.
(ii) advising the Committee on all financial matters.
(iii) preparing the accounts for audit and presenting them at the AGM.
(d) A Technology Director, who will be responsible for planning and supervision of:
(i) operational running of any society network or equipment
(ii) technical developments that may or should be deployed
(e) Up to 6 Ordinary Committee Members
(f) Not more than 5 co-opted members who have full voting powers, and not more than 5 members who are not permitted to vote.
7. COMMITTEE STANDING ORDERS
(a) The quorum for the Committee shall be two thirds of the committee. In the absence of a quorum, business may be dealt with but any decisions taken only become valid after ratification at the next meeting at which a quorum exists.(b) Committee meetings may be called by the Chair, the Secretary or any vote.
(c) Presence at the committee meeting may be by electronic means.
8. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
(a) The Annual General Meeting shall normally be held on the second Friday of September of each year. At least 14 days notice shall be given to each member in writing or electronically.(b) The quorum for the meeting shall be 5 members or 10% of the membership of the Society, whichever is the greater.
(c) The agenda for the Annual General Meeting shall be:
(i) Apologies for absence
(ii) Minutes of the previous AGM
(iii) Chair’s report
(iv) Secretary’s report
(v) Treasurer’s report
(vi) Election of the new Committee
(vii) Election of auditors
(viii) Other business
(d) Items (i) to (v) shall be chaired by the out-going Chair, item (vi) by an acting Chair who is not standing for election to office, and the remaining business by the newly elected Chair.
(e) Nominations for Committee members will only be valid if confirmed by the nominee at the meeting or previously in writing.
(f) Items to be raised by members under other business must be notified to the Secretary not less than 21 days before the AGM.
9. EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
(a) Extraordinary General Meetings may be called by the Committee or not less than 10 members of the Society, the date of the meeting being the earliest convenient as decided by the Committee. At least 28 days notice in writing must be given to the Secretary, who in turn shall give members at least 14 days notice in writing, or electronically, of the agenda.No other business may be transacted at the EGM.
(b) The quorum for the EGM shall be 5 members, or 10% of the membership of the Society, whichever is the greater.
10. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
The constitution may be amended only at an EGM called for that purpose.11. WINDING UP OF THE SOCIETY
(a) The decision to wind up the Society may be taken only at an EGM.(b)The funds of the Society shall, after the sale of all assets and the payment of all outstanding debts, be disposed of as directed by members at the final EGM.