DERBYSHIRE BAT CONSERVATION GROUP CONSTITUTION

Name

The group shall be known as the Derbyshire Bat Conservation Group (herein called the Group).

Membership

Membership of the Group will be open to all upon payment of the agreed annual subscription. The subscription will be payable on January 1st each year. Members unpaid as of March 31st will be deemed to have left the Group. Should a new member’s subscription be paid after September 1st, it will cover them for the following 12 month subscription period automatically. Subscription rates will be liable to review at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Group and will be voted in by a majority of members present at the AGM. Any member of the Group will be eligible to attend meetings, but only fully paid up members will be able to vote at AGMs of the Group. The Group may, if agreed to by all committee members and voted in by a majority of members present at the AGM, reward a member with honorary lifetime membership to the Group. The committee reserves the right to expel any member who, in its opinion, behaves in a way prejudicial to the interests of the Group.

Officers

The minimum officers of the Group shall be Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer.

Committee

Except with prior written approval of the Charity Commission, no committee member may:

·         Receive any benefit in money or kind from the Group

·         Have a financial interest in the supply of goods or services to the Group

·         Acquire or hold any interest in property of the Group (except in order to hold it as committee member of the Group)

The Group Committee shall consist of the 3 officers and up to 9 other members. The Group Committee shall have the power to co-opt members to the committee if necessary. Co-opted members shall resign at the next AGM but shall be eligible to stand for election onto the Committee.

At meetings, committee decisions shall be made by a majority vote of all committee members present, if not less than 4 members present.

Meetings

The Group will hold committee meetings as required.

Elections

The Group shall hold an AGM, to be held in November, for which all Group members will be given at least 4 weeks notice. The officers and members of the committee shall be elected by a show of hands. Nominations must be proposed and seconded and the nominee must be willing to stand. All elected members shall serve for a period of one year and shall be eligible for re-election. Only fully paid up members shall be eligible to vote and stand for election onto the committee.

Management

The management of the Group shall be vested in the Group Committee and shall be in accordance with the Constitution of the Group.

Aims and Objectives

The Group exists to:

·         Further bat conservation

·         Record bats and their distribution in Derbyshire

·         Work with schools and other organisations to increase awareness and understanding of bats and their conservation

·         Undertake bat related surveys and projects

·         Work with other bat conservation organisations to promote bat conservation nationwide

Powers

In addition to any other powers, the Group may exercise the following powers in order to further its objectives:

·         Undertake fund-raising activities

·         Buy, take on lease or in exchange, hire or otherwise acquire property and to maintain and equip it for use

·         Sell, lease or otherwise dispose of property belonging to the Group

In exercising this power the trustees must comply, as appropriate, with sections 36 and 37 of the Charities Act, 1993.

Finance

All monies raised by the Group are for the purpose of bat conservation. The Group shall not incur any commitment exceeding its financial resources. No expenditure over £40 may be incurred without prior approval of the Committee. Funds will be held in an interest bearing cheque account in the name of Derbyshire Bat Conservation Group and can only be drawn against the signatures of two of the  designated officers of the group.

Accounts

Proper accounts and records of receipts and payments must be kept. An annual statement must be submitted at the AGM. Upon request and in reasonable time the Treasurer shall supply a statement of the Group’s receipts and payments with the necessary supporting vouchers. Accounts shall be audited/independently examined.

Insurance

Members are reminded of the importance of taking out adequate personal injury/accident insurance, where appropriate.

Dissolution

The Group may, in exceptional circumstances and with just cause, be dissolved by a two thirds majority vote of its membership either by Special General Meeting or by postal vote of all members. Members must be given not less than 21 days notice, stating the terms of the proposal. In the event of the Group being dissolved, the assets of the Group shall pass to the Bat Conservation Trust or another relevant organisation should the Bat Conservation Trust no longer exist.

Amendments to the Constitution

The constitution may be amended by a resolution passed by not less than two thirds of the members present and voting at a general meeting. The notice of the general meeting must also provide notice of the resolution setting out the terms of the amendment proposed.

No amendment may be made which would have the effect of making the charity cease to be a charity at law.

Trustees must send a copy of the amendment to the Charity Commission and keep a copy with the constitution.