The name of the group shall be Portsmouth Asian Social & Cultural Organisation (hereinafter called PASCO).
The aims of PASCO will be:
Membership is open to anyone who:
Membership will be valid from January to December, irrespective of the joining month. People living outside Portsmouth and the surrounding area will be eligible to become ‘associate’ members of PASCO. There will be an annual membership fee (non-refundable) which will be agreed at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and will be payable by head of the household for all those aged 12 and over. A list of all members will be kept by the secretarial office.
Ceasing to be a member
Members may resign at any time in writing to the secretary.
Any member who has not paid their membership fee for one year will be contacted by the committee, who will then decide whether that member is deemed to have resigned.
Any offensive behaviour, including racist, sexist or inflammatory remarks, will not be permitted. Anyone behaving in an offensive way or breaking the equal opportunities policy may be asked not to attend further meetings or to resign from the group if an apology is not given or the behaviour is repeated. The individual concerned shall have the right to be heard by the management committee, accompanied by a friend, before a final decision is made.
PASCO will not discriminate on the grounds of sex, race (including colour, ethnic or national origin), sexual orientation, disability, gender reassignment, religious or political belief, pregnancy or maternity, marital status or age.
The business of the group will be carried out by a Committee elected at the Annual General Meeting. The Committee will meet as necessary and not less than four times a year.
The Committee will consist of a minimum of 10 members, and be composed of 5 officers and 5 committee members. Up to 2 additional members may be co-opted onto the committee at the discretion of the committee.
The officers’ roles are as follows:
In the event of an officer standing down during the year a replacement will be elected by the next General Meeting of members.
Any committee member not attending a meeting without apology for three consecutive meetings will be contacted by the committee and asked if they wish to resign.
The Committee meetings will be open to any member of PASCO wishing to attend, who may speak but not vote.
A General Meeting (GM) will be held within twenty-four months of the previous GM.
All members will be notified in writing at least 3 weeks before the date of the meeting, giving the venue, date and time.
Nominations for the committee may be made to the Secretary before the meeting, or at the meeting.
The quorum for the GM will be 20% of the membership or 10 members, whichever is the greater number.
At the GM:-
If a member of PASCO wants to move a resolution in the meeting, they will have to send a written notice to the General Secretary 3 working days prior to the meeting.
The Secretary will call a Special General Meeting at the request of the majority of the committee or at least eight other members giving a written request to the President or Secretary stating the reason for their request.
The meeting will take place within twenty-eight days of the request.
All members will be given two weeks’ notice of such a meeting, giving the venue, date, time and agenda, and notice may be by telephone, email or post.
The quorum for the Special General Meeting will be 20% of the membership or 10 members, whichever is the greater number.
Committee meetings may be called by the President or Secretary. Committee members must receive notice of meetings at least 7 days before the meeting.
The Committee will aim to meet monthly whether in person or virtually via an online platform.
The quorum for Committee meetings is seven Committee members including two office bearers.
An emergency committee meeting may be called by any two committee members with the consent of the President or General secretary.
All questions that arise at any meeting will be discussed openly and the meeting will seek to find general agreement that everyone present can agree to.
If a consensus cannot be reached a vote will be taken and a decision will be made by a simple majority of members present. If the number of votes cast on each side is equal, the chair of the meeting shall have an additional casting vote.
Associate members do not have the right to vote and will not be allowed to stand for Committee.
An account will be maintained on behalf of PASCO at a bank agreed by the committee. All cheques of the organisation will have to be signed by the following office bearers:
All payments will be signed by two of the signatories.
Records of income and expenditure will be maintained by the Treasurer and a financial statement given at each meeting.
All money raised by or on behalf of PASCO is only to be used to further the aims and objectives of the group, as specified in item 2 of this constitution.
Accounts will be audited by a volunteer member at the General Meeting.
All members of the organisation will have the right to inspect the accounts giving one weeks’ notice, either to the President or General Secretary.
Amendments to the constitution may only be made at General Meeting or a Special General Meeting.
Any proposal to amend the constitution must be given to the General Secretary in writing. The proposal must then be circulated with the notice of meeting.
Any proposal to amend the constitution will require a two thirds majority of those present and entitled to vote.
If a meeting, by simple majority, decides that it is necessary to close down the group it may call a Special General Meeting to do so. The sole business of this meeting will be to dissolve the group.
If it is agreed to dissolve the group, all remaining money and other assets, once outstanding debts have been paid, will be donated to a recognised charitable organisation. The organisation will be agreed at the meeting which agrees the dissolution.
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