Constitution

Aims
  • To campaign for better conditions for cyclists in South West Hertfordshire
  • To encourage more people to enjoy cycling
  • To organise a programme of cycle rides to provide for all tastes
  • To publish a quarterly newsletter free to members
Membership

Membership is open to any person who supports cycling. The group is independent and non-political

Membership Fee

An annual subscription will be payable by individual members or the first named member of a family

Additional members of a family at the same address will pay a reduced subscription

The committee will review membership subscription each year

Committee

The business of the Group is conducted by a committee elected at the Annual General Meeting

The committee should consist of between four and twelve members

The following Executive Officers shall be able to decide urgent matters between meetings: Chairperson, Treasurer, Vice Chairperson

Other committee members may be allocated an area of responsibility

Additional committee members may be co-opted by the Chairperson until the next AGM

The committee should meet as necessary, but not less than 3 times per year. Minutes of committee meetings must be made available to all members of the Group on request

Annual General Meeting

The committee must call an Annual General Meeting of the Group each year. It must give at least 14 days notice to all members by either a notice on the website, by email or by being delivered to each member’s home address. The notice will include the date, time and place of the meeting and an agenda of matters to be discussed. A member proposing a resolution must give it in writing to the Chairperson at least seven days prior to the AGM

At the AGM

The Committee must present its annual report of the Group

The Treasurer must present audited accounts of the Group for the past year

Elections will be held for the Officers and Committee for the forthcoming year

Special General Meeting

The Chairperson will call a Special General Meeting at the request of a majority of the committee, or on receipt of a written request by at least 20 members of the Group. The Chairperson will give at least 7 days notice to all members vie the website or by post of any Special General Meeting, which must take place within 21 days of the request for such a meeting

Quorum

The quorum for committee meetings is at least one officer plus two other committee members

Duties of the Officers

The Chairperson must conduct the meetings of the Group. If the Chair is absent, another officer will be elected to chair that meeting

The Chairperson is responsible for arranging committee and general meetings and must give at least seven days notice of all meetings

A person will be appointed to keep a record of all meetings of the Group and its Committee in the form of minutes. Minutes must be presented and approved by the Committee for all meetings

The Treasurer is responsible for the following duties:

Keeping a record of all income and expenditure

Maintaining a bank account in the name of the Group

Presenting a financial report at the AGM and committee meetings

The Membership Secretary is responsible for will maintaining a record of the members including name, address, email address and phone number

Alteration of the Constitution

This constitution may be altered by an Annual or Special General Meeting. At least 14 days notice must be given to the Chair before a meeting where a proposal to alter the constitution is to be discussed. Any alteration requires a two-thirds majority of the members present and eligible to vote

Dissolving the Group

The Committee, or if a Committee no longer exists, a majority of remaining members of the Group, can propose that the Group be dissolved. They must give at least 14 days notice to all remaining members of the meeting for dissolution. No quorum is required for the purposes of dissolution; a two-thirds majority of those present is sufficient to dissolve the Group

Any funds and stocks of merchandise remaining, when the Group has satisfied its liabilities, should be donated for charitable purposes benefiting the community, as decided by the meeting

This constitution was adopted by SPOKES – SW Herts Cycling Group at its Annual General Meeting held on 27 April 2007