Constitution

of

SPECIAL NEEDS PARENTS ASSOCIATION

Registered Charity Number: CHY 19675

1. Name: The name of the body is Special Needs Parents Association

2. Main Objective: the main objective for which the body is established is to support all parents of persons with special needs and disabilities. This will be done by providing assistance and advice for parents of persons with special needs and disabilities and by promoting the improved treatment, services, education, welfare and acceptance for our children.

3. Subsidiary Objectives(s): In furtherance exclusively of the foregoing main objective, the body shall have the following subsidiary objectives:1. to watch over, protect and act in the interests of persons with disabilities and special needs.2. to familiarise and advise the community of the special skills, services and understanding necessary for the care and management of persons with disabilities and special needs so as to assist such persons to develop their full potential.3. to encourage and promote the establishment and improvement of day care and residential centres and other facilities for the training, development and support of persons with disabilities and special needs.

4. Powers. To the extent that the same are essential or ancillary to the promotion of the main object of the body as heretofore set out the body may exercise the following powers:1. provide and maintain suitable premises and equipment for the purposes of the charity.2. provide publications, courses and other facilities for imparting knowledge and exchange of ideas in respect of disabilities and special needs.3. liaise with government departments and other organisations, agencies, professionals and other persons within the country and outside, interested in and having expert knowledge in the welfare of persons with disabilities and special needs.4. fundraise in an efficient manner according to methods that are deemed socially acceptable.

5. Rules

5.1 Membership

Membership will be open to all persons and corporations who subscribe to the objects of the Charity. Membership shall consist of the following classes:

a.  Ordinary MembershipAll Parents/Guardians/Carers who have a child with a diagnosis of a ‘disability’ or ‘special needs’ shall be eligible to apply for Ordinary Membership in the Charity. The Committee will be allowed to use their discretion in allowing any other person to join the Charity. 

b.  Honorary MembershipThe Committee may from time to time elect as an Honorary Member any person who has achieved eminence in the field of disability or has distinguished himself/herself by contributing financially to the Charity.

5.2. Patrons-in-Chief and Patrons

The Charity may, on the recommendation of the Committee at any General Meeting, appoint:

a. A Patron-in-chief and/or

b. Patron(s), not exceeding four (4) in number.

The appointment of a Patron-in-chief and/or Patron(s) shall be from amongst persons who have achieved eminence or distinguished themselves in the medical, academic, business or professional community or in public life, or have rendered distinguished services to charitable organisations

5.3 Rights and Duties of Members

a. Members shall be entitled to nominate or second a candidate for election, vote at the General Meetings or be elected to hold office in the Committee, provided he/she is not in arrears of subscription.

b. It shall be the duty of each member to see that their subscriptions, if applicable, are paid regularly without demand

c. If at any time it is the opinion of the Committee that the interests of the Charity so require, the Committee shall request any member to resign from the Charity within seven (7) days and in default of such resignation to expel such member at a special Committee Meeting convened for that purpose. The defaulting member shall be given notice of such meeting, which notice shall also inform the member of his/her opportunity to present his/her case before the meeting, either orally or in document form. A resolution of expulsion shall require a two-thirds majority vote of the Committee Members present. The Committee shall have power to deny the member the privileges of membership and exclude him/her from the Charity’s premises until such meeting has been held.

5.4 Application to Membership

a. A candidate for membership shall complete an application form and membership form which shall be sent to the Secretary.

b. A candidate shall be elected to membership by the Committee at their sole discretion and no reason needs be given for an application being rejected.

c. Upon election to membership, the name of the candidate together with such particulars as the Committee shall require shall be entered into the membership register and the fact of his/her election shall be communicated to the candidate.

d. A successful candidate shall be given a copy of the Charity’s constitution upon the payment of the prescribed subscription fee.

5.5 Annual Subscription (if applicable)

a. The annual subscriptions may be decided and varied from time to time at a General Meeting. Any additional funds required for special purposes may only be raised from members by a majority vote at a General Meeting.

b. The annual subscriptions shall be payable in advance on 1st May in each year,

c. If a member falls into arrears of subscription for one (1) month, he/she shall be notified by the Treasurer. In default of his/her settling his/her subscription within six (6) weeks after it is due, the Committee may order that his/her name be posted on the Charity’s notice board and that he/she be denied the privileges of membership until he/she settles the same. If he/she remains in arrears for more than three (3) months, the Committee may delete him/her from the Register of Members.

5.6 Committee and Management

a. The management of the Charity shall be vested in the Committee consisting of the following who shall be elected at the alternate Annual General Meetings:

A Chairperson

A Vice-chairperson

A Secretary

An Assistant Secretary

A Treasurer

An Assistant Treasurer

A Public Relations Officer/Fundraising and Events Co-coordinator

b..Five (5) ordinary Committee Members of whom at least two (2) shall be parents of persons with a disability or special needs unless such parents shall not be available for election or decline to be elected.

c. Candidates for election to the Committee must be proposed and seconded by two (2) members of the Charity and their names must be submitted to the Secretary at least two (2) weeks before the Annual General Meeting, and every candidate for election must signify in writing his/her consent to the nomination. Nominations shall be closed seven (7) days before the date of the Annual General Meeting. If no seconder is provided for the written

motion, the Chairperson will seek a seconder from the attendance at the AGM in order to validate the resolution.

d. Election of members as office bearers shall be on a simple majority vote of members present at the Annual General Meeting. Voting shall normally be conducted by a show of hands or, at the request of any member and by a majority vote of those in attendance, by secret ballot.

e. Except for the 1st Annual General Meeting, a candidate for election to the Committee must have been a member of the Charity for at least one (1) year before he can be proposed as such candidate unless there are insufficient candidates with the requisite qualifications to fill all the posts.

f. The duty of the Committee is to organise and supervise the daily activities of the Charity. The Committee shall not act contrary to the expressed wishes of the General Meeting without prior reference to it and always remains subordinate to the General Meeting.

g. The Committee may:

1.  Co-opt such ordinary Member(s) as may be needed to fill any casual vacancy to serve until the next election at the Annual General Meeting

2. Appoint any special Committee(s) or Sub-Committee(s) of three (3) to ten (10) members with such powers and duties as the Committee may determine

3. Invite any person(s) to be present at any Committee Meeting and to participate at such a meeting provided that such person(s) shall not have the right to vote.

h. The Committee may from time to time appoint a paid officer or officers to carry out such duties as the Committee may determine, save that nothing shall be construed as the Committee or any member of the Committee abdicating the responsibilities or which the Committee and/or its members have been elected/co-opted into.

i. All employees of the Charity shall not be eligible for election to the Committee.

j. Committee Meetings

1.  Committee Meetings shall be held at least once every four (4) months in person after a minimum of seven (7) days' notice to members. The Chairperson may call a Committee Meeting at any time by giving five (5) days' notice.

2.  At least half of the members of the Committee present shall form a quorum.

3. Any member of the Committee who is absent for three (3) consecutive meeting without satisfactory explanations shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the Committee. A successor may be co-opted by the Committee to serve until the next Annual General Meeting.

k. The Committee has power to authorise all the expenditure as necessary from the Charity's funds for the purposes of carrying out the activities of the Charity.

l. In the event that the full compliment of the Committee, as outlined above, is not elected at a General Meeting, the minimum permitted compliment required to be elected for office will be six members organised as follows;

Chairperson

Secretary

Treasurer

Three other members

5.7 Rights and Duties of Office Bearers

a. Without prejudice to the rights and duties usually attached to such office bearers, their duties shall be as follows:

1.  Chairperson

The Chairperson shall preside at all Committee and General Meetings and shall sign the minutes of such meetings after they have been duly confirmed as a correct record thereof. He/She shall represent the Charity in its dealings with outside persons. The Chairperson shall have a casting vote in the event of a tie. The incumbent shall be a parent of a person with a disability or special needs.

2.  Vice-Chairperson

The Vice-Chairperson shall assist the Chairperson and deputise for him/her in his absence subject to Rule 9(f), the incumbent shall be a parent of a person with a disability or special needs.

3.  Secretary

The Secretary shall keep all records (except financial) of the Charity and shall be responsible for their correctness. He/She shall, when instructed by the Chairperson, convene and keep minutes of all meetings, conduct correspondence (except financial), maintain an up-to-date register of members, prepare the annual report and perform such duties as may be entrusted to him/her by the Chairperson. Subject to Rule 9(f), the incumbent shall be a parent of a person with a disability or special need

4. Treasurer

The Treasurer shall be responsible for maintaining proper accounts of all monetary transactions of the Charity. He/She shall receive all monies, keep all funds and disburse all monies on behalf of the Charity and be responsible for their correctness. The incumbent shall conduct all financial correspondence on behalf of the Charity and prepare an annual statement of accounts for presentation at the Annual General Meeting.

5. Assistant Secretary/Treasurer

The Assistant Secretary and the Assistant Treasurer shall assist respectively the Secretary and the Treasurer and will deputise for them in their absence

6. Public Relations Officer/Fundraising and Events Co-ordinator

The Public relations Officer/Fundraising and Events Co-ordinator will raise the profile of the group to relay the key messages and work of the Charity to the public. He/She shall have a good understanding of the Charity, have the ability to write articles for local media and in general have the ability to develop contacts and liaise with the media. The role will also involve the creation and organisation of fundraising activities. Guidelines as outlined in Section 15 must be adhered to.

7. Ordinary Members

Members not having any specific duties shall perform such duties as shall be entrusted to them by the Committee from time to time and shall assist in the general administration of the Association.

b. Every office bearer, by virtue of his agreement to stand for election, undertakes that he has no conflict of interest between his outside activities and his service to the Charity.

5.8 Finance                        

a. The financial year shall be from 1st April to 31st March.

b. The Treasurer shall as soon as possible, upon receipt of monies thereof, deposit such sums of money with the Charity’s bankers.

c. All cheques of the Charity shall be signed jointly by two members of the Committee.

d. Only Committee members will be the named individuals on any financial documentation.

e. Bank accounts operated by the Association, will include on line banking with full access established for the Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer with viewing access established for the Chairperson and Secretary

5.9 Audit

a. The accounts of the Association shall be audited by a firm of Public Accountants to be appointed at the Annual General Meeting for the term of one year. It may be re-appointed year after year.

b. The firm of Public Accountants:

1. Will be required to audit each year's accounts and present a report upon them to the Annual General Meeting.

2. May be required by the Chairperson to audit the Charity’s accounts for any period within their tenure of office at any date and make a report to the Committee.

5.10 Supreme Authority and General Meetings

a. The supreme authority of the Charity is vested in a General Meeting of the members presided over by the Chairperson.

b. Annual General Meeting

1. The Annual General Meeting shall be held annually not going over an 18 month period. Notice of meeting stating the date and place of meeting will be communicated by the Secretary to members not less than twenty one (21) days before the date of the meeting.

2. At least Five (5) members present and entitled to vote shall form a quorum at an Annual General Meeting. Provided that if a quorum is still not present after an adjournment of thirty (30) minutes from the time fixed for the meeting, those present and entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum, but they shall not have the power to amend the constitution of the Charity.

3. All motions for amendments to the constitution and all resolutions to be considered at the Annual General Meeting shall be formulated in terms of a documented proposal by the member proposing same along with a separate document from another member seconding the proposal for inclusion in the agenda of the meeting, so as to reach the Secretary not less than fourteen (14) days before the date fixed for the meeting. If no seconder is provided for the written motion or resolution, the Chairperson will seek a seconder from the attendance at the AGM in order to validate the motion or resolution.

4. The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be:

 i. To consider and adopt reports of the Committee and the audited accounts for the preceding financial year.

  ii. To consider and decide on all matters included in the agenda.

  iii. To elect the Committee in alternate years and to appoint a firm of Public Accountants as Auditor every year.

c. Extraordinary General Meeting

1. An Extraordinary General Meeting shall be convened on the instruction of the Chairperson:

 i. whenever the Committee or the Chairperson may deem it desirable;

or

 ii. at the documented request of not less than twenty-five (25) per cent of the membership entitled to vote, stating the purposes and reasons for such a meeting. The meeting shall be convened within twenty one (21) days of receipt by the Chairperson of such request.

2. Notice of the meeting stating the date and place of the meeting shall be communicated by the Secretary to the members not less than fourteen (14) days before the date of the meeting.

3. If the Committee does not within twenty-one (21) days after the date of the receipt of the request proceed to convene an Extraordinary General Meeting, the members who requested for the Extraordinary General Meeting shall convene the meeting by giving ten (10) days' notice to voting members setting forth the business to be transacted.

4. Rules governing the quorum of an Annual General Meeting shall apply to an Extraordinary General Meeting save that if after an adjournment of thirty (30) minutes from the time fixed for such a meeting no quorum be present, the meeting shall be dissolved and no Extraordinary General Meeting shall be convened for the same purpose until a lapse of at least two (2) months from the date thereof. The business at such meeting shall only be that for which purpose the meeting was called.

5.11 Committee Members

a. If the Charity at any time acquires any immovable property, such property shall be vested in trustees subject to a declaration of trust.

b. The committee members of the Charity shall:

1. Be elected by a General Meeting from among the members of the Association.

2. Be, at least, three (3) in number. Provided any vacancy among the committee members however created shall not prejudice or preclude the remaining Committee members so long as their number does not fall below two, (2), to continue to act and exercise all powers conferred on them as fully and as efficaciously as if their number had not been reduced.

3. Not at the same time is a Treasurer or Secretary of the Charity.

4. Not affect any sale or mortgage of property without the prior approval of the General Meeting of members.

c. The office of the committee member shall be vacated:

1. If the committee member dies or becomes a lunatic or of unsound mind.

2. If he/she is absent from the Republic of Ireland for a period of more than one year.

3. If he/she is guilty of misconduct of such a kind as to render it undesirable that he/she continues as a member.

4. If he/she submits notice of resignation from his committee membership.

d. Vacancies in the committee membership may be filled by election at a General Meeting next after the occurrence of such vacancy or at the same meeting at which a resolution removing any committee member(s) is passed. Notice of any proposal to remove a committee member from his/her committee membership or to appoint a new committee member to fill a vacancy must be given by post to members at least two (2) weeks before the General Meeting at which the proposal is to be discussed. An election or resolution for removal shall be by a majority of members present and entitled to vote. No member shall be elected a committee member without the member's consent in writing previously obtained. Every resolution appointing a committee member shall be recorded in the minutes of meeting at which he/she is appointed.

5.12 Fundraising

a. The Charity shall follow the core principles of respect, honesty, and openness when conducting all fundraising activities.

 b. The Charity will make the following commitment to donors:

-Gifts will be used for the purposes for which they are given. Accurate descriptions will be given to describe activities and needs of the Charity.

-Donors will be informed about the causes for which the charity is fundraising and on how their donation is being used.

-Anonymity and confidentiality will be preserved except in cases where the size of a donation is such that it might impact on the Charity’s independence.

-Donors have the right to be informed of the status and authority of those soliciting donations.

 c. The charity will record details of individual gifts, including gifts-in-kind;

 d. The Charity’s Committee will seek to ensure that any donations sought indirectly, such as through third parties, are solicited and received in full conformity with the charity’s own standards and practices.

 e. The charity’s Committee shall ensure that the organisation has a policy for its activities involving volunteers, including the relationship and communications with volunteers and how volunteers are managed.

 f. The charity shall have accessible procedures for enabling interested parties to notify the organisation of their wishes, comments and complaints. All matters of legality should be addressed immediately to An Garda Siochana.

 g. The charity’s internal financial control procedures will ensure that all funds are used effectively and will minimise the risk of funds being misused. An Annual Report and a Statement of Annual Accounts figures will be freely available to the public.

 h. The charity will adhere to any equality legislation and will not tolerate discrimination in any form.

 i. Fundraisers shall adhere to the principle that all information created by, or on behalf of, an organisation is the property of that organisation and shall not be transferred or utilised except on behalf of that organisation. Fundraisers, or the charity they work for, shall not disclose (except as may be required by statute or law) or make use of information given or obtained in confidence from their employers or clients, the donating public or any other source without prior express consent.

Fundraisers and fundraising charities commit themselves to the highest standards of good practice and to ensuring that all their fundraising activities are respectful, honest, open and legal.

Fundraisers and their organisations commit to:

-Conduct themselves at all times with complete integrity, honesty and trustworthiness. They will act at all times openly and in such a manner that donors are not misled

-Respect the dignity of their profession and ensure that their actions enhance the reputation of themselves and the charity they represent

-Not knowingly or recklessly disseminate false or misleading information in the course of their professional duties, nor permit their subordinates to do so

 j. Those responsible (or their designate) for organising specific fundraising campaigns or fundraising activities, or who are responsible for managing others who organize such fundraising campaigns have a range of responsibilities in order to meet the commitment to donors and fulfill the principles and standards. Fundraising Management must:

-Be responsible for ensuring that fundraisers are aware of and can generally communicate the purpose of the organisation and of the specific fundraising efforts they are involved in

-Have procedures to ensure that, wherever possible, particular caution is exercised when soliciting from vulnerable people

-Ensure all public collections have a Garda permit, or where no permit is necessary, permission from the relevant authority (such as for collections in church grounds)

k. The ultimate responsibility for meeting the standards of the Statement of Guiding Principles for Fundraising lies with the charity’s Committee. The Committee is responsible for ensuring that their charity is able to and does fulfill its commitment to best practice in fundraising.

The Committee of the charity is accountable for the charity’s fundraising activities as follows:

-By ensuring the existence of the Statement of Guiding Principles for Fundraising and other relevant Codes are made known to the public, donors and supporters

-By ensuring that the charity’s commitment to best practice in fundraising is communicated in all public policy statements by stating same in relevant public communications (annual reports, website, policy statements, governance documents, leaflets and communication materials etc.)

-By ensuring that senior management take responsibility for implementing and adhering to the Statement

-Fundraising exists only to support the overall mission of the charity in question.

Therefore the Committee of the charity are accountable to the organisation’s beneficiaries, service users, clients, donors, funders, volunteers and staff for the charity’s overall performance. The committee shall therefore ensure:

-That the activities of the organisation are focused on achieving the objectives set out in the organisation’s charter, and that these are translated into a vision, policy, strategies and budget

-The organisation’s expenditure is handled in a transparent, effective and efficient manner, in line with an agreed annual plan and budget, and according to a predetermined process for evaluating and taking decisions on the allocation of funds.

-Fundraising is handled in a transparent, effective and efficient manner, in line with a predetermined plan and according to methods that are deemed socially acceptable.

-The organisation has the means to adequately control the way it functions and to alert it to, and to cope with, any risks in good time.

 l. Honest communications will exist between the charity, the public and potential donors:

-There shall never be any incidence of misleading and/or ambiguous information in any of the charity’s fundraising communications

-It shall be made clear at all times as to whether the fundraising in question is for the organisation in general or for a specific purpose.

-Choices of images and messages used in fundraising communications will be made based on the paramount principles of respect for the dignity of the people concerned and a belief in the equality of all people. The charity will strive to choose images and related messages based on values of respect and equality, and to truthfully represent any image or depicted situation both in its immediate and in its wider context

 m. The Committee are financially accountable at all times.

-The charity must produce an Annual Report and a Statement of Annual Accounts, which must be made publicly available

-It is a requirement of the Revenue Commissioners that charities with an annual income of 100,000 or above must have audited accounts and this audit threshold is also applied in the Charities Bill 2007.

 n. The Annual Report and the Statement of Annual Accounts shall give a summary overview, and depending on the nature of the work, may contain information where applicable about the previous year’s development, with regards to:

- Significant income and expense items

- Significant balance sheet items

- Number of members of staff and of volunteers

- Number of local and national activities, including a representative indication

of the types of activities carried out

- Number of paid subscribers / members

- Identify salaries, rental costs and any other significant operating expenses

- Other significant key figure

 o. The Charity should establish a complaints procedure

5.13 Prohibitions

a. Gambling of any kind, whether for stakes or not, is forbidden on the Charity’s premises. The introduction of materials for gambling or for drug taking and of bad character into the premises is also prohibited.

b. The funds of the Charity shall not be used to pay the fines of members, who have been convicted in a court of law.

c. The Charity shall not engage in any Trade Union activity as defined in any written law relating to Trade Unions for the time being in force in Ireland.

d. The Charity shall not attempt to restrict or interfere with trade or make directly or indirectly any recommendation to, any arrangement with its members which has the purpose or is likely to have the effect of fixing or controlling the price or any discount, allowance or rebate relating to any goods or services which adversely affects consumer interest.

5.14 General

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, the Committee shall have power in their absolute discretion to admit or reject any person to the facilities offered by the Charity and at any time withdraw such facilities so granted.

5.15 Interpretation

In the event of any question or matter arising out of any point which is not expressly provided for in the constitution, the Committee shall have powers to use their own discretion to resolve such questions. The decision of the Committee shall be final unless it is reversed at a General Meeting of members.

5.16 Disputes

In the event of any dispute arising amongst members, they shall attempt to resolve the matter at an Extraordinary General Meeting in accordance with the rules in the Constitution. Should the members fail to resolve the matter, they may bring the matter to a court of law for decision.

6. Income and PropertyThe income and property of the body shall be applied solely towards the promotion of its main object as set forth in this Constitution. No portion of the body's income and property shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise howsoever by way of profit, to the members of the body. No Officer shall be appointed to any office of the body paid by salary or fees, or receive any remuneration or other benefit in money or money's worth from the body. However, nothing shall prevent any payment in good faith by the body of:

a) reasonable and proper remuneration to any member of the body (not being an Officer) for any services rendered to the body;

b) interest at a rate not exceeding 5% per annum on money lent by Officers or other members of the body to the body;

c) reasonable and proper rent for premises demised and let by any member of the body (including any Officer) to the body;

d) reasonable and proper out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any Officer in connection with their attendance to any matter affecting the body;

e) fees, remuneration or other benefit in money or money's worth to any Company of which an Officer may be a member holding not more than one hundredth part of the issued capital of such Company.

7. Winding-up

If upon the winding up or dissolution of the body there remains, after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities, any property whatsoever, it shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the body. Instead, such property shall be given or transferred to some other charitable institution or institutions having main objects similar to the main objects of the body. The institution or institutions to which the property is to be given or transferred shall prohibit the distribution of its or their income and property among its or their members to an extent at least as great as is imposed on the body under or by virtue of Clause 6 hereof. Members of the body shall select the relevant institution or institutions at or before the time of dissolution, and if and so far as effect cannot be given to such provisions, then the property shall be given or transferred to some charitable object.

8. Additions, alterations or amendments

No addition, alteration or amendment shall be made to or in the provisions of this Constitution for the time being in force unless the same shall have been previously approved in writing by the Revenue Commissioners.

9. Keeping of Accounts

Annual audited accounts shall be kept and made available to the Revenue Commissioners on request.

Signed: .................................................. Signed: ............................................... Chairperson Secretary

Signed: ...................................................... Date ..................................... Treasurer

RECORD OF AMENDMENTS

AGM, 01 October 2011 – the following amendments were agreed:

1. Amend paragraph 2 of the Constitution to read “the main object for which the body is established is to support all parents of children and young people with special needs and disabilities. This will be done by providing assistance and advice for parents’, or persons with special needs and disabilities and advocating for improved treatment, services, education, welfare and acceptance for our children.” – proposed by Lorraine Dempsey, seconded by Eoin Kelly.

2. Amend paragraph 5.8 of the Constitution to give effect to that bank accounts, operated by the Association, will include on line banking with full access established for the Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer with viewing access established for the Chairperson and Secretary -proposed by Edel Shaw, seconded by Eoin Kelly.

3. Amend paragraphs 5.10.b.1 and 5.10.c.2 of the Constitution to replace the word “posted” with the word “communicated” to give effect to the option for the Secretary to use means, other than the postal service, to issue notifications of AGMs and EGMs to members – proposed by Eoin Kelly, seconded by Patricia Houlihan.

4. Amend paragraphs 5.10.b.3 and 5.10.c.3 0f the Constitution to replace the words “written” and “in writing” to give effect to the option for members to submit, and to second, proposals by means other than the postal service – proposed by Eoin Kelly, seconded by Patricia Houlihan..

5. Amend paragraph 5.6.j.1 (Committee meetings) of the Constitution to read “Committee meetings to be held at least once every four (4) months in person after a minimum seven (7) day notice to members. The Chairperson may call a Committee meeting at any time by giving five (5) day notice.” – proposed by Lorraine Dempsey, seconded by Eoin Kelly

GM , 05 October 2013 – the following amendments were agreed:

1. Para 5.3.b. Add the following words (in italics) to read as follows: It shall be the duty of each member to see that their subscriptions, if applicable, are paid regularly without demand

2. Para 5.5. Add the following words (in italics) to read as follows: Annual Subscription (if applicable)

3. Para 5.6.c. Delete the word (in italics) ordinary in the sentence. Add the wording (in italics) as follows: Candidates for election to the Committee must be proposed and seconded by two (2) members of the Charity and their names must be submitted to the Secretary at least two (2) weeks before the Annual General Meeting, and every candidate for election must signify in writing his/her consent to the nomination. Nominations shall be closed seven (7) days before the date of the Annual General Meeting.

If no seconder is provided for the written motion, the Chairperson will seek a seconder from the attendance at the AGM in order to validate the resolution.

4. Para 5.6.d. Add the wording (in italics) as follows: Voting shall normally be conducted by a show of hands or, at the request of any member and by a majority vote of those in attendance, by secret ballot.

5. Para 5.6.l. Add the following sub para (in italics): In the event that the full compliment of the Committee, as outlined above, is not elected at a General Meeting, the minimum permitted compliment required to be elected for office will be six members, organised as follows;

Chairperson

Secretary

Treasurer

Three other members

6. Para 5.8.a. Amend the wording (in italics) as follows: The financial year shall be from 01 January to 31 December.

7. Para 5.10.b.1. Amend the wording (in italics) as follows: The Annual General Meeting shall be held annually, not going over a 15 (to be replaced by an 18) month period.

8. Para 5.10.b.3. Add the wording (in italics) as follows: All motions for amendments to the constitution and all resolutions to be considered at the Annual General Meeting shall be formulated in terms of a documented proposal by the member proposing same along with a separate document from another member seconding the proposal for inclusion in the agenda of the meeting, so as to reach the Secretary not less than fourteen (14) days before the date fixed for the meeting. If no seconder is provided for the written motion or resolution, the Chairperson will seek a seconder from the attendance at the AGM in order to validate the motion or resolution.

9. Para 5.10.c.1. Amend the wording (in italics) as follows: An Extraordinary General Meeting shall be convened on the instruction of the Chairperson:

 i. whenever the Committee or the Chairperson may deem it desirable;

and (to be replaced by or)

 ii. at the documented request of not less than twenty-five (25) per cent of the membership entitled to vote, stating the purposes and reasons for such a meeting. The meeting shall be convened within twenty one (21) days of receipt by the Chairperson of such request.