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Constitution

  1. Name.
    The name of the group is The Antonine Friendship Link.

  2. Statement of Aims.
    The Antonine Friendship Link exists to assure Jayyous and other similar Palestinian communities that they have not been forgotten. It seeks to provide hope, to provide assistance where possible, to the Jayyous community in the belief that Jayyous and the Palestinian people will endure until a lasting peace is established in their own state.

    In order to do this, the Antonine Friendship Link will

    1. Raise awareness of human rights and humanitarian issues relevant to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
    2. Work with other organisatons whose aims match or complement those of the Antonine Friendship Link.
    3. Organise meetings, workshops,exhibitions and other activities which will raise public awareness of the issues involved in the Friendship Link between the community of Falkirk and District and the residents of Jayyous, Palestine.
    4. Increase knowledge and understanding of global issues.
    5. Develop friendships and solidarity between the communities of Falkirk and District and Jayyous, Palestine.
    6. Fundraise for the Jayyous community. All money raised through public events will go towards helping the community in Jayyous in as many practical ways as possible. This may include materials for schools, colleges and hospitals and help for local farmers and agriculture. Funds may be sent to other community organisations where the need arises within a legal framework.

  3. Powers.
    1. To improve, manage, develop or otherwise deal with, all or any part of the rights of the Friendship Link.
    2. To engage such consultants and advisors as are considered appropriate from time to time.
    3. To effect insurance of all kinds (which may include officers’ liability insurance).
    4. To invest funds which are not immediately required for the association’s activities in such investments as may be considered appropriate (and to dispose of, and vary, such investments).
    5. To liaise with other voluntary sector bodies, local authorities, UK or Scottish government departments and agencies, and other bodies, all with a view to furthering the group’s aims.
    6. To establish and/or support any other charitable body, and to make donations for any charitable purpose falling within the group’s objects.
    7. To take such steps as may be deemed appropriate for the purpose of raising funds for the Friendship Link’s activities.
    8. To accept grants, donations and legacies of all kinds (and to accept any reasonable conditions attaching to them).
    9. To carry on any other lawful activities which further any of the above objects.

  4. Membership.
    Full membership of the Antonine Friendship Link shall be open to :-
    1. Anyone sharing the interests of the Friendship Link.
    2. Juniors under the age of 18 who are interested in the work of the group; these members shall not be entitled to vote at general meetings.
    3. Honorary members who may be appointed by the management committee at its discretion; these members shall not be entitled to vote at general meetings.
    4. The management committee may, at its discretion, refuse to admit any individual to membership.
    5. The management committee shall have the right, for good and sufficient reason, to terminate the membership of any individual or organisation by written notice, providing the member, or the representative concerned, shall have the right to be heard by the committee before a final decision is made.
    6. The management committee shall maintain a register of members, setting out their full name and address, the date on which they were admitted to membership, and the date on which any individual ceased to be a member.
    7. Any individual who wishes to withdraw from membership shall send a signed notice to that effect to the Friendship Link; the individual shall cease to be a member on receipt of that notice.

  5. Meetings.
    1. The management committee shall convene an annual general meeting (or AGM) in each year, not more than six months after the end of the financial year. Not more than 15 months shall elapse between one AGM and the next.
    2. The business of each AGM shall include: a report by the Chairperson on the activities of the association; consideration of the annual accounts; the election/re-election of members of the management committee.
    3. The management committee may convene a special general meeting at any time, if called for by the Secretary or Chairperson, or if ten members submit a request in writing. The Secretary shall arrange the meeting within 14 days and shall give five days notice to all members.
    4. At least 14 clear days’ notice must be given of any general meeting in writing by the Secretary to each member.
    5. No business shall be dealt with at any meeting unless a quorum is present; the quorum for a meeting shall be three members present in person.
    6. If a quorum is not present within 20 minutes after the meeting start time, or if, during a meeting, a quorum ceases to be present, the meeting shall be adjourned to a time and place as may be fixed by the Chairperson.
    7. If the Chairperson is not present within 20 minutes after the meeting start time, the members of the management committee shall elect someone from among themselves to act as Chairperson of that meeting.
    8. All questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a simple majority of the votes cast. Every member shall have one vote, which (whether on a show of hands or on a secret ballot) must be given personally.
    9. If there is an equal number of votes for and against any resolution, the Chairperson shall be entitled to a casting vote.
    10. The management committee shall ensure that minutes are made of all proceedings at all meetings; a minute shall include the names of those present, and if possible, shall be signed by the Chairperson of the meeting.

  6. Management Committee.
    1. The maximum number of members of the management committee shall be seven.
    2. The management committee may at any time appoint any member to be a member of the committee.
    3. The management committee members shall elect from among themselves a Chairperson, a Treasurer and a Secretary, and such other office bearers as they consider appropriate at the AGM.
    4. A member of the management committee must declare a personal interest in any transaction or other arrangement which the association is proposing to enter into; he or she will be debarred from voting on the matter in question.
    5. Any member of the management committee may call a committee meeting or request the Secretary to do so.
    6. The management committee may, at its discretion, allow any person who they reasonably consider appropriate, to attend and speak at any committee meeting; any such person shall not be entitled to vote.
    7. The management committee may delegate any of their powers to any sub-committee consisting of one or more committee members and other persons as it may determine; they may also delegate to the Chairperson of the Friendship Link (or the holder of any other post) such of their powers as they may consider appropriate.
    8. The rules of procedure for any sub-committee shall be as prescribed by the management committee.

  7. Accounts.
    1. A bank account shall be opened in the name of the Antonine Friendship Link. The management committee shall authorise in writing three of their members, one of whom shall be the Treasurer, to sign cheques on behalf of the Friendship Link. All cheques must be signed by not less than two of the authorised signatories.
    2. The Treasurer shall keep proper accounting records and shall prepare proper annual accounts which shall be checked by an authorised person.
    3. A statement of the accounts for the last financial year shall be submitted by the management committee to the AGM.

  8. Dissolution.
    1. The Antonine Friendship Link can be dissolved only by an extraordinary general meeting called for this purpose. The quorum for such a meeting to be at least three members. If this quorum cannot be reached, the decision needs to be taken by a postal vote.
    2. In the event that there are finances left to The Antonine Friendship Link at dissolution, the committee are charged with paying off any debts and paying any surplus to an organisation whose aims most closely fit those of the Antonine Friendship Link.

  9. Alterations to the Constitution.
    1. The constitution may be altered by a resolution passed by not less than two-thirds of those present and voting at a general meeting, providing due notice of the meeting, and of the resolution, is given.