|
|
|
|
This is a copy of the constitution of the International Rescue Corps, published here for general information only - this version is not authoritative. Objects
1. This organisation shall be known as International Rescue Corps (hereinafter referred to as "the Corps").
2) OBJECTSThe principal object of the Corps shall be to provide a free emergency rescue service to any country, individual or victims of disasters in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in the world, regardless of race, religion or any other reasonable consideration. Its secondary object shall be to relieve the poverty and promote the health and safety of persons by initiating or supporting humanitarian projects to be offered to foreign countries and/or specialist agencies to enable them to respond swiftly and effectively to adversity. In furtherance of the above objects, but not further or otherwise the Corps shall have the following powers: (A) To raise funds and to invite and receive contributions from any person, body, committee, institution, trustees or charity, or by Will or Bequest any sum of money or fund whether existing or newly constituted, and to accept additions thereto from time to time and to administer the same as part of the funds of the Corps. The Corps shall not undertake any permanent trading activities in raising funds for its charitable objects. (B) To do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the furtherance of the above objects.
3) MEMBERSHIPThere shall be three membership sections within the Corps: A. Operational membership shall be open to any suitably qualified Ordinary Member who has completed the appropriate training and who has been accepted by the National Council (hereinafter referred to as "the Council" and placed on the Operational Register. B. Ordinary membership shall be open to individuals wishing to support the purpose of the Corps and contributing not less than the first year's subscription. C. Honorary membership (individual or corporate). Honorary members may be appointed at the discretion of the Council upon such terms and conditions as are considered appropriate. Such Honorary members shall not be entitled to vote. The above members annual subscription shall be determined by the Council and varied as reasonable in good time to allow annual renewal notices to be issued. All annual subscriptions shall be due and payable on or before the 1st January in each year, and no member shall be entitled to vote at any meeting if such subscription has not been paid. All members shall be entitled to attend all General Meetings of the Corps, and each member (other than honorary members) shall have one vote on any motion. The Council shall have the right , for good and sufficient reason, to terminate a membership, provided always that (save in those cases where membership is one month in arrears) the member shall have the right to attend and be heard by the Council (in accordance with the Code of Misconduct of the Corps) before the decision is made. All members must abide by the requirements of the Constitution and Standing Orders. All members shall uphold and whenever possible further the objects and traditions of the Corps. No member of the Corps shall use such membership to further their individual gain, financial or otherwise.
4) ADMINISTRATIONA. The Corps shall be administered by the Council. The Corps shall consist of Regional Groups, the number and boundaries of which shall only be varied by members voting at a general meeting. The current Regional Groups and currently agreed boundaries of such Groups are shown on a map contained in Standing Orders which may be inspected by members on request. The Council shall consist of the Operational Director or his/her deputy, as Chairperson, and one member from each Regional Group. In the absence of the Operational Director or his/her deputy, the Council shall elect a Chairperson from within its own number. Each Group shall elect its own Councillor and deputy. When a Councillor is unable to attend a Council Meeting, he/she may be represented by his/her deputy. Each member of the Council shall have one vote with the exception of the Operational Director or his/her deputy who shall have a casting vote only. B. The Council shall have the authority to co-opt members where necessary. This co-option to cease to operate immediately the need no longer exists. C. The Council shall meet once a quarter to conduct business. Whenever possible the meetings to take place on the first Saturday in February, May, August and November, additional meetings may be convened by the Administration Officer, and all those eligible to attend shall receive notice either verbally or written at least 72 hours in advance. D. A quorum shall consist of not less than 75% of Regional Councillors. E. In order to aid the Council in carrying out the objects of the Corps, the following National Officers shall be elected annually:
No National Officer other than the Operational Director or his/her deputy may serve as a National Councillor. F. The National Officers shall be elected annually at the National Annual General Meeting. Each nomination shall be proposed and seconded and made only with the consent of the member concerned. Nominations are to be made in writing whenever possible. Such officers may be called upon to provide reports to the Council as and when necessary, and such officers shall be entitled to approach the Council on matters pertaining to their remit at any time. G. The Council may at any meeting authorise its Chairperson and the National Treasurer to sign all Agreements, Contracts and documents including the taking over of any fund in terms of the objects of the Corps, and the acts of the Chairperson and Treasurer if in accordance with such authority shall be binding on the Corps. H. The Council may appoint such Sub-Committees as may be deemed necessary and shall determine their terms of reference, powers, duration and composition. The Council shall have the right to attend as ex-officio members of any such sub-committees. I. Minutes shall be taken at all Council, General and Sub-Committee meetings. Minutes of such meetings to be ratified at the next such meeting. Minutes of sub-committee meetings to be ratified at the next Council meting. All Minutes to be available to members. J. Notwithstanding that Corps business should be conducted by a properly convened Council meeting, should matters requiring immediate attention arise, the Administration Officer is authorised to attend to the matters in question, with the approval of not less than 51% of the Councillors. This shall be the subject of a special minute and shall be made known at the next full Council Meeting. K. The everyday running of the Corps shall be in accordance with a set of Standing Orders which shall be produced for and agreed by Council.
5) FINANCE1 - AccountingThe financial year shall begin on the 1st January and shall end on 31st December next succeeding. Accounts shall be properly kept, showing the financial state of the Corps. This function shall be the responsibility of the National Treasurer who shall be responsible for the safe keeping and banking of all monies, under his/her direct control. All monies received by any member of the Corps from any activity whatsoever shall be passed to the Treasurer in accordance with Standing Orders for inclusion in the accounts and crediting to that activity. All monies received on account of the Corps shall be paid in by the National Treasurer to an account(s) as deemed appropriate by the Council. The Corps accounts for the year shall be prepared and submitted to a Chartered Accountant or firm of Chartered Accountants to be appointed by the Council, for audit or independent examination, in accordance with The Charities Act or other current legislation. The examined or audited accounts shall be submitted by the Council to the Annual General Meeting next succeeding the end of the financial year. 2 - Imprest AccountsThe Council shall determine as to what imprest accounts are to be held, their specific purpose and the officers entitled to hold them. Such officers shall be wholly responsible as to maintaining accurate records of all expenditure. 3 - WithdrawalsWithdrawals from the bank shall only be made by the Council, the National Treasurer or other officers as designated by the Council. The signatures of any two such signatories designated by the Council on a cheque or withdrawal are required. The National Treasurer must be informed with full details when a withdrawal is made on which the National Treasurer's signature does not appear. Cheque books will only be held by the National Treasurer, excepting such arrangements as the National Treasurer may make as necessary with the authority of the Council. 4 - InvestmentsThe Council shall have the power to invest any surplus funds, income or capital of the Corps in or upon such investments, securities or property as may be thought fit, subject nevertheless to such condition (if any) as may be for the time being be imposed or required by law. If at any time the balance of funds in hand shall exceed the amount considered necessary by the Council for the immediate purposes of the Corps, then the amount of such excess may be invested in the names of a Bank Nominee Company or other Trust Company appointed by them, on Capital Account. The Council shall be entitled to accumulate as capital such part of the Corps' ordinary income as they think proper, including annual income. Any investment specifically given or bequeathed to the Corps may be retained in the investment in which it is so given or bequeathed for such time as the Council shall in their absolute discretion think fit. It shall be competent to the Council to give effect to conditions attached to legacies, grants or donations if, in their opinion, such conditions are reasonable, not inconsistent with objects, and are not calculated to injuriously affect the interests of the Corps. 5 - ResponsibilitiesIn the execution of the objects hereof, no Councillor shall be liable for any loss to the property of the Corps arising by reason of any proper investment made in good faith (so long as they have sought proper advice before making such investment) or for the negligence or fraud of any agent employed by them or by any other Council member hereof although the employment of such agent was not strictly necessary or expedient or by reason of any mistake or omission made in good faith by the Council member other than wilful and individual fraud on the part of the Council member who is sought to be made liable.
6) GENERAL MEETINGSA. A General Meeting of the members shall be held annually during the month of March at such time and place as the Council shall appoint. The venue of the meeting to be agreed at a Council meeting at least six months prior to the A.G.M. The Chairperson of all general meetings shall be the Chairperson of the Council or his/her deputy or in their absence such person as agreed by the majority of members present and eligible to vote. A quorum shall consist of the members there present and eligible to vote, provided a minimum of ten are in attendance and that all Groups are represented. At such meetings, the Council shall submit for consideration by the members a report of the operations and of the state of affairs of the Corps, showing the amount of income and expenditure for the year ending 31st December then last past, and a Statement of Funds as at that date duly certified by the Chartered Accountant(s) appointed for such a purpose. Councillors and Officers shall be appointed in accordance with the foregoing provisions hereof, and such other business transacted as may be required by the rules and regulations then in force. At least two months notice shall be given in writing, by the Administration Officer to each member, of the date and venue of the A.G.M. Any member wishing to raise a matter at the A.G.M. must inform his/her Regional Organiser in writing at least six weeks prior to A.G.M. and the Regional Organiser must advise the Administration Officer of all such matters 28 days prior to the A.G.M. Only matters of an urgent nature shall be considered by the A.G.M. without such notice at the discretion of the Chairperson. B. All matters at General meetings shall be decided by the votes of the members voting personally, and in the case of an equality of votes, the Chairperson of the meeting shall have an additional casting vote. C. Special meetings of the members may be summoned by the Council when it be thought appropriate. D. Members shall have the power to call a Special General Meeting upon presentation of a requisition to the Administration Officer at least one month before the proposed date of holding such a meeting, which requisition shall state the object of such meeting and be signed by not less than 20% of members eligible to vote. E. Winding up of the Corps. Should the Corps be disbanded for any reason then the Council at that time shall dispose of any assets to similar charitable institutions.
7) ALTERATIONS TO THIS CONSTITUTIONAlterations shall receive assent of two thirds of members present and voting at an Annual General Meeting or a special general meeting. A resolution for the alteration of the Constitution must be received by the Administration Officer of the Corps at least 21 days before the meeting at which the resolution is to be brought. At least 14 days notice of such meeting must be given by the administration officer to the membership and must include notice of the alteration proposed. Provided that no alteration to clauses 2 (OBJECTS), 8 (DISSOLUTION), or this clause (7) shall take effect until approval in writing of the Charity Commissioners or other authority having charitable jurisdiction shall have been obtained; and no alteration shall be made which would have the effect of causing International Rescue Corps to cease to be a charity at law.
8) DISSOLUTIONThe Corps may be dissolved by a resolution passed by a two thirds majority of those present and voting at a special General Meeting convened for the purpose of which at least 21 days notice shall be given to the members. Such resolution may give instructions for the disposal of any assets held by or in the name of the Corps, provided that if any property remains after satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, such property shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the Corps, but shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institution or institutions having objects similar to some or all of the objects of the Corps, as the Corps may, with the approval of the Charity Commissioners or other authority having charitable jurisdiction, determine. |
|
Contact our webmaster (email: web @ intrescue.org) if you
have any questions or comments about this web
site.
|
