OUNDLE & DISTRICT TWINNING ASSOCIATION
 
CONSTITUTION
 
 
1.         NAME
 
            The name shall be " Oundle & District Twinning Association ".
 
 
2.         AIM
 
            The aim of the Association is to encourage and foster friendship and understanding between the people of Oundle & District and those in other countries.
 
 
3.         OBJECTIVES
 
            (1)        To encourage visits by individuals and groups, particularly by children and young people,                         to and from linked communities, thereby developing personal contacts and, by so doing,               broadening the mutual understanding of the cultural, recreational and educational activities of                         the linked communities.
            (2)        To promote the Association, thereby increasing its Membership, and to provide information,                     contacts and ideas that will encourage existing and future links.
            (3)        To encourage fund-raising activities in support of the objectives of the Association.
            (4)        To organise social events for the benefit of the Association.
 
 
4.         MEMBERSHIP
 
            (a)        The Association is voluntary and non-political and applications for Membership are open to                      all residents of Oundle & District. The election of an applicant shall rest with the Committee.
            (b)        There shall be two categories of Membership, Individual and Family.
 
 
5.         SUBSCRIPTIONS
 
            (a)        Annual subscriptions shall be payable by the 31st March of each year. The Committee will                        review each year the level of subscription applicable to each category of Membership.
            (b)        No Member whose subscription is unpaid shall be entitled to vote at a General Meeting.
 
 
6.         MANAGEMENT & COMMITTEE
 
            (a)        The management shall be vested in a Committee of nine Members including the Officers.
                        The Officers shall comprise Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.
            (b)        The Committee and Officers shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.
            (c)        Five Members shall form a quorum at any Meeting of the Committee.
            (d)       The Committee may fill any casual vacancy, the person selected holding office until the                            expiry of the period for which the individual replaced would have held office.
            (e)        The Committee shall have power to form sub-committees from amongst the Members of the                     Association for any purpose and for any period as they may deem necessary.
 
 
7.         FINANCE
 
            (a)        The selection of Bankers and Auditors shall be at the discretion of the Committee.
            (b)        The Accounts of the Association shall be prepared by the Treasurer to cover a financial year                      running from February 1st to January 31st each year.
            (c)        All cheques drawn upon the Association's Bank Account shall be signed by the Treasurer and                   one other Officer, except where the amount involved does not exceed £25 when the                                 Treasurer's signature alone shall suffice.
            (d)       All funds of the Association shall be applied solely to the objectives stated in Rule 3, except                     that gifts to Charities or other Organisations may be made at the discretion of the Committee.
            (e)        Members of the Association shall receive no payment, either direct or indirect, for their                             services or for other than legitimate expenses incurred on behalf of the Association.
            (f)        In the event of the dissolution of the Association, the funds of the Association shall be either
                        (i) transferred to another Association having similar Objects or (ii) donated to Charity. This                    disposal shall only be dealt with at a General Meeting of the Association.
 
 
8.         GENERAL MEETINGS
 
            (a)        Each Member shall receive not less than fourteen days Notice of any General Meeting.     
            (b)        The Annual General Meeting shall be held within a period of two months following the end                     of the financial year (see Rule 7 (b) ). Members wishing to submit motions to be considered                      at the Annual General Meeting should ensure that they are lodged with the Secretary in                                reasonable time for due Notice to be served.
            (c)        An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called at any time at the discretion of the                                 Committee or shall be called on the requisition in writing of not fewer than ten Members,              such requisition stating the object of such a Meeting.
            (d)       Ten Members shall form a quorum at any General Meeting of the Association.
 
 
9.         GENERAL MATTERS
 
            (a)        To reflect its District appeal and the municipal involvement in the Associations of our Twin                      Towns, the Chairman of East Northamptonshire Council shall be the Honorary President of                      the Association.
            (b)        All property of the Association shall be vested in the Committee for the time being.
            (c)        The Committee shall have full power to decide upon all matters, whether financial or general,                   not provided for by these Rules and decisions of the Committee shall in all cases be final.
            (d)       No alteration of these Rules shall be made except at an Annual General Meeting or                                    Extraordinary General Meeting and any proposed alteration shall accompany the Notice sent                    to Members (see Rule 8 (a)), such alteration requiring approval by two-thirds of the Members                        present at that General Meeting.
 
 
 
 
                        Chairman                                                                                 12th March 2002
 
                        Secretary