Constitution
I. Name
The association shall be known as
The Saint Margaret Of Scotland Youth Group.
hereafter referred to as “the Group”.
Given that the focal point of our work will be abroad, this name emphasises our pride in being Scottish.
II. Objects
The Group’s objects are the advancement of education and religion of young people by:
a. Working with and supporting the sick, disabled and elderly on the annual Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Glasgow pilgrimage to Lourdes.
b. Teaching young people the importance of working as a team; to use initiative; to learn to give of their time freely and wholly for the benefit of others within the context of clause IIa.
c. Giving young people who may not have the opportunity due to financial constraints the chance of working abroad with the Group.
d. Supporting the wider pilgrimage by sponsorship where appropriate.
III. Powers
To further the above objects the Group may:
a. engage and pay fees to professional and technical advisers/consultants to assist in the work of the Group;
b. collect and disseminate information on all matters affecting the objects and exchange such information with other bodies having similar objects whether in this country or overseas;
c. cause to be prepared and printed or otherwise reproduced and circulated, free of charge or for payment, such media as shall further the objects;
d. purchase, take on lease or exchange, hire or otherwise acquire any property and rights and privileges considered appropriate for the promotion of the objects;
e. sell, let, grant securities over, dispose of or turn to account all or any of the assets of the Group;
f. raise money for the objects and accept gifts on such terms and on such security as shall be deemed appropriate;
g. raise funds and invite and receive contributions from any person or persons by way of subscription or otherwise;
h. encourage goodwill among existing or prospective benefactors;
i. do all such other lawful things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the objects.
IV. Membership
a. Full membership of the Group shall be open to individuals between the ages of 16 and 25 who are interested in furthering the aims of the Group. At the age of 25 continued membership is at the discretion of the management committee.
b. An individual applying for membership shall submit to the president a letter of application, signed by or on behalf of the applicant. The president shall be entitled, at their discretion, to refer an application to the management committee (see Vc). If the decision of the president is to admit the individual to membership, the appropriate entry will be made in the register of members immediately and the applicant will then become a member of the Group with effect from the date of receipt of application.
c. The management committee shall be entitled, at its discretion, to refuse to admit an applicant to membership. If the decision of the management committee is to admit the individual to membership, the appropriate entry will be made in the register of members immediately following the management committee meeting at which that decision was made and the applicant will then become a member of the Group.
d. The management committee shall have the right for good and sufficient reason to terminate the membership of any individual provided that the individual member concerned shall have the right to be heard by the management committee before a final decision is made.
V. Appointment of the Management Committee
a. The president of the Group will be appointed by the Ecclesiastical Superior of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Glasgow.
b. The president will appoint a secretary, a treasurer and such other honorary officers as the president shall from time to time decide.
c. The president and other honorary officers shall be ex-officio members of the management committee.
d. Any ordinary members of the management committee shall be appointed by the president.
e. The management committee shall appoint one or more independent examiners as necessary and determine their remuneration (if any).
f. The management committee shall appoint one or more chaplains (subject to the approval of the Ecclesiastical Superior of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Glasgow).
g. The Ecclesiastical Superior of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Glasgow may terminate with 7 clear days’ notice the service of the president and members of the committee.
VI.Management of the Group
a. With the exception of those powers which are specifically stated in this constitution to be exercisable to the members, the policy and management of the affairs of the Group shall be directed by a management committee which shall meet as often as they see necessary and shall consist of not less than 5 or more than 9 members.
b. The management committee may appoint such special or standing committees or sub-committees as may be considered appropriate and shall determine their respective terms of reference, powers, duration and composition. All acts and proceedings of such special or standing committees or sub-committees shall be reported back to the management committee as soon as possible.
c. The title to all property, heritable and moveable, which may be acquired by or on behalf of the Group shall be vested in the names of the president and other honorary members for the time being ex-officio or in the names of trustees of a trust established for that purpose.
VII. Arrangements for Holding Meetings
a. The first annual general meeting of the Group shall be held not later than the 31st December 2000 and once in each year thereafter an annual general meeting of the Group shall be held at such time (not being more than 15 months after the holding of the preceding
annual general meeting) and at such place as the management committee shall determine. At least 21 clear days’ notice of the meeting shall be given in writing by the secretary to each member.
b. At each annual general meeting the business shall include the consideration of the annual report on the work of the Group, the approval of the independently examined accounts, motions submitted by the management committee or by members and the transaction of such other matters as may from time to time be appropriate.
c. The president may at any time at his/her discretion call a special general meeting of the Group. The secretary shall call a special general meeting of the Group within 21 days of receiving a written request so to do signed by not less than 15 full members and giving reason for the request.
d. The quorum at a general meeting of the Group or at a meeting of the management committee or of any
committee appointed under clause VIb shall be one-third (present in person) of the total actual membership of the Group for the time being, the management committee or the committee (as the case may be) or such other number as the Group may in general meeting from time to time determine.
e. Unless it is otherwise specified in this constitution, all questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a simple majority of the votes cast. In the case of an equality of votes, the person taking the chair at the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.
f. The management committee shall ensure that minutes are kept of all general meetings and of all meetings
of the management committee and committees and sub-committees of the kind referred to in clause VIb containing in each case, a note of those present, those attending and the chair and a record of all the proceedings, resolutions and decisions.
g. The management committee shall have power to adopt standing orders for the Group and its committees. Such standing orders, which will be consistent with and complementary to the terms of this constitution, shall come into operation immediately but may be amended by the Group in general meeting. The Group in general meeting may issue policy directions in relation to the content of standing orders for the Group
and its committees, and the management committee shall in that event be bound to follow such directions in formulating such standing orders.
h. The group will meet for a formal business and training meeting on a regular basis at the discretion of the management committee. These shall be held at such time and place as the management committee shall determine. These dates will be agreed and circulated to all members in advance, although such notice may be subject to change.
VIII. Finance
a. All funds raised by or on behalf of the Group shall be applied to further the objects of the Group and for no other purpose; the preceding shall not, however, prevent the payment in good faith of fees to professional and technical advisers or the repayment to members of the management committee or of any committee or sub-committee appointed under clause VIb of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.
b. The honorary treasurer shall keep proper accounting records and shall prepare proper accounts annually and at such other intervals as the management committee may direct.
c. The accounts shall be independently examined once a year.
d. An independently examined statement of the accounts for the last financial year shall be submitted by the management committee to the annual general meeting.
e. A bank account shall be opened in the name of the Group with such banks and/or building societies as the management committee shall from time to time decide. The management committee shall authorise in writing four members of the group (one of whom shall be the treasurer) to sign cheques on behalf of the Group. All cheques must be signed by not less than two of the four authorised signatories.
IX. Amendments or Alterations to the Constitution
A resolution to alter this constitution shall not be valid unless:
a. two thirds of the votes cast in relation to the resolution at a general meeting of the Group (whether annual or special) are in favour and
b. notice (setting out the terms of the proposed alteration) shall have been given to the members not less than 21 clear days before the meeting at which the alteration was proposed.
No alteration shall be made which would have the effect of causing the Group to cease to be recognised by FICO as a charity.
X. Dissolution
If the management committee by a simple majority decide at any time that on the ground of expense or otherwise it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the Group, it shall call a special general meeting of the Group, of which meeting not less than 21 days’ notice (stating the terms of the resolution to be proposed at the meeting) shall be given. If such decision is confirmed by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast in relation to the resolution at such meeting, the managements committee shall sell such of the assets of the Group as they may consider appropriate for the best price reasonably obtainable and settle the debts and liabilities of the Group. Any assets remaining after the satisfaction of such debts and liabilities shall be given or transferred to such other charitable organisation or organisations having objects similar to the objects
of the Group as the management committee may determine.