Constitution of MaccPride in association with TRANSCEND at 02/02/2022
The name of the group shall be MaccPride (in association with TRANSCEND).
Throughout this document will be referred to as MaccPride
The aims of MaccPride
- To promote Equality and Celebrate diversity, and create social inclusion for all in the local community.
- To increase visibility and reduce negativity, as we address discrimination against any difference especially within the LGBTQ+ community.
- To establish and continue working alongside community groups to prevent isolation of marginalised groups all year round.
- To celebrate with local business and groups at an annual event in the town centre.
Membership
- Is open to anyone who supports the aims of MaccPride
- Is for everyone over the age of 18. Anyone under 18 must have the consent from one parent or Guardian.
- Is for people who reside locally or in the surrounding areas of Macclesfield, or have local connection to this area as agreed by the Committee.
- Membership will begin as soon as the membership form has been completed and a nominal subscription of £1 has been paid.
- A list of all members will be kept by the Secretary and reviewed and updated at each Annual General Meeting (AGM).
To become a member please visit our membership page.
Ceasing to be a member:-
Members may resign at any time in writing or email to the Secretary.
Any offensive behaviour, including racist, sexist or inflammatory remarks, will not be permitted. Anyone behaving in an offensive way or breaking the equal opportunities policy may be asked not to attend further meetings or to resign from the group. An apology should be presented to the honorary committee, accompanied by a friend, before a final decision is made.
Equal Opportunities
Members will not discriminate on the grounds of sex, race (including colour, ethnic or national origin), sexual orientation, disability, gender reassignment, class, religious or political belief, pregnancy or maternity, marital status or age.
Honorary Committee
The business of the group will be carried out by an Honorary Committee who will remain in office for one year. These positions will be reviewed at the Annual General Meeting, when other members will have the opportunity to stand for any of the honorary positions, and/or serving committee members may seek re-election.
The officers’ roles are as follows:
- Chair-who shall chair both general and committee meetings. Co-ordinate roles and tasks agreed at meetings.
- Vice Chair- will step up and perform role of Chair in their absence, and take on other designated roles as mutually agreed.
- Secretary – who shall be responsible for the taking of minutes and the distribution of all papers. Responsible for keeping records of members
- Vice Secretary- who shall support Secretary in their role.
- Treasurer who shall be responsible for maintaining accounts
- Vice Treasurer- who shall act as a further signatory and support Treasurer in their role
- Other general committee members as mutually agreed.
Honorary Committee meetings will be called by the Chair or Secretary. Committee members must usually receive notice of meetings at least 7 days before the meeting.
The quorum for Honorary Committee meetings is 4 Committee members.
Any committee member not attending a meeting without apology for three months will be contacted by the committee and asked if they wish to resign.
In the event of an officer standing down during the year a replacement will be elected by the next General Meeting of members.
Annual General Meeting
An Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held within fifteen months of the previous AGM.
All members will be notified in writing or email at least 3 weeks before the date of the meeting, giving the venue, date and time.
Nominations for the committee may be made to the Secretary before the meeting, or at the meeting.
The quorum for the AGM will be 10 members.
At the AGM:-
- The Committee will present a report of the work of MaccPride for the year.
- The Committee will present the accounts of MaccPride for the previous year.
- The Committee for the next year will be confirmed and positions may be changed every year as stated at item 5 of this Constitution.
- Any proposals given to the Secretary at least 7 days in advance of the meeting will be discussed.
Special General Meetings
The Secretary will call a Special General Meeting at the request of the majority of the committee or at least eight other members giving a written request to the Chair or Secretary stating the reason for their request.
The meeting will take place within twenty-one days of the request.
All members will be given two weeks’ notice of such a meeting, giving the venue, date, time and agenda, and notice may be by telephone, email or post.
The quorum for the Special General Meeting will be 10 members.
Rules of Procedures for meetings
All questions that arise at any meeting will be discussed openly, and the meeting will seek to find general agreement that everyone present can agree to.
If a consensus cannot be reached a vote will be taken and a decision will be made by a simple majority of members present. If the number of votes cast on each side is equal, the chair of the meeting shall have an additional casting vote.
Finances
An account will be maintained on behalf of the Association at a bank agreed by the committee. Two cheque signatories will be nominated by the Committee (one to be the Treasurer). The signatories must not be related nor members of the same household.
All payments over £30 will be signed by two of the signatories. Payments under £30 will require just one signatory.
- For cheque payments, the signatories will sign the cheque.
- For other payments (such as BACS payments, cash withdrawals, debit card payments or cash payments), a requisition note will be signed by two signatories, and held by the treasurer.
Records of income and expenditure will be maintained by the Treasurer and a financial statement given at each meeting.
All money raised by or on behalf of MaccPride is only to be used to further the aims of the group, as specified in item 2 of this constitution.
Amendments to the constitution
Amendments to the constitution may only be made at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting.
Any proposal to amend the constitution must be given to the Secretary in writing. The proposal must then be circulated with the notice of meeting.
Any proposal to amend the constitution will require a two thirds majority of those present and entitled to vote.
Dissolution
If a meeting, by simple majority, decides that it is necessary to close down the group it may call a Special General Meeting to do so. The sole business of this meeting will be to dissolve the group. If it is agreed to dissolve the group, all remaining money and other assets, once outstanding debts have been paid, will be donated to a local charitable organisation. The organisation will be agreed at the meeting which agrees the dissolution.
This constitution was agreed at the Inaugural General Meeting of the Group and electronically on:-
Date ……07…/……02……/……2022……….
Name and position in group ……Paula Armitt…………………………………….
Signed ………Secretary………………………………….
Name and position in group …Kay Lomas……………………………………….
Signed ………Treasurer………………………………….
Date: 07/02/2022
Updated: not applicable