Constitution
1. Name
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The name of the association is South East Edinburgh Transition (SEETransition or SEET).
2. Objectives
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The association is a not-for-profit voluntary association, which aims to:
a) Promote a general understanding and awareness of the issues of climate change and peak oil and how they affect the local community and environment in South East Edinburgh.
b) Increase awareness of individuals’ and society’s impact on the planet which sustains us, and the consequences of that impact on future generations, other people, and the natural world.
c) Provide educational and other means to raise this awareness.
d) Promote and/or organise projects to reduce the locality’s carbon footprint and to develop means for a sustainable future for our local area (where ‘sustainable’ means development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs).
e) Build a resilient community, working with other groups to that end.
3. Powers
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a) To promote the objectives of the association
b) To hold a list of names and contact details of members and interested parties, subject to their consent.
c) To organise any necessary insurance.
d) To purchase, take on lease, hire, or otherwise acquire, any property or rights which are suitable for the association’s activities.
e) To improve, manage, develop, or otherwise deal with, all or any part of the property and rights of the association.
f) To sell, let, hire out, license, or otherwise dispose of, all or any part of the property and rights of the association.
g) To raise funds in pursuance of the association’s objectives and to accept grants, donations, and legacies of all kinds and any reasonable conditions attaching to them.
h) To pay bona fide expenses and running costs incurred in pursuance of the objectives.
i) To employ such staff or consultants as may be required by the association from time to time.
j) To do anything which may be incidental or conducive to the furtherance of the association’s objectives.
4. Membership and structure
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a) Membership of the association is open to anyone who agrees with the Objectives. However, the Steering Group reserves the right to refuse or terminate membership of the association on reasonable grounds.
b) Members are welcome to participate in any events or general meetings organised by the association. Members of the association will meet for the Annual General Meeting (AGM) to receive an annual report by the Convener, to review the association's finances, and to elect office holders and other members of the Steering Group.
c) Office holders of the association will be Convener, Secretary and Treasurer, who will all also be members of the Steering Group.
d) The annual membership fee (if any) will be set at the AGM or at a Special General Meeting convened for that purpose if required.
e) Members may renew their membership when attending the AGM or by application for renewal.
5. Steering Group
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a) The Steering Group will consist of a minimum of three and maximum of six members who will manage the association on a day-to-day basis.
b) The quorum for meetings of the Steering Group shall be three people.
c) The Steering Group will aim to meet monthly but must meet at least once a year in addition to the Annual General Meeting; at least seven days' notice of such meetings shall be given.
d) Minutes will be taken of proceedings at all meetings, including the names of those present, and adopted at the subsequent meeting. These will be made available to members.
e) A member of the Steering Group who has a personal interest in any transaction or other arrangement that the association is proposing to enter into, must declare that interest at a meeting of the Group and may not vote in that respect.
f) If there is an equal number of votes for and against any resolution, the chair of the meeting shall exercise a casting vote.
g) The Convener is assumed to chair Steering Group meetings, unless the Group decides to elect a different chair.
6. Conduct of General Meetings
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a) An Annual General Meeting will be held within 14 months of the previous AGM.
b) A Special General Meeting may be called at any time by the Steering Group or at the request of six members of the association.
c) The quorum for General Meetings shall be four members.
d) At least fourteen days’ notice of General Meetings must be given to members.
e) A member of the association who has a personal interest in any issue voted on at a General Meeting, must declare that interest prior to discussion.
f) A facilitator will be elected at the start of the AGM by consensus (or, failing that, by drawing lots). The facilitator’s role is to be impartial, and to keep the meeting to order. In an event of a stalemate (e.g., if there is an equal number of votes for and against a resolution), the task of the facilitator is to suggest a solution or, if all else fails, to exercise a casting vote.
h) Minutes shall be taken and made available to members.
7. Finances
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a) A bank account in the name of the association shall be kept. The Steering Group shall appoint four signatories (one of whom must be the Treasurer), of which any two signatures shall be required for its operation. The Treasurer must be informed of any transactions as soon as possible but certainly within four weeks.
b) A statement of accounts shall be made up to December 31 each year and shall be examined by an independent examiner (who may a member of the association but may not be a member of the Steering Group) and presented for approval at the next general meeting.
8. Dissolution
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a) If the association determines that, for any reason, it is appropriate for it to be dissolved, it shall convene a Special General Meeting giving at least 21 days’ notice and stating the terms of the proposed resolution.
b) If the proposal to dissolve the association is confirmed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting, the association shall have the power to dispose of any assets remaining after satisfaction of debts, to such other institution charitable in law as identified by those present and voting.
9. Amendments to Constitution
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a) This constitution may be amended by a resolution passed by more than half (with a view to changing this to "not less than two thirds" in due course) of those present and voting at a General Meeting, providing that due notice has been given including the terms of the resolution.
b) No amendments may be made if their effect would be to render the association ineligible for charitable recognition.
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This constitution was adopted at a General Meeting of South East Edinburgh Transition on 28 November 2012
Convener: John Young Secretary: Edith Barrowcliffe Treasurer: Caro Wilkinson
Contact Address: 75 Jean Armour Avenue, EDINBURGH, EH16 6XD
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The name of the association is South East Edinburgh Transition (SEETransition or SEET).
2. Objectives
----------
The association is a not-for-profit voluntary association, which aims to:
a) Promote a general understanding and awareness of the issues of climate change and peak oil and how they affect the local community and environment in South East Edinburgh.
b) Increase awareness of individuals’ and society’s impact on the planet which sustains us, and the consequences of that impact on future generations, other people, and the natural world.
c) Provide educational and other means to raise this awareness.
d) Promote and/or organise projects to reduce the locality’s carbon footprint and to develop means for a sustainable future for our local area (where ‘sustainable’ means development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs).
e) Build a resilient community, working with other groups to that end.
3. Powers
----------
a) To promote the objectives of the association
b) To hold a list of names and contact details of members and interested parties, subject to their consent.
c) To organise any necessary insurance.
d) To purchase, take on lease, hire, or otherwise acquire, any property or rights which are suitable for the association’s activities.
e) To improve, manage, develop, or otherwise deal with, all or any part of the property and rights of the association.
f) To sell, let, hire out, license, or otherwise dispose of, all or any part of the property and rights of the association.
g) To raise funds in pursuance of the association’s objectives and to accept grants, donations, and legacies of all kinds and any reasonable conditions attaching to them.
h) To pay bona fide expenses and running costs incurred in pursuance of the objectives.
i) To employ such staff or consultants as may be required by the association from time to time.
j) To do anything which may be incidental or conducive to the furtherance of the association’s objectives.
4. Membership and structure
----------
a) Membership of the association is open to anyone who agrees with the Objectives. However, the Steering Group reserves the right to refuse or terminate membership of the association on reasonable grounds.
b) Members are welcome to participate in any events or general meetings organised by the association. Members of the association will meet for the Annual General Meeting (AGM) to receive an annual report by the Convener, to review the association's finances, and to elect office holders and other members of the Steering Group.
c) Office holders of the association will be Convener, Secretary and Treasurer, who will all also be members of the Steering Group.
d) The annual membership fee (if any) will be set at the AGM or at a Special General Meeting convened for that purpose if required.
e) Members may renew their membership when attending the AGM or by application for renewal.
5. Steering Group
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a) The Steering Group will consist of a minimum of three and maximum of six members who will manage the association on a day-to-day basis.
b) The quorum for meetings of the Steering Group shall be three people.
c) The Steering Group will aim to meet monthly but must meet at least once a year in addition to the Annual General Meeting; at least seven days' notice of such meetings shall be given.
d) Minutes will be taken of proceedings at all meetings, including the names of those present, and adopted at the subsequent meeting. These will be made available to members.
e) A member of the Steering Group who has a personal interest in any transaction or other arrangement that the association is proposing to enter into, must declare that interest at a meeting of the Group and may not vote in that respect.
f) If there is an equal number of votes for and against any resolution, the chair of the meeting shall exercise a casting vote.
g) The Convener is assumed to chair Steering Group meetings, unless the Group decides to elect a different chair.
6. Conduct of General Meetings
----------
a) An Annual General Meeting will be held within 14 months of the previous AGM.
b) A Special General Meeting may be called at any time by the Steering Group or at the request of six members of the association.
c) The quorum for General Meetings shall be four members.
d) At least fourteen days’ notice of General Meetings must be given to members.
e) A member of the association who has a personal interest in any issue voted on at a General Meeting, must declare that interest prior to discussion.
f) A facilitator will be elected at the start of the AGM by consensus (or, failing that, by drawing lots). The facilitator’s role is to be impartial, and to keep the meeting to order. In an event of a stalemate (e.g., if there is an equal number of votes for and against a resolution), the task of the facilitator is to suggest a solution or, if all else fails, to exercise a casting vote.
h) Minutes shall be taken and made available to members.
7. Finances
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a) A bank account in the name of the association shall be kept. The Steering Group shall appoint four signatories (one of whom must be the Treasurer), of which any two signatures shall be required for its operation. The Treasurer must be informed of any transactions as soon as possible but certainly within four weeks.
b) A statement of accounts shall be made up to December 31 each year and shall be examined by an independent examiner (who may a member of the association but may not be a member of the Steering Group) and presented for approval at the next general meeting.
8. Dissolution
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a) If the association determines that, for any reason, it is appropriate for it to be dissolved, it shall convene a Special General Meeting giving at least 21 days’ notice and stating the terms of the proposed resolution.
b) If the proposal to dissolve the association is confirmed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting, the association shall have the power to dispose of any assets remaining after satisfaction of debts, to such other institution charitable in law as identified by those present and voting.
9. Amendments to Constitution
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a) This constitution may be amended by a resolution passed by more than half (with a view to changing this to "not less than two thirds" in due course) of those present and voting at a General Meeting, providing that due notice has been given including the terms of the resolution.
b) No amendments may be made if their effect would be to render the association ineligible for charitable recognition.
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This constitution was adopted at a General Meeting of South East Edinburgh Transition on 28 November 2012
Convener: John Young Secretary: Edith Barrowcliffe Treasurer: Caro Wilkinson
Contact Address: 75 Jean Armour Avenue, EDINBURGH, EH16 6XD