CONSTITUTION
OF THE SERBIAN COUNCIL OF GREAT BRITAIN
CONTENTS Article No Page No 1.1 In this document the following terms shall have the following meaning: 1.1.1. “Founder Member” means those Members listed in Appendix I hereof each of whom has paid the Membership Fee; 1.1.2. “Application Form" means the document appended hereto as Appendix II; 1.1.3 “Constituent” means any individual who lives in the United Kingdom and who is Serbian or of Serbian descent or who has an association with Serbian ethnic, national and cultural identity; 1.1.4. " Member" means an individual of 18 years or over who is a Serb or of Serbian descent or has strong Serbian connections and is interested in furthering the aims of the Council, who has duly completed the Membership Application Form and paid the Membership Fee and whose application has been approved by the General Committee; 1.1.5. " Membership Fee" means the fee fixed by the General Committee and payable by each Member to the Council annually (full and concessionary rates apply); 1.1.6. "Officer" means the President, the Secretary, the Treasurer or any other member appointed by the General Committee. The name of the association shall be the Serbian Council of Great Britain ["the Council"]. In Serbian the Council shall be known as Srpski
savet Velike Britanije [Savet]. The Council is an unincorporated association of its members. This Constitution has been adopted as the Constitution of the Council by the Members
at a meeting held in London on 6th February 2005. 4.1. The aims of the Council are to: 4.1.1. act generally for the benefit of Constituents; 4.1.2. promote the development of the Serbian community in Great Britain; 4.1.3. help Constituents integrate into British society; 4.1.4. help preserve national and cultural identity of Serbs in Great Britain; 4.1.5. assist Constituents in Great Britain in maintaining and developing an association with their homeland being Serbia and all other countries with Serbian populations and a Serbian historical and cultural heritage; 4.1.6. advance education in and awareness of Serbian history, culture and heritage in Great Britain; 4.1.7. promote good relations between the Constituents in Great Britain and persons belonging to other ethnic groups; 4.1.8. promote and represent the interests of the Constituents vis-à-vis representatives of institutions (both governmental and non-governmental) in: [i] the United Kingdom; [ii] Serbia and Montenegro; [iv] territories with a Serbian historical or cultural heritage; 4.1.10 facilitate contact between Constituents and organisations with aims similar to those of the Council. In furtherance of the said aims the Council shall have power to: 5.1. bring together in conference representatives of voluntary organisations, government departments, statutory authorities and individuals and to affiliate nationally or internationally to organisations with similar aims; 5.2. arrange and provide for, or join in arranging and providing for, the holding of exhibitions, meetings, lectures, classes, seminars and training courses and all forms of cultural, educational or recreational activities; 5.3. collect and disseminate information on all matters affecting such aims and exchange such information with other bodies having similar aims in the United Kingdom or overseas; 5.4. procure to be written and print, publish, issue and circulate gratuitously or otherwise such papers, books, periodicals, pamphlets or other documents or film or recorded material as shall further such aims; 5.5. promote and carry out or assist in promoting and carrying out research, surveys and investigations and publish the results of such research, surveys and investigations; 5.6. purchase, take on lease or in exchange, hire or otherwise acquire any property and any rights and privileges necessary for the promotion of its aims; 5.7. make regulations for supervision, control and management of any property that may be so acquired; 5.8. subject to such consents as may be required by law, sell, let, mortgage, dispose of or turn to account all or any of the properties or assets of the Council; 5.9. raise funds and invite and receive contributions from individuals or legal bodies by way of subscriptions, donations and otherwise provided that the Council shall not undertake any permanent trading activities in raising funds for its primary objects; 5.10. accept gifts, receive money on deposit or loan and borrow or raise money for such aims on such terms, in such manner and on such security as shall be thought fit subject to such consents as required by law without prejudice to its aims and independence; 5.11. procure contributions to the Council by personal or written appeals, public meetings or otherwise; 5.12. invest the money of the Council not immediately required for such aims in such investments, securities or property as may be thought fit, subject to conditions as may be imposed or required by law; 5.13. employ and pay any person or persons to supervise, organise and carry on the work of the Council; 5.14. undertake, execute, manage or assist any charitable trusts which may lawfully be undertaken, executed, managed or assisted by the Council; 5.15. pay any premium in respect of any indemnity insurance to cover the liability of the members of the General Committee, or any of them individually, which by virtue of any rule of law would otherwise attach to them in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which they may be guilty in relation to the Council provided that any such insurance shall not extend to any claim arising from any act or omission which the members of the General Committee, or any of them individually, knew or ought to reasonably have known was a breach of duty or breach of trust or which was committed by the members of the General Committee, or any of them individually, in reckless disregard regardless of whether or not it was a breach of duty or breach of trust; 5.16. insure and arrange insurance cover to indemnify its employees and voluntary workers from and against all such risks incurred in the course of the performance of their duties as may be thought fit; and 5.17. do all such other lawful things as are necessary for or incidental to the attainment of the aims of the Council. 6.1. Membership of the Council shall be open to any individual of 18 years or over who is resident in the United Kingdom and who is a Serb or of Serbian descent or has strong Serbian connections and who supports and is committed to furthering the aims of the Council, as defined in Clause [1.1.4.], and whose Application for Membership has been approved by the General Committee of the Council and who has paid the Membership Fee. 6.2. Individuals who wish to become members are required to complete the Application Form and pay the Membership Fee. 6.3. The General Committee shall, at its discretion, have the right to approve or reject Applications for Membership and shall have the right to terminate or suspend the membership of any Member provided that the Member concerned shall have the right to be heard by the General Committee before a final decision is made. 6.4. All Members of the Council shall have the right to vote at General Meetings, will be eligible to stand for election to the General Committee
and/or as Officers of the Council and will therefore have an opportunity to be influential in contributing to the work of the Council and in shaping
the policy of the Council in pursuing its aims to act for the benefit of all Constituents in Great Britain. 7.1. The Members of the Council shall elect a President, a Treasurer and a Secretary as Officers of the Council. 7.2. Each Officer of the Council shall hold office until the conclusion of the next annual general meeting to be held after their election. 7.3. The Officers of the Council shall be ex officio members of the General Committee and may also be members of any other committee that is set up by the Council from time to time. 7.4. If vacancies occur among the Officers of the Council, the General Committee shall have the power to fill these from among its members. Any person
appointed to fill such a vacancy shall hold office until the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Council and shall be eligible for
election at that meeting. 8.1. Subject to the conditions mentioned below the policy and general management of the affairs of the Council shall be directed by a committee ["the General Committee"] which shall meet not fewer than twice a year and when complete shall consist of not less than 12 members; 8.2. The General Committee shall consist of: 8.2.1. The Officers elected under Clause [7] hereof; 8.2.2. Any person appointed pursuant to Clause [8.4.] hereof; 8.2.3. Those Members elected to serve on the General Committee by the Members. 8.3. The Members of the General Committee shall be elected by postal ballot of all Members to be arranged within 14 days following the Annual General Meeting of the Council and will hold office until the next Annual General Meeting of the Council at which they shall retire but will be eligible for re-election; 8.4. Any vacancy on the General Committee may be filled by the General Committee and any person appointed to fill such a vacancy shall hold office until the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Council and shall be eligible for election at that meeting; 8.5. The proceedings of the General Committee shall not be invalidated by any failure to elect, or any defect in the election, appointment, co-option or qualification of any member; 8.6. The General Committee may appoint from among all Members of the Council, from time to time, Sub-Committees and such other special or standing committees as it deems necessary and shall determine their terms of reference, powers, duration and composition. All acts and proceedings of such special or standing committees shall be reported back to the General Committee as soon as possible. 8.7. General Committee meetings may be called by:- 8.7.1 The President; 8.7.2 Any other General Committee member on condition that the request for a General Committee meeting is seconded by at least two other General
Committee members. 8.9. All General Committee Members shall be given at least seven days’ notice of any General Committee meeting; 9.2. A member of the Council's staff shall not be eligible for membership of any committee of the Council [including the General Committee], but
may be invited to attend such committee meetings as a non-voting adviser. 10.1. General meetings of the Council shall be held annually at a place and a time determined by the General Committee; 10.2. At least 28 days notice of any general meeting shall be given in writing by the Secretary to each Member of the Council; 10.3. The business conducted at any Annual General Meeting shall include: [a] the consideration of an annual report of the work done by or under the auspices of the General Committee; [b] the election of Officers; [c] the election of the other members of the General Committee; [d] the transaction of such other matters as may from time to time be necessary; and [e] where necessary, consideration of and voting on proposals to alter the Constitution in accordance with Clause [14] hereof. 10.4. The Secretary shall within 28 days of receiving a written request so to do signed either by no less than a third of all Members giving reasons
for such a request, or at the request of the majority of the General Committee, call an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Council. 12.1. The quorum at a meeting of the Council shall be at least one third of all members. The quorum at the meeting of the General Committee or of any other committee shall be a simple majority of its members; 12.2. Each Member shall have one vote and all questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a simple majority of those present and entitled to vote. Arrangements for proxy voting may from time to time be made by the General Committee. No person shall exercise more than one proxy vote. In case of an equality of votes the President shall have a second or casting vote; 12.3. Minute books shall be kept by the General Committee and all the other Committees and the Secretary shall enter in the minute book a record of all proceedings and resolutions; 12.4. The General Committee shall have the power to adopt and issue standing orders for the conduct of the Council and/or rules for the use of the
Council. Such standing orders and/or rules shall come into operation immediately provided that they shall be subject to review by the Council in general
meeting and shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Constitution. 13.1. All moneys raised by or on behalf of the Council shall be applied to further the aims of the Council and for no other purpose provided that nothing contained in this Constitution shall prevent the payment in good faith of reasonable and proper remuneration to any employee of the Council or the repayment of reasonable out of pocket expenses; 13.2. The Treasurer shall keep proper accounts of the finances of the Council; 13.3. The accounts of the Council shall be reviewed at least once a year by the Assessment Committee appointed by the General Committee; 13.4. The reviewed statement of the accounts for the last financial year shall be submitted by the General Committee to the Annual General Meeting; 13.5. A bank account shall be opened in the name of the Council with a bank as the General Committee shall from time to time decide. The General
Committee shall authorize in writing the Treasurer and the Secretary of the Council and two members of the General Committee to sign cheques on behalf
of the Council. All cheques must be signed by no fewer than two of the four authorized signatories, one of which must be the Treasurer. Any proposal to amend this Constitution must be delivered in writing to the Secretary of the Council not less than 28 days before the date of the
meeting at which it is first to be considered. An amendment shall require the approval of a 2/3 [two thirds] majority of Members voting at a General
Meeting. Notice of such meeting must have been given in accordance with normal procedure but not less than 10 working days prior to the meeting in
question giving the wording of the proposed amendment. If the General Committee decides by a simple majority at any time that on the grounds of expense or otherwise it is necessary or advisable to dissolve
the Council it shall call a meeting of Members by not less than 21 days' notice setting the terms of the resolution to be proposed. If such decision
shall be confirmed by a 2/3 [two thirds] of those present and voting at such a meeting the General Committee shall have the power to dispose of any
assets held by or in the name of the Council. Any assets remaining after the satisfaction of any proper debts and liabilities shall be applied for
the benefit of a Serbian charity in the United Kingdom or charitable institutions in Serbia, as the General Committee may decide. Any notice may be served by the Secretary on any member either personally or on its appointed representative as the case may be or by sending it
by post in a prepaid envelope addressed to such member at his, her or its last known address in the United Kingdom and any letter so sent shall be
deemed to have been received within 3 working days from the date of posting. The provisions of this Constitution shall be interpreted in accordance with English law and are subject to the jurisdiction of the High Court. |