St. Just & Land's End Area Chamber of Commerce Constitution

1. NAME

The name of the association is St. Just & Land's End Area Chamber of Commerce (Known as "The Chamber").

2. OBJECTS

a. The advancement and promotion of commerce, industry and trade within the Chambers area, taking into account the particular interests of its members.
b. To represent and serve the interests of all its members.
c. Promote goodwill, friendship and unity amongst the members and other traders by look for ways to maximise business to business trading opportunities within the area of The Chamber.
d. To provide information on local and national issues to the members.
e. To arrange meetings, discussions, lectures debates, conferences and other functions whether of a business or social nature.
f. To promote the principles of fair trade and discourage all forms of unfair competition.
g. To participate in the local community and influence local issues and projects, as a voice of the local business community.
h. To be the strong voice of the Business Community and work along side local government and other agencies for the betterment of the area.
i. To maintain financial and political independence.

3. MEMBERSHIP

Membership shall be open to all individual persons, partnerships, companies and others interested in or actively engaged in business within The Chambers area upon application, and payment of the appropriate annual subscription, subject to the following:

a. The committee shall have the power to terminate the membership of any member whose conduct or actions are regarded by a majority of the Committee as undesirable and likely to bring discredit to The Chamber, the said member has the right of appeal to the Executive Committee.
b. A member may resign from The Chamber by giving written notice to the Executive Officer.
c. Any member in arrears of their subscription will be unable to vote at any meeting of The Chamber, and if three months in arrears is automatically disqualified from membership.
d. A register of all members will be held by the Secretary, in the event of changes to member's business name, address or contact details, the Secretary must be informed in writing within thirty days of the change.

4. SUBSCRIPTIONS

All members shall pay an annual subscription the level of which shall be fixed by the Committee not later than one month before the Annual General Meeting.

5. COMMITTEE

a. Chairman
b. Vice-Chairman
c. Treasurer
d. Secretary
e. In addition three other members; but a majority of the Committee voting at a Committee meeting may increase the number of Committee Members.
f. In the event of a member of the Committee failing to attend five consecutive meetings of the Committee without satisfactory reason being given, the Committee shall have the power to declare the post vacant.
g. In the event of a vacancy occurring on the Committee during the year, it shall if necessary be filled by the Committee co-opting a volunteer member who will stand until the next Annual General Meeting of the Chamber.

6. GENERAL MEETINGS

The Annual General Meeting of The Chamber shall normally be held in March unless events upheld by the Executive Committee determine otherwise. Date, place and time to be fixed by the Committee for the following purposes:

a. To receive and consider the Chairman's report on The Chambers activities during the past year.
b. To receive and adopt the Honorary Treasurer's Report.
c. To elect a new Executive Committee.
d. To consider any other business for which advanced notice has been given.
e. The quorum for the AGM will be 10% of the membership or 10 members, whichever is the smaller number.

An Extraordinary/Special General Meeting may be called at any time at the discretion of the Committee, or on the requisition, sent to the Secretary, and signed by not less than one third of the fully paid up members of the Chamber (Quorum as for AGM).

7. PROCEEDINGS

Regular meetings will be held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7pm at a venue to be arranged by the Executive Committee; any changes to date, time & venue are at the discretion of the Committee.

a. Items to be included on the agenda must be received by the Secretary not less than seven days before the meeting.
b. Any items that require a resolution shall be proposed and seconded and decided by a show of hands.
c. In the event that the majority of members wish a ballot to be taken, the Chairman will appoint two scrutineers who shall count the ballot, and in writing shall present the result to the Chairman for declaration.
d. Each member present and in person shall have one vote and in the event of equality of votes the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote;
e. A quorum at meetings shall consist of 5 of the Executive.
f. In the absence of Chairman, Vice-Chairman a quorum of members present shall select a Chairman for that meeting.
g. The right to accept or decline motions raised from the floor at a meeting is at the sole discretion of the Chairman.
h. Members interests must be declared at the start of meetings, those members will be unable to vote on the subject.
i. Any fully paid up member may attend a meeting of the Executive Committee. They may speak with the permission of the Chair, but may not vote.

8. NOTICES OF MOTION

Every full paid up member may submit a notice of motion by contacting the Secretary not less than three days prior to a meeting of the Chamber, which motion shall be placed on the agenda for this meeting.

9. AMENDMENTS OF CONSTITUTION

The first Constitution may be adopted by the Committee, but no alterations to this Constitution may be made except by a resolution passed by two-thirds of the members present and voting at the Annual General Meeting of the Chamber. Fourteen days notice in writing of any proposed alteration shall be given to all members.

10. FINANCE/POWERS

a. The Chamber shall have the power to raise funds as necessary to achieve its objectives.
b. The Chamber shall have a bank account in its own name and shall have four signatories: Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary.
c. A minimum of two of the above are required to validate cheque/transaction.
d. The financial year of The Chamber to be agreed by the Executive Committee.
e. The subscriptions due date to be agreed by the Executive Committee.
f. The Chamber shall nominate the Chair to form any ad hoc subcommittee to deal with a specific activity.
g. The Chamber reserves the right to be able to donate funds as it seems appropriate to local good causes as agreed upon at the AGM, although not to leave the organisation without enough funds to continue its stated aims.
h. In principle the Committee has the power to authorise the payment of Honoraria on a case by case basis.

11. DISSOLUTION

A motion to dissolve the Chamber for which twenty one days notice has been given may be passed at an Extraordinary/Special/Annual General Meeting of the Chamber by a majority of not less than 90% of those voting members present at the meeting. The number of voting members at such a meeting must exceed 40% of the voting membership. If passed, the dissolution motion shall be implemented as follows: the Treasurer will realise all assets belonging to the Chamber, settle all liabilities and produce a closing account to be present at a General meeting called for this purpose. Any surplus remaining shall be distributed equally to all (SEE NOTE) fully paid-up members. Upon Completion in this manner the Chamber shall stand dissolved.
NOTE: Must be a fully paid-up member One Month before notice of motion.

The constitution of St Just & Land's End Area Chamber of Commerce adopted at the Annual General Meeting held on 8th March 2011.

Signed by:

Chairman: Simon Hammerton

Vice-Chairman: Michael Rose

Secretary: Carolyn Boyd