Revised constitution of the York Branch of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. 1] Name: 1.1 The name of the organization referred to in this constitution shall be the York Branch of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, hereinafter referred to as the Branch. 1.2 The National Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) reserves exclusive rights over the name 'Palestine Solidarity Campaign' and the logo of the PSC and may withdraw the right of use from the Branch. 2] Objectives: 2.1 The objective of the Branch shall be to campaign for the end of the Israeli Occupation of the Palestinian Territory; the restoration of full human rights to the Palestinian people, including the right of return of all Palestinian refugees; and a just final settlement of the Palestine/Israel conflict. 2.2 The Branch shall ensure equal opportunities in all its activities such that the objectives are pursued without regard to age, colour, disability, ethnic origin, gender, religious faith, sexual orientation or political affiliation. 2.3 The Branch shall raise funds to ensure the financial viability of the Branch. 2.4 The Branch shall remain independent of any political party or religious organization. 3] Membership: 3.1 Membership of the branch shall be open to all members of the public who agree with the objectives of the Branch. 3.2 Any member may be suspended from membership for any period or may have their membership terminated by a simple majority vote of the Branch Committee. 3.3 Any person whose membership has been suspended or terminated, or any person whose application for membership has been refused, may appeal to a Special General meeting called for that purpose. The decision of the Special General meeting shall be final. 3.4 Branch members will be encouraged to join the national PSC. 4] Branch officers and committee: 4.1 Administration shall be vested in a Branch Committee, which shall comprise a Chair, a Secretary, a Treasurer and two or more other members at large. 4.2 The Branch Committee shall retire on June 30th each year and be replaced by a new committee. Nominations for the new committee shall be made in writing to the Secretary no later than 4 weeks prior to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and elections shall be by secret ballot at the AGM. The new Committee may contain any one or more of the retiring Branch Committee members, but no member may hold more than one post on the Branch Committee at any one time. 4.3 The quorum for Branch Committee meetings shall be 3 or 50% of its membership whichever is the greater. Vacant positions must be filled at a Special General Meeting to be called within 28 days of the vacancy arising and giving members 4 weeks notice. Nominations for vacant positions may be made at the Special General Meeting at which voting shall be by secret ballot. 5] Procedure at Branch Meetings, including the AGM and Special General \Meetings. 5.1 The annual general meeting shall be held in June of each year. Four weeks notice of the time and place shall be given to all members at the last address known to the Branch 5.2 The Chair shall be taken by the Branch Chair or another member appointed by the Chair 5.3 A quorum at the AGM and Special General Meetings shall be 10% of the paid-up membership. 5.4 All members and officers shall have one vote each. In the event of a motion having a tied vote, the Chair of the meeting shall have an additional casting vote. 5.5 The AGM shall determine the subscription that members of the Branch shall be required to pay. 5.5 New members shall pay one twelfth part of the annual subscription for each month of membership in the year of joining. 5.6 The minutes of Branch meetings shall be kept by the Secretary who will make them available to any branch Member upon request. 6] Finance: 6.1 The financial year shall be June 1st to May 31st of the following year 6.2 Any debts incurred shall be the sole responsibility of the Branch Officers at the time the debts are incurred. 6.3 The Treasurer shall keep the Bank Account of the Branch. The Committee shall designate four members of the Branch, one of whom shall be the Treasurer, to act as signatories on the account and all cheques shall require two signatures. The Treasurer shall keep written records of the financial transactions of the Branch and these shall be available to members of the Branch. 6.4 The accounts shall be subject to appropriate independent scrutiny. 6.5 The Treasurer shall present the accounts to the AGM. 7] Affiliation: 7.1 The Branch shall affiliate to the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and shall take note of National PSC guidelines and policy statements. 7.2 The National Executive Committee may disaffiliate the Branch if, in its opinion, the branch has brought the PSC into disrepute. 7.3 The Branch shall pay an annual affiliation fee to the National PSC as set by the National PSC AGM. 7.4 Other affiliations that are consistent with the objectives of the Branch may be made. 8] Amendments: 8.1 This Constitution may be added to or amended by a Branch AGM or Special General Meeting called for that purpose if a two-thirds majority of those present and voting is in favour. Proposals to amend the constitution must be communicated to all Branch members at their last known address at least 4 weeks prior to the relevant general meeting. The York Branch of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign adopted this Constitution at its Annual General Meeting on June 10th 2010 |