THE
SCOTTISH ASSOCIATION OF
PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUPS
CONSTITUTION AND RULES
1 Title
The various Prostate Cancer Support Groups ("the Support
Groups") in Scotland hereby agree to form The Scottish Association
of Prostate Cancer Support Groups ("the Association").
The Support Groups acknowledge that although they have day to
day autonomy of their own affairs, they are an integral part of
the Association. Accordingly any funds raised are raised using
the charitable status of the Association to whom the Support Groups
must account for their intromissions with such funds on an annual
basis to a timescale which will allow the Association to submit
the statutory returns of a charity to the Inland Revenue timeously.
While the Support Groups may make their own constitutions, these
shall not be contrary, in any major way. to the constitution of
the Association and the Association shall be the sole judge of
this.
2
Aims and Objectives
The purpose of the Association shall be to alleviate the suffering
and distress of those suffering from prostate cancer and thelr
relatives and carers and to educate the public in all areas relating
to prostate cancer.
In furtherance thereof:
1 to promote (a) awareness of prostate cancer and its treatment,
(b) improved detection and treatment of prostate cancer in Scotland;
2. to represent, assist, advise and correlate the work of the
Support Groups; and
3 to seek and generate appropriate funding for prostate cancer
support in Scotland.
3
Membership
Membership of the Association shall be made up of (l) the Office
Bearers, (2) two members representing and appointed by each Support
Group in Scotland, and (3) by the Association, at its discretion,
inviting no more than four other suitable persons to become Associate
members.
The Assoclation may. at its discretion, invite additional members
of the Support Groups to attend its meetings, but they shall have
no voting rights. If representatives of Support Groups are elected
as Office Bearers the Support Graups concerned shall have the
right to appoint a further person or persons to make the total
number of their representatives up to two.
4.
Office Bearers
The Association members shall elect a President, Vice President,
Secretary and Treasurer ("the Office Bearers") and the
persons appointed shall stand down at the end of the next Annual
General Meeting although they may be re-elected, but shall not
serve for more than three consecutive years.
Subject to the provisions of the Constitution and any directions
given by the Association at a meeting, the Association shall be
managed by the Office Bearers who may exercise all the powers
of the Association, including without preludice to the foregoing
generality the power to effect insurance for the Association including
office bearers' liability insurance. The Office Bearers may delegate
any of the powers to one of their number and to the extent that
they do not do so. the powers shall be exercisable by a majority
of them.
5
Meetings
The time and place of (1) the Annual General Meeting and (2) the
ordinary meetings of the Association shall be determined by the
Association. All other meetings shall be Special General Meetings.
The Office Bearers, on giving written notice, may declare an ordinary
meeting to be a Special General Meeting and may convene a Special
General Meeting at any time. At the written request of one third
of the members of theAssociation, the Secretary shall call a Special
General Meeting within six weeks of the request to do so. At least
three weeks notice is required for the Annual General Meeting
and a Special General Meeting. The business of the Annual General
Meeting shall be (1) the appointment of the Office Bearers, (2)
noting of the annual financial statement and the Auditor's report
thereon, (3) the appointment (or reappointment) of the Auditor,
and (4) such other business as the Office Bearers may determine.
A minimum of one third of the Association members, representing
at least three Support Groups, shall be required to form a quorum.
In addition to his normal vote the President (whom falling another
Office Bearer agreed amongst the remaining Office Bearers attending
the Meeting) shall have a casting vote in the event of a tied
vote of the members. Every member entitled to attend and vote
at a meeting may appaint a proxy to attend and vote for them.
The proxy shall count towards the quorum. An instrument appointing
a proxy shall be in writing signed by the appointor and shall
be deposited with the President (or in his absence the Vice President
whom failing another Office Bearer) at least 48 hours before the
meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the
proxy proposes to vote.
6
Accounts
The Association's funds shall be held in a bank account with two
Office Bearers' signatures required for any withdrawal. The Association's
accounts shall be maintained by the Treasurer and shall be reported
on by a qualified person or persons, not being a member or members
of the Association. who shall be appointed by the Association
at the Annual General Meeting ("the Auditor"). A financial
statement shall be prepared annually for the financial year 1st
April to 31st March and this statement shall be submitted to the
Secretary four weeks before the Annual General Meeting. The Annual
General Meeting shall be held within three months of the end of
the financial year.
7.
Alteration of Constitution
A resolutlon to alter this Constltution shall not be valid unless
two-thirds of the votes cast by members in relation to the resolution
at a General Meeting of the Association, whether annual or special,
are in favour. and notice, setting out the terms of the proposed
alteration, shall have been given to the members not less than
21 clear days before the meeting at which the
alteration is to be proposed. No alteratlon shall be made which
would have the effect of causing the Association to cease to be
recognised by the Inland Revenue as a charity.
8
Dissolution
Dissolutian of the Association shall become effective only on
the vote of two thirds of the total members of the Association
at an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting provided
at least three weeks notice of the intention to propose the dissolution
has been given to the members of the Association. If, on the winding
up or dissolution of the Association, there remains, after satisfaction
of all its debts and liabilities, any property whatsoever, the
same shall be given or transferred to some other charitable organisation
or organisations, with objects similar to that of the Associatlon.
to be determined by the Association by resolution passed at the
same meeting at which it was agreed to dissolve.
Adopted at Association Special General Meeting at St Mary's, Perth
on 23 March, 2002.
Scottish Charity no. SC 029158
Read
the Association History
Read
the Association Purpose
