How we are governed
Open, accountable and answerable to our members, with funds applied solely to our objectives.
Membership
Founders who signed the statutes are the first members. The Board admits others who share our aims and commit to supporting the work morally and materially. Membership is never fewer than seven persons.
Membership ends by resignation in writing, by exclusion by the Board after the member has been heard, or by death. The Association continues among its remaining members.
Board of Directors
The Association is administered by a Board of between 7 and 11 directors (an odd number), including a Chair, a Secretary General and a Treasurer. The Board's first members are appointed in writing by the subscribers to the constitution.
Office bearers are elected at the Annual General Meeting for three-year terms and may be re-elected. No more than one third of the Board changes at each AGM. Members of the Board have no personal liability for the Association's commitments.
Three roles, clear duties
Chairman
- Chairs all Board and General Meetings
- Provides general policy guidelines on the Association's affairs
- Holds a casting vote when votes are equal
Secretary General
- Leads executive running of the Association and represents it
- Keeps full records and minutes of Board and General Meetings
- Handles correspondence and publicity
- Arranges meetings on the Board's instructions
Treasurer
- Keeps proper financial records on a sound accounting basis
- Ensures sound administrative procedures are followed
- Opens the bank account on the Board's advice
- Reports financial statements and audited accounts to the General Meeting
The Chairman, Secretary General and Treasurer are the signatories to the Association's accounts.
Decisions made together
- An Annual General Meeting is held every year, no more than 15 months after the last one.
- The AGM elects the Board, considers annual reports and accounts, and appoints the auditors.
- Notice of General Meetings is at least 21 days, with the agenda.
- One third of members can requisition an Extraordinary General Meeting.
- Each member has one vote; decisions are by majority, and the chair has a casting vote.
- Members may be represented by proxy, in writing.
Every shilling serves the mission
- Funds come from membership fees, grants and donations, periodic fundraising, advisory and consultancy services, and other sources consistent with our objectives.
- Funds and assets are applied solely to promoting the objectives. No profit is distributed to members.
- Directors must disclose any interest in a contract and may not vote on it.
- Accounts close on 31 December each year; an income and expenditure account and balance sheet go before the AGM.
- A team of auditors is appointed at each AGM, and each project gets a detailed breakdown when it ends.