1. NAME:- The name shall be ‘The Alresford Chamber of Commerce’ (hereinafter referred to as ‘The Chamber’)
2. OBJECTS:-
The Chamber shall:
(a) promote and encourage the development of Commerce within Alresford and district
(b) promote the highest standards of trading by all those engaged in business activities and also the promotion of mutual understanding and confidence between them and members of the public
(c) promote a sound relationship between those engaged in business and their employees on the basis of mutual respect and understanding
(d) generally to protect the lawful interests and views of the members and represent to Parliament, Government Departments, county, district, local or other authorities whatsoever, the interest and views of members or any group of members or any individual member of the Chamber in relation to any matter
(e) in relation to the above objects or any of them so far as practical to co-operate with the British Chambers of Commerce and any other association or organization in such manner as the Chamber in general meeting or in meetings of the Committee may decide to organize and arrange or take part in any social or vocational events that are considered by the Committee to improve the goodwill between members themselves and between members and other bodies or individuals
(f) to work with other local organisations as appropriate for the benefit of the community
(g) to subscribe to and support from the funds of the Chamber so far as practical such local charitable institutions and objects as may be deemed appropriate by the Committee.
(h) to promote the town as appropriate in order to sustain the economic life of the community
(i) to do all such lawful things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objects
3. MEMBERSHIP:-
(a) membership shall be open to all those engaged in business within the area specified in clause 2(a) above. For the purpose of these rules ‘those engaged in business’ shall be deemed to include persons engaged in any kind of trade, industry or profession which the Committee may consider as being related to or associated with business
(b) membership shall be open to individuals who may have retired from business or any other profession above mentioned and to private individuals not engaged in or retired from either, subject to the approval of the Committee
(c) for the purposes of these rules ‘person’ shall include a partnership and limited company, whether public or private
(d) application for membership shall be effected by the completion of the appropriate nomination form presented to the Committee and shall be supported by at least two members of the Chamber. The Committee may, without giving reason, decline membership to an applicant.
(e) the Committee may, without giving reason, refuse to renew the membership of a member in any year. In the event the Committee refuses membership, subscriptions paid in advance will be refunded pro rata.
4. COMMITTEE AND OFFICERS:-
(a) the Committee and Officers shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting for the ensuing year and shall consist of a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer & Secretary (all of these being ex-officio) together with no less than 4 other members. The Committee shall have power:-
i) to co-opt additional members or representatives as they shall decide from time to time for the purpose of giving expert advice or guidance on specific matters or for the purpose of filling vacancies caused by the death or resignation of member/members of the Committee
ii) to appoint, in the absence of an Honorary Secretary being appointed from the Committee, a paid secretary at a remuneration to be agreed by the Committee. A paid Secretary shall not have any voting right.
b) the Chairman shall normally be elected from members of the Chamber who have served on the Committee for at least one preceding year.
c) vacancies occurring among the officers of the Chamber shall be filled by election at the next convenient General Meeting of the Chamber and, until such meeting, may be filled provisionally by nomination by the Committee. An officer so elected or nominated shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting.
d) in any meeting a quorum shall be not less than 3 Committee members
e) in the absence of the Chairman at Committee Meetings the Chairman will be the Vice-Chairman and in the absence of both, a member present is to be elected Chairman. The Chairman shall have a casting vote in the event of a tie.
f) members must declare a vested interest in items under discussion at Committee meetings.
5. SUBSCRIPTIONS:-
(a) the annual subscriptions for membership of the Chamber shall be such as the Committee may from time to time decide. The subscription shall be due on the 1st day of April in each year.
(b) any new member joining the Chamber on or after the 1st October shall be entitled to pay only half of the annual subscription for that year.
6. COMMITTEE AND GENERAL MEETINGS:-
(a) each Committee Meeting shall be arranged by and called by the Secretary giving at least 7 days notice
(b) there will be a minimum of 10 Committee Meetings each year
(c) the Officers and the Committee shall be elected in accordance with Rule 4 (a) and they shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting
(d) the Chairman of the General Meeting and any Special General Meeting shall be the Chairman of the Chamber and in his absence the Vice-Chairman. In the absence of both, a member present is to be elected Chairman. The Chairman shall have a casting vote in the event of a tie
(e) Officers and Committee Members are required to attend a minimum of 6 Committee Meetings in a year. If they fail to do so without just cause they will relinquish their position on the Committee but may apply for re-election.
7. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING:-
(a) the Annual General Meeting shall be held in April of each year or as soon after as is practicable,14 days written notice being sent to all members.
(b) the Officers and the Committee shall be elected in accordance with rule 4(a) and they shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting
(c) no resolution of an Annual General Meeting shall be rescinded except at another Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting called for the purpose in accordance with rule 6
(d) nominations for the election of Officers and the Committee shall be submitted in writing to the Secretary not less than 7 days before the date fixed for the Annual General Meeting
(e) if under clause (d) above more than one fourth of the members present demand a poll, the Chairman shall arrange for such a poll to be taken and the result will be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting
(f) it is recommended that Officers will not normally remain in that office for more than 3 years
8. FINANCE:-
(a) All monies of the Chamber shall be banked in the name of the Chamber at a bank or building society appointed by the Committee. All cheques shall be signed by a person or persons appointed by the Committee and all expenditure shall be approved by authorized Members of the Committee who shall have power to use the Chamber’s funds in such lawful manner as they deem necessary for carrying out the objects for which the Chamber is formed
(b) Accounts – the Treasurer shall make up the accounts as at the end of the Chamber’s financial year and present the same to the Annual General Meeting having been independently examined and signed by a person considered competent to do so by the Committee.
9. PARTY POLITICAL ACTIVITIES:-
The Chamber as such is not to participate in any party political activities of any kind.
10. POLICY:-
Committee members must only speak on behalf of the Chamber within the framework of the agreed Chamber policy. Where no prior agreed policy exists, the enquiry is to be channeled via the Secretary, who must consult with the Committee member with expertise on that subject.
11. NOTICES:-
Notices to members may be delivered by hand or by post to the members last recorded address and shall be deemed to have been received by the members in the normal course of postal delivery.
12. ALTERATIONS TO RULES:–
Any additions or alterations to the Constitution shall only be made at an Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting called for the purpose and the proposed alterations shall be stated in the notice calling the meeting. Such additions or alterations will require a majority of two thirds of the members present.