Constitution

DAWLISH & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF TRADE & COMMERCE

CONSTITUTION

1. The name of the Association is ‘The Dawlish and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce referred to as ‘the Chamber’.
2. Officers and Address: The officers of the Chamber shall be:
Chairman
Vice-Chairman
Honorary Secretary
Honorary Treasurer
Honorary Membership Secretary

The address of the Office of the Chamber shall be fixed for the ensuing year at the Annual General Meeting.

3.Executive Committee: The Executive Committee shall comprise of all the Officers named in paragraph 2 hereof, Chairman of the sub-Committees, and various sections of the Chamber of other Associations affiliated to the Chamber, provided that the Chairman of such other Association or Associations shall himself be a fully paid member of the Chamber.

The Chamber reserves unto itself the right to appoint any other member to the Executive Committee in addition to the above, such appointment to be made by means of a proposer and seconder and decided by means of a vote provided in Rule 8 hereof.

4. Sub committees: shall be appointed and determined at the Annual General Meeting subject to special additions as provided in paragraph 5 hereof.

5. The Executive Committee may fill up any vacancy arising during the year, from whatever cause such vacancy may arise, and may appoint special committees to consider and report upon any subject of interest to the Chamber.

6. The Chamber may, at any meeting, appoint any members to attend and represent the Chamber at any meeting of the National Chamber of Trade or any other organisation, ,movement or association, and the said representative or representatives shall duly report such attendances to the Executive Committee or to the Chamber or both as soon as conveniently may be.

7. In the case of continued absence of any member of a committee for a period of three meetings, the Chamber or Executive shall have power to strike such member off the said committee and fill the vacancy created therein as provided by Rule 5 hereof unless apologies and a valid reason for absence are received.

8. Voting at Executive or General Meetings shall be by a show of hands unless a ballot is deemed necessary at the discretion of the Chairman and in the event of an equality of votes the Chairman shall have an additional or casting vote. Voting shall be limited to one vote per business (Para 3, Rule 10).

9. The objects for which the Chamber is established are: (a) To consider and promote such measures, plans, and schemes as may be calculated to further improve and secure the trading, commercial and professional interests of the Association of Traders, Merchants, Manufacturers, Professional Men and others in the township of Dawlish and District. (b) To collect, collate and circulate statistical and other information to trade, commerce and manufacturers for members as will assist them in their business either collectively or separately and for the mutual benefit of the members and the township of Dawlish generally. (c) To arrange events for the benefit of the members or for charity. (d) For any other object, not specifically herein provided for, conducive to the general interest and advancement of the members (including charity functions) on any matter affecting the membership generally.

10 Membership: Membership of the Chamber shall be open to all persons, companies and firms interested or actively engaged in business in Dawlish & District upon being duly proposed and seconded by existing members at a General or Executive Meeting of the Chamber. The subscription is due immediately upon election. Membership shall commence immediately after election. The Chamber shall have the power to refuse an application for membership without assigning a reason therefore. Any member who shall do any act or be guilty of conduct calculated to injure or discredit the Chamber may be expelled by a resolution of the majority of members at any of the General Meetings. Such member shall be allowed to appeal against expulsion, and for this purpose must give written notice of his appeal to the Honorary Secretary not less than 14 days after the date on which he was expelled, whereupon the Secretary shall call a Special Meeting of the Chamber. The notices calling such a meeting shall be headed “Special Meeting”. Each establishment (ie Member of the Chamber) consisting of more than one person may be represented at the Chamber Meetings by more than one person if so desired, but voting at meetings is restricted to one vote per establishment.

11. Meetings: The Annual General Meeting of the Chamber shall be held in March or such other month as shall be decided by the Executive Committee each year when Officers, Committees and Representatives shall be appointed for the ensuing year. There must be at least four General Meetings per Annum.

12. All General Meetings shall be held on the last Tuesday of the month or as decided by a majority at the previous meeting.

13:Special Meetings may be called by the Honorary Secretary at the written request of the Chairman, or by any four members of the Executive Committee or ten members of the Chamber. The notice calling such meetings shall be headed “Special Meeting” and shall be additional to any meeting provided for in rule 10.

14 Prior written notice of all meetings shall be given by the Secretary but failure to give written notice shall not invalidate any proceedings at any such meetings. Prior notice of all General and Annual Meetings shall be made in the local press under forth coming events.

15. Subscriptions: Every member shall pay an annual subscription of a sum which the Chamber shall from time to time determine. The subscription is due for payment within 14 days of the Annual General Meeting except in the case of new members being appointed in which case the subscription is due and payable upon election. Those becoming members partway through the year will pay a pro rata amount

16. Rules: In the event of it appearing necessary or desirable to make any alteration or additions to the Rules urgently, the Chairman shall have power at the close of any General Meeting to immediately call a specially convened meeting of the members then present in order to consider any proposals for such alterations or additions to the proposals for such alterations or additions to the rules.

17. The Chamber shall have the power to appoint a Rules Committee who after due consideration wil report to the Chamber at the next General Meeting the result of their considerations and suggestions.

18: No such alterations or additions to the Rules shall be made except by a vote of not less than two-thirds of the members present at the meeting, and notice of any proposed alterations or additions to the rules which any member desires, shall be given to the Honorary Secretary, in writing, not less than seven days before a General Meeting.

19 Attendance Register: An Attendance Register shall be kept by the Honorary Secretary of all meeting of the Chamber

20. Property: All books, stationery and office equipment shall be paid for out of the General Fund of the Chamber, and shall at all times be the property of the Chamber for its sole use only.

21; All books, accounts, receipts and other documents and property belonging to the Chamber must be handed into the custody of the Chairman by the Honorary Secretary or Honorary Treasurer or by any other Officer upon resignation from office.

22. Accounts: The Bankers of the Chamber shall be any Joint Stock Bank in Dawlish, and the Honorary Treasurer shall have the power to pay all outstanding accounts properly incurred by the Chamber in connection with any obligation incurred in the ordinary running of the Chamber. This shall include such accounts as may from time to time be incurred by reason of any such event organised by the Chamber and the Honorary Treasurer will only bring to the notice of the Chamber such outstanding accounts as, in his discretion ought to have the authority and approval of the Chamber for payment. The Honorary Treasurer shall also have the power to sign cheques for and on behalf of the Chamber with either one of the Chairman or Secretary or both.

23. The Honorary Treasurer shall present to the members at the Annual General Meeting, a duly audited statement of accounts showing all financial transactions of the Chamber up to the 31st of January each year.