The Huddersfield & District Coronary Support Group

Constitution

Constitution and Rules

1. NAME:

The name of the group shall be Heartline – The Huddersfield and District Coronary Support Group.

2. AIMS & OBJECTIVES:

2.1 To relieve, comfort and support people who have suffered
coronary heart disease within Huddersfield and the
surrounding area.

2.2 To provide or secure the provision of facilities for the welfare

2.3 To assist in the education about prevention of heart disease.

2.4 To provide or assist in providing facilities for the recreation or other leisure-time occupation of such people with a view to
improving their quality of life

In order to further these objectives:

2.5 To raise funds and to co-operate with other voluntary and
statutory bodies

2.6 To do all things as are necessary for the attainment of any or all of the above objectives

3. MEMBERSHIP:

3.1 Full membership of the group shall be open to anyone in
the area who suffers from coronary heart disease or their
partner

3.2 Membership shall be open to relatives and other people
interested in the above objectives

3.3 Honorary membership shall be open to people with
special knowledge and/or experience of heart disease

3.4 The rate of subscription shall be determined at each
Annual General Meeting

3.5 All members ( including honorary members ) shall have
the right to vote.

4. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING:

An Annual General Meeting (A.G.M.) of the members of Heartline shall be held within three months of the end of the financial year for the purpose of receiving the annual report of the committee, of considering the accounts and for the election of officers and members of the committee.

5. SPECIAL:

The Chair or the Secretary may at any time at their discretion and/or within twenty-one days of receiving a written request so to do, signed by not less than twelve members having the power to vote, and giving reasons for the request, call a Special General Meeting of Heartline for the purposes of altering the Constitution in accordance with clause 11 (below) or of considering any matter which may be referred to them by the Committee or for any other purpose.

6. Officers:

At the A.G.M.,the members of Heartline shall elect a Chair, Treasurer, Secretary and committee members. In the event of no Secretary being elected then the Committee shall appoint a Secretary who will be reimbursed by way of an Honorarium. Casual vacancies amongst the officers shall be filled at the discretion of the Committee.

7. THE COMMITTEE:

The Committee shall consist of:-

7.1 The officers of Heartline – Chair, Treasurer and Secretary

7.2 Additional members will be appointed from time to time as deemed necessary

7.3 The Committee may co-opt others with specialist knowledge and relevant experience as voted necessary.

8. PROCEDURE AT ALL MEETINGS:

8.1 Voting

Subject to clause 11, all questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a simple majority of those present and entitled to vote. No member shall exercise more than one vote, notwithstanding that he/she may have been appointed to represent more than one interest. In the case of no majority being reached then the Chair shall have the final casting vote.

8.2 Quorum

5 committee members will form a forum of which two from the Chair, Treasurer or Secretary must be present.

8.3 Minutes

Minutes shall be kept of committee meetings and management and other sub-committees for a minimum of six years.

8.4 Sub-Committees

Each activity will have a representative i.e. exercise, bowling, swimming, walking, dancing and any other activity that the committee establishes with the agreement of the members.

9. FINANCE:

9.1 The financial year shall run from the first of April until the 31st March.

9.2 The Treasurer shall keep proper accounts of the finances of Heartline and these to be retained for a seven-year period

9.3 The income and property of Heartline shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objectives of Heartline as set out in clause 2 above and no payment made to any member or officer except the reimbursement of agreed expenses, with the exception of an honorarium for a Secretary as specified in 6 above

9.4 A statement of audited accounts for the financial year shall be submitted to the A.G.M. for approval and retained for seven years

9.5 A bank account shall be held in the name of Heartline. All
payments from this shall be sanctioned by two members of the committee whose signatures shall be on all cheques. There shall be 4 nominated signatures of which 2 must be on any cheque and one of which must be the Treasurer.

10. DISSOLUTION

If the Committee decide, on the grounds of expense or otherwise, that it is desirable that Heartline shall be dissolved, it shall call a Special General Meeting by giving 21 days postal notice in writing to each member stating the terms of any such resolution.
If it is decided at the SGM by a simple majority of those present and voting that Heartline should be wound up the Committee shall do so. After all liabilities are paid, then any such balance of Heartline shall be donated to the British Heart Foundation.

11. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTUION

This constitution may be amended by a resolution passed by a simple majority of those present and voting at any general meeting of Heartline providing that any proposed amendments have been notified to members no less than 14 days preceding such a meeting in accordance with the above.

This constitution was adopted at a meeting held on the.…………………….

Signed;………………………………………………Chair

……………………………………………… Secretary.