Adopted on the 30th Day of April 2008
1. Title
1.1. The Organisation shall be called Cambourne Stories, hereafter to be referred to as "the Organisation".
2. Administration
2.1. Subject to matters set out below the Organisation and its property shall be administered and managed by the members of an Executive Committee in accordance with clause 7 of this document.
3. Objects/Aims
3.1. To promote learning through and about arts activities in Cambourne.
3.2. To organise an annual programme of participatory arts and cultural experiences for people of all ages in Cambourne.
3.3. To support existing provision including festivals and community celebrations in Cambourne.
4. Powers
The Executive Committee may further the objects through the exercise of the following powers:
4.1. To raise funds and to invite and receive contributions provided that in raising funds the Executive Committee shall not undertake any substantial permanent trading activities and shall confirm to any relevant requirements by law;
4.2. To buy, take on lease or in exchange any property necessary for the achievement of the objects and to maintain and equip it for use;
4.3. To employ such staff (who shall not be members of the Executive Committee) as are necessary for the proper pursuit of the object and to make all reasonable and necessary provision for the proper payment of such staff.
4.4. to co-operate with other charities, voluntary bodies and statutory authorities operating in furtherance of the objects or of similar charitable purposes and exchange information and advice with them;
4.5. To establish or support charitable trusts, associations or institutions formed for all or any of the objects;
4.6. To appoint and constitute such advisory committees as the Executive Committee may think fit.
4.7. To do all such lawful things as are necessary for the achievement of the objects.
5. Membership
5.1. Membership of the Organisation shall be open to:
5.1.1. All residents of Cambourne and the neighbouring parishes of Bourn, Caldecote, Caxton, Childerley, Elsworth and Knapwell interested in furthering the works of the Organisation and who have paid any annual subscription laid down from time to time by the Executive Committee.
5.1.2. Other members of the public interested in furthering the works of the Organisation and who have paid any annual subscription laid down from time to time by the Executive Committee.
5.1.3. Any body corporate or unincorporated association which is interested in furthering the Organisation's work and has paid an annual subscription (known in this document as a 'member organisation').
5.2. Every member over 18 will have one vote; views of younger members will be taken into consideration.
5.3. Each member organisation shall appoint an individual to represent it and to vote on its behalf at meetings of the Organisation; and may appoint an alternative to replace its representative at any meeting of the Organisation if the appointed representative is unable to attend.
5.4. Each member organisation shall notify the name of the representative appointed by it and of any alternative to the Organisation's Secretary. If the representative or the alternative resigns from or otherwise leaves the member organisation, s/he will forthwith cease to be the representative of the member organisation.
5.5. The Executive Committee may unanimously and for good reason terminate the membership of any individual or member organisation provided that the individual or the appointed representative of the member organisation concerned shall have the right to be heard by the Executive Committee before a final decision is made.
6. Executive Officers
The Officers of the Executive Committee of the Organisation shall be as follows:
6.1. Chairperson
6.2. Secretary
6.3. Treasurer
6.4. All Officers shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Organisation, from, and by, the Members of the Organisation.
6.5. All Officers are elected for a period of one year, but may be re-elected to the same office or another office the following year.
7. Executive Committee
7.1. An Executive Committee comprising the Executive Officers of the Organisation and no more than 8 other Members elected from, and by, the Full Members of the Organisation shall manage the affairs of the Organisation.
7.2. The Executive Committee shall meet at agreed intervals and not less than four times per year.
7.3. The Executive Committee will keep accurate accounts of the finances of the Organisation through the Treasurer. These should be available for reasonable inspection by Members and should be audited, whenever necessary, before every Annual General Meeting. The Organisation shall maintain a bank current account and the Chairperson; Treasurer and Secretary shall be authorised to sign Organisation cheques.
7.4. The Executive Committee may co-opt additional members of the Committee as the Committee feels this is necessary. Co-opted members shall not be entitled to a vote on the Committee.
7.5. To make decisions on the basis of a simple majority vote. In the case of equal votes, the Chairperson shall be entitled to an additional casting vote.
7.6. Nobody aged under 18 shall be appointed to the Executive Committee.
7.7. Each person acting as a member of the Executive Committee will sign the minute book of the Executive Committee declaring a commitment to act in pursuit of the objects of the Organisation under the terms of the Constitution.
8. General meetings
8.1. The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than the end of November each year. Twenty one clear days' written notice shall be given to Members of the Annual General Meeting by circulating a copy of the notice to every member at their home address and posting the notice on the Organisation notice board. Members must advise the Secretary in writing of any business to be moved at the Annual General Meeting at least 21 days before a meeting. The Secretary shall circulate or give notice of the agenda for the meeting to Members not less than 14 days before the meeting.
8.2. The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be to:
8.2.1. Confirm the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting and any General Meetings held since the last Annual General Meeting.
8.2.2. Receive the audited accounts for the year from the Treasurer.
8.2.3. Receive the annual report of the Committee from the Secretary.
8.2.4. Elect an auditor (if required).
8.2.5. Elect the Officers of the Organisation i.e. Chairperson; Secretary; Treasurer and other Executive Committee Members.
8.2.6. Review subscription rates and agree them for the forthcoming year.
8.2.7. Transact such other business received in writing by the Secretary from Members 14 days prior to the meeting and included on the agenda.
8.2.8. The agenda could provide for "Any Other Business", but Members should be encouraged to refer other items to the Executive Committee and give the required notice for important Annual General Meeting business.
8.3. Special General Meetings may be convened by the Executive Committee or on receipt by the Secretary of a request in writing from not less than 12 Full Members of the Organisation. At least 21 days' notice of the meeting shall be given.
8.4. Nomination of candidates for election of Officers shall be made in writing to the Secretary at least 14 days in advance of the Annual General Meeting date. Nominations can only be made by Full Members and must be seconded by another Full Member.
8.5. At all General Meetings, the chair will be taken by the Chairperson or, in their absence, by a deputy appointed by the Organisation or by Full Members attending the meeting.
8.6. Decisions made at a General Meeting shall be by a simple majority of votes from those Full Members attending the meeting. In the event of equal votes, the Chairperson shall be entitled to an additional casting vote.
8.7. A quorum for a General Meeting shall be 2 Full Members and 2 Officers of the Organisation.
8.8. Each Full Member of the Organisation shall be entitled to one vote at General Meetings.
9. Alterations to the Constitutions
9.1. Any proposed alterations to the Organisation Constitution may only be considered at an Annual or Special General Meeting convened with the required written notice of the proposal. Any alteration or amendment must be proposed by a Full Member of the Organisation and seconded by another Full Member. Such alterations shall be passed if supported by not less than two-thirds of those Full Members present at the meeting, assuming that a quorum has been achieved.
10. Dissolution
10.1. If, at any General Meeting of the Organisation, a resolution be passed calling for the dissolution of the Organisation, the Secretary shall immediately convene a Special General Meeting of the Organisation to be held not less than one month thereafter to discuss and vote on the resolution.
10.2. If, at that Special General Meeting, the resolution is carried by at least two-thirds of the Full Members present at the meeting, the Executive Committee shall thereupon, or at such date as shall have been specified in the resolution, proceed to realise the assets of the Organisation and discharge all debts and liabilities of the Organisation.
10.3. After discharging all debts and liabilities of the Organisation, the remaining assets shall not be paid or distributed amongst the Full Members of the Organisation, but shall be given or transferred to some other voluntary organisation having objects similar to those of the Organisation.
11. Arrangements until the First Annual General Meeting
11.1. Until the first AGM takes place this constitution shall take effect as if references in it to the Executive Committee were references to the persons whose signatures appear below.
11.2. This constitution was adopted on the date shown at the head of the document by the persons whose signatures appear below.
| Chairperson | |
| Secretary | |
| Treasurer | |
| Alan Gibson | Executive Member |
| Nicole Baker-Chambers | Executive Member |
| Mrs Joan Duncan | Executive Member |
| Pat Callaghan | Executive Member |
| Andrew Tanser | Executive Member |