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RVI Eye Dept User Group Constitution

1. NAME
2. The Name of the Organisation is The Royal Victoria Infirmary Eye Department Visually Impaired Users Group (RVI Eye Dept. V.I. Users Group)

   The area of benefit is: The North East of England

3. AIMS

• • The Aims of the Organisation are: The advancement of education relating to visual impairment with the object of improving the quality of life of people with a visual impairment as well as their families and specifically to work with and on behalf of patients and staff of the RVI Eye Department and other hospitals in the area of benefit

3. POWERS

• • In order to achieve its Aims the Organisation has the power to:

1. 1. Employ and pay staff (who cannot be members of the Committee)
   2. Co-operate with other organisations such as voluntary bodies, charities and the statutory authorities and also to exchange information and advice with them;
   3. Undertake research to assist in improving services for, and raising the awareness level of clinical and general medical staff working with, the visually impaired
   4. Campaign for the improvement in provision of services for the visually impaired including raising the awareness level of clinical and general medical staff working with the visually impaired
   5. Raise funds by any lawful means except permanent trading;
   6. Accept gifts either for a specific purpose connected with the Aims or for the general Aims;
   7. Do anything else within the law that is necessary in carrying out the Aims.

4. MEMBERSHIP

1. 1. Membership is open to anyone over the age of 18 years and living in the area of benefit who wishes to support the Aims
   2. Every member has one vote at General Meetings.
   3. A member may resign their membership at any time.
   4. The Committee shall have the right to terminate the membership of any member for good and sufficient reason but the member shall have the right to put their case to a Committee meeting before a decision is made.
   5. The Committee may decide to have non-voting categories of membership including junior membership, associate membership and honorary membership.
   6. The Committee must keep a list of members.

5. MEMBERS MEETINGS

1. 1. An Annual General Meeting, of which 14 days public notice shall be given, shall be held in each calendar year to deal with the following business:

1. 1. 1. Receive the Committee’s report and accounts for the previous year;
      2. Elect the Committee for the following year;
      3. Deal with any other matter which the Committee or members wish to raise.

1. 1. A Special General Meeting of all members may be held at any time if called by the Committee or if at least five members ask the Committee to arrange such a meeting. 14 days notice shall be given to members of such a meeting.
   2. The Chairperson of the Committee or in their absence some other person elected by the meeting takes the chair at General Meetings.

5. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

1. 1. The Committee is the body responsible for the management of the Organisation. It will meet as required but not less than twice in each year.
   2. The Committee consists of a minimum of three and a maximum of nine members of the Organisation
   3. The members of the Committee are elected annually at the Annual General Meeting and normally hold office until the end of the Annual General Meeting the following year.
   4. Candidates who wish to stand for election to the Committee must be nominated and seconded by other members and shall make themselves known to the chairperson at the relevant point in the AGM.
   5. At the first meeting of the Committee in every year the members must appoint from among themselves a Chairperson, a Treasurer and such other honorary officers as they think fit.
   6. A member of the Committee must give the Chairperson a written note of their intention to resign.
   7. If anyone resigns from the Committee during the year the Committee has the power to fill the vacancy by co-option; a co-opted member has the same voting powers and will hold office for the same period as the Committee member replaced.
   8. The Committee must keep minutes of its meetings and proceedings and keep safe all records relating to the Organisation.

5. QUORUM

1. 1. No decision may be taken at Committee Meetings unless at least 3 members are present.
   2. No decision may be taken at a General Meeting unless there are either ten members or one third of the members present. If there are insufficient members present then the meeting may be adjourned for at least 14 days and the number present at the adjourned meeting if at least three will mean that the meeting can make decisions.

5. VOTING
6. Every question at General meetings or Committee meetings is decided by a majority of the votes cast by the members present. In the case of equality of votes the Chairperson of the meeting has a second or casting vote.
7. FINANCE

1. 1. All funds belonging to or raised for the Organisation must be paid directly into an account operated by, and in the name of, the Organisation at a bank or building society.
   2. All cheques drawn on the account must be signed by at least two members of the Committee.
   3.  
   4. No member of the Committee may be employed by the Organisation or receive any payment or other benefit from its funds except for reasonable out of pocket expenses properly incurred for the purposes of the Organisation.
   5. All funds belonging to the Organisation may only be used in furthering the Aims

5. AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION

• • This Constitution may be amended at a General Meeting if agreed by at least two thirds of the members present and voting. No changes may be made to:

1. 1. Clause 2 if they would make the objectives of the Organisation uncharitable
   2. Clause 11 (The Dissolution Clause).

5. DISSOLUTION

• • If the Committee decides at any time that it is necessary to dissolve the Organisation it shall call a Meeting of all members.

1. 1. If two-thirds of the members present vote in favour of dissolving the Organisation the Committee shall have power to wind up the affairs of the Organisation.
   2. Any assets remaining after the satisfaction of proper debts and liabilities shall be transferred to one, or a number of, voluntary organisations or registered charities with charitable Aims similar to those of the Organisation.
   12. ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION

This Constitution was adopted at a General Meeting held on 28 September 2001