1. Name:
The name of the Association shall be Homerton College Retired Senior Members hereinafter referred to as the Association.
2. Foundation:
At the date of adopting this new title and Constitution the Association shall continue to assume ownership of all the rights, privileges, assets and liabilities of the Retired Senior Members of Homerton College Cambridge.
3. Objectives:
3.1 To promote and facilitate continuing contact between Retired Senior Members and the College.
3.2 To foster and encourage social and intellectual contact between Retired Senior Members and present members of the College staff.
3.3 To promote social events on a regular basis to which guests may be invited.
3.4 To provide a communication and information network on appropriate matters of common interest.
4. Attainment of objectives:
The Association shall seek to attain these objectives by:
4.1 arranging meetings, social events, visits and such other activities as maybe deemed appropriate by the membership;
4.2 assuming a pastoral role as appropriate for members not able to attendmeetings or social events because of illness or adversity.
5. Eligibility for Membership:
5.1 Retired members of the Academic Staff and senior members of the Administrative Staff who are invited by the Principal to become Retired Senior Members of Homerton College with the rights and privileges as set out in Category Three of the Structure of Membership of Homerton College. [Appended at the end of this document.]
5.2 The Principal may, with the agreement of the Executive Committee of the Association, invite others who have been closely associated with Homerton College, to become members of the Association.
6. Subscriptions:
6.1 All members as defined in 5.1 above shall pay a Life Membership Subscription, the amount of which shall be determined by the Annual General Meeting and which may be amended from time to time.
6.2 This Meeting shall also determine any appropriate subscription for other classes of membership should this be applicable.
6.3 Other contributions may be invited from time to time as necessary for charitable or other purposes, in accordance with the Objectives of the Association, as approved by the AGM.
7. Organisational Structure:
7.1 The activities of the Association shall be organised by an Executive Committee, which shall comprise the Chair, Secretary and Treasurer, termed the Officers of the Association and up to three Ordinary Members.
7.2 The Executive Committee comprising the Officers of the Association and the Ordinary Members shall meet from time to time as necessary between one AGM and the next.
7.3 A quorum for a published meeting of the Committee shall not be less than THREE members of which at least ONE shall be an Officer.
7.4 The Secretary shall be responsible for preparing and circulating to other Members of the Committee, the Agenda and Minutes of the previous Committee Meeting, and to all Members of the Association the Agenda for the AGM together with the Minutes of the previous AGM which should also incorporate the previous year's Accounts.
7.5 The AGM shall be held at some time during the Homerton College Reunion in each year.
7.6 The Chair of the Association or, in his or her absence, another Officer, shall chair the Annual General Meeting and a quorum shall consist of at least TWELVE Members.
It shall be the function of the AGM to:
[i] approve the Minutes of the last meeting and the Accounts of the previous year.
[ii] appoint an Honorary auditor.
[iii] elect the Executive Committee i.e. the Officers of the Association and up to THREE Ordinary Members in accordance with the Rules for Election.
7.8 Items for the Agenda of the AGM shall be submitted to the Secretary not less than THREE weeks before the AGM and the Agenda shall be published not less than TWO weeks prior to the date of the meeting.
7.10 The rules shall not be altered nor rescinded except with the consent of at least two thirds of the members present and voting at the AGM.
7.11 In the event of special business requiring the views of the Membership, the Committee may convene an Extraordinary General Meeting during the course of the year. TWO weeks' notice shall be given for such a meeting.
7.12 SIX members may call and EGM by sending a written request for such a meeting stating their reasons. Not less than THREE weeks' notice shall be given for such a meeting.
8. Election of Executive Committee:
8.1 The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chair, Secretary and Treasurer, termed the Officers of the Association and up to THREE Ordinary members.
8.2 The Executive Committee shall be elected or re-elected each year by the AGM. In the event of an Officer relinquishing post during the course of the year, between AGMs, the Executive Committee shall appoint a new Officer. This appointment to be conformed at the subsequent AGM.
8.3 The members of the Executive Committee shall not serve for more than FIVE consecutive years..
8.4 Retiring members of the Executive Committee may be eligible for re-election after an interval on ONE year.
8.5 Nominations for the Executive Committee shall be made in writing to the Secretary not less than TWO weeks before the date of the AGM.
8.6 If an Ordinary member of the Executive Committee is elected to any of the three Offices of the Association, he or she may than serve for up to a total of FIVE years to include any previous service on the Executive Committee, but for no longer than TEN years in aggregate on the Committee
9. Conduct of the Meetings:
9.1 The Chair at any meeting of the Association shall have a casting vote in the event of votes for and against any single issue being equal.
10. Financial Year:
10.1 The Associations' Financial Year shall be 1 August to 31 July in each year.
10.2 The Treasurer shall be responsible for maintaining financial records and accounts in such a manner as to ensure that they may be audited and presented to the AGM in accordance with the best accounting practice.
10.3 The accounts shall be audited by the Honorary Auditor appointed at the AGM.
This Constitution was approved and adopted by the AGM of the Homerton College Retired Senior Members Association on 15th October, 2004.
