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1. Name

The name of the Association shall be Tyneside Kidney Patients’ Association

2. Objects

The object for which the Association is established is to promote the welfare of persons who attend the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne and the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle upon Tyne and satellite units who are suffering from kidney disease or renal failure, and in furtherance thereof, but not otherwise.

3. Furtherance Powers

1. To promote the sharing of information between kidney patients.
2. To promote the formation of "self-help" groups among kidney patients and their families.
3. To raise the awareness concerning the donation of human organs.
4. To improve treatment facilities for patients away from home.
5. To publish information and newsletters of interest to kidney patients and their families.
6. To raise funds for the attainment of such objects as are outlined above, and in particular, for kidney patients comforts and items for the renal units.
   

1. The committee may admit to membership any person who is interested in the objects of the Association and who applies to become a member. Persons whose membership is terminated or rejected by the committee are to be informed as to the reasons for this decision, and have the right to attend a committee meeting to present their case for membership, before any final decision is made. The decision of the committee upon any such application shall be final.
2. Local Statutory Authorities and Organisations having an interest in the objects of the Association may be invited by the committee to appoint a representative from time to time to be a member of the committee and to attend all meetings.
   

6.  Committee

The general management and policy of the Association shall be subject to any resolution of the members be directed by a committee which shall meet as often as shall be required but not less than 4 times a year. Three weeks notice of committee meetings shall be given to all members of the committee.

The Honorary Officers of the Association shall be Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and other such Honorary Officers as the Annual General Meeting shall from time to time determine.

The committee shall consist of the Honorary Officers of the Association and Four other elected members.

1. Honorary Officers and Committee members may offer themselves for re-election at the Annual General Meetings subject to a limit of three continuous years of holding the same office.
2. Candidates for office must have a proposer and seconder and indicate their willingness to be elected before a nomination is accepted. Two months prior to the AGM members will be informed of the date and receive nomination papers, then one month later members will be informed of the nominations received.
3. All elected members of the Committee shall retire annually but may be available for re-election.
4. The committee may invite Presidents and Vice-Presidents as they determine from time to time.
5. In addition, the Committee may co-opt any person or persons whether or not members of the Association to serve upon the Committee thereof provided that the number of co-opted members shall not exceed one third of the total Committee. Co-opted members have full voting rights.

1. Once in every year in the month of September the Committee shall convene an Annual General Meeting at which all members shall be entitled to attend and vote for the purpose of:-

1. Receiving the reports of the Committee and Honorary Officers
2. Receiving and approving the Annual Audited Accounts of the Association.
3. Appointing the Honorary Officers of the Association
4. Electing members of the committee and generally making decisions as to the policy of the Association.
5. Appointing Auditors of the Association
6. That two months prior to the Annual General Meeting, members shall be notified of the date of the meeting and shall receive nomination papers to elect the Honorary Officers and members of the Committee for the ensuing year. One month prior to the meeting, members shall be informed in the newsletter of the nominations received.

g) A postal vote will be available for members who cannot attend the Annual General Meeting

The Committee may at any time, at their discretion, and shall upon the Secretary receiving a written request to do so, so signed by not less that 15 members giving reasons for their request, call a special general meeting of the members. For such Annual or Special General Meetings, the Chairman or Vice-Chairman shall be the Chairman, or if there be none or they shall not be present, the Chairman shall be appointed from and by members present.

All resolutions put to the members present at such meetings shall be decided by a simple majority saving where provided otherwise by these rules, of those present and entitled to vote. In cases of equality the Chairman shall have the casting vote.

1. 15 members of the Association shall form a quorum at General Meetings of the Association.
2. 60% of the total members of the Committee shall form a quorum at meetings of the Committee.
   

The powers and duties of the Committee shall be: -

1. To carry out the direction and wishes of the members as contained in any resolution of a general meeting.
2. To report to the Annual General Meeting and approve Annual Accounts for submission thereto.
3. To appoint such Sub-Committees for such purpose and delegate such powers and responsibilities to such a Sub-committee as it may think fit. Any such Sub-Committees shall report back fully and promptly to the Committee.
4. To co-opt members and non-members to serve upon itself and any Sub Committee for such time as it may think fit.
5. To appoint a substitute until the following Annual General Meeting or as long as necessary, whichever is the shorter, for any Honorary Officer or Committee member, who in the reasonable opinion of the Committee is unable or unwilling to continue his or her duties. Such appointed Honorary Officers are non-voting.
6. To arrange the place and frequency of meetings.
7. To appoint persons to sign cheques and otherwise operate the Association bank account and investments.
8. To appoint proxies to represent it at other meetings.
9. To employ any person or persons, not being members of the Committee, in the service of the Association on such terms as it shall think fit.
10. That the Committee shall have power to spend up to £1000 from accumulated funds without reference to the members. Expenditure above that sum has to be approved at a general meeting. Members must have at least 14 days prior notice. The Committee can approve expenditure of over £1000 when the money has been given as a grant or donation for a specific purpose.
11. The maximum that can be withdrawn from the bank in cash is £100/day.

    
    

9. Finance

All monies raised or held by the Association shall be applied to further the objects of the Association and for no other purposes. The Treasurer shall keep proper books of accounts of the finances of the Association and shall submit annual accounts duly audited by the Auditors of the Association to the Annual General Meeting.

There shall be a bank account in the name of the Association from which withdrawals shall be made upon cheques and authorities signed by 2 out of 3 signatories that should include the Treasurer and at least one other of the honorary officers.

10. Records

There shall be kept records of all meetings of the Association, Committee and Sub-Committee.

11. Dissolution

The Association may, by a Resolution, passed at a general Meeting of the Members by not less than three quartets of those present and entitled to vote, decide to dissolve itself. Any assets remaining upon dissolution after satisfying the debts and liabilities of the Association shall not be distributed among the Members, but shall be transferred to another Charitable Organisation with objects similar to those of the Association. In and so far as affect cannot be given to this provision, then to some other charitable purpose.

12. Alteration

Alterations to this constitution shall receive the assent of two thirds of the members present and voting at an Annual or Special General Meeting. A resolution for the alteration of the constitution must be received by the Secretary of the Association at least 21 days before the meeting at which the resolutions are brought forward. At least 14 days notice must be given by the Secretary to the membership and must include notice of the alteration proposed. Any alterations to clause 2 (Objects) and 12 (Dissolution) or this clause, shall not take effect until the approval in writing of the Charity Commissioners or other authority having charitable jurisdiction has been obtained. All other amendments shall take effect as soon as the resolution is passed. No alteration shall be made which would cause the Association to cease to be a charity in law.

Amended at the Annual General Meeting held on 25^th September 2007

Simon Lloyd, Chairman 26^th October 2007

Clause 8 a) Reduction of the quorum from 20 to 15 

Clause 7 Reduction of the quorum for a Special General Meeting from 20 to 15 

Clause 12 Alteration to the final part: Any alterations to clause 2 (Objects) and 12 (Dissolution) or this clause, shall not take effect until the approval in writing of the Charity Commissioners or other authority having charitable jurisdiction has been obtained. All other amendments shall take effect as soon as the resolution is passed. No alteration shall be made which would cause the Association to cease to be a charity in law.

2008 Amendments

6 e). Co-opted members have full voting rights

9 j) That the Committee shall have power to spend up to £1,000 from accumulated funds without reference to the members. Expenditure above that sum has to be approved at a general meeting. Members must have at least 14 days prior notice. The Committee can approve the expenditure of over £1,000 when money has been given as a grant or donation for a specific purpose.

8 k) The maximum that can be withdrawn from the bank in cash is £100/day.

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Copyright © 2008 Tyneside Kidney Patients' Association
Last modified: July 08, 2009