Cambridge Astronomical Association Constitution
Registered Charity Number 800782
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1. NAME
The name of the organisation shall be THE CAMBRIDGE ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION, hereafter called CAA.
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2. OBJECTS
The objects of CAA are:
To promote and advance public education in the Science of Astronomy and the provision of facilities for active participation in astronomical observation.
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3. MEMBERSHIP
Membership will be open to all persons, with the membership fee covering all family members living at one address.
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4. MANAGEMENT
(i) Officers: The CAA shall appoint at least three Officers into the roles of Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary.
(ii) Additional Members: A Management Committee shall be formed to include The Officers and such other additional members as are decided by a resolution of the membership at a General Meeting.
(iii) Other Posts: The Management Committee may assign at its discretion the posts of Events Secretary, Librarian, Webmaster and Newsletter editor and other roles to members of the Management Committee or others at its sole discretion and change these assignments at any time.
(iv) Re-election of Officers: The Officers shall be subject to re-election annually at the Annual General Meeting.
(v) Term: Management Committee members shall be elected for a period of three years and then become subject to re-election at the next Annual General Meeting
(vi) Meetings: The Management Committee shall meet at least four times a year.
(vii) Quorum: The quorum at a meeting of the Management Committee of the CAA shall include at least one of the Officers and must be a total of whichever is the least of three or one half of the number of persons serving on the Management Committee including the Officers
(viii)Minutes: Minutes shall be kept by the Management Committee and the Secretary shall enter a record of all the proceedings and resolutions.
(ix) Voting: Each member shall have one vote. The Chairman is entitled to vote at all times and, in addition, shall have a second casting vote in the event of a tie.
(x) Resolutions shall be decided on a show of hands.
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5. GENERAL MEETINGS
(i) ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: The CAA shall hold an Annual General Meeting each year to receive an Annual Report and audited accounts and consider such resolutions as may be proposed and seconded by the members present.
(ii) SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING: The Chairman of the CAA or not less than four members may at any time call a Special General Meeting of the CAA.
(iii) NOTICE: Fourteen days written notice shall be given to members for an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting.
(iv) QUORUM: The quorum at any General Meeting of the CAA shall be whichever is the lesser of 20 members or two-thirds of the total membership.
(v) RESOLUTIONS: Resolutions of a general meeting must be proposed, seconded and then shall be decided on a show of hands of those present.
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6. AFFILIATION
Affiliation to other similar organisations will be at the discretion of the Management Committee.
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7. FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
(i) All membership fees shall be paid by annual subscription, as shall be decided from time to time by the Management Committee of the CAA.
(ii) The CAA financial year shall run from 1st April to 31st March.
(iii) The Management Committee may maintain insurance policies for any property of the association at its discretion up to its full value.
(iv) The Management Committee shall maintain Public Liability insurance in respect of the running of any of its events be they open to members or to the public and whether they be free of charge or paid/ticketed events.
(v) Upon proper written notice being served upon the Management Committee by not less than five members, the Treasurer shall within 21 days of receipt of such notice make the accounts available for examination.
(vi) All monies raised by or on behalf of the CAA shall be applied to further the aims of the CAA and for no other purpose, provided that nothing herein contained shall prevent the payment in good faith of reasonable and proper remuneration and out-of-pocket expenses of any employee or officer of the CAA and provided also that no member of the Management Committee shall be appointed to a salaried position.
(vii) The Treasurer shall keep proper accounts of the finances of the CAA.
(viii)The accounts shall be audited at least once a year by the Auditor or Auditors appointed at the Annual General Meeting.
(ix) An audited Statement of the Accounts for the last financial year should be submitted by the Management Committee to the Annual General Meeting.
(x) A bank account shall be opened in the name of the CAA with such bank as the Management Committee shall from time to time decide. The Treasurer, Chairman and an additional member of the Management Committee can sign cheques on behalf of the CAA. All cheques must be signed by not less than two persons
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8. ALTERATIONS TO CONSTITUTION
Alterations to the Constitution will require the assent of a two-thirds majority of members present and voting. Resolutions for such alterations shall be received by the Secretary at least 21 clear days before the meeting at which the resolution is to be put. The Secretary shall give members at least 14 clear days' notice in writing of such a meeting and shall include notice of the alteration proposed, provided that no amendment shall be made to this clause (8.), clause 2 or clause 9, without the written consent in advance of the Charity Commissioners and that no amendment shall be made which would cause the CAA to cease to be a charity at law.
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9. DISSOLUTION
The CAA may at any time be dissolved by a resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at a meeting of the CAA, of which at least 21 clear days notice shall have been given of such proposed dissolution. Such resolution may give instructions for the disposal of any assets held by, or in the name of the CAA, provided that if any property remains after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, such property shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the CAA, but should be given or transferred to some other charitable institutions having aims similar to some or all of the aims of the Group, as the Group may, with approval of the Charity Commissioners or other Authority having charitable jurisdiction, determine. Registered Charity No. 800782.