ARTICLE: 1: Name:  

       

           (a)- The name of the Association is Afar Community Association hereinafter

                  referred to as “ACA”.   

 

ARTICLE: 2 Principles: 

 

           (a)- The ACA shall be voluntary, self-help, social and cultural oriented      

                  non-profit making organization. 
           (b)-  It shall be a strictly non- political organisation. 
           (c)-  It shall operate both in the UK and Overseas. 

         

 

ARTICLE 3: Objectives:

 

The ACA’s objects are: 

 

(a)-  to relieve poverty, in particular, but not exclusively, for the Afar

        community, by the provision of advice  on education, employment and 

        health, advocacy  and representation in the interest of social welfare with

        object of improving the conditions of life for the said

        inhabitants/community;    
(b)- to advance the education of the Afar community by the provision and

       training on subjects such as, supplementary and literacy classes

       for adults and the Afar language and to provide general advice, information

       and support;

(c)- to advance education in the Afar traditions and folklore by the provision

       of cultural and social events; 
(d)- to promote any charitable purposes for the benefit of the public as the trustees  

       determine from time to time.

 

ARTICLE 4: Powers:

 

 With a view to furthering the objectives set out in Article 3, the Management Committee shall have and exercise the following powers: 

 

            (i)-  to organise facilities and encourage the holding of social, educational,

                   cultural, publicity and awareness days and events, for the purpose of

                   promoting and representing the Afar traditions and folklore and  to help

                   raise awareness of Afar community in the UK;
            (ii)- to work closely in partnership with statutory authorities, voluntary sectors

                   and NGOs which are engaged in education, health, immigration, social 

                   services, housing, cultural activities and leisure to facilitate the needs of 

                   the Afar community in the UK and elsewhere and to develop the

                   exchange of information, advice and experience with them in order to

                   achieve the objectives referred to in Article 3 of the ACA;

            (iii)- to foster friendly co-operation with other organisations in the sphere of

                    culture to strengthen cultural framework; 
            (iv)- to employ such staff (who shall not be members of the  Management

                    Committee) as are necessary to pursue the organisational objectives

                    of the ACA; 
            (v)-  to submit annual and, when necessary, special reports to the

                    Commission and other responsible circles on the work of the

                    organisation; 
            (vi)- to raise funds, collect and to invite and receive contributions, donations,

                    legacies, grants, and any other lawful income, and to accept and receive

                    gifts provided that in raising funds the MC shall not undertake any 

                    substantial permanent trading activities which are contrary to the

                    regulations of Charity laws; 
          (vii)- to consult and seek legal advice from specialised agencies to provide

                   advice and services to the community in accordance  with the objectives

                   and principles set out in Article 3 of the ACA;  
         (viii)- to appoint sub-committees consisting of three or more members of the

                   MC for the purpose of dealing with any inquiries or supervising or

                   performing any function or duty which in the opinion of the MC would be

                   more conveniently undertaken or carried out by a sub-committee:

                   provided that all acts and proceedings of any such  sub-committees

                   shall be fully and promptly reported to the management committee;
          (ix)-  to encourage and support research work, conferences and seminar

                   activities to further identify the needs of the community. 

 

ARTICLE 5: Membership:  

          (a)-  Membership in the ACA is open to all Afars who accept and support the principles

                  and objectives contained in the present constitution of the ACA, and are able and

                  willing to pay the annual subscription laid down from time to time by the

                  Management Committee. 
          (b)-  Membership in the ACA shall be open to non Afar persons if his or her application

                  may receives acceptance from the Management Committee of the ACA; and meets

                  the ordinary conditions and obligations of membership of Article 5 paragraph (a);
          (c)-  The minimum age for membership shall be eighteen years of age; 
          (d)-  The MC shall keep a register of all paid-up members. 

 

ARTICLE 6: Cessation of Membership shall be:            

          (i)-  upon death.
         (ii)-  by resignation in writing to the MC. 
        (iii)-  by expulsion by a general meeting on the recommendations of the MC.
        (iv)-  The MC shall have power to terminate membership of anyone who is deliberately

                  committed to violate the objectives and principles of the ACA. A member who has

                  had their membership terminated shall entitle to make an appeal against the

                  decision of the MC, if they think the decision is wrong. An appeal must be made

                  within 14 days to the MC. The MC shall refer his or her case to the special

                  Disciplinary Committee or sub-committees for investigation and judgement.

                 The sub-committee’s decision will be final.

 

ARTICLE 7: Rights and Duties:  
                                       

        Rights:  
          (i)-   The organisation is based on the principles of the equal rights and opportunities of

                  all its members- discrimination on the grounds of political opinions, nationality,

                  religion, sex, agenda and social status is prohibited; 
          (ii)-  All members shall have the right to express their views freely;

         (iii)-  A full member has the right to be elected to an office and to elect officers of the

                  ACA provided he or she has been active in the activities of the ACA for at least

                  four months;
          (iv)- Every member of the ACA present in person at a general meeting shall have one

                  vote; 
           (v)- The Chairman of the ACA shall be entitled to have a casting vote in the case of a

                  tie;   

         Duties:  
          (i)-  All members of the ACA are required to pay the relevant membership fees and the

                 relevant annual membership renewal subscription.            

 

ARTICLE 8:  Honorary Officers: 

 

         (a)-   At a general meeting of the ACA the members shall elect from amongst themselves

                  a chairman, a secretary and a treasurer, who shall hold the office from the time of

                  the resolution of that meeting.  

 

ARTICLE 9: Management Committee: 
 

          (a)- The Management Committee shall consist of not less than five persons - the number

                 to be decided by a general meeting of the  ACA. The MC shall adopt its Rules of

                 Procedures to successfully manage its charitable  work and services.

 

The Management Committee will consist of:

(1)- Chairman:  
              (i)-  responsible for orderly conduct of and chairing of the MC meeting; 
             (ii)- be a category “A” signatory of all accounts;  

(2)- Secretary:  
              (i)-  responsible for the coherent transaction of general administrative policy of the

                     MC  including  corresponding with national and international bodies and

                     organisations.
              (ii)- responsible for calling all meetings after consultation with chairman.
             (iii)- be a category “A” signatory to all accounts in the absence of the chairman.

 (3)- Treasurer:  
               (i)- Responsible for the financial records of the ACA.
              (ii)- Shall be a category “A” signatory to all accounts.  
             (iii)-The Committee shall be elected each year at the annual meeting;   
             (iv)- All the members of  the management committee shall resign or retire from the

                     office at the end of  the annual general meeting two years after the date on which

                     they come into office; 
              (v)- Retiring Committee shall be eligible for re-election again without nomination;  
             (vi)- Nobody shall be appointed as members of the M C who is under 18 years of age;             (vii)- No person shall be entitled to act as member of the MC on his or her first or any 
                      subsequent entry into the office before signing in the minutes’ book of the MC.  

 

ARTICLE 10:Termination of Membership of Management Committee shall be ifhe/she : 

         

                 (i)- is disqualified from acting as a member of the MC by virtue of section 72 of the

                       Charity Act of 1993;
                (ii)- becomes incapable by reason of mental disorder, illness or injury of managing

                        and administering his or her own affairs;
               (iii)- is absent without the permission of the MC from all their regular meetings held

                        within a period of six months and the MC resolve that his or her office be

                        vacated; resigns in writing to the MC.  

 

ARTICLE 11: Management Committee Membership not to have a Personal Interest. 

 

                 (a)- No member of the MC shall have an interest in property belonging to the ACA;

                        or receive remuneration. Therefore the income and property of the ACA shall

                        be applied solely towards the promotion of the objects of the Association as set

                        out in Article 3 of this constitution.  

 

ARTICLE 12: Meetings and Procedures of the Management Committee.  

                 (a)- The MC shall hold at least six periodic meetings each year at the community

                        centre to discuss the needs and assess the progress of the community work.
                 (b)- The ACA shall meet in regular annual session and in such special session as

                        occasion may require.
                 (c)- The chairman shall act as the chairman at all meetings of the Management

                        Committee.
                 (d)- In the absence of the chairman the Secretary shall act as the chairman at

                        meetings 
                 (e)- Decision of the MC shall be on the basis of a majority vote of members of the

                        MC.
                 (f)- The MC shall always keep minutes, in books kept for the purpose, of the

                        proceedings at meetings of the MC and for the purpose of registering or

                        collecting signatures from non ordinary members’ visitors to the ACA.  

 

ARTICLE 13: Receipt & Expenditure and Banking Accounts:  

                             

                  (a)- Grants and all donations or contributions to the ACA shall be paid into ACA’s                          account operated by the  Management Committee in the name of the ACA. 
                 (b)- All cheques drawn on the account must be signed by at least two members of

                        the Management Committee.
                 (c)- The fund shall be administered by the Management Committee;
                 (d)- The funds belonging to the ACA shall be applied only in the interests of

                        achieving the objectives set out in Article 3 of the ACA.  

 

ARTICLE 14: Accounts:  

                            

                   (a)- The MC shall comply with its obligations with regard to the accounting

                        requirements for the Charities Act of 1993 and other relevant statutory

                        legislation or re-enactment of that Act with regard to:

                  (1)- the keeping of accounting records for the ACA;  
                  (2)- the preparation of annual statements of account for the ACA; 
                  (3)- the auditing, or an independent examination, of the statements of account

                          of the ACA; and 
                  (4)- the preparation of an annual report and the sending of it together with the

                          statement of accounts of the ACA to the Charity Commission; 
                  (b)- A copy of the statement of account of the ACA shall be sent to the Charity

                         Commission.  

 

ARTICLE 15: Annual General Meeting:  

 

                   (a)- The Annual General Meeting of the ACA shall be held in July of each year

                          or as soon as practicable thereafter;
                   (b)- The general policy of the ACA shall be determined by the Annual General

                          Meeting (hereinafter referred  as to AGM). The Secretary of the ACA shall

                          give at least 21 days notice of the meeting. 
                   (c)-  The Annual General Meeting shall perform the following duties:  

                               (i)- Elect 3 MC members; 
                              (ii)- Approve annual budgets and plans;
                             (iii)- Receive financial reports from the auditors; 
                             (iv)- Reviews and assess the progress of the Management Committee; 
                              (v)- A simple majority at AGM will constitute a quorum; 
                             (vi)- Election of the MC and amendments of the constitution shall be

                                     by secret ballot;
                            (vii)- Non MC and amendment voting will be by show of hands;
                           (viii)- Any decision of the ACA shall be made by a majority of the members

                                      present and voting.  

 

ARTICLE 16: Special General Meeting: 

 

                    (a)- A Special General Meeting shall be called by the MC at the request

                           of a majority of the Members of the ACA. The reasons for the meeting

                           must be stated clearly. At least 21 days' notice must be given to arrange

                           such a meeting.   

 

ARTICLE 17: Dissolution:  

 

  If the MC decides that it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the ACA it shall call a meeting of all members of the ACA, of which not less than 21 days' notice (stating the terms of the resolution to be proposed) shall be given. If the proposal is confirmed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting, the Management Committee shall  have power to realise assets held on or behalf of the ACA. Any assets remaining after the satisfaction of any  proper debts and liabilities shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institution or institutions having objects similar to the object of the charity (as determined by the members of the ACA) or, failing that, shall be applied to some other charitable purpose.  

 

ARTICLE 18: Amendments:  

 

  The present constitution may be amended if a members makes a written request to that effect to the Management Committee of the Afar Community Association' general meeting which may adopt, by simple majority, the draft amendment after all members have been duly informed of it and the Honorary Committee has given its opinions  on the amendment.

 

AFAR COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION IN UK

By: Management Committee of ACA 

Copy Rights ©2005 Afar Community Association in UK, All Rights Reserved.

 

REGISTERED CHARITY No: 1108011