Blikkiesdorp Constitution

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CONSTITUTION OF BLIKKIESDORP 4 HOPE

1. Preamble:

1.1 Problem Statement

Blikkiesdorp as an Informal Settlement facing deeply sited socio – economic problems as a result of the legacy of the apartheid system.  The levels of social degradation, unemployment and crime have soared to epidemic proportions over the years.

2. Name

1.1The organization hereby constituted will be call BLIKKIESDORP 4 HOPE

1.2 Its shortened name will be B4H, hereinafter referred to as the Foundation

3. Vision and Mission

Blikkiesdorp 4 Hope must provide a platform to build partnership amongst all sectors of the community and including efficient and effective public sector, and to ensure that all stakeholders act in unison for the common good of the residents of Blikkiesdorp.

4. Objectives

The organization is a non- profit civil society organization which is independent of all party and electoral politics which is establish for the following reasons:

4.1 To improve the living conditions of informal settlement dwellers with a special focus on asserting the human dignity of the community

4.2 Working to develop and sustain co – operative projects aimed at generating income for settlement dwellers

4.3 Working to ensure that settlement dwellers receive the support from the state due to them by law such as, but not limited to, free excess to education, health care, clean water, sanitation and electricity

4.4 Working to actively oppose all forms of prejudice within Informal Settlements including sexism, racism, xenophobia, ageism, disability and HIV / AIDS stigma

4.5 Working to advance the status and rights of women and children within Informal Settlements

4.6 Working to challenge the policies and actions of the state, universities, international organizations and NGO’s when they are not in the interest of informal settlement dwellers

5. GUIDING PRINCIPLES

B4H shall uphold the principles of:

5.1 Equality among all organizations represented in B4H

5.2 Respect of the integrity and autonomy of all members participating in B4H

5.3 Freedom of speech to ensure that settlement dwellers express their views loudly, clearly and directly in all areas and levels of society

5.4 Openness and public accountability to all members of B4H

5.5 All decisions taken at B4H is binding to all affiliates

6. Membership and General Meetings

6.1 Individuals can become members after approaching the Executive Committee

6.2 Equality among all members representative in B4H

6.3 A member may resign if he/she can’t longer serving properly because of a mental disorder, illness, domestic / work related affairs

6.4 Offer constructive criticism

7.Structure

7.1 The executive committee will manage the Organization and will be made up of no less than 5 members. They are the office bearers of the organization. The executive comprises of Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, Secretary, Deputy Secretary and Treasurer, two spokespersons also include two adhocs and ten additional members

7.2 Office bearers will serve for one year, but they can stand for re – election for another term in office after that, depending on the kind of service given to the Community

7.3 If a member of the executive does not attend three executive committee meetings in a row, without having applied for and obtaining leave of absence from the executive committee , than the executive committee will find a new member to take that persons place

7.4 The executive committee will meet at least twice a month. More than half of the members need to be at the meeting to make decisions that are allowed to be carried forward. This constitutes a quorum

7.5 Minutes will be taken at every meeting and presented to members before the next meeting for approval and shall be confirmed as a true record of proceedings, by the next meeting of the executive committee, and shall thereafter be signed by all members

8. Meetings and proceedings of the committee

8.1 The chairperson, or two members of the committee, can call a special meeting if they want to. But they must let the other executive committee members know the date of the proposed meeting not less than 3 days before it is due to take place. They must also tell the other members of the committee which items will be discussed at the meeting. If, however, one of the matters to be discussed is to appoint a new executive committee, than those calling the meeting must give the other members not less than 14 days’ notice

8.2 The chairperson shall act as the presiding officer of the executive committee. If the chair person does not attend a meeting, then members of the committee who are present choose which one of them will chair that meeting. This must be done before the meeting proceeds

8.3 There shall be a quorum whenever such a meeting is held, reference 7.4

8.4 When necessary, the executive committee will vote on issues. If the votes are equal on an issue, then the chairperson has either a second / deciding vote.

8.5 Minutes of all meetings must be kept safely and always be on hand for members to consult

9. Annual General Meeting

The annual general meeting must be held every year, towards the end of the organizations financial year.

The organization should deal with the following business, amongst others, at its annual general meeting:

v  Write down who has sent apologies because they cannot attend

v  Agree to items to be discussed on the agenda

v  Read and confirm the previous meeting’s minutes with matters arising

v  Chairperson’s report

v  Treasurers report

v   Changes to the constitution that members may want to make

v  Elect new office bearers

v  General

v  Close the meeting

10. Income and property

10.1 The organization will keep a proper record of everything it owns

10.2 All income and expenditure will be available, in full / part, to any member on request

10.3 The organization may not give of its money / property to its members/ office bearers, unless this is in the form of disaster relief, in which case at least 5 members of an appropriate committee must agree, or in compensation for expenses incurred in which case a full meeting must agree

10.4 Neither ordinary members nor office bearers have individual rights over the organization’s money and property – all money / property is to be held in common

11. Finances

11.1 A Treasurer shall be appointed at the annual general meeting. The treasurer ensure the finances of the organization

11.2 Whenever funds are taken out of the Bank Account, the chairperson, treasurer and secretary must sign the withdrawal / cheque

11.3 The financial year of the organization ends on 31 July each year

11.4 If the organization has funds that can be invested, seek advice at different Banks on the best way to look after its funds

12. Duties of Office Bearers

12.1 Chairperson:

v  Preside at all meetings of the organization

v  Assure all members stick to the rules and guidelines of the organization

v  Be signatory to bank account

v  Run AGM

v  See that annual report are written

12.2 Deputy Chairperson:

v  Deputies the Chairperson

v  Perform functions as delegated by chairperson

v  Can attend all the organizations meetings and take part in the discussions

12.3 Secretary:

v  Be the custodian of all documentation of B4H

v  Ensure that the decisions of B4H are sufficiently communicated to all affiliates

v  Deal with receiving / sending of all correspondence

v  Keep records of all B4H’s meetings

v  Be signatory to bank account

12.4 Deputy Secretary:

v  Deputies the secretary

v  Perform functions of the secretary in the event of the absence of the secretary

12.5 Treasurer:

v  Put financial control system in place

v  Sanction all the organizations expenditure

v  Submit income and expenditure statements to any meeting of the organization when required to do so

v  Responsible for influx of membership fees, donations and fundraising

v  Prepare the organization’s annual financial reports to present to the AGM

13. Changes to the constitution

13.1 The constitution can be change by a resolution. The resolution has to be agreed upon and passed by not less than two thirds of the members who are at the annual general meeting / special general meeting. Members must vote at this meeting to change the constitution

13.2 Any annual general meeting may vote upon such a notion, if the details of the changes are set out in the notice referred to in 7.2

13.3 A written notice must go out not less than fourteen (14) days before the meeting at which changes to the constitution are going to be proposed. The notice must indicate the proposed changes to the constitution that will be discussed at the meeting

13.4 No amendments may be made which would have the effect of the organization cease to exist

14. Dissolution / Winding – up

14.1 The organization may close down if at least two- thirds of the members present and voting at a meeting convened for the purposed of considering such a matter, are in favor of closing down

Page |  PAGE   \* MERGEFORMAT 5If the organization closes down it has to pay off all its debts. After doing this, if there is property / money left over it should not be paid / given to members of the organization. It should be given in some way to another non- profit organization that has similar objectives. The organization general meeting, can decide which organization this should be.