Constitution for Cranes

Name

The name of this association shall be Cancer Research Aberdeen & North East Scotland, hereinafter referred to as "the Association".

Objects

The objects of the Association shall be to relieve the needs and promote the welfare of cancer sufferers in Aberdeen and the North East of Scotland. In furtherance thereof, but not otherwise, the Association shall seek:

• to promote research into the causes and treatment of all forms of cancer and cancer-related illnesses and make the results of such research available to the public;
• to advance the education of the public in cancer-related health issues and thereby raise awareness of the same; and
• to publicise and give financial support in such ways as are charitable in law to cancer-related projects, including the supply of equipment, patient relief and medical support.

Powers

The Association may do all things necessary in accordance with this Constitution to achieve the objects of the Association provided that:-

• The income of the Association shall be applied solely towards the promotion of its objects; and
• No part of the Association's income shall be paid or transferred to any member of the Association other than in reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred in furthering the objects of the Association provided that such expenses shall have been approved by the Steering Committee.

Membership

Any person interested in the achievement of the Association's objects is eligible to become a member of the Association, subject to the approval of a majority of the Steering Committee. The number of members of the Association shall be unlimited. The Steering Committee may invite any person to become an honorary member of the Association. Eligibility for membership of the Association shall cease upon a two-thirds majority of the Steering Committee requiring the resignation of that member or upon a member carrying out any illegal act in the name of the Association.

Steering Committee

The business and the affairs of the Association shall be managed by the Steering Committee, which shall comprise four duly elected office bearers, Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary and Steering Committee Members. The number of Steering Committee members shall not exceed fifteen. The Steering Committee may co-opt new members during the year and thereafter the election of members of the Steering Committee shall be held annually at the Annual General Meeting. Others may be co-opted and sub committees formed for specific projects, fund raising events, as the Steering Committee sees appropriate.

Steering Committee Meetings

Steering Committee Meetings will be held as required and notified to all members of the Steering Committee within an acceptable notice period, normally at least fourteen days.

A meeting of the Steering Committee may be called by the Chairman, Secretary or by any three members of the Steering Committee.

The Chairman shall take the chair at all meetings. Should the Chairman not be present, the Vice Chairman shall deputise, whom failing the Steering Committee Members shall elect a member to take the chair.

Minutes of all Steering Committee meetings shall be taken and circulated to committee members within twenty-one days of each meeting.

The quorum for Steering Committee meetings shall be five members present in person. The Steering Committee shall act by majority vote when a quorum is present except as otherwise provided herein or by law.

General Meetings

The Annual General Meeting of the Association will take place before the end of April in each year for the purpose of electing Office Bearers and other members of the Steering Committee and to receive the Annual Report and financial statements of the Association. The Secretary shall give notice in writing of the Annual General Meeting to all members of the Association at least twenty-eight days prior to the meeting.

Special Meetings of the Association may be convened by the Steering Committee as required and shall be called by the Secretary upon the written request of three or more members of the Association.

Twenty-five per cent of the membership of the Association shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business at any Annual General Meeting or Special Meeting of the Association. All decisions at any Annual General Meeting or Special Meeting shall be taken by majority vote except as otherwise provided herein or by law.

All meetings of members of the Association shall be minuted and the minutes shall be retained for a minimum period of three years and available for inspection by any member.

Office Bearers

The Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary shall be elected at the Inaugural Meeting of the Steering Committee and thereafter shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.

The election of office bearers shall be proposed and seconded by Steering Committee Members at Annual General Meetings.

Duties of the Chairman:

The Chairman will act as the Association's leader, spokesperson and meeting Chairman.

Duties of the Vice Chairman:

The Vice Chairman will act as the Chairman's deputy.

Duties of the Secretary:

The Secretary shall keep a true record of the Minutes of all meetings, attend to correspondence and issue notices for meetings.

Duties of the Treasurer:

The Treasurer shall receive all monies payable to the Association and give receipts therefor. The Treasurer shall also pay all monies received on behalf of the Association into the Association's Bank Account, and keep true and proper financial records of the Association. All books and financial records shall be subject to the appropriate level of scrutiny and the Treasurer shall present Annual Accounts, in accordance with the Office of the Scottish Regulator's current regulations, for approval at each Annual General Meeting.

Operation of the Bank Account of the Association

All income of the Association shall be deposited in the Bank Account of the Association and the Bank Account shall be operated by the Treasurer together with the Chairman or any one other member of the Steering Committee as ex officio trustees of the Association as directed by resolution of the Steering Committee and entry in the minute book shall be conclusive evidence of such a resolution.

Finance

The financial year will run from 1st January to 31st December. All monies raised by or on behalf of the Association shall be applied to further the objects of the Association and for no other purpose provided that nothing herein contained shall prevent the payment in good faith of reasonable and proper remuneration to any employee of the Association and fees to professional and technical advisers.

Waiver of Claims

Membership of the Association shall be deemed to imply a waiver of liability on the Association, the Steering Committee or any member of the same acting on the part of the Association for damage or injury suffered during or as a result of any meeting or other event arranged by the Association or otherwise arising in any way whatsoever from membership of the Association.

Dissolution

In the event of the dissolution of the Association, any assets remaining after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the Association but shall be given or transferred to a recognised charitable organisation(s) having objects similar to those of the Association.

Amendment

This Constitution may be amendedatany time by a resolution passed by not less than two-thirds of those present and voting at a duly convened Annual General Meeting or Special Meeting of the Association. No amendment of the Constitution shall be made if the effect of that amendment would be that the Association would cease to be a charity.

Adoption

This Constitution was adoptedata Special Meeting of the Association heldatAberdeen on the Thirty-first day of July 2003 and amended at Special Meetings of the Association heldatAberdeen on the Fourteenth day of January 2004 and on the 5 th February, 2007.

Gladys Sangster
Chairman

Liz Buchan
Secretary