CONSTITUTION
1 NAME
The organisation shall be known as "Lonach Area First Responders
".
Lonach Area First Responders objects
are the protection and preservation of human life and the relief of sickness in
persons residing in Lonach area and its environs, hereinafter to be called the
area of benefit, in particular, but without prejudice to the generality of the
foregoing by responding to cardiovascular (and other) emergencies. In
furtherance thereof, but not otherwise Lonach Area First Responders shall seek:
a)
To enable volunteer First Responders to provide
defibrillation, CPR and other life-saving interventions in accordance with
their training.
b)
To work in partnership with the Scottish Ambulance Service
to select, train and provide 90 day assessments for volunteer first
responders throughout the Lonach Area
c)
To aim to provide early life saving intervention within the
8 minute target time where an emergency ambulance is unavailable or unable to
reach the casualty within 8 minutes.
d)
To aim to provide first responder cover 24 hours a day 365
days a year in the communities where a
first response scheme is in operation.
e)
To raise awareness of the need to establish the ‘Chain of
Survival’ through early intervention as a means of increasing the chances of
saving life.
f)
To do all things as will properly attain the above purposes.
3 POWERS
a) Subject to such consents as may be required by law, to borrow and raise
money for the furtherance of the objects of Lonach
Area First Responders in such manner as Lonach Area First Responders
may think fit.
b)
To raise funds and to invite and receive
contributions from any person or persons whatsoever by way of subscriptions,
donations or otherwise provided that this shall be without prejudice to the
ability of Lonach Area First Responders to disclaim any gift, legacy or bequest in
whole or in part in such circumstances as Lonach
Area First Responders may think
fit and provided also that Lonach Area First
Responders shall not undertake
any permanent trading activities in raising funds for the above mentioned
charitable objects.
c)
To hold, sponsor, arrange, manage, produce, present,
research or organize meetings, conferences, lectures, seminars, appeals and
educational classes and talks in the furtherance of the purposes of Lonach Area First Responders. In
conjunction with the Scottish Ambulance Service to organize, manage, present,
produce and support, exhibitions, workshops, press conferences, trade fairs,
festivals, advertising campaigns, promotions, displays and to assist in
advising any person, corporation or organization in relation thereto and to
advertise and adopt such means as may seem expedient to promote the aims and
services of Lonach Area First Responders
.
d)
To invest the moneys of Lonach Area First Responders not immediately required for the
furtherance of its objects in or upon such investments, securities or property
as may be thought fit, subject nevertheless to such conditions (if any) and
such consents (if any) as may for the time being be imposed or required by law.
e)
To act as agents in the channeling of funds, grants
and any other monies available from any source.
f)
To purchase, take on lease or in exchange, hire or
otherwise acquire any real or personal property and any rights or privileges
and to construct, maintain and alter any buildings or erections and to purchase
or otherwise acquire plant, machinery, furniture, fixtures, fittings, equipment
and all other effects of every description necessary or convenient or usually
or normally used in conjunction with or for the purposes of all or any of the
objects of Lonach Area First Responders.
g)
Subject to such consents as may be required by law to
sell, let, mortgage, dispose of or turn to account all or any of the property
or assets of Lonach Area First
Responders with a view to the furtherance of the objects of Lonach Area First Responders.
h)
To employ or otherwise engage and pay such
architects, surveyors, solicitors, accountants
and such other professional persons, workmen, clerks and other staff as
are necessary for the furtherance of the objects of Lonach Area First Responders .
i)
To insure Lonach
Area First Responders, its property and assets against such risks as the
members of The Management Committee shall consider it prudent and necessary to
insure against and which are not included within the operational cover provided
by the Scottish Ambulance Service.
j)
To establish and finance (within the Lonach Area) any
body, association or organization (whether incorporated or unincorporated) to
carry out the objects of Lonach Area First
Responders in agreement with the Scottish Ambulance Service.
k)
To subscribe to, become a member of, or amalgamate or
co-operate with any other charitable organization, institution, society or body
not formed or established for purposes of profit (whether incorporated or
unincorporated) whose objects are wholly or in part similar to those of Lonach Area First Responders and which,
by its constitution prohibits the distribution of its income and property
amongst its members.
l)
To establish and support or aid the establishment and
support of any charitable trusts, association or institutions and to subscribe
or guarantee money for charitable purposes in any way connected with or
calculated to further any of the objects of Lonach
Area First Responders.
m)
To do all or any of the things hereinbefore
authorized either alone or in conjunction with any other charitable
organization, institution, society or body with which Lonach Area First Responders is authorized to amalgamate in
agreement with the Scottish Ambulance Service.
n)
To purchase or otherwise acquire and undertake all or
any of the property, assets, liabilities and engagements of one or more of the
associations, foundations, institutions, companies, societies or bodies with
which Lonach Area First Responders
is authorized to co-operate or federate.
o)
To enter into any arrangement with any government or
authorities (supreme, municipal, local or otherwise) or any corporations,
companies or persons that may seem conducive to the attainment of Lonach Area First Responders ’s objects
or any of them.
p)
To undertake any charitable activity which directly
or indirectly promotes any of the objects of Lonach
Area First Responders, including acting as trustees thereof.
q)
To do all such other lawful things as are necessary
for the attainment of the above objects or any of them.
4 MEMBERSHIP
4.1 Lonach Area First Responders shall consist of:-
a)
Members of each local community
first response scheme.
b)
Local representative members of
the Scottish Ambulance Service.
c)
Divisional Representative members
of the Scottish Ambulance Service
b)
Individuals over the age of 16
years, resident within the Lonach area, who support the objects of Lonach Area First Responders.
c)
Individuals under the age of 16
years, resident within the Lonach area, who support the objects of Lonach Area First Responders providing
that such person shall not have a vote at any meeting of Lonach Area First Responders .
4.2 In
the event of a representative member being unable to attend any meeting of the
Organisation, the body which he/she represents may appoint a deputy to attend
in his/her place. Such deputy will, at
the meeting he/she attends, have all the powers of the representative member
whose place has been taken.
4.3 The
Management Committee shall have the right for good and sufficient reason to
terminate the membership of any individual or organisation provided that the
individual member concerned or the individual representing such organisation
(as the case may be) shall have the right to be heard by the Management
Committee before a final decision is made.
5. MEETINGS
OF Lonach Area First Responders
5.1. There
shall be an Annual General Meeting of Lonach
Area First Responders to be convened by the Management Committee each
year, not more than two months after the independently examined accounts have
been received.
5.2 The following business
shall be transacted at the Annual General Meeting:
a) Presentation of an Annual Report of the
work of Lonach Area First Responders
and of the accounts.
b) The election of the Management
Committee.
5.3
At least
21 days notice of the Annual General Meeting shall be given in writing to
members by the Secretary.
5.4 Alterations to the
constitution shall receive the assent of not less than two thirds of the members of The Organisation present and
entitled to vote at an annual or specially called general meeting.
A resolution for the alteration of
the Constitution shall be lodged in writing with the Secretary of The Organisation at least thirty clear days before the
meeting at which the resolution is
to be considered. At least twenty one
clear days notice in writing of such meeting
shall be given by the Secretary to members, and shall include notice of the alterations proposed.
5.5 The
proceedings of Lonach Area First
Responders shall not be invalidated by any failure to appoint or any
defect in the appointment, election or qualification of any member.
5.6 The
Management Committee shall meet to conduct the business of Lonach Area First Responders at such
times as the Management Committee shall from time to time decide.
5.7
The quorum
at any General meeting of Lonach Area
First Responders shall be a quarter of their members or 12, whichever is
the greater, present and entitled to vote.
The quorum for the Management Committee and any Standing or Special
Committee shall be half of their members or four, whichever is greater.
5.8
The
Secretary shall, on receipt of a motion to the effect signed by 10 or more paid
up members, be obliged to call a Special or General Meeting. The terms of 5.3 and 5.4 above shall apply.
5.9 Voting
at any meeting of Lonach Area First Responders
shall be by such method as those present decide. Motions are carried on a simple majority of
votes cast. In the event of a tie, the
Chair shall have a second or casting vote.
6 MANAGEMENT
COMMITTEE
6.1 There
shall be a Management Committee consisting of up to 8
(eight) members of Lonach Area
First Responders. Election to the Management Committee shall be for 3 (three)
years. On the expiration of their period
of office, the member shall be eligible for re-election. One quarter of the Management Committee
members shall retire each year. In addition, permanent Committee members shall
be The Scottish Ambulance Service First Responder Scheme Co-ordinator and one
local and one divisional officer from the Scottish Ambulance Service.
6.2 The
Management Committee shall elect a Chairman and Vice-Chairman, an Honorary
Secretary and an Honorary Treasurer (the Senior Office Bearers) from its
members, at the first meeting after the Annual General Meeting. Serving
officers of the Scottish Ambulance Service may not hold any of the above
offices.
6.3 The
Management Committee shall be responsible for carrying out the policy of Lonach Area First Responders and,
subject to any conditions imposed from time to time by Lonach Area First Responders, for the administration,
management and control of the affairs and property of Lonach Area First Responders.
6.4 Any
vacancy in the Management Committee may be filled by the Management
Committee. Any person appointed to such
a vacancy shall hold office until
the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of Lonach Area First Responders, and shall be eligible for
re-election.
6.5 Any
member of the Management Committee who fails to attend 3 (three) consecutive
meetings without giving a satisfactory reason, shall be deemed to have resigned
from the Management Committee.
7 STANDING
& SPECIAL COMMITTEES
The
Management Committee may appoint Standing and Special Committees, from among
its own members, as may be deemed necessary, and may determine their terms of
reference, powers, duration and composition.
8 FINANCE
8.1 Lonach Area First Responders shall have
power to raise money by means of affiliation fees from participating
authorities and organisations, subscriptions from individuals, donations or
legacies, grants in aid from statutory authorities, loans and other sources.
8.2
The income
and property of Lonach Area First
Responders from whatever source derived, shall be applied solely towards
the promotion of the purposes of Lonach
Area First Responders as set forth in this Constitution, and no portion
thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend,
bonus or otherwise by way of profit to any member of Lonach Area First Responders. Provided that nothing herein shall prevent
the payment in good faith of reasonable and proper remuneration to any officer
or servant of Lonach Area First
Responders, or to any member of Lonach
Area First Responders, in return for any services requested by and
rendered to Lonach Area First Responders,
or the repayment of out of pocket expenses.
8.3
Monies not
immediately required for the day-to-day running of Lonach Area First Responders shall be lodged in such bank or
building society as the Management Committee may from time to time decide in an
account in the name of Lonach Area First
Responders.
8.4
Cheques
issued in the name of Lonach Area First
Responders shall bear the signatures of any two of the four Senior
Office bearers of Lonach Area First
Responders.
9 Lonach Area First Responders 'S YEAR
AND AUDIT
Lonach Area First Responders' year shall run from lst April to 31st March.
Each year the accounts shall be scrutinised by one or more independent
persons or otherwise as required by law.
10 DISSOLUTION
Lonach Area First Responders may at any time be dissolved by a resolution passed
by a two thirds majority of those present and entitled to vote at a meeting of Lonach Area First Responders, of which
meeting at least twenty one clear days notice shall have been sent to all members of Lonach Area First Responders .
Such resolution may give instructions for the disposal
of any assets held by or in the name of Lonach
Area First Responders, 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 Lonach
Area First Responders, but shall be given or transferred to such other
charitable institution or institutions having objects similar to some or all of
the objects of Lonach Area First
Responders, as Lonach Area First
Responders may determine.
11 ALTERATIONS
TO THE CONSTITUTION
Alterations to the constitution shall receive the
assent of not less than two thirds of the members of Lonach Area First Responders present and entitled to vote at
an annual or specially called general meeting.
A
resolution for the alteration of the Constitution shall be lodged in writing
with the Secretary of Lonach Area First
Responders at least thirty clear days before the meeting at which the
resolution is to be considered. At least
twenty one clear days notice in writing of such meeting shall be given by the
Secretary to members, and shall include notice of the alterations proposed.