Friends of Seagry School - Constitution

1. The name of the Association shall be FRIENDS OF SEAGRY SCHOOL.
2. The object of the Association is to support the education of pupils in the school. In furtherance of this object the association may:-
(a) Develop more extended relationships between the staff, parents and others associated with the school.
(b) Engage in activities which support the school and advance the education of the pupils attending it.
(c) Provide and assist in the provision of such facilities or items for education at the school (not provided from statutory funds) as the committee in consultation with the Governing Body shall from time to time determine.
3. The Association shall be non-party political. (Omit and non sectarian)
4. The Association shall take out Public Liability and Personal Accident Insurance to cover its meetings, activities, Officers and Committee.
5. Membership shall consist of all parents and/or guardians of pupils attending the school and all teachers. Any parents and / or guardians who wish to opt out of membership may do so by written request.
6. The management of the Association shall be vested in a Committee consisting of the following officers: Chairman, Vice Chairman, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer, Publicity Officer, including a representative member of the teaching staff, together with between 3 and 5 other members.
7. The Officers and Committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting and shall serve until the commencement of the next AGM notwithstanding mitigating circumstances.
8. Five members of the Committee shall constitute a Quorum.
9. The Committee shall have the power to co-opt a maximum of 2.
10. The Committee may appoint sub-committees, as it deems necessary and shall prescribe their function provided that all acts and proceedings of any such sub-committee shall be reported to the Committee as soon as possible and provided further that no such sub-committee shall expend funds of the Association otherwise than in accordance with a budget agreed by the Committee.
11. Committee meetings shall be held at least once each term.
12. The Annual General Meeting shall be held In February each year. At the Annual General Meeting, the chair shall be taken by the Chairman or in his / her absence the Vice Chairman of the Committee.
13. Nominations shall be proposed and seconded by members and should have the consent of the nominee. Nominations may be made at any time up to the election of officers.
14. The Committee may fill vacancies by co-option until the next Annual General Meeting.
15. An auditor or independent examiner reasonably considered by the Committee to be competent to examine the accounts, who is not a member of the Committee, shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting to audit or independently examine the accounts and books of the Association.
16. Special General Meetings may be called at the written request of a minimum of fifteen (15) members.
17. Thirty days notice shall be given of any Special General Meeting to all members of the Association.
18. The Honorary Treasurer shall be responsible for keeping account of all Income and Expenditure and shall present a financial report to all Committee meetings, and shall present the accounts duly audited or independently examined by a qualified auditor for approval by the members at the Annual General Meeting.
19. Bank Accounts shall be operated in the name of the Association and withdrawals shall be made on the signature of any two of the Officers of the Association.
20. The financial year shall commence on 1 January.
21. Any matter not provided for in the Constitution and concerning organisation and activities of the Association shall be dealt with by the Committee after adequate consultation with the membership. The committee's decision will be final.
22. No alteration to this Constitution may be made except at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting called for this purpose. Alterations to the constitution shall receive the assent of two thirds of the members present and voting at an AGM or SGM.
23. The Association may be dissolved by a resolution presented at a Special General Meeting called for this purpose. The resolution must have the assent of two thirds of those present and voting. Such resolution may give instructions for the disposal of any assets remaining after satisfying any outstanding debts and liabilities. These assets shall not be distributed among the members of the Association but will be given to the school for the benefit of the school, or in the event of a school closure to the school to which the majority of children of the closing school will go, in any manner which is exclusively charitable in law. If effect cannot be given to this provision then the assets can be given to some other charitable purpose.