The British Nuclear Test Veterans Association

British Nuclear Test Veterans Association

 

 

BNTVA Constitution

1. The name of the Association shall be the British Nuclear Tests Veterans Association. (Hereinafter referred to as “The Association " ).

2. The Association is established for the relief of persons suffering from disabilities attributable to the effects of radiation - particularly during nuclear weapons tests - and their families, and for other persons suffering from similar disabilities, with a view to obtaining legal, medical, educational and other aid and advice to enable such persons to overcome their special difficulties, to live as normal a life as possible; to conduct or promote research into the causes and effects and treatment of such disabilities and to claim such financial assistance, benefit and compensation as they may be entitled to.

3. In furtherance of the foregoing objects, but not otherwise. The Association shall have power to do all such things as are necessary for the attainment of such objectives or any of them.

4a. Any person wishing to join The Association shall apply to the Secretary in writing in a form to be determined by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee may accept or refuse any person into membership in its absolute discretion and without giving reasons for its decision.

4b. All members of The Association shall be liable to pay to The Association the annual membership fee. The amount of the annual membership fee shall be set by The Association at each Annual General Meeting of The Association and notification of the annual membership fee for the subsequent year shall be given to the members by the sending to the members of a copy of the minutes of the Annual General Meeting. In the absence of any such notification the annual membership fee shall be £10.00 and shall be due for payment on the 1st January each year.

4c. Only members who have paid their annual membership fee for the current year shall be entitled to receive a copy of The Associations magazine “Campaign” and such other benefits as The Association shall from time to time provide.

4d. Only members who have paid their annual membership fee for the current year shall be entitled to vote at a General Meeting or Special Meeting of The Association.

4e. Only members who have paid their annual membership fee for the current year shall be entitled to stand for election to any office or hold any office within The Association.

4f. Any member requesting the return of information held by The Association shall be deemed to have resigned their membership from The Association and shall no longer be entitled to any of the benefits of membership. The date of resignation from membership shall be the date the request for return of information is received by the Secretary of The Association.

4g. In the event of the termination of membership The Association shall not be liable to any party for the return of any monies paid in respect of membership or other fees, or the return of any donations made to The Association howsoever made.

5a. Any statutory authority or voluntary organisation which is pursuing any of the said purposes may be invited by The Association to participate in its work and appoint such number of representatives Members as The Association may from time to time determine.

5b. The Association may from time to time invite the person holding any office to become an ex- officio Member of The Association.

5c. The Association may co-opt persons having special knowledge or experience into membership of The Association.

6. The Executive Committee may expel or suspend any person from membership of The Association if it is satisfied, after considering any written or oral representation from that person, that his or her continued membership would be detrimental to or incompatible with the objects of The Association. In any such case the Secretary shall notify the person affected in writing of the intention of the Executive Committee and any such person affected shall either make representations in writing to or notify The secretary of his or her wish to make oral representation within ten days of receipt of such notification. Any notification shall state the reasons for the intended expulsion or suspension. Any oral representation shall be made to the Executive Committee or any three Members thereof at a time, date and place received by the Executive Committee provided that such written representations shall have been considered and such oral representations heard within forty two days of the posting of such notification and provided further that the decision of the Executive Committee shall be final and abiding.

7a. The following Honorary Officers shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting:-
(1) The Chairperson
(2) Such other officers as The association may from time to time decide.

7b. Those officers shall be Members of the Executive Committee and all sub-committees of The Association.

7c. The Chairperson and other Honorary Officers shall retire each year but shall be eligible for re-election.

8a. The Association shall meet not less than once a year.

8b. The Annual General Meeting of The association shall be held in each year at such time (not being more than fifteen months after the holding of the preceding Annual General Meeting) and place as the Executive Committee shall determine. At least twenty one clear days notice in writing shall be given by the Secretary to the Members. Other meetings of The Association shall be held at such time as may be determined by the Executive Committee.

8c A Special Meeting of The Association shall be called within 56 days of the receipt by the Secretary of The Association of a written request, signed by fifty members of The Association whose annual membership fees for the current year have been paid. The request shall contain full details of any business to be considered or resolutions to be put to the meeting. The Executive Committee shall be entitled to call a special meeting of The Association by giving 28 days notice of the meeting to not less than 50% of the membership of The Association.

8d At the Annual General Meeting the business shall include the election of a Chairperson and other Honorary Officers, the election of the Executive Committee, the appointment of Accountants and the consideration of an Annual Report of the work done by and under the auspices of The Association and the accounts and any other business of which ten clear days notice in writing have been given to the Secretary.

9a The Association's year shall run from January 1st to December 31st. Once at least in every year the accounts of The Association shall be examined by a chartered or certified accountant who shall certify whether the said accounts give a fair representation of the finances of The Association.

9b There shall be an Executive Committee (hereinafter called the Executive Committee) whose duty it shall be to carry out the general policy of The Association and subject to any conditions imposed from time to time by The Association to provide for the administration, management and control of the affairs and property of The Association.

9c The Members of the Executive Committee shall be elected by a show of hands at the Annual General Meeting and shall hold office until the end of the Annual General Meeting, the next following.

9d The Executive Committee shall consist of not less than five and not more than seven members of The Association (including the Chairperson and Honorary Officers) and shall meet not less than twice in each year.

9e Casual vacancies shall be filled by The Executive Committee until the next Annual General Meeting.

9f In addition to the elected and ex-officio Members, the Executive Committee may co-opt not more than four persons who need not be Members of The Association.

9g The Executive Committee may delegate any of its powers to Sub-Committees and such Committees may be given power to co-opt provided that no Sub-Committee may be given power to co- opt more than one quarter of its total membership. The actions and proceedings of such Sub- committees shall be fully and promptly reported to The Executive Committee.

9h In the event of the resignation or death of a member of the Executive Committee during the term of office the remaining members of the Executive Committee may, notwithstanding their number, appoint any person (whether or not a member of The Association) to fill any vacancy. Such appointment shall be made within 28 days of the resignation or death and shall remain until the next Annual General Meeting of The Association. In the interim The Executive Committee shall be authorised to exercise all of the powers and carry out all of the business that the Executive Committee would have been but for the resignation or death and notwithstanding the number of the remaining Executive Committee.

10 Nominations from Members of The Association for either Honorary Officers or Members of the Executive Committee must be in writing and must be in the hands of the Secretary at least ten days before the annual General Meeting. Should nominations exceed vacancies, election shall be by show of hands. The Executive Committee may fill any casual vacancy occurring in the offices of Honorary Officers appointed by The Association and may, subject to any conditions imposed by The Association, appoint any other Honorary Officers but all such appointments shall be subject to confirmation by The Association at its next meeting.

11a The quorum at a meeting of The Association shall be 25 members.

11b The quorum at a meeting of the Executive Committee shall be 5 members of the Executive Committee.

12a The Executive Committee may appoint a member of The Association to be a Branch Representative of The association in any area or region and may dismiss such Branch Representative on not less than three days notice in writing.

12b The Branch representative shall have such duties as the Executive Committee may from time to time determine in writing.

12c The Branch Representative shall account to the Treasurer of The Association for all monies received by The Branch or from Members.

13a The Executive Committee may in its discretion establish branches of The Association and shall make such provision for the administration and activities as it shall in its absolute discretion think fit.

13b The Executive Committee shall have power to suspend or dissolve a Branch of The Association in its absolute discretion.

14a The Association shall have power to raise money by means of affiliation fees from participating authorities and organisations, subscriptions from individuals, donations or legacies or grants in aid from statutory authorities loans and other sources.

14b The income and property of The Association whencesoever derived, shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objects of The Association as set forth in this Constitution and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by ways of dividend bonus or otherwise by way of profit to any Member of The Association. Provided that nothing herein shall prevent the payment in good faith of reasonable and proper remuneration to any servant of The Association or the repayment of reasonable out of pocket expenses.

15 The Association shall maintain such banking accounts as it thinks fit into such of which as may be appropriate shall be paid forthwith all sums of cash for the time being belonging to The Association. Cheques should be signed by such persons (being not less than two) as The Association shall from time to time authorise.

16a The Association may at any time be dissolved by a resolution passed by a two thirds majority of those present and voting at a meeting of The Association of which at least twentyone clear days notice shall have been sent to all Members of The Association.

16b Such resolutions may give instructions for the disposal of any assets held by or in the name of The Association, 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 The Association, but shall be given or transferred to such other institutions having objects similar to some or all of the objects of The Association as the Association may decide.

17 Alterations to the Constitution shall require the assent of not less than two thirds of the Members of The Association present and voting at a General Meeting. A resolution for the alteration of the Constitution shall be received by The Secretary of The association at least forty two clear days before the meeting at which the resolution is to be tabled. At least twenty one clear days notice in writing of such a meeting shall be given by the Secretary to the Members and shall include notice of alterations proposed.

18 Any notice may be served by the Secretary on any Member by delivering it personally or by sending it through the post. A pre-paid letter addressed to such a Member at his or her last known address in the United Kingdom so sent, shall be deemed to have been received by or on behalf of the addressee within five days of posting.

19 The interpretation Acts shall apply for the interpretation of this Constitution as it is applied for the interpretation of an Act of Parliament.

20 The Executive Committee shall from time to time, have the power to make rules for the running of The association or for the furtherance of The Associations' objects. Such rules shall come into force twenty eight days from the date of notification being dispatched to the members of The Association at the address held by The Association for each Member. Such rules shall remain in force until the immediately following Annual General Meeting whereupon The Association shall be entitled to vote on the continued application of all and any such rules to The Association and to the Members thereof.

THIS CONSTITUTION WAS ADOPTED AT A MEETING HELD ON 25™ APRIL 1992 WITH AMENDMENTS ADOPTED AT A MEETING HELD ON 28™ APRIL 2001

 

 

This site is dedicated to the memory of J.C. (Ian) Jenner who served on Christmas Island in 1958.