HOLYWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CONSTITUTION

1. Name

The Name of the Association shall be the Holywood Chamber of Commerce. It is hereinafter referred to as the Chamber.

2. Objects

The Objects for which the Chamber is established are: -

a) For the association of traders, merchants, manufacturers, professional persons and others, to consider and promote all such lawful measurers, plans and schemes as may be calculated to further improve and secure the trading and commercial interests of the Town of Holywood and its neighbourhood.

b) To print, publish and distribute circulars bulletins journals and such other papers as may be necessary.

c) To advance and promote commercial and technical education.

d) To borrow money or raise loans required for the purpose of its business.

e) To purchase, take on lease or in exchange hire or other wise acquire any real or personal property, and any rights or privileges, which the Chamber may think necessary or convenient for the purpose of its business.

f) To sell, improve, manage, develop, lease, mortgage, dispose of or otherwise deal with all or any part of the property of the Chamber.

g) To create and foster a spirit of goodwill, friendship and unity among the business people of the town and its neighbourhood and by meetings, discussions, lectures, debates, conference, seminars and otherwise to provide facilities for social intercourse on a friendly basis between all members of the Chamber.

h) To doing of all such other things as are incidental or conducive to attainment of the above objects.

i) To facilitate affiliation to the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

3. Membership

a) Membership of the Chamber shall be open to all individual persons, companies and firms interested or actively engaged in business or professions upon being duly proposed and seconded by existing members and receiving the votes of a majority of those present at a General Meeting of members or at an Executive Committee meeting.

b) The Executive Committee shall have power to refuse an application for membership without assigning any reason.

c) Any member who shall do any act or conduct, calculated to injure or discredit the Chamber, may be expelled by a resolution of the majority of the members. Such member shall be allowed to appeal against his expulsion to a special meeting of the Executive Committee.

d) The Executive Committee shall have power to nominate as honorary member to a General Meeting any person who has rendered outstanding service to the Chamber.

4. Subscriptions

Every member shall pay an annual subscription, which shall be determined at an Annual General Meeting, or Extraordinary General Meeting held for that purpose. Firms and companies shall appoint a representative to attend and vote at such meeting of the Chamber.

All subscriptions shall become due on the first day of January in each year in advance and no member shall be entitled to vote at any meetings unless his subscription shall have been previously paid.

5. Committee

a) The Committee of the Chamber shall be known as the Executive Committee and consist of the President, the Vice President, the immediate Past President, the Honorary Treasurer, the Honorary Secretary and seven elected members.

b) The Executive Committee shall be elected for three years, one third of whom shall retire annually, but shall be eligible for re-election to the Executive Committee.

c) The President, Vice President, Honorary Treasurers, Honorary Secretary and one third of the Executive Committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.

d) The executive Committee shall meet at least six times a year.

e) A quorum of the Executive Committee shall be four, one of which must be the President, Vice-President or immediate past President.

f) The Executive Committee shall elect, at its first meeting after the AGM, members of the Chamber to be its representatives to the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce & Industry and its Management Committee, Holywood District Community Council, Holywood Citizens Advice Bureau, the North Down Development Committee and any other as may be deemed necessary.

g) The Executive Committee shall have the power to make urgent and necessary decisions and to act upon them including issuing statements to the press.

h) The Executive Committee shall have the power to appoint such sub-committees as may be deemed desirable.

i) The Executive Committee shall have power to co-opt form the general membership additional members to the Executive Committee up to a maximum of two. Such co-opt members shall service only for the remainder of that year but shall be eligible for re-election at the AGM following.

j) In the event of a vacancy occurring during the year it shall, if necessary, be filled by the Executive Committee for the remainder of the Chamber year.

k) The Secretary shall duly record the attendance of members of the Executive Committee and a report thereon presented at the Annual General Meeting. Any member of the Executive Committee who does not attend at least three meetings during the year shall cease to be a member unless the Executive Committee decides otherwise.

l) The Honorary Treasurer shall keep an account of all monies received and paid for and on behalf of the Committee, and shall pay all accounts approved by the Executive Committee.

m) The Honorary Treasurer shall be prepared to give an up to date financial statement at meetings of the Executive Committee.

n) The Secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of the Chamber in a minute book to be kept for that purpose and shall also keep a correct roll of members.

o) The Executive Committee shall have the power to employ such secretarial staff and business services as may be required for the proper functioning of the Chamber.

6. Annual General Meeting

a) The Financial year of the Chamber shall be form the first day of March until the last year of February and the Annual General Meeting shall be held within two months of the end of the financial year.

b) A quorum at an Annual General Meeting shall consist of eleven members.

c) At such a meeting the President, on behalf of the Executive Committee, shall present a report on the previous year and the Honorary Treasurer shall present a duly audited statement of accounts showing all financial transactions of the chamber for the financial year.

d) Every member of the Chamber present shall have one vote, which may be exercised by a show of hands, but the members may request, before such a vote is taken, that it shall be processed by secret ballot. When a ballot is to be taken two or more persons shall be appointed by the meeting as scrutineers who shall count the number of votes and report the result in writing to the President or Chairman who shall declare the result of the ballot to the meeting. In cases of equality of votes the President or Chairman shall have a casting vote.

7. Extraordinary General Meetings

a) An Extraordinary General Meeting may be convened by the Executive Committee by ten paid up members of the Chamber on the presentation to the President of a letter duly signed by the said ten.

b) A quorum at an Extraordinary General Meeting shall consist of eleven members.

c) The Executive Committee, after having called an Extraordinary General Meeting and not having the attendance of a quorum, are then empowered to take such decisions as required for the benefit of the Chamber.

d) In the absence of the President and Vice President from any meeting, the members present at the meeting shall elect a Chairman to preside.

8. Associations

Other Associations may make representations to the Executive Committee. On the request of any Association, their representative may be invited to attend an Executive Committee meeting of the Secretary, in agreement with the President. Such a Representative shall have no right to vote.

9. Notices

a) Every fully paid up member of the Chamber has the right to submit a notice of motion in writing to the secretary not less than 7 days prior to the General Meeting, which shall be placed on the agenda for that meeting.

b) The Chamber shall give fourteen days notice for any General Meeting and seven days for an Executive Committee meeting.

10. Alterations to the Constitution

No alteration shall be made in these rules except by a resolution duly passed by two-thirds of the members present and voting at a General Meeting of the members. Fourteen days notice in writing of any proposed alteration shall be given to all members.

11. Winding Up

In the event of the Chamber ceasing to function and there remains after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities any assets whatsoever the same shall be given to some other trade organisation or association having similar objects of the Chamber, such movement to be deterring by the last remaining members of the Chamber.



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			HOLYWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CONSTITUTION 1. Name The Name of the Association shall be the Holywood Chamber of Commerce. It is hereinafter referred to as the Chamber. 2. Objects The Objects for which the Chamber is established are: - a) For the association of traders, merchants, manufacturers, professional persons and others, to consider and promote all such lawful measurers, plans and schemes as may be calculated to further improve and secure the trading and commercial interests of the Town of Holywood and its neighbourhood. b) To print, publish and distribute circulars bulletins journals and such other papers as may be necessary. c) To advance and promote commercial and technical education. d) To borrow money or raise loans required for the purpose of its business. e) To purchase, take on lease or in exchange hire or other wise acquire any real or personal property, and any rights or privileges, which the Chamber may think necessary or convenient for the purpose of its business. f) To sell, improve, manage, develop, lease, mortgage, dispose of or otherwise deal with all or any part of the property of the Chamber. g) To create and foster a spirit of goodwill, friendship and unity among the business people of the town and its neighbourhood and by meetings, discussions, lectures, debates, conference, seminars and otherwise to provide facilities for social intercourse on a friendly basis between all members of the Chamber. h) To doing of all such other things as are incidental or conducive to attainment of the above objects. i) To facilitate affiliation to the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce & Industry. 3. Membership a) Membership of the Chamber shall be open to all individual persons, companies and firms interested or actively engaged in business or professions upon being duly proposed and seconded by existing members and receiving the votes of a majority of those present at a General Meeting of members or at an Executive Committee meeting. b) The Executive Committee shall have power to refuse an application for membership without assigning any reason. c) Any member who shall do any act or conduct, calculated to injure or discredit the Chamber, may be expelled by a resolution of the majority of the members. Such member shall be allowed to appeal against his expulsion to a special meeting of the Executive Committee. d) The Executive Committee shall have power to nominate as honorary member to a General Meeting any person who has rendered outstanding service to the Chamber. 4. Subscriptions Every member shall pay an annual subscription, which shall be determined at an Annual General Meeting, or Extraordinary General Meeting held for that purpose. Firms and companies shall appoint a representative to attend and vote at such meeting of the Chamber. All subscriptions shall become due on the first day of January in each year in advance and no member shall be entitled to vote at any meetings unless his subscription shall have been previously paid. 5. Committee a) The Committee of the Chamber shall be known as the Executive Committee and consist of the President, the Vice President, the immediate Past President, the Honorary Treasurer, the Honorary Secretary and seven elected members. b) The Executive Committee shall be elected for three years, one third of whom shall retire annually, but shall be eligible for re-election to the Executive Committee. c) The President, Vice President, Honorary Treasurers, Honorary Secretary and one third of the Executive Committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting. d) The executive Committee shall meet at least six times a year. e) A quorum of the Executive Committee shall be four, one of which must be the President, Vice-President or immediate past President. f) The Executive Committee shall elect, at its first meeting after the AGM, members of the Chamber to be its representatives to the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce & Industry and its Management Committee, Holywood District Community Council, Holywood Citizens Advice Bureau, the North Down Development Committee and any other as may be deemed necessary. g) The Executive Committee shall have the power to make urgent and necessary decisions and to act upon them including issuing statements to the press. h) The Executive Committee shall have the power to appoint such sub-committees as may be deemed desirable. i) The Executive Committee shall have power to co-opt form the general membership additional members to the Executive Committee up to a maximum of two. Such co-opt members shall service only for the remainder of that year but shall be eligible for re-election at the AGM following. j) In the event of a vacancy occurring during the year it shall, if necessary, be filled by the Executive Committee for the remainder of the Chamber year. k) The Secretary shall duly record the attendance of members of the Executive Committee and a report thereon presented at the Annual General Meeting. Any member of the Executive Committee who does not attend at least three meetings during the year shall cease to be a member unless the Executive Committee decides otherwise. l) The Honorary Treasurer shall keep an account of all monies received and paid for and on behalf of the Committee, and shall pay all accounts approved by the Executive Committee. m) The Honorary Treasurer shall be prepared to give an up to date financial statement at meetings of the Executive Committee. n) The Secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of the Chamber in a minute book to be kept for that purpose and shall also keep a correct roll of members. o) The Executive Committee shall have the power to employ such secretarial staff and business services as may be required for the proper functioning of the Chamber. 6. Annual General Meeting a) The Financial year of the Chamber shall be form the first day of March until the last year of February and the Annual General Meeting shall be held within two months of the end of the financial year. b) A quorum at an Annual General Meeting shall consist of eleven members. c) At such a meeting the President, on behalf of the Executive Committee, shall present a report on the previous year and the Honorary Treasurer shall present a duly audited statement of accounts showing all financial transactions of the chamber for the financial year. d) Every member of the Chamber present shall have one vote, which may be exercised by a show of hands, but the members may request, before such a vote is taken, that it shall be processed by secret ballot. When a ballot is to be taken two or more persons shall be appointed by the meeting as scrutineers who shall count the number of votes and report the result in writing to the President or Chairman who shall declare the result of the ballot to the meeting. In cases of equality of votes the President or Chairman shall have a casting vote. 7. Extraordinary General Meetings a) An Extraordinary General Meeting may be convened by the Executive Committee by ten paid up members of the Chamber on the presentation to the President of a letter duly signed by the said ten. b) A quorum at an Extraordinary General Meeting shall consist of eleven members. c) The Executive Committee, after having called an Extraordinary General Meeting and not having the attendance of a quorum, are then empowered to take such decisions as required for the benefit of the Chamber. d) In the absence of the President and Vice President from any meeting, the members present at the meeting shall elect a Chairman to preside. 8. Associations Other Associations may make representations to the Executive Committee. On the request of any Association, their representative may be invited to attend an Executive Committee meeting of the Secretary, in agreement with the President. Such a Representative shall have no right to vote. 9. Notices a) Every fully paid up member of the Chamber has the right to submit a notice of motion in writing to the secretary not less than 7 days prior to the General Meeting, which shall be placed on the agenda for that meeting. b) The Chamber shall give fourteen days notice for any General Meeting and seven days for an Executive Committee meeting. 10. Alterations to the Constitution No alteration shall be made in these rules except by a resolution duly passed by two-thirds of the members present and voting at a General Meeting of the members. Fourteen days notice in writing of any proposed alteration shall be given to all members. 11. Winding Up In the event of the Chamber ceasing to function and there remains after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities any assets whatsoever the same shall be given to some other trade organisation or association having similar objects of the Chamber, such movement to be deterring by the last remaining members of the Chamber.

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