1. The Association shall be called the Heart of England Way Association (hereinafter called “The Association”) and shortened as appropriate to HOEWA
2. The object of the Association is to promote the Heart of England Way, and other public paths associated with it and such other ways and public paths as may from time to time be adopted by The Association and the interests of users
3. Membership of the Association shall be open to
a) Individuals – to be classified “Full Members”
b) Commercial, Voluntary and Statutory groups and bodies – to be classified as “Partnership members”
4. Membership shall be granted once an application has been received by the Membership Secretary and approved by the committee, and shall be valid for a period of twelve months following payment of the subscription, renewable by continuing to pay annual membership fees as so determined. The Committee may cancel membership either by motion or request from a member; refund of fees is at the discretion of the Committee.
5.The annual subscription fee for membership of the Association shall be recommended annually in October by the Committee and approved annually by the Annual General Meeting, effective for all new memberships and renewals effective after each 1st January following
6. The Association shall appoint a committee comprising a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and at least 4 other members. All members of the committee shall retire at each Annual General Meeting but shall be eligible for re-election at such A.G.M. The Committee shall have the power to co-opt any other full or partnership member.
7. The committee shall be responsible for the day to day running, regulation and promotion of the Association but shall not be entitled to impose upon the Association any fundamental change in its purpose or method of operation without approval from a motion of a resolution at a Special General Meeting or Annual General Meeting
8. All income and property of the Association shall be applied solely to the objects of the Association and shall be promptly banked in a banking account authorised by the Association and all cheques and other dealings with the Associations bankers shall be authorised by two signatures one from the Treasurer and one from the Chairman or the Secretary
9. The Association’s fiscal year shall end on 30th September in each year and the Annual General Meeting shall take place not later than 30th November in each year for the purposes as rule 10.
10. Fifteen days notice in writing by post, e-mail and web site statement shall be given to each Full and Partnership Member of the Annual General Meeting stating the time date and place where the same shall be held and the business of the Annual General Meeting shall include
a) The presentation and consideration of the accounts and balance sheet of the Association
b) The report of the Chairman and the Secretary
c) The appointment of an auditor
d) The approval of the Committees recommended membership fees to operate during the following calendar year
e) The election of the Committee
f) The discussion and voting of any resolution put to the Association
g) Any other business deemed proper by the Chairman
11. Voting shall be by way of show of hands, and a majority will prevail. The Chairman shall not exercise a casting vote. All Full Members shall be entitled to vote, and Partnership Members shall be entitled to nominate one person to hold their single vote. The nominated persons representing Partnership Members shall be advised at the start of any such meeting to the Chairman.
12.Any resolution for consideration by the association shall be sent in writing to the Secretary at least four weeks before the Annual General Meeting and at least five weeks before any Special General Meeting. In the case of the Annual General Meeting the Secretary shall include in the notice to Full and Partnership Members of the Annual General Meeting a note of any resolutions that are to be placed before the Annual General Meeting and in the case of a Special General meeting the Secretary shall give notice to Full and Partnership Members of such resolutions to be considered at the Special General Meeting in the notice calling such Special General Meeting
13. A Special General Meeting to consider any resolution shall be called by the Association if the Secretary shall receive a request from the Committee or a request from at least 15% of the membership entitled to vote and the secretary shall forthwith call a Special general meeting giving at least 21 days notice in writing specifying the date, place and time of such meeting and the purpose for which the same has been called
14. Having regard to all meeting of the Association (and where applicable the committee) the following shall apply:
a) An ordinary meeting of the Association may be called at any time by the committee upon the same notice period as an Annual General Meeting
b) Decisions and resolutions shall be decided by a majority vote
c) Votes may only be made by those entitled to vote and by personal attendance at the meeting
d) Any meeting shall be invalid unless attended by at least 10% of the membership or 8 members entitled to vote whichever is the lesser and in the case of a committee meeting by at least 4 elected members
15. The Constitution may not be amended without a Special General Meeting or at the Annual General Meeting
16. If the Association shall be dissolved after the collection of all monies due and the payment of all liabilities the net assets of the Association shall be distributed among the number of members entitled to vote
17. The Association may undertake the preparation and promotion of publications on footpaths and related subjects and all such publications shall be issued in the name of the Association
18. The Association has an all-inclusive policy of being open to persons sharing the same objectives (2) regardless of age, ability, gender, race or belief
