ASASA Constitution (Draft).
CONSTITUTION
Association
of Study Aids and Study Strategies Assessors [ASASA].
(Draft: adopted
on 14/09/2006).
1. The name
of the association is “Association of Study Aids and Study
Strategies Assessors’.
Objects
2. The
association’s objects are:
a
to act as a means of disseminating good practice with respect to
enabling strategies in the assessment of disabled students
within the parameters of the DSA in the context of DDA,SENDA etc and to
compile and update guidance documents/booklets on their implementation;
b
to work towards establishing a model of assessing which would
complement the need for quality assurance and quality audit within the
sector;
c
to assist in the determination and the consolidation of the parameters
of DSA funding in the context of DDA/SENDA and DfES Guidance;
d
to work with colleagues in FE and HE in distinguishing between
institutional responsibility under DSA, SENDA, and DED, student
responsibility, and DSA liability;
e
to work with related organisations in the sector to empower disabled
students in the context of the HE and FE teaching and learning
environment.
Powers
3. In
pursuance of the objects set out in clause 2 (but not otherwise), the
association shall have the following powers:-
(a)
To maintain and update a discussion list/a web-site and any other
appropriate methods which would serve a means of disseminating good
practice in accordance with the above objects;
(b)
To carry on any other activities which further any of the above objects.
(c)
To purchase,
take on lease, hire, or otherwise acquire, any property or rights which
are suitable for the association’s activities.
(d)
To improve, manage, develop, or otherwise deal with, all or any part of
the property and rights of the association.
(e)
To sell, let, hire out, license, or otherwise dispose of, all or any
part of the property and rights of the association.
(f)
To borrow money, and to give security in support of any such borrowings
by the association.
(g)
To employ
such staff as are considered appropriate for the proper conduct of the
association’s activities, and to make reasonable provision
for
the payment of pension and/or other benefits for members of staff,
ex-members of staff and their dependants.
(h)
To engage such consultants and advisers as are considered appropriate
from time to time.
(i)
To effect insurance of all kinds (which may include officers’
liability insurance).
(j)
To invest
any funds which are not immediately required for the
association’s activities in such investments as may be
considered
appropriate (and to dispose of, and vary, such investments).
(k)
To liaise
with other voluntary sector bodies, local authorities, and agencies,
and other bodies, all with a view to furthering the
association’s
objects.
(l)
To establish
and/or support any other charitable body, and to make donations for any
charitable purpose falling within the association’s objects.
(m)
To form any
charitable company with similar objects to those of the association,
and, if considered appropriate, to transfer to any such company
(without any payment being required from the company) the whole or any
part of the association’s assets and undertaking.
(n)
To take such steps as may be deemed appropriate for the purpose of
raising funds for the association’s activities.
(o)
To accept grants, donations and legacies of all kinds (and to accept
any reasonable conditions attaching to them).
(p)
To do anything which may be incidental or conducive to the furtherance
of any of the association’s objects.
General
structure
4. The
structure of the association shall consist of:-
(a)
the MEMBERS - who have the right to attend the annual general meeting
(and any special general meeting) and have important powers under the
constitution; in particular, the members elect people to serve on the
management committee and take decisions in relation to changes to the
constitution itself
(b)
the
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE - who hold regular meetings during the period
between annual general meetings, and generally control and supervise
the activities of the association; in particular, the management
committee is responsible for monitoring the financial position of the
association.
Qualifications for membership
5.
Membership shall be open to all DSA assessors working within the
parameters detailed in the DSA QAG Framework documents and in
accordance with DfES guidance.
6.
An employee
of the association shall not be eligible for membership; a person who
becomes an employee of the association after admission to membership
shall automatically cease to be a member.
Application
for membership
7.
Any person who wishes to become a member must sign, and lodge with the
association, a written application for membership.
8.
The management committee may, at its discretion, refuse to admit any
person to membership.
9.
The
management committee shall consider each application for membership at
the first management committee meeting which is held after receipt of
the application; the management committee shall, within a reasonable
time after the meeting, notify the applicant of its decision on the
application.
Membership
subscription
10. No
membership subscription shall be payable.
Register of
members
11.
The management committee shall maintain a register of members, setting
out the full name and address of each member, the date on which s/he
was admitted to membership, and the date on which any person ceased to
be a member.
Withdrawal
from membership
12.
Any person who wishes to withdraw from membership shall sign, and lodge
with the association, a written notice to that effect; on receipt of
the notice by the association, s/he shall cease to be a member.
Expulsion
from membership
13.
Any person may be expelled from membership by way of a resolution
passed by majority vote at a general meeting (meeting of members),
providing the following procedures have been observed:-
(a)
at least 21 days’ notice of the intention to propose the
resolution must be given to the member concerned, specifying the
grounds for the proposed expulsion
(b)
the member
concerned shall be entitled to be heard on the resolution at the
general meeting at which the resolution is proposed.
General meetings
(meetings of members)
14.
The management committee shall convene an annual general meeting in
each year (but excluding the year in which the association is formed);
not more than 15 months shall elapse between one annual general meeting
and the next.
15.
The business of each annual general meeting shall include:-
(a) a
report by the chair on the activities of the association
(b)
consideration of the annual accounts of the association
(c)
the election/re-election of members of the management committee, as
referred to in clause 30.
16.
The management committee may convene a special general meeting at any
time.
Notice of
general meetings
17.
At least 14 clear days’ notice must be given (in accordance
with
clause 63) of any annual general meeting or special general meeting;
the notice must indicate the general nature of any business to be dealt
with at the meeting and, in the case of a resolution to alter the
constitution, must set out the terms of the proposed alteration.
18.
The
reference to “clear days” in clause 17 shall be
taken to
mean that, in calculating the period of notice, the day after the
notice is posted, and also the day of the meeting, should be excluded.
19.
Notice of
every general meeting shall be given (in accordance with clause 63) to
all the members of the association, and to all the members of the
management committee.
Procedure
at general meetings
20.
No business shall be dealt with at any general meeting unless a quorum
is present; the quorum for a general meeting shall be 20 members,
present in person.
21.
If a quorum
is not present within 15 minutes after the time at which a general
meeting was due to commence - or if, during a meeting, a quorum ceases
to be present - the meeting shall stand adjourned to such time and
place as may be fixed by the chairperson of the meeting.
22.
The chair of
the association shall (if present and willing to act as chairperson)
preside as chairperson of each general meeting; if the chair is not
present and willing to act as chairperson within 15 minutes after the
time at which the meeting was due to commence, the members of the
management committee present at the meeting shall elect from among
themselves the person who will act as chairperson of that meeting.
23.
The
chairperson of a general meeting may, with the consent of the meeting,
adjourn the meeting to such time and place as the chairperson may
determine.
24.
Every member shall have one vote, which (whether on a show of hands or
on a secret ballot) must be given personally.
25.
If there is
an equal number of votes for and against any resolution, the
chairperson of the meeting shall be entitled to a casting vote.
26.
A resolution
put to the vote at a general meeting shall be decided on a show of
hands unless a secret ballot is demanded by the chairperson (or by at
least two members present in person at the meeting); a secret ballot
may be demanded either before the show of hands takes place, or
immediately after the result of the show of hands is declared.
27.
If a secret
ballot is demanded, it shall be taken at the meeting and shall be
conducted in such a manner as the chairperson may direct; the result of
the ballot shall be declared at the meeting at which the ballot was
demanded.
Maximum number of management
committee members
28. The
maximum number of members of the management committee shall be 9.
Eligibility
29.
A person shall not be eligible for election/appointment to the
management committee unless he/she is a member of the association.
Election,
retiral, re-election
30.
At each
annual general meeting, the members may (subject to clause 28) elect
any member to be a member of the management committee.
31.
The
management committee may at any time appoint any member to be a member
of the management committee (subject to clause 28).
32.
At each
annual general meeting, all of the members of the management committee
shall retire from office - but shall then be eligible for re-election.
Termination
of office
33. A
member of the management committee shall automatically vacate office
if:-
(a) he/she
becomes debarred under any statutory provision from being a charity
trustee
(b)
he/she
becomes incapable for medical reasons of fulfilling the duties of
his/her office and such incapacity is expected to continue for a period
of more than six months
(c)
he/she ceases to be a member of the association
(d)
he/she becomes an employee of the association
(e)
he/she resigns office by notice to the association
(f)
he/she is
absent (without permission of the management committee) from more than
three consecutive meetings of the management committee, and the
management committee resolve to remove him/her from office.
Register of
management committee members
34.
The management committee shall maintain a register of management
committee members, setting out the full name and address of each member
of the management committee, the date on which each such person became
a management committee member, and the date on which any person ceased
to hold office as a management committee member.
Officebearers
35.
The management committee members shall elect from among themselves a
chair, a treasurer and a secretary, and such other office bearers (if
any) as they consider appropriate.
36.
All of the
office bearers shall cease to hold office at the conclusion of each
annual general meeting, but shall then be eligible for re-election.
37.
A person
elected to any office shall cease to hold that office if he/she ceases
to be a member of the management committee or if he/she resigns from
that office by written notice to that effect.
Powers
of management committee
38.
Except as
otherwise provided in this constitution, the association and its assets
and undertaking shall be managed by the management committee, who may
exercise all the powers of the association.
39.
A meeting of
the management committee at which a quorum is present may exercise all
powers exercisable by the management committee.
Personal
interests
40.
A member of the management committee who has a personal interest in any
transaction or other arrangement which the association is proposing to
enter into, must declare that interest at a meeting of the management
committee; he/she will be debarred (in terms of clause 52) from voting
on the question of whether or not the association should enter into
that arrangement.
41.
For the
purposes of clause 40, a person shall be deemed to have a personal
interest in an arrangement if any partner or other close relative of
his/hers or any firm of which he/she is a partner or any limited
company of which he/she is a substantial shareholder or director, has a
personal interest in that arrangement.
42.
Provided
(a) he/she
has declared his/her interest
(b)
he/she has not voted on the question of whether or not the association
should enter into the relevant arrangement and
(c)
the requirements of clause 44 are complied with,
a
member of the
management committee will not be debarred from entering into an
arrangement with the association in which he/she has a personal
interest (or is deemed to have a personal interest under clause 41) and
may retain any personal benefit which he/she gains from his/her
participation in that arrangement.
43.
No member of
the management committee may serve as an employee (full time or part
time) of the association, and no member of the management committee may
be given any remuneration by the association for carrying out his/her
duties as a member of the management committee.
44.
Where a
management committee member provides services to the association or
might benefit from any remuneration paid to a connected party for such
services, then
(a) the
maximum amount of the remuneration must be specified in a written
agreement and must be reasonable
(b)
the
management committee members must be satisfied that it would be in the
interests of the association to enter into the arrangement (taking
account of that maximum amount)
(c)
less than
half of the management committee members must be receiving remuneration
from the association (or benefit from remuneration of that nature).
45.
The members
of the management committee may be paid all travelling and other
expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with their
attendance at meetings of the management committee, general meetings,
or meetings of committees, or otherwise in connection with the
carrying-out of their duties.
Procedure at management
committee meetings
46. Any member
of the management committee may call a meeting of the management
committee or request the secretary to call a meeting of the management
committee.
47.
Questions
arising at a meeting of the management committee shall be decided by a
majority of votes; if an equality of votes arises, the chairperson of
the meeting shall have a casting vote.
48.
No business
shall be dealt with at a meeting of the management committee unless a
quorum is present; the quorum for meetings of the management committee
shall be 5.
49.
If at any
time the number of management committee members in office falls below
the number fixed as the quorum, the remaining management committee
member(s) may act only for the purpose of filling vacancies or of
calling a general meeting.
50.
Unless
he/she is unwilling to do so, the chair of the association shall
preside as chairperson at every management committee meeting at which
he/she is present; if the chair is unwilling to act as chairperson or
is not present within 15 minutes after the time when the meeting was
due to commence, the management committee members present shall elect
from among themselves the person who will act as chairperson of the
meeting.
51.
The
management committee may, at its discretion, allow any person who they
reasonably consider appropriate, to attend and speak at any meeting of
the management committee; for the avoidance of doubt, any such person
who is invited to attend a management committee meeting shall not be
entitled to vote.
52.
A management
committee member shall not vote at a management committee meeting (or
at a meeting of a committee) on any resolution concerning a matter in
which he/she has a personal interest which conflicts (or may conflict)
with the interests of the association; he/she must withdraw from the
meeting while an item of that nature is being dealt with.
53.
For the
purposes of clause 52, a person shall be deemed to have a personal
interest in a particular matter if any partner or other close relative
of his/hers or any firm of which he/she is a partner or any limited
company of which he/she is a substantial shareholder or director, has a
personal interest in that matter.
Conduct of
members of the management committee
54.
Each of the members of the management committee shall, in exercising
his/her functions as a member of the management committee of the
association, act in the interests of the association; and, in
particular, must
(a)
seek, in good faith, to ensure that the association acts in a manner
which is in accordance with its objects (as set out in this
constitution)
(b)
act with the care and diligence which it is reasonable to expect of a
person who is managing the affairs of another person
(c)
in
circumstances giving rise to the possibility of a conflict of interest
of interest between the association and any other party
(i)
put the interests of the association before that of the other party, in
taking decisions as a member of the management committee
(ii)
where any
other duty prevents him/her from doing so, disclose the conflicting
interest to the association and refrain from participating in any
discussions or decisions involving the other members of the management
committee with regard to the matter in question
(d)
ensure that
the association complies with any direction, requirement, notice or
duty imposed on it by the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland)
Act 2005.
Delegation to sub-committees
55.
The management committee may delegate any of their powers to any
sub-committee consisting of one or more management committee members
and such other persons (if any) as the management committee may
determine; they may also delegate to the chair of the association (or
the holder of any other post) such of their powers as they may consider
appropriate.
56.
Any
delegation of powers under clause 55 may be made subject to such
conditions as the management committee may impose and may be revoked or
altered.
57.
The rules of procedure for any sub-committee shall be as prescribed by
the management committee.
Operation
of accounts and holding of property
58.
The
signatures of two out of three signatories appointed by the management
committee shall be required in relation to all operations (other than
lodgement of funds) on the bank and building society accounts held by
the association; at least one out of the two signatures must be the
signature of a member of the management committee.
59.
The title to
all property (including any land or buildings, the tenant’s
interest under any lease and (so far as appropriate) any investments)
shall be held either in the names of the chair, treasurer and secretary
of the association (and their successors in office) or in name of a
nominee company holding such property in trust for the association; any
person or body in whose name the association’s property is
held
shall act in accordance with the directions issued from time to time by
the management committee.
Minutes
60.
The
management committee shall ensure that minutes are made of all
proceedings at general meetings, management committee meetings and
meetings of committees; a minute of any meeting shall include the names
of those present, and (as far as possible) shall be signed by the
chairperson of the meeting.
Accounting
records and annual accounts
61.
The management committee shall ensure that proper accounting records
are maintained in accordance with all applicable statutory requirements.
62.
The
management committee shall prepare annual accounts, complying with all
relevant statutory requirements; if an audit is required under any
statutory provisions or if they otherwise think fit, they shall ensure
that an audit of such accounts is carried out by a qualified auditor.
Notices
63.
Any notice which requires to be given to a member under this
constitution shall be in writing; such a notice may either be given
personally to the member or be sent by post in a pre-paid envelope
addressed to the member at the address last intimated by him/her to the
association.
Dissolution
64.
If the management committee determines that it is necessary or
appropriate that the association be dissolved, it shall convene a
meeting of the members; not less than 21 days’ notice of the
meeting (stating the terms of the proposed resolution) shall be given.
65.
If a
proposal by the management committee to dissolve the association is
confirmed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at the
general meeting convened under clause 64, the management committee
shall have power to dispose of any assets held by or on behalf of the
association - and any assets remaining after satisfaction of the debts
and liabilities of the association shall be transferred to some other
charitable body or bodies having objects similar to those of the
association; the identity of the body or bodies to which such assets
are transferred shall be determined by the members of the association
at, or prior to, the time of dissolution.
66.
For the
avoidance of doubt, no part of the income or property of the
association shall (otherwise than in pursuance of the
association’s charitable objects) be paid or transferred
(directly or indirectly) to the members, either in the course of the
association’s existence or on dissolution.
Alterations
to the constitution
67.
Subject to clause 68, the constitution may be altered by a resolution
passed by not less than two-thirds of those present and voting at a
general meeting, providing due notice of the meeting, and of the
resolution, is given in accordance with clauses 17, 18 and 19.
68.
No amendment
to clauses 3, 43, 65 or 66 of the constitution may be made if the
effect would be that the association would cease to be a charity.
Interpretation
69.
For the purposes of this constitution, “charitable”
shall
be interpreted as charitable within the meaning of section 505 of the
Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 (including any statutory
amendment or re-enactment of the provisions of that section);
“charity” shall be interpreted accordingly.
Initial
members of the management committee
This
constitution was adopted on 14/09/2006