THE CONSTITUTION OF THE LESBIAN AND GAY POLICE ASSOCIATION - 1994 ================================================================= Article 1. NAME 1.1 Lesbian and Gay Police Association (abbreviated LAGPA). Article 2. ADDRESS 2.1 BM LAGPA, London, WC1N 3XX. 2.2 No unauthorised use may be made of the Association's address as an accommodation address. Article 3. AIMS 3.1 The aims of the Association are:- 3.1.1 To work towards equal opportunities for lesbian and gay police service employees. 3.1.2 To offer advice and support to lesbian and gay police service employees. 3.1.3 To work towards better relations between the police service and the gay community. 3.2 The Association is non political, and its aims are intended to be in accordance with current police service requirements and policies. 3.3 The Association is not seeking to be a representative body or to supersede any statutory staff association or other representative body. 3.4 Membership of the Association is not to be taken as an indication of a person's sexual or social orientation. Article 4. MEMBERSHIP 4.1 Membership is open to serving police officers, special constables of any rank or grade and civil staff directly employed by any recognised United Kingdom police authority or chief officer of police. 4.2 On leaving or retirement from the police service, by whatever means, membership of the Association shall cease. 4.3 Membership fees will be set by the executive committee. Any fees paid will not be refunded. 4.4 Membership is conditional on an application being approved by the executive committee and any membership fees being paid. 4.5 Any member may be expelled from the Association by a majority decision of the executive committee. The decision shall be reviewed at the next meeting. Membership of the Association will be suspended during this period, including voting rights, but the member may attend the meeting, or make written application in order to make a representative appeal. 4.6 Every member will, on joining the Association, be given a copy of the constitution. 4.7 The executive committee reserves the right to refuse membership. 4.8 The membership period shall commence 1st January and end 31st December. 4.9 Membership fees shall be paid at the beginning of the period of membership and will be calculated on a monthly basis if the joining date is after 1st January. 4.10 On retirement, or leaving the police service, members may make application to the executive committee for their membership to be transferred to Friends of LAGPA. This will be voted upon and a decision declared following the next committee meeting. Any appeal will be dealt with as per para 4.5. Article 5. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 5.1 The Association shall elect an executive committee consisting of not less than five and no more than 9 members. 5.2 Election to the executive committee is open to serving police officers, and up to 2 other members. However, additional members may be co-opted as demand requires. Co-opted members will be entitled to vote at executive committee meetings. 5.3 The executive committee shall elect the following posts:- General Secretary Treasurer Membership Secretary 5.4 The executive committee shall have at least five members present for a quorum and will take decisions on the basis of a simple majority. In the event of an even vote the chair of the meeting shall have an additional vote. 5.5 Any member of the Association may attend an executive committee meeting and participate in any discussion, however, any vote taken shall be limited to executive committee members only. 5.6 The executive committee may exclude any or all non committee members from its meeting on a majority decision of the executive committee. 5.7 The executive committee shall meet regularly. 5.8 The executive committee shall appoint a chair and minute secretary for each meeting. 5.9 In urgent cases an officer of the executive committee may take action as is required without a vote of the executive committee. The officer will give a report at the next meeting and the matter will be discussed and a vote taken if required. 5.10 The executive committee may appoint sub-committees as required. 5.11 Extra meetings of the executive committee may be called providing reasonable notice is given to executive committee members. Article 6. ELECTION OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 6.1 An election of the executive committee will be held annually at the annual general meeting of the Association. The term of office will run until the next AGM. 6.2 Votes may be cast personally or by postal ballot. 6.3 All nominees must have a proposer. 6.4 The method of voting will be first past the post. 6.5 At least two calendar months notice will be given of an election. 6.6 Ballot papers will be sent out to all Association members at least one calendar month before the election date. 6.7 The executive committee will appoint a returning officer who will be responsible for posting ballot papers, counting ballots and identifying spoilt ballots. The returning officer will be a member of the Association whose name does not appear on the ballot. 6.8 All candidates for election to the executive committee will complete a proforma curriculum vitae which will be posted to all Association members with the ballot papers. Article 7. GENERAL MEETING 7.1 The Association shall hold an annual general meeting at a date, time and place appointed by the executive committee. 7.2 At least two calendar months notice will be given to Association members of the AGM. Such notice will include the date, time and place and outline agenda of the AGM. 7.3 An extra-ordinary general meeting may be convened by the executive committee providing reasonable notice is given to members. 7.4 The executive committee may change the date, time or venue of a general meeting for any urgent reason. 7.5 The agenda of the AGM will include:- The executive committee's report. The treasurer's report. Any business directed by the constitution or the executive committee. 7.6 An extra-ordinary general meeting shall only consider business stated in the notice convening it. 7.7 Any general meeting may, by simple majority vote, agree to consider any other urgent business which has arisen since the notice of the meeting was given. 7.8 The quorum for any general meeting will be ten or one fifth of the total membership, if less. Article 8. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION 8.1 Any amendments to this constitution may be made by simple majority at a general meeting. 8.2 Details of any proposed amendments shall be sent to members with the notice of the meeting. Article 9. FINANCE 9.1 An income and expenditure account shall be held, and a balance sheet showing the financial position of the Association will be produced each year. The financial year shall end on the 30th September. 9.2 The executive committee shall decide how the Association's accounts will be audited. Article 10. INTERPRETATION 10.1 In the event of any question of interpretation or any question on which this constitution is silent, the executive committee reserves to itself the right to act according to its interpretation of the constitution or at its discretion. 10.2 No word or construction in this constitution shall be taken to imply any discrimination whatsoever with regard to sex, race, colour, creed, disability, marital status or sexual orientation. 10.3 The constitution may be clarified on any point by the drafting of a schedule. (Article 11. Deleted) Article 12. WINDING UP PROCEDURE 12.1 Following an executive meeting or general meeting decision to call for the Association to be wound up, a postal ballot of all members shall be held. 12.2 A 2/3 majority will be required to wind up the Association. 12.3 After meeting all remaining liabilities, the executive will be responsible for disposing of any remaining assets, either by dividing them between the Association members, or if financially impracticable, by a donation to a charity nominated by the executive committee. Document Produced By: PC Paul Carswell LAGPA (UK) Last Updated: 13th January 1995