Home | About us | Activities | Contact | Countries and Issues | Newsletter-Enlace | Get involved | Links | Notices | Resource Centre

LASC'S CONSTITUTION (DOC Format)

1. The name of the organisation shall be "Latin America Solidarity Centre", hereinafter called the Centre.
   
   
2. Objectives
   1. The aim of the Centre shall be to promote and facilitate active, mutual solidarity with, and between, those working for progressive change in Latin America and Ireland.
   2. The objectives of the centre shall be:
      1. To facilitate individual and new groups to become active quickly and effectively on issues of interest concerning Latin America.
      2. To celebrate Latin American society and culture.
      3. To promote public understanding of the realities of Latin America and their relevance to the Irish experience.
      4. To campaign on Latin American issues, especially to influence Irish and European Union policies and media, and opposing the self-serving interventions of superpower states, institutions and corporations.
      5. To develop links and exchanges between grassroots groups here and in Latin America.
      6. To campaign on Latin American issues, especially to influence Irish and European Union policies and media, and opposing the self-serving interventions of superpower states, institutions and corporations.
   
   
3. Organization
   1. The Centre will be made up of supporting members, staff and Management Committee. The management committee may make provision for group membership so long as this confers the same rights that would accrue to individual membership, e.g. one vote at general meetings.
      1. Working Groups will be set up from time to time by the Management Committee to implement specific aims of the Centre.
   2. The Centre may also associate itself with other organizations pursuing aims similar to that to the Centre.
      1. Individual membership of the Centre shall be open to all who support the above aims and objectives, on payment of the annual membership fee.
   
   
4. Management Committee
   1. Membership of the Management Committee (MC) shall be decided at the AGM each year.
      1. The AGM will elect eight members of the MC.
      2. Once elected the MC may co-opt up to two additional members to provide necessary skills, expertise or due to increased workload.
      3. It will also have the power to co-opt replacements should any MC member retire or resign during the year.
      4. Where the participating groups/working groups fail to nominate their full quota of members, the AGM will elect the remaining members up to a total of nine members.
   2. The Management Committee has over-all responsibility for running the Centre and for setting policy.
   3. The MC can create and allocate roles as it sees fit, in order to reflect the activities of the Centre. Three particular roles shall be Secretary, Treasurer and Staff Officer.
      1. The Secretary shall take responsibility for the general communications to, from and within the Centre.
      2. The Treasurer shall take responsibility for the finances of the Centre.
      3. The Staff Officer shall supervise the work of the employees, including the co-ordinator, and communicate employee issues and demands to the MC.
   4. The MC shall set the fees for membership.
   5. The MC can set up Working Groups from time to time to fulfill objectives of the Centre. Working groups are open to members who are not in the Management Committee. Working Groups shall send a full report of their activities when so requested by the MC.
      1. Activities considered by the Management Committee of the Centre to be against the aims of the Centre as stated in this Constitution, shall be grounds for suspension of membership.
   6. The MC may invite people to be sponsors of the Centre.
   7. The MC can draw up its own rules. This will include a requirement that members of the MC will have to resign if they fail to attend three consecutive MC meetings without explanation acceptable to the MC.
   
   
5. The Co-ordinator
   1. The Co-ordinator shall be a paid employee of the Centre and be an ex-officio member of the MC.
   2. The Co-ordinator shall be responsible for the day-to-day running of the Centre and shall report to the MC.
   3. The Co-ordinator shall supervise any other staff the Centre might employ from time to time.
   4. The Co-ordinator will support the work of House Committee and Working Group meetings.
   
   
6. Annual General Meeting
   1. An Annual General Meeting shall be held every year. All Centre members shall be notified of the date and place of the AGM, and invited to submit motions and nominations, at least three weeks in advance. Any motions received, the Annual Report, financial statement and budget and the outline plan for the following year shall be circulated to all members at least one week in advance of the AGM.
   2. The main business of the meeting shall be:
      1. Adoption of the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting.
      2. Adoption of the Annual Report.
      3. Adoption of the Financial Report.
      4. Adoption of an outline plan and budget for the following year.
      5. The election of a Management Committee.
      6. Voting on motions and amendments.
      7. Ratification of amendments to the constitution.
      8. Appointment of an Auditor.
   3. For all AGM voting, each paid up member present shall be entitled to one vote.
   4. Elections for the Management Committee shall be by the system of Proportional Representation.
   5. Voting shall be by simple majority, with the exception of amendments to the constitution and expulsions which shall require two-thirds majority of those voting.
   6. Nominations for the MC must be proposed and seconded by two members and must be received in the Centre office at least 14 days before the AGM. Nominees for the MC shall be paid up members of the Centre.
   7. Any motions received in the Office at least 14 days before the AGM shall receive priority over other motions which may be submitted at the AGM. Such late motions and amendments may be considered at the discretion of the meeting.
   8. Amendments to the constitution will only be considered if received at least ten days before the AGM.
   9. The MC shall be responsible for the circulation of all valid motions and constitutional amendments to members and appointed delegates of affiliated organisations not later than one week in advance of the AGM.
   
   
7. Special General Meeting, Dissolution & Interpretation
   1. A Special General Meeting (SGM) may be called by the MC or by a request signed by 20 individual members. Such a request will state the purpose of the SGM. Notice for SGM will be three weeks. An SGM may only make decisions on motion(s) listed in the agenda for the meeting.
   2. The Centre may disband by a special motion passed by a two thirds majority by two successive general meetings.
   3. It shall be a condition for members of LASC that disputes relating to an interpretation of this constitution shall be decided only by binding arbitration.

Back to About us