THE AANM CONSTITUTION & RULES
This Constitution and Rules were adopted on 9th December 2009
with subsequent amendments on 7th September 2010 and 2nd May 2013
1. NAME
The organisation’s name is : The Army Apprentice National Memorial (AANM) and in this document it is called the charity (Registered charity 1137924)
2. THE PURPOSE OF THE CHARITY (Charitable Objects) :-
a. For the benefit of the public and to advance education by the provision and maintenance of an Army Apprentice National Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in memory of those Army Apprentices who were trained as soldier-tradesmen and subsequently served in all arms of the Regular Army, thereby encouraging public recognition of the sacrifices made by such persons in numerous conflicts since 1923.
b. In so far as the fund and its income is not required to be applied towards the objects specified above, the Trustees may apply it to provide relief for former army apprentices and their dependants who are in conditions of need, hardship and distress.
3. TRUSTEES
The charity shall be managed by a Management Committee of Trustees which is appointed at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the charity.
4. CARRYING OUT THE PURPOSE
In order to carry out the charitable purposes, the committee has the power to:
a. raise funds, receive grants and donations
b. apply moneys to carry out the purpose of the fund
c. do anything which is lawful and necessary to achieve the purpose
5. MEMBERSHIP
a. The charity shall have a membership. All former army apprentices are deemed to be members of the organisation.
b. The Management Committee may remove a person’s membership if they believe it is in the best interests of the charity. The member has the right to be heard by the Management Committee before the decision is made and can be accompanied by a friend.
6. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – AGM
a. The AGM must be held every year. Members will receive notification of the AGM and its agenda with at least 14 days notice via the charity’s website and by the individual ex-apprentice associations via their websites and publications.
b. Minutes must be kept of the AGM.
c. There must be at least four members present at the AGM.
d. Every member has one vote. Decisions will require a majority. The Chairman has a casting vote.
e. The Management Committee will present the annual report and accounts.
f. Members shall elect between 3 and 10 Management Committee Trustees to serve for the next year. They will retire at the next AGM but may stand for re-election.
g. Any member may stand for election as a Management Committee Trustee.
7. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETINGS
a. The Management Committee may hold meetings as required. A Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary will be elected at the AGM. The Management Committee may act by majority decision.
b. At least 3 Management Committee Trustees must be present at any meeting to be able to take decisions. Minutes shall be kept for every meeting.
c. If Committee members have a conflict of interest they must declare it and leave the meeting while this matter is being discussed or decided.
d. During the year, the Management Committee may co-opt up to 2 additional members. They will stand down at the next AGM.
e. The Trustees may make reasonable additional rules to help run the charity. These rules must not conflict with this constitution or the law.
8. MONEY AND PROPERTY
a. Money and property must only be used for the Charity’s purposes.
b. The Management Committee must keep accounts. The most recent annual accounts can be seen by members on request.
c. Management Committee Trustees cannot receive any money or property from the charity other than reasonable out of pocket expenses in carrying out their duties for the charity. At their discretion, the sponsoring ex-apprentices’ associations may also meet reasonable expenses.
c. Money must be held in the charity’s bank account:
AOBA No2 Account (AANM).
Cheques may be signed by:
(1) The Treasurer alone up to a monetary amount of £250
(2) The Treasurer and Chairman for amounts over £250.
d. The accounting period for the charity’s account will be from 1st January to
31st December annually.
9. GENERAL MEETINGS
a. If the Trustees consider it necessary to change the Constitution, or wind up the charity, they must call a General Meeting so that the membership can make the decision.
b. Trustees must also call a General Meeting if they receive a written request from at least 10 members.
c. All members must be given 14 days notice via the charity’s website and told the reason for the meeting.
d. All decisions require a majority of attendees.
e. Minutes must be kept.
10. WINDING UP
a. If the members resolve to dissolve the charity the Trustees will remain as Charity Trustees and will be responsible for winding up the affairs of the charity in accordance with this clause.
b. The Trustees must collect in all the assets of the charity and must pay or make provision for all the liabilities of the charity.
c. The Trustees must apply any remaining property or money:
(1) directly for the Purpose of the charity (Para 2 of this Constitution);
(2) by transfer to any charity or charities for purposes the same as or similar to the Charity;
(3) in such manner as the Charity Commission for England and Wales (“the Commission”) may approve in writing in advance.
d. The members may pass a resolution before or at the same time as the resolution to dissolve the charity specifying the manner in which the Trustees are to apply the remaining property or assets of the charity and the Trustees must comply with the resolution if it is consistent with paras (1) to (3) inclusive in sub-clause c above.
e. In no circumstances shall the net assets of the charity be paid to or distributed among the members of the charity (except to a member that is itself a charity).
f. The Trustees must notify the Commission promptly that the charity has been dissolved. If the Trustees are obliged to send the charity’s accounts to the Commission for the accounting period which ended before its dissolution, they must send the Commission the charity’s final accounts.
11. CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION –
Changes to the Constitution can be made at any General Meeting. No change can be made that would make the organisation no longer a charity.
a. General Meeting – can be called on written request from at least 10 members.
b. The Management Committee may also call a General Meeting to consult the membership.
12. EX-ARMY APPRENTICES ASSOCIATIONS
As a courtesy all major decisions taken by the Fund Management Committee (Trustees) will be referred for comment / feedback to the executive committees of the four sponsoring ex-apprentice associations. These are the Beachley Old Boys’ Association (Chepstow), the Arborfield Old Boys’ Association (Arborfield), the Association of Harrogate Apprentices (Harrogate) and Hadrian’s Old Boys (Carlisle).
13. SETTING UP THE CHARITY
a. This Constitution and Rules were adopted on 9th December 2009 by the original members of the Management Committee who became the Trustees. The details of the current trustees with their signatures appear below.
b. The Constitution and Rules were amended at a General Meeting on 7th September 2010.
c. The Constitution and Rules were amended at an Annual General Meeting on 2nd May 2013