Last saved by: Susannah Diamond

Transition Sheffield

Constitution

Adopted on date

1. Name.  The name of the group shall be Transition Sheffield.

2. Aims and principles.  

The aims of the group are to engage everyone in Sheffield in the transition to a sustainable society. We aim for healthier, happier, inclusive, creative and resilient communities, free from dependence on fossil fuels. 

We embrace the following as guiding principles for our working processes 
•	Being inclusive and open, avoiding all forms of discrimination, avoiding stereotypes, and reaching out to others to overcome divisions 
•	Working in ways which empower others, by supporting consensus decision making, decentralising decision making to the most appropriate level, helping others to access good information, trusting them to make good decisions, and enabling sharing and networking 
•	Building resilience (the ability to be self reliant, flexible and to adapt under stress) 
•	Generating positive ideas and open possibilities rather than campaigning against things 
•	Paying attention to inner world views and belief systems as well as external physical processes i.e. understanding the importance of attitudes and feelings as well as actions 

3. Powers.  In order to further the aims, the group shall have the power to:
i.	Raise funds and receive contributions by subscription, donation and otherwise.
ii.	Encourage affiliation of existing organisations to Transition Sheffield, and the development of subgroups .
iii.	Employ paid or unpaid agents, staff or advisers on such terms and conditions of employment as the group shall determine.
iv.	Co-operate with other charities, voluntary bodies and statutory authorities operating in furtherance of the objects or of similar charitable purposes and to exchange information and advice with them.
v.	To establish or support any charitable trusts, associations or institutions formed for all or any of the objects.
vi.	Do anything else within the law which promotes or helps to promote the objects.

4. Membership. Transition Sheffield shall operate as a coordinating body for a network of organisations and subgroups. Membership shall be open to any organisation which affiliates to Transition Sheffield by agreeing with the aims and principles of Transition Sheffield and paying any subscription set by a General Meeting of Transition Sheffield. Only representatives of such affiliated organisations may participate in decision making processes.  A maximum of two representatives from each organisation will be able to participate in any consensus processes or voting. 

5. Officers.  The Officers of the group shall include a Co-ordinator and Treasurer.  The Officers shall be decided by the meeting at which this constitution is adopted and will stand until the first Annual General Meeting (AGM). Thereafter Officers shall be decided by the AGM.  All Officers shall retire from office at the AGM but may be requested to take office again at the same AGM.
The Treasurer shall keep an account of all income and expenditure and shall present examined accounts at the AGM.
The Co-ordinator shall be responsible for ensuring that: 
•	General Meetings are held
•	records are kept of Meetings 
•	details of affiliated organisations are kept.  
•	affiliated organisations are given notice of the Annual General Meeting, General Meetings and any Special General Meetings.
•	appropriate communication methods are available to the Group
If any Officer retires between AGMs a General Meeting shall appoint a replacement.

6. General Meetings.  General Meetings of the group shall be held at least three times a year.  A formal record of the meetings shall be kept. Five representatives (i.e. three represented organisations) shall be quorum.  Decisions shall normally be made by consensus. If an agreement cannot be reached by consensus then that decision shall be postponed until a further meeting. If a decision cannot be reached by consensus at this meeting then that decision will be made by two-thirds majority, with a maximum of two votes for each organisation represented. 
A General Meeting may resolve to terminate the membership of an organisation.  This decision must be communicated to the organisation, who must be given the opportunity to put their case to a subsequent General Meeting. Termination of membership shall not have effect until the decision is ratified at this subsequent meeting.

7. Annual General Meeting.  The Annual General Meeting shall be held every year in April, or as soon as possible thereafter.  All affiliated groups shall be entitled to send representatives to attend the AGM. The Co-ordinator shall give all affiliated organisations 21 days notice of an AGM.  A report of the year's activities and the examined accounts shall be presented.  Nominations for officers shall be made at the AGM.  Officers will normally be chosen by consensus. If an agreement cannot be reached by consensus a decision shall be made on a show of hands by a simple majority vote, with a maximum of two votes for each organisation represented. Officers shall serve from the end of the AGM to the following AGM.  

8. Special General Meetings.  A Special General Meeting may be called at any time if five organisation representatives give a request to the Co-ordinator to call one.  The Co-ordinator must give 21 days notice of a Special General Meeting to all affiliated organisations.

9. An accidental omission to give an affiliated organisation notice of a meeting does not invalidate that meeting.

10. Finance. There shall be a bank account in the name of the group.  Four members of affiliated organisations shall be authorised by the AGM, or in exceptional circumstances by a General Meeting, to sign cheques.  Each cheque must be signed by two of these signatories, who must not be related.
The income and property of the group shall be applied only in furtherance of the objects.
~~Members of affiliated organisations may claim reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.~~
An Independent Examiner, ~~who is not a member of the group,~~ shall be appointed to examine the accounts.

11. Amendments. The constitution may be amended at an AGM or a Special General Meeting, provided that 21 day's notice of the amendments has been communicated to all affiliated organisations.  Decisions on amendments shall normally be made by consensus.  If an agreement cannot be reached by consensus, then that decision shall be postponed until a further meeting. If a decision cannot be reached by consensus at this meeting then that decision will be made by two-thirds majority, with a maximum of two representatives voting on behalf of each organisation.  

12. Dissolution.  A decision to dissolve Transition Sheffield may be made at a General Meeting provided that 21 day's notice of this resolution has been communicated to all affiliated organisations.  In the event of dissolution, any assets remaining after the clearing of all debts and liabilities shall be given to a group having similar aims, or, if this cannot be done, to any charitable purposes.

This constitution was approved by the Officers on:	................

Co-ordinator	...............................................

2^nd Co-ordinator	...............................................

Treasurer		...............................................