Difference between revisions of "Constitution"

Latest revision as of 20:12, 21 July 2019

1. NAME

   a) The name of the Makerspace shall be Ipswich Makerspace, hereafter referred to as the Makerspace.

2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

   a) The aims and objectives of the Makerspace shall be:

   i.To provide shared facilities that enable members to meet, learn, swap skills, and work on projects either as individuals or collaboratively;

   ii.To promote and encourage craft, technical, scientific and artistic skills through social collaboration and education.

   iii.To organize and host workshops and events focused on teaching specific or broad skills related to tinkering, using tools, and making things to members and the community

3. EQUALITY STATEMENT

   a) The Makerspace is fully committed to the principles of the equality of opportunity. No participant, volunteer, job applicant or employee of the Makerspace will receive less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, colour, disability, ethnic origin, parental or marital status, religious belief, social class or sexual preference than any other;

   b) The Makerspace will regard discrimination by any member, participant or volunteer as grounds for disciplinary action under the relevant Makerspace rules.

4. POWERS

   a) To further its objectives the Makerspace may do all such lawful things as may further the Makerspace’s objectives and, in particular, the Makerspace has power:

   i. to raise funds, and to open a bank account to manage such funds;

   ii. to buy, take on lease or in exchange, hire or otherwise acquire any property and to maintain and equip it for use;

   iii. to sell, lease or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the property belonging to the Makerspace;

   iv. to enter into any partnership or joint venture arrangement with any other Makerspaceor organisation;

   v. to publicise and promote the work of the Makerspace and organise meetings, training courses, events or seminars;

   vi. to employ staff, engage consultants, and take on volunteers as necessary.

   vii. to enter into contracts or agreements for services provided to the Makerspace.

5. MEMBERSHIP

   a) Membership and access to the benefits of membership, hereafter referred to as the Benefits, shall be open to all on payment of relevant fees (if applicable);

   b) The Makerspace may determine categories of membership, assign members to a category and determine the Benefits between such categories

   c) All members will be subject to the regulations of the Constitution and by joining the Makerspace will be deemed to accept these regulations and codes of practice that the Makerspace has adopted

   d) The Steering Committee shall have the power to refuse membership to an applicant, where it is considered such membership would be detrimental to the aims, purposes or activities of the Makerspace.

   e) The Steering Committee shall have the power to terminate the membership of a member for any behaviour in violation of the regulations or codes of practice. Notice of this termination shall be made in writing to the member.

   f) Any member of the Makerspace may resign their membership by giving to the Secretary written notice to that effect.

6. FEES

   a) The rate of fees will be managed by the Steering Committee. Members shall be given 2 months advance notice of changes to the fees;

   b) The current rates of fees shall be prominently publicised;

   c) Fees shall be payable in advance in order to access the Benefits;

   d) Any Member who has unpaid fees in excess of 6 months may, at the discretion of the Steering Committee, have their membership and all associated rights, privileges and benefits revoked;

7. MEMBERS RESPONSIBILITIES

   a) All members are responsible for their own safety, they should read and understand the Health and Safety Policy, together with the operating instructions for any equipment andtools they plan to use. Members who identify any Health and Safety risk, or any act or omission, that could harm members or bring the Makerspace into disrepute should rectify it and / or report it to a Committee member immediately;

   b) Members should satisfy themselves that they have adequate insurance to cover themselves for their personal injury and liabilities when undertaking their activities;

   c) Membership of the Makerspace is conditional upon:

   i. providing up-to-date contact details including name, address, phone number and email address (personal data will only be retained as is necessary for the purposes of the Makerspace, and will thereafter be securely erased);

   ii. abiding by all of the rules of the Makerspace and the reasonable directions of the Steering Committee, including but not limited to the Makerspace's Health & Safety Policy.

8. DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

   a) Directors of the Makerspace may appoint other Directors, by majority agreement of the existing Directors, at any General Meeting;

   b) Directors must appoint additional Directors until there are a minimum of three Directors;

   c) The Officers of the Makerspace shall be:

   i. Chair;

   ii. Secretary;

   iii. Treasurer.

   d) The Officers shall be appointed by the Directors at a General Meeting;

   e)All Directors and Officers shall be Members of the Makerspace;

   f) Directors may also serve as Officers.

9. STEERING COMMITTEE

   a) The Makerspace will be managed through the Steering Committee;

   b) The Steering Committee shall consist of

   i. the Directors;

   ii. the Officers;

   iii. any Members appointed by the Directors.

   c) All Steering Committee members shall be Members of the Makerspace;

   d) The Steering Committee shall meet at intervals determined by the business of the Makerspace and a quorum shall be 3 members of the current Steering Committee on the day the meeting is held, of whom at least 1 shall be Directors of the Makerspace;

   e) Only members of the Steering Committee have the right to vote at meetings of the Steering Committee;

   f) The Steering Committee will be responsible for adopting new policy, codes of practice and rules that affect the Makerspace;

   g) The Steering Committee will be responsible for the financial affairs of the Makerspace including but not limited to setting budgets, allocating funds and maintaining accounts;

   h) The Steering Committee shall be empowered to appoint sub-committees and co-opt members as may be required from time to time for any special purpose or purposes;

   i) The Steering Committee will be responsible for disciplinary hearings of members who infringe the Makerspace rules/regulations/constitution;

   j) The Steering Committee will be responsible for taking any action of suspension or discipline following such hearings.

10. OPERATIONAL COMMITTEE

    a) The Operational Committee will handle the practical aspects of running the Makerspace,including but not limited to such matters as construction, maintenance, installation and improvements, as instructed by the Steering Committee;

    b) Operational Committee Members shall be appointed by the Directors as required;

    c) All Operational Committee members shall be Members of the Makerspace;

    d) Steering Committee Members may also serve as Operational Committee Members.

    e) The Steering Committee will maintain oversight of the Operational Committee and may act to limit or override its decisions.

11. GENERAL MEETINGS

    a) Member Voting:

    i. Every member shall have one vote at General Meetings;

    ii. Subject to the provisions of this Constitution a resolution put to member vote by the Chair at a General Meeting shall be decided upon by a show of hands, or paper ballot. Any such resolutions must be agreed by a majority of members present. In thecase of equality of votes the Chair shall have a second or casting vote;

    iii. The quorum for General Meetings will be 20% of membership on the day of the meeting, of whom at least 3 shall be Steering Committee members and at least 1 shall be Directors of the Makerspace.

    b) General Meetings:

    i. Any member may submit items to the agenda of General Meetings. To consider any resolution submitted by a member, any such Resolution shall be sent to the Chair duly proposed and seconded at least 14 days before the date of the General Meeting;

    ii. General Meetings of the Makerspace shall take place on a regular basis, at a minimum of every 12 months;

    iii. The purpose of these meetings is to ensure that Members are given the opportunity to participate in the decision-making process of the Makerspace, review the business planning and management processes and to ensure the Makerspace manages itself in accordance with its Constitution.

    c) Annual General Meetings:

    i. The Makerspace shall in each calendar year hold a general meeting of the Members as its Annual General Meeting (AGM);

    ii. The AGM shall take place no later than three months after the end of the financial year;

    iii. The business of an AGM shall comprise, where appropriate:

    (1) Consideration of accounts and balance sheets;

    (2) Approval of an annual operating plan;

    (3) Approval of a schedule of delegated matters and committee appointments.

    d) Calling a General Meeting:

    i. Directors of the Makerspace, may, in writing, call a General Meeting.

    ii. All General Meetings shall be called giving 28 clear days’ notice to all Members but may be held at shorter notice if so agreed in writing by a majority of the Steering Committee together comprising not less than 50% of the total membership of the Steering Committee.

    iii. It shall be the responsibility of the Steering Committee to arrange and publicise a date, time, a venue and an agenda for each meeting;

    iv. The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting to, or non-receipt of notice of a meeting by any member shall not invalidate proceedings at that meeting.

    e) It shall be the responsibility of the Chair to chair all General Meetings or a designated deputy in his/her absence. All General Meetings must be minuted and the minutes shall be available to all members of the Makerspace.

12. FINANCE

    a) The financial year of the Makerspace will run from 6th of April and end on the 5th April the following year.

    b) Any money acquired by the Makerspace, including donations, contributions and bequests, shall be paid into an account operated by the Steering Committee in the name of the Makerspace. All funds must be applied to the objectives of the Makerspace and for no other purpose;

    c) Bank accounts shall be opened in the name of the Makerspace;

    d) Any income/expenditure shall be the responsibility of the Treasurer who will be accountable to ensure funds are utilised effectively and that the Makerspace stays within budget;

    e) Official accounts shall be maintained and will be presented at the Annual General Meeting. The accounts will be available to all members upon request.

13. FOUNDERS BONDS

    a) Each Member of the Makerspace is invited to lend to the Makerspace such money as they can afford

    b) Loans will be accepted in units of £100 each

    c) One numbered Founder's Bond Certificate will be issued to the Member for each unit of £100 lent

    d) Each loan will be for a minimum of three years, after which it will be repayable within 3months of the Member's resignation from Membership of the Makerspace or to the Member's estate on death or in such other circumstances as the Steering Committee may in its absolute discretion determine

    e) Founder's Bond holders will rank as ordinary creditors of the Makerspace

    f) Founder's Bond holders will become Foundation Members in place of the existing category of their membership

    g) The annual subscription rate for Foundation Members will be the annual subscription rate for the time being applicable to the former category of membership less an amount equal to 3 per cent of the value of the Founder's Bonds held, up to the value of the annual subscription

14. DISCIPLINE AND APPEALS

    a) All complaints regarding the behaviour of members should be submitted in writing to the Steering Committee;

    b) The Steering Committee will meet to hear complaints within 28 days of a complaint being lodged. The Steering Committee has the power to take appropriate disciplinary action including the termination of membership if the complaint is upheld;

    c) The outcome of a disciplinary hearing will be notified in writing to the person who lodged the complaint and the Member(s) against whom the complaint was made within 28 days of the hearing;

    d) There will be the right of appeal to the Steering Committee following disciplinary action being notified. The Steering Committee will consider the appeal within 28 days of the Steering Committee receiving the appeal. The appeal must be lodged within 7 days of initial outcome being notified, to the Steering Committee;

    e) The Steering Committee or the Member against whom the complaint was made has the right to have the appeal heard by 3 members of the Makerspace who have not been involved in the complaint in the first stage.

15. ALTERATION OF THE CONSTITUTION

    a) Amendments to this Constitution must be conveyed to the Secretary formally in writing. The Steering Committee shall then decide on the date of a meeting to discuss such proposals;

    b) This Constitution may only be altered by a majority vote at a Steering Committee Meeting and if an amended copy is subsequently circulated to all Members within 28 days;

16. DISSOLUTION

    a) The Makerspace may be dissolved if deemed necessary by the Steering Committee in a majority vote at a General Meeting;

    b) Once all debts and costs of dissolution have been paid, any donated assets shall initially be offered back to their original donators. Any remaining assets or remaining funds will be transferred to local charities or similar Makerspaces at the discretion of the Steering Committee.