Constitution
Note: the following Constitution was ratified at the planning meeting on 26th November 2008 .
1. Purpose
Crocus, Croydon's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Network, exists to improve the lives of LGBT people who live or have an interest in Croydon.
Crocus is a collective of LGBT people and groups collaborating on issues of common interest to be the voice of LGBT people in the Borough.
2. Aims
Crocus will:
Provide a co-ordinated platform for the representation of the LGBT people of Croydon
Provide an environment for open discussion, information sharing, learning and development on LGBT issues in Croydon
Encourage collaboration between Croydon LGBT groups and individuals in Croydon
Research and analyse the needs and issues of LGBT people in Croydon in order to address these needs by working together
Strengthen, assist and enhance local LGBT specialist groups without duplicating or undermining their work
Undertake projects as identified by members of Crocus, with a mainly Croydon focus.
3. Membership
Crocus Membership will:
Comprise primarily of members who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender
Include all those interested in LGBT issues including individuals, groups and friends. For clarification, membership of Crocus is therefore open to:
LGBT people who live or work in Croydon
Carers, friends or relatives of LGBT people who live or work in Croydon
Voluntary and Community organisations working in the LGBT support sector, or having an interest in working with LGBT people
Relevant Statutory Sector Partners.
People and organisations become members by making a request to the Secretary of Crocus.
Membership can be terminated by a majority vote of the Executive Committee if they consider that they have breached the Constitution or otherwise acted inappropriate or in a manner damaging to Crocus or its aims. In urgent cases, such action can be taken by a majority of the Officers, which would then need to be ratified by the Executive Committee.
Any such decision would then need to be confirmed by a vote at a General Meeting if challenged by the person whose membership has been terminated.
4. Executive Committee
Day-to-day management of Crocus shall be carried out by the five Officers:
Chair
Vice-Chair
Secretary
Treasurer
Webmaster.
The Officers shall be empowered to co-opt up to three other members to make up an Executive Committee of a maximum of eight in total.
In choosing co-optees, Officers shall be mindful of the need for an appropriate balance.
The Executive Committee shall seek to ensure that Crocus is represented on all relevant Croydon bodies. Representatives shall be elected at a General Meeting (usually AGM).
5. Electoral Procedures
All Officers shall be elected at an Annual General Meeting. All elections shall be by secret ballot where contested.
Eligibility to stand for election as an Officer shall be dependant on having attended at least two General Meetings in the previous twelve months.
Eligibility to take part in any voting process shall be determined by having attended at least one General Meeting in the previous twelve months.
Any Executive Committee Member who misses three consecutive meetings, be they Executive Committee or General Meetings, shall be removed from office with immediate effect.
In the event of a vacancy arising during the year, an election for the casual vacancy shall be held at the next General Meeting.
6. Meetings
6.1 Meeting Rules
All Members shall:
Declare any conflict of interest and withdraw from discussions when requested.
Respect difference in opinion and create a safe and supportive space for sharing views.
Make decisions collectively.
Sensitively respect confidentiality and anonymity.
Respect time constraints.
Respect that no one or more individuals are to dominate any meeting.
The Chair shall have a second and casting vote in votes held in any meeting.
6.2 Frequency and Nature of Meetings
In preparation for the AGM, the Executive Committee shall determine the schedule of meetings for the next 12 months:
Executive meetings – five per year
General Meetings – five per year.
Quorum for an Executive Meeting shall be 50% of its membership at the time.
Quorum for a General Meeting shall be eight individuals who are members or representatives of member organisations attending.
All members may attend Executive Committee meetings but not vote and will only be allowed to speak at the chair's discretion.
Business shall be kept to Executive Committee other than a summary report to General Meeting, where issues can be raised.
Officers shall have the power to take urgent actions between General Meetings and report on such actions to the next General Meeting.
7. Changes to the Constitution and Dissolution
Any changes to this Constitution must be tabled to the Executive Committee meeting preceding the AGM and will then be debated at the AGM. Any changes require a two-thirds majority of those taking part in the vote.
Any proposal to dissolve the Organisation must be tabled to a meeting of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall then take this proposal to the next General Meeting. To be passed, any such proposal requires a two-thirds majority of those taking part in the vote.
In the event of dissolution, Crocus will pass any remaining funds to Croydon Voluntary Action (CVA) to use for the purposes of supporting LGBT Voluntary groups in the London Borough of Croydon.
