ASSOCIATION CONSTITUTION
RESOLUTION
"That this association extends & fosters comradeship amongst its members & serving & ex-serving members of its ships, HMS Bulwark, Albion & Centaur past & present".
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Rule 1: Name & Address of the Association
The name of the Association shall be the "HMS Bulwark, Albion & Centaur Association" AND also known for special reference as the "HMS Bulwark Association", HMS Albion Association" or "HMS Centaur Association" hereafter known as the "Association". The official address of the Association shall be that of the Secretary unless otherwise notified by the Committee.
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Rule 2: Legal Context
In these rules, unless the subject or context shall be otherwise required, "Assoc." shall mean "Association". As formed in accordance with the law set out at 1st August 1978 & relevant statuary provisions in force thereafter.
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Rule 3: Authority
The Assoc. is formed in accordance with the authority contained in a resolution at the inaugural meeting held at the Sunshine Inn, Portsmouth on the 14th February 1979.
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Rule 4: Objective of the Association
The Assoc. affords all persons who have served on &/or have an interest in the Assoc. Facilities for contact & meeting together for the purpose of fostering comradeship, gained through service on the ships of the Assoc. &/or interest in them.
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Rule 5: Constitution
The Assoc. is a member Assoc. & shall be under the control of a committee, which will be elected tri-yearly for this purpose.
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Rule 6: Membership
The Assoc. shall consist of the following member categories:a Full b Associate c Life d Honorary e Temporary.
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Rule 7: Full Member
A FULL member shall be a person who has applied for membership & has been accepted into the Assoc. & who has paid any fee in force for such membership. That person shall have served on HMS Bulwark, Albion or Centaur as RN ships company, NAS, RM or other service or civilian personnel so attached & therein conforms to RULE 4. In the event of the application for membership being rejected, no explanation need be given for that rejection, to the applicant.
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Rule 8: Associate Member
An ASSOCIATE member is a person with an interest in the Assoc. & it's ships; who has applied for membership & been accepted into the Assoc. at the discretion of the committee. The applicant must also have paid any fee in force for such membership. Only a maximum of 40% of the total membership may be ASSOCIATE members. They will have all the rights & privileges of FULL members with the exception that they may NOT serve as OFFICERS of the Assoc.
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Rule 9: Temporary Members
Temporary members shall be members of a team or organized party visiting the Assoc. in connection with any sport/game/contest/dance or any other social activity. In accordance with a decision reached at the AGM 2003, ALL serving Officers, Senior Rates & Junior Rates of HMS Bulwark (L15) & HMS Albion(L14) are entitled to be temporary members of the Assoc. without payment of any joining/subscription fee in force.
Temporary members are NOT afforded voting rights & may NOT serve on any committee of the Assoc.
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Rule 10: Life/Honorary Members
a LIFE MEMBERS - Shall be those Full members who are at the discretion of the committee & confirmed at an AGM; have given outstanding service to the Assoc. through their dedication &/or deeds. They will retain the rights & privileges of FULL members WITHOUT payment of any fee in force.
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b HONORARY MEMBERS -Shall be persons who are NOT FULL members & ARE ASSOCIATE members OR other persons who are at the discretion of the committee & confirmed at an AGM/EGM ; have rendered the Assoc. outstanding service through their dedication &/or deeds WITHOUT payment of any fee in force. HONORARY members will have the rights & privileges of ASSOCIATE members.
Rule 11: Subscriptions
The annual subscriptions for FULL & ASSOCIATE members shall be such a sum as the committee may define; & confirmed by those members present at an AGM or EGM. Subscriptions shall fall on the 1st May each year & are to be paid within 3 months of that date. Any member who fails to pay their subscriptions within 3 months of the aforesaid date shall be deemed to be a lapsed member until such time as the due sum has been paid.
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Rule 12: Conduct
Any member whose behaviour is considered contrary to the interests of the Assoc. may at the discretion of the committee be suspended from the Assoc. In the event of the behaviour being in the eyes of the committee being serious, the offending member may be asked to resign.
An officer & any 2 members of the committee shall have the power to suspend immediately the membership of any member whose conduct they consider contrary to the best interests of the Assoc. Any member suspended shall have 7 days to appeal against suspension. The appeal shall be heard within 30 days of the offence. In the case of non-appeal the facts will be given to full committee within 30 days.
In both cases the aforesaid member shall be told of the committees actions as regards the offence within 30 days of the committees meeting.
Any member who has been suspended or requested to resign shall be entitled to attend the aforesaid committee meeting for the purpose of making a statement & shall be given at least 7 days notice in writing the date & time of the meeting.
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Rule 13 - Committee
Subject to the provisions of the Law, the Committee shall consist where possible of a President, Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer (hereafter known as the Officers). The Officers must be Full or Life members of the Assoc. A number of Ordinary committee members may be elected at the discretion of the Officers and confirmed at an AGM/EGM by those members present. Honorary or Associate members may not total more than 2 at any one time and may not serve as Officers of the Assoc. Temporary members may not serve on any committee of the Assoc.
Committee members shall normally serve for a term of 3 years at which time committee members may be re-elected to that or other post in accordance with Rule 13 (para1). Under exceptional circumstances, for the benefit of the Assoc. and at the Full committee's discretion; committee members may serve beyond the 3-year term and only until the next AGM or EGM is called. The committee may at the Full committee's discretion, co-opt members to assist the committee temporarily and for specific purposes. Those persons so co-opted shall not require a vote at an AGM/EGM.
In accordance with the vote at the AGM in 2002, incumbent Commanding Officers of HMS Bulwark (L15) & HMS Albion (L14) are entitled to be Honorary Vice-Presidents of the Association, as ratified at the AGM in 2003.
Regional representatives may be established in areas of the UK and overseas and shall be agreed by those present at an AGM/EGM. Representatives shall serve as committee members to assist all members in their region with Assoc. matters.
The committee shall be responsible for enforcing the Rules of the Association. The power to amend or repeal these Rules shall be invested in the Committee and confirmed by an AGM or EGM of the membership. The Committee shall meet at least 4 times a year; a quorum of the committee shall be a minimum of at least 3 members including 1 officer.
Rule 14 - Accounts
All money received shall be handed to the credit of the Assoc. This account shall be designated the "HMS Bulwark Association". The statement of accounts shall run from1st January until 31st December each year. A leeway of 28 days either side will be allowed with the committee's consent.
Members appointed by the committee shall audit the accounts.
Rule 15 - Annual General Meeting (AGM)
There shall wherever possible, be an Annual General Meeting to be held in the first 6 months of the accounting period, at a date decided at the previous AGM.
Notice of such a meeting and of any resolutions to be moved thereat shall be given at least 28 days before the meeting and of any resolutions to be moved thereat shall be given 28 days before the meeting by a notice or sent by post to all members. The business of the AGM shall be :-
Receive the balance sheet and the accounts of the Association.
To receive a report of the committee as to the general condition and the progress of the Assoc. throughout the previous year.
To elect the officers and members of the committee
Voting at all meetings shall be by a show of hands, except in the case of a contested election when it shall be by ballot or where a majority of those present demand a poll or ballot.
To transact any other business relating to the affairs of the Assoc. of which due notices has been given.
Rule 16 - Extraordinary General Meeting
The Secretary shall summon an Extraordinary General Meeting at :-
(a) The discretion of the committee.
(b) On the requisition in writing of one-fifth of those entitled to attend & vote at a General Meeting. The date of the meeting shall be within 14 days of the receipt of the Secretary or requisition mentioned above & not earlier than 10 days after notice of this meeting has been displayed or sent out by post as in Rule 15. No other matter shall be discussed at the meeting.
Rule 17 - Procedure at an Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting
At an Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting, decisions of the Association shall be voted by those members present but not less than a quorum of a least two officers of the Association and those Full, Life, Associate and Honorary members present.
Any member proposing any change to the Constitution or making any other proposal, for the agreement by an AGM/EGM, must present the proposal in person or be supported by any other member attending the AGM/EGM and acting on his behalf.
Rule 18 - Bye-Laws
The committee may from time to time make, vary and revoke any bye-laws (not inconsistent with these rules) for the regulation of the internal affairs of the Assoc. and for the conduct of members and the bye-laws for the time being in force, shall be binding on all members.
Rule 19 - Alteration of Rules
No rules shall be altered or rescinded or a new rule made until it has been discussed at a meeting of the committee. The committee may summon a special meeting of the Assoc. after giving seven days notice to members. It will require the vote of at least two-thirds of the members then present to alter, rescind or make the new rule.
Rule 20 - Gaming to Raise Funds
Without prejudice to the carrying on of other lawful gaming on the premises, all lawful gaming designed to raise funds for the Assoc. must be carried out in accordance with this ruke and not otherwise. Without prejudice to the legality of the above, no person shall take part in any game or raffle unless they are:
Rule 21 - Rights of Members
Full and Life members shall be entitled to be Officers of the Assoc. and sit as Committee members on any committee.
Associate members (and those Associate members made honorary members) shall have the rights and privileges of Full members but cannot serve as Officers of the Association.
Honorary (and not Temporary members) and temporary members shall have the rights and privileges of Associate members.
Temporary members may not vote at any meeting of the Association or serve on any committee of the Association.
- Widows or widowers of full or associate members may elect to receive future R08 Journals free of charge. Subject to the committee's discretion.
- Members/ associate members & ex-members who are residents of a Nursing/Care Home may elect to receive a free R08 Journal. Subject to the committees's discretion.
On the requisition in writing of one fifth of those entitled to attend and vote at General Meeting. The date of the meeting shall be within 14 days of the receipt of the Secretary or requisition mentioned above and not earlier than ten days after notice of this meeting has been displayed or sent out by post as in Rule 15. No other matter shall be discussed at the meeting.- Members, associate members & ex-members who are resident in a nursing or care home may elect to receive future R08 Journals free of charge. Subject to the committee's discretion.All members in any category of membership shall be subject to the Rules of the Assoc. as set out in the Constitution and any bye-laws so determined by the committee as in Rule 18
Rule 22 - Dissolution
If the number of Full members of the Assoc. falls at any time below twenty five (25). Or at any time the Assoc. passes at a General Meeting, by a majority comprising two-thirds or more of the members present, who are entitled to vote at resolution, (in this Rule called the First Resolution), of its intention to dissolve. the committee shall take immediate steps to convert into money all property of the Assoc. with the power to postpone or delay the conversion of any particular assets at their discretion.This Constitution of the HMS Bulwark, Albion & Centaur Association has been set out in accordance with the law on 1st August 1978, as amended at the Annual General Meeting of 5 April 2003.
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