Veerashaiva Samaja of United Kingdom (VSUK)
Constitution
Constitution of the Veerashaiva Samaja of United Kingdom and Other EEC Countries
We, the Veerashaivas, also know as Lingayats, settled down in the UK and EEC countries, desirous of promoting, further ring and enchancing the religious, social, educational and cultural activities and fostering multicultural understanding and appreciation, do herby decide to establish an association.
ARTICLE I - Name and Location
Section 1: The name of the said association shall henceforth be known as the Veerashaiva Samaja of the United Kingdom and will be referred to in the following as VSUK.
Section 2: The office and the Headquarters of the VSUK shall be at such location(s) as decided by the Executive Committee of the VSUK.
ARTICLE II - Aim and Objectives
Section 1:
- a) To promote the religion of Veerashaiva
- b) To advance the education of the public in the religion, history, language, art, music, dance, religious custom and traditions of Veerashaiva
- c) To relieve poverty and sickness amongst the adherents of Veerashaivism
Section 2: The VSUK’s activities shall be wholly directed and society limited to the furtherance of the religious, educational and cultural activities of its members.
Section 3: No attempt shall be made to involve VSUK, in furtherance or promotion of any political activities or to participate as any pressure group.
Section 4: No members or officers shall receive or derive any personal, financial benefits either by being a member of the VSUK or by using its goodwill.
ARTICLE III - Membership
Section 1: Any person who subscribes to the aims and objectives of the VSUK and participate in the philosophy of Veerashaivism are eligible for the membership.
Section 2: The membership fees shall be determined and decided by the Executive Committee.
Section 3: Only paid members of the VSUK shall be eligible to stand or to vote in the election of the Executive Committee and other proceedings of the VSUK. Non Lingayat can be associate members of the VSUK.
ARTICLE IV - The Executive Committee
Section 1: The Executive Committee shall consist of four elected officers and six elected members. In addition, the immediate past president of the VSUK shall be ex-officio member of the Executive Committee.
Section 2: The general body at its annual meeting shall elect the members of the Executive Committee.
Section 3: The term of office of the members of the Executive Committee shall be for a period of three years.
Section 4: When a vacancy arises in its composition, the Executive Committee shall fill the vacancy for the reminder of the term by a two-thirds vote, within three months of such occurrence.
Section 5:
- a) The Executive Committee shall ‘set the term of reference’ and appoint sub-committee(s) as deemed necessary, to realise the stated objectives of the VSUK
- b) Any sub-committee must report back to Executive Committee on all its acts and proceedings as soon as practically possible.
- c) The majority of members if any such sub committee must be drawn for the ranks of the Executive Committee.
Section 6: No members of the Executive Committee shall receive any remu7neration of any kind whatsoever for his/her services rendered to VSUK.
ARTICLE V - Meeting of the Executive Committee
Section 1: The Executive Committee shall meet at least twice in a calendar year.
Section 2: The Executive Committee meetings shall be presided over by the President.
Section 3: In the absence of the President, such meetings shall be presided over by the nominee of the President.
Section 4: The Secretary shall be responsible for scheduling and keeping the records of all the meetings of VSUK.
Section 5: Every member of the Executive Committee, except the President, shall cast his/her vote. The President of the shall cast his/her vote in the case of a tie.
Section 6: A two-thirds vote of the Executive Committee shall be required to bring before the Committee any items that have already been turned down by it.
Section 7: Each office bearer of the Executive Committee is required to attend at least two meetings in his/her term of office. Other members of the Executive Committee have the right to terminate the committee membership by a two-thirds majority vote.
ARTICLE VI - Officers
Section 1: The officers shall carry the titles of the President, Vice-President, the Secretary and the Treasurer.
Section 2: The officers shall be elected by the general body at its annual meeting and to be eligible for the offices, the candidates should be at least 18 years of age and should be members of the VSUK in good standing.
Section 3: The officers shall hold offices for a team of three years and until their successors are elected.
ARTICLE VII - Duties of the Officers
Section 1: The President shall be sole spokesperson of the VSUK.
Section 2: The Secretary shall assume the responsibility of the President on the absence of the President of the VSUK.
Section 3: The President shall have the authority to designate any member(s) of the to represent him/her.
Section 4: The secretary shall be responsible for keeping all the records of VSUK. When the term of Secretary terminates, he/she shall pass on all the records of the VSUK to his/her successor.
Section 5: The secretary shall serve as the executive of the VSUK. The Secretary, with the help of various sub-committees, is solely responsible for implementing the decisions and policies of the Executive Committee.
Section 6: The Treasurer shall be responsible for the receipt, disbursements and record keeping of all the funds of the VSUK. When the term of the Treasurer terminates, he/she shall pass on all the records to the next Treasurer.
Section 7: The Treasurer shall pay all the bills approved by the Executive Committee.
Section 8: The Treasurer shall have the authority to receive any and all the voluntary contributions made to the VSUK.
ARTICLE VIII - Fiscal Years and Finance
Section 1: The fiscal year of the VSUK shall be the calendar year 1 July to 30 June.
Section 2: The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the finance of the VSUK.
Section 3: A bank account in the name of the VSUK shall be opened in a National Bank.
Section 4: The account shall be operated by the President of the Treasurer.
Section 5: The fiscal accounts of the VSUK shall be audited by the auditors appointed by the Executive Committee.
Section 6: Any expenditure of the funds on behalf of the VSUK shall be incurred within the general guidelines set forth by the Executive Committee.
Section 7: All expenses incurred on behalf of the VSUK shall have the final approval of the Executive Committee.
Section 8: All the charitable funds may only be expended in furtherance of the association’s charitable objectives.
ARTICLES IX - Board of Trustee/ Composition
Section 1: The Board of Trustee shall be members of VSUK. To be a trustee, the person should have been a member in a good standing for minimum of three years and should have demonstrated active participation in the activities of the VSUK. In addition, the person should have shown dedication to the objectiveness and goals of the VSUK expressed herein.
Section 2:
- a) Title of all and any real or personal property which may be acquired by, or for the purposes of the VSUK, shall be vested in a Board of Trustee appointed by the Executive Committee and approved by the general body.
- b) The Board of Trustees shall consist of five members.
- c) The President of the VSUK shall be one of the members.
- d) The Board of Trustees shall not interfere in the day-to-day activities or the policy making of the Executive Committee.
- e) In the event the Executive Committee resigns, the Board of Trustees shall appoint an interim Executive Committee until an election at the next general body meeting which shall take place within 90 days.
- f) The general body must approve all actions of the Trustees.
- g) The Board of Trustees shall elect a chairperson, who shall preside over the Board. The term of office of the chairperson shall be for a period of two years.
- h) The Chairperson of the Board of Trustees shall keep records of all the meetings and all other activities of the Board.
ARTICLE X - General Body Meeting
Section 1: The notice of the annual meeting shall be sent by mail at least four weeks prior to the proposed date.
Section 2: A general body meeting of the VSUK may be called by the decision of the Executive Committee or by a petition signed by at least one fifth of the members.
ARTICLE XI
Alteration to this Constitution shall receive the assent of two-thirds of the members present and voting at an Annual General Body Meeting. The Honorary Secretary of the association must receive a resolution for the alterations of the constitution at least 21 days before the meeting at which the resolution is to be brought forward. At least the Honorary Secretary must give 14 days notice of such a meeting must be given the Honorary Secretary to the members and must include notice of the alteration proposed, provided that no alteration is made to the Article (objects), ( dissolution) or this Article, shall take effect until the approval in writing of the Charity Commissioners or other authority having charitable jurisdiction shall have been obtained: and no alteration shall be made which would have the effect of causing the Association to cease to be a charity in Law.
The Association may be dissolved by a Resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at a Special General Body Meeting convened for the purpose of which 21 days notice shall have been given to the members. Such resolution may give instructions for the disposal of any assets held by or in the name of the Association, provided that if any property remains after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, such property shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the Association but shall be transferred to such others charitable institution(s) having objects of the Association as the Association may determine and if and in so far as effect cannot be given to this provision then to some other charitable purpose.