The Solent Group for Psychotherapists and Counsellors' Constitution: Final Draft

1 The name of the organisation shall be:

'THE SOLENT GROUP FOR PSYCHOTHERAPISTS AND COUNSELLORS'

2 AIMS: The membership to meet for the exchange of views and experiences. To participate in lectures and seminars to further their expertise, as well as for their enjoyment.

3. MEMBERSHIP: membership shall be for qualified psychotherapists, counsellors, and for those working as practitioners in the psycho therapeutic field. The total number of members shall be as the committee shall from time to time decide,

3.(a) An applicant for Membership who is already, or who proposes to be in ongoing therapy with an existing member of the Group shall not be eligible for membership. However, such an applicant may re-apply six months after these conditions have ceased to apply, subject to the consent of the therapist.

4. COMMITTEE: the committee shall be elected by the membership at the Annual General Meeting to organise the year’s programme of events, and deal with the day to day running of the Group's affairs.

It shall consist of eight members, one of whom shall be the Convenor / Chairperson together with a Vice - or assistant to the Convenor, a Treasurer responsible for the accounts of the Group, a Secretary responsible for the meetings venue, and one other to be responsible for the production and circulation of a periodic newsletter with the assistance of the regaining members of the Committee.

The members of the Committee shall be elected for a term of three years, and at the end of that term be ineligible for re-election for a period of one year. Any member may resign from the Committee during their term of office, and another member of the group may then be elected in their place. In the case of termination of office by one of the senior officers, a sufficient period of time shall be allowed for the handing over of current business.

One additional member may be co-opted by the committee at their discretion.

5. The Committee shall have the power to reject any application for membership they deem unsuitable, without being required to justify or explain their decision.

6. COMMITTEE MEETINGS: there shall be regular committee meetings held, at which five members shall be deemed to constitute a quorum, of whom at least two shall be elected officers. The convenor shall act as Chairperson, but an assistant shall be elected at the first Committee Meeting after the Annual General Meeting to act as Chairperson in the absence of the Convenor.

7. MINUTES: minutes shall be kept of each Committee Meeting and copies circulated to all Committee Members.

8. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: the Annual General Meeting shall he held in the Autumn, with a quorum of at least one-tenth of the total number of members. All members shall be notified of the date of the AGM at least four weeks in advance.

9. MINUTES: minutes shall be taken of the proceedings at the Annual General Meeting and copies circulated to all members.

10. RESOLUTIONS: resolutions at both General and Committee Meetings shall be passed by the majority vote of those present and voting. The Chairperson of the Meeting shall have a casting vote in the event of an equality of votes. Voting shall be by show of hands or, if requested by one or more members present, by secret ballot.

11 FINANCE: all monies shall be paid through a bank account in the name of The Solent Psychotherapy Group. The Treasurer shall be responsible for approving all expenditure, and shall maintain proper accounts which shall be subject to a yearly independent audit. A copy of the audited accounts shall be submitted to members at least fourteen days prior to the Annual General Meeting.

12 SUBSCRIPTIONS: shall be paid annually by members accepted by the Committee, and shall be acknowledged by the issue of a Membership Card. Subscriptions shall be due on the first day of the Group's financial year, for an amount decided by the Committee. Members joining within the year shall pay an amount proportional to the number of months remaining in the financial year.

13 Members whose subscriptions remain unpaid at the end of three months after the commencement of the financial year shall be deemed to have discontinued their membership, and trill be required to reapply if they wish to resume membership.

14 GUESTS: Each Member of the Group is entitled to bring two guests to attend lectures or seminars (but not the AGM or Committee Meetings) on payment of a fee to be decided. It is the responsibility of each Member to ensure that his / her guests are not in therapy, or proposing to be in therapy, with any existing member.

15 AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION: Alterations to the constitution shall require the assent of two-thirds of the membership present and voting at a meeting convened for that purpose. A resolution for the alteration of the Constitution must be received by the Secretary of the Group at least twenty-one days before the Meeting at which the resolution is brought forward. At least fourteen days' notice of such a meeting must be given by the Secretary to the members, and must include notice of the alteration proposed.

16 DISSOLUTION: The Group may be dissolved by a Resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at a meeting convened for the purpose, of which twenty-one days' notice shall be given to the members. Such a Resolution may give instructions for the disposal of any assets held by or in the name of the Group, providing that if any property remains after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, such property shall not be paid or distributed among the members of the Group, but shall be given or transferred to such other institutions having objects similar to some or all of the objects of the Group.