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CONSTITUTION OF THE CHILDREN’S RESOURCE CENTRE
PREAMBLE
A
society is measured by the quality of life it affords its children
Almost
18 million of South Africa’s present population of approximately 40 million
people are children, 9 million of whom are girl children. The majority of these
children live in different degrees of want – lack of shelter, food, clothing,
proper education, etc.
Because
of unemployment, poverty, crime, child abuse, etc, their lives are in constant
state of uncertainty and insecurity; hardship and suffering; neglect and little
time for fun and enjoyment.
Children
need to be children here and now. They cannot be the future unless they live the
lives of children when they are children. In fact, if children cannot be
children when they are children, they will negate the very future they are
supposed to be.
Children
need an environment that will provide good health, safety, fun and enjoyment and
the stimulus to learn and assist in the creation of the very environment they
need to grow up as children and good citizens.It is only if they are first and
foremost good citizens, can they be leaders.
Children
can be socialised (educate and trained) to be agents for change and should be
prepared to contribute to the creation of a society in which they can be
children here and now. Therefore the need for a social movement of children so
that they can act as a collective to contribute to the building of a better way
of life for all.
The
CRC will strive to assist children to organise themselves
into a social movement of children so that children can contribute to the
general welfare of all children.
2.
NAME OF THE ORGANISATION:
The
name of the organisation shall be the The
Children’s Resource Centre and hereinafter referred to as the (CRC)
3.THE
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The
Children’s Resource Centre is a public, non-profit organisation established:
To
assist children to organise themselves into a movement of children; to help
create the conditions for the growth of a united national organisation and a
social movement for children of primary school-going age in South Africa; and to
support such a movement with training , equipment and the knowledge and the
skills to organise itself.
To
inculcate a set of values in all its members and all those participating in the
activities of the organisation that will contribute to a safer and socially
healthier society. These would include: Respect for oneself, for others and the
community in general; and respect for the environment.
The
emphasis within the organisation will be on living these values.
4.
LEGAL STATUS
The
CRC is an organisation with its own legal identity which is separate from its
individual members. The CRC shall continue to exist even if its members change.
The organisation may own property, enter into contracts, and sue or be sued in
its own name.
5.
NON-PROFIT DISTRIBUTING CHARACTER
5.1
The income and property of the CRC shall be used solely for the promotion of its
stated aims and objectives. No portion of the income of the CRC shall be paid or
distributed directly or indirectly to any member of the CRC or Executive
Committee, except as:
5.1.1
reasonable compensation for services rendered to the CRC;
5.1.2
reimbursement of actual costs or expenses reasonably incurred on behalf of the
CRC.
5.2
Upon dissolution of the CRC, after all debts and commitments have been paid, any
remaining assets shall not be paid to or distributed amongst members, but shall
be transferred by donation to some non-profit organisation which the general
Council considers appropriate.
6.
POWERS
The
CRC, acting through its General Council, shall have all the powers necessary for
it to carry out its stated objectives effectively. Such powers shall include,
but not limited to, the General Investment and Administrative Powers. These
shall include the following:
6.1
To employ staff and hire professional and other services;
6.2
to open and operate accounts
with registered banks and building societies;
6.3
to accept donations made to
the CRC;
6.4
to purchase or acquire
property and assets and to borrow the necessary finances to do so;
6.5
to borrow and use the
property or assets of the CRC as security for borrowing.
7.
MEMBERS
7.1
The members shall be all those who are interested in the aims and objectives of
the CRC and are
7.2
all members shall be required to abide by the general code of conduct of the
organisation.
8.
STRUCTURE OF THE ORGANISATION
8.1
The General Council
The
General Council (GC) of the organisation shall be the highest decision-making
body of the organisation. This body shall be composed of all the adult co-ordinators
of the organisation working with the children’s groups working with the CRC;
8.2
The Executive Committee
The
General Council shall elect an executive composed of a chairperson; a
vice-chairperson; a secretary; an assistant secretary; a treasurer; an assistant
treasurer; and two additional members.
It
shall be the responsibility of the Executive to appoint a staff to run and
manage the Resource Centre.
8.3
The duties of the office bearers
8.3.1
Chairperson
The
chairperson shall chair all meetings of the organisation that she or he attends.
She
or he shall also do the following:
·
Sign minutes of meetings
after members have agreed that the minutes are accurate;
·
make sure that meetings take
place regularly;
·
build team spirit amongst
members of the executive;
·
run the AGM; and
·
see that an annual report is
written.
8.3.2
Vice-chairperson
The
vice –chairperson takes over the task of the chairperson when she or he is not
there.
In
the absence of both the chairperson and the vice-chairperson, the meeting shall
elect a person to chair that meeting.
8.3.3
Treasurer
The
treasurer keeps a record of all money that comes into the organisation. The
treasurer also keeps a record of all monies spent. The treasurer therefore does
the following:
·
Keeps a record of what the
organisation receives and what it spends;
·
Pays the organisation’s
accounts;
·
Prepares the
organisation’s financial statements especially the annual financial statement.
8.3.4
Secretary
The
secretary is responsible for making sure that the organisation’s
administration runs smoothly. The the secretary shall work closely with the
chairperson of the organisation. The secretary shall do the following:
·
Keep proper records and
minutes of the organisation;
·
attend to the in-coming and
out-going correspondence of the organisation;
·
prepare and send out notices
of all meetings of the organisation;
·
prepare venues for the
meetings of the organisation.
8.3.5
Assistant secretary
The
assistant secretary shall assist the secretary in carrying out her or his tasks;
and shall perform the duties of the secretary when she or he is not there.
8.4
The Annual General Meeting (AGM)
The
Annual General Meeting of all the adult co-ordinators of the children’s groups
shall be held once every year.
The
business of the General Meeting shall include:
8.4.1
The presentation and adoption of the Annual Report of the Chairperson;
8.4.2
the consideration of the Annual Financial Statement;
8.4.3
the election of members to serve on the Executive Committee;
8.4.4
the appointment of auditors; and
8.4.5
other matters as may be considered necessary.
8.5
Other General Meetings
All
other General Meetings of the organisation shall be held monthly or as may be
deemed necessary by the executive.
Members
shall at all times be informed through a notice of general meetings.
8.6
Quorum
A
quorum shall be fifty percent (50%) of the total adult co-ordinators working
with children’s groups working with and are affiliated to the CRC.
Matters
needing a decision, shall be decided by a majority of votes. The chairperson
shall have a casting vote.
8.7
Minutes
Proper
minutes shall be kept of all proceedings of all meetings of the organisation.
9.
FINANCIAL MATTERS
9.1
Bank Account
The
Executive Committee shall open a bank account of the CRC with a registered bank
in South Africa. All monies of the organisation shall be deposited in the bank
account of the organisation.
9.2
Signatures
All
cheques and other documents requiring the signatures on behalf of the CRC shall
be signed by the two (2) of the three (3) signatories of the CRC who shall be
appointed by the General Council of the CRC.
9.3
Financial Year End
The
CRC’s financial year end shall be the end of December of every year.
9.4
Financial Records
The
Executive Committee shall ensure
that the CRC keeps proper records and books which fairly reflect the financial
affairs of the organisation.
9.5
Annual Reports and Financial Statements
The
Executive Committee shall ensure that the CRC prepares an annual narrative
report describing the CRC’s activities and an Annual Financial Statement for
each financial year. The Annual Financial Statement shall conform with generally
accepted accounting principles and shall include a statement and expenditure and
a balance sheet of assets and liabilities.
The
Executive Committee shall ensure that the books of account and financial are audited and certified in the customary
manner by an independent practising chartered accountant.
10.
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
Changes
to the constitution may be made by a two thirds majority of votes of members
present at a properly constituted general meeting of the organisation.
11.
IDEMNITY
11.1
Subject to the provisions of any relevant statute, members of the Executive
Committee and other office bearers shall be indemnified by the CRC for all acts
done by them in good faith on its behalf. It shall be the duty of the CRC to pay
all costs and expenses which any such person incurs or becomes liable for as a
result of any contract entered into, or act done by him or her, in his or her
capacity, in the discharge, in good faith, of his or her duties on behalf of the
CRC.
11.2
Subject to the provisions of any relevant statute, no member of the Executive
Committee and or other office bearer of the CRC shall be liable for the acts,
receipts, neglects or defaults of nay other member or office bearer, or for any
loss, damage or expense suffered by the CRC, which occurs in the execution of
the duties of his or her office, unless it arises as a result of his or her
dishonesty , or failure to exercise the degree of care , diligence and skills
required by law.
Cape
Town
Chairperson:
……………………………..
Secretary
: ………………………………..
Date:
………………………………..