CONSTITUTION

FRIENDS OF SPRINGFIELD PARK NATURE AREA (SPNA) - Constitution

1. Our Aims To help create a well-maintained and safe nature area which can enhance the quality of life for local people by improving their physical and mental health and act as a focus for bringing people together.

We will work to:

i) find out the views of local people and park users and nature area users.

involve park users and local people in planning, decision-making and aspects of management affecting Springfield Park nature area.
improve funding to maintain and improve the nature area.
encourage more people, from all sections of the community, to use the nature area and to enjoy its full potential, and promote an atmosphere of mutual appreciation and respect
encourage park and nature area users, including ourselves, to organise public social activities in the nature area
link with others to help protect and improve Haringey’s green open spaces generally

2. Membership Membership will be open to anybody with an interest in using the nature area , regardless of class, race, culture, gender, age or sexual orientation, as long as:

they agree with the aims of the group
they have given their name and address to be put on to the membership list.

The group is opposed to racism, sexism and homophobia and expressions of such prejudice will not be tolerated at meetings or other activities of the Association.

Annual General Meeting Every year there will be an Annual General Meeting. At this meeting the members will:

Hear a report on the activities of the Friends for the previous year - and on the group’s finances, prepared by the Treasurer.
Decide whether there will be a membership subscription for the forthcoming year
Identify and discuss matters of particular importance for the forthcoming year.
Make rules on the way the Friends group will operate eg by amending the Constitution.
Elect three members to be Chair, Secretary and Treasurer
Conduct any other relevant business the meeting so decides by email and notices in the Park.

Everybody on the membership list will receive at least two weeks notice of the Annual General Meeting by email to the addresses on the membership list and by putting up notices in the SPNA. Members will also receive information on how to become active in the Friends’ activities and join any working groups.

4. Other General Meetings At least two other General Meetings for members and other nature area users will be organised during the year. These meetings will be publicised in good time to members and users. At these meetings members will:

Keep members up to date with plans and decisions affecting the nature area.
Collect the views of members and other users of the nature area.

Procedure at All General MeetingsThe AGM and other two meetings shall be the decision-making body of the group.

All members will have a right to attend and to vote. Decisions shall be by consensus where possible, or by a simple majority vote where necessary – except for amendments to the Constitution which require a two-thirds majority at the AGM. A quorum shall be 4 members except at the AGM where it will be 6. If there isn’t a quorum, any decisions made regarding policy must be ratified at the following meeting. General Meetings may decide to set up working groups, or to delegate any relevant tasks to individual members.

6. The work of the Friends Members will be encouraged to get actively involved in the work of the Friends group. Anyone acting on behalf of the friends will be expected to act in an appropriate manner, and to follow the general policies agreed by the members at the General Meetings. Working groups and officers can meet in between the general meetings in order to manage the affairs of the Friends including:

planning general meetings of the group and other activities in the nature area
working on funding bids
passing on the views of members to people responsible for the nature area such as employees of Haringey Council, councillors, police
meeting with other community groups
managing the finances and publicity of the group

7. Finances A bank account will be set up in the name of the Friends of Springfield Park Nature Area. All money received in the form of donations, subscriptions or any other contributions will be put into the bank account and will be used to further the aims of the group. The Treasurer, Secretary and chair will be signatories and two signatures will be required on all cheques. The annual accounts shall be independently verified, and the books shall be made available for inspection on request at the AGM.

8. Powers The SPNA has the power to raise funds, to employ such staff as are necessary, and to enter into any transactions necessary to further its aims. It has the power to manage, licence, lease or buy property and to maintain and equip it for use. It has the power to appoint trustees, and to take out trustee liability insurance cover.

9. Dissolution If a General Meeting, or 10 members, wish at any time to dissolve the SPNA, they should give to all members at least 14 days notice of a Special General Meeting to discuss this. If such a decision is agreed at that meeting by a simple majority of those members present and voting, the assets will be disposed of to another voluntary organisation with compatible aims and principles, this group being agreed at the same meeting.

The SPNA Constitution was agreed at the SPNA AGM on 28.1.2016.

Signed ……………….……….…… R Reed (Secretary) ……………………D Kingsland (Chair)