WANSTEAD BUSINESS NETWORK

1. Organisation Name

The name of the organisation shall be the Wanstead Business Network, hereafter referred to as the “Organisation”. The Organisation shall have the status of an unincorporated not for profit organisation. The financial year shall run from 1 January to 31 December in any one year.

2. Objectives

The objectives of the Organisation are to be supportive, collaborative and friendly group of local business owners around the Wanstead area who meet to help grow their businesses. These are achieved through the following:
a. arrange and attend weekly networking meetings for the members
b. encourage local people and companies to use the businesses of the members
c. produce and maintain a directory of members’ businesses on a public page of the organisation’s website
d. provide networking opportunities and mutual support between members
e. highlight local employment opportunities
f. promote quality standards among local businesses

3. Status of rules

These rules form the basis of the Organisation, and act as a guide for the operation of the Organisation and as point of reference for each member of the Organisation.

4. Organisation Membership

a. To be a supportive, collaborate and friendly group of local business owners around the Wanstead area who meet to help grow their businesses.
b. Any person who wishes to become a member must submit a completed Membership Application Form and submit it with the non-refundable joining fee to the Organisation secretary.
c. The Organisation will also provide equal respect to its members, be fair and impartial in its dealings provide equal Opportunities to its members to network and make others aware of its services and operate an Anti-Discrimination Policy.
d. The committee will have the final decision of determining if there is a conflict of business between the two parties and whether the applying party will be admitted to membership.
e. The members of the Organisation shall be those persons listed in the register of members (the Membership Register) which shall be maintained by the Secretary.
f. Being a member of the Organisation requires regular attendance at the weekly meetings to retain their position.
i. Membership attendance will be recorded weekly and shared to the group on a monthly basis
ii. Where members miss more than 3 weekly meetings in a row, the secretary will notify them in writing, requesting a reasonable explanation for absence.
g. All members are invited and encouraged to bring a guest of a vacant category to a meeting.
h. A guest shall be invited to become a member of the Organisation if their category is vacant and subject to vetting,
i. Where an applying party is in a similar field to an existing member the following steps should be taken to resolve any conflict of business:
i. The applying party and the existing member are to discuss the extent to which their operations overlap and, if possible, arrive at a working solution where the overlap is not significant.
ii. If a working solution cannot be reached, the member must present their case for objection to the applying party becoming a member, on the basis of significant overlap of business, in writing to the committee within 5 days of the meeting with the new applicant.
iii. The committee will review the position of both parties and make a decision based on the evidence presented, taking into account qualifications, business segments and skill sets of both parties.

5. Membership Fees

a. A monthly membership fee is required to be paid on the first day of each month.
i. The monthly membership fee will be reviewed annually at the AGM.
b. A weekly charge is required of each member and guests who attend the meeting. This is to cover the cost of breakfast. This charge is dictated by the venue and members will be notified of the cost.

6. Resignation and Expulsion

a. A member shall cease to be a member of the Organisation if, and from the date on which, he/she gives written notice to the committee secretary of their resignation.
b. Where a member has not attended for more than 2 consecutive months, without a reasonable explanation, their membership will be lapsed.
c. Where any member’s monthly fee is in arrears for three months, the secretary will notify the member that their membership has lapse.
d. In the event of a member’s resignation or expulsion, his or her name shall be removed from the Membership Register.
e. The Committee shall have the power to expel a member when, in their opinion, unacceptable behaviour has been witnessed. This includes bullying, harassing or other unprofessional behaviours.
i. Harassment is any unwanted conduct that has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for them. A single incident can amount to harassment. A person may be harassed even if they were no the intended “target”. Harassment also includes treating someone less favourably because they have submitted or refused to submit to such behaviour in the past.
ii. Bullying is offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour, an abuse or misuse of power through means that undermine, humiliate, denigrate or injure the recipient. Bullying can include the use of personal strength or the power to coerce through fear or intimidation, not necessarily from someone in a position of authority
f. A member who resigns or is expelled shall not be entitled to claim any, or a share of any, of the Organisation property

7. Organisation Officers

a. The Committee shall consist of the following Officers:
i. Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer
ii. Each officer will be elected at the Annual General Meeting.
iii. The committee may co-opt another member to fill a place that has been vacated.
b. Each Officer shall hold office from the date of appointment until the next Annual General Meeting unless otherwise resolved at a Special General Meeting. One person may hold no more than two positions of Organisation Officer at any time.
i. The Chair and Vice-chair positions cannot be held by the same person at the same time.
c. The quorum for the transaction of business of the Committee shall be three.
d. Minutes of the Committee meetings shall be entered into the Minute Book of the Organisation to be maintained by the Secretary.
e. The Committee will meet at least quarterly.
f. All committee members, including those that may have been co-opted, are eligible to stand for re-election at the AGM.
g. The Committee shall have the power to decide all questions and disputes arising in respect of any issue concerning the Organisation Rules.

8. Annual and Special General Meetings

a. An Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall be held each year, within 3 months of the Organisation’s financial year end
i. Review the minutes of the AGM held the previous year
ii. Receive a report of the activities of the Organisation over the previous year
iii. Elect the members of the Committee
iv. Any other business arising
b. Nominations for election of members as Officers of the Committee shall be made in writing by the proposer and seconder, both of whom must be existing members of the Organisation, to the Organisation Secretary not less than 14 days before the AGM.
c. Notice of any resolution to be proposed at the AGM shall be given in writing to the Organisation Secretary not less than 14 days before the Meeting, signed by both proposer and seconder, who must be current members.
d. A Special General Meeting (SGM) may be called at any time by the Committee and shall be called within 21 days of the receipt, by the Secretary, of a requisition in writing signed by not less than two members stating the purposes for which the Meeting is required and the resolutions proposed.
e. The Secretary shall send to each member via electronic communication, at their last known address, notice of the date of a Meeting together with the resolutions to be proposed at least 7 days before the Meeting.
f. The quorum for a General Meeting shall be 50% of the membership at the time of the meeting.
g. The Chairperson or in their absence the Vice chairperson shall take the chair. Each member present at the meeting shall have one vote.
i. A simple majority shall pass resolutions.
ii. In the event of an equality of votes the Chairperson of the Meeting shall have a second and casting vote.
h. Any proposals that contain an alteration to the constitution of the organisation may only be brought forward at a Special General Meeting and can only be passed with a 75% majority.
i. The Secretary, or in their absence a member of the Committee, shall enter Minutes of General Meetings into the Minute Book of the Organisation.

9. Organisation Finances

a. The Organisations treasurer will be responsible for maintaining the books and records of the Organisation in a form suitable for the preparation of financial reports at any time.
b. The treasurer shall prepare an annual report and set of accounts for presentation to the members at the AGM.

10. Dissolution

a. A resolution to dissolve the Organisation shall only be proposed at a General Meeting and shall be carried by a majority of at least three-quarters of the members present.
b. The dissolution shall take effect from the date of the resolution and the members of the Organisation Committee shall be responsible for the winding-up of the assets and liabilities of the Organisation.
c. Any surplus assets remaining after the discharge of the debts and liabilities of the Organisation shall be disposed of in such manner as the members of the Organisation shall determine but on the proviso, the recipient(s) are a registered charity.