Kilworth Area Residents' Association (KARA)
Constitution and Rules

1. NAME
The Association shall be non-political and non-sectarian in policy and shall be named the Kilworth Area Residents' Association (KARA), covering Kilworth Avenue, Cromer Road, Hastings Road, Southchurch Avenue (part and York Road (part).

2. OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the Association are as follows:-
1. To foster and to encourage the growth of community spirit among the residents of the Kilworth Area.
2. To preserve and to improve the amenities of the Kilworth Area and the surrounding district.
3. To protect the civic interests of residents.

3. MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall be open to all residents of Kilworth Avenue, Cromer Road, Hastings Road, Southchurch Avenue (part) and York Road (part). Subject to the approval of the Committee, persons resident outside but who have an interest in the Kilworth Area may be admitted to membership.
The Committee shall have power to restrict membership and to grant honorary membership where considered desirable.
An Honorary Member shall have the rights and privileges of an ordinary member.

4. COMMITTEE
There shall be a Committee elected by the members. The Committee shall be responsible for the general management of the association and shall consist of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman, the Hon. Secretary, the Hon. Membership Secretary and the Hon. Treasurer who shall be the officers of the Association and up to seven elected members. At Committee meetings, in the absence of the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman, the meeting shall elect its own Chairman who shall have both a deliberative and a casting vote.

5. CO-OPTION
The Committee shall have power to fill casual vacancies and to co-opt not more than two additional members.

6. SUB-COMMITTEES
The Committee shall have power to appoint Sub-committees for any special objectives. Sub- committees shall have executive powers only as defined by the Committee.

7. SUBSCRIPTION (if applicable)
The amount of the subscription (if applicable) for the ensuing year shall be decided at the Annual General Meeting.

8. STREET WARDENS
Street Wardens, who must be members of the Association, shall be appointed by the Committee who shall be responsible for organisation in their street. Their duties will be to collect subscriptions (if applicable) and donations; to distribute membership cards and other matter issued by the Committee, and generally to act as representatives of the members resident in the roads for which they are responsible,

9. FUNDS
The income and property of the Association shall be applied towards the promotion of the objectives of the Association. In the discretion of the Committee, honoraria may be paid; collections made at any of the Association's meetings or social gatherings; and donations made to charities or other deserving causes.

10. BANK ACCOUNT
A banking account in the name of the Association shall be maintained and cheques drawn thereon shall be signed by any two officers of the Association.

11. ACCOUNTS
The Hon. Treasurer shall keep account of all moneys received and expended and shall submit for audit by a person appointed at the Annual General Meeting, a financial statement as at the 31st January. A true copy, certified by the Hon. Treasurer and the Auditor, shall be sent to all members with the notice calling the Annual General Meeting.

12. AUDITOR
At the Annual General Meeting an auditor, who shall not be a member of the Committee, shall be appointed by a show of hands.

13. QUORUMS
At all Committee meetings five members shall form a quorum. For all General Meetings 20 members shall form a quorum. The Chairman shall have the right to exercise a deliberative and a casting vote at all such meetings.

14. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Annual General Meeting of the Association shall be held each year for the following purposes:
1. To receive, and if thought fit to pass, the audited account of the Association for the financial year ended the 31st January,
2. To receive the Report of the Chairman on the work of the Association for the year ended the 31st January.
3. To receive the report of the Hon. Treasurer on the financial state of the Association.
4. To elect the Officers of the Association.
5. To elect the Committee of the Association.
6. To appoint an Auditor.
7. To decide the subscription for the ensuing year, if applicable.
8. To transact such other business as may be brought before it of which not less than seven days notice in writing shall be given to the Hon.Secretary.

15. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
A Special General Meeting may be summoned at any time at the discretion of the Committee, or upon a written request addressed to the Hon. Secretary and signed by not less than twenty-five members.

16. CHAIRMAN AT MEETINGS
At an Annual General Meeting and at any Special General Meeting the Chairman shall preside or failing him, the Vice-Chairman. In the absence of both these officers, the meeting will elect its own Chairman who will have both a deliberative and a casting vote.

17. NOTICE OF MEETINGS
Notice of the Annual General Meeting shall be given at least fourteen days before the date of the meeting. Notice of a Special General Meeting shall be given at least fourteen days before the date of the meeting and shall specify the business to be discussed.

18. NOMINATIONS
Any member of the Association shall be entitled to submit nominations for Officers and Committee members. The consent of any persons nominated must be obtained.

19. DISSOLUTION
If the Group is wound up or dissolved, and after all its debts and liabilities have been satisfied there remains any property, it shall not be paid to or distributed among members of the Group, but shall be given or transferred to some other group or groups having objectives similar to the objectives of this Group. Furthermore the Constitution of such group or groups must have similar restrictions on distribution of property in the event of their own dissolution. If that cannot be done, then distribution may be made to some other charitable object

20. ALTERATION OF RULES
Alteration of these Rules shall be made only at an Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting. Written notice of any proposed alteration must be in the hand of the Hon. Secretary at least twenty-one days before the date of the meeting.

21. AVAILABILITY OF RULES
A copy of these Rules shall be available on application to the Hon. Secretary.

2 December 2006