Constitution

MANCHESTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

 

RULES

 

1:  NAME

  1. The official name shall be “The Manchester Chamber of Commerce”.

2:  OBJECTS   

  1. To consider, discuss and take such action as may be deemed advisable in all matters connected with or affecting industry, commerce and the good of the community in Jamaica generally and in Manchester in particular. 

  2. To cooperate with kindred associations in achieving the abovementioned objects.

  3. To represent the interest of its members and act as a medium of communication with the Government and any other organization.  

3:  CONSTITUTION  

  1.  The Chamber shall consist of the members enrolled as herein provided.

  2. The business of the Chamber shall be managed by a Council to be elected from the general body of members, such Council to be composed of the President, two Vice-Presidents, six members of the Council, the Treasurer, the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary, if such be duly qualified members.

  3.  The President, first Vice-President, second Vice-President and Treasurer shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting and be eligible for re-election provided that no member shall hold the office of President continuously for more than three years, or first Vice-President or second Vice-President continuously for more than four years, but may be elected subsequently.  

  4. Two of the six elected members of the Council shall retire each year in rotation as they appear enrolled on the minutes and be eligible for re-election.

  5. Representatives of member firms or companies are eligible for election to the council.  If for any reason such representative should vacate his seat on the Council, his place will be filled as provided for in paragraph 8 of this section.  

  6. The Council shall have the power to appoint a Secretary and Assistant Secretary on such terms as may be considered advisable.  The Secretary and Assistant Secretary shall attend at all meetings of the Chamber or Council unless determined otherwise, but shall not be entitled to vote unless they be duly qualified members.

  7. In the absence of the Secretary, an Acting Secretary may be appointed temporarily to perform the duties of that office.

  8. The Officers elected shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting and vacancies occurring among the members of the Council shall be filled by co-opting any member of the Chamber, pending the next Annual General Meeting when such co-opted member shall retire, but remain eligible for election in the manner prescribed.

  9. The functions of the Council shall not be affected by any vacancies remaining unfilled.

  10. Should any vacancies occur among the Officers of the Council, such vacancies shall be filled by the Council from among the members of the Chamber.

  4:   ELECTION & ADMISSION OF OFFICERS

  1. A register containing the names and addresses of members shall be kept by the Secretary and entries shall be promptly made therein of all new members and of all who may resign, die or cease to be members from any cause. 

  2.  Each applicant for membership shall fill in and sign the form of application prescribed.  

  3. The election of members shall be entrusted to the Council and the election shall by secret ballot.  Three (3) voting against shall exclude any applicant.  New members shall be announced from the Chair at any meeting.

  4. One member of a firm, company or organization may vote on its behalf.  Other representatives of the firm, company or organization may attend meetings but may not vote. 

  5. The Secretary shall send the notice of election within one week to every newly elected member, together with a copy of the rules.  No person shall be entitled to exercise the privileges of a member until he shall have paid his first year’s subscription to be paid within one calendar month from the day of election.

  6. Any member may withdraw from the Chamber on signifying his wish to do so by a letter to the Secretary, but such member shall continue liable for his accrued and unpaid subscriptions.

  7. Whenever reasonable cause for expulsion of a member shall be alleged, the subject shall be submitted to a meeting of the Council and if a majority of two-thirds at such meeting shall determine that expulsion be proposed, the question shall be considered at another meeting of the Council held not less than two weeks after the first meeting, when the question may again be considered.  Should a majority of two-thirds of the members of the Council present at such second meeting decide in favour of the expulsion, the name of the member shall be removed from the Register and he shall be excluded from the Chamber as from the date of such decision. 

      HONORARY MEMBERS 

8. The Chamber may elect Honorary Presidents, Honorary Vice-Presidents, Honorary members f from time to time, for such periods as may be decided on. 

9. Honorary Presidents, Honorary Vice-Presidents, Honorary members shall not have the right to vote or to be elected as officers or members of the Council unless they become regular members of the Chamber.

  5:   SUBSCRIPTIONS  

  1. The annual subscription payable in January of each year shall be $3,000 for individuals and $5,000 for firms, companies and organizations or such other amount as may be determined from time to time by the Chamber in General Meeting. 

  2. A member in arrears for three months or more shall not be entitled to any of the privileges of the Chamber.  The name of every member in arrears shall be reported to the Council. At the Council’s discretion, immediate notice in writing by registered mail with an account thereof, shall be forwarded to every such member and if the arrears are not paid within one (1) calendar month thereafter, the name of the member shall be removed from the Register of Members of the Chamber.  

6: MEETINGS  

  1.  Meetings shall be held monthly and notices of such meetings shall be sent to each member. 

  2. The Annual General Meeting shall be held, if possible, during the month of March in each year to receive the report of the Council, accounts of the Treasurer for the year ended and to elect officers, chairmen, secretaries and members of such standing committees as may be deemed necessary from time to time.

  3. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the Chamber and of the Council.  They shall be read by him at the next meeting and shall be signed by the Chairman of that meeting after having been duly confirmed by the meeting.

  4. The quorum for the Annual General Meeting or a special meeting shall be twelve (12) members and seven (7) members for any regular monthly meeting.

   7:   COUNCIL

  1. Meetings of the Council shall be held subject to direction by the President as circumstances may seem to him to require.  Not less than three (3) days’ notice of such meetings shall be sent to each member of the Council with a statement of the business to be transacted at the meeting, provided that a meeting of the Council shall be held every quarter.  Four (4) members shall be a quorum. 

  2. The Management of the Chamber and its affair is entrusted to the Council.  

  3.  The President, Vice-President or any three (3) members of the Council may at any time call a special meeting of the Council, and every member of the Council shall be summoned thereof by a printed card, notice or letter or by telephone message.    

  4. Any member of the Council who absents himself for three (3) consecutive meetings of the Council without leave of absence being granted by the Council or previous notification of intended absence shall cease to be a member of the Council.

  5. It is the duty of the Council to see that the Rules and Regulations of the Chamber are carried out and to call for accounts and reports from committees and other(s) when necessary.    

8: ACCOUNTS  

  1.  The Accounts of the Chamber shall be from time to time examined by the Council who shall present at each Annual General Meeting in a complete statement thereof, together with a report on the general affairs of the Chamber, during the preceding year. 

  2. The Treasurer shall have special charge of the accounts and shall see to the collection of all dues to the Chamber and shall be aided by the Secretary in such collections.

  3.  The Treasurer shall keep a list to be furnished by the Secretary of the members of the Chamber, with the name and address of each, accurately set forth which shall be laid out on the table at the Ordinary meetings of the Council.  

  4. The Treasurer shall pay all accounts due by the Chamber as soon as examined and passed by the Council out of the funds of the Chamber.

9:  AUDITORS  

  1.  The Accounts of the Treasurer shall be audited by two members, or by any duly qualified accountants appointed at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting. 

  10:  PRESIDENT 

  1. The President shall be the Chairman of the Council and of all meetings of the Chamber.  In his absence, the first Vice-President, or in his absence, the second Vice-President, and in their absence, a member of the Council present, shall be elected by the members as Chairman.
  2. When prevented from attending at the meetings of the Chamber or of the Council, or to the current business of the Chamber, the President will be expected to give timely notice thereof to the Secretary whose duty it shall be to communicate with the Vice-Presidents on the subject in order that his place shall be filled.

  11:  STANDING COMMITTEES  

  1. The Council may refer particular subjects for report to the Standing Committee.