HomeConstitution

Constitution & Membership Rules / Regulations

Christian Magicians UK
Unincorporated Association Constitution

Name
The name of the Association shall be: Christian Magicians UK
Objects
The association’s objects are:
To advance the Christian faith through magic tricks, illusions and allied arts in particular but not exclusively by providing conferences, workshops, lectures, publications and regional events.
For the purpose of this clause ‘allied arts’ includes in particular but not exclusively balloon modelling, circus skills, sketch boarding, puppetry and escapology.
Powers
In order to achieve its aims Christian Magicians UK may:
• Raise money • Open bank accounts • Take out insurance • Organise courses and events • Work with other groups and exchange information • Do anything that is lawful which will help it to fulfil its aims
Income
The income of the association shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objects.
(a) A trustee or member is entitled to be reimbursed by the association of reasonable expenses incurred by him or her when acting on behalf of the association.
(b) None of the income of the association may be paid or transferred to any member of the association except in the form of a bursary to help attend events run by Christian Magicians UK or to attend events on behalf of Christian Magicians UK.
(c) Any bank accounts shall be in the name of Christian Magicians UK
Membership
a. Membership of the Association is open to individuals over eighteen years of age.
b. Family Membership of the Association is open to additional family members living at the same address of a full member. Family members pay a reduced premium and is open to individuals over 18 years of age.
c. Junior Membership of the Association is open to those under the age of 18. Junior members do not receive a vote at General Meetings.
d. Members including Junior and Family members, must be willing to abide by the rules of the Association and willing to pay any membership fee agreed.
e. Each member including family members (but not Junior Members) shall have one vote at General Meetings.
f. The Trustees may only refuse an application for membership if, acting reasonably and properly, they consider it to be in the best interests of the association to refuse the application.
Termination of Membership
Membership is terminated if:
a. The member dies;
b. The member resigns unless, after the resignation, there would be less than two members;
c. Any membership fee owing is not paid in full within six months of it being due.
d. The member is removed from membership by a resolution of the trustees that it is in the best interests of the association that his or her membership is terminated. The member in question must be given at least twenty-one days’ notice of the resolution and the reasons why it is proposed. The member or the members representative has a right to be heard by the Trustees before a final decision is made.
Annual General Meeting
a. Christian Magicians UK shall hold an Annual General Meeting (A.G.M.) and not more than fifteen months may elapse between successive annual general meetings.
b. All members shall be given at least fourteen days’ notice of the A.G.M. and shall be entitled to attend and vote. The quorum for an AGM shall be 20 members or one tenth of the membership at the time whatever is the greater. If no quorum is present the meeting shall be adjourned and the Trustees must re-convene the meeting giving seven days’ notice of the date, time and place. If no quorum is present at the re-convened meeting the members present shall constitute the quorum for that meeting.
c. The business of the A.G.M. shall include:
• a report from the Chair on the association’s activities over the year • a report from the Treasurer on the finances of the association • electing Trustees • considering any other matter as may be decided.
Special General Meeting
A Special General Meeting may be called to discuss an urgent matter by the Trustees at any time
The Trustees must call a special general meeting if requested to do so in writing by at least ten members or one tenth of the membership, whichever is the greater.
The Secretary shall give all members fourteen days’ notice of any Special General Meeting together with notice of the business to be discussed. All members shall be entitled to attend and vote.
Management
a. Trustees shall be elected by the membership to manage the affairs of the association. Trustees will consist of a Chair, Treasurer and Secretary and (unless otherwise determined by a resolution of the association at the AGM) up to 3 other members. Anyone over the age of 18 who has been a member for at least 12 months prior to the General meeting is eligible to be elected as a trustee.
b. All Trustees shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting, and must receive a majority of the votes cast.
c. The Trustees shall serve until the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting after their election and are eligible for re-election. A Trustee may only serve after three consecutive years if no-one else wishes to stand for the position.
d. A trustee shall cease to hold office is he or she:
• ceases to be a member of Christian Magicians UK, • resigns as a Trustee (but only if at least two trustees remain in office) • is absent from meetings and not in communication with the other Trustees for a period of six consecutive months. The Trustees may resolve that his or her office be vacated. e. The Trustees may fill any vacancy among the Trustees and any person appointed shall serve until the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting.
f. The Trustees may co-opt members to help with planning the annual conference, or other events.
g. The Trustees shall meet a minimum of three times per year, although two of these may be via video conferencing.
h. No decision may be made by a meeting of the Trustees unless a quorum is present. A quorum shall be two or the number nearest to one-third of the total number of trustees, whichever is the greater.
Duties of the Trustees
a. The duties of the Chair are to: • chair meetings of the Trustees and General Member Meetings • act as spokesperson for the Christian Magicians UK when necessary b. The duties of the Secretary are to: • take and keep minutes of meetings • prepare the agenda for meetings of the Trustees and General Meetings in consultation with the Chairperson • deal with correspondence • collect and circulate any relevant information within Christian Magicians UK • ensure a membership list is kept updated (usually delegated to Membership Secretary)
c. The duties of the Treasurer are to: • supervise the financial affairs of Christian Magicians UK • keep proper accounts that show all monies collected and paid out by the Association. • keep the Trustees informed of the financial affairs of the association.
Alterations to the Constitution
Any changes to this Constitution must be agreed by at least two-thirds of those members present and voting at any General Meeting.
Dissolution
The Association may be wound up at any time if agreed by two-thirds of those members present and voting at any General Meeting. In the event of winding up, any assets remaining after all debts have been paid shall be given to another Group with similar aims.

The above version of the constitution and rules of Christian Magicians UK was adopted at the AGM February 2020