The British Computer Society. Open Source Specialist Group Constitution

Transcription

1 The British Cmputer Sciety Open Surce Specialist Grup Cnstitutin Date Apprved Date Issued 21 December 2004 Amended Patrick Tarpey Versin Final

2 THE BRITISH COMPUTER SOCIETY THE BRITISH COMPUTER SOCIETY BCS Open Surce SPECIALIST GROUP CONSTITUTION 1. TITLE The name shall be the BCS Open Surce Specialist Grup f the British Cmputer Sciety. 2. INTERPRETATION In this cnstitutin, except where therwise required: "Grup" shall mean BCS Open Surce Specialist Grup. "BCS" shall mean British Cmputer Sciety. "Member" r "Members" shall mean a persn r persns qualified under article 4 f this cnstitutin. "Cmmittee" shall mean that bdy f members elected, appinted r c pted under article 5 f this cnstitutin. "Officer" r "Officers" shall mean the Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary and such ther appintments which the Grup may make under article 5 f this cnstitutin. "Prfessinal Member" r "Prfessinal Members" shall mean a persn r persns hlding membership f the BCS in ne f the fllwing grades: Fellw (FBCS) r Member (MBCS) Chartered Member r Chartered Members shall means a persn r persns hlding membership f the BCS in ne f the fllwing grades: Fellw (FBCS CITP) r Member (MBCS CITP) and entitled t use the designatin Chartered Infrmatin Technlgy Prfessinal. 3. OBJECTIVES The bjectives f the Grup are: Prvide reliable, hnest, independent view n Open Surce Cntinually mnitr develpment f the Open Surce paradigm Reduce prfessinal uncertainty arund the subject f Open Surce Act as a centre f expertise fr BCS use Encurage serius debate & examinatin f Open Surce Educate and infrm members & wider audience f Open Surce news Bridging the digital divide by the prmtin f OS slutins Recgnitin, supprt f Open Surce prjects and individuals Add t members prfessinal knwledge & career develpment

3 4. MEMBERSHIP 4.1 Qualificatins Persns eligible fr membership f the Grup shall be any member f the BCS and thers interested in the bjectives and activities f the Grup. 4.2 Admissin All applicants hlding BCS membership at any level shall be admitted withut charge/at a reduced annual subscriptin rate t be determined by the Grup. Other applicants shall be admitted t membership after payment f the annual subscriptin in accrdance with article Resignatin Any member f the Grup may resign by giving ntice in writing at any time but shall nt be entitled t a refund f any subscriptin paid. 4.4 BCS Membership It shall be incumbent upn the Cmmittee t encurage all members f the Grup t apply fr membership f the BCS. 4.5 President The Cmmittee may nminate a distinguished member t be President. The nminatin shall be apprved by members at the AGM when the nminee will be elected fr a term f 3 years. The President shall be ex ffici a member f the Cmmittee. 5. COMMITTEE 5.1 Cmmittee Members The business activities f the Grup shall be cntrlled by the Cmmittee which at minimum shall cnsist f the fllwing: Chairman Vice Chairman Treasurer Secretary Web Master External Relatins Other Officer psts as may be required and ther members wh shall be elected at each AGM. It shall be expected that the Cmmittee members shall be members f the BCS. The Chairman and Treasurer shall nrmally be prfessinal r chartered members f the BCS, althugh, exceptinally, this requirement may be waived with the apprval f the Vice President (Member Services). The Chairman shall be respnsible t the BCS fr the finance, plicy and activities f the Grup. 5.2 Eligibility f Officers fr Re Electin N Officer may nrmally hld an ffice fr mre than a maximum f tw cnsecutive terms each f 3 cnsecutive years. 5.3 Nminatins

4 The name f any member accepting nminatin fr electin r re electin as an Officer r as a Cmmittee member shuld be submitted in writing t the Grup Secretary 10 clear days prir t the date f the AGM by 2 members f the Grup and with the written cnsent f the nminee. 5.4 Electin f the Cmmittee If there is mre than ne nminatin fr any f the Officer psitins, an electin will be held at the AGM If the nminatins number the same r less than the remaining vacancies fr the Cmmittee members, all shall be deemed t be duly elected In the event f there being mre nminatins than vacancies, the electins shall be by ballt. Each member present may vte fr up t as many candidates as there are vacancies t be filled and n mre. 5.5 Resignatin frm the Cmmittee In the event f any elected fficer resigning, the Cmmittee shall have the pwer t fill the vacancy. 5.6 C ptin t the Cmmittee The Cmmittee may c pt t their number up t a maximum f 4 members serving at any ne time. C pted members shall have the same vting rights as ther members f the Cmmittee. 5.7 Cmmittee Meetings The Cmmittee shall meet at such times and in such places as the Cmmittee may determine and in s far as is practicable they shall meet at least 4 times per year. 5.8 Qurum 3 Cmmittee members, including at least ne Officer, shall cnstitute a qurum. 5.9 Vting At any Cmmittee meeting each member f the Cmmittee present, save the Chairman, shall be entitled t ne vte but, in the event f equality, the Chairman will use his/her casting vte. 6. GENERAL MEETINGS 6.1 The AGM f the Grup shall be held each year as sn as pssible after the last day f April, at the directin f the Cmmittee, fr transacting the fllwing business: a. T receive the Annual Reprt f the Chairman b. T receive and apprve the Annual Accunts. c. T elect the Officers and Cmmittee fr the ensuing year. d. T cnsider any ther business relevant t the AGM. 6.2 Ntice f General Meetings The ntice shall be cnveyed in writing t every member f the Grup The ntice shall be issued at least 14 clear days befre the date f the meeting and shall indicate the business t be transacted.

5 6.2.3 In the case f the AGM the ntice shall include a request fr nminatins f Officers and Cmmittee members The accidental missin t give ntice f any meeting r nn receipt f such ntice by any persn entitled t receive ntice shall nt invalidate any reslutin passed. 6.3 Chairman At all General Meetings and meetings f the Cmmittee the Chairman f the Grup shall be Chairman r, if absent the Vice Chairman will preside. 6.4 Vting At any General Meeting each member shall be entitled t ne vte. Vting at any meeting shall be determined by a shw f hands unless a ballt be demanded by at least ne third f the members present. 6.5 Qurum At any General Meeting f the Grup, 3 members shall cnstitute a qurum. 6.6 Absence f Qurum At the discretin f the Chairman, any meeting may prceed with its business, but all reslutins passed must be cnfirmed at the first subsequent, qurate General Meeting. 6.7 Extrardinary General Meetings Extrardinary General Meetings f the Grup shall be cnvened by the Secretary by directin f the Cmmittee r n the request f Open Surce members. 7. FINANCES 7.1 The Treasurer shall keep prper Recrds f Accunt and shall present the accunts cmpleted up t the last day f April each year t the AGM next fllwing the end f the financial year t which the accunts relate. 7.2 The financial year f the Grup shall cmmence n the first day f May each year. 7.3 The funds f the Grup shall be under the cntrl f the Cmmittee. 7.4 The annual subscriptin shall be such amunts as the Cmmittee may frm time t time decide. 7.5 The annual subscriptin shall nrmally becme due n admissin and subsequently n each anniversary f the date f admissin. Alternatively, all subscriptins may be cllected n a single date. 7.6 All membership fees and any surplus arising frm the activities f the Grup shall be managed in accrdance with the financial guidelines agreed by the BCS. 8. RECORDS 8.1 A crrect recrd f the prceedings f all Cmmittee and General Meetings f the Grup shall be kept by the Secretary. 8.2 The Secretary shall keep r cause t be kept a crrect recrd f members f the Grup in accrdance with any relevant legislatin.

6 9. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS 9.1 Public annuncements cncerning the Grup shall be rdinarily made nly by r with the cnsent f the Chairman r External Relatins fficer. In the absence f either the Chairman r External Relatins fficer then extrardinary annuncements may be made by an fficer nminated by qurum. 10. ETHICS 10.1 Elected fficers f the Open Surce Specialist Grup are required t disclse interests (including emplyments, directrships; sharehldings r ther activity) they have which might influence their judgment, impartiality r which culd be perceived t d s A register f elected fficers interests will be prvided and maintained fr public review n Open Surce Specialist Grup web site. 11. LOCAL MEETINGS Lcal meetings f the Grup may nly be held with the cnsent f the Cmmittee and the rganiser shall ntify lcal BCS branches and ther relevant specialist grups. 12. BCS The Grup shall be subject t the BCS Charter, Byelaws, Members Regulatins and Trustee Bard Regulatins. 13. BCS SPECIALIST GROUPS ASSEMBLY & EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 13.1 The Grup shall appint tw f its number, wh shall hld prfessinal r chartered membership f the BCS, t attend meetings f the BCS Specialist Grups Assembly as the Grup's representatives The Grup shall be required t submit an annual reprt t the BCS Specialist Grups Executive Cmmittee describing the Grup's activities, a financial statement and budget prjectins. 14. WINDING UP If upn winding up r disslutin f the Grup, there remain, after the satisfactin f all its liabilities, any assets, they shall be vested in the BCS. 15. ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION The cnstitutin may be altered at any time by a tw thirds majrity f the members present at a General Meeting.