PART 1

 

1. Adoption of the Constitution

.

Following the adoption of this constitution the association and its property will be administered and managed in accordance with

the provisions in Parts 1 and 2 of this constitution.

 

2. Name & Registration details

            (1) The association's name is "Ghanaian Doct ors and Dentists Association” hereafter referred to as GDDA-UK, (and in this

                 document may be called the Charity).

            (2) Motto: Professional excellence and community service.

            (3) The registered office of the GDDA-UK will be situated in England.

 

3. The Objects.

             The objects of the GDDA-UK (the Objects) are:

 

                 1. Advocacy

                       To provide information on how the UK Health Service, government and business could utilise the unique resource of

                       International Medical Graduates (IMGs) forthe benefit of the public.

               

                 2. Practice Enhancement

                       Advance the practice and promotion of evidence-based practice by doctors and dentists of Ghanaian descent in th e

                       UK, for the benefit of the UK and Ghanaian public.

 

                 3. Education & research

                       To collaborate with and support doctors and dentists in the acquisition, exchange, dissemination and use of research,

                       evidence based-practices in medicine and dentistry for the benefits of the peoples of United Kingdom and Ghana.

 

                 4. Community Service

                       Promote social integration of members with the wider UK community on the basis of equality.

 

                 5. Health of the public

                       Assume leadership roles in health promotion, disease prevention and chronic disease management for public benefit.

 

                 6. Effective Workforce utilisation and capacity building

                       Develop, facilitate and implement innovative programs to meet the medical and dental workforce challenges in                                    Ghanaian communities in Ghana and the United Kingdom.

 

                 7. Outreach

                       To harness the resources of its members and other persons, bodies or agencies towards health promotion in                                        communities in Ghana and the United Kingdom.

 

                 8. Collaboration with others

                       To collaborate with any persons, bodies, or agencies in advancing and achieving the objects of GDDA-UK.

 

4. Application of the Income and Property.

 

                 (1) The income and property of the GDDA-UK shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the Objects

.

                 (2) A Trustee may pay out of, or be reimbursed from, the property of the GDDA-UK reasonable expenses properly

                       incurred by him or her when acting on behalf of the GDDA-UK.

 

                 (3) None of the income or property of the GDDA-UK may be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend                             bonus or otherwise by way of profit to any member of the GDDA-UK.

 

                      This does not prevent:

                                  (a) a member who is not also a Trustee from receiving reasonable and proper remuneration for any goods or                                              services supplied to the GDDA-UK;

 

                                  (b) a Trustee from:

                                                   (i) buying goods or services from the GDDA-UK upon the same terms as other members or members                                                          of the public;

                                                   (ii) receiving a benefit from the GDDA-UK in the capacity of a beneficiary of the Charity, provided that                                                             the Trustees comply with the provisions of sub-clause (6) of this clause, or as a member of the                                                                 GDDA-UK and upon the same terms as other members;

 

                                  (c) the purchase of indemnity insurance for the Trustees against any liability that by virtue of any rule of law                                              would otherwise attach to a trustee or other officer in respect of any negligence, default breach of duty or                                              breach of trust of which he or she may be guilty in relation to the GDDA-UK but excluding:

                                                   (i) fines;

                                                   (ii) costs of unsuccessfully defending criminal prosecutions for offences arising out of the fraud,                                                                   dishonesty or wilful or reckless misconduct of the Trustee or other officer;

                                                   (iii) liabilities to the GDDA-UK that result from conduct that the Trustee or other officer knew or ought                                                            to have known was not in the best interests of GDDA-UK or in respect of which the person                                                                          concerned did not care whether that conduct was in the best interests of the GDDA-UK or not.

 

                 (4) No Trustee may be paid or receive any other benefit for being a Trustee.

 

                 (5) A Trustee may:

                                  (a) sell goods, services or any interest in land to the GDDA-UK;

 

                                  (b) be employed by or receive remuneration from the GDDA-UK

 

                                  (c) receive any other financial benefit from the GDDA-UK

 

                 if:              (d) he or she is not prevented from so doing by sub-clause (4) of this clause;

 

                 and:          (e) the benefit is permitted by sub-clause (3) of this clause;

 

                 or:             (f) the benefit is authorised by the Trustees in accordance with the conditions in sub-clause (6) of this clause.

 

                 (6)

 

                                  (a) If it is proposed that a Trustee should receive a benefit from the GDDA-UK that is not already permitted under                                        sub-clause (3) of this clause, he or she must:

 

                                                   (i) declare his or her interest in the proposal;

 

                                                   (ii) be absent from that part of any meeting at which the proposal is discussed and take no part in any                                                         discussion of it;

 

                                                   (iii) not be counted in determining whether the meeting is quorate;

 

                                                   (iv) not vote on the proposal.

 

                                  (b) In cases covered by sub-clause (5) of this clause, those Trustees who do not stand to receive the proposed

                                       benefit must be satisfied that it is in the interests of the GDDA-UK to contract with or employ that Trustee                                              rather than with someone who is not a Trustee and they must record the reason for their decision in the                                                minutes. In reaching that decision the Trustees must balance the advantage of contracting with or employing                                        a Trustee against the disadvantage of doing so (especially the loss of the Trustee's services as a result of                                                dealing with the Trustee's conflict of interest).

 

                                  (c) The Trustees may only authorise a transaction falling within paragraphs 5(a) - (c) of this clause if the trustee                                        body comprises a majority of Trustees who have not received any such benefit.

 

                                  (d) If the Trustees fail to follow this procedure, the resolution to confer a benefit upon the Trustee will be void                                              and the Trustee must repay to the GDDA-UK the value of any benefit received by the Trustee from the

                                       GDDA-UK.

 

(7) A Trustee must absent himself or herself from any discussions of the Trustees in which it is possible that a conflict will arise

between his or her duty to act solely in the interests of the GDDA-UK and any personal interest (including but not limited to any personal financial interest) and take no part in the voting upon the matter.

 

(8) In this Clause, "Trustee" shall include any person firm or company connected with the Trustee.

 

5. Dissolution.

 

                 (1) If the members resolve to dissolve the GDDA-UK the Trustees will remain in office as charity trustees and be                                         responsible for winding up the affairs of the GDDA-UK in accordance with this clause.

 

                 (2) The Trustees must collect in all the assets of the GDDA-UK and must pay or makeprovision for all the liabilities of the                          GDDA-UK.

 

                 (3) The Trustees must apply any remaining property or money:

 

                                  (a) directly for the Objects;

 

                                  (b) by transfer to any charity or charities for purposes the same as or similar to the GDDA-UK;

 

                                  (c) in such other manner as the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales ("the Commission") may approve                                         in writing in advance.

 

                 (4) The members may pass a resolution before or at the same time as the resolution to dissolve the GDDA-UK specifying                          the manner in which the Trustees are to apply the remaining property or assets of the GDDA-UK and the Trustees                                must comply with the resolution if it is consistent with paragraphs (a) - (c) inclusive in sub-clause (3) above.

 

                 (5) In no circumstances shall the net assets of the GDDA-UK be paid to or distributed among the members of the GDDA-                          UK (except to a member that is itself a charity).

 

                 (6) The Trustees must notify the Commission promptly that the charity has been dissolved. If the Trustees are obliged to                            send the charity's accounts to the Commission for the accounting period, which ended before its dissolution, they must                        send to the Commission the charity's final accounts.

 

                 (7) every member of the Association undertakes to contribute to the assets of the Association in the event of the same                              being wound up while he is a member or within one year after he ceases to be a member for payment of debts and                              liabilities of the Association contracted before he ceases to be a member and of costs charges and expenditure of                                winding up and for the adjustment of the rights of contributors among themselves such amount as may be required                            not exceeding one pound.

 

                 (8) The liability of the members is limited to the details of sub-clause 5(7).

 

6. Amendments.

 

                 (1) Any provision contained in Part 1of this constitution may be amended provided that:

 

                                  (a) no amendment may be made that would have the effect of making the Charity cease to be a charity at law;

 

                                  (b) no amendment may be made to alter the Objects, if the change would not be within the reasonable                                                        contemplation of the members of or donors to the Charity;

 

                                  (c) no amendment may be made to clause 4 without the prior written consent of the Commission;

 

                                  (d) any resolution to amend a provision of Part 1 of this constitution is passed by not less than two thirds of the                                          members present and voting at a general meeting.

 

                 (2) Any provision contained in Part 2 of this constitution may be amended, provided that any such amendment is made by                         resolution passed by a simple majority of the members present and voting at a general meeting.

 

                 (3) A copy of any resolution amending this c onstitution must be sent to the Commission within twenty-one days of it being                        passed.

 

 

 

 

 

PART 2

 

7. Membership.

 

                 (1) Membership is open to individuals or organisations that subscribe to the Constitution of the GDDA-UK and meet the                             criteria in clause 7.

 

                 (2) Membership shall be open to such individuals as follows:

                                  a. Any individual who is a Ghanaian or have Ghanaian ancestry and qualified as a medical doctor or dentist                                                 anywhere in the world who is practicing in the UK.

 

                                  b. Any individual who is not a Ghanaian but has qualified as a medical doctor or dentist in Ghana and has                                                   sufficient links with Ghana or the Ghanaian Diaspora and who is practicing in the UK.

 

                                  c. Any individual for which sub-clauses 7(2) (a) and 7(2) (b) applies but do not practice in the UK, can be admitted                                       as full members if the Executive feels their membership will be beneficial to the association and the                                                       communities mentioned in Clause 3 above.

 

                                  d. Any individual for which sub-clauses 7(2) (a) and 7(2) (b) applies but are retired can be admitted as full                                                  members.

 

                                  e. Any individual who is not a doctor or dentist may be admitted as an honorary member if the Executive feels                                           their membership will be beneficial to the association. Such members will not have voting rights but will                                                 participate in all activities of the association unless clearly specified by the Executive that aparticular event be                                       for ordinary members only.

 

                                  f. Trustees would decide if an organisation could be admitted as a member of GDDA-UK. Such a member or its                                         representative would have one vote as if it was an ordinary member.

 

                                  g. membership decisions taken under sub-clauses 7(2) (c) and 7(2) (e) by the executive would be final. However                                         if affected person feels that his / her circumstances had changed or some facts were overlooked or not                                                 available at the time of the decision they can appeal to the Executives.

 

(3)

 

                 a. The Trustees may refuse an application for membership but only if, acting reasonably and properly, they consider it

                       to be in the best interests of the GDDA-UK to refuse the application.

 

                 b. The Trustees must inform the applicant in writing of the reasons for the refusal within twenty-one days of the decision.

 

                 c. The Trustees must consider any written representations the applicant may make about the decision. The Trustees'                              decision following any written representations must be notified to the applicant in writing and shall be final.

 

(4) Membership is not transferable.

 

(5)

                 a. All applicants for membership shall complete the application process prescribed by the Executive Committee.

 

                 b. Membership could be postponed until satisfactory investigations have been made.

 

                 c. Persons who are approved for membership shall pay a subscription as determined in sub-clause 6 of this Clause

 

(6)

                 a. The annual subscription and the method of payment would be set and revised from time to time by the board of                                    trustees for the various categories of members.

                 b. The annual subscription shall be payable on admission to membership and subsequently on the first day of October in

                     each year.

 

​

 

8. Termination of Membership.

 

Membership is terminated if:

 

                 (1) the member dies or, if it is an organisation, ceases to exist;

 

                 (2) the member resigns by written notice to the GDDA-UK unless, after the resignation, there would be less than two                                 members;

 

                 (3) any sum due from the member to the GDDA-UK is not paid in full within six months of it falling due;

 

                 (4) upon resolution by the Executive Committee following the loss by a Member of the qualification entitling them to                                   consideration for membership under sub-clause 7(2).

 

                 (5) the member is removed from membership by a resolution of the Trustees that it is in the best interests of the GDDA-                          UK that his or her membership is terminated. No subscription shall be refunded in such circumstances. A resolution to                       remove a member from membership may only be passed if:

 

                                  (a) the member has been given at least twenty-one days' notice in writing of the meeting of the Trustees at                                                  which the resolution will be proposed;

 

                                  (b) the reasons for the proposed resolution;

 

                 and           (c) invited to make an oral or written submission to the Trustees during this meeting either by the member or

                                        his appointed representative;

 

                 (6) If such a resolution as is specified in sub-clause 8(5) is adopted by the Executive Committee in line with the provisions                          of sub-clause 8(5a-c);

 

                                  (a) such a Member shall be given written notice of the resolution and of the facts relied on by the Executive                                                  Committee in reaching its decision.

 

                                  (b) Such a decision would be final.

 

                 (7) For the avoidance of doubt no membership dues are refundable in the event of termination of membership.

 

9. General meetings.

 

                 (1) The GDDA-UK must hold its first annual general meeting between eleven and fifteen months of the date of the adoption                        of this constitution.

 

                 (2) Thereafter an annual general meeting must be held in each subsequent year and not more than fifteen months may                            elapse between successive annual general meetings.

 

                 (3) All general meetings other than Annual General Meetings shall be called Extraordinary General Meetings.

 

                 (4) The Trustees may call an extraordinary general meeting at any time.

 

                 (5) The Trustees must call an Extraordinary general meeting if requested to do so in writing by at least 30 members or                              one tenth of the membership, which ever is the greater.

 

                 (6) If the Trustees fail to schedule the Extraordinary General meeting referred to in sub-clause 9(5) within twenty-eight                             days of the request, for a date not longer than three months of the original request, the members may proceed to call                         an ExtraordinaryGeneral Meeting but in doing so they must comply with the provisions of this constitution.

 

                 (7) If at any time there are not within the United Kingdom a quorum of the Executive Committee any two Members of the                           Executive may convene an Extraordinary General Meeting.

 

                 (8) With the exception of the situation referred to in sub-clause 9(6) all General Meetings shall be held at such time and                              place as the Executive Committee shall appoint.

 

 

                                  

10. Notice.

 

                 (1) The minimum period of notice required for any general meeting of the GDDA-UK is twenty-eight clear days from the                           date on which the notice is deemed to have been given.

 

                 (2) A meeting may be called by shorter notice, if it is so agreed by all the members entitled to attend and vote.

 

                 (3) The notice must specify the date, time and place of the meeting, general nature of the business to be transacted and                           whether it is an annual or an extraordinary general meeting.

 

                 (4) If other than routine business is to be transacted, the notice shall specify the general nature of such business; and, if                           any resolution is to be proposed at an ExtraordinaryGeneral Meeting as a Special Resolution, thenotice shall contain a                         statement to that effect. 

 

                 (5) Routine business shall mean and include only business transacted at an Annual General Meeting of the following                                 classes:

 

                                  (a) Considering the income and expenditure account and balance sheet and the reports of the Executive                                                      Committee and of the Auditors.

 

                                  (b) Elections to the executive Committee in place of those officers retiring.

 

                                  (c) Appointing Auditors and fixing the remuneration of the Auditors and / or determining the manner in which                                            such remuneration is to be fixed.

 

                                  (d) Approving regulations concerning subscriptions made by the Executive Committee in accordance with sub-                                           clause 7(6).

 

                 (6) For an Extraordinary General Meeting no other business shall be transacted other than the specific reason or reasons                         for which the meeting has been called.

 

                 (7) The notice must be given to all the members and to the Trustees via their last registered postal and/ or email                                        addresses.

 

                 (8) The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting to or the non-receipt of notice of a meeting by any person entitled                          to receive notice shall not invalidate the proceedings at that meeting.

 

                 (9) The minimum period for members to give notice of resolutions to be put before the Annual General Meeting is 56 days                       before the date of the AGM.

 

                 (10) The minimum period for the acceptance of amendments to resolutions to be put before the Annual General Meeting is                          40 days before the date of the Annual General Meeting.

 

11. Quorum.

 

                 (1) No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present.

 

                 (2) A quorum is;

 

                                  twenty members entitled to vote upon the business to be conducted at decisions of the meeting;

                                                   or

                                  one tenth of the total membership at the time, whichever is the greater.

 

                 (3) The authorised representative of members shall be counted in the quorum.

 

                 (4) If:

 

                                  (a) a quorum is not present within 30 minutes from the time appointed for the meeting;

                                                                    or

                                  (b) during a meeting a quorum ceases to be present, the meeting if convened upon the requisition of Members,                                          shall be dissolved; in any other case it shall stand adjourned to such time and place as the Trustees shall                                               determine.

 

                 (5)

 

                                  (a) If the adjournment is longer than 8 days then, the Trustees must give at least twenty-eight clear days' notice                                        of the reconvened meeting stating the date,time and place of the meeting.

 

                                  (b) For the avoidance of doubt reconvening up to 8 or less days’ adjournment require no notification but the                                                 chair should fix the time and place for the reconvened meeting prior  to the adjournment.

 

                 (6) If no quorum is present at the reconvened meeting within fifteen minutes of the time specified for the start of the                                 meeting the members present at that time shall constitute the quorum for that meeting.

 

 

Part 3

Proceedings at General Meetings

 

 

12. Chair

                 

                 (1) General meetings shall be chaired by the person who has been elected as Chair.

 

                 (2) if there is no Chairperson or if the chairperson is unable or unwilling to chair within fifteen minutes after the appointed                        time for the holding of the meeting, the Vice Chairman shall be the ch air the general meeting.

 

                 (3) If sub-clauses 12(1) and 12(2) cannot apply for any reason within fifteen minutes of the appointed time for the meeting                       other members of the Trustees / Executive Committee present shall elect one of their numbers to be Chairperson of                            the meeting.

 

                 (4) If there is only one Trustee present and willing to act, he or she shall chair the meeting.

 

                 (5) If no Trustee is present and willing to chair the meeting within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for holding it,                            the members present and entitled to vote must choose one of their numbers to chair the meeting.

 

13. Adjournments.

 

                 (1) The members present at a meeting may resolve that the meeting shall be adjourned.

 

                 (2) The person who is chairing the meeting must decide the date time and place at which meeting is to be reconvened                                unless those details are specified in the resolution.

 

                 (3) No business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting from                         which the adjournment took place.

 

                 (4) If a meeting is adjourned by a resolution of the members for more than eight days, notice of the adjourned meeting                             shall be give n as in the case of an original meeting except that it shall not be necessary to give notice of the business                         to be transacted at an adjourned meeting.

 

14. Votes.

 

                 (1) Subject to sub-clause 14(7) each member shall have one vote but if there is an equality of votes the person who is                                chairing the meeting shall have a casting vote in addition to any other vote he or she may have.

 

                 (2) Subject to provisions of Clause 6 of this constitution, a resolution in writing signed by all the members for the time                               being entitled to receive notice of and to attend and vote at general meetings shall be as valid and effective as if the                             same had been passed at a general meeting of the Association duly convened and held. It may comprise several copies                       each signed by or on behalf of one or more members.

 

                 (3) Subject to provisions of Clause 6 of this constitution, a resolution put to vote of a meeting shall be approved by a                                   simple majority of those present, on a show of hands, unless before or on the declaration of the result of a show of                              hands a ballot is duly demanded.

 

                 (4)

 

                                  (a) At least two Members having the right to vote at the meeting may demand a ballot.

 

                                  (b) A demand by a person as proxy for a Member shall be the same as a demand by that Member.

 

                 (5) At any general meeting, unless a ballot is duly demanded, a declaration by the Chairperson of the meeting that a                                 resolution has been carried or lost and an entry to that effect in the book of proceedings of the Association shall be                             conclusive evidence of the fact, subject to sub-clauses 14(3) and 14(4).

 

                 (6)

 

                                  (a) If a ballot is demanded in manner aforesaid in sub-clauses 14(3) and 14(4) the same shall be taken at such                                            time and in such manner as the Chairperson of the meeting directs,

 

                                  (b) However a ballot demanded on the election of a Chairperson or on a question of adjournment shall be taken                                           forthwith.

 

                                  (c) In all cases and subject to Clause 6 of this constitution the result of such allot shall be deemed to be the                                                  resolution of the Association in general meeting,

 

                                  (d) The demand for a ballot may be withdrawn but only before the ballot has commenced.

 

                 (7) No Member shall be entitled to vote at any general meeting unless all moneys presently payable by them to the                                   Association have been paid.

 

15. Proxy

 

                 (1) The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing under the hand of the appointer or of their attorney duly                                       authorised in writing. A proxy need not be a Member of the Association.

 

                 (2) The signed instrument appointing a proxy and the power of attorney or other authority, if any, or a copy of that power                          of authority certified by a solicitor shall be deposited, in a sealed envelope marked “Proxy Vote Confidential”, at such                            place within the United Kingdom as is specified for that purpose in the notice convening the meeting not less than                                forty-eight hours before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the                                  instrument proposes to vote, or, in the case of a ballot, not less than twenty-four hours before the time appointed for                            the taking of the ballot

 

                 (3) Failure to follow the procedure in sub-clause 15(2) would result in the instrument of proxy being invalidated.

 

                 (4) Sealed envelopes containing the number and nature of proxy votes shall only be opened and revealed by the Secretary                        in the presence of the Chairperson at the commencement of the Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General                                Meeting after reading the notice to convene the meeting.

 

                 (5) An instrument appointing a proxy shall be in the following form or a form as near thereto as circumstances admit

 

 

"Ghanaian Doctors and Dentists Association"

I/We......................................................of..................................................

being a member/members of the

above named Association hereby

appoint......................................of.............................................or failing him

of.................................................as my (our) proxy to vote for me (us) on my (our)

behalf at the (annual)/(extraord

inary) general meeting of the

Association to be held on

the......................day of...........................and at any adjournment thereof.

Signed.........................................................this..................................day

of......................................................

 

 

                 (6) A vote given in accordance with the terms of an instrument of proxy shall be valid provided there was no irrefutable                             confirmation of death, insanity, or coercion in obtaining the instrument, or revocation available to GDDA-UK at the time                       of the vote or ballot.

 

16. Representatives of Other Bodies.

 

                 (1) Any organisation that is a member of the GDDA-UK may nominate any person to act as its representative at any                                   meeting of the Charity.

 

                 (2) The organisation must give written notice to the Charity of the name of its representative. The nominee shall not be                              entitled to represent the organisation at any meeting unless the notice has been received by the Charity. The nominee                          may continue to represent the organisation until written notice to the contrary is received by the Charity.

 

                 (3) Any notice given to the Charity will be conclusive evidence that the nominee is entitled to represent the organisation or                       that his or her authority has been revoked. The Charity shall not be required to consider whether the nominee has been                       properly appointed by the organisation.

 

17. Officers and Trustees

 

                 (1) The GDDA-UK and its property shall be managed and administered by an Executive Committee comprising the Officers                        and other members elected in accordance with this constitution. The Officers and other members of the Executive                                Committee shall be the trustees of the GDDA-UK and in this constitution are together called "the Trustees".

 

                 (2) The Executive Committee shall include members of the Association in the following capacities

 

                                  i. Chair

                                  ii. Vice Chair

                                  iii. Secretary

                                  iv. Assistant Secretary and Membership Secretary

                                  v. Treasurer

                                  vi. Vice Treasurer

                                  vii. Such other Executive members as the Annual General Meeting shall from time to time deem necessary.                                                Such extraordinary appointments shall last for one year only unless a longer time is specified by the AGM

                                  viii. Immediate Past Chair is an ex-officio member of the Executive Committee

 

                 (3) A Trustee must be a member of the GDDA-UK or the nominated representative of an organisation that is a member of                         the GDDA-UK.

 

                 (4) No one may be appointed a Trustee if he or she would be disqualified from acting under the provisions of Clause 21.

 

                 (5) The number of Trustees shall be not less than three and not be subject to any maximum, unless otherwise determined                        by a resolution of the GDDA-UK in general meeting.

 

                 (6) A Trustee may not appoint anyone to act on his or her behalf at meetings of theTrustees.

 

18. The Appointment of Trustees.

 

                 (1) The GDDA-UK in general meeting shall elect the Officers and the other Trustees for tenure of two years unless                                      otherwise specified by other parts of this constitution.

 

                 (2)

 

                                  (a) The Trustees may appoint any person who is willing to act as a Trustee.

 

                                  (b) Subject to paragraph 5(b) of this clause, they may also appoint Trustees to act as executive officers.

 

                                                   (i) Such appointment as an executive officer, with the exception of ex-officio appointments, shall be                                                              valid until the next Annual General Meeting. The person so appointed should automatically retire to                                                           allow elections for that position to be held.

 

                                                   (ii) Unless the tenure of office is stated or implied by the constitution the term of office of ex-officio                                                                trustee would be stated in the minutes of the meeting at which they are appointed.

 

                                                   (iii) In the absence of, or the failure to state the term of office of an appointed ex-officio trustee the                                                                  default term of 2 years from the day of appointment would apply.

 

                                                   (iv) At an meeting of Executive Trustees immediately following the expired term referred to in sub-                                                                 clauses 18(2)(ii) & 18(2)(iii) above the ex-officio trustee would automatically retire and the                                                                          Executive Trustees would proceed to appoint someone to fill this position if they think the role is                                                              still required.

 

                                                   (v) Notwithstanding the provisions in sub-clauses (ii) – (iv) of this clause appointed ex-officio trustees                                                           could be removed by a simple majority of the executive members before their time if their actions                                                           are hampering the smooth running of GDDA-UK.

 

                 (3) Subject to sub-clause 2(b)(i) of this clause and Clause 19 each of the Trustees shall automatically retire with effect                                from the conclusion of the second annual general meeting after his or her election but shall be eligible for re-election                          at that annual general meeting.

 

                 (4) No-one may be elected a Trustee or an Officer at any annual general meeting unless, at least 40 days, prior to the                                meeting the Charity is given a notice that:

 

                                  (a) is signed by a member entitle d to vote at the meeting;

 

                                  (b) states the member's intention to propose the appointment of a person as a Trustee or as an officer;

 

                                  (c) is signed by the person who is to be proposed to show his or her willingness to be appointed.

 

                 (5)

 

                                  (a) The appointment of a Trustee, whether by the GDDA-UK in general meeting or by the other Trustees, must                                             not cause the number of Trustees to exceed any number fixed in accordance with this constitution as the                                               maximum number of Trustees, when the appointment takes effect.

 

                                  (b) The Trustees may not appoint a person to be an Officer if another person has already been elected or                                                     appointed to that office and has not vacated the office, when the appointment takes effect.

 

                                   (c) An omission to appoint any such Officer s or a vacancy in any such office shall not invalidate any                                                              proceedings of the Executive Committee or of the Association.