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About ELA

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Earthlife Africa Website
Earthlife Africa Website 

1. NAME

The name of the organization shall be Earthlife Africa Cape Town, hereinafter referred to as ELA-CT.

2. MEMBERSHIP

2.1. All members shall subscribe to the aims of ELA as set out in the Statement of Belief.
2.2. Membership shall be open to all persons or groups without discrimination.
2.3. The voluntary membership fee shall be decided at the Bi-Annual General Meeting (B-AGM).
2.4. Any member who acts in violation of the Statement of Belief or the Constitution shall be censured as deemed appropriate by ELA-CT.
2.5. Any member who fails to renew their membership annually shall be deemed to have forfeited membership of Earthlife Africa Cape Town and shall not be eligible to vote.

3. STRUCTURE

3.1 Support Group

3.1.1. The Support Group shall at times be accountable to the membership of ELA-CT, and shall consist of six members, three elected at each of the Bi-Annual General Meetings for a period of 1 year (in order to rotate skills through the organization).

3.1.2. The support Group shall effect, or shall mandate others to effect, the
following functions: administration, chairing of ELA-CT meetings, secretarial functions, financial management, coordination of subcommittees, coordination of new members, media liaison, editing of the newsletter, collecting and disseminating of mail, and inter-branch contact. These jobs will be shared or delegated as deemed appropriate by the Support Group. However, a specific individual must be identified for the purposes of managing a bank account, inter-branch contact (contact person and alternate), who shall be responsible for the collection and dissemination of mail, and media liaison.

3.1.3. The Support Group shall ensure that within two weeks of election the operating system and contact people shall be made known to the organization.

3.1.4. The Support Group shall be elected by signed-up members at a Bi-Annual General Meeting.
3.1.5. Election of the Support Group shall take place on 21 days written notice to all signed-up members of ELA-CT, and shall fall within 6 months of the previous election of the Support Group.

3.1.6. The Support Group shall meet as often as is deemed necessary by the majority of the Group, but not less frequently than once a month. A quorum of the Support Group shall consist of two thirds of the Support Group.

3.1.7. Support Group meetings are open to all members of ELA-CT. A representative of each subcommittee is encouraged to attend Support Group meetings. The Support group members are responsible for decisions made at Support Group meetings.

3.1.8. Discussions of the Support Group shall be reflected at branch meetings. Minutes shall be made available to any member on request.

3.1.9. The Support Group shall have the power to represent ELA-CT providing that representation is not in conflict with the Statement of Belief. The Support Group shall scrutinize all representations made in the name of ELA-CT.

3.1.10. The Support Group shall have the power to appoint any person to represent ELA in instituting or defending legal proceedings on behalf of ELA-CT.

3.1.11. Any member of the Support Group or the Support Group in its entirety shall be unseated by a majority vote of signed up members should a motion of no confidence be passed. Such a motion may be placed on the agenda by any signed up member and written notice thereof circulated to all signed up members 21 days before such a motion is debated. The member tabling such a motion shall be responsible for justifying it.

3.1.12. In the event of the resignation of any elected member of the Support Group and emergency plenary session shall be called for the purposes of electing a substitute.

3.1.13. The Support Group shall have the power to recommend that a plenary meeting be called to suspend any member or Support Group member who is guilty of misconduct and may upon receiving adequate evidence expel such a member from ELA-CT. Any member who has been expelled in this manner shall have the right to appeal at the next Bi-Annual General Meeting, where a final decision will be taken by the meeting.

3.1.14. In the event of there being insufficient members able or willing to participate in the Support Group, an interim Support Group may be formed at a B-AGM. This structure will ideally consist of at least three members. The primary focus of this interim structure will be to nurture the organization to the point where the official process can again be introduced. The interim structure shall have the same powers as a normal Support Group. Tenure on an interim Support Group shall be limited as far as possible to six months.

3.2 Subcommittees.

3.2.1. There may be permanent and temporary subcommittees.

3.2.2. The subcommittees shall consist of a group of two or more members formed around a specific issue. Members may belong to more than one subcommittee. Subcommittees or individuals shall be responsible for proposing projects/action in response to issues of concern to them.

3.2.3. Each Subcommittee shall have two contact persons, elected by its members at its formation, one of whom shall liaise with the Support Group Subcommittee coordinator at least once a month. Subcommittees shall report back at the Bi-Annual General meetings. Their role shall be reviewed by the plenary at such meetings.

3.2.4. A quorum shall consist of two thirds of a subcommittee.

3.2.5. Project subcommittees shall be responsible for collecting information relevant to their topics, and shall decide on appropriate actions. Such proposed action shall be submitted to the Support Group, which shall ensure that such action does not conflict with the aims of ELA-CT or with the action proposed by any other subcommittee.

3.2.6. All public statements made by subcommittees or members shall be subject to clearance by the Support Group. Where rapid representation is essential any member who wishes to make a representation in the name of ELA-CT shall first clear the statement with the Media Liaison Person or two members of the Support Group. All members making public statements shall be accountable to the organization within the terms of the Statement of Belief. All fundraising by subcommittees shall be subject to clearance by the Support Group.

3.2.7. The subcommittee members shall be responsible for reporting back on all subcommittee activities at plenary sessions.

3.3 Plenary Sessions

3.3.1. Plenary sessions shall consist of members of ELA, including at least two thirds of the Support Group, and are open to members of the public. Meetings shall be held at least monthly.

3.3.2. Members shall be notifies of plenary sessions in writing at least 21 days before such sessions and meetings shall be publicly advertised.

3.3.3. Emergency plenary sessions may be called by the Support Group when necessary, in which case members shall be notified not less than one week before such sessions.

3.3.4. In the event of a motion of no confidence, a special plenary session may be called by any signed up member through the Support Group. In this case signed up members shall be informed in writing not less than 21 days before such a meeting.

3.3.5. Minutes shall be taken by an appointed minute taker.

3.3.6. Two of the plenary sessions will be Bi-Annual General Meetings (B-AGMs), which shall be held twice a year.

3.3.7. The Bi-Annual General Meeting shall elect the Support Group.

3.3.8. Subcommittees will be re-affirmed at the Bi-Annual general meetings by a majority decision of the members present.

4. DECISION MAKING

4.1. Only signed-up members over the age of 15 shall be entitled to vote.

4.2 A decision to amend the constitution of ELA-CT or to dissolve ELA-CT shall be taken by a two-thirds majority vote at a Bi-Annual General Meeting.

4.3 Voting on all other matters shall be by means of a simple majority of the members of that particular structure.

5. STAFF

5.1. The plenary of ELA-CT shall have the power to employ staff and to determine the terms on which such staff are employed.

5.2. All employees of ELA-CT shall be accountable to the plenary of ELA-CT.

6. LEGAL PERSONA

6.1 No member or employee of ELA-CT shall be liable for any of the debts or obligations of ELA-CT.

6.2. ELA-CT shall be entitled to sue and be sued and enter into contracts in its own name.

6.3. ELA-CT may hold moveable and immovable property in its own name.

7. ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

7.1. The income and property of ELA-CT shall be utilized solely in furtherance of the aims as set out in the ELA Statement of Belief.

7.2. No members or employees of ELA-CT shall be liable in their personal capacities for debts or obligations of ELA-CT or for any claim against ELA-CT or for any act performed bona fide in the pursuance of the aims of ELA-CT.

8. FINANCE

8.1 The Support Group shall open a bank account in the name of ELA-CT, to be administered by the duly appointed finance person. The Support Groups shall appoint at least three signatories.

8.2 Any withdrawal from the account in the name of ELA-CT shall require the signatures of the duly appointed finance person and a second signatory.

8.3. The financial year end shall be determined by the Support Group and the books shall be available for inspection by any signed-up member.

8.4. The books shall be audited annually by auditors nominated by the Support Group.

8.5. There shall be monthly income and expenditure statements presented at Plenary Sessions.

9. DELEGATES

9.1. Delegates to the ELA Central Congress shall be elected from the signed up members at a Bi-Annual General Meeting, but shall include at least two members of the Support Group.

10. DISSOLUTION

10.1 ELA-CT may be dissolved by a two thirds majority of signed up members at a Bi-Annual General Meeting.

10.2. Written notice of any B-AGM to consider the dissolution of ELA-CT for any reason whatsoever, all assets belonging to ELA-CT shall be dispersed in accordance with existing contractual obligations. Any additional assets shall be distributed by the former Support Group to organizations and bodies which share broadly similar goals to those of ELA.

11. EARTHLIFE AFRICA ANNUAL CONGRESS

11.1 ELA-CT shall affiliate to Earthlife Africa (ELA) on an annual basis and shall adhere to Earthlife Africa policies and Statement of Belief.

11.2 The Inter-branch Contact person and an alternate contact person shall represent ELA-CT on the Earthlife Africa Council, and shall communicate with other branches according to ELA procedure.

11.3 Delegates elected to the annual Congress shall be mandated by ELA-CT to represent and act on behalf of the branch. The delegates are accountable to members of ELA-CT and shall present a full report of the Congress proceedings to the membership no less than one month after the Congress.

11.4 The number of Delegates elected shall be in accordance with the requirements for the forthcoming Congress.

THIS CONSTITUTION ACCEPTED AND PASSED BY THE MEMBERS OF EARTHLIFE AFRICA CAPE TOWN ON THIS 29th DAY OF NOVEMBER 1994.