CAITHNESS RENEWABLE ENERGY FORUM

About us
Constitution
Membership Form
Events & Meetings
Case Studies
Technologies
Press Releases
Caithness Windfarm Information Forum
Orkney Renewable Energy Forum
Shetland Renewable Energy Forum

Constitution

1. NAME

The name of the association is "Caithness Renewable Energy Forum (CREF)" (hereinafter called "the Forum").

2. AIMS & OBJECTIVES

AIM

To promote renewable energy.

OBJECTIVES

to promote research and growth in renewable energy technologies.

to promote the development of a wide portfolio of competitive skills and skills development in renewable technologies.

to increase the proportion of renewable energy in the local building stock, both current and proposed.

to increase market demand for and raise the level of awareness of renewable energy and the opportunity for careers and training in this locality.

to promote self sufficiency in renewable energies, energy efficiency and the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.

to promote the practical export of surplus energy, skills and technology.

to support renewable energy schemes whilst ensuring that the relevant environmental, social, economic and visual issues, if any, have been addressed.

3. POWERS

In furtherance of the above objectives but not further or otherwise the forum shall have the following powers:

	To raise funds required for the achievement of the above objectives by any lawful means.
	To employ such persons on such terms as may be necessary.
	To enter any arrangements with any government or authority, local or otherwise and obtain from such government or authority any rights, privileges and concessions and carry out, exercise and comply with any such arrangements, rights, privileges and concessions.
	To employ all efforts towards ensuring that reasonable electricity tariff mechanisms and grid connections are established and maintained which enable maximum use of local renewable resources and export of same from the locality.
	To do all such other things as are necessary for the attainment of the above objectives.

4. MEMBERSHIP

Members:

Membership of the forum shall be open for any individual, business or organisation , which/who supports the objectives of the forum and lives within the locality of Caithness and the north Highlands. Members can attend members’meetings and have voting rights.

Associate Members:

Associate Membership of the forum shall be open for any individual, business or organisation, which/who supports the objectives of the forum but resides outwith the locality of Caithness and the north Highlands. Associate members can attend members’ meetings but have no voting rights.

Individual Supporters:

The Forum shall welcome support from individuals not in the above categories subject to such terms and conditions it sees fit. Individual supporters will have no membership rights. Individual Supporters receive newsletters, press releases and the like by email.

Subscription:

The amount and date or dates of payment of full member’s and associate member’s subscription shall be set by the Annual General Meeting.

Termination of Membership

Non-payment of the annual subscription shall result in the termination of membership.

The Committee may terminate the membership of any member whose conduct the Committee consider to be detrimental to the Forum, provided:

(a) that an attempt has been made by the Committee to draw the matter of complaint to the attention of the member concerned and to resolve any dispute by conciliation and,

(b) that the member concerned shall have been given at least one week’s notice of the meeting at which the question of his or her expulsion is to be discussed together with details of the allegations and an opportunity to be heard by the Committee.

5. MEMBERS' MEETINGS

Annual General Meeting

The Forum shall hold an Annual General Meeting in the month of September.

The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be:

the consideration of the accounts of the Forum and the Committee’s report,

the election of members of the Committee, including a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.

the fixing of subscriptions,

the appointment of auditors and

any other business of which proper notice has been given or which the Chairperson decides are "competent business".

Extraordinary General Meeting

An Extraordinary General Meeting shall be convened, giving 14 days notice, either by the Committee or on the written submission of not less than 6 full members of the Forum, such submission specifying the business proposed to be transacted at the meeting.

Notice of General Meetings

Notice of General Meetings shall be given by the Secretary at least 10 working days before the date of the meeting. Such notice shall specify the time and place of the meeting and the business proposed to be transacted at the meeting, including any resolution proposed to be put to the meeting.

Quorum

The quorum at each General Meeting shall be 5 full members of the Forum. If a quorum is not present within one hour of the time set for the meeting, the meeting shall proceed if 3 or more full members are present, otherwise the meeting will be adjourned to such time and place as shall be determined by the Committee, but not more than one month from the date of the original meeting. If a quorum of full members is not present at any General Meeting no major decisions which effect the other members of the Forum or the Forum as a whole shall be made.

Chairperson

The Chairperson \ Vice Chairperson of the Forum shall preside at General Meetings and, in his or her absence, the members present may choose one of their number to preside.

Procedure at General Meetings

(i) Voting - All questions arising at any General meeting shall be decided by a majority of those present and entitled to vote thereat. In the case of equality of votes the Chairperson shall have a second or casting vote.

(ii) Minutes - Minute books shall be kept by the Secretary who shall enter therein a record of all proceedings and resolutions.

At General Meetings where a quorum of full members is present those represented may delegate functions to any working group consisting of 2 or more members (i.e. sub-committee) for any specific purpose.

6. FINANCE

The Forum will open and maintain in credit a bank account to be established by resolution at any General Meeting of the Forum.

Such account will be administered by the signature of any two office bearers (the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Treasurer or Secretary) who are nominated signatories.

All monies raised will be applied solely towards the promotion of the Objectives of the Forum and for no other purposes.

The treasurer will ensure that proper accounts of the finances of the association are maintained and that the accounts are audited once a year and presented at the AGM.

In the event of the termination of the organisation, the disposal of assets, if any, will be to one or more organisations with similar aims.