Here is our draft constitution, Our monthly meetings will probably start on a Friday evening during November 2016. If you live in the Edinburgh area and are interested in taking part, then please e-mail me on
leonardthomas70@googlemail.com
and tell me a bit about yourself and your interests.
THE
PORTICO
SOCIAL ADVOCACY GROUP
Mailing
Address:
The
PSAG Secretary, c/o St.
Andrews and St. George's West Church, George Street, Edinburgh, EH2
2PA
DRAFT
CONSTITUTION
(to
be discussed at first meeting)
(1)
Purpose and Nature of the Group:
The
primary purpose of this secular and apolitical group
is to confront authority and the echelons of power in a manner which
promises to (a) help improve the well-being of all ordinary people
everywhere, including the sick, the unemployed, the hungry, the
vulnerable, Workfare volunteers, and refugees and asylum seekers from
abroad, and to (b) help bring about beneficial social change in
Scotland and elsewhere.
We
intend to do this in a fashion which yields some chance of achieving
beneficial impact, rather than doing token things which merely produce an
outward impression or façade of doing good.
The
group will not be part of, or subject to undue prescriptive
influences from or on behalf of, any other organisation.
In
attempting to achieve our objectives, we will plan various events at
13 George Street and elsewhere e.g. meetings with the public on the
Portico, invited talks in the Undercroft, and public activities and
demonstrations elsewhere in Edinburgh, in the hope of attracting as
much attention as possible from the media and the population at
large.
Our
choices of activities will be made entirely by the members in open
meeting and, if necessary, by a simple majority vote
of those present. Working parties comprising members will prepare
reports on current issues or topics which the members decide are
potentially worthy of possible action. The choice as to which issue
or topic to pursue at any particular time will be made after
considering such reports.
Possible
activities include, for the sake of example, (a) confronting the
Scottish government regarding their apparent plans to continue with
something similarly cruel to Workfare (b) confronting the authorities
regarding the inadequate and cruel treatment of the many residents of
Scotland who experience mental health issues (c) addressing bullying,
intimidation and exploitation in the workplace, and (d) seeking to
protect the security and well-being of our many friends and
neighbours who are from overseas.
(2)
A Secretary
shall be appointed from among the members for the purposes of keeping
a list of members, helping the Convenors to advertise the meetings
and activities of the group, taking succinct minutes of meetings and
handling any similarly orientated business. The secretary will also
be responsible for handling any money on behalf of the members and
shall produce a simple annual account of income and expenditure to
the Annual General Meeting.
(3)
Definition
of member:
A member is a person who is invited by a majority of those current
members who are present at a monthly meeting to add his or her name
to the list of members.
(a)
Members will remain members until they either remove their name from
the list or are asked to leave by majority vote of the members under
the succeeding paragraph on the ground of failing to adhere to the
spirit of this constitution or failing to attend six consecutive
monthly meetings.
(b)
Any person may be asked to leave the membership by way of a
resolution passed by not less than two thirds of those present and
voting at a monthly meeting, providing the following procedures have
been observed:-
-
at
least 21 days’ notice of the intention to propose the resolution
must be given to the member concerned, specifying the grounds for
the proposed removal; and
-
the
member concerned will be entitled to be heard on the resolution at
the monthly meeting at which the resolution is proposed
(c)
The three initial members of the group will be James McNeill, Tom
Leonard and ****, and the secretary
will be elected during the first monthly meeting.
(d)
A member can only vote, or propose or second motions, if physically
present at a monthly meeting. It cannot be done by proxy.
(4)
Convenors
shall
facilitate the meetings of the group and put in hand preparations for
the ensuing meeting. The first meeting will be convened by James
McNeill and Tom Leonard. At each subsequent meeting a convenor shall
be selected according to the democratic wishes of the group.
(5)
Funding:
The group will be financed by private donation.
(6)
International
Group Facebook Page.
This will be initially administered by Tom Leonard, but the choice of
Facebook administrator is subject to the democratic approval of the
group.
(7)
Public
activities on the Portico and elsewhere on the Church premises:
All plans by the group for activities to take place at 13 George
Street, other than monthly meetings, will be are subject to the
approval of Rev. Ian Gilmour.
(8)
Regular
meetings of the group.
Once a month, on a Friday
evening, in the Undercroft, unless otherwise arranged by the members.
Each
calendar year there shall be an Annual General Meeting at which (i)
the appointment of a Secretary shall be confirmed, (ii) the Secretary
shall lodge an account of any income and expenditure and (iii) the
operation of the group shall be reviewed.
(9)
Safe
Space Policy: It
is essential for members to avoid language expressed attitudes, or
actions which are xenophobic, racist, sexist, homophobic,
transphobic, abilistic, or exploitative in nature, and not to create
disturbances.
All
members are required to abide by these policies; they should then be
enabled to feel safe within the group. Members not adhering to this
policy may be asked to leave the meeting or activity.
Edinburgh
31st August 2016
