This constitution was adopted at the Essex Area of the Military Vehicle Trust AGM, held 26th January 2006.
Nothing in this document shall attempt to alter or amend the Articles of Association of the Military Vehicle Trust

A: THE AREA
1. The area shall be known as the “Essex Area of the Military Vehicle Trust” here after referred to as “the area”

2. The area shall be an area of the National Military Vehicle Trust, a Company registered under the Companies act of 1985 and registered under the Charities Act No 327768

B: THE AIMS OF THE AREA
1. The primary aim of the area shall be to promote and encourage the restoration, preservation, use and enjoyment of ex military vehicles and associated equipment of all ages.

2. In furtherance of the primary aim, the area shall promote, organise, sponsor and support military vehicle shows and other associated events and encourage the attendance and appearance of military vehicles and associated accoutrements at public events, and shall from time to time raise funds to support such activities.

3. Secondary aims of the area shall be:

a. To research and preserve documentation, equipment and other items and articles pertaining to the main aim as stated above
b. To raise funds for and on behalf of Military veterans Charities and allied causes
c. To aid and co-operate with any Charity having among its objectives, the preservation of articles and other material; things allied to aims of the Military vehicle Trust
d. Promote awareness and education of the vehicles and the historical context of their use

C: MEMBERSHIP
1. Membership will be open to any current and fully paid up member of the Military Vehicle Trust that chooses to affiliate his or herself with the Essex Area of the Military Vehicle Trust

2. Members joining or affiliating with the area will be deemed to have accepted the Articles, the Memorandum of Association and the Code of Conduct of the Military Vehicle Trust, and will abide by the same and conduct themselves in a way so as not to bring the reputation of the Trust and Area into disrepute.

3. Members may be excluded from the area should they act prejudicial to the interest of the area, or bring the reputation of the area in to disrepute. Any person so excluded shall be informed of the reason for his/her exclusion in writing and shall then be given 28 days of grace during which time he/she will be given an opportunity to state their case in writing and of defending his/her self to the membership.

4. The area shall hold a membership list. Any such list may be kept on electronic media. Any such list will be held within the area and not passed on to a third party without prior consent of the members concerned. The Military Vehicle Trust is registered under the Data Protection Act. Members shall be given the right to have their personal information so held to be corrected, as they require.

D: OFFICERS AND ORGANISATION
1. The Officers shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting and shall stand for a period of one year.

2. Officers shall include a Chairman/Area Secretary who shall be the area delegate at National meetings of the Military Vehicle Trust unless otherwise decided at the preceding AGM (In which case an area delegate shall also be elected at the same AGM). In addition to an Area Secretary/Chairman other officers shall include a Treasurer (who must be solvent and not disbarred from office under the companies act 1985), two signatories one of whom must be the Treasurer for the purposes of signing cheques on behalf of the area account and any other officers as may be decided by the membership to be beneficial to the organisation of the area.

3. The members present at the AGM shall elect officers of the area. Any member who has attained the age of 18 years at the date of the AGM shall be entitled to vote. Members may vote once for as many candidates as there may be vacancies. No member may be entitled to vote more than once for any one candidate except that:
a : If there should be a tie in respect of a vote for the incoming Chairman/Area Secretary, the outgoing Chairman/Area Secretary shall either rehold the vote or have an additional casting vote at his/her discretion
b: If there should be a tie in respect of a vote for any post or position of committee member subsequent to the election or re-election of the Chairman/Area Secretary, the Area Secretary shall have the casting vote.
4. No officer of the area shall hold office for more than one year without standing for re-election.

5. Officers must hold a current paid up membership of the Military Vehicle Trust

6. No member shall be nominated without that member first indicating willingness to stand for such office.

7. Area Members must hold current paid up membership of the Military Vehicle Trust to be eligible to vote on area business.

8. Following an officer of the area resigning or otherwise vacating his or her post an election to fill the vacant position shall be held at the earliest possible meeting following the event. Any such officer shall not hold such office beyond the AGM following his/her election without standing for re-election.

9. Area officers shall give a report with regard to their area of responsibility to the membership at the AGM and any other meeting as may be required by any member present at any monthly meeting.

E: MEETINGS
1. Regular meetings will be held within the county of Essex

2. An AGM will be held on the fourth Thursday of January

3. An AGM may be postponed for no more than one month if it is the wish of not less than 50% of the membership and voting at the January meeting

4. A change of meeting venue shall be decided by not less than 50% of the membership present and voting at the previous meeting

5. Members will be informed by post or electronic media of any business that requires a vote at least 3 weeks before the meeting.

6. Voting at all General Meetings shall be by a show of hands.

F: FINANCES
1. The area shall have a bank account the account shall be called Essex MVCG. The account shall be held at a Bank and Branch as decided by members.

2. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the good management of the area account.

3. The Treasurer shall report to the membership as to the state of the finances of the area at the AGM and any time as required by the membership. The treasurer shall give their report in writing.

4. A paper or electronic copy of the report should be submitted to members before the AGM. A report will be available at the regular monthly meeting.

5. No monies shall be withdrawn from the area account without prior agreement of the membership. Any such agreement shall be indicated by proposal, seconded and a majority vote in agreement at a monthly meeting.

6. Any withdrawal shall be made by means of a cheque drawn on the area account No withdrawal shall be made without the cheque signatories approval.

7. Monies may be drawn from account in association with or promotion of the area activities or in furtherance of the aims of the area, but only after prior agreement has been indicated at a preceding area meeting in accordance with this constitution
8. In the event of the area being wound up any monies raised on behalf of the area shall be disposed of in a way to be decided by not less than 80% of the membership present and voting at the meeting to wind up the area

9. The members may appoint two auditors from time to time as required and decided by the members to examine and report to the members on the state of the account. Auditors so elected shall remain in post until such time as their report is given to the members.

10. The Treasurer may be removed from office if an order is made against him/her pursuant to Section 383 of the Companies Act 1985.

G: THIS CONSTITUTION
1. A copy of this constitution and/any amendment of it shall be held by the Chairman/Area Secretary and be made available on demand for perusal by members. A further copy shall be logged with the General Secretary of the Military Vehicle Trust

2. This constitution may be amended for the benefit of the area as may be required to reflect any change in circumstance. Any such amendment shall be voted upon and ratified by not less than 60% of the membership present and voting at an AGM or extraordinary AGM as required by the membership of the area. No alteration, deletion, amendment or addition shall be if the effect or enactment of any such alteration, deletion, amendment or addition would cause the Trust or area cease to be a charity by law