Rules of the Birgelen Veterans Association
 
General
1.The BVA is governed by the Royal Signals Association Rules as well as its own. Membership is open to any person who served with 1 Wireless Regiment/ 13 Signal Regiment (Radio) or any of their sub-units, regardless of service, agency, gender, rank or Corps.
Vide Agm, Minute 5, held on 05 October 2008, membership was widened to include the adult child/children/ or dependent of a member over the age of 21 years. Such applicants must apply in their own right to join the association. (See also Fees Rule 8)

2. Non - Internet access does NOT preclude membership of the Association.

3. Members who after a period of 3 months, have failed to respond to emails or have made no contact with the Association during that period will be automatically excluded from BVA membership.

4. It is incumbent upon all members to notify the Association of any change to their E mail address. For Non - Internet members, changes to residential addresses, and telephone number should be communicated to the Association. (See paragraph 3 above)

5. Membership may be permanently revoked by the Committee if the Webmaster suspends any member who abuses the website by using foul, insulting or abusive language or, who does not comply fully with Association rules. This applies particularly to the Members Forum.

6. Members should exercise discretion before discussing matters of a sensitive nature relating to their work on the website.

7. The Association web site exists solely for the benefit of its members. Any comments or ideas for improving the aims of the Association are welcomed.

Fees
8. A non returnable one-off joining fee of £5 (or any such sum as set and approved at the AGM) is to be paid to the Association by all persons applying for BVA membership. This is to be used to off-set the cost of site domain hosting, web site address, postage and general association administration.
Any member whose membership becomes void due to non-compliance of these rule and then re-applies for membership, will be viewed as a first time applicant for fee purposes.

9. Under Minute 6 of the AGM held on 14 October 2007, a non returnable sum of £5.00/person will be levied against each member and guest attending the annual reunion in support of the reunion Entertainment/General Fund.

Committee
10.All Members of the Association are eligible for election to the Committee.
a. The Association will be managed and administered by an elected committee of members. The committee may form sub committees of members as appropriate.

President
11. The committee may in its absolute discretion invite some person to be President of the Association on such terms and for such periods, as it shall decide. Appointment to
take affect from acceptance of such invitation. The President will have the right to attend and be part of the committee.

Composition of Committee
12. The Committee is made up of the following members:
a. President
b. Chairman
c. Secretary/Treasurer
d. Deputy Secretary/Treasurer
e. Annual Draw Co-ordinator
f. Charity Promotion
g. Widows Representative
h. Events Members (Up to five members in support of (e) and other events)

Constitution, Election and Voting Procedures
13. The Committee (other than the President) will be elected annually at the AGM.
a. For the AGM, five members personally present (including the chairman) shall be a quorum.
b. For any sub-committee three members personally present (including the chairman) shall be a quorum.
c. Voting at all meetings will be by a show of hands with all matters decided by a simple majority of those present.

Minutes
14. Minutes of the AGM will be posted on the Association web site AGM Minutes Page.

15. Points arising, voted upon and passed at the AGM are binding upon all members and where necessary will be reflected in a change to these rules.

16. Members not attending the AGM may submit matters they wished raised or reviewed, to the Secretary/Chairman. These should be submitted in writing or by E-mail at least two weeks prior to the published date of the next AGM meeting.

17. Matters relating to the Reunion should be referred to the Reunion coordinators.(Secretary/Chairman)

Accounts
18. Association accounts will be audited the day prior to the AGM. This will be done by the chairman asking for volunteers from any two members attending the reunion, both of whom must also be attending the AGM.

19. The audited accounts will be submitted by the Secretary to the AGM for approval by the membership.

20. The Secretary is authorised to make payments up to the sum of £150:00 on Association expenditure. Amounts exceeding this, require the authorisation of the President/Chairman. Only the Secretary and Chairman are authorised to sign cheques or to authorise any payment on behalf of the Association.
The Secretary is to forward a certified copy of the audited accounts for the previous year, to the General Secretary of RSA, not later than January of each new year.

Rule Amendments
21. The Birgelen Veterans Association Rules were approved at the second AGM held at the Trecarn hotel, Babbacombe, on the 22 September 2002. They will be updated as and when required to reflect relevant passed motions at subsequent AGM's. Members are asked to read these and the Terms and Conditions of the Association web site, which can be found on the home page. Continued use of www.birgelenvets.org after a change has been made to any Association rule is your acceptance of the change.

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