Cambodian Society
in the United Kingdom

REGISTERED UNDER THE CHARITY ACT 1960 No 292074


Constitution

1. NAME

The name of the Association is the Cambodian Society in the United Kingdom (hereinafter called the Society).

2. OBJECTS AND POWERS

a.) The Society is established:

I.) To advance the education of the public in the United Kingdom about any aspects of Cambodia, including its people, history, culture and traditions.

II.) To provide relief for any persons of Cambodian origin in the United Kingdom who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress.

b.) In furtherance of the said objects but not further or otherwise the Society shall have the following powers:

I.) To arrange and provide for or join in arranging and providing for the holding of exhibitions, meetings, lectures, classes, seminars and courses.

II.) To collect and disseminate information on all matters affecting the said objects and exchange such information with other bodies having similar objects.

III.) To procure to be written and print, publish, issue and circulate gratuitously or otherwise such papers, books, periodicals or other documents as shall further the said objects.

IV.) To purchase, take on lease or in exchange, hire or otherwise acquire any property and any rights and privileges necessary for the promotion of the said objects.

V.) To accept gifts and subject to such consents as may be required by law to borrow or to raise money for the said objects on such terms and on such security as shall be thought fit.

VI.) To raise funds and to invite and receive contributions from any person or persons whatsoever by way of subscription donation and otherwise provided that the Society shall not undertake any permanent trading activities in raising funds for its charitable objects.

VII.) To invest the monies of the Society not immediately required for the said objects in or upon such investments, securities or property as may be thought fit, subject nevertheless to such conditions (if any) as may for the time being be imposed or required by law.

VIII.) To do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the attainment of the said objects.

3. MEMBERSHIP

a.) Full membership of the Society shall be open to persons of Cambodian origin of 18 years and over residing in the United Kingdom.

b.) Associate membership shall be open to any persons over 16 years old who are interested in furthering the objects of the Society.

c. Honorary members may be appointed by the Society in General Meeting upon the recommendation of the Executive Committee.

d.) ‘Benefactor Membership’ shall be open to any person who has made donation to the Society of an amount not less than that specified in the Society’s Standing Orders.

e.) The Executive Committee shall have the right, for good and sufficient reason, to terminate the membership of any member PROVIDED that the member concerned shall have the right to be heard by the said Committee before a final decision is made.

f.) Only full members of the Society who have paid their membership fees have the right to vote.

4. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

a.) The policy and general management of the affairs of the Society shall be directed by an Executive Committee, which shall meet as often as it deems necessary, but not less than once in every three months.

b.) The members of the Committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting for a period of one year. Members shall be eligible for re-election. All full members who have paid their annual subscription to the Society are eligible to stand for election.

c.) The Committee shall consist of not less than five members and shall include a President, a Vice-President, a Treasurer, an Adviser and a Secretary.

d.) The President of the Committee shall be elected separately by secret ballot. The candidate securing an absolute majority of the votes cast shall be elected. In the event of a second ballot being necessary, the two candidates securing the highest number of votes cast in the first ballot shall stand in the second ballot. If the second ballot is inconclusive, lot shall determine the winner.

e.) The other members of the Committee shall be elected by a single secret ballot. The President shall appoint the elected members to the various offices.

f.) Any casual vacancy in the Committee may be filled up by the Committee, and any such person appointed to fill such a casual vacancy shall hold office until the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Society and shall be eligible at that Meeting.

g.) The proceedings of the Committee shall not be invalidated by any failure to elect or any defect in the election, appointment or qualification of any member.

h.) The Committee may appoint any special committee that it deems necessary and shall determine its terms of reference, powers, duration and composition. All acts and proceedings of any such special committee shall be reported back to the Committee as soon as possible.

i.) The quorum of any meeting of the Committee shall be more than half of its members. All questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a simple majority but, in case of an equality of votes, the President shall have a second or casting vote.

j.) Minutes shall be kept of all Committee meetings.

k.) The Committee shall have the power to adopt and issue Standing Orders for the Society. Such Standing Orders shall come into operation immediately PROVIDED ALWAYS that they shall be subject to review by the Society in General Meeting and shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Constitution.

5. MEETINGS

a.) The Annual General Meeting of the Society shall be held in the month of September or October of each year. At least five weeks notice of the Meeting shall be given by the Secretary to each member. At such Annual General Meeting the business shall include the election of full members to serve on the Committee; the consideration of the accounts; and the transaction of such other matters as may from time to time be necessary.

b.) A Special General Meeting of the Society may be called at any time at the discretion of the Committee and shall be called within 21 days after receipt by the Secretary of a request in writing to that effect signed by at least one third of the full members. Every such request shall specify the business for which the Meeting is to be convened and no other business shall be transacted at such a Meeting.

c.) A quorum at an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting shall be one quarter of the members.

d.) Unless otherwise provided all resolutions brought forward at an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting shall be decided by a simple majority of those present and entitled to vote thereat. In case of an equality of votes the President shall have a second or casting vote.

6. FINANCE

a.) All monies raised by the Society shall be applied to further the Society’s objects and for no other purpose PROVIDED THAT nothing herein contained shall prevent the payment in good faith of reasonable and proper remuneration to any employee of the Society not being a member of the Executive Committee or the repayment of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

b.) Full and Associate members shall pay an annual subscription of such amount as shall be fixed by the Society from time to time in General Meeting.

c.) The treasurer shall keep proper accounts of the finances of the Society.

d.) A Bank Account or Banking Accounts shall be kept in the name of the Society. Cheques shall be signed by at least two persons so authorised by the Executive Committee, which persons shall be members of the Executive Committee.

7. ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION

Alterations to this constitution shall receive the assent of two-thirds of the members present and voting at an Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting. A resolution for the alteration of the constitution must be received by the Secretary of the Society at least 21 days before the meeting at which the resolution is to be brought forward. At least 14 days’ notice of such a meeting must be given by the Secretary to the membership and must include notice of the alteration proposed. Provided that no alteration to clause 2, clause 8 or this clause shall take effect until the approval in writing of the Charity Commissioners or some other authority having charitable jurisdiction shall have been obtained and no alteration shall be made which would have the effect of causing the Society to cease to be a charity in law.

8. DISSOLUTION

The Association may be dissolved by a Resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at a Special General Meeting convened for the purpose of which 21 days’ notice shall have been given to the members. Such resolution may give instructions for the disposal of any assets held by or in the name of the Society, provided that if any property remains after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities such property shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the Society but shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institution or institutions having objects similar to some or all of the objects of the Society as the Society may determine and if and in so far as effect cannot be given to this provision then to some other charitable purpose.

9. NOTICES

Any notice may be served by the Secretary on any member by sending it through the post in a prepaid letter addressed to such member at his or her last known address, and any letter so sent shall be deemed to have been received within 10 days of posting.

Unanimously approved by the Special General Meeting held on 26 May, 1985



Standing Orders

Membership Subsciption form in PDF ]

 

STANDING ORDERS (2017)

These Standing Orders compliment the relevant Articles of the Constitution of CASUNIK. They may be added, modified or amended at the Annual General Meeting as and when necessary to ensure that, the efficiency of the running of the Society.


STATUS

1.0) Status of the society of CASUNIK is and shall be of a non-political charitable organization hereafter, whereby each committee member must adhere to at all times during the period of his or her voluntary service. Any activities undertaken by CASUNIK, must not pertain to either to serve or to support any political party or parties; UK-based/Internationally-based/Cambodia-based. The committee of CASUNIK shall maintain and retain its virtue by adopting an “open attitude” whereby the society is and shall be “open in welcoming all area of engagements” in any aspects of Cambodia locally and internationally. Engagement of activities undertaken by CASUNIK shall be of non-political purposes or gains. Reciprocal links or affiliations, with or without obligations, shall CASUNIK committee (within its own capabilities and power) uphold mutual relationships with local/home/international entities, such as governments, institutions, authoritative bodies, dignitaries, organizations or the likes.

1.1) Member of CASUNIK Executive Committee may have his or her own political predilection for any particular political party or parties, he/she does/shall have the right to join it/them, to support it/them and to belong to it/them. He/she can and may express own political views and opinions and may acts on own free-will to achieve his/her political endeavours. Such actions are not to be misconstrued as either he/she is representing, is acting or is speaking by any nature, in anyway on behalf of CASUNIK.

1.2) Members of the committee including subscribed members, who are politically inclined, may show their support(s) by organizing own event(s) to promote, to campaign, to disseminate information and/or any other related political matters at own free-will. Such action(s) taken in such event(s) organized and held by such member(s) either individually or in group is not/are not to be misconstrued as he/she/they is/are representing, acting or speaking by any nature, in anyway on behalf of CASUNIK. Such event(s) is not/are not/shall not be recognized and acknowledged by CASUNIK as its own organized event(s). Therefore, CASUNIK is not/shall not be held responsible or accountable for any ramification that may occur as the consequence(s) of the undertaken act(s).

1.3) Executive committee of CASUNIK within own capacity and power, is to be/shall be responsible to ensure that its objectives and goals are effectively implemented and conducted in the spirit of unity and solidarity.

 

CODE OF CONDUCTS

2.0) It is imperative for all members, guests, visitors including members of the committee at all times to comply to the “code of conducts” implemented by the Executive board as compulsory when attending any events at any venues (halls, temples, monasteries etc.) held and hosted by CASUNIK. The Executive Committee members do/shall reserve the right to ask its member(s) or guest(s) to leave the premises, the venues and/or the vicinity of the event(s) whenever considered to be inappropriate in accordance to the policy set as follows:

2.1) When attending and/or participating in, any religious ceremonies, “Smart Casual” as “dress code” must be observed and is to be acted upon and to conform to. Accounting for Traditional outfits where shirt buttoned up to the second button from the collar down, blouse covering chest, skirt below-knee-length to be appropriate “dress code”, thus, will be accepted. Wearing hat inside venue(s) will not be accepted.

2.2) When attending and/or participating in, any events (inside of or outside of or within the vicinity of the venues), commercially trading of goods will not be accepted, unless authorised by CASUNIK. Thus, it is/shall be prohibited.

2.3) When attending and/or participating in, any events, CASUNIK shall not be held responsible for, accountable for or liable for the loss or the damage of any of personal belonging(s) or injuries to any individual(s) including its member(s).

MEMBERSHIP

3.0) Membership subscription and fee must be submitted, received, accepted and registered before the 1st of September (applies to both new and renewal of subscription) in order to be entitled to membership’s eligibility and rights. Annual subscription of membership types, fees, eligibilities and entitlements are set and agreed by the Society at Annual General Meeting in March 2017, and are described and explained as follow:

Full-Member:
£10.00 per person or £15.00 per couple
Associate-Member:
£8.00 per person
Student-Member:
£6.00 per person
Student-Full-Member: £10 per person
Benefactor-Member: £100 or more

3.1) Full-member is/shall be entitled to the right to attend the General Meeting/Annual General Meeting to express opinions, the right to stand for Presidency, the right to vote for Presidency, the right to vote to elect members of the Executive Committee, the right to vote on matters relating to the implementations and the conducts of any activities undertaken by CASUNIK when invoked by the Executive Committee if and when resolutions have not been found or objectives have not been met.

3.2) Associate-Member is/shall be entitled to the right to express opinions at the Annual General Meeting, and shall not have the right to vote, nor the right to stand for Presidency, nor the right to be appointed as member of the Executive Committee.

3.3) Benefactor-Member (any person who donates £100 or more - regularly or one-off) is/shall be entitled to the right to express opinions at the Annual General Meeting, and shall not have the right to vote, nor the right to stand for Presidency, nor the right to be appointed as member of the Executive Committee.

3.4) Honorary-Member is/shall be entitled to the right to express opinions at the Annual General Meeting, and shall not have the right to vote for Presidency, nor the right to stand for Presidency. By invitation only, such member may be called upon and may be appointed as member of the Executive Committee at the committee’s discretion.

3.5) Students from Cambodia who are attending UK-based course(s) for the duration of one academic year or longer are eligible to join the Society in the following sets of membership type and entitlement:

3.5.1) Student-Member is/shall be entitled to the right to attend the Annual General Meeting to express opinions and to vote on matters relating to the implementations and the conducts of any activities undertaken by CASUNIK when invoked by the Executive Committee if and when resolutions have not been found or objectives have not been met. Student-Member does not/shall not have the right to vote for Presidency, nor the right to stand for Presidency, nor can he/she be appointed as member of the Executive Committee.

3.5.2) Student-Full-Member is/shall be entitled to the same equal right(s) to the right(s) of a Student-Member membership type (see clause 3.5.1) with an additional right to cast vote for Presidency at the General Meeting.

 

STANDING FOR PRESIDENCY

4.0) Only Full-Members are entitled to the right to vote for Presidency. Full-Members who wish to stand for presidency, must deposit their candidacy by submitting it to the Secretary of the Society no later than the 1st of September. To be eligible to stand for presidency, Full-Members must meet all of the following criteria:

4.1) He/she must be a Full-Member for a minimum of three consecutive years of subscription.

4.2) He/she must have voluntarily served and/or participated in the Society as either a member of Executive Committee or any other significantly assigned roles for at least a minimum of two years.

4.3) He/she must have received a minimum of two nominations from CASUNIK members.

4.4) He/she must be of Khmer/Cambodian origin or of Khmer/Cambodian descendant. If the candidate is of a Khmer/Cambodian descendant, then proof and evidence of “origin” is and shall be required for at least the past three generations, or, unless the candidate have been known or is known and recognized by either CASUNIK members or its committee members.

 

GENERAL MEETINGS AND ELECTIONS

5.0) The President of the Society shall preside at every Meeting/General Meeting/Annual General Meeting/Extra-Ordinary General Meeting/Special General Meeting. In the case of the President being in absence, the Vice-President shall take the role of the President to preside the above mentioned meeting(s) and to conduct electoral duties (if any) during time of the absence(s) of the President.

5.1) Full-Members and Student-Full-Members shall cast their votes in person at the General Meeting.

5.2) Postal votes or email votes must arrive at the Secretary of the Society at least 48 hours before the General Meeting.

5.3) Voting by proxy, one Full-Member may act on behalf of another/other Full-Member(s) with a maximum of two proxy votes. One Student-Full-Member may act on behalf of another/other Student-Full-Member(s) with a maximum of two proxy votes. The letter of proxy voting must be duly signed and dated and submitted to the Secretary of the Society prior to or during the General Meeting.

5.4) In the case of insufficient number of (at least 1/3 of the total of) Full-Members and Student-Full-Members to form a quorum at the Annual General Meeting, the Executive Committee shall call for an “Extra-Ordinary” or “Special” General Meeting within 6 months with at least 21 day notice to call for an election for a new President and members of the Executive Committee. No quorum is required for this particular type of Meeting(s).

5.5) A simple majority resulting from the General Meeting, election for members of the Executive Committee may not be necessary. At the discretion of the elected President, he/she shall have the right to appoint any person(s) of any Full-member to various position(s) as he/she deems suitable.

 

ADDRESS

6.0) Postal address of CASUNIK may be chosen at the discretion of the President during his/her mandate.

 

DATA PROTECTION

7.0) All contact details of CASUNIK members, including names, postal addresses, email addresses and telephone numbers shall be kept confidential and are to be/shall be used only and solely for the purpose of carrying out CASUNIK duties.

 

CASUNIK WEBSITE COPYRIGHTS

8.0) Image contents such as graphics or photographs including editorial contents, such as news article(s) and other related information published on CASUNIK website at URL/web-address: http://www.casunik.org or https://www.casunik.org or www.casunik.org or casunik.org can be redistributed, copied, reprinted, reposted, shared or linked to, in the following terms and conditions which redistributor(s) (you/your/yours) must comply to:

8.0.1) Alterations to the context of any articles or contents are prohibited especially when the note of credit to the original source is included and is displayed (see clause 8.0.2 below) anywhere on the edited version of the article(s) or content(s). CASUNIK reserves the right to ask you (the redistributor) to immediately remove the note of credit from displaying at anytime.

8.0.2) A CASUNIK logo must be included or a note of credit to the original source must be included at the end of each extracted or copied article/content; that is, [Source: www.casunik.org].

8.0.3) When displaying the CASUNIK URL/web-address (see above in 8.0 clause) as an active link on either your webpage(s) or on your post(s) on any Social Media; the link, must not be directing or redirecting your visitor(s) to any other website other than the CASUNIK website, where it can be noted and accurately displays the authentic CASUNIK URL/web-address (see above in 8.0 clause) in the “Address Bar” of your visitors’ internet browser Apps.

 

ACCOUNTS

9.0) The Treasurer of the CASUNIK Society shall keep proper accounting records of all the monies spent and received and other financial transactions including contact details of subscribed members and donators.

9.1) Annual accounts must be made up and archived at the end of August of each year. The accounts’ records shall be provided and made available for viewing, to Members of the Society at the Annual General Meeting.

9.2) Accounts book(s) shall be made available for inspection. Copies of the Account book(s) can be printed out for Full-Members upon request.

Rev 0 -
Adopted by the Executive Committee meeting on 25 August 1985
Rev 1 -
by Executive Committee 1996/1997 - were £5, £3 & £2 for Full, Associate & Student Membership, respectively
Rev 2 -
by AGM 2004 - were £7, £5 & £3 for Full, Associate & Student Membership, respectively
Rev 3 –
in March 2017

If you have not yet received your Membership Form, you can call us on 7887-506-867or mail to. info@casunik.org


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