Membership

Why become a member of Amina – The Muslim Women’s Resource Centre?

If you would like to become a member of the MWRC, please download and fill in the membership application form below and send it to us. Membership Form

Constitution

Name

The name of the organisation shall be the Muslim Women’s Resource and Development Centre – Amina, hereafter to as Amina.

Aims

The aim of Amina is to promote the welfare of Muslim women and their communities in Scotland, and counter disadvantage they face by working together with statutory authorities and voluntary organisation in a common effort to advance education, further health, relieve poverty and distress and in the interest of social welfare provide facilities for advice, counselling, support, personal development and training for Muslim women from all ethnic backgrounds.

Objectives

In furtherance thereof:

  1. to enable Muslim women of all ethnic minorities to access sensitive counselling, support and advice which meets their needs, both through provision of service and supported referral mechanisms
  2. to establish a helpline to reach Muslim women across Scotland including isolated women from rural communities, to access facilities and services to help meet their needs and provide confidential advice, support, and counselling
  3. to enable and empower Muslim women to develop self confidence
  4. to develop training and volunteering skills to increase self confidence, enhance employment opportunities and create further resources for community
  5. to initiate outreach work in order to encourage “household” women to participate in locally/community based activities
  6. to create links, supported referral mechanisms, and network effectively with voluntary organisations, statutory agencies and local authorities in furtherance of the objectives detailed above

Membership

  1. Membership shall be open to Muslim women from all ethnic backgrounds residing in the West of Scotland, who support the aims and objectives of Amina
  2. All membership applications will be submitted to the Management Committee for approval. No applicant shall be rejected expect on the grounds that she does not meet the criteria in 3(a) above. Reasons for rejections shall be provided to the unsuccessful application in writhing on request
  3. A member may terminate her membership at any time by a letter of resignation to the secretary
  4. A member will be removed from membership by the Management Committee if found to be acting against the interests of Amina or not supporting its aims and objectives

Annual General Meeting

  1. An Annual General Meeting shall be called within 3 months of the end of the financial year to receive annual reports and accounts of Amina and to agree auditors for the forthcoming financial year
  2. The AGM shall elect the requisite number of members to serve on the Management Committee
  3. 14 days notice in writing shall be given to all members for the AGM, which notice shall state the date and time of the meeting
  4. The Quorum for the AGM shall be 1/5th of the membership or 15 persons, whichever is the lowest. In the event of a Quorum not being achieved, the meeting shall be adjourned to such a date, place and time within the ensuring 28 days that the Chairperson shall decide. The members present at such an adjourned meeting shall constitute a quorum
  5. Arrangements for postal and proxy voting shall be made at the discretion of the Management Committee and communicated to the membership with the notice of the AGM
  6. Voting at meetings will be by show of hands or secret ballot

The Management Committee

  1. The Management Committee consists of up to 12 elected members plus up to 3 co-opted members
  2. Management Committee members shall be elected at the AGM and be entitled to serve for 3 years (expecting the first and second AGMs of Amina, when following election of the full quota of members at the inaugural meeting 1/3 of MC members must stand down – these 1/3 to be decided by the Management Committee. From year 3 onwards 1/3 of Management Committee members will retire each year. Retiring committee members will be entitled to stand for re-election
  3. Casual vacancies may be filled by co-option from the membership during the course of the year, to serve until the next AGM, when they may stand for election
  4. Other co-option members may only serve from AGM to AGM but may be re-appointed
  5. All Management Committee members will have the power to vote. The Chair of the meeting shall have an additional casting vote
  6. Office bearers shall be appointed at the 1st Management Committee meeting following the AGM. The Management Committee shall decide which offices, always including a treasurer should exist in any year
  7. The quorum for Management Committee meetings shall be five members, at least three whom should have been elected

Powers of the Management Committee

  1. The Management Committee shall have the power to decide all matters concerning Amina, subject to the Constitution and policy made at the AGM
  2. The Management Committee will have the power to appoint and manage staff manage the financial affairs, raise funds and decide on the areas of development for Amina
  3. The Management Committee has the power to contact and provide services on behalf of other organisations, provided that these fall within the remit of Amina and any profits arising therefrom are used to pursue the aims of Amina
  4. The Management Committee has the power to delegate functions to sub-committees, officers or paid staff as it deems appropriate, and to devise standing orders to regulate the functions of any such sub-committees

Finances

  1. The treasurer shall keep proper accounts of the finances of Amina
  2. The financial year for Amina shall run to 31st March each year
  3. The accounts shall be audited at least once a year by an auditor or auditors appointed by the AGM
  4. All monies raised by or on behalf of Amina shall be applied to promote the aims of Amina and for no other purpose. Any profits made in the course of Amina work must be applied only to further the work of Amina
  5. The Management Committee shall maintain such bank accounts as it sees fit. The Management Committee shall authorise in writing four Management Committee members, one of whom should be the treasurer to sign cheques on behalf of Amina. All cheques must be signed by two of the authorised signatories

Amendments to the Constitution

  1. Amina membership in a General Meeting, either an Annual or Special General Meeting, may amend this Constitution in a resolution on passed by no less than 2/3 of those present and voting, provided that due notice has been given
  2. Notice of any proposed amendments must be tabled with the secretary, 21 days prior to a General Meeting

Special General Meeting

  1. A Special General Meeting (SGM) may be called by the Management Committee on receipt of a motion calling for such, signed by 1/5th of the current membership of 15 members, whatever is the lesser, or as it deems fit
  2. The purpose of an SGM will be to consider amendments to the constitution, or to discuss any other matters of importance to Amina which requires to be dealt with prior to the next AGM
  3. The notice and quorum for an SGM will be the same as for an AGM

Dissolution

  1. Amina may at any time be dissolved by a resolution passed by a 2/3 majority of those present and voting at an Extra-ordinary General Meeting called specifically for this purpose, of which at least 28 days notice shall have been sent to all members
  2. Any assets remaining after the satisfaction of all debuts and liabilities shall not be paid or distributed among the members but shall be given or transferred to a recognised chartable body or bodies with objectives similar to Amina