Meet A Mum - MAMA - Postnatal Depression

National Constitution

The name of the Association shall be The Meet A Mum Association (hereinafter referred to as 'MAMA.')

The objectives of MAMA. shall be:-
(a) The relief of mothers suffering from postnatal depression by the provision of counselling practical support and group therapy.

(b) The relief of mothers of young children by providing for them advice, counselling and practical assistance calculated to preserve and protect their physical and mental health.

(c) The advancement of education in postnatal depression and postnatal care and to support and promote research into postnatal depression and postnatal care provided that the useful results of such research shall be published.

In furtherance of the foregoing objects but not further or otherwise MAMA shall have the following powers:-
(a) To promote the formation and co-ordinate the activities of local groups in England and Wales (hereinafter referred to as 'MAMA. Groups') and to compile a national register of MAMA Groups.

(b) To co-operate and co-operate with representatives of the statutory authorities and voluntary organisations and other charities in the achievement of the foregoing objects or any of them.

(d) To raise funds and invite and receive contributions, subscriptions, covenants, donations and otherwise from any person or persons whatsoever provided that MAMA shall not undertake any permanent trading activities concerned solely with the raising of funds for its primary objects.

(e) To be a centre of information for MAMA Groups and to stimulate public interest in their work.

(f) To promote research at local and national level into the workings and effects of the MAMA. Groups and to publish the useful results of such research

(g) To establish national and international links with other organisations to achieve MAMA's objects.

(h) To do all such other things as shall further the foregoing objects.

Membership of MAMA shall be open to all MAMA Groups and to any person who signs a Membership Application form PROVIDED THAT the number of individual members shall not at any time exceed 25% of the membership of MAMA
Each MAMA Group shall be represented by an Officer of the Group at the meetings of MAMA

(a) An Annual General Meeting of MAMA shall be held within three months of the end of each financial year for the purposes of receiving reports, considering the accounts and electing officers.

(b) In addition not less than two other Ordinary General Meetings shall be held in each financial year.

(c) 21 days prior notice shall be given to members in respect of the Annual General Meeting and 14 days prior notice shall be given in respect of any other Ordinary General Meeting.

(d) A quorum at any General Meeting shall be 15% of the membership of MAMA

(e) The Secretary shall keep Minutes at the meetings of MAMA

(f) Questions arising at any Annual General Meeting or Ordinary General Meeting shall be determined by a majority of votes of those present. In case of an equality of votes the Chairman shall be entitled to a casting vote.

(g) Apart from Annual General Meetings all General Meetings of MAMA shall be convened by the Secretary upon a request by the National Management Committee or by 15% of the membership of MAMA.

(a) Votes from any meetings of MAMA may be given either personally or by proxy.

(b) The instrument appointing the proxy shall be in writing signed by an officer of the appointing MAMA Group. A proxy need not be a member of the appointing MAMA Group nor of MAMA.

(c) The instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited not less than 24 hours before the meeting at which the person named in the instrument proposes to vote with the Chairman of the National Management Committee. Where a resolution is proposed at a meeting the terms of which have been notified to members in accordance with clauses 12 and 13 hereof the instrument appointing the proxy shall indicate clearly whether it is to be used in favour or against the resolution

(a) At the Annual General Meeting the members of MAMA shall elect a Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary and such other officers as they may decide who shall form the National Management Committee.

(b) Each officer shall serve for a period of one year and be eligible for re-election.

(c) Casual vacancies among the officers shall be filled at any General Meeting of MAMA until the next annual appointment of officers.

(a) The National Management Committee shall have the general control and management of MAMA subject to such regulations as may from time to time be imposed upon it by its members PROVIDED THAT all acts and proceedings of the National Management Committee shall be fully and promptly reported back to the members.

(b) No member of the National Management Committee shall be entitled to remuneration but members shall be entitled to be reimbursed in respect of reasonable and proper out of pocket expenses.

(c) The National Management Committee may elect a Chairman of its meetings; if no such Chairman is elected or if it at any meeting the Chairman is not present within five minutes of the appointed time for holding the meeting the members present may choose one of their members to be Chairman of the meeting.

(d) The National Management Committee may meet and adjourn as it thinks proper. Questions arising at any meeting shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the members of the National Management Committee present and in case of an equality of votes the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote. The quorum necessary for the National Management Committee shall be fixed by the members of MAMA.

10.

(a) The financial year shall run from 1st April to 31st March in each year.

(b) The Treasurer shall keep proper accounts of the finances of MAMA. which shall be independently audited at the end of each financial year.

(c) A current bank account shall be maintained in the name of MAMA and if the National Management Committee shall so determine a deposit account as well into either of which all monies received shall be paid.

(d) All cheques shall be signed by the Treasurer and another officer of MAMA.

11.

(a) Members shall pay such subscriptions (if any) as MAMA may decide at any Annual General Meeting. MAMA shall have the right for good and sufficient reason including the non-payment of any subscription to terminate the membership of any member PROVIDED THAT the member shall have the right to be heard by MAMA before a decision is made.

(b) All the reasonable and proper costs charges and expenses of and incidental to the management of MAMA shall be paid out of the income of MAMA.

If it is decided by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at a Special General Meeting, called for the purpose, that MAMA shall be dissolved, the officers shall wind up MAMA's affairs. Any assets remaining after satisfaction of any liabilities properly payable thereout shall not be distributed amongst the individual members but shall be given to such charitable organisations carrying out objects similar to those set out herein or to the MAMA Groups on a pro rata basis as the members shall by a simple majority decide. A Special General Meeting shall be called by not less than 21 days prior notice in writing given to all members stating the terms of the resolution to be put to the members.
This constitution may be amended or added to by a resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at any General Meeting of MAMA of which not less than 14 days written notice stating the terms of the resolution shall have been given to all members PROVIDED THAT no alteration shall be made to Clause 2, Clause 12 to this Clause or to any other clause which would have the effect of causing MAMA to cease to be a charity in law.

Local MAMA Groups
A simplified Constitution has been agreed for local MAMA groups as follows:

1. The name of the group shall be the '��. group of the Meet A Mum Association'.

2. The objects of the group shall be:

(a) the relief of mothers suffering from postnatal depression by the provision of counselling, practical support and group therapy

(b) the relief of mothers of young children by providing for them advice, counselling and practical assistance calculated to preserve and protect their physical and mental health

(c) the advancement of education in postnatal depression and postnatal care and to support and promote research into postnatal depression and postnatal care provided that the useful results of such research shall be published.

3. In furtherance of the foregoing objects but not further or otherwise the group through its management committee shall have the following powers:

(a) to give advice and information

(b) to hold meetings, lectures and exhibitions

(c) to raise funds and invite and receive contributions, subscriptions, covenants, donations and otherwise from any person or persons whatsoever: provided that the group shall not undertake any permanent trading activities concerned solely with the raising of funds for its primary object.

(d) To do all such things as shall further the foregoing objects.

4. Membership of the group shall be open to any person, with equal opportunity for all.

(a) An annual general meeting of the members of the group shall be held within three months of the end of each financial year for the purposes of receiving reports, considering the accounts and electing officers

(b) In addition no less than two other ordinary general meetings shall be held in each financial year.

(c) 21 days prior notice shall be given to members in respect of the annual general meeting and 14 days prior notice shall be given in respect of any other ordinary general meeting.

(d) A quorum at any general meeting of the group shall be 25% of the membership of the group.

(e) The secretary shall keep minutes at the meetings of the group.

(f) Questions arising at any annual general meeting or ordinary general meeting shall be determined by a majority of votes of those present. In the case of equality of votes the chairman shall be entitled to a casting vote.

(g) Apart from annual general meetings all general meetings of the group shall be convened by the secretary upon a request by the management committee or by 25% of the membership of the group.

(a) At the annual general meeting the members of the group shall elect a chairman, treasurer and secretary and such other officers as they may decide who shall form the management committee.

(b) Each officer shall serve for a period of one year and be eligible for re-election.

(c) Casual vacancies amongst the officers shall be filled at any general meetings of the group until the next annual appointment of officers.

(a) The management committee shall have the general control and management of the group subject to such regulations as may from time to time be imposed upon it by the members provided that all acts and proceedings of the management committee shall be fully and promptly reported back to the members.

(b) No member of the management committee shall be entitled to remuneration but members shall be entitled to be reimbursed in respect of reasonable and proper out of pocket expenses.

(c) The management committee may elect a chairman of its meetings; if no such chairman is elected or if at any time the chairman is not present within five minutes after the appointed time for holding the meeting the members present may choose one of their members to be chairman of the meeting.

(d) The management committee may meet and adjourn as it thinks proper. Questions arising at a meeting shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the members of the management committee present and in case of an equality of votes the chairman shall have a second or casting vote. The quorum necessary for the management committee shall be fixed by the members of the group.

(a) The financial year shall run from 1st April to 31st March in each year.

(b) The treasurer shall keep proper accounts of the finances of the group which shall be independently audited at the end of each financial year

(c) A current bank account or a building society account shall be maintained in the name of the group and if the management committee shall so determine a deposit account as well into either of which all monies shall be paid.

(d) All cheques shall be signed by the treasurer and another officer of the group.

(a) Members shall pay such subscriptions (if any) as the group may decide at any annual general meeting. The group shall have the right for good and sufficient reason including the non-payment of any subscription to terminate the membership of any individual member provided that the member shall have the right to be heard by the group before a decision is made.

(b) All the reasonable and proper costs, charges and expenses of and incidental to the management of the group shall be paid out of the income of the group.

10. If it is decided by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at a special general meeting, called for the purpose, that the group shall be dissolved the officers shall wind up the groups affairs. Any assets remaining after satisfaction of any liabilities properly payable there out shall not be distributed amongst the members but shall revert to National MAMA. A special general meeting shall be called by not less than 21 days notice in writing given to all members and the chairman of the national committee stating the terms of the resolution proposed to be put to members.

11. This constitution may be amended or added to by a resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at any general meeting of the group of which not less than 14 days written notice stating the terms of the resolution shall have been given to all members provided that no alteration shall be made to clause 2, clause 9, to this clause or to any clause which would have the effect of causing the group to cease to be a charity in law.