Please watch a short video explaining the Associations Rules and why we have them.
The Basic Principles
- We are a Private Membership Association, a type of trust that acts for the benefit of its membership community;
- Private means private! Everything stays within this community for the protection and benefit of all its members;
- We are an unincorporated association like a club, society or charity, with Trustees overseeing its objectives and leadership;
- We have clear rules to govern the running and membership of the association and we have an elected Executive Committee to run the association;
- The rules form a contract between the members and therefore the principles of contract law as applied to unincorporated associations will apply. Regard is given to the Equality Act 2010 so as not to discriminate against certain persons whose characteristics may be protected;
- Funds raised through Membership Fees and Donations go towards community projects that our Members vote on;
- We hold Annual General Meetings in April where all members are invited and will be able to have their say. Members can vote on decisions being made by the Executive Committee, including how the funds we raise are distributed;
- We are a growing community designed to empower the many;
The Rules of the Association
Members must read, agree to, and adhere to the Associations Rules. A member who does not abide by our Constitution will have their membership terminated.
Any man or woman of any age who satisfies the membership qualifications shall be eligible to be a member.
An applicant for membership must apply in writing by submitting a signed and dated Membership Agreement and Personal Declaration form to the Secretary (via website) stating:
- the applicant’s name, address, and contact information.
- that the applicant has been given and has read a copy of these Rules and Ethos and supports the object(s) of the Association and agrees to be bound by the Rules and Terms of Use immediately upon admission to membership.
- the applicant’s consent to the holding of relevant data for the purposes of the Data Protection Act 2018.
Until an applicant is approved for membership, they are not entitled to any of the benefits or privileges of the Association.
Any person who meets the following qualifications (the “membership qualifications”) may be entitled to apply for membership subject to any further provisions in these Rules:
- Must be over 18 years old
- Must be prepared to study
- Must have the intention to live in harmony and in peace with other private members of society
- Must have made a personal declaration to the Association, to follow its rules and ethos.
The membership subscription is an ongoing monthly fee at £10, £30, or £50 per calendar month. The subscription fee can be paid annually in advance at a discounted amount of £100, £300, or £500 (17% saving) for each calendar year or by other arrangement (instalments) agreed with the Executive Committee. On being admitted to the Association there is no entrance fee to be paid.
A new member joining part way through a financial year, on an annual subscription, will pay a pro-rata subscription fee due for the remaining calendar year and the full subscription must be paid by the 31 January (the Fee Date) for the new financial year.
Membership renewal is automatically continued each month and year unless:
- The member resigns on or before a full calendar month is completed, or by 31 December, in which case the member is under no obligation to pay any part of the subscription for a new month or year; or
- The member fails to pay the new annual subscription by 31 January, and no instalment plan is agreed, then the member is treated as having resigned on 31 December unless within 30 days of 31 January, he or she gives the Secretary a written request by post or by email, to remain a member and the Executive Committee then so allows on whatever terms it imposes as to payment of that subscription or otherwise: or
- Where it has been agreed that the annual subscription shall be paid by instalments, if any instalment is not paid within 30 days of falling due, the member shall be treated as having resigned on that date and the balance of the annual subscription that is unpaid shall be due immediately, unless within 30 days of that date he or she gives the Secretary a written request by post or by email to remain a member and the Executive Committee then so allows on whatever terms it imposes as to payment of that subscription or otherwise.
A member may resign at any time by notice in writing by post or by email to the Secretary. On receiving the notice, the Secretary will immediately remove that member from the Members’ Register, which terminates membership.
The resigning member is not entitled to any return or rebate of subscription and remains liable for any unpaid subscription and any other sums due from him or her to the Association.
All rights and interests in the Association and its property cease immediately upon termination of membership by resignation, expulsion, or death.
Any member who is in serious or persistent breach of these Rules or who otherwise acts in a way which in the opinion of the Executive Committee is seriously or persistently inappropriate for a member of this Association may be disciplined as set out in the Disciplinary Regulations as annexed to your Membership Agreement.
Any member who is aggrieved by anything the Association or its members have instigated or actioned, the Association may investigate and deal with the matter as set out in the Grievance Regulations as annexed to your Membership Agreement.
Any notice required or allowed to be given to any member under these Rules is validly given if:
- sent by post to that member’s address in the Member’s Register (in which case it is deemed given to the member 2 days after posting); or
- given to him/her personally; or
- sent by email to that member’s email address in the Members’ Register.
Any notice required or allowed to be given by any member to the Secretary under these Rules is validly given if sent by post or email to the Secretary at the postal address, email or most recently notified to members by the Secretary. It is deemed given when received at that address or email.
The Management of the Association
We are volunteers wishing for the betterment of mankind. The Association is a form of trust structure designed to support and facilitate community endeavours so we can build a brighter future for generations to come.
The object(s) of the Association are as follows:
- The creation of a private society that operates in equity jurisdiction, made up of the inhabitants, who are the people, and who live on the landmass known as England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland or any other landmass that makes up the earth.
- The facilitation of a private society who can become fully empowered and educated and cognisant of their private status and of equity and can manage their own private affairs.
- The facilitation of private society that can support and encourage its members in all agreed community endeavours, relating to community infrastructure, education, asset protection, food security, natural healthcare provision, and financial freedom.
- The provision of discounted education and asset protection services known as “privileges” and “benefits” to its members.
The Association has the following Officers, known as Trustees, who are elected by the members for three-year terms:
- Chairman – who chairs all General Meetings and all Executive Committee meetings when present.
- Secretary – who is responsible for the keeping of all books and records of the Association, including the Members’ Register (containing the name and address of every member and such other contact details as the member supplies) and the taking of minutes of all General Meetings and Executive Committee meetings.
- Treasurer – who ensures that the financial affairs of the Association are kept in good order and that annual accounts and a financial report are submitted to the Executive Committee for it to place before the members at the Annual General Meeting.
Members are eligible for re-election for further terms as Officers or members of the Executive Committee for a maximum of 3 consecutive terms and shall serve no more than 4 terms in total in any specific role.
The day-to-day running of the Association is under the control of the Executive Committee which consists of:
- The 3 Officers of the Association
- No more than 5 other members of the Association, elected for one year
- No more than 5 other members of the Association, co-opted by the Executive Committee at any time for a period of no more than one year
Minutes of Executive Committee meetings must be taken and made available to all Association members upon request.
The Executive Committee has the following powers and responsibilities:
- Supervision and direction of the day to day running of the Association.
- Preparation and presentation to the Annual General Meeting of a written annual report on the Association and its activities (annexing the annual accounts and the Treasurer’s financial report).
- Appointment of sub-committees, whose membership must include at least one member of the Executive Committee, to which it may delegate powers and duties on such terms as the Executive Committee thinks fit.
Members are eligible for re-election for further terms as Officers or members of the Executive Committee for a maximum of 3 consecutive terms and shall serve no more than 4 terms in total in any specific role.
The Association financial year runs to the 31 December. An income and expenditure account must be made for that year and the balance sheet struck at that date.
An external accountancy firm will be selected, or two members of the association will be elected by the Executive Committee, as Auditors for one-year terms to audit the annual accounts.
An annual general meeting of all members must be held in April each year (or, failing that, as soon as possible thereafter) and called by the Secretary on 14 days’ written notice to the members by post or by email stating the date, time and place of the meeting, and the business to be conducted. The business will include:
- presentation and summary explanation by the Treasurer of (a) the Association’s annual accounts for the financial year last ended and (b) a budget for the Association’s current financial year for approval of the members (if they so decide);
- consideration of the Executive Committee’s annual report;
- election of Officers, members of the Executive Committee and Auditors; and
- such resolutions as are stated in the notice of the meeting.
At any time the Executive Committee or any 2 members may by a joint written notice request by post or by email the Secretary to call a meeting of members and the Secretary must then a call a “Special General Meeting” on no less than 21 days’ written notice by post or by email to all members stating the date, time and place of the meeting, and the business to be conducted.
The quorum for the Annual General Meeting and any Special General Meeting is 3.
Minutes of the General Meetings must be taken and made available to all members upon request.
Resolutions and other decisions at all General Meetings, Executive Committee or any sub-committee meetings are passed and made if so voted by a majority of those members present at thte meeting and voting when the vote is taken.
Voting may at the discretion of the Chair be undertaken by show of hands, by ballot or by show of hands followed by ballot.
Proxies are allowed upon written notice by post or by email the member to vote by proxy to the Secretary prior to the meeting stating the name of the member to vote on their behalf in the forthcoming meeting.
No Trustee, Officer or member shall be bound to bring or defend any actual or prospective claim or proceedings or incur any actual or prospective liability for legal costs (including any legal costs that may be payable to another party) unless they are first satisfied that they shall be sufficiently indemnified or otherwise protected against having to pay such costs and any other judgment against them (except as to the extent of one year’s membership subscription) in one or more of the following ways:
- indemnity out of the Association’s assets;
- personal indemnities from some or all of the members;
- legal expenses insurance;
- non-payment of sums due to the Association.
On a member being given a written notice by post or by email of demand by the Secretary for payment of any sum already due from that member to the Association, failure to pay that sum in full within 14 days (or such longer period as may be specified in the notice) is a serious breach of the Rules which may be disciplined in accordance with the Rules save to the extent that there will be no appeal from a decision of the Executive Committee unless the Executive Committee decides that there are special circumstances making it fair for the member to be able to appeal to an Appeal Committee.
Generally, in the first instances, any “legal” matters will be dealt with or considered to be dealt with in an Equitable Jurisdiction, using a Private Administrative Process.
The Rules may be amended by a resolution in a General Meeting.
The Association may be dissolved by a resolution passed at a General Meeting.
The resolution takes effect immediately unless it expressly states that it is to take effect on a specified date not more than 4 weeks later.
As soon as the resolution takes effect the Executive Committee must pay or otherwise settle all debts and other liabilities of the Association and divide the remaining Association property among the members equally. For these purposes the Executive Committee may decide on the sale or other realisation of Association property as it thinks fit.
Everything that is communicated to the association’s members, whether in writing or verbally, is done so in plain and simple English language with plain and simple accounting.
The Ethos and Core Values of the Association
We have created this community endeavour with the best and highest intentions possible. We expect no less from our Members.
Our Ethos is Equity and is at the heart of everything we do. Equity measures the conscience and weighs one’s heart. We do all things with the greatest of love because we are the light.
This is the highest command possible. Love is action, but it is also resonance and frequency.
We wish to cultivate a culture of loving Our Creator, loving ourselves, loving our neighbours.
We must always seek the truth in all matters. We must remain neutral in uncertainty and conflict.
This is how we cultivate a culture of trust.
It is written that the meek shall inherit the earth. We need to be humble in all our dealings and recognise when we make mistakes. When mistakes are made, we must learn to say sorry and correct our ways.
Through this we recognise that we are all one, and that we are all in service to each other.
Having a sacrificial heart means you are willing to go the distance. When we understand that there is a higher purpose, we must take a stand for what is right and true, remaining focused on our objectives.
By being the change you wish to see, we can influence and shape this world for the betterment of all.
We like to think of the Good Shepherd and the Lost Sheep. It is not necessarily about what we say that matters, but moreso about what we do. How we carry ourselves is important in demonstrating our moral compass.
People won’t always remember what you said or did, but rather how you made them feel.
There is nothing wrong with a little effort and hard work.
We need to be disciplined; mind, body, spirit.
This means exercising self-control and staying focussed on our aims.
Being generous in spirit meaning to be merciful. We need to extend forgiveness where it is due and not harbour ill-feelings. This is a spiritual concept; letting go of any disapointment or hurt is equivilent to swallowing your pride. If you do not forgive your brother it is likened to drinking poison and hoping they will die.
Remember that it is far better to give than it is to receive.
To find out more about the Association, we recommend you attend one of our Weekly Welcome Webinars where you get to meet the Association Trustees and the Executive Committee members, and ask your questions. You can also contact our admin team if you have any questions: admin@empowerthepeople.earth.