---Proposed OPI Constitution Changes----
Rationale for draft changes: The Constitutional Revision strives to update the existing constitution to allow for online balloting in the election of Governing Board members.
Description of draft changes: The following document shows existing constitutional language (black text) with proposed changes (proposed deletion = highlighted text in strike-through font; proposed insertion = plain highlighted text).
Constitution of the Oceans Past Initiative
1. NAME
The name of the organisation shall be Oceans Past Initiative (OPI).
2. AIM
The aim of OPI shall be to promote research in and outreach of the history of human/marine environments through time at all pertinent levels and through all relevant actions.
3. POWERS
To further these aims the Governing Board shall have power to:
- Obtain, collect and receive money or funds by way of contributions, donations, grants and any other lawful method towards the aims of the Group.
- Promote and organise research, especially by organising the Oceans Past conference at regular intervals (every two or three years).
- Do all such lawful things as will further the aims of the Group.
4. MEMBERSHIP
- Membership consists of two classes: individual membership (Class A) and institutional membership (Class B).
- Voting membership (Class A) shall be open to any individual who has paid annual dues.
- Voting membership (Class B) shall be open to any institution which has paid annual dues.
Members must be present at the General Assembly to cast a vote.
- Members of Class A and B vote together at the General Assembly or online balloting. However, members of Class B have the option to elect a non-voting member of the Board (cf. 5c below).
- The General Assembly shall have the power to approve or reject applications for membership and to terminate the membership of any member provided that the member shall have the right to be heard by the General Assembly before a final decision is made.
- OPI will adhere to the Principles of Data Protection, as detailed in the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Union. This means personal data is safeguarded and cannot be used without the member’s consent.
- Membership dues paid after 1 October will cover the next calendar year.
5. MANAGEMENT
- A Governing Board elected at the General Assembly or online balloting shall manage OPI. Members of the Board may be re-elected twice.
- The Board shall consist of a President, Secretary, Treasurer, and two other voting members.
- Class B members have the option to elect a non-voting member of the Board.
- If the Board finds it helpful to its operation, the Board may co-opt up to a further three voting members who shall resign at the next General Assembly. This process may be used to fill places which were not filled at an election, fill vacancies which arise between elections, and bring people with specific skills or experience onto the committee. The duration of any co-opted membership ends at the next General Assembly.
- The Board may meet physically but will conduct most business electronically and meet by virtual means at least six times each year.
- At least three Board members must be present at a Board meeting to be able to make decisions.
- A record of all decisions by the Board shall be kept by the Secretary and made available online.
- An Auditor, not member of the Governing Board, shall be elected by the General Assembly to audit the OPI accounts. The Auditor may be re-elected once.
6. GENERAL ASSEMBLY
- A General Assembly shall be held in connection with the OPI conference. A pre-invitation issued by the Secretary shall contain the Agenda as proposed by the Board and is sent to each member of OPI at least sixty days in advance of the date of the General Assembly. Members can submit additional items up to thirty days before the Assembly
- Notices of the General Assembly shall be published three weeks beforehand by the Secretary. The treasurer must make a report on the financial position for the previous year available three weeks before the General Assembly.
- A Special General Assembly may be called at any time at the request of the Board, or not less than one quarter of the membership. A notice explaining the place, date, time and reason shall be sent to all members three weeks beforehand.
- Proposals to change the constitution must be given in writing to the Secretary at least 28 days before a General Assembly and approved by a two thirds majority of those present and voting.
- The Secretary will maintain a record of the attendees at the General Assembly by an attendance sheet.
- The General Assembly shall be quorate if duly called as by (b) and (c) above.
- The decisions and votes taken shall be minuted by the outgoing Secretary and signed by the incoming President. The minutes shall be circulated to all members and reviewed and approved by the next General Assembly.
7. HEADQUARTERS
The address of OPI shall be determined by the Board.
8. ACCOUNTS
- The funds of OPI including all membership fees, donations, contributions and bequests, shall be paid into an account operated by the Board. The Treasurer must authorise all expenses by email, circulated to the Board.
- The funds belonging to the group shall be applied only to further the aims of the group.
- A current record of all income, funding and expenditure will be kept.
- The auditor must make a recommendation to approve or reject the accounts at the General Assembly.
9. DISSOLUTION
- OPI may be dissolved by a resolution passed by a simple two-thirds majority of those present and voting at a Special General Assembly.
- If confirmed, the Governing Board shall distribute any assets remaining after the payment of all bills to other charitable group(s) or organisation(s) having aims similar to OPI or some other charitable purpose(s) as OPI may decide at the General Assembly.
The Constitution is Signed and Dated by the President, the Secretary and the Treasurer of OPI.