Charity and club rules

[cassa333]

I am not sure where to put this so if it is better in another section please let me know.

I am trying to write a clause into a charity constitution that bars members with a conflict of interest from voting on resolutions but can't think how it should be worded. We have one already for professional or voluntary organisation, club or group operating on a national, regional or local basis.

Do we have to list what constitutes a conflict of interest? and if so where would it be places?

Being part of other similar organisations does not bar people from being members or voting but being heavily involved with the organisation of events, fundraising for them and generally supporting them etc does constitute a conflict of interest.

What we are trying to do is stop the hangers on that get the free stuff from us but then go off to rival groups to support them and to stop the rival group from getting to influence our work by tacticaly voting against the best interests of our charity.

[bednobs]

members must declare any conflct of interest before being allowed to vote. if you are not sure if you have what constitues a conflict of interest, you must declare it anyway and let the chairman decide

[cassa333]

Hi Bednobs,

But how do you let people know what constitutes a conflict?

[bednobs]

you can't cover every eventuality. so in my scenario the chai decideds if it is or isn't. i suppose in the example you could add a sentance saying "for example financial ties, or other support to other similar or opposing charities or projects" after "allowed to vote"

[cassa333]

They can vote by post so how would you make people aware if they were able to vote or not?

This is what is being proposed at the moment...

e) A conflict of interest may occur when a member is involved with another like-minded professional or voluntary organisation, club or group operating on a national, regional or local basis, within the area served by the xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, in the organisation or running of events either support based, social or fundraising.

Or would we send something like this out with the voting papers? I'm just not sure how we enforce the rule if they don't know what is ecpected :(

[d9f1c7]

Almost impossible to bar voting rights like this. Essentially you are always open to challenges, what is a conflict of interest is so subjective that you can never nail it down.

[d9f1c7]

You are better to change the rules to deter the "hangers on", eg no "free stuff" or indeed voting till you've been a member for a year for example.