Disabled Access to Computing DA2C Constitution
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The Group shall be called Disabled Access to Computing, hereafter to be referred to as DA2C and is not affiliated to any other organisation.

The primary objective of DA2C is the provision of support for disabled individuals with regard to the use of computer technology hereafter to be referred to as IT. DA2C will seek to provide equipment, software, training, access to the Internet and advice based on in-house technical expertise at no cost to the client. DA2C will also make its resources available to charities and not-for-profit organisations to assist such organisations in developing their in-house IT capability. DA2C will normally make no charge for its services to such organisations other than for travelling expenses. DA2C will endevour to establish a network of computer literate disabled individuals and will seek to place these individuals in employment with charities or not-for-profit organisations. The contract of employment for such individuals will be agreed between the client organisation and the individual, DA2C will serve only to provide support for the individuals and as a clearing house to put the individuals in contact with the organisations.

DA2C will undertake to decomission redundant computer equipment. All equipment donated will be disassembled and all storage media will be cleared of all data. The equipment will then be reassembled in a configuration to suit the clients requirements. Financial contributions will be accepted. Any such funds will be placed in the DA2C account at the Royal Bank of Scotland and will be used to purchase equipment or software for the use of clients. A small percentage of the organisations financial reserves may be used to purchase equipment or software necessary for the efficient running of the organisation. This shall never exceed 50% of the total funds held. Software donations will be accepted subject to the inclusion of all original media and may be refused if there is insufficient documentation.

DA2C will seek to re-distribute donations to disabled individuals and to charities and not-for-profit organisations at no cost to the user. A small delivery charge may be levied on organisations to cover the cost of transportation. DA2C will seek to provide training and telephone support to disabled individuals to provide them with computer skills. No charge will be made for these services.

DA2C will seek to promote the employment of disabled individuals, employing IT as a means of reducing the difficulties faced by such individuals.

The affairs of DA2C shall be controlled by a committee comprising three members elected from, and by, the entire membership. The three members of the committee shall cover the following roles: Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary. If more than 30% of the membership request that a particular elected committee member does not hold a particular position that request will be honoured within a period of not more than seven days from the presentation of the request to any Committee member. The Committee shall meet at intervals of not more than twelve weeks. Membership will be advised of planned meetings not less than seven days in advance. Emergency meetings may be required from time to time, in which case every effort will be made to notify all members of the date, time and place the meeting will take place. Meetings where less than 30% of the committee are in attendance may not pass measures to alter the constitution and may not make decisions on financial matters. There will be one meeting each year designated as the Annual General Meeting. The entire membership will be notified of the date time and place of this meeting not less than twenty one days in advance. Copies of the minutes of all meetings will be held for a period of not less than one years and will be made available to all Full Members (see below) on request and at no cost.

Membership of DA2C will be by application to the Committee and will be discussed no later than the next full Committee meeting. No reason will be given in the event of refusal. Memership will be allowed in two tiers; full membership and associate membership. Only full members may take part in voting although all members are welcome to attend meetings and engage in debate. No fees will be charged for membership. Grounds for membership are based on practical ability in one of the following areas:
Full Members - Computer hardware, computer software, teaching, nursing (requires a recognised qualification in nursing) and experience (minimum one year) in the provision of disabled living aids and equipment.
Associate Membership - Computer hardware, computer software, driving, practical skills which may be required to facilitate the efficient employment of IT by disabled individuals (carpentry, electrical engineering etc.).
Full and Associate Members will be issued with an identity document which must bear their photograph their signiature and a unique identification code consisting of three letters. This document, which may take the form of a card, must be carried and presented when visiting any individual client or client organisation.

All officers and members of the committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting from and by, the Full Members on a democratic basis, for a period of one year. Postal voting is not currently considered practical but may be adopted at some future date. Any member of the committee may request an election for their position should they be unable to continue, normally this would require a minimum twenty one days notice but where this is not possible the remaining Committee Members may elect one cartaker member of the Committee subject to subsequent election by the membership. Any member of the Committee may be re-elected to the same office or another office the following year. Should more than 30% of the membership feed dissatisfied with the work of any committee member who has held a post for more than twenty four weeks they may place a request at the following meeting for an election for that post.

No salary will be paid to any Member. Small expenses may be reclaimed to cover matters such as travelling and sundry out of pocket expenses. Reciepts will be required for all such claims.

The duties of the committee shall be: To control the affairs of the Club/Group and to appoint Full Members to be specific Officers with designated responsibilities. To keep accurate accounts of the club/group finances through the Treasurer. The accounts will be made available for reasonable inspection by members. Subject to the availability of suitably trained Members the accounts will be audited. A summary of the accounts will be distributed to all members attending the AGM. The Committee will maintain a Bank Account in the name of Disabled Access to Computing. Payments from this account will require at least two named & unrelated Memberss to sign each cheque. The Members with this power are to be elected by the entire Membership. To make decisions on the basis of a simple majority vote. The Chair shall be entitled to an additional casting vote in the event of tied votes.

The regular Meetings will take place at a venue agreed by not less than 30% of those Members wishing to attend. One meeting will be designated as the AGM and this will be held at a venue agreed by not less than 50% of Members wishing to attend.
At the AGM there will be three core elements as follows:
1. Each member of the Committee will provide a short summary of the progress over the preceeding year and an outline of the objectives for the following twelve months.
2. Presentation of the accounts by the Treasurer.
3. The election of a Chair and a discussion of the points raised in 1. and 2. open to all Members.
Any Full Member is eligable to election as the Chair. Any Full Member may propose a Motion which will then be voted upon by the membership. The Chair shall be entitled to an additional casting vote in the event of tied votes.
Suggestions for future projects requiring further analysis will be voted on and Full Members will then be elected to reasearch the suggestion. The result of such research will be presented at a meeting not more than twenty four weeks after the AGM whereupon a Motion may be proposed regarding implementation.

Alterations to the Costitution my only take place at the AGM with the one expetion of the proposed dissolution of DA2C (see below). The Dissolution Clause (see below) may not be altered or ammended without 100% approval of all Full and Assiciate Members in a secret ballot. The Objective Clause (see above) may not be altered or ammended without 90% approval of all Full and Assiciate Members in a secret ballot.

In the event that Full Membership falls below three individuals for a period of not less than one hundred and eighty days then a Meeting must be held to consider the winding up of DA2C. This meeting must be open to all Full and Associate Members and the dissolution must be voted upon. A vote of more than 50% in favour of dissolution will trigger the dissolution process.
On dissolution the surplus financial assets of DA2C will be passed to another charitable or not-for-profit organisation associated with disability. The material assets will disposed of according to the decision of the Membership in a democratic vote. The intention being to seek to provide the greatest value to disabled individuals.

This constitution was presented to the full membership on XX/XX2000 and was agreed to by a vote. The undersigned were all elected as senior officers at that time.

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