New Vice-Chair for 9/11 Campaign

[Annie]

Hi all

At our recent national gathering Belinda announced that she was standing down as Vice-Chair of the 9/11 Truth Campaign (Britain and Ireland) for family reasons. This opens up a vacancy until the next AGM in spring next year.

The Campaign is distinct from the 9/11 movement as a whole in so much as it provides an entity which can organise large, national events such as David Ray Griffin's recent talk, can fund-raise and can, when necessary, formally lobby MPs, the media et al. Effectively, it exists to provide a framework for the movement when required. As Ian Neal so succinctly puts it, the Campaign is the movement "with suits on".

For ease of reference I have posted the Constitution of the Campaign on this thread. The current office holders, elected at the last AGM in Blackpool are:

Chair: Ian Crane
Vice-Chair: Vacant
Treasurer: Vacant (Belinda acts in an ad hoc capacity when required)
Secretary: Annie

Belinda is currently de facto Treasurer, as the person elected at the AGM stood aside some months ago. The remaining officers reallocated the responsibility between themselves as per the constitution. However, as the movement is growing exponentially, there is a need for a replacement Vice-Chair.

Wearing my "Secretary" hat, I would refer people to the Constitution of the campaign when it comes to elections. If an office becomes vacant mid-term, the other officers cover the post's responsibilities, or an election is held. However, in terms of the electorate, please again look at the Constitution:

"3. The Campaign shall not have members, only supporters. Supporters shall be deemed to be those who support the general aim of the Campaign and have registered this commitment in a way, which is recognisable, by others. Supporters with voting rights consist only of those who are willing to put in time and/or funds towards the Campaign and who are vouched for by their regional group.
4. The Campaign recognises formally run regional groups which comprise at least five supporters vouched for by the Committee."

I'm not quite sure that the Campaign is yet in a position to hold a formal election.

Following the national gathering, two names have been put forward for UK Vice-Chair: Justin Walker and Andy Baker.

As we only have a few more months to run before the next AGM, I therefore suggest the following solution:

VC (North) and Political Coordinator - Justin
VC (South) and Events Coordinator - Andy
VC (Ireland) - Morgan Stack

If you have any violent objections to this please let me know as soon as possible. It is merely an interim proposal for the remainder of this campaigning year. I fervently hope that when we hold the next AGM we shall be in a position to hold formal elections for the following year. To a certain extent this is dependent on regional groups taking off around the country. A number have started up over the last few months and are doing well. So if you’ve been planning to start one, please take the plunge now.

Regards

Annie
Secretary
9/11 Truth Campaign (Britain and Ireland)
_________________

[Annie]

1. The name of the Campaign shall be “The 911 Truth Campaign (Britain & Ireland)”. This will be a separate entity which complements the existing 9/11 Truth network.
2. The purpose and object of the Campaign is to promote the network’s belief that the official version of the events of 11th September 2001 in the USA is a cover up and in many instances a travesty of the truth.
3. The Campaign shall not have members, only supporters. Supporters shall be deemed to be those who support the general aim of the Campaign and have registered this commitment in a way which is recognisable by others . Supporters with voting rights consist only of those who are willing to put in time and/or funds towards the Campaign and who are vouched for by their regional group.
4. The Campaign recognises formally run regional groups which comprise at least five supporters vouched for by the Committee.
5. The Campaign shall be non-political and non-sectarian. It shall campaign for 911 truth in a peaceful and non-violent manner. The Campaign, like the existing network, will function on the basis of “no endorsement”, meaning that anyone may speak or write publicly in support of the campaign but no one may speak on behalf of it, with a limited exception: the Steering Committee shall determine who may speak on behalf of the Campaign, should the need arise, and will draw up guidelines of what may be said on our behalf. Any such statement would be along such lines as:
“Researchers have uncovered many aspects of the official account of what happened on the 11th September 2001 which are not in accordance with the known facts. This demonstrates that the public have not been told the truth about what happened that day. These facts show that elements in the US government were either complicit in allowing these attacks to happen or that they initiated them. We aim to uncover and make known the truth, whatever that may be.”
6. Supporters are free to campaign and distribute materials about 9/11 wherever and in whatever way they feel appropriate, on their own initiative. Reports of such activity and any resultant spin-off should be posted on the Forum and/or to the Secretary.
7. The management and control of the Campaign shall be vested in a Steering Committee, which shall consist of the following officers, who will be elected annually at the A.G.M (Annual General Meeting):
a. Chairperson;
b. Vice Chairperson;
c. Secretary; and
d. Treasurer.
8. In addition, one member elected from each of the regional 911 truth groups shall be on the Steering Committee.
9. Seven members of the Steering Committee, at least two of whom shall be elected Officers, shall constitute a quorum for the committee. There shall be at least four Committee meetings a year (spring, summer, autumn & winter) at such times or places as the Committee shall direct.
10. The AGM of the Campaign shall be held within three months of the end of the financial year.
11. At the AGM the chair shall be taken by the Chairperson, or in his/her absence by the Vice Chairperson of the Committee. Twenty-five supporters shall constitute a quorum at the AGM. Motions at the AGM can only be passed by a majority of two-thirds.
12. A Special General Meeting (SGM) shall be convened if ten or more supporters of the Campaign submit a written request to the Secretary. Such a meeting shall be held within thirty days of such a request. Agenda & motions shall be circulated to all Steering Committee members and affiliated regional groups. Motions at an SGM can only be passed by a majority of two-thirds.
13. No alterations of the rules of the Constitution shall be made except at the AGM or at a SGM called for that purpose. Alterations can only be passed by a majority of two-thirds.
14. Should an elected office fall vacant, the remaining Steering Committee may fill that vacancy either from among their number until the next AGM or by calling an election.
15. The Treasurer shall keep an account of all income and expenditure and shall submit accounts, duly audited, to the AGM. The Campaign’s financial year ends on March 31. Two auditors who are not members of the Committee shall be appointed annually at the AGM to audit the next year’s accounts. Audited accounts shall be communicated to supporters at least two weeks before the AGM.
16. The bank account shall be in the name of the Campaign. The following rules for the signature of cheques shall be followed by the elected Officers (Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary):
a. less than £100: one signature;
b. more than £100 but less than £500: two signatures; and
c. more than £500: three signatures.
17. The Steering Committee shall be open to requests for funding from all supporters and from individuals and groups within the network and shall decide how the money shall be spent.
18. Steering Committee members work on a voluntary basis and receive no payment other than reimbursement of expenses incurred in the execution of their duties. The Steering Committee may appoint individuals to paid or honorary posts or establish any standing or temporary committees, sub-committees or panels that it considers appropriate.
19. The Steering Committee shall take decisions that further the purpose of the Campaign and its policies, by the careful application of good practice.
20. All minutes of Steering Committee meetings shall be provided promptly to the Committee members by the Secretary, amended if necessary, and agreed. Minutes shall be immediately published for direct access by members, except for confidential business.
21. The Campaign shall take out Public Liability Insurance to cover its meetings and activities.
22. On the dissolution of the Campaign, the distribution of any assets remaining (after satisfying any debts and liabilities) shall be decided by the supporters.
23. Any matter not provided for in the Constitution shall be dealt with by the Steering Committee, whose decision shall be deemed final.
_________________

[paul wright]

[Andrew Johnson]

Is a "Vice Chair" one which is very difficult to get out of?

Does it have a screw on the side so that you can close it up to fit the person?

Or do we need someone with a big botty?

Only asking.

[paul wright]

[xmasdale]

[Annie]

[Andrew Johnson]

[mason-free party]

did we need a vice chair to pull down the Berlin Wall?..still a luddite and proud of it

[Annie]

Hi all

Shall we say two more days for comments, and then, if there are no strong objections, we have three new vice-chairs for the remainder of the year - Justin, Andy, and Morgan.

So, comments please by close of play Wednesday October 4th.

Regards

Annie

[andrewwatson]

Aye, aye and aye

AW

[Annie]

Just bumping this up to the top again.

Deadline for comments: close of play tomorrow - 4 October.

Regards

Annie

[tfayaz]

Whatever the decision, you have my full backing.

[Annie]

Right, the deadline's up, and everyone seems to be in agreement about the proposed Vice-Chairships. So, as an interim measure until the next AGM, the Vice-Chairs of the Campaign will be:

VC (North) and Political Coordinator: Justin
VC (South) and Events Coordinator: Andy B
VC (Ireland): Morgan

Thanks for everyone's comments and suggestions during this process. I hope that by the time we hold our AGM next spring, we shall be in a position to hold elections for all the posts in the Campaign. So, please, get your local groups organised asap!

Regards

Annie