The name of the organization shall be the “Cayon High School Alumni and Mentorship Programme for Students” (CHAMPS).
All/any student who graduated from or taught at the Cayon High School in the Parish of St. Mary’s, St. Kitts.
This document shall serve as the substantive, supreme law or constitution of the CHAMPS. It shall be the official rule-bearing document of the CHAMPS until such time as it is amended or replaced.
The mandate of the CHAMPS shall be:
- To bring together and write all alumni as per article 2.
- To assist the Cayon High School as much and as far as possible by donating/providing financial, technical, material, educational supplies and support.
- To organize recreational and/or educational activities for its members, as the Executive or General Membership may decide.
The CHAMPS is a non-profit, non-government, fully-incorporated organization owned and managed by those described in Article 2 of this constitution. Its fundamental aims and objectives are:
- To harness the individual and collective resources – financial, intellectual, educational, technical, professional and expert- for the purpose of contributing to the enhancement of the Cayon High School in its instructional, directional, pedagogic, aesthetic, leadership, student development, parental involvement, technical, technological and general dimensions.
- To advance, promote, and defend the interests, welfare, mission, vision and positive culture of the Cayon High School.
- To promote and strengthen the bonds of camaraderie, fraternity, co-operation, collaboration and alma-mater-affinity among the Alumni
- To make periodic donations to the Cayon High School such that its (the School’s) needs and requirements are satisfied, at least partially.
- To serve as a beacon and exemplar to other Alumni Associations by offering an enviable paradigm in its structure, intent, modus operandi, behavior and activities.
- Membership of the CHAMPS shall be open and accessible to all students who, having attended the Cayon High School, irrespective of the duration of such attendance and of their place of abode then or now, left (via formal graduation or otherwise) the school officially at the end of or during the school years from inception to today
- Membership is also open and available to any person who taught any subject at any level to any class, and was a member of the teaching staff, in any capacity, during the years listed in Article 6 above.
- A person becomes a member of CHAMPS after payment of the Registration fee and membership dues.
- Any member, so qualified by virtue of article 6 (1) and (2), above is eligible for election to the executive or any other committee of CHAMPS, provided he/she is in good standing.
- A member shall be deemed to be ‘in good standing’ if he/she is not in arrears with his subscription dues for more than 60 days or two (2) months;
if he/she found is not subject to any investigation internally by CHAMPS or externally by any security or legal entity for allegation of criminal conduct; and if he/she has not been absent without reasonable excuse from more than three (3) consecutive meetings of the organization. Pending the outcome of any investigation a member may be asked to recuse or resign their position.
- A member shall cease to be a member if he/she:
Is found guilty in a Court of Law of any criminal conduct
Is expelled by CHAMPS by a vote/decision of at least two-thirds of the members in good standing, for reasons explained by the executive body of CHAMPS. Resigns from the organization Dies
- Any member in good standing shall be entitled to vote at any CHAMPS meeting for/on any matter open to/for vote.
- Members shall abide by all rules, regulations and by laws of CHAMPS as promulgated in this constitution in Article 12.
Annual membership fees are due on or before August 8; you will considered to be delinquent thereafter. Delinquent members will be liable for arrears including a late payment fee A member may pay a full year’s subscriptions, or any number of months’ subscriptions which are nonrefundable. All dues are to be paid to, collected by, recorded by and accounted for by the CHAMPS Treasurer. A member shall be issued a receipt upon payment of dues.
Members of the CHAMPS have the right to:
- Vote on any matter at a general or extra ordinary meeting
- To be elected the executive body
- Participate in the CHAMPS programs/activities
- Speak on any relevant matter at meetings
- Move a motion on relevant matters at meetings
- Request and receive information relevant information on matter relating to CHAMPS, including its financial status, programs, activities, etc.
- Attend meetings of the organization
- Be informed of the organization’s meetings, activities, etc., within a reasonable time
NB: To enjoy these rights, members must be in good standing.
The Executive of the CHAMPS shall consist of:
- The President; the Vice-President;
- the Treasurer; the Secretary;
- the Public Relations Officer;
- the Chaplain and the Heads (Chairmen) of Committees ex-oficio;
- the Immediate Past President ex-oficio
The Executive Body of CHAMPS shall be responsible for over-seeing, guiding and leading the organization. The specific role of each member of the executive shall be:
President
To oversee the efficient functioning of the entire organization, including the
Executive
To call, set the agenda for and chair Executive committee meetings
To him/herself chair general and extra-ordinary meetings of CHAMPS, or delegate another member to do so.
To provide clear leadership of the organization
To be responsible for representing the organization where necessary, or for delegating someone to do so.
Vice President
To assume the duties of the president in the absence of the president
To perform such duties as assigned by the president, Executive or general body
Secretary
To record the proceedings of all meetings of the Executive, general ordinary and extra – ordinary meetings of the organization
To present such records (minutes) at requisite meetings
To perform other tasks that may be assigned by the president, Executive or general membership
Treasurer
To be responsible for the collection and record-keeping of all monies coming into and going out from the organizations
To present up-to-date reports of the group’s financial standing at every Annual General Meeting (AGM) or upon demand by the president, Executive, or general membership.
To perform other duties as may be assigned by the president, Executive, or general membership.
Public Relations Officer
To be responsible for liaising with the general public re the organization’s programme, plans and activities
To be the voice of the organization in representing its interest to the society at large
To actively promote all activities being undertaken by the organization
To perform other duties as may be assigned by the president, Executive, or general membership
Heads of Committees
From time to time, CHAMPS may establish a committee or subcommittee for particular purposes or objectives. The Heads of these committees/subcommittees shall be responsible for:
Leading/chairing such committee for the length of its duration
Directing the committee such that its objective/mission is satisfactorily accomplished
Performing such tasks as the President, Executive, General Membership, or such sub-committee, may direct
Immediate Past President
To lend support, expertise and the wisdom/benefit of his experience to facilitate successful performance of his/her successor and his/her Executive
To provide a source of smooth transition and continuity from his presidency to its successor.
Chaplain Provide guidance on ecclesiastical matters
Perform as spiritual guide and counselor to the general membership
To perform other duties as may be assigned by the president, Executive, or general membership
NB: Elections to the Executive shall be held every year, not less than 24 months after the last elections.
By rotation, three (3) of the seven (7) executive positions will be eligible for elections annually, in the first instance and the other four (4) positions in the following election.
The positions of Vice President, Secretary and Chaplain will be eligible in the first instance whilst the President, PRO, Treasurer and Head of Committees in the next.
An elected member of the Executive may resign his/her post by submitting such resignation to the President or Secretary
A person elected to serve on the Executive may stand for re-election for a maximum of three (3) consecutive (terms), after which he/she is ineligible for re-election until at least one term has elapsed.
The term of office shall be one year for elected Executive Members, in the first instance
The Executive:
At least 2 members of the Executive shall constitute a Quorum to convene a meeting thereof General Membership: At least seven (7) members of the CHAMPS, including a minimum of 2 members of the Executive, shall constitute a Quorum to convene a meeting or extra-ordinary meeting of the organization. It is to be understood that persons attending via electronic means are considered to be physically present.
The person presiding at any meeting of the CHAMPS shall call the meeting to order as soon as a Quorum is established.
During a meeting of CHAMPS, all members are to abide by the directions of the Chairman.
No two persons shall have the floor at the same time
A member may interrupt the presentation of another member by rising on a point of order. Immediately upon such rising, the member on the floor shall take his seat until the point of order is made.
Any member being absent for three (3) or more consecutive meetings of the general membership, or any three (3) of the Executive Body, shall cease to be a member. The member will have to reapply and pay the registration fee.
Notice of absence from any meeting may be communicated to the organization via any (other) member through written, oral or electronic means at least two (2) hours prior to the set time of such meeting, to be valid.
Proper decorum in speech, dress and deportment shall be observed by all members during meetings.
For the withdrawal of any monies from the CHAMPS accounts, such authorization must be given by the executive.
This constitution and By-laws may be amended provided the proposed amendment shall have been presented in writing at a regular general meeting and then circulated to the membership. Amendment to the constitution and By Laws shall be by at least two-thirds votes of the general membership of those qualified to vote.
The CHAMPS shall be dissolved consequent upon/subsequent to the vote for such a dissolution by at least two-thirds (2/3) of the general membership at a general meeting.