NECJOGHA Constitution

NECJOGHA Constitution

The Network of Climate Journalists in the Greater Horn of Africa (NECJOGHA)
Part A: Constitution and Mission
  • A1 Name
  • A2 Mission
  • A3 Aims and Objectives
  • A4 Powers
  • A5 Limits to the Network’s Powers
Part B: Rules
  • B1 Membership
  • B2 Admission of Members
  • B3 Subscriptions
  • B4 Management of the Network and its Activities
  • B5 Duties and Responsibilities of the Officers, Executive Committee and the
  • Advisory Council
  • B6 Elections
  • B7 Changes
  • B8 Termination
Part C: Executive Committee
NETWORK OF CLIMATE JOURNALISTS IN THE GREATER HORN OF AFRICA
(An association for journalists, scientists, academicians, scholars and others concerned with communication and dissemination of climate and climate change information generally as well as environmental science and technology and of the application of such knowledge to the development of sustainable solutions)
CONSTITUTION AND RULES – APRIL 2008
Part A: Constitution and Mission
A1 Name
The name of the association is `The Network of Climate Journalists in the Greater Horn of Africa ‘(referred to from here on as the Network) with the acronym NECJOGHA used as the common title.
A2 Mission
To support, assist and influence those who seek to communicate and disseminate climate, climate change and related science information for the betterment and improvement of the quality of life through the development and application of climate science, technology and policy within the African continent and beyond.
A3 Aims and Objectives
The Aims and Objectives of the Network are:
i.To advance the communication, dissemination, study of and research into climate information towards the support of climate science technology and policy as they apply to or are relevant to all areas of human activity;
ii.To secure the widest possible dissemination of knowledge in the fields of climate science technology and policy gained in such research or through Network Members acting in their own right;
iii.To assist in the exchange of information between journalists, media houses, academics and between academia, institutions, like minded organisations, business, industry, policy makers and the general public;
iv.To bring together journalists, editors. media managers, communication scientists and others interested in climate science communication for the exchange of information, discussion of areas of interest or concern, for co-operation in groups and to influence policy makers, business leaders and the general public;
v.In particular develop or help to develop communication strategies towards reduction of climate related risks and disasters by enabling mitigation measures to be developed;
vi.To help develop climate variability and climate change adaptation strategies through communication and other innovative interventions ;
vii.To advance the education of journalists, editors, communication scientists in the appropriate disciplines of science communication
viii.To liaise, and co-operate when appropriate with other organisations world wide with similar and/or complementary Aims and Objectives.
A4 Powers
For the delivery of the above Aims and Objectives, the Network will have the following powers:
1.To prepare, edit, print, publish, issue acquire and circulate books, journals, individual papers, articles, magazines, newsletters, lectures and other works related to climate, climate change, environmental science and technology (in print, audio, video, online or other electronically determined channels).
2.To establish, conduct, sponsor or manage, either alone or in conjunction with others conferences, workshops, seminars, symposia, lectures, public meetings, visits, demonstrations and/or exhibitions of every possible description.
3.To encourage work which may result in and to investigate and make known the results of, scientific discoveries, inventions and innovations, improvements, processes, materials and designs which may seem capable of being used and exploited by Members of the Network and/or others;
4.To establish, maintain, control and manage Branches of the Network (hereafter to be known as Country Chapters) in any part of the Greater Horn of Africa sub region and to assist guiding the formulation of country chapter constitutions, rights, privileges, obligations and duties of such Branches and when thought fit, to modify or dissolve them;
5.To retain or employ appropriately skilled professional and/or technical advisors, managers and/or other workers in connection with the delivery of the Aims and Objectives of the Network and to pay therefore such fees of remuneration as may be appropriate;
6.To apply to international, regional, national and/or local agencies and/or governments, and to public bodies, corporations, companies or individuals for and to accept subscriptions, grants of money, donations, gifts and other assistance for promoting and supporting the Aims and Objectives of the Network;
7.To pay all expenses incurred in the formation of the Network;
8.To borrow or raise money for the purposes of the Network on such terms and on such security as may be determined;
9.To invest the funds of the Network not immediately required for its purposes in or upon such investments, securities or property as may be determined from time to time, subject to any conditions and consents as may be imposed by law;
10.To purchase, take on lease or exchange, hire or otherwise acquire, any property, rights or privileges which the Network may think necessary for the promotion of its Aims and Objectives;
11.To construct, maintain and/or alter any buildings or other works necessary for the activities of the Network;
12.To sell, let, mortgage or dispose of any or all of the property or assets of the Network as may be determined to be appropriate in the promotion of its Aims and Objectives;
13.To establish and support, or aid in the establishment and support of, any charitable associations or institutions, and to subscribe or guarantee money for charitable purposes in any way connected with the Aims and Objectives of the Network or calculated to advance its Aims and Objectives;
14.To endow, present, sponsor or maintain prizes, scholarships and courses of instruction in climate, climate change , science communication as well as environmental science and technology as shall be considered appropriate in advancing the Aims and Objectives of the Network;
15.To do any other lawful things as may be incidental to or conducive to the attainment of the Network’s Aims and Objectives.
A5 Limits to the Network’s Powers
The Network will not have the following powers:
a.To regulate relations between workers and employers, or organisations of workers and organisations of employers;
b.To use the income and property of the Network for purposes other than furthering, promoting and delivering the Aims and Objectives of the Network.
The income and property of the Network shall therefore be solely applied to furthering, promoting and delivering the Aims and Objectives of the Network. The Members of the Network shall not have any personal claim on any of its property and no part of the income or property of the Network shall be paid or transferred in any way whatsoever by way of profit to persons who are or have been Members of the Network.
However, nothing in this Constitution or the Rules contained herein shall prevent the payment to any persons who are or have been Members of the Network, under arrangements approved by the Executive Committee, of:
i)Expenses incurred in any activity on behalf of the Network
ii)Remuneration for services actually rendered to the Network;
iii)Interest on money lent to the Network at a rate agreed by the Executive Committee;
iv)Of reasonable and proper rent for premises let to the Network.
Part B: Rules
B1 Membership
B1.1 Members of the Network of Climate Journalists in the Greater Horn of Africa-NECJOGHA- (referred to from here on as the Network) shall be:
i) Country Chapter members made up of individual members, Honorary Members and student members
ii) Corporate member Organisations with an interest in supporting the aims and objectives of the Network
B1.2 Subject to the conditions in these Rules, it shall be for the Executive Committee to determine the terms and conditions on which Members shall be admitted.
B1.3 Honorary Members shall be Members who may be elected by the Advisory Council as having given special service to the Network or having a special position in the field of climate science communication justifying such membership.
B1.4.A Register of Members shall be kept by or on behalf of the Secretariat of the Network. Each member shall have the right to inspect and/or be sent a copy of details kept about him or her in the Register within a period of four weeks of the request being received by the Secretariat.
B1.5.Although benefits of membership shall extend to all employees of Corporate Members, each such member shall nominate an individual to act as their representative in formal dealings with the Network. The name of such representative shall be notified to the secretariat on joining and when the representative is to be changed.
B2 Admission of Members
B2.1 All applications for membership shall be made to the Secretariat and include a commitment to pay the appropriate annual subscriptions in an acceptable manner. No formal election of a new member is required.
B2.2 In principle, membership to the Country Chapters will be open to any person, whether individual or corporate, in any country of the Greater Horn of Africa , who has an interest in climate science communication or environmental science and technology and in furthering the aims and objectives of the Network. Any qualification requirements, or regulations governing admission of members or regulations governing the rights, privileges, obligations and conditions of membership and the manner in which such regulations may be suspended or terminated, shall be decided by the Executive Committee of the individual country chapters in consultation with the Network Advisory Council.
B2.3 The Executive Committee therefore has absolute discretion in deciding whether any person or organization may or may not become a member of the Network (NECJOGHA). Likewise the governing executive committee of the country chapters will have discretion in determining its membership.
B2.4 The rights of any Member, whether individual or corporate, shall be personal and not transferable, and shall cease upon the Member failing to pay a subscription when it is due, when they cease to retain the qualifications on which grounds they were admitted.
B2.5.Nothing contained in these Rules shall prejudice the rights of the Network to claim payment of the subscriptions which a Member has undertaken to pay, nor to prevent a member from again becoming eligible for Membership.
B2.6 Honorary Members may be nominated by the Advisory Council, the Executive Committee or by any group of seven Members. Nominations received at any Advisory Council meeting shall be voted on at the subsequent meeting.
B2.7 A member may be expelled from the Network after proper enquiry by the Executive Committee at which the Member shall be entitled to be heard, if he or she is judged by the Executive Committee to be such or to have behaved in a manner such as to render him unfit for membership, at which point he or she shall be removed from the register of members and cease to have any rights of membership.
B3 Subscriptions
B3.1 All Members except Honorary Members shall be liable to pay a subscription in one of the following categories:
1. An annual subscription for all individual country chapter members
2. A reduced annual subscription for students in a course of study in Journalism, climate science, environmental science and technology or related subjects;
3. An individual Life Membership subscription;
4. An annual Corporate Membership subscription.
B3.2 The actual amounts of individual annual, life and Corporate Member subscriptions, and: acceptable methods and timings of payment, shall be agreed by the Executive Committee annually or from time to time as appropriate.
B3.3 Members whose subscriptions is more than 6 months overdue will be deemed to have resigned and shall not be entitled to any of the benefits of membership nor any of the notices and publications of the Network. Such members may only re-join in the same membership year on payment of the full overdue subscription for that year.
B4 Management of the Network and its Activities
B4.1 The management and activities of the Network shall be organized by the Executive Committee under the general direction of an Advisory Council of Members and Corporate Member representatives who shall hold these positions in an honorary capacity. The Advisory Council shall establish its own rules of business. The Executive Committee shall determine the timing of the Network’s business year.
B4.2.The composition of the Advisory Council shall be:
a.National Members -one member for each country in which there are Network members, elected by his or her compatriots or, if circumstances require, nominated by the Executive Committee;
b.The executive Committee (Comprising 5 officers)
a) Chairman
b) Vice-Chairman responsible for Development of the Network
c) General Secretary
d) Secretary Education and Training
e) Treasurer;
The Executive Committee shall comprise the Officers, who may co-opt, as they see fit, other Members, whether members of Advisory Council or not, to assist them in running the activities of the Network.
B4.4 The Advisory Council, including the Officers, shall be elected every three years in accordance with section B7 below.
B4.5 The Advisory Council shall ‘meet’ at least once per year. The Advisory
Council, the Executive Committee and the Officers shall be free to conduct their business in whatever manner – for example, real meeting, real mail or E-mail, video conferences – as they see fit.
B5 Duties and Responsibilities of the Officers, Executive Committee and the
Advisory Council
B5.1 The Executive Committee shall be responsible to the membership generally for the affairs and activities of the Network and may, if it thinks fit, devise and issue regulations governing particular aspects or activities of the Network providing always that such regulations shall be fully consistent with the Constitution and these Rules.
B5.2 The Executive Committee of the Network, or the Secretary acting on their behalf, shall attend to the general business of the Network on a day-to-day basis and shall report on their actions and activities to each meeting of the Advisory Council.
B5.3 The Treasurer shall be responsible to the other Officers, the Advisory Council and the membership generally for the safe and prudent management of the Network’s finances. He shall keep, or supervise the keeping by others, of the financial accounts of the Network. He shall be responsible for the effective receipt of subscriptions and other monies payable to the Network and for the payment of the Network’s bills and other monies due to others.
B5.4 The Executive Committee shall establish procedures for the effective and the prudent management and operation of the Network’s finances.
B5.5 The Publications/Journal Editor shall be responsible to the appropriate Vice Chairman, to the other Officers, the Advisory Council and the membership generally for the development, securing of articles, editing and publications of all the Network’s publications or for arranging and managing such publications by others.
B6 Elections
B6.1 The 5 Officers of the Executive Committee shall be elected by the National Members of the Advisory Council for 3 years by ballot conducted by post, e-mail or other means to be agreed by the Advisory Council
B6.2.Each candidate for one of the positions as an Officer of the Network shall be nominated by the Advisory Council as a whole or by five Members acting together. Until the end of the year 2011 the Chairman and the Vice-Chairmen of the Executive Committee shall come from the founding or honorary members.
B6.3.Each candidate for the post of National Members of the Advisory Council shall be nominated by one Member in the country of residence other than the candidate and by at least one other Member. Procedures for conduct of elections of National Members shall be established by the Executive Committee.
B6.4 Nominations for any Officer must be received by the Secretary six weeks before ballot date and be circulated to all Members for a postal/E-mail ballot no later than ten days before the ballot date. Votes must be received by the Secretary no later than two working days after the ballot date.-A ballot is acceptable when at least 1/2 of the Advisory Committee members have voted.
B6.5 There shall be no limit to the number of years of continuous service each Advisory Council Member or Officer may serve unless otherwise agreed by the Advisory Council.
B7 Changes
B7.1 This Constitution and Rules have been adopted by the founding Members listed below and are offered in good faith to new members to accept on joining the Network.
B7.2 The Constitution and Rules of the Network may only be changed by a postal or E-mail ballot of all members, for which a simple majority of Members voting in favour of the change will suffice.
B8 Termination
B8.1 The Network may only be disbanded and its activities terminated by a postal or E-mail ballot of all members, for which a majority of two-thirds of all Members voting in favour of the change is required.
Part C: Advisory Council
Advisory Council: The advisory council will total 18 members to be constituted by 5 officers of the Executive Committee, 3 Corporate Delegates and 10 Country Chapter delegates
We agree to confirm the founding Executive Committee members as officers of the Advisory Council and the country chapter delegates and corporate delegates to be nominated to the Advisory council will constitute the full Advisory Council as set out in this constitution and rules.
The Executive Committee Members confirmed at Botanical Beach Hotel Entebbe Uganda in March 2008 are:
1.Mr. Patrick Luganda (Uganda) Chairman
2.Mr. Samuel Muchemi (Kenya) Vice-Chairman
3.Mr. Mbaraka Islam (Tanzania) Secretary General
4.Ms. Judith Akolo (Kenya) Education and Training Secretary
5.Ms Lillian Mukabana ( Kenya) Treasurer
Delegates (Nomination in Progress)
6.Delegate Uganda
7.Delegate Kenya
8.Delegate Tanzania
9.Delegate Ethiopia
10.Delegate Djibouti
11.Delegate Sudan
12.Delegate Burundi
13.Delegate Rwanda
14.Delegate Somalia
15.Delegate Eritrea
16.Corporate Delegate ICPAC-
17.Corporate Delegate NMHS-
18.Corporate Delegate WMO-
These officials will be charged with developing and building the network activities for the next three years from April 2008- March 2011. These will include ensuring that all the country chapters are established and delegates representing the chapters are nominated to the Network Advisory Council as well as the three corporate delegates.