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The Coalition on Sexual Orientation
(CoSO)
Constitution
1. Objective
CoSO has been established to provide a representative forum within which the interests and concerns of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Community can be articulated. In the first instance, the immediate objectives of CoSO concern representations to and consultations with:
a) public authorities in relation to their statutory duty to promote equal opportunities with respect to sexual orientation;
b) the Equality Commission on issues of equality with respect to sexual orientation;
c) the Human Rights Commission on issues of human rights for sexual minorities;
d) public and quasi-autonomous bodies on issues of representation of the LGBT community;
and
e) non-governmental and private or commercial organisations in matters relating to the interests of the LBGT community.
CoSO will also provide a forum within which wider issues of concern to the LGBT and inter-related communities can be articulated, debated and acted upon in an open and constructive environment. The representative panel may, by a majority of total available votes, if necessary, by post or e-mail, extend the scope of these objectives.
2. Membership
a) Foundation Organisations: The following LGBT organisations shall be designated as 'foundation organisations':
I. Belfast Gay Pride Committee
II. Belfast Lesbian Line
III. Butterfly Club
IV. Cara-Friend
V. Foyle Friend
VI. Foyle LGB Line
VII. LGB Branch of National Union of Students/Union of Students in Ireland
VIII. Northern Ireland Gay Rights Association
IX. Queerspace
X. The Rainbow Project
XI. Transgendered Group
b) Constituent Organisations: All organisations which participate in CoSO shall be known as 'constituent organisations'. The only distinction between a foundation organisation and other constituent organisations is that, in order to join the foundation organisations as a constituent organisation, an LGBT organisation must be nominated by two existing constituent organisations, must accept the Statement of Objectives and must receive the support of a majority of total available votes, if necessary by post or e-mail, in a representative panel vote.
Any constituent organisation which fails to participate in four general CoSO meetings in a row, either through attendance or prior representations to the Convenor, on agenda items, shall be re-designated as an observer organisation but is free to reapply for constituent organisation status.
c) Individual membership: Any member of the LGBT community may participate in CoSO meetings so long as s/he agrees to adhere to the statement of objectives and the terms of this Constitution and protocols which are based upon it.
d) Observer organisations: CoSO may invite organisations interested in the concerns of the LGBT community to attend CoSO meetings in an observer capacity and to participate in its meetings, if appropriate.
3. Representative Forum
CoSO meetings shall be open to:
a) any members, representatives and employees of constituent organisations;
b) any individual members;
c) nominated representatives of observer organisations;
and
d) others invited to a particular meeting by a constituent organisation. Such an invitation can be countermanded by a simple majority vote within the representative panel.
4. Quorum
A CoSO meeting shall not be quorate, for the purposes of policy-making, unless at least 3 constituent organisations or 25% of the constituent organisations, whichever is the higher, are represented at the meeting.
5. Representative Panel
In the absence of consensus within a CoSO meeting on a proposal from a constituent organisation or an individual member, decisions on CoSO policy shall be made by a representative panel. The panel shall be composed of up to 2 members from each constituent organisation The representative panel shall make arrangements for the inclusion on the panel of representatives of the individual membership of CoSO. Representatives of constituent organisations shall be such persons as that organisation nominates to represent it at each particular meeting. Any individual representatives enjoy a personal right to participate in panel decisions.
6. Conduct of meetings
a) Convenor: At each meeting of CoSO a Convenor shall be nominated, if necessary by a simple majority panel vote, to act for the next meeting. Any member of CoSO may be nominated to be a Convenor. The panel may decide to rotate the convenorship amongst constituent organisations.
b) Agenda: The Convenor shall endeavour to circulate the minutes of the previous meeting and an agenda to constituent organisations and individual members 7 working days prior to the next meeting. Notification of additional items of business should normally be made to the Convenor at least 2 working days prior to a meeting.
c) Location: At each meeting of CoSO a location for the next meeting shall be agreed, if necessary by a simple majority panel vote.
d) Minutes: At the commencement of each meeting, a member of CoSO shall be nominated to take minutes, unless a more permanent arrangement has been agreed by simple majority within the panel.
e) Participation in meetings: CoSO will strive to make its meetings accessible to the LGBT community throughout Northern Ireland. The Convenor shall, if necessary, nominate individuals to speak at any point in time. Each constituent organisation or individual member must be permitted to express a view on any agenda item. If the Convenor forms the view that a particular individual is disrupting the progress of a meeting to an extent that no reasonable participant would act, s/he may require that individual to withdraw from the meeting. Such a requirement can be countermanded by a simple majority vote within the representative panel.
f) Proposals: If necessary, specific proposals on agenda items can be put to the meeting by any constituent organisation or individual member.
g) Policy questions: Where possible, policy decisions within CoSO shall be made by consensus amongst constituent organisations and individual members in the spirit of the Statement of Objectives. Where this is not possible, the representative panel shall vote on proposals made to the meeting in accordance with para 6(f). Votes are by simple majority unless this Constitution provides for a majority vote amongst the total available votes within the panel.
7. Officers
a) Financial Control: The representative panel shall appoint a member of CoSO to take responsibility for CoSO's finances on an annual basis. This nominated person shall report to CoSO meetings as required in advance by a simple majority panel vote.
b) Spokespersons: The representative panel shall nominate a member or members of CoSO who have the authority to sign documents and to make statements on behalf of CoSO, in accordance with agreed CoSO policies.
Take a look at our Statement of Objectives
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