1. NAME:
The organisation shall be called “Imperial Pensioners’ Action Call” (IMPAC).
2. MEMBERSHIP:
(a) Only members of the Defined Benefit (DB) Section of the Imperial
Tobacco Pension Fund (ITPF) shall be eligible, including employees, employees’ accepted spouse,
pensioners and deferred pensioners and their nominated dependants.
(b) The National Council (see Section 4) may cancel or suspend the membership of any member whose
conduct is considered prejudicial to the purpose of IMPAC (see Section 3).
3. PURPOSE:
The purpose of IMPAC shall be to defend and advance the interests of members of the Imperial Tobacco
Pension Fund.
4. NATIONAL COUNCIL:
(a) IMPAC shall be administered by a National Council which shall be responsible for defining and
implementing policies in accordance with its purpose (see Section 3).
(b) The Officers of the National Council shall be a Chairman, a Secretary and a Treasurer, who shall be
elected annually by a ballot of the membership.
(c) Additional Council Members may be co-opted and shall be entitled to attend National Council
meetings and vote.
(d) Members of IMPAC will be given the opportunity to apply to become members of the National
Council. Prospective Council members will be interviewed by a selection panel consisting of the
Chairman and at least one other member of the Council.
(e) The National Council may appoint a President and other honorary positions.
(f) The National Council shall normally meet at least two times in any calendar year. The quorum for such
meetings shall be two-thirds of the members of the National Council at that time. At least two members
of the quorum shall be National Officers (see Section 4b)
5. SUBSCRIPTIONS:
(a) The annual subscription payable by each member of IMPAC shall be determined by the National
Council.
(b) Where a member’s subscription is more than six months in arrears, the membership shall be deemed
to have lapsed.
6. REGIONS:
(a) Members of IMPAC shall be allocated to the Region in which their home address is situated, unless
attachment to another specified Region has been requested. Overseas members shall not be allocated
to a Region but shall form a separate section of the membership administered by the National Council.
(b) The geographical boundaries of the Regions may be revised by the National Council if this is deemed
expedient.
(c) Each Region may organise meetings in accordance with the wishes of its members under the
guidance of a member of the National Council and consistent with the aims and objectives of the
constitution.
7. COMMUNICATION WITH THE MEMBERSHIP:
(a) The National Council will administer and publish a membership newsletter on a bi-annual basis and
will also maintain a website for the purposes of providing information about IMPAC and its activities for
the benefit of members and non-members alike.
(b) The National Council will publish annually, a report from the Chairman, a copy of the Independently
Examined Accounts for the year ended the previous 31st December, and a voting form (the details of
which shall be determined by the National Council) to enable members to elect Officers of the National
Council and vote on any items or motions that may require members to express a preference.
(c) A Motion or decision presented to the membership shall be deemed to be carried by a simple majority
of the votes received from the membership ballot, with the exception of a resolution calling for the
winding up of IMPAC, in which case a majority of 75% of those voting will be required to approve the
resolution.
8. GENERAL MEETINGS:
(a) Ad hoc General Meetings may be held if required by the National Council or by notice in writing to the
National Secretary, signed by at least fifty members and stating the Motion to be put to the meeting.
General Meetings shall be convened by 28 days’ notice to all members of IMPAC, specifying the business
of the meeting.
(b) In the case of an ad hoc meeting, a motion shall be deemed to be carried by a simple majority of the
combined votes of those members present in person at the meeting, and by proxy voting form prior to
the meeting.
9. FINANCE:
(a) All national finance, including all subscription funds but excluding monies raised through independent
regional and local activities shall be administered by the National Treasurer. He/she shall annually
prepare a Receipts and Payments Account with Balance Sheet for publication in the next edition of the
IMPAC newsletter that follows the end of the financial year on 31st December.
(b) The National Council will verify the appointment of an independent examiner (Auditor) on an annual
basis.
(c) Funds shall be allocated to Regional Committees as agreed by the National Treasurer on behalf of the
National Council.
(d) Regions and Local Centres shall be free to raise finance through self-initiated and local fund-raising
activities.
(e) Any member may be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in carrying out approved duties
for IMPAC. Members shall not profit from membership of IMPAC.
(f) In the event of the winding up of IMPAC, any monies shall be distributed to a charity or charities which
shall be decided by the IMPAC National Council or be divided equally between all the surviving paid-up
members of IMPAC.
The preferences of the membership at the time will be solicited either by ballot or by an extra-ordinary
General Meeting or both. The final decision shall be determined by the then elected National Council.
10. ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION:
This Constitution shall only be revised by a National Council resolution and subsequently agreed by a
ballot of the membership.
