Final attempt to find volunteers for ABC

A solicitor will conduct a special general meeting to determine the civic group's future.

The 60-year-old organisation foundered last year through lack of volunteers to run it.

Richard Howlett of Menneer Shuttleworth says the 2.30pm meeting on Thursday, February 22 will have two choices.

If seven members volunteer to serve on the executive the town institution can continue.

If a quorum of executive members cannot be raised a further special general meeting immediately following will be asked to dissolve the ABC and distribute its assets among chosen local charities.

Richard Howlett told the Observer: "The special general meeting was requested by 28 members in accordance with the constitution.

"It is to decide the future of the Association of Bexhill Citizens.

"There are two issues.

"We are asking for new members to come forward to take office on the executive committee. We have to get seven people to come forward.

"If seven members do not come forward then we have to move to dissolve the association at the meeting, which will obviously be very sad for everyone.

"The problem is that there are only four executive committee members at the moment and the constitution states there has to be seven. At the moment they do not have a quorum.

"The meeting is going to be chaired by myself."

In a letter, the existing executive members appeal to all members to attend the meeting.

But Richard Howlett says it has proved impossible to write to everyone because the membership files are out of date.

Instead, he is appealing via the Observer and placing advertisements notifying members officially and putting notices in shop windows

He says: "There is no reason why it should be dissolved. But we do have to have people for it to go forward.

"At the moment they haven't even got people to sign cheques for creditors.

"There are no real creditors. Financially, the association is in good shape. There is a substantial amount of money - more than 15,000 - which under the constitution would have to be distributed among local charities if the decision is taken to dissolve the association.

"The executive can suggest the charities but it is down to the members at the meeting to decide where the money should go.

Agendas have been drawn up for both meetings.

The first sets out a special resolution:

"That the quorum for the executive committee be suspended until the next annual general meeting or until the association is dissolved (simple majority vote)."

There will be an invitation for new officers to take on the role of the executive committee.

The agenda states: "At least seven new officers are required and volunteers are requested to confirm their interest to Menneer Shuttleworth Solicitors prior to the meeting.

"If seven members volunteer, they will be subject to approval by simple majority vote of the members present at the special general meeting. If approved, the executive committee will appoint the volunteers to the executive committee and the existing executive committee members announce to the members present their future intentions.

"If seven new members do not come forward or they are not approved, there will be a special resolution: to dissolve the Association of Bexhill Citizens which can only be passed by a two thirds majority of the members present at the special general meeting (please note; this vote will be held by ballot paper to be presented to members on arrival at the special general meeting). Votes will then be counted and the result declared to the members."

If the meeting decides on dissolution, the further special general meeting will follow after a five- minute break.

The first step would be "Confirmation of the committee appointed by the executive committee that are to have full power to conduct and conclude in all respects of the winding up of the association."