21. Regional Committees
21.1 A Regional Committee of six members, including, so far as practicable, at least two women under the age of thirty at the time of election, shall be elected by Full Members attending the Regional Conference. The functions of each Regional Committee shall be defined in the terms of reference for Regional Committees.
21.2 The members of the Regional Committee shall be elected to serve for three years, and are eligible for re-election for a further term of three years. The maximum length of service is six years.
21.3 The Chair of the World Board, the Treasurer of WAGGGS and the Chief Executive of WAGGGS shall be ex officio members of each Regional Committee.
21.4 A Regional Committee shall elect from its members a Regional Chair. Each Regional Committee shall also elect, from its members, a Regional Vice-Chair. In the event of a Regional Chair being unable to attend a meeting of the World Board, the Regional Vice-Chair shall attend in place of the Regional Chair, with the right to vote. In the event that both the Regional Chair and the Regional Vice-Chair are unable to attend a meeting of the World Board, the World Board may invite another member of the Regional Committee to attend the meeting. That member will have the right to vote.
21.5 Should vacancies be caused in the voting membership of a Regional Committee, by the resignation, removal or death of any of its members, these vacancies shall be filled by candidates elected by the Regional Committee from the list of candidates nominated by Member Organisations at the immediately previous Regional Conference. These persons shall remain on the Regional Committee as voting members until the next Regional Conference.
21.6 Should no candidates from the list of candidates nominated at the immediately previous Regional Conference be available, the Regional Committee may co-opt a member to serve as a member of the Regional Committee without a vote, in accordance with the Committee’s terms of reference, until the next Regional Conference. If there is less than one year of the term remaining, she shall be eligible for election to serve a full term at any subsequent Regional Conference.
21.7 Removal of Regional Committee member
21.7.1 In case the performance of a member of a Regional Committee gives rise to serious concerns, all efforts will be used to work towards the improvement of her performance.
21.7.2 The Regional Committee may decide by a two- thirds majority of those present and voting to remove any member of the Regional Committee for good and sufficient reason which shall include but not be limited to being in substantial breach of this constitution and the Bye-Laws bringing the Girl Guide/Girl Scout Movement into disrepute or otherwise causing harm to the name and/or goodwill of the Girl Guide/Girl Scout Movement.
21.7.3 Before a vote is taken, the member of the Regional Committee concerned shall be given the opportunity to be heard by the other members. She may be accompanied at such hearing by a person of her choice before a decision is made.
21.7.4 The member of the Regional Committee concerned may lodge an appeal with WAGGGS’ Appeal Body against the decision to remove her from the Regional Committee within a month after receipt of that decision. The decision of this body shall be final.
21.8 The Regional Committee shall prepare National Organisations within its Region for Full and Associate Membership and provide the World Board with all relevant information.
21.9 The Regional Committee may take appropriate action if a Member Organisation is failing to meet WAGGGS criteria. If necessary, the Regional Committee may recommend the termination of a Member Organisation’s membership of WAGGGS to the World Board.
21.10 An employee of WAGGGS or a Member Organisation may not be a member of a Regional Committee.
22. Regional Terms of Reference
22.1 The terms of reference of Regions, and any amendments thereto, must be approved by the World Board before entering into force.
22.2 In the event of conflict between the obligations arising from this constitution and Bye-Laws and the obligations arising from the terms of reference governing the Regions, the obligations resulting from this constitution and Bye-Laws shall prevail.