Constitution
of the Association of Teachers of Home Economics in Ireland
1.0
Name
2.0 Aims
3.0
Membership
4.0
Structure
5.0
Government of the Association
6.0
Functions of Officers
7.0
Resignations/Replacements
8.0
Operations/Functions of C.E.C.
9.0
Operations/Functions of Branches
10.0
General Meetings
11.0
Finance
12.0
Dissolution
1.0
Name.
1.1 The Association shall be known
at the Association of Teachers of Home Economics in
Ireland.
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2.0 Aims.
2.1 To provide a medium of expression for the
collective opinions of members on matters affecting Home Economics and
to promote Home Economics in Education and Society. Back to top of
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3.0
Membership.
3.1 There shall be five
categories of membership.
3.2 Ordinary
membership shall be open to all persons who hold a teaching
qualification in Home Economics or who hold a full time teaching post in
a College of Education for Home Economics.
3.3 Retired
membership shall be open to all persons who hold a teaching
qualification in Home Economics and have reached pensionable retirement.
3.4 Life
membership may be granted to members of the Association for outstanding
service to Home Economics. The Central Executive Committee may make such
a recommendation. The recommendation shall be put to a vote at the
Annual General meeting and carried by a simple majority.
3.5 Honorary
membership may be granted to non-members of the Association for
outstanding service to Home Economics. The Central Executive Committee
may make such a recommendation. The recommendation shall be put to a
vote at the Spring Meeting to confer it at the Annual General Meeting
and carried be simple majority. Honorary members shall not have voting
rights.
3.6 Student
membership shall be open to all those who are registered at recognised
courses which will eventually qualify them for ordinary membership of
the Association. Student members shall not have voting rights. They
shall not be eligible to hold office at branch or Central Executive
Committee level.
3.7 Ordinary
membership, retired membership and student membership shall be by
application. An annual subscription shall be payable. The subscription
for retired membership shall be half that of the ordinary membership.
Student membership shall be free. The amount of the annual subscription
shall be reviewed and determined at the Annual General Meeting.
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4.0 Structure
4.1 The Association shall consist of
Branches distributed throughout the country and a "Central Executive
Committee". (The Central Executive Committee shall be referred to as the
C.E.C. throughout this document.)
4.2 The C.E.C.
shall consist of the President and Vice President of the Association, a
representative from each Branch and one co-opted member from each of the
Colleges of Education for Home Economics. A member of the out-going
C.E.C. may be co-opted by the incoming committee to ensure continuity.
This co-opted member may remain on the C.E.C. until the next general
meeting.
4.3 Branch may
be formed, suspended, or dissolved with the approval of the C.E.C. of
the association in accordance with the rules for operation of Branches.
Members of the Association may belong to a branch of their choice.
4.4 From among
the members of the branch a Committee shall be elected and shall have
the following Officers - Chairperson, Vice-President, and Honorary
secretary, Honorary Treasurer.
4.5 CEC shall
have the responsibility of deciding affiliation to other appropriate
association/s.
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5.0
Government of the Association
5.1 The
President and Vice- President of the Association shall be elected on a
national vote.
5.2 The C.E.C.
shall, at its first meeting, elect the officers i.e. and Honorary
Secretary, an Honorary Treasurer and Public Relations Officer.
5.3 Each Branch
shall elect the officers from its members i.e. Chairperson,
Vice-Chairperson, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer. Each Branch
shall also elect a representative to C.E.C. The representative may be a
Branch Officer.
5.4 The term of
office of the President of the Association shall be the term of office
of the C.E.C. Having held office for two consecutive terms s/he shall
not be eligible for election as President for at least two years.
5.5 The term of
office of the C.E.C. shall be two years, at the end of which period each
of its members shall be eligible for re-election.
5.6 The term of
office for C.E.C. officers other than President, i.e. Vice-President,
Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer and Public Relations Officer
shall be that of the C.E.C. A member of the C.E.C. may hold office for
three terms (6 years) but may not hold any one office for more than two
consecutive terms (4 years). The only office for which a member shall be
eligible, who has served three terms (6 consecutive years) on C.E.C. is
that of President of the Association.
5.7 The term of
office for Branch Officers and Representatives to C.E.C. shall be two
years. No Officer shall be eligible for election to any office for a
period of two years after s/he shall have served three consecutive terms
(6 years).
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6.0 Functions
of Officers
6.1 The President shall be
responsible for the Agenda and the chairing of the Annual General
Meeting, C.E.C. meetings and any other General Meetings of the
Association.
6.2 The
President shall represent the Association and is authorised to make
public statements on behalf of and in Keeping with the aims of the
Association. When necessary the President may delegate representation of
the Association to a member of the C.E.C.
6.3 The
Vice-President shall fulfil the functions of the President in her/his
absence.
6.4 The Honorary
Secretary of the C.E.C. shall circulate Agendas and record Minutes of
the Annual General meetings, C.E.C. meetings and other General Meetings
of the Association, keep a list of the Branches of the Association and
their members and notify members of any other relevant meetings of the
Association.
6.5 The Honorary
Treasurer of the C.E.C. shall administer and keep a record of all income
and expenditure of the Association, present a full statement of accounts
at the annual General Meeting and submit the books for audit at the end
of the term of office of the C.E.C.
6.6 The Public
Relations Officer shall promote the aims of the Association and may
issue statements in behalf of the Association with prior approval of the
President.
6.7 The
Chairperson of the Branch shall be responsible for the Agenda and the
chairing of Branch meetings.
6.8 The Honorary
Secretary of the Branch shall notify members of meetings, circulate
Agendas, record minutes of Branch Meetings, keep a list of Branch
members and forward an Annual Report of Branch activities to the
Honorary Secretary of the C.E.C. to be presented at the Annual General
Meeting.
6.9 The Honorary
Treasurer of the Branch shall administer and keep a record of all income
and expenditure of the Branch, present a statement of accounts annually
and forward to the Honorary Treasurer of the C.E.C. a list of paid up
members, together with the membership fees.
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7.0
Resignations/Replacements
7.1 Should
the position of President become vacant before the completion of her/his
term of office, the officer shall then be filled by the Vice-President
until the current term of office of the C.E.C. is completed.
7.2 Should the
President be adjudged by a two-thirds majority vote of the C.E.C. to
have failed to fulfil her/his duties, the Vice-President shall be
empowered to call for the resignation of the President and to relieve
her/him of the office. The office of the Vice- President will remain
vacant until the current term of office of the C.E.C. is completed
7.3 Vacancies on
the C.E.C. shall be filled either by an elected representative from the
branch or a co-opted member from the College of Education where the
vacancy occurs.
7.4 Vacancies
among Branch Officers shall be filled as soon as possible from its
members according to 5.3 of the constitution.
7.5 Any member
of the C.E.C. absenting her/himself from three C.E.C. meetings without
an explanation shall be deemed to have vacated her/his place on the
C.E.C. Notification of this shall be given in writing to the Branch or
College concerned. Vacancies occurring in this way shall be filled
according to 7.3 of the constitution.
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8.0
Operations/Functions of C.E.C.
8.1 The
C.E.C. shall be entrusted with the general administration of the
Association.
8.2 The C.E.C.
shall convene the Annual General meeting.
8.3 There shall
be at least four C.E.C. meetings each year and others at such times as
the President may decide and of which each member shall normally receive
two week's notice.
8.4 A quorum
shall consist of half plus one of the membership of the C.E.C.
8.5 The C.E.C.
shall have power to appoint sub-committees for such purposes and with
such terms of reference as the C.E.C. shall deem fit.
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9.0
Operations/Functions of Branches
9.1 Each
Branch shall hold at least four meetings each year and others at such
times as the Chairperson shall decide and of which each member shall
normally receive two weeks' notice.
9.2 Each Branch
shall hold an Annual General Meeting before the Annual General Meeting
of the Association, allowing sufficient time to forward Reports and/or
Resolutions to C.E.C.
9.3 The election
of officers shall take place at the Annual General Meeting of the
Branch.
9.4 Branches
shall operate in accordance with Association aims and may make public
statements only through the office of the President (c.f. 6.2)
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10.0 General
Meetings
10.1 The Annual General Meeting of
the Association shall normally be held in November. The C.E.C. shall
have the power to call a General meeting when necessary to deal with
very urgent matters, which may arise subsequent to the Annual General
meeting.
10.2 The C.E.C.
shall make all necessary arrangements for General Meetings. It shall
have power to bring before a General meeting all business, which it
considers urgent.
10.3 Any member
wishing to propose an amendment to the Constitution may do so at the
Annual General meeting. Notice of such amendment shall be given in
writing to the Honorary Secretary of the C.E.C. at least eight weeks
before the date of the Annual General Meeting. Amendments sent in under
this rule shall be circulated to the members together with the name and
Branch of the respective proposer and seconder at least two weeks before
the Annual General Meeting. Votes on such amendments shall be carried
only by two-thirds majority of those present and voting. The date of
implementation of amendments carried shall be decided at the Annual
General Meeting.
10.4 Any member
at the Annual General meeting of at a General Meeting will be carried
out by a show of hands or a secret ballot. The method of voting shall be
determined by a show of hands.
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11.0 Finance
11.1 The Association shall be financed by
the members' annual subscriptions.
11.2 The funds
of the Association shall be used for the promotion of Home Economics and
these shall be deposited in a reliable financial institution to be
determined by the President and treasurer in consultation with C.E.C.
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12.0
Dissolution
12.1 The Association shall
be dissolved with the consent of five-sixths of the members.
12.2 Office
equipment and other property shall be disposed of at current market
value.
12.3 The
President and the Treasurer of the Association shall be responsible for
donating all surplus funds. Including that realised from the sale of
property, to a charitable organisation as decided by the C.E.C.
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