CONTENTS

1. Aims
2. Constitution
3. Membership Rules
4. Administration
5. Finances
6. Meetings
7. Dissolution of Group
8. Addresses

Abbreviations:

TAI refers to the group known as Transactional Analysis in Ireland, c/o 8 Seskin View Avenue, Tallaght, Dublin 24, IRELAND. (Amended 1998)

TA refers to Transactional Analysis, that psychological and social theory with mutual contracting for growth and change

ITAA refers to the International Transactional Analysis Association, 450 Pacific Ave, Suite 250, San Francisco, CA 94133-4640

1. AIMS

1.1 TAI (Transactional Analysis in Ireland) is a group of people who are interested in all or any of the following aims:

1.1.1 (a) To provide education in Transactional Analysis

* to members, and

* to the general public

1.1.2 (b) To apply such TA theories as may be relevant to their own lives;

1.1.3 (c) To help and encourage

• anyone interested in providing TA training at all levels of expertise

• anyone interested in making TA professionally available to members of the public who require it.

1.1.4 (d) To disseminate information about TA through whatever means the group agrees are appropriate.

1.1.5 (e) To operate as a group in accordance with the philosophical assumptions of TA:

• Everyone is OK.

• Everyone can think.

• Everyone makes decisions, and these decisions can be changed.

1.2 TAI is a non-profit making group. Representatives and Financial Controller (Amendment 1996) (see below) do not receive fees and/or salaries (other than out of pocket expenses).

1.3 Any excess of income over expenditure shall be used for the good of TAI, and, and not distributed to the individual members in any form of dividend..

1.4 TAI may decide at a General Meeting to validate the existence of a local group operating in accordance with this Constitution.

The TAI Annual General Meeting will regulate the relationship of local groups to TAI. (Amendment 1997)

TAI may also decide at a General Meeting to become affiliated to any organisation, association or group whose objects further the aims of TAI

1.5 TAI shall affiliate to the Irish Association of Counselling and Therapy (IACT) at the earliest possible date.

2. CONSTITUTION

2.1 TAI seeks to operate under the same rules as currently apply to the International Transactional Analysis Association at the time being.

2.2 These ITAA rules may be modified if and as necessary to suit legal and societal conditions in Ireland.

2.3 Any such modifications will be discussed and ratified by a properly convened General Meeting of TAI members.

3. MEMBERSHIP RULES

3.1 Membership

        A member is a person who

• Subscribes to any of the above aims;

• Signs a Membership Application Form;

• Is validated by any two of the Representatives;

• and pays an annual subscription.

3.2 Subscriptions

3.2.1 Members make an Adult decision as to how much they can afford to pay

3.2.2 A suggested annual figure might be 10% of one week's take-home income. (though an individual might decide to pay more or less than this).

3.2.3 Persons with no income pay a subscription of (50p)to legalise their membership

3.2.4 Records of individual membership payments will be kept confidential by the Financial Controller and the Auditor.

3.3 Membership Year

3.3.1 The membership year is from January 1st to December 31st.

3.3.2 Membership lapses if not renewed by June 30 of the calendar year following their last payment.

3.3.3 Members joining after June 30 pay 50% of the appropriate years subscription.

3.3.4 Members joining after October 31 pay a year's subscription, giving them membership until December 31 of the following calendar year.

3..4 All meetings of TAI are open to those who qualify for membership as above, even those who for whatever reason have not paid an annual subscription.

3.5 Only paid-up members may vote at General Members Meetings. Membership subscriptions will be accepted at such meetings.

3.6 Members may not use their membership of TAI as part of a professional advertisement.

4. ADMINISTRATION

4.1 Rotating Core-Group

4.1.1 All members share responsibility for whatever tasks are necessary for the smooth running of TAI.

4.1.2 At the monthly meeting, some of those present volunteer to undertake specific tasks for the following meeting. Normally, they would not be required to do this specific task again for several months subsequently. However, if volunteers are few, they might be needed for some different task.

4.1.3 The tasks of Financial Controller and Representatives are an exception to this. (See below Paragraphs 4.2. and 5.1)

4.1.4 The success of this Rotating Core Group will depend on an Adult commitment by a sufficient number of those present, and on their Child enthusiasm combined with their Parental care for each other.

4.2 Representatives

4.2.1 Three Representatives shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting from and by the paid up members, to serve for a maximum of three one year terms in any four years.

4.2.2 It shall be the task of any two Representatives to represent TAI in matters which would conventionally be undertaken by an executive committee.

4.2.3 The names and addresses of Representatives and Financial Controller, as ratified at each AGM shall be notified to the Bank, the Auditor, and whomsoever shall be entitled to have this information (example, the Revenue Commissioners, Registration of Names, etc.) (Amended 1998)

4.2.4 These names shall also be appended to the current edition of the TAI Constitution as circulated to all members. (Amended 1998)

5. FINANCES

5.1 Financial Controller

5.1.1 To safeguard the financial interests of the group, a Financial Controller will be elected at the Annual General Meeting of TAI members.

5.1.2 The Financial Controller will serve for a maximum of three one-year terms in any five-year period.

5.1.3 The Financial Controller may be re-elected after one-year out of office.

5.1.4 It will be the responsibility of the Financial Controller

• to oversee the finances of the group,

• to see that accounts are kept accurately,

• and are audited annually.

5.2 The financial year ends on May 31st.

5.3 Other members may serve as financial assistants on a monthly basis as required.

5.4 An auditor will be appointed at the AGM and can be re-appointed annually at the AGM

6. MEETINGS

6.1 Quorum

6.1.1 Three persons will be deemed sufficient to begin a meeting.

6.1.2 However, no voting will be done unless at least seven paid up members are present.

6.2 Voting

6.2.1 Every effort shall be made to reach consensus rather than putting matters to a vote. In the event of a vote being deemed unavoidable, 60% of those voting will constitute a majority. This will include postal votes.

6.3 Regular Meetings

6.3.1 An open public meeting will be held monthly at which a topic of TA theory will be presented for discussion by those present.

6.3.2 This meeting will be advertised as 'Admission free, but donations appreciated'

6.4 Periodic Informal Meetings

6.4.1 If individual members wish, they may organize informal meetings, over and above the usual monthly meeting.

6.4.2 The organising member will normally be responsible for notifying members.

6.4.3 However, if convenient, notice of such a meeting may be included in the usual TAI Newsnotes.

6.5 Transactional Analysis Courses will be organised in response to demand.

6.6 Annual General Meeting.

6.6.1 Once a year within six months following the end of the Financial Year, on a date to be decided by the representatives, members will meet

* To hold the AGM

* To review the activities of the previous year

* To decide on any changes deemed necessary

* To plan the year ahead

* To socialize. (Amended 1999)

6.6.2 Reports will be presented by the Representatives and by the Financial Controller.

6.6.3 Any motions to be presented should be submitted to the representatives fifteen days before the AGM.

6.6.4 Twenty-one days notice in writing of the AGM shall be given to members.

6.6.5 Copies of motions for ratification shall also be circulated.

6.7 Extraordinary General Meeting

6.7.1 In exceptional circumstances it may be necessary to call a special general meeting of members.

6.7.2 An Extraordinary General Meeting may be requested in two ways.

• (a) by any two of the Representatives

• (b) by thirty paid-up members or 25% of the membership ( whichever is the smaller number)

6.7.3 The Representatives will then circulate notice in writing of the Extraordinary General Meeting at least seven clear days in advance.

6.7.4 Notice of the meeting should contain

• the names and addresses of those convening the meeting,

• the purpose for which the meeting is being called;

• and the text of any proposal to be put before the members.

6.7.5 Postal voting is recommended for anyone unable to attend the meeting.

7. DISSOLUTION OF THE GROUP

7.1 In the event that the average number of members attending monthly meetings over a period of one year is less than three,

7.2 the Representatives or the remaining attending members shall notify the membership in writing of an Extraordinary General Meeting to discuss dissolving the group.

7.3 Dissolution of the Group shall be by 75% vote of members attending such a properly constituted Extraordinary General Meeting, specifically called for this purpose.

7.4 Notification of this meeting should include such details of the group as are available.

7.5 Members will be reminded that, in the event of the group being disbanded, any remaining assets (after all debts and liabilities have been satisfied) will be transferred to the ITAA as a charitable body with similar aims.

8. ADDRESSES:

8.1 For the time being, the address of the group will be: c/o 8 Seskin View Avenue, Tallaght, Dublin 24, IRELAND. (Amended 1998)

8.2 For the time being, the Bank for the group will be: Ulster Bank, College Green Branch

8.3 For the time being, the ultimate contact person will be: Elizabeth Cleary, 8 Seskin View Avenue, Tallaght, Dublin 24:

THIS CONSTITUTION AND RULES will be subject to review after five years, or earlier at the request of ten or more members. Changes must be ratified by 75% of those voting (including postal votes)

FINIS

Large print versions of this constitution available on request.

CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW

The 1999 Annual General Meeting of TAI agreed the following motion:

That a review body of 2 or 3 persons be appointed at the AGM to review the constitution and that their recommendations be voted on at the AGM of TAI in the year 2000.

1999 VALIDATIONS:

FINANCIAL CONTROLLER:

Hazel Luskin,

3 Coolmine Green,

Clonsilla, Dublin 15, IRELAND

REPRESENTATIVES:

Jacqueline (Pat) Glass,

11c Glassillan Grove, Greenisland, Carrigfergus, Co. Antrim,

N.IRELAND BT38 8TE

Norma Conn,

3 Hillview Gardens,

Carrigfergus,

Co. Antrim, N.IRELAND.

Aine Shields,

Leabracken, Old Brackenstown Road,

Swords, Co Dublin, IRELAND

Honorary AUDITOR:

Geraldine Murphy,

47 Bremen Road, Ringsend,

Dublin 4, IRELAND

VALIDATED GROUPS:

TAI East

(Contact person Elizabeth Cleary,

8 Seskin View Avenue,

Tallaght, Dublin24, IRELAND)

TAI North

(contact person Jacqueline (Pat) Glass,

11c Glassillan Grove, Greenisland, Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim,

N.IRELAND BT38 8TE)