GAI Constitution

CONSTITUTION of the Geomorphology Association of Ireland 

Museum Building, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Co. Dublin, Ireland. 

1. The name of the Association shall be the Geomorphology Association of Ireland or GAI. [This name was changed from Irish Geomorphology Group (IGGy) which formed in May, 2013]. 

2. We are formally a member of the International Association of Geomorphologists 

3. The object of the Association is the advancement of education and research in Geomorphology studies in and about Ireland through the dissemination of the results of research for the benefit of the public. In the furtherance of this object, but not otherwise, the Association, through its Executive Committee, shall have the following powers: 

(a) To hold public meetings and exhibitions 

(b) To publish pamphlets, leaflets etc. 

(c) To cooperate with other associations, national or international, that have the same or similar objects 

(d) To do all such other things as will further the object. 

4. The Association is an unincorporated association with all committee members serving in a voluntary capacity. 

5. Membership of the Association shall be open to all interested in furthering the objectives of the association, agree to be bound by the Rules of the Association and pay an annual subscription. 

6. The Committee may, in addition, elect and enroll persons as Honorary Life Members of the Association. 

7. Candidates for membership shall be enrolled as members upon receipt by the Secretary of their annual subscription. 

8. Subscriptions are due on the first of June each year. Those failing to pay them within twelve months from that date shall ipso facto cease to be members of the Association. 

9. The annual subscription shall be determined at the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 

10.The affairs of the Association including its assets, shall be managed on its behalf by an Executive Committee. The Committee should, as much as is reasonably possible, reflect a gender and institutional balance. The Executive Committee will include the following officers, each of whom may hold office for up to three successive years: 

a. a President 

b. a Secretary 

c. a Treasurer 

The Executive Committee shall also include up to five Ordinary members, each of whom may serve in this capacity for three successive years. At least one new ordinary member of the Executive Committee shall be elected each year at the Annual General Meeting. The Ordinary members should serve in the capacity of one of the following: 

i) Annual workshop organiser (may serve for just one year), ii) Graduate Representative (may serve for just one year), 

iii) Membership and Listserv officer, 

iv) Newsletter editor, 

v) and Website officer. 

11. The President shall be elected at an AGM one year in advance of assuming office as President. 

12. A retiring President shall be invited to serve on the committee ex-officio for the next year. 

13.The President will have served at least one term as an Ordinary Member of the Committee, but not necessarily consecutively with their nomination.

14.One member shall be elected at an AGM for two years to serve as Graduate Student Representative and shall be eligible for re-election. 

15.In exceptional circumstances and following a majority vote at the Annual General Meeting, members of the committee may have their three-year term extended by up to two additional years. 

16.The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than the 31st of May and the Secretary shall notify all members at least thirty days in advance of its agenda, venue and date. 

17.The Executive Committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting. Officers and ordinary members shall be nominated by the retiring Executive Committee, and the list of nominations shall be sent to all members at least thirty days before the Annual General Meeting. Members of the Association may make additional nominations up to the beginning of the Annual General Meeting provided that each nomination is supported by at least two members of not less than one year’s standing. 

18.The Annual Report of the Executive Committee shall be presented by the Secretary at the Annual General Meeting. The accounts of the Association, which shall have been made up to the 31st of April of the year shall be presented in writing at the Annual General Meeting. 

19.The Executive Committee shall have the power to co-opt to fill any vacancies which may arise in the Executive Committee until the next Annual General Meeting of the Association. 

20.The Executive Committee shall have the power to establish Working Groups to deal with any aspect of Geomorphic research. The chair of all such groups shall be a member of the Executive Committee and shall have the power to co-opt any member of the Association to work in such a group. 

21.The Committee shall have power to appoint and to discontinue sub-committees, which shall exercise such functions as the committee may delegate to them. Any member of the society may act on a sub-committee. 

22.At meetings of the Executive Committee four members shall form a quorum. 

23.The Committee of the Association shall have power to make such regulations as may be necessary for the working of the Association. 

24.The President shall preside at all general and committee meetings at which s/he is present. In his/her absence the Secretary or in her/his absence the Treasurer shall invite another member to preside. 

25.The Secretary shall make arrangements for the general organisation and conduct of the meetings. The Secretary shall take the minutes of the proceedings of general and committee meetings and shall enter them regularly in the minute books; s/he shall keep records of other meetings, conduct the correspondence of the Association and report to the Executive Committee matters relating to the business of the Association. 

26.The Treasurer shall receive and keep account of all the monies of the Association. S/he shall produce accounts whenever required by the Executive Committee and also shall present the accounts for each year ending 31st of May, so that they may be reviewed and submitted to the Annual General Meeting of the Association. All monies received for the Association shall be paid into such designated financial institutions as may be selected by the Executive Committee. 

27.The Association shall hold at least one meeting each year, and the Executive Committee shall meet at least three times each year. 

28.The arrangements for Annual Workshops may be made the responsibility of an ordinary member who shall be appointed by the Executive Committee for this purpose one year earlier. 

29.A Special General Meeting of the Association may be called at any time by the president, the Executive Committee or any six members on application to the Secretary. Not less than thirty days’ notice of the date and purpose of such a Special General Meeting shall be given to all members, and no business shall be considered at such a meeting other than that for which it was convened. 

30.All members of the Association shall pay an Annual Subscription, the amount of which may be altered by a majority vote at any General Meeting. 

31.The Association shall not be dissolved except at a Special General Meeting convened for this purpose. The Motion of dissolution must be passed by a majority of two-thirds of the members present. 

32.No member is entitled to any distinct or separate share in the property or effects of the Association, and in the event of dissolution the funds and other property of the Association, after the payment of all proper debts and liabilities, shall be given, paid, transferred or distributed to or among such other charitable institutions having similar objects to those of the Association as the Executive Committee, with the approval of the Special General Meeting, shall determine. 

33.No alteration or addition to the Constitution of the Association shall be made except by a two-thirds majority of votes of the members present at a general Meeting, and no alteration or addition to the Constitution shall be made which would cause the Association to cease to be a charity in law. Any proposed amendment to the constitution must be submitted in writing to the Secretary at least 40 days prior to a General Meeting and must be formally proposed and seconded. The proposed amendment should be circulated to all members at least 30 days prior to a General Meeting. 

34.Any doubt that may arise as to the interpretation of these Rules shall be determined by the Committee whose decision shall hold until the next annual general meeting.