Abu Dhabi Irish Society: Constitution

Below is the current Constitution of the Abu Dhabi Irish Society, as amended by EGMs in October 2007 and December 2006.

You can print this page, or download the Constitution in Word or PDF  (right-click and save to your computer).

Main Headings (Note: for convenience only: not all items in Constitution listed. Download the Word version above for the complete reading.)

Abu Dhabi Irish Society Constitution and Rules

  1. The name of the Society shall be the Abu Dhabi Irish Society.
     
    1. The Abu Dhabi Irish Society and the Abu Dhabi Na Fianna will act as one body under the name of the Abu Dhabi Irish Society in the pursuit of the aims of the society.
       
  2. The aims of the Society shall be:
  1. to foster social activities and friendly relations among Irish people and their families resident in Abu Dhabi
  2. to promote Irish cultural activities and institutions and the celebration of Irish anniversaries, and
  3. to encourage closer relations among the Irish community and the citizens of Abu Dhabi.
  1. Membership Eligibility
  1. Membership of the Society shall be open to all persons of Irish origin, those with close connections with Ireland (and their spouses and children), and those persons with an interest in all things Irish.
  2. All membership applications shall be scrutinized by the Committee and acceptance shall be by a majority of Committee members.

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  1. Membership Classes and Subscription:
  1. There shall be two classes of membership:
  1. Ordinary Membership of the Society
  2. Honorary Life Membership of the Society. This may be conferred by a unanimous vote of the Committee as a mark of distinction on an Ordinary Member of the Society or as a mark of distinction to an eminent person or persons who have rendered service to the society
  1. Ordinary Members shall pay a subscription annually of the amount fixed by the Committee for the year. Prospective members should send this initial subscription to the Secretary along with an application form for Membership, and this will be returned if a candidate is not accepted.
     
  2. Subsequent subscription shall be paid to the Treasurer and shall be due in respect of each twelve month period. The period commences on 1st January and finishes on 31st December.

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  1. The management and control of the affairs of the Society shall be vested in a Committee consisting of the Uachtarán (President), the Leas-Uachtarán (Vice President), a Secretary and a Treasurer and at least three and at most six Members, all of whom shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Society.
     
  2. Officers of the Society, namely the President, the Vice President, the Secretary and the Treasurer, MUST be Ordinary Members.
     
  3. Retiring Officers shall be eligible for re-election at the Annual General Meeting
      
  4. The Committee, which shall meet as the business of the Society demands, shall conduct the Society’s affairs.
     
  5. Minutes of the proceedings of all general and committee meetings shall be recorded and distributed for comment to the Committee by the Secretary. Members may apply in writing to the President to request to see copies of these minutes. A General Report and a Financial Statement of the affairs of the Society shall be submitted to the Annual General Meeting of the Members.
     
  6. All sums of money and all payments made shall be recorded by the Treasurer, who shall submit an audited statement of account within one month prior to the Annual General Meeting for members’ information. The annual financial statement of the Society shall be audited by a person holding a recognized accountancy qualification who will be appointed by unanimous agreement of the Committee.
     
  7. An Annual General Meeting of the Society (AGM) shall be held during May or June each year to conduct the following business:
  1. the annual report of the Treasurer and the acceptance of the annual accounts
     
  2. the election of officers and committee members
     
  3. amendments to the constitution
     
  4. general business.

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  1. Proceedings in respect of the AGM. shall be as follows:
  1. Notice, a draft agenda and nomination form shall be sent to all members at least 21 calendar days in advance of the meeting, provided that they have supplied a valid e-mail address to the Secretary. Notice will also be placed on the Society website.
     
  2. Any member wishing to bring forward a resolution on any subject not included in the draft agenda shall send notice, by e-mail, of such a motion to the Secretary at least 14 calendar days in advance of the meeting. Such motions and the final agenda shall be sent to members at least 7 calendar days in advance of the meeting.
     
  3. Any member wishing to put themselves forward for an Officer or Committee position must forward a completed nomination form to the Secretary at least 14 calendar days before the A.G.M. is to be held. Nominations will not be accepted after this cut-off.
     
  4. A quorum shall be 15 paid-up members.
     
  5. All Members and Officers of the Society shall be allowed to vote. Voting shall be by ballot for all positions. If there is only one candidate for a position, there must still be a ballot.
     
  6. The chairman of the meeting shall be the President of the Society, but in the absence of the President, any of the other officers of the Society may be appointed by the Committee to chair the meeting. The chairman of the meeting shall have a casting vote.
      
  7. The chairman of the meeting shall decide whether to allow any new motions arising from the discussion of the meeting except that no motions to amend the constitution shall be so allowed.
      
  8. Newly elected Officers and committee members shall assume their responsibilities immediately after the meeting and shall continue in office until the next AGM.

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  1. An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) may be called at any time by the Committee, or on the written request of not less than ten members who shall state their object in their request. An EGM shall be conducted in accordance with paragraphs 12 (a) to (h).
     
  2. Resignation of an officer or Committee member: Should either event occur, the Committee will unanimously decide if the vacancy needs to be filled. If they determine that it does then an EGM will be called.
     
  3. Members whose subscriptions are in arrears shall be notified by the Treasurer and given twenty-eight days to renew their subscriptions failing which they shall be removed from the roll of members and shall cease to be accorded the privileges of membership.
     
  4. The Committee may remove any member whose actions or behaviour are considered to be contrary to the aims of the Society.
     
  5. The Committee shall be empowered to make rules for the operation of the Society excluding amendments to the Constitution.
     
  6. Should at any time circumstances make it necessary to wind up the affairs of the Society, authority shall be vested in the Committee to dispose of any surplus funds or other assets at their discretion.
     
  7. No officer of the Society or member of the Committee or member of their families may benefit financially from the operation of the Society. Any conflict of interest on the part of an officer or Committee member must be declared in any proceedings of the Committee or General Meeting and that person shall take no further part in the proceedings or vote thereon. Should any officer or Committee member fail to declare a conflict of interest their membership of the Society will be terminated immediately and they will not be eligible to reapply for membership.

 

Older Versions

To see previous versions of the constitution click June 2005 or December 2006 (Word)

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You can print this page, or download the current Constitution in Word or PDF   (right-click and save to your computer).