CONSTITUTION

The name of the Association is The Irish Association of Cardiac Rehabilitation (hereinafter called the Association).

The Association will promote the optimal quality of life for persons suffering from diseases of the heart and circulation by undertaking and promoting, in relation to such conditions, rehabilitation, public awareness, scientific research and continuing professional education.

Membership of the Association shall be open to all appropriately qualified professional persons, as defined from time to time by the Council, engaged in the rehabilitation of cardiac patients.

Applications for membership shall be made in writing to the Council of the Association.

Membership of the Association shall lapse if payment of the annual subscription is one year in arrears despite written warning from the Honorary Treasurer.

The governing body of the Association shall be called the Council and shall consist of the President, President-Elect, immediate past President, Hon. Treasurer, Hon. Secretary, Assistant Hon. Secretary, immediate past Hon. Secretary and five ordinary members or such greater numbers as the Council may deem useful. The Membership if the Council should reflect the multi-disciplinary nature of the Association. At least six disciplines should be represented. As far as possible, membership of the Council should be drawn from a wide geographical area and the Council may co-opt members to achieve this aim.

The Council shall be responsible for the arrangement of all meetings and other business of the Association. Four Council members, including at least two Honorary Officers, shall form a quorum.

The Honorary Officers of the Association shall be President, President-Elect, Honorary Treasurer, Honorary Secretary and Assistant Honorary Secretary.

Only members shall be eligible for elections to Honorary Office and nominations for Office shall require the support of two members. All Honorary Officers shall be elected before the Annual General Meeting of the Association and shall assume their duties immediately after the conclusion of the meeting after which they were elected.

The President or deputy approved by the Council shall chair all meetings of the Council and all General Meetings of the Association. A President-Elect shall be elected by vote once every two years. After holding this office for two years the member so elected shall succeed to the office of President, which appointment shall also be held for a period of two years. The member shall continue to serve on the Council for a further year and thereafter shall not be eligible for re-election to Office for a further four years.

The Honorary Treasurer shall be responsible for directing the financial transactions of the Association and maintaining a list of members. All cheques shall be signed by two of the following: Honorary Treasurer, Honorary Secretary, two nominated members of the Council. The Honorary Treasurer shall serve for a period of two years and shall be eligible for re-election.

The Honorary Secretary shall summon all meetings, circulate the programmes to members at least four weeks before each meeting and shall keep brief minutes of the proceedings of the Association. An assistant Honorary Secretary shall be elected by vote once every two years. After holding this office for two years the member so elected shall succeed to be Honorary Secretary, which office shall also be held for two years. The member may continue to serve on the Council for a further two years.

In the event of an Officer being unable to complete a term of office, the duties of that Officer shall be assumed until the next A.G.M. by the designated successor or by such other member of the Council as the Council shall appoint.

With the exception of the President, Secretaries and Treasurer, Council members shall serve for a period of two years, with the option of re-election for a further two years. At the end of this time they shall be ineligible for re-election until a further two years have been elapsed.

Nominations for Honorary Officers and for ordinary members of the Council shall be requested at the appropriate time before the A.G.M. and each nomination shall be supported by at least two members. The details of candidates for the Council and Officers shall be circulated to the members with the A.G.M. agenda at least four weeks before the A.G.M.

If a greater number of candidates are nominated than vacancies are available, balloting shall be held and the candidates securing the largest number of votes shall be elected to the vacancies which exist.

The Council shall have power to co-opt members of the Association to fill vacancies which arise until the next A.G.M.

The proceedings of the Council shall not be invalidated by any failure to elect or any defect in the election, appointment, co-option or qualification of any member.

The Council shall appoint and fix the remuneration of all such staff (not being members of the Council) as may in their opinion be necessary.

The Council may appoint such special or standing committees as may be deemed necessary by the Council and shall determine their terms of reference, powers, duration and composition. All acts and proceedings of such special or standing committees shall be reported back to the Council as soon as possible.

An Annual General Meeting of the Association shall be held each year to:

(i) receive reports from the Council and from the Honorary Treasurer

(ii) announce the results of the elections of Honorary Officers

(iii) transact such other business as may from time to tome to be necessary. The quorum for the business of the A.G.M. shall be twenty persons. Matters shall be determined by a simple majority on a show of hands unless a poll is demanded by the Chairman of the meeting or by at least ten members present.

An Extraordinary General Meeting may be convened by the President whenever he or she thinks fit or by the Honorary Secretary upon receipt of a requisition in writing by not less than ten members, stating the purpose of such a meeting. The quorum for such meetings shall be twenty persons. Notice of an E.G.M. shall be circulated to members at least four weeks in advance of the meeting. Matters shall be determined by a simple majority in accordance with the procedures specified above for an A.G.M.

An annual scientific/educational meeting shall be held on the occasion of the A.G.M. Other such meetings shall be held at the discretion of the Council. The date and programme of all such meetings shall be circulated to members at least four weeks before such meetings.

The Honorary Treasurer shall keep proper accounts of the finances of the Association.

The accounts shall be audited at least once a year by the auditor or auditors appointed at the Annual General Meeting.

An audited statement of the accounts for the previous financial year shall be submitted by the Council to the A.G.M.

A bank account shall be operated in the name of the Association with such bank as the Council may from time to time decide. The Council shall authorise in writing the Honorary Treasurer, the Honorary Secretary and two members of the Council to sign cheques on behalf of the Association. All cheques shall be signed by at least two of the four authorised persons.