ILPAC constitution

Hi,

Allowing individuals members to join ILPAC is something that has been considered for a while now, and in order to facilitate this we need to change the constitution. The reason we are doing this is really to generate some cash

Currently ILPAC is organised along the same lines as IFAS, with clubs appointing representatives. This worked very well for getting clubs onboard and helping to start up ILPAC again. The new constitution will allow ordinary individuals to join, and pay a membership fee of EUR10.

Two positions on the committee of seven are by appointment rather than election. One member is proposed form the IFAS council and the IDA section leader is automatically a member also. This is to ensure that ILPAC will continue to have ties to the astronomy clubs and to the IDA, which it acts as the Irish Section of.

I have created this simple yes no poll for the new proposed constitution. The current constitution requires 4 weeks notice of an EGM for this decision to be made, so I will leave this here for 4 weeks for you to vote. Since representatives from most clubs to ILPAC were never nominated, the current constitution defaults to basically the IFAS council making this decision (which may well be news to many on the council!), but I expect them to just approve whatever the membership here decides.

Myself and Colm would encourage you to vote to adopt this new constitution.

Cheers,
~Al (and Colm)

Constitution of the Irish Light Pollution Awareness Campaign
Article 1: Name
Article 2: Aim
Article 3: Membership
Article 4: Committee of ILPAC
Article 5: Election of Committee
Article 6: Powers of the Committee
Article 7: Voting
Article 8: Meetings of the Committee
Article 9: Finances
Article 10: Annual General Meeting
Article 11: Extra-Ordinary General Meeting
Article 12: Alteration to the Constitution
Article 13: Winding Up of ILPAC
Article 14: Relations with the IDA

The Constitution:

Article 1: Name
The name shall be:- "THE IRISH LIGHT POLLUTION AWARNESS CAMPAIGN" [ILPAC]

Article 2: Aim
1.The Aims of ILPAC shall include:
1.1.To be an information source for Light Pollution issues in Ireland.
1.2.Increase awareness in Ireland of the International Dark Sky Association [IDA].
1.3.To educate through lectures, the media etc. others about Light Pollution problems and solutions.
1.4.Draft and submit proposals to committees and government for the reduction of light pollution.

Article 3: Membership

1.Membership shall be open to all interested individuals.
2.Membership may be applied for by submitting the required details to the secretary of ILPAC.
3.Once approved an applicant shall be deemed a member once the appropriate membership fee is paid to the Treasurer.

Article 4: Committee of the ILPAC

1.ILPAC shall be governed by a committee of seven members, which shall comprise the offices of Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer. The remaining three positions shall be ordinary Committee members.
2.IFAS shall appoint one committee member.
3.The IDA Irish Section Leader shall be a committee member.
4.The IFAS and IDA members automatically are appointed as ordinary committee members each AGM with voting rights. These members may be nominated for election as officers of the committee. If they are successfully elected, their post of ordinary committee member becomes up for election.
5.The remaining five positions are to be elected by the membership at the AGM.
6.The Chairperson shall not hold office for more than three consecutive years.
7.The Committee may at its discretion appoint Committee or Ordinary members to other posts, such as Publicity Officer, Editor, Observing Co-ordinator, etc., but only Committee members may vote at Committee meetings.
8.The chairperson and secretary shall be representatives of different organisations.

Article 5: Election of Committee

1.All members of the organisation are eligible to run for election.
2.Nominations may be received up to twenty four hours before the Annual General Meeting.

Article 6: Powers of the Committee
1.The Committee shall have the power to transact all business relating to the management and direction of ILPAC and in particular to:
1.1.Appoint committees for special purposes with such powers as may be necessary.
1.2.Fill any vacancies among Officers of ILPAC during the year, such appointments being valid for the remainder of the year only.
1.3.Increase its numbers by co-opting members proposed at a committee meeting for a specific related function as deemed necessary in the interest of ILPAC.
1.4.Co-opted members shall have no power to vote at any Committee meeting.
1.5.Administrate within the ILPAC on any point not covered in this Constitution.

Article 7: Voting
1.At all meetings voting will be by simple majority vote, except in the case of an alteration to the constitution (see section 12.01).
2.In the event of a tie, the Presiding Officer at the meeting will have an extra casting vote.
3.For elections the committee shall choose the format of the voting. (simple majority, single transferable etc.)
4.The meeting may decide whether to vote by show of hands or by secret ballot, except that voting at elections shall be by secret ballot.

Article 8: Meetings of the Committee
1.The Committee shall normally meet at least twice in a calendar year, in a location to be decided each time by the Committee.
2.At a Committee Meeting the quorum shall be five, at least two of whom shall be Officers of ILPAC, the presence of the IFAS representative and IDA Section Leader is required.

Article 9: Finances
1.Each Member shall pay to the ILPAC an annual subscription which shall fall due on 1 August. Subscription will be a flat rate, to be determined by the Committee at each AGM, in the currency of the member
2.Society. The initial subscription shall be ten euro.
3.The first annual subscription shall become due upon acceptance by the Committee of an individual as a Member of ILPAC and shall be paid within eight weeks of receipt by the Society of written notice of acceptance.
4.A Member failing to pay annual subscription by the date of the following AGM shall have their membership of ILPAC terminated.
5.ILPACs' accounting year shall commence on 1st August and end on the following 31st July.
6.The funds of ILPAC shall be managed by the Treasurer who shall produce the accounts at the Annual General Meeting.
7.The Treasurer will produce ILPAC's Accounts at each Committee Meeting. If unable to attend such Committee Meeting, an up to date statement of ILPAC's Current and Deposit Accounts will be provided to the President and Secretary with further copies for Committee Members at the meeting.
8.The income and property of ILPAC whencesoever derived shall be used solely for the benefit of ILPAC as set out in the Constitution.
9.No member of ILPAC shall enter into any contract on behalf of ILPAC without the prior consent of the Committee.

Article 10: Annual General Meeting
1.Each Annual General Meeting of ILPAC shall be held between 1st September and 31st October.
2.Notice of the Annual General Meeting and the Agenda shall be sent to all Members at least four weeks before the date of the meeting.
3.The Annual General Meeting shall receive the reports of the Committee on the year's activities and the accounts, and shall settle the annual subscription for the coming year.

Article 11: Extra-Ordinary General Meeting
1.An Extra-Ordinary General Meeting of ILPAC may be convened by the Committee, or at the written petition of 50% or more of the representatives of the total paid up Member of ILPAC to the Secretary.
2.Notice of an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting shall be sent to all Members within three weeks of the receipt of such a request, giving at least four weeks notice of the Meeting.
3.The notice shall state the business petitioned and only such business shall be discussed at the Meeting.
4.The quorum at such a meeting shall be at least 50% of the total number of representatives of paid up Member.

Article 12: Alteration to the Constitution
1.This Constitution shall only be changed by a two thirds majority vote at an Annual or Extra-Ordinary General Meeting.
2.Written notice of proposed changes shall be sent to all Member Organisations at least four weeks before the date of such meeting giving such details and the reasons for the proposed changes.

Article 13: Winding Up of ILPAC
1.Should ILPAC be wound up for any reason the complete assets of the ILPAC shall be distributed to IFAS to promote public awareness of light pollution.

Article 15: Relations with the IDA
1.As a Section of the IDA, ILPAC shall be bound by the bylaws of the IDA, and by Information Sheet 8 of the IDA. This includes:
Sending copies of material produced to the IDA.
Filing an Annual Report to the IDA secretary.

Motion passed

www.irishastronomy.org/ilpac/membership.php