DÚN LAOGHAIRE INSTITUTE OF ART, DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY PUBLIC CULTURE STUDIES ALUMNI ASSOCIATION CONSTITUTION
1. FOUNDATION This Constitution of the Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology Public Culture Studies Alumni Association shall come into operation on the convening of a General Meeting of the Alumni to be held on a date appointed by the Representatives of the Class of 2008/9 and that date shall become and be the foundation day of the Association. 2. 2.1. NAME AND STATUS The name of the association shall be the ‘Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology Public Culture Studies Alumni Association’ (hereinafter referred to as the “Association”).
2.1.1. In the event of an alteration in the status, structure or otherwise of the Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology which necessitated a change in the name of the college, the name of the Association as set forth in article 2.1, may likewise be amended in consultation with the governing body of the college. 2.2. The Association is a non-party political, non-sectarian cultural and educational organisation representing graduates of the MA in Public Culture Studies at the Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology. The Association is a non-profit organisation and as such, may apply for charitable status under the Charities Act, 2009. Nothing in this Constitution shall prevent the incorporation of the Association should the members assent to such at a General Meeting convened for that purpose. The Association may affiliate with such national and international bodies as may be deemed necessary or desirable in the furtherance of its Aims and Objectives. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To promote, foster and maintain links between the Association’s members and the Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology To encourage members of the Association to take an active interest in the life of the Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology – at local, national and international levels.
1
2.3.
2.4.
2.5.
3. 3.1
3.2
3.3
To promote the interests of the Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology and to aid its development, especially that of the Centre for Public Culture Studies. To facilitate, convene and support meetings of the membership. As graduates of the Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, the Association’s members shall endeavour to be of assistance to the faculty of the Centre for Public Culture Studies in the development of such studies at undergraduate or postgraduate level as may be deemed appropriate or desirable by the faculty. To promote sustainable employment and business opportunities for members by facilitating professional networking through the organisation of occasional events and/or the maintenance of an Internet presence. MEMBERSHIP The following shall be members of the Association:-
3.4 3.5.
3.6.
4.
4.1
All graduates of the MA in Public Culture Studies (which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes any honorary graduates) course at the Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology. The Association may offer associate membership to graduates of other courses held at the Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology.
4.2
4.2.1. The Association may offer associate membership to current students of the MA in Public Culture Studies course or to current students of other related MA courses held at the Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology or at other third level institutions. 4.2.2. The Associate Membership referred to in article 4.2.1. shall only apply for the duration of the courses concerned. 4.3 The Association, in consultation with the Centre for Public Culture Studies at the Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, may offer associate or honorary membership of the Association to graduates of other institutions, universities or colleges offering courses in Public Culture Studies. The Alumni Association shall have the authority to withdraw privileges of membership from any individual whose behaviour is incompatible with the objectives of the Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology and the Association. Each member, with the exception of honorary members, shall be required to pay an Annual Membership Subscription as determined, from time to time, by the Board. However, the Board may waive all or part of the Annual Membership Subscription for any member in exceptional circumstances.
4.4
4.5
2
5. 5.1
BOARD OF THE ASSOCIATION The Board of the Association, hereinafter ‘the Board’ shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary/Registrar and not more than four Alumni Representatives. The President, Vice-President and up to four Alumni Representatives shall be elected annually by the members. The Secretary/Registrar shall be appointed by the President and shall hold office for a term not exceeding three years from the date of appointment. The Board shall meet not less than twice annually and normally once in each semester and the quorum for such meetings shall be four members, excluding the Secretary/Registrar. The Board shall cause proper records to be held of all its meetings, financial transactions and activities. Robert’s Rules shall apply to the conducting of meetings. REGISTER OF MEMBERS A register of members shall be maintained by the Secretary/Registrar and shall include such details as may, from time to time, be considered appropriate or necessary by the Board. The register of members shall be made available to the faculty of the Centre for Public Culture Studies and to officers of the Association in support of the work of the Association, within the terms and conditions of the current data protection legislation. MEETINGS OF THE ASSOCIATION The Annual General Meeting of the Association, open to all members, shall be held in the month of October of each year on a date to be determined by the Board to (1) receive the Annual Reports of the Board and (2) to elect the President, Vice-President and up to four Alumni Representatives by ballot. The quorum for the Annual General Meeting and any Extraordinary General Meetings of the Association shall ten members. Further meetings of the general membership shall be convened, from time to time, at the discretion of the Board of the Association. Unless otherwise agreed by the Board, meetings of the Association shall be restricted to members and any invitees of the Board.
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5.
5.6. 6. 6.1
6.2
7. 7.1
7.2.
7.3
7.4
3
7.5 8. 8.1
The Association may establish specialist groups or sections as deemed appropriate in the furtherance of its Aims and Objectives. ALUMNI AMBASSADORS The Board may appoint a member of the faculty of a second or third level educational institution or a member of a professional body who is a current member of this Association to the honorary position of ‘Alumni Ambassador’ to promote the Aims and Objectives of the Association. A nominee for the position of ‘Alumni Ambassador’ should have received the endorsement of the faculty of the Centre for Public Culture Studies prior to the appointment being confirmed by the Board. The position of ‘Alumni Ambassador’ is an honorary and voluntary position which shall not be empowered, save with the prior agreement of the Board delivered in writing, to incur any expenses for or on behalf of the Association. The term of office of an ‘Alumni Ambassador’ shall be determined, from time to time, by the Board and may be terminated, without explanation, at its discretion at any time. CONSTITUTION This Constitution may be amended by the members at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting convened for that purpose. Amendments to this Constitution, with the exception of such under article 2.1.1., must receive a two-thirds majority of the members present and entitled to vote at the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting where such is proposed. DISSOLUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION The Association may be dissolved by the members with the agreement of not less than a two thirds majority of the members present and entitled to vote at a Special Meeting convened for that purpose. The Board shall be empowered to dissolve the Association should the numbers of paid-up members fall below the number required for a quorum at a General Meeting and remain at such a level for a period of not less than six months. On the dissolution of the Association and after all debts, if any, have been discharged, any monies or monies worth remaining shall not be divided amongst the members but shall be delivered without deduction to the Centre for Public Culture Studies or the Library at the Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology.
8.2
8.3
8.4
9. 9.1
9.2.
10. 10.1
10.2
10.3
4