|
Constitution of the Chief Fire Officers Association Name, Objectives, Membership, Voting, Executive Committee, General Meetings, Subscription, Funds and Accounts, Alteration to the Constitution, Ammendments. 1. NAME The Association shall be known as the Chief Fire Officer's Association (CFOA) Ireland. 2. OBJECTIVES (a) To give Chief Fire Officers a representative body through which, materials, methods of construction, appliances etc. which appear to the Association to be hazardous or a potential fire risk may be brought to the notice of the appropriate authority and/or the public at large, and endeavour to ensure that the public are not placed at undue risk. (b) To co-operate, as far as possible, in the formulation of Regulations, Standards, Codes of Practice etc. in so far as they relate to fire and its prevention. (c) To unite and organise the Chief Fire Officer's of Ireland, and to provide a means for the expression of the collective opinion on matters affecting the safety of the public and-operational firemen. (d) To offer advice and assistance to individual members on professional matters. (e) To offer to the authorities responsible for the administration of fire safety the collective advice and experience of the members. (f) To strive to ensure the continuous improvement of the Fire Service in areas represented by the Association. (g) To give opportunity for exchange of ideas, experience, education and research. (h) To hold regular meetings. (i) To attain the highest standard of firemanship and technical expertise. (j) To liaise with all international organisations involved in matters of fire protection and rescue. 3. MEMBERSHIP top Full Membership shall be confined to serving Chief Fire Officers and Assistant Chief Fire Officers of Dublin Fire Brigade. Honorary Membership shall be open to retired Chief Fire Officers. Voting rights shall be confined to full members. The Chairman of the Association shall, in addition to his vote as a member, have a casting vote. (a) Membership The affairs of the Association shall be managed by an executive committee of full members, consisting normally of the Chairman, Two Vice-Chairmen, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer. (b) The officers shall be elected annually at the A.G.M., and casual vacancies shall be filled as they arise. (c) Members of the Executive Committee shall be elected by full members at a General Meeting.. (d) Co-option:- The Executive Committee may co-opt annually persons who may be of assistance to it. (e) Sub-Committee:- sub-Committees consisting of full members, may be formed to assist the executive in examining and commenting on technical matters referred to or brought to the attention of the Association. 6. NOMINATIONS top Nominations for Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer shall be made and seconded at the Annual General Meeting, the Nominee having consented to stand for election. One Annual General Meeting shall be held at a convenient time, in the month of September. Seminars and other meetings shall be held at regular intervals throughout the year. The quorum for all meetings shall be 1/3 membership plus 1. All matters of policy concerning the Association shall be decided by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present at the meeting. 8. SUBSCRIPTION Subscriptions shall be payable on 1st April each year and the amount shall be as members, from time to time, determine at the Annual General Meeting. The funds and accounts shall be kept in a bank approved by the Executive Committee. The bank account maintained by the Association and all investments of monies shall be in the name of "The Chairman, the Honorary Secretary, and the Honorary Treasurer" for the time being of the Chief Fire Officer’s Association of Ireland, and any two of these officers shall be authorised to sign cheques on behalf of the Association. No financial liabilities shall be incurred or payment made except under a special or general authorisation of the Association or of the Executive Committee. The Annual Financial Statement of the Association made up to March 31st each year and duly audited, shall be submitted to each member of the Association, with the notice convening the Annual General Meeting. The Honorary Treasurer shall receive and pay all monies payable to and by the Association respectively, and shall prepare the annual statement. On retirement from office the Honorary Treasurer shall hand over to his successor or to the Chairman of the Association, all books, papers and cash belonging to the Association, after being duly audited. 10. ALTERATIONS IN THE CONSTITUTION AND RULES top No alterations shall be made to the Constitution of the Association or to these rules, unless agreed to by a majority vote at a General Meeting. A written notice shall be given to each member of any proposed alteration at least 21 days prior to the date fixed for any meeting at which such alteration is to be considered, and the notice convening the meeting shall state the terms of the proposed alteration. The following amendments to our constitution were approved at a special meeting of the Association on 26th October, 1989. 1. "Article 5 (a) to be altered to provide for a 3rd Vice-Chairman with responsibility for public relations." 2. "No officer should hold a particular office for more than three consecutive years except by special resolution of the Association". 3. The Association shall elect an Assistant Secretary at the appropriate time who shall become the Secretary designate".
|