1. Name
“The Irish Nursing and Midwifery Practice Development Association”
For the purpose of this document The Irish Nursing and Midwifery Practice Development Association will be referred to as '“The Association”'.
2. The objectives of “The Association” are to:
2.1.1. Promote and develop Practice Development within Nursing and Midwifery.
2.1.2. Demonstrate the value of Practice Development.
2.1.3. Promote Professional Development in Nursing and Midwifery.
2.1.4. Provide peer support and facilitate the sharing of best practice.
2.1.5. Create an awareness of “The Association” and it’s objectives at local, national and international levels.
2.1.6. Provide a forum for networking and discussion in relation to Practice Development issues.
2.1.7. Act as a resource for other health professionals and relevant bodies.
2.2. These objectives are achieved by “The Association” through:
2.2.1. Providing regular opportunities to meet and discuss Professional and Practice Development issues and other relevant topics.
2.2.2. Providing access to a database of members and their projects to facilitate networking and support.
2.2.3. Providing a forum for members at national meetings to deliver or present workshops or feedback.
2.2.4. “The Association” acting as an expert to collaborate and inform healthcare policy makers throughout the health services.
2.2.5. Inviting speakers from both within and without “The Association” to present on issues relating to Practice and Professional Development.
2.2.6. Promoting links with related disciplines in the interests of enhancing best practice.
2.2.7. By encouraging and disseminating new research.
3. Membership
3.1. Membership of “The Association” is open to nurses and midwives who are actively involved in Practice Development.
3.2. The membership database shall be reviewed each year in order to keep the database active.
3.3. The membership fee for the following year shall be agreed annually at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
3.4. Membership renewal commences in January of each year.
4. Members conduct
4.1. All members should feel free to discuss, comment or seek help on any aspect of practice from a member of “The Association” without fear of misrepresentation. Where requested confidentiality relating to the individual or organisation should be respected.
4.2. It is expected that acknowledgements are made for information shared.
5. Management
5.1. The National Executive Committee (NEC) shall manage “The Association”.
5.1.1. The purpose of the NEC is to ensure the objectives of “The Association” are met. Therefore NEC officers must be post holders of Nursing or Midwifery Practice Development positions.
5.1.2. The NEC is composed of paid up members of “The Association” elected as officers by members at the AGM. The offices shall consist of a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Vice Secretary, Treasurer and Vice Treasurer and one locally elected officer from each region.
5.1.3. In the event of a tie vote for an executive position a second vote must take place. If a tie also happens on the second vote the NEC (minus the two members involved in the tie) will have the final vote.
5.1.4. A quorum of 50% of the membership plus one must be in attendance for decision making purposes.
5.2. The NEC may in turn elect officers to fulfil its executive position but these officers will not have voting rights on the NEC.
5.3. The AGM of “The Association” will be held in January of each year when election of office holders will take place as required.
5.4. The office holders shall serve two years at the end of which they will be eligible for re-election. One further year can be spent on the NEC as a non-officer for the purposes of continuity.
5.5. Members cannot be elected to office in their absence unless they have signified their willingness to hold office prior to nomination.
5.6. Office holders shall have the necessary authority to carry out the day-to-day management of “The Association”.
6. Meetings of “The Association”
6.1. A minimum of three meetings per year is to be held.
6.2. Meetings of the NEC, regional working group, AGM, and networking meetings between small groups of members will be held over and above this. Feedback from these groups shall be given to the national Association meetings.
6.3. In the event of any major developments the Chairperson or any Association Member may request from the Chairperson that a meeting be called.
7. Rules of procedure at all Association meetings
7.1. National meetings shall be approximately two hours long with refreshments provided.
7.2. An agenda shall be distributed at minimum one week in advance of each meeting. Members with a topic for inclusion on the agenda should contact the secretary at least one month prior to the next meeting.
7.3. A record of minutes shall be kept in which all proceedings and resolutions shall be recorded by the secretary. These minutes of “The Association” meetings will be available to all paid up members from February 2007 via the website hosted by the NCNM.
8. Finance
8.1. An account will be held in the name of “The Association” by the Treasurer.
8.2. Two authorised Association officers shall sign all cheques drawn.
8.3. Any monies raised or funding received shall be deposited in the account and used for the express purpose of management of “The Association” and furtherance of its objectives
8.4. The NEC can review accounts anytime and the accounts will be presented at the AGM.
9. Alterations to the Constitution
9.1. Any Association member who wishes to discuss / alter the constitution shall notify the NEC prior to the next NEC and National Association meeting.
9.2. Any proposed changes shall be presented to Association members at the AGM and shall be passed by reaching a consensus.
9.3. Alterations to the constitution shall be made at:
- The AGM or
- an extraordinary meeting or
- Via electronic communication to the full members
9.4. Where consensus for change is not achieved a majority vote of those members present at the AGM shall suffice or agreement achieved at the AGM to send a draft to all members and permit an electronic vote to decide the outcome.
10. Voting
10.1. Voting at the AGM shall be by a show of hands.
10.2. Voting on some issues may be conducted electronically on official voting template; only current paid up Association members are entitled to vote.
10.3. In the event that voting does not produce a majority being reached, the Chairperson will have the deciding vote.
11. Dissolution of “The Association”
11.1. Any resolution to dissolve “The Association” shall be submitted to members for their consideration and accepted by no less than a three-quarters majority vote of all paid up members.
11.2. Upon dissolution any surplus monies after satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, will be transferred to an association with similar objectives or a charitable organisation.
Date of first constitution: 1999
1st Revised Edition 2005
2nd Revised Edition 2007
Date for next review 2009 |
