Constitution
Constitution and By-Laws
Fire Investigators Association of Ireland
International Association of Arson Investigators, Ireland – Éire Chapter 68
ARTICLE I
Section 1
Name: This Organization shall be known as the Ireland – Éire Chapter of International Association of Arson Investigators and is hereafter referred to as the Ireland Chapter. The name of the Ireland Chapter shall not be used publicly by any member other than by the use of his or her membership card for identification purposes, without express permission of the Board of Directors. This shall not restrict the officers or appointees or agents of the Ireland Chapter in the use of the name to carry out the purpose of the Chapter.
Section 2
Objectives: The objectives and purposes of the Ireland Chapter shall be as follows:
1. To provide awareness, information and training opportunities for members involved in the area of fire investigation and all related matters to fire and arson investigation in Ireland.
2. To foster and promote greater professional competence in investigation techniques and the recognition of the crime of arson and the significance it has on our society.
3. To provide for an exchange of technical information and developments, and to be a focal point for educational, social and developmental relationships between members and organisations.
4. To encourage high professional standards among fire / arson investigators.
5. To develop a joint approach and unite, for mutual benefit, public officials and private individuals engaged in investigating the causes and effects of fires on people and property including the control of arson and other kindred crimes.
6. To educate the public concerning the fire safety / arson problem in Ireland.
ARTICLE II
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1
Eligibility for Membership – Ireland Chapter: Membership in the Chapter shall be limited to public and private officials, persons, agencies or Associations engaged in Fire and non-terrorist explosive scene Investigation, Arson Investigation and Fire Safety / Arson reduction programmes in Ireland.
Section 2
Associate Committee Membership: Membership in the International IAAI qualifies the individual to apply for membership to the Ireland Chapter Committee, subject to approval of the Ireland Chapter Board and/or Membership Committee.
Section 3
Honorary Life Membership: Honorary life membership in the International IAAI qualifies the individual to apply for honorary life membership in the Ireland Chapter, subject to approval of the Ireland Chapter Board and/or Membership Committee
Section 4
Ireland- Eire Chapter Membership: Chapter membership is subject to the approval of the Ireland Chapter committee following approval from the Membership Committee.
(All Chapter members will be encouraged to join the IAAI).
Section 5
Corporate Membership: Individuals or organisations interested in supporting the Chapter and its goals shall be granted membership upon contribution to the Chapter of a sum set by the committee which will be paid annually for up to 60 members in that organisation. All such funds shall be devoted to the promotion of the main objectives and educational functions of the Chapter.
ARTICLE III
ELECTION, TERMS, AND OFFICES
Section 1
Eligibility for Office: Persons standing for election onto the Ireland Committee must be a member of the IAAI.
Section 2
The Executives: The Executives of the Chapter shall be: President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer and Membership Secretary.
Section 3
The Board of Directors: The Board shall consist of the Executives and FIAI Committee Members. The Board of Directors are required to attend at least 75% of the meetings held per calendar year to maintain their post. .
Section 4
Associate Committee Members: Members of the IAAI and FIAI may become Associate Committee members subject to approval of the Ireland Chapter Board and/or Membership Committee. Associate Committee members will have full voting rights but are not required to attend Committee meetings.
Section 5
Election: The Annual General Meeting (AGM) whenever possible to be held in the last week of the month of January. Elections will be by the nomination method. Persons wishing to stand for election shall be proposed and seconded using the nomination form circulated in the autumn newsletter or via email and available in the members’ area on the chapter website. Such nominations must be received by the secretary no later than 1st January. Details of the nominees standing for election will be posted on the chapter website. If more than one person stands for any post, an election shall be held by secret ballot at the AGM. Members may vote by post with their communiqués being received by the chair of the membership committee by 3rd Friday in January, before the AGM. Members wishing to vote in person may do so by attending the AGM and retrieving a current voting card.
Section 6
Terms of Office: The Executives and Directors shall be elected at each AGM. The President shall stay in office for a three year term. Where possible no more than two committee members / Board of Directors should step down in any given year.
Section 7
Vacancies: In the event of a vacancy or vacancies on the Board between AGMs, the vacancy or vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the President and the newly appointed member(s) of the Board of Directors shall hold office only until the next AGM. In the event of a vacancy or vacancies of any Executive member between AGMs, the vacancy or vacancies shall be filled by the Board, and the newly appointed member(s) shall hold office only until the next AGM.
ARTICLE IV
GOVERNANCE
Section 1
Governance: The governance of the Ireland Chapter shall be vested in the Board of Directors. Four members shall constitute a quorum.
Section 2
Duties and Powers: The Board shall have full power to initiate and transact all kinds of business necessary to the existence of the organisation and the observance of its purposes. The Board shall determine the date and location of the AGM and Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) and shall publish the agenda. The Board shall appoint appropriate committees for the conduct of the activities of the Ireland Chapter and they shall have general power to direct, control, and supervise the affairs of the Ireland Chapter and its committees.
Section 3
President / Vice President: The President, or in his/her absence the Vice President, shall preside at all meetings of the Board.
Section 4
President: The President shall be the Chief Executive of the Ireland Chapter, and it shall be his/her responsibility to supervise and co-ordinate the activities of the Chapter. He/she shall require reports at each AGM from the Secretary, Treasurer and Chairs of all committees (where established) of the Ireland Chapter.
Section 5
Secretary: The Secretary shall keep the records and minutes of the organisation and shall maintain a current roll of members (supplied by the membership committee) and the Constitution – By Laws and other documents of value. He/she shall receive and acknowledge all communications of the Ireland Chapter addressed to him/her or that which may be submitted to him/her by officers of the IAAI-Ireland and perform such duties as assigned by the President.
Section 6
Minutes Secretary: The Minutes Secretary shall keep records and minutes of committee meetings. He/she will be responsible for the distribution of draft minutes to those who attended the meeting and following agreement is then responsible for the distribution to full committee. Upon acceptance of the minutes by the committee, the secretary is responsible to provide the agreed minutes to the Webmaster for uploading. Secretary is responsible for ensuring a hard copy of minutes and other associated documentation relating to the role of minutes secretary is keep in a dedicated binder.
Section 7
Treasurer: The Treasurer shall be custodian and sole depositor of the funds of the organisation and shall disburse such funds by cheque as authorized by the Board for purposes that promote the welfare and objectives of the organisation. He/she shall submit a statement of accounts whenever requested by the Board and to the membership at each AGM.
Section 8
Webmaster: The Webmaster is responsible for managing the chapter website.
Section 9
Removal from Office and/or Membership. The Board (excluding the President) shall have the power to remove from office any Board member or member of the Chapter for any of the following:
A. Conduct or action that is likely to discredit or would be detrimental to of the Chapter or International Association.
B. Any officer or member shall have the right of appeal to the President, provided his/her request is received in writing by the President within thirty (30) days following the removal.
C. The President can only be removed from office at an EGM called by the Board.
ARTICLE V
MEETINGS
Section 1
Annual General Meeting (AGM): The AGM shall be held within the month of January at such time and place as may be fixed by the Board. Notice of the meetings and agendas shall be emailed, posted on website and mailed to members without email, not less than thirty (30) days in advance.
AGM Agenda Items: Request for agenda items for the AGM will be sent to the secretary and considered by the executive officers not less than six weeks before the forthcoming meeting. The Agendum shall be conducted under the authority and the discretion of the President. The secretary is charged with advising the member of the executive’s decision regarding submitted agenda items
Section 2
Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM): EGMs may be called by order of the Board or twenty five members or ten percent of the membership, at such time and place as fixed by the Board, giving due notices thereof to all members at least thirty (30) days in advance.
ARTICLE VI
FINANCE
Section 1
Fees: Fees for any individual membership or Corporate membership (company/organisation) in the Ireland Chapter shall be at a rate proposed by the board and agreed by AGM.
Section 2
Audit: The Treasurer’s annual statement of accounts submitted to the AGM shall be internally audited by a non-executive board member and then submitted to outside auditors.
Section 3
Gifts or Grants: All gifts or grants to the Ireland Chapter may be accepted by the Board. The Treasurer shall make proper acknowledgement of all such gifts or grants accepted. A list containing details of gifts and donors be maintained by the treasurer and retained for inspection by members at AGM
ARTICLE VII
REVISION
Section 1
Revision: This Constitution may be amended only at an AGM or EGM of the Ireland Chapter by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members present by a show of hands. Changes to the constitution so approved shall be immediately implemented in all possible ways.
ARTICE VIII
COMMITTEES
Standing Committees: The following committees can be standing full time committees of the Chapter if so decided by the executive committee:
Section 1
Membership: The duties of the committee shall be to promote membership in the Chapter through any appropriate means. In addition, the committee shall receive and review applications for the Chapter membership and submit its recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding individual membership approval. The committee shall be responsible for maintaining Chapter promotional materials. The Committee will be responsible for determining the authenticity references given to it from a membership applicant
Section 2
Nominating: The committee shall solicit; receive and review all nominations for elected office in the chapter. It shall present all qualified candidates at the Annual Meeting elections for voting by the membership.
Section 3
Certification: The committee, in cooperation with the I.A.A.I., shall be responsible for administering and overseeing the Certified Fire Investigator Program in accordance with its written Standard Operating Procedures.
Section 4
Audit: At each AGM, or upon directive of the President, the committee shall audit the books and reports and records of the Treasurer and prepare a written report of its findings to the President and Board.
Section 5
Training and Education: The committee shall be responsible for planning, organizing and overseeing the annual conference of the Chapter. These duties include planning, implementing and monitoring of the education and training portion of the seminar. The committee shall further encourage, solicit, and assist in the development of new and innovative ideas for the education and training of the Chapter members.
Section 6
Constitution and By-Laws: The duties of the committee shall be to advise the officers, directors, and members of the Chapter on matters pertaining to the Constitution and By-Laws. In the event of proposed changes, it shall further be the duty of the committee to review and prepare the proposed changes in a suitable format for presentation to the Chapter. Additionally, the committee shall serve in a review capacity for the Standard Operating Procedures for the committees of the Chapter.
Section 7
Grievance: The duties of the committee shall be to forward complaints against Ireland I.A.A.I. members through the proper channels, and to investigate complaints against Chapter members who are not I.A.A.I. members, and report findings and recommendations to the Board of Directors.
Section 8
Additional Duties: In addition to the duties described, each committee shall perform additional duties, as described in the Standard Operating Procedures for that committee, and other duties as may be delegated by the Chapter.
Section 9
Standard Operating Procedures: Standard Operating Procedures for all committees must be approved by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IX
MEMBERSHIP DUES
Section 1
Membership dues in the Ireland Chapter shall be thirty Euro (€30) per year or any currency equivalent.
ARTICLE X
SEMINARS
Section 1
Sanctioning Seminars.
No Association, Committee, Group or individual may use
the name or logo of the Ireland Chapter of the International Association of Arson
Investigators without applying for and receiving the approval of the FIAI Executive Committee and the IAAI Board of Directors upon meeting the following requirements:
All seminars must be approved by the training and development committee
A. The seminar content, speakers, and location must be reviewed and approved.
B. A discount for active members of the Ireland Chapter to be applied.
C. The participants must be screened, and no person without a legitimate
interest in fire investigation may attend.
D. All certificates issued must show the number of hours attended, and must
show whether or not the participant passed an examination (if applicable).
E. A certified roster of all participants showing which participants
successfully passed the examination must be forwarded to the Chapter
Secretary within 45 days of the completion of the seminar.
ARTICLE XI
EXPENSES
Section 1
The income and property of the Ireland Chapter shall be applied solely towards the promotion of its main object as set forth in this Constitution. No portion of the Ireland Chapter’s income and property shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise howsoever by way of profit, to the members of the Ireland Chapter. Members who serve on the FIAI committee will not be paid or receive remuneration other than reasonable and proper out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any Officer in connection with their attendance to any matter affecting the Ireland Chapter;
Fees, remuneration or other benefit in money or moneys worth to any Company of which an Officer may be a member holding not more than one hundredth part of the issued capital of such Company.
ARTICLE XII
WINDING UP
Section 1
If upon the winding up or dissolution of the Ireland Chapter there remains, after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities, any property whatsoever, it shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the Ireland Chapter. Instead, such property shall be given or transferred to some other charitable institution or institutions having main objects similar to the main objects of the Ireland Chapter. The institution or institutions to which the property is to be given or transferred shall prohibit the distribution of its or their income and property among its or their members to an extent at least as great as is imposed on the Ireland Chapter under or by virtue of Article XIII hereof. Members of the Ireland Chapter shall select the relevant institution or institutions at or before the time of dissolution, and if and so far as effect cannot be given to such provisions, then the property shall be given or transferred to some charitable object.