Irish Geological Association Constitutional Review, 2025
This Constitution was adopted at the Annual General Meeting in 1972 and amended at Annual General Meetings in 1974, 1980, 1987 and 1990, at an Extraordinary General Meeting in 1991, at the AGM held in Jan. 2014 and at the AGM held in Jan. 2015. The below is the proposed restructured and amended constitution for review.
The Association
1.1 The Irish Geological Association, An Cumann Geolaíochta na hÉireann, is the name of our Association. In this document it will be referred to as the “Association”
Aims
2.1 The Association shall have the aim of furthering interest in the Geological sciences in Ireland and beyond, particularly through excursions. The Association shall provide a meeting ground for geological scientists and all interested persons.
Membership
3.1 Membership of the Association shall be open to anyone who pays the relevant annual membership fee.
3.2 The Association’s Council reserves the right to refuse Membership.
3.3 Annual subscription shall be paid by all Members, apart from Honorary Members.
3.4 Honorary Members may be chosen by the Council for exceptional dedication to Geology in Ireland and the Association’s aims.
3.5 The Association’s annual subscription falls due on the 1st January. Those persons in arrears by more than one year will become lapsed Members. Lapsed Members of IGA may not receive updates from the Association after the second year of unpaid Membership.
3.6 Changes to the rate of subscription shall be by majority vote at an Annual General Meeting
Meetings
4.1 The Association shall aim to hold at least 10 events per annum for its Members. The emphasis of IGA meetings shall be on excursions.
4.2 Events will be agreed and planned for at regular Council Meetings.
4.3 General Meetings require 28 days of notice to the Membership.
4.4 The Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall be held no later than 30th April each year.
4.5 Annual Reports shall be presented at the AGM, as well as the Audited Accounts. These Accounts of the Association shall be made up to the 31st of December in each year and shall be examined by an independent, competent party, who shall be appointed annually by members of the Association.
4.6 Each member of the Association shall be notified of an AGM Agenda, and list of Nominations for the Council, two weeks before the Annual General Meeting.
4.7 If a request for an Extraordinary General Meeting, signed by at least twenty members is received by email or post to the Council, such a meeting will be called within six weeks. Any of the functions of the Annual General Meeting may be carried out at this meeting.
4.8 In the case of a tie in voting at Meetings, the Chairperson (usually the IGA Council President) shall have a casting vote.
Council
5.1 The work of the Association shall be undertaken by a Council and by Committees of the Council, with Committee Members agreed by the Council.
5.2 The Council shall include a maximum of fifteen participants. All Council Members shall be Honorary.
5.3 Officers shall normally consist a President, up to two Vice-Presidents (one outgoing, having just served as President and one incoming, about to become President), Treasurer, Excursions, Secretary and Lectures Secretary. Other roles may be identified as the Council sees fit e.g. Website Manager.
5.4 The President and Vice-Presidents (outgoing VP and incoming VP) shall serve terms of two consecutive years each.
5.5 At any Meeting of the Council, four Members, including two Officers, shall constitute a Quorum.
5.6 The Council shall have the power to make such regulations as may be necessary for the proper functioning of the Association.
5.7 Should a Council Member vacate a position, it shall be possible for the Council to co-opt an alternative IGA Member until the next Annual General Meeting.
5.8 The Council may co-opt additional Members of the Association who show willingness to serve up to the maximum number of fifteen Members.
5.9 Co-opted Members shall serve until the end of the calendar year in which they are appointed.
5.10 Not more than three co-opted Members may join the Council at any one time.
Elections
6.1 Members of the Association, of good standing*, who have been nominated by another Member of the Association to the Council, at least two weeks before the Annual General Meeting, and who have agreed to accept this nomination, shall be eligible for election or re-election to the Council.
6.2 Election of the Council shall take place at the Annual General Meeting of the Association.
6.3 Proxy voting will be permitted, where a ‘right to vote’ has been signed by the Member who cannot attend, identifying the assigned person permitted to vote on that Member’s behalf. The assigned Member, must be present in person or via electronic means.
6.4 If a Council role remains vacant without nomination, prior to the AGM, it shall be possible to propose an IGA Member of good standing, who agrees to stand for election, from the floor during an AGM.
Constitution
7.1 Amendment of this Constitution shall be proposed by Council and require the support of a two-thirds majority at an Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting of the Association.
7.2 Proposed amendments to the Constitution shall be received by the President at least four weeks before the date of the Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting.
7.3 At least two weeks’ notice of proposed amendments to the Constitution shall be given by the President to Members of the Association.
Association Property
8.1 Any properties or assets held in trust by the Association shall be held in the names of serving Council members.
8.2 No Association Member is entitled to any property or effects of the Association.
8.3 In the event of a dissolution of the Association, any Association property shall be disposed of by gift to such Societies or Associations having for their objectives the furtherance of geological sciences. These shall be selected by a vote of a meeting of the Association called for the purpose.
*Valid Membership, with subscription up to date