Constitution

Full Text of The Constitution (pdf file format)

1. Name
2. Aims
3. Objectives
4. Membership
5. Termination of Membership
6. The Officers
7. The Committee
8. Subscription
9. Finance
10. The Annual Conference
11. The Annual Meeting
12. Constitution
13. Communications
14. Data Protection Act
    

1. Providing a forum for the exchange of ideas.
2. Seeking to influence national policy by the representation of the Association's views where appropriate.
3. Encouraging training and development of staff at all levels.
   Disseminating best practices.

1. Membership shall be open to those staff in university biological, biomedical and life science departments and schools with resource management responsibilities.
2. Associate Membership may be extended to such people as are deemed appropriate. Associate members shall have no voting rights in the Association and may not sit on the Committee.

1. Any member wishing to resign their membership shall notify the secretary in writing.
2. The Association reserves the right to suspend or terminate membership.

1. President
2. Chair
3. Secretary
4. Membership secretary
5. Treasurer
6. The conference organiser during the year preceding, until the end of, the meeting which they have organised.

Candidates for election shall consent either in writing or personally at the annual meeting

1. The Committee shall consist of the officers of the Association and two members who, after consenting in writing or personally at the annual meeting, shall be elected at the annual meeting.
2. Between annual meetings the Committee shall conduct the business and affairs of the Association.
3. The Committee may appoint sub-committees and co-opt members onto them.
4. The Committee may draft policy for approval at the annual meeting.
5. The Committee shall present a report to the annual meeting of the Association.
6. The decisions of the Association's annual meeting shall be final.

8 Subscription - The Committee shall set a subscription rate and annual date of renewal. This decision shall not take effect until confirmed at the subsequent annual meeting.

1. The subscription for associate members will be half the full subscription
2. New members who join after 1st July will have their subscription for that year waived

1. Two Auditors, who shall not be officers or elected members of the Committee, shall be elected at the Annual Meeting.
2. An audited financial report shall be circulated to all members at least four weeks before the annual meeting.
3. The Association's financial year shall end on 31st December.
4. Monies shall be held in a bank account in the name of the Association. The officers shall be signatories, all transactions shall require two signatories

1. The annual conference shall normally be held in March or April of each year at a location decided at the previous annual meeting.
2. The financial arrangements for the conference shall be handled through the host university and in accordance with its financial regulations.
3. Business sessions of the meeting shall be chaired by the Chair, other sessions of the conference shall normally be chaired by the conference organiser. In their absence another member may be elected to chair sessions.

1. The annual meeting shall normally be held during the Annual Conference, the quorum shall be 25 members.
2. Extraordinary meetings shall be convened by decision of the committee or at the written request of ten members. Notice shall be given to all Association members in writing.
3. The annual meeting shall be chaired by the Chair. In his/her absence another member may be elected to the Chair.
4. Members may propose motions for consideration at the Annual Meeting.
5. Emergency motions may be taken at the discretion of the Chair.
6. A simple majority of those voting is required to pass a motion. The Chair has a casting vote.

1. The constitution may only be amended at the annual meeting.
2. Motions to amend this constitution may be proposed by any member. Such motions shall be sent in writing to the secretary at least eight weeks before the annual meeting. The secretary shall circulate such motions to be received by all members at least four weeks before the annual meeting.
3. Such motions shall require a two-thirds majority of those members present.

1. A register of members, including contact and subscription details, may be maintained by association officers on computer
2. Contact information will be made available to other members, who must not pass this on to non-members.
3. The contact information for those attending association meetings may, with the member's consent, be passed on to any sponsors of that meeting