1. To facilitate communication and interaction between persons interested
in the environmental sciences and their application to environmental planning
and management.
2. To encourage a better understanding of the importance of the environment.
3. To foster appreciation of good environmental quality.
4. To promote the environmental sciences and the profession of environmental
practice.
5. To facilitate access to specialist knowledge and scientific comment on
environmental issues.
All photos courtesy of Adrian Corcoran & Karen McCrann [ AK-Photos ]
3.
Management
1. The affairs of the Association shall be managed by a Council of not less
than 10 elected members, including 5 officers, and not more than 15 members
in total.
2. The Council shall have the power to co-opt additional members for one year
of office.
3. The officers shall be: Chairperson, Vice-chairperson, Honorary Secretary,
Honorary Treasurer, and Honorary Editor.
4. The duties of the Chairperson shall be: (i) to chair meetings of the Council
and all General Meetings; (ii) to guide and promote the activities of the
Association; and, (iii) to represent the Association.
5. The duties of the Vice-chairperson shall be those of the Chairperson in
his or her absence.
6. The duties of the Hon. Secretary shall be to maintain minutes and other
records of the Association, and to carry out other secretarial duties as requested
by the Council.
7. The duties of the Hon. Treasurer shall be to manage the finances of the
Association, and to keep membership records.
8. The duties of the Hon. Editor shall be to produce the Newsletter of the
Association as requested by Council.
1.
Name The name of the organisation shall be The
Environmental Sciences Association of Ireland
4.
Election of Council and Officers
1. The election of officers and other members of the Council
shall take place only at Annual General Meetings, as Council vacancies arise.
2. Election shall be by secret ballot.
3. The term of office of Council members shall be two years and members shall
be eligible for immediate re-election.
4. All nominations for election shall be in writing signed by two members
of the Association with the written consent of the candidate to serve if elected.
Nominations for election to the Council shall be given to the Hon. Secretary
at or before the Annual General Meeting.
5. Temporary appointments until the next General Meeting may be made by the
Council to fill vacancies arising during a term of office.
6. The Council shall be empowered to appoint Committees from among members
of the Association, and determine the terms of reference of such committees.
7. Only fully paid-up Association members may participate in elections.
5.
Council Meetings
1. The Hon. Secretary shall be authorised to call meetings
of the Council, when so directed by the Chairperson.
2. Alternatively, any five Council members, acting in concert, may call a
Council meeting.
3. All Council members must be informed in writing of the date, time and venue
of any forthcoming Council meeting at least seven days in advance of that
Council meeting.
4. Within two months of the Annual General Meeting there shall be a Council
meeting at which the Hon. Secretary must provide a written list of names and
addresses of all Council members.
5. A quorum at the meeting of the Council shall consist of five elected members.
6. Members of the Council who fail to attend three consecutive meetings of
the Council without apology shall cease to be members of it, unless reinstated
by a majority vote of the Council.
7. The decisions of the Council shall be taken by a majority vote. The Chairperson
shall not vote except in the event of a tie.
6.
General Meetings
1. The Annual General Meeting shall be held at approximately
annual intervals, at such time and place as shall be decided by the Council.
2. The Hon. Secretary shall at the direction of the Council, be empowered
to call a General Meeting for the consideration of the business of the Association.
3. The Hon. Secretary shall give all members of the Association not less than
two weeks notice of the date, time and place of any General Meeting.
4. A quorum of any General Meeting shall be the number of elected members
of the Council plus one.
5. Decisions shall be taken by a simple majority vote with the Chairperson
having a casting vote in the event of a tie.
6. Voting shall be by ballot, or by show of hands if so agreed by a majority
of members present.
7.
Finances
The funds of the Association shall be in the name of the
Association and shall be operated by the Hon. Treasurer, who will be accountable
to the Association and shall produce accounts at the Annual General Meeting.
The accounts of the Association shall be audited.
8.
Membership
1. There shall be two categories of membership:
(i) Subscribing Membership, for members paying ordinary or reduced subscription.
(ii)Honorary Life Membership, for members elected by a two-thirds majority
of the members of the Council, if, in the opinion of the Council, they have
contributed in an outstanding way over a many years to the advancement of
environmental research or practice in Ireland. As honorary members they shall be entitled to the full benefits of ordinary membership for life. No more
than one honorary member may be elected in any one year.
2. There shall be two categories of subscription:
(i)Ordinary subscription, open to all persons interested in the aims of the
Association.
(ii)Reduced subscription, open to all students and unwaged persons interested
in the aims of the Association.
9.
Annual Subscription
1. The annual subscription shall be decided by the Council.
2. The annual subscription shall be payable on the 1st day of January of each
year by all members. The unwaged subscription shall not be less than half
the ordinary subscription.
3. Membership of the Association shall lapse if the current annual subscription
is not paid by the 1st day of April of each year.
10.
Privileges of Membership
1. Members shall be entitled to receive free of charge
the circulars and any regular publications of the Association.
2. Members shall be entitled to be notified of and granted access to all meetings
of the Association, but only by the invitation of the Council to Council Meetings,
or by the invitation of a Committee to Committee Meetings.
3. Members shall be entitled to submit articles and letters for consideration
for publication in any publications of the Association.
4. Members shall be entitled to attend and vote at all meetings of the Association,
other than Council and Committee Meetings.
11.
Amendments and Alterations to the Constitution
1. No rule shall be made, altered or deleted from this
constitution, except at a General Meeting of the Association. All Members
are entitled to suggest an amendment, prior to a General Meeting, by submitting
the suggested change to the Hon. Secretary.
2. The Hon. Secretary shall notify members of any suggested amendment before
the General Meeting at which it is to be considered. A majority of two-thirds
of those present in favour of the amendment shall authorise the amendment.
3. Amendments proposed before a General Meeting may be amended themselves
during the General Meeting, with the consent of the proposer of the original
amendment and a simple majority of those present at the General Meeting.
Code
of Ethics
1.
Introduction
Members of the Environmental Sciences Association of
Ireland are bound by this Code of Professional Conduct.
The purpose of the Code is to ensure the commitment of Members to the objectives
of the Association which are:
to facilitate communication and interaction between persons
interested in the environment.
to encourage further understanding of the importance of
the environment through education and study.
to foster an appreciation of good environmental quality.
to promote the disciplines and professions of the environmental
sciences.
to provide specialist advice and objective comment
on environmental issues.
3. Professional Obligations
In pursuing their professional activities members shall
act with scientific integrity by
reporting correctly, truthfully, fully and clearly
to the limit of their ability information pertinent to a given project and
by conveying their results objectively.
identifying and reporting any inadequacies or financial constraints that
might have impaired the quality of expert work undertaken.
fully acknowledging and fairly representing the professional contributions
of others.
taking reasonable steps to establish the validity of information supplied
by an employer or other organisation.
performing only such services that are within their competence.
ensuring that their comments on environmental issues are backed by a sound
understanding of all scientific and technical aspects pertinent to the issue
being addressed.
4.
Duty to the Association
Each member will endeavour to ensure that applicants for
membership will follow these principles and obligations. Each member will
uphold these principles and obligations and will, through advice and encouragement,
attempt to ensure the adherence to these principles and obligations by other
members.
2.
Fundamental Principles
Members shall give priority to respecting and protecting
the environment by ensuring that the highest standards of ethics, personal
honour, scientific integrity and professional conduct are adopted in their
professional activities.
