British Lourdes Medical Association | Lourdes Doctors | Lourdes Nurses | Pilgrimage Medicine

CONSTITUTION of the Constitution of THE BRITISH LOURDES MEDICAL ASSOCIATION


1 NAME
The Association shall be called the British Lourdes Medical Association.
2 PATRONS
a ) The patrons shall be Our Lady of Lourdes, and St Bernadette.
b ) The Honorary President shall normally be the Bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes.
c ) The Bishop(s) responsible for the movement of people for England and Scotland will be invited to be Honorary Vice-Presidents.
d) Other Honorary Vice-Presidents shall be elected from time to time in recognition of service to, or special relationship with, the Association.
3 AIMS
a) To provide fellowship and support for all clinicians helping sick pilgrims to go to Lourdes.
b) To provide a focal point of clinical expertise for those with responsibility for the care of sick pilgrims, such as pilgrimage organisers and directors.
c) To provide a resource for all clinicians taking, or considering taking, sick pilgrims to Lourdes.
d) To provide a resource for all clinicians wishing to know more about Lourdes and clinical care in the pilgrimage setting.

4 MEMBERSHIP
a) FULL
Full membership shall be open to all those who are health care professionals with experience in or an interest in the care of sick pilgrims undertaking pilgrimage to Lourdes. This will include all past and present members of the International Lourdes Medical Association (I.M.A.L.).
b) ASSOCIATE
Associate membership shall also be open to those training as healthcare professionals with an interest in the care of sick pilgrims, and those healthcare professionals practicing or living outside the British Isles.
5 THE OFFICERS
The Officers shall consist of a Chairman, a Vice- Chairman, a Secretary and a Treasurer. By agreement, these roles may be split amongst further members of the Council as required. In this case, both officers will have the same terms of appointment as the single officer.
6 COUNCIL
The Council of the Association shall consist of the four Officers plus seven voting members. Ex-officio non-voting members of the Council shall include the honorary chaplain; the immediate past chair when relevant; a Lourdes International Medical Committee (CMIL) representative, who has been invited by the Council, or who has been nominated by British CMIL representatives to represent the CMIL; and a representative of Seirbhis (the Irish LMA). The Council shall have the power to co-opt up to two persons in addition to the above, ordinarily these will be non-voting members.
7 DUTIES OF THE COUNCIL
The Council shall manage the affairs of the Association, including the provision of advice to members, be responsible for arranging the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and conference.
8 ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS
a ) Members of Council shall be elected at the AGM by a ballot of those full members present from nominations received prior to the meeting or on the day. Members may nominate themselves or others (with their agreement). Those eligible for election must hold valid registration with their relevant professional body and be actively involved in some way with pilgrimage to Lourdes. Council members shall hold office for three years, renewal for one further term. A Council member who fails to attend three consecutive Council meetings may at the discretion of the chairman be asked to demit.
b) Officers shall be elected, normally from amongst existing Council members, at the AGM by a ballot of those full members present,
i)The Chairman and Vice-chairman shall be registered with the relevant professional body. They will hold office for three years and shall not be eligible for re-election for a consecutive term to the same office. The Vice-chairman shall normally be the Chairman-elect; the immediate past Chairman shall be an ex-officio member for one year.
ii ) The Secretary and Treasurer shall hold office for three years and be eligible for re-election for a further three years.
9 SECRETARY
The Secretary shall conduct all correspondence and shall keep the minutes of the Association and Council. The Secretary shall provide a report to the Council and to the AGM of all correspondence received. The Secretary shall keep an up to date list of registered members of the Association. They shall maintain an archive.
10 TREASURER
The Treasurer shall receive all monies due to the Association and make all payments, shall keep an up to date list of all such receipts and payments, and shall liaise with the bank on behalf of the Association. The Treasurer and/or Chairman shall be authorized to draw cheques on the Association's bank account(s) The Treasurer shall provide the Council and the AGM with yearly accounts. The account year shall run from January to December.
11 CHAPLAIN
The Council shall invite a Chaplain who shall offer spiritual guidance to the Association. He shall be an Honorary member of the Association and an ex-officio member of the Council and shall serve for three years, but can be re-appointed three yearly.
12 VACANCIES OF OFFICE
The Council shall for the current year temporarily appoint to any vacancies that may occur within Council until the next AGM.
13 MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL
The Council shall meet at least thrice per year. One meeting will normally be held at the AGM. A quorum will be two office bearers and three voting members either in attendance or in real-time contact. The Council shall appoint sub-committees as deemed desirable. At least two weeks before a meeting, a copy of the Agenda, the minutes of the previous meeting and details of any proposals for consideration by the Council shall be forwarded to each member. Members may submit matters for consideration for inclusion to the Secretary before this date.
14 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
An Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall be held. A quorum of council plus 10 voting members shall be considered quorate for the purposes of holding an AGM. At least two weeks beforehand a copy of the Agenda, minutes of the previous AGM and a list of proposals for Officers and Committee shall be forwarded to each member. Members may submit matters for consideration for inclusion to the Secretary before this date.
15 EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
A quorum of Council members and/or ten full members of the Association shall be entitled to call an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of the Association by informing the Secretary, in writing, of their reasons for calling one. At least two weeks notice of the EGM together with the proposal should be given in writing to all members. Representation at the EGM may be received form members in person, in writing or electronic form from any voting member. A quorum for the meeting will be ten voting members of the Association, including at least one representative of council.

16 SUBSCRIPTIONS
Subscriptions shall be proposed and agreed at the AGM and shall be sufficient to cover administrative costs and shall be due on the 1st January each year. Membership of the Association shall automatically lapse if no subscription is received for two consecutive years.
16 ALTERATION OF CONSTITUTION
The Constitution shall not be altered or added to except at an AGM or EGM. Proposed alterations and additions must be invited by the Secretary before the meeting. No additions or alterations shall be made to the Constitution unless there is a majority of those voting in favour at that meeting. Changes to the Constitution, should come into force immediately and be ratified the following year.