BAUN Constitution

Rules quick links:

Rule 1 The Association
Rule 2 The Aims of the Association
Rule 3 Membership
Rule 4 Membership Fees
Rule 5 BAUN Council
Rule 6 Election of Council members
Rule 7 Election of Council officers
Rule 8 Removal of a council member
Rule 9 The Annual General Meeting
Rule 10 Expenses
Rule 11 Changes to the constitution
Rule 12 Cessation of membership
Rule 13 Extraordinary General Meeting
Rule 14 Dissolution of the Association

Rule 1 The Association

The name of the Association is 'The British Association of Urological Nurses' (BAUN)

Rule 2 The Aims of the Association

The British Association of Urological Nurses aims to promote and maintain the highest standards in the practice and development of urological nursing & urological patient care.

Rule 3 Membership

3.1 Full Membership

Full membership of the Association is limited to registered nurses for whom urological nursing represents the majority of their professional activities. Such nurses will be employed by NHS bodies, educational institutions or within the private health care delivery sector. Full members will have voting rights and be eligible for election to Council and executive office. This applies equally to members of sub-sections.

3.2 Associate Membership

Associate membership is available to any healthcare professional that wishes to join the association and is not eligible for full membership. Associate members are eligible for participation in project teams and working parties.

3.3 Corporate Membership

Corporate membership is available to commercial organisations. Company members do not have voting rights and are not eligible for election to Council. Upon invitation, corporate members are eligible for participation in project teams.

Rule 4 Membership Fees

4.1

Membership of the Association will run for one full year effective from the 1st day of the month of joining. Method of payment will be by direct debit or cash or cheque in pounds sterling drawn on a UK bank.

4.2

The membership subscription is payable annually. Changes to the annual subscription will be reviewed by BAUN Council annually and notified to the membership three months prior to any increase becoming effective.

4.3

Associate membership subscription is the same as the full membership subscription.

4.4

Corporate membership subscription will be determined by BAUN Council annually.

4.5

Membership renewal date notification shall be issued a minimum of one month prior to the due date.

Rule 5 BAUN Council

5.1

BAUN Council will consist of thirteen elected full members with one representative each actively sought from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The balance of the remaining nine Council Members will be elected on a non country basis.

5.2

Where no candidate from any individual member country is forthcoming the Council shall not be disadvantaged and shall comprise of those members seeking election irrespective of geographical location

5.3

On election to Council individual members will be expected to sign standing financial instructions.

5.4

The Council shall meet a minimum of four times yearly.

5.5

In order for Council to be considered quorate a minimum of 50% of Council members must be present including at least one executive officer. In the event of a Council meeting not being quorate, agenda items may be discussed but must be voted on at the next quorate meeting.

5.6

Authorised signatories for the Association are:

In financial matters: President, Treasurer, Secretary, Deputy Treasurer, two of whom must sign with specific prior approval of Council
In all other matters: an executive officer with the specific prior approval of the Council.

Rule 6 Election of Council members

6.1

BAUN Council members will be elected by the membership to serve for a term of office of three years. A Council member may be re-elected for a second consecutive three year term of office. Following a period serving on Council, a period of three years must have elapsed prior to a member being eligible for re-election.

6.2

Nominations for BAUN council will be sought when seats become vacant.

6.3

Each full member of the Association shall receive by post a voting form, together with a précis not exceeding 500 words, of the career and reasons for standing for each candidate. On the voting form each member shall be asked to indicate their acceptance or rejection of the individual candidate by marking the appropriate 'yes' or 'no' box. The number of 'yes' votes cast for each candidate will be counted and the candidate(s) with the greatest number of 'yes' votes will be elected to council, up to the total number of places vacant on council. In the event of a tie, with candidates having an equal number of 'yes' votes, the number of 'no' votes shall determine the successful candidate. In all circumstances where a candidate receives more 'no' votes than 'yes' votes that candidate is eliminated.

6.4

Any member wishing to stand for election to Council must be proposed and seconded by full members

6.5

The count shall be conducted by an agent appointed by the Council for that purpose and confirmed by a Council member who has been nominated by Council to oversee the election process. Council members standing for re-election may not act as the nominated person.

6.6

In the event of a Council member's personal or professional circumstances being altered such that they would no longer be eligible for full membership of the Association, Council may, in exceptional circumstances, exercise its discretion to retain the member on Council if this is deemed to be in the best interests of the Association.

Rule 7 Election of council officers

7.1

Council officers are the President, the Secretary and Treasurer.

7.2

The posts of secretary and treasurer are each assisted by a deputy.

7.3

The office of President is elected by full postal ballot of all full members of the Association as set out in rule 7.4 below. Nominees for the office of President must be standing Council members.

7.4

Each full member of the Association will receive a postal voting form with the name of each nominee together with a brief statement from each nominee. This form must be correctly completed and returned to the Association's appointed agent by the stated deadline.
When there is more than one nominee, the vote will take the form of a standard ballot. The nominee with the most votes returned by the stated deadline will be declared to have been duly elected as Association president for a term of two years.
In the event of a single nominee the voting forms will take the form of a Yes/No vote. The nominee must receive a majority of 'Yes' votes in order to be successful. In the event of a single candidate being unsuccessful, further nominations will be sought and a new election held as soon as is practicable.
The counting of votes will be carried out by an agent appointed by the Council for that purpose and confirmed by a Council member who has been nominated by Council to oversee the election process. Nominees in the election cannot act as the overseeing person.
The Secretary, Treasurer and their deputies are elected by majority vote of Council from standing Council members.

7.5

Nominations for deputy officers will be invited and voted upon when a deputy post becomes vacant.

7.6

The term of office and deputy office, shall be two years. An officer may serve for a second consecutive period of office subject to re-election by council.

7.7

Upon election to council, each member will complete and sign a 'Declaration of Interests' document in order to ensure transparency of practice. Copies of the register of Council members's interests are available to members upon written request to the BAUN Secretary.

7.8

In the event of an officer leaving their post at short notice, the deputy officer shall assume the role of officer until such time as election of a new principal officer can be arranged.

7.9

A council member may not stand for office if the post is scheduled to begin less than 1 calendar year before the end of their maximum term on council.

7.10

An officer may resign from their post and remain on council for the completion of their term as a council member.

Rule 8Removal of a council member

8.1

The process of removal of an elected member of BAUN Council before the end of their period of office can be facilitated via an EGM. An EGM for this purpose can be convened via either one of the following processes:

As per rule 13.1a a cohort of 16 full members can request an EGM to present a motion of no-confidence in a council member. The council member and the petitioner of the motion of no-confidence may then discuss the issue and present their respective arguments at this EGM. A majority vote of the members present would be sufficient to remove the member from council. For this process to be deemed valid a minimum of 10% of the total BAUN full membership must be present at the EGM. Should the EGM fail to attract a minimum of 10% of the full membership, then the motion of no-confidence shall be deemed to be not carried.
A motion of no confidence can be put forward by a member of BAUN council. Should this motion be seconded, BAUN council will hold a vote of no-confidence. Should the no-confidence motion be carried by a simple majority of Council members then an EGM will be called. The EGM would be presented with the motion and arguments as in a) above and a vote would follow. The 10% of membership rule will apply as stated above.

8.2

Should a vote of no-confidence in a council member held at an EGM called for the purpose of removal of that officer be carried by simple majority then that council member shall step down from council with immediate effect.

Rule 9The Annual General Meeting

9.1

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place at the Association's annual conference.

9.2

Notification of the AGM shall be sent to members three months prior to the meeting. Members wishing to submit items for inclusion on the agenda must submit these to the secretary two months prior to the date of the meeting. All such proposals must be seconded by a member.

9.3

The AGM Agenda will be circulated one month prior to the meeting, and will invite postal comments from those members unable to attend the AGM.

9.4

Only members in possession of a voting card, supplied prior to the meeting, will be allowed to vote at the AGM.

9.5

Attendance at the AGM is open to all members of the Association.

9.6

Items for inclusion in the AGM agenda may be submitted by any member of the Association. To facilitate proper consideration by the membership all items submitted for inclusion in the agenda must be supported by a full explanation.

9.7

A postal vote will be accepted from members who are unable to attend the AGM. Any such vote must be received by the secretary at least two weeks prior to the AGM.

9.8

The AGM will be chaired by the President of the Association. Inclusive of the postal votes cast a majority vote will decide any proposal

Rule 10Expenses

10.1

All expenses incurred by members of the Association will be noted in the accounts of the Association. A full financial report of these will be included in the annual report and sent out to all members.

10.2

The travel expenses of Council members to all Council meetings will be met from the Association account.

10.3

Invited speakers to the Annual Conference will have their expenses met by the Association. Members who submit abstracts are not eligible for expenses.

10.4

The Accounts will be presented to the membership at the AGM by the Treasurer.

10.5

All cheques will be signed by two authorised signatories, one of whom will be an executive officer and the other the Treasurer.

Rule 11Changes to the constitution

11.1

A change to the constitution may be proposed by any full member of the Association. Proposed changes should be directed in writing to the Secretary and must be seconded by a full members of the Association. The proposed changes will be submitted as an agenda item at the next meeting of Council for discussion and then put to the membership for voting. The proposed changes will be voted upon by one of the mechanisms stated below as determined by Council:

by simple majority at the AGM
by simple majority at an EGM
by simple majority via a postal vote which will be held within 31 days of the Council meeting at which the proposed changes were discussed.

11.2

A simple majority of votes cast will decide any proposed changes to the constitution.

Rule 12Cessation of membership

12.1

A member shall cease to be a member of the Association:

On submitting a written note of resignation to the secretary. No refund of the membership fee will be issued.
If, following a reminder, their membership fee is not paid within two months of the due date.
If, following investigation by BAUN Council, as a result of a professional complaint or allegation, the member is found to have brought the Association into disrepute.
If a member is removed from the Professional Register by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

Rule 13Extraordinary General Meeting

13.1

An extraordinary general meeting (EGM) may be called:

By any member of the association who has obtained 15 further signatories to the proposal.
By a majority of the BAUN Council

13.2

In the event of an EGM being called members shall be given 21 days notice of the agenda, date, time and venue for the meeting.

13.3

An EGM must be convened within two months of the request being received by the Secretary

Rule 14Dissolution of the Association

14.1

The Association may be dissolved by a resolution passed by a simple majority of those present and voting at the Extraordinary General Meeting which will have been convened for this purpose.

Following the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities incurred by the association instructions will be given for the disposal of any remaining assets held by, or in the name of the association, to other charitable institutions which have similar aims to the association. The charitable institution or institutions will be agreed at the EGM.

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