1. Name:
The name of the Association shall be the National Association of Compass - Co-operation of Minority Religion and Protestant Parent Associations (Post Primary).
2. Objectives:
The objectives of the Association shall be: -
2.1 To provide a national forum for all Parents/Guardians, Parents Associations and Parent members of Parent/Teacher Associations in Protestant or Minority Religion Secondary schools in the Republic of Ireland.
2.2 To elect Protestant and Minority Religion delegates onto the National Parents Council post primary Ltd (NPCpp).
2.3 To represent the parents and guardians of children attending Protestant and Minority Religion post primary schools on any National Parents Organisations concerned with education.
2.4 To consult with the Protestant churches involved in Education, with the Jewish Community Leaders, and other Minority Religious Group Leaders who make themselves known.
2.5 To elect delegates to represent Compass in discussions or negotiations with any other National bodies.
- 3. Membership:
3.1 All parents/guardians, past and present, of students attending Compass schools shall be members of the Association.
3.2 Each school shall have a minimum of one, or a maximum of two Compass Liaison Members.
3.3 Their Parents Association/Parent Teacher Association shall elect these Liaison Members in the first term of each school year, and their names notified to the Hon. Secretary by the 15th December each year.
4. General Meeting:
The Parents/Guardians from each school shall be invited to attend all interactive meetings, in addition to the Annual General Meeting.
5. Annual General Meeting:
The A.G.M. of the Association shall be held before the 31st of May each year, 14 days written notice of the meeting shall be given to all member schools.
6. Extraordinary General Meeting:
An E.G.M. may be called by the Executive Committee, or by 6 fully paid up schools, by giving 14 days written notice to all member schools.
7. Election of National Executive Committee:
7.1 The A.G.M. will elect an Executive Committee each year.
7.2 The Officers and members of the Compass Executive Committee shall be:
(i) President (the President will chair all meetings of the Executive).
(ii) Deputy President (The outgoing President to be ratified at the AGM).
(iii) Vice President (The President elect).
(iv) Hon Secretary
(v) Hon Treasurer
(vi) Public Relations Officer
7.3 In addition five ordinary members shall be elected, at least one of whom but preferably two or more will be parents/guardians of boarder pupils, and at least one but preferably two or more will be parents/guardians of day pupils.
7.4 The President shall serve for a maximum of 3 consecutive years.
7.5 The Vice-President will be elected from the Executive Committee at a meeting following the A.G.M.
7.6 At least three members of the Executive must represent a school located outside the greater Dublin area, and at least three members represent a school located inside the greater Dublin area.
7.7 An Assistant Secretary and an Assistant Treasurer may be elected from the ordinary members of the Executive.
7.8 As our role is that of representing members of the Protestant tradition and members of Minority Religions, the President and the Honorary Secretary and at least 4 other parents on the National Executive, must be members of a Protestant denomination or Minority religion.
7.9 Should two or more persons be proposed for an officer position, or more than 5 Ordinary members be proposed, then election shall be by ballot.
7.10 The members of the Executive Committee may offer themselves for re-election each year and shall not hold office for more than 6 consecutive years, in the event that we do not have eleven members going forward for election to the Executive at the AGM, members may serve a further year.
7.11 The Executive will have the power to invite persons with expertise in relevant areas to serve on the Executive as
ex-oficio in an advisory, non-voting capacity
8. Subscriptions:
8.1 A subscription will be payable by all Parents Associations or Parent/Teacher Association represented by Compass. Where schools are jointly represented by Compass and the Parents Association of Comprehensive Colleges (PACCs) they may affiliate to both Associations.
8.2 The amount of the subscription for each calendar year will be set at the A.G.M. for the following year, and will be payable before the end of February each year.
9. Motions for the Annual General Meeting:
9.1 The Agenda for the A.G.M. will be issued with the Notice of the Meeting.
9.2 Notice of a motion for discussion at the A.G.M. should be submitted to the Honorary Secretary no less than 21 days prior to the date of the A.G.M.
9.3 A 2/3rd majority will be required for any motion to be carried.
10. Annual report:
The President and the Hon Secretary will report to the A.G.M.
11. Accounts/Auditor:
11.1 The Hon Treasurer will present a certified copy of the annual accounts at the AGM.
11.2 A qualified Accountant must have audited the Accounts presented at the A.G.M.
12. Executive Committee Meetings:
The Executive Committee of the Association shall meet at least once in a school term. Further meetings of the Executive Committee may be held as the Executive Committee deems necessary, or at the request of any 3 members of the Executive Committee. Seven clear days notice shall be given to each member of the Executive Committee.
13. Quorum for Executive Committee Meetings:
The quorum shall be 5 for a meeting of the Executive Committee. Resolutions shall be approved by a simple majority and, in the event of a tie; the President shall have a casting vote.
14. Quorum for Annual General Meetings and Extraordinary General Meetings:
There must be a minimum of 9 members representing a minimum of 6 Compass schools present.
16. Delegates to the National Parents Council post primary:
16.1 The delegates to the National Parents Council (NPCpp) shall be elected each year at the A.G.M. from the members of the Association and co-opted delegates, and must be members of a Protestant or Minority Religion.
16.2 The delegates elected at the A.G.M. to the National Parents Council (NPCpp) shall be ex-officio members of the Executive Committee.
16.3 Proxies to NPC(pp) may be other than Protestant or minority religions if required, but must be members of the Executive.
17. Account:
17.1 A Bank Account shall be kept in the name of Compass under the supervision of the Honorary Treasurer.
17.2 Cheques drawn on this account will require the signature of any two of the Officers of Compass.
18. Amendment to the Constitution:
18.1 Amendments to this Constitution may only be made by way of a motion carried by majority vote at an AGM or EGM.
18.2 The Executive Committee shall review the Constitution of Compass every five years.