About the EACD

Constitution

Article 1.

The society shall be known as the European Academy of Childhood Disability. The recognised abbreviation shall be ‘E.A.C.D.’, henceforth called ‘the Academy’.

Article 2. - Objects

To relieve children and adolescents throughout Europe who have disabilities by the promotion of education and research into Childhood Disability. In furtherance of this object, but not further or otherwise, the Academy shall engage in the following aims and activities.

(a) to promote and extend research in all aspects of childhood disability and publish the useful results of such research.
(b) to ensure regular teaching and exchange of information bearing on all aspects of childhood disability by means of meetings, symposia, working groups, exhibitions and publications.
(c) to support the medical and scientific aspects of research into the care and treatment of childhood disabilities.
(d) to foster co-operation and collaboration between those working in the field of childhood disabilities in Europe and elsewhere.
(e) to encourage people throughout Europe to work in the field of childhood disabilities.
(f) to maintain high ethical and scientific standards in all the activities of the Academy.
(g) to raise funds and to invite and receive contributions from any person or persons whatsoever by way of subscriptions and otherwise PROVIDED THAT the Academy shall not undertake permanent trading activities in raising funds for the same object.

Article 3.

The membership of the Academy shall consist of persons who at the time of application have clinical or scientific interest in the problems and treatment of childhood disability. The decision to accept an application for membership of the Academy shall be taken by the General Management Committee on the basis of information supplied by the applicant and be ratified by the membership at the Annual General Meeting. Membership shall not be unreasonably withheld. Any member who wishes to resign from the Academy should notify the Secretary. The resignation shall take place immediately.

Article 4.

The general control, administration and continuing business of the Academy shall be conducted by the Executive Committee, which shall have the following members: a Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary (hereinafter called the Honorary Officers) . The Honorary Officers will be the trustees for the EACD. The Honorary Officers will be supported by the Vice-Chair and at least four other members who together will constitute the General Management Committee. The General Management Committee may establish continuing committees as under article 5 b. The executive committee will have the power to appoint further trustees as and when required.

Article 5 a.

Honorary Officers and the other General Management Committee members shall be elected by the members present at the Annual General Meeting or by postal ballot of the membership at any time, provided that one calendar month’s written notice has been given to the members. A term of office shall be for 4 years. No member shall serve more than 2 consecutive terms of office. The General Management Committee shall meet as required, but at least once annually and a quorum shall consist of 4 members, one of whom must be an Honorary Officer.

Article 5 b.

The Nomination Committee shall be composed of three members, nominated outside the present General Management Committee. One member should be identified by the General Management Committee. The other two members are nominated and elected from the floor at the Annual General Meeting. The Nomination Committee is elected for one year. No members may serve on the Nomination Committee for more than four years.

Article 6.

The Academy may employ such persons, not being a member of the General Management Committee, as may be required to assist Honorary Officers with the work of the Academy.

Article 7.

The General Management Committee shall be able to co-opt members provided that the number of co-opted members shall not exceed one-third of the elected members.

Article 8.

Founder Membership of the Academy shall include all those who indicated their wish to become members by 31st December 1992. Subsequently the General Management Committee shall have the power to elect members of the Academy as stated in Article 3. All applications for membership must be made on the Academy’s application forms and be accompanied by a curriculum vitae.

Article 9.

This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority at an Annual General meeting provided that members have been given one month’s notice in writing of any proposed change and that the proposal has been put forward by at least ten members from at least two countries: and provided that no amendment shall be made to Article 2 (Objects), Article 14 (Dissolution) or this clause without the prior written consent of the Charity Commissioners having been obtained and provided further that no alteration shall be made which would have the effect of causing the Academy to cease to be a charity at law.

Article 10. - Finance

(a) A subscription decided by the General Management Committee shall be payable to the Honorary Treasurer each year. Any member who is more than 2 years in arrears shall cease to be a member of the Academy.
(b) The General Management Committee shall control the funds of the organisation and to this end shall maintain such bank account or accounts in the name of the Academy as it sees fit. Any cheques must be signed by any two of the following to be valid: Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer. The Executive Committee shall arrange for the production of annual accounts which will be inspected by an Independent Examiner to be appointed by the committee.
(c) The General Management Committee shall out of the funds of the organisation pay all proposed expenses of administration and management. Monies raised by or on behalf of the Academy shall be applied to further the objects of the organisation and no further.

Article 11. - Annual General Meeting

An Annual General Meeting shall be held once in every calendar year.

It will be for the purpose of receiving the General Management Committee’s report and the accounts for the year preceding, to elect officers for the forthcoming year and to transact such other business as may be necessary. Members shall be notified of this meeting not less than twenty-eight days before the date of the meeting.

for the purpose of receiving the Executive Committee’s report and the audited accounts for the year preceding, to elect officers for the forthcoming year and to transact such other business as may be necessary. Members shall be notified of this meeting not less than twenty-eight days before the date of the meeting.

A quorum shall be 10% of the current membership.

Article 12. - Ordinary Meetings

Ordinary meetings shall take place from time to time as required by the business of the Academy. The General Management Committee shall have the power to:

(a) organise the venue and content of such meetings
(b) set the fee payable for participation
(c) arrange for the publication of the proceedings

Article 13. - Dissolution

If the General Management Committee by a simple majority decide at any time that on the ground of expense or otherwise it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the Academy, it shall call a meeting of all members of the Academy who have the power to vote, of which meeting not less than 21 day’s notice (stating the terms of the Resolution to be proposed thereat) shall be given. If such decision shall be confirmed by a simple (two thirds) majority of those present and voting at such a meeting the General Management Committee shall have the power to dispose of any assets held by or on behalf of the Academy.

Any assets remaining after the satisfaction of any proper debts and liabilities shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institution or institutions having objects similar to the objects of the Academy as the General Management Committee may determine and insofar as effect cannot be given to this provision then to some other charitable object.

Article 14.

The laws of England and Wales will be applied to the settlement of any question not covered in these statues.

Article 15.

These statutes shall come into force on the day of their approval by the General Meeting.