The Constitution of Agile

Chartered Physiotherapists working with older people

1. Title:

The Association will be known as AGILE, Chartered Physiotherapists working with Older People.

2. Aim:

To develop and communicate policies to enable and support members to deliver cost-effective physiotherapy practice with older people based on research and education.

Objectives:

2.1 T o facilitate the exchange of ideas and information for the benefit of all members.

2.2 To improve interdisciplinary communication and understanding for the benefit of older people

2.3 To contribute to any appropriate project concerned with the well being of older people.

2.4 To encourage, support and co-ordinate relevant activities regionally, nationally and internationally, based on the above.

3. Membership:

3.1. Full membership shall be open to all annually subscribing members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy on the payment of the membership fee of AGILE as notified annually.

3.2. Group and organisational membership can be offered to sites with rotational staff. On payment of the fee the department shall be entitled to one copy of AGILITY, one discounted fee at courses /conferences, one vote and subsidy on AGILE merchandise.

3.3. Associate membership shall be open to:-

3.3.1. Any other physiotherapist eligible for state registration.

3.3.2. Other Professionals at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

• Overseas membership is available to any physiotherapist working overseas, as an associate member only. Full membership can only be granted if the person is a member of the CSP. Membership applications that do not come under the above categories can be considered at NEC meetings, under the guidance of the CSP.
• Student membership will be placed at a reduced rate of the full membership fee open to students studying for the qualification recognised by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.

3.6. Physiotherapy Assistants or Technical Instructors who are eligible for membership of the Assistants List of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.

3.7. Honorary membership may be conferred on any person recommended by two members, who has, in the opinion of two thirds of the Executive Committee, made an exceptional contribution to the advancement of physiotherapy with older people, or given out-standing service to the Association. If fulfilling the criteria for full membership, they shall maintain voting rights. A maximum of two Honorary Members may be conferred each year.

3.8 Voting rights shall be held by all individual members. Any departmental memberships shall be entitled to one vote and shall count as one member on regional membership lists.

4. Regional groups:

4.1 The membership of the Association shall be grouped geographically.

The regions are defined as follows: -

NE & Yorkshire North West
South West North & South Thames
West Midlands Trent East Anglia & Oxford Wales
Northern Ireland Scotland

4.2 Each region shall elect one member and one alternative member to serve on the committee for a period of 2 years and will be eligible for one period of successive re-election. Each region may have one representative per 100 members, and a further representative for up to 100 members more e.g. members 1 – 99 = 1 representative, 100 – 199 = 2 nd representative etc. The factor determining the number of representatives a region should have will be based either on the previous year’s regional numbers at the close of that year, or an increase in the members who join during the course of a year.

4.3 Local groups may be formed within the region at the discretion of members of that region and in consultation with the Executive Committee of AGILE.

4.4 Each region shall organise at least one meeting per year, which shall include an Annual General Meeting.

• Each Regional Group shall provide a short written report to the Association's Annual General Meeting.
• Notification of termination of a Regional Group shall be submitted in writing to the Secretary of AGILE. Funds should be returned to the Treasurer of AGILE; these will be held for up to 7 years, ring-fenced, in the event of the regional group being re-established.

4.7 The number and boundaries of regions may be altered only after appropriate change or amendment to the Constitution of AGILE.

5. Officers:

5.1 The officers of the Association shall be the Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, Public Relations Officer, Research & Information Officer, Journal Editor, Membership Secretary, iCSP Officer and Notes secretary.

5.2 The Officers shall meet as often as necessary to deal with the day to day business of the Association and to make recommendations for consideration by the Executive Committee.

5.3 The Chair shall normally hold office for two years following a two-year term of office as Vice Chair. The two-year term of office of the Chair may be extended if the Vice Chair has not held office for a complete term.

5.4 The Chair elect who shall be known as the Vice Chair shall be elected at the AGM and shall normally hold office for two years. In the event of the Chair relinquishing office before completion of the specified term, the Vice Chair shall complete the term of office of the relinquishing Chair and shall then serve as Chair for another two years. In this event or in the event of a Vice Chair relinquishing before completion of the specified term, the Executive Committee shall have the power to appoint a temporary Vice Chair to hold the office until the next AGM when elections for the office of Vice Chair shall be held. The Vice Chair thus elected shall hold office for at least one year.

5.5 The Treasurer, Secretary, Public Relations Officer, Research and Development Officer, Membership Secretary, Journal Editor, iCSP officer and Notes secretary shall be elected at the AGM and shall hold office for two years and will be eligible for one period of successive re-election.

5.6 Subsequent re-election following a retirement period of 2 years is permitted.

5.7 Co -opted project officers, should not exceed 20% of the executive committee, may be appointed onto the executive in order to fulfil specific objectives of the association. Their role should be reviewed annually and they should be eligible for co-option onto the executive for a maximum of two years. Co-opted members are eligible to vote.

6. Quorum

50% of the Executive Committee shall form a quorum.

7 Executive committee:

7.1 The Executive Committee of the Association shall be the President, Officers and one representative from each of the agreed regions as defined in 4.1 together with a Conference Coordinator. The Executive Committee shall fulfill the criteria for the full membership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.

7.2 The President shall be invited by the Association's Committee to serve for two years and may serve for a maximum of three consecutive years.

7.3 If the elected Regional Representative relinquishes a seat on the Executive committee, the alternative member shall complete the term of office. The Representative so appointed shall be eligible for immediate re-election.

7.4 The Conference Coordinator shall be a member of the committee for that year (or be co-opted), resident in the region hosting the Conference for the year in question (if the conference is hosted by a region) and supported by local members.

7.5 The Executive committee shall have the power to invite others to meetings where expertise or advice is needed for particular tasks.

7.6 The Executive Committee shall meet not less than twice a year.

7.7 The Chair of AGILE shall not vote unless a casting vote is required.

7.8 Working groups may be set up on an ad hoc basis to meet current needs (See Ref 5.7 above)

8 Nominations

8.1 Nominations for Officers and Members of the Executive Committee other than Regional Representatives shall be submitted in writing to the Secretary of the Association prior to the AGM. They shall be proposed and seconded and shall include the written consent of the nominee. If no nominations are received, co-opted members may fill posts for one year. All vacancies will be notified to the membership with notice of the AGM.

9 Annual general meeting:

9.1 5% of the membership constitutes a quorum

9.2 At least 21 days notice in writing shall be given to the members

9.3 Proxy forms may be used at the AGM. The Membership Secretary must receive all proxy votes on an official proxy form, fourteen days before the AGM stating the name of the attending member holding the vote that should not exceed 20 proxy votes per member.

10 Finances:

10.1 The funds of AGILE shall be kept in a bank approved by the Executive Committee

10.2 The bank accounts and all investments of surplus monies shall be in the name of AGILE

10.3 The Chair, Treasurer and another NEC member shall be authorised to sign cheques on behalf of the Association. Two signatures shall be required for each cheque.

10.4 The financial statement of the Association made up to December 31 st in each year, duly audited, shall be submitted to members of the Association at the AGM

11 Extraordinary general meeting:

11.1 The Chairman or Secretary shall call and arrange an Extraordinary General Meeting

a) On receipt of instructions from the Executive Committee

b) On receipt of a written requisition signed by at least 10% of the membership

11.2 Twenty-one clear days notice shall be given to members

11.3 The Extraordinary General Meeting shall be chaired by the Chair of the Association

11.4 The business of the Extraordinary General Meeting shall be limited to the business for which it was called

12 Complaints:

12.1 Complaints shall be discussed formally between the complainant and Regional Representative

12.2 Should higher intervention be needed, the member/representative shall pass the latter to AGILE's Chair or Vice Chair or President as appropriate. The Officer shall undertake an impartial investigation, report it to the Executive Committee and submit a documented report to the Secretary and regional representative. If necessary the CSP should be consulted for further advice. Anonymity shall be assured as far as practicable.

12.3 Any complaint investigated shall be included in the Chair’s Annual Report

12.4 A complaint should be acknowledged within one month and completed within a further two months.

13 Cessation of AGILE:

• A recommendation for cessation of the Association shall come from Executive Committee to the AGM or an Extraordinary General Meeting and shall only occur if agreed by at least two thirds of the voting members present.
• The meeting shall decide the allocation of assets of the Association.

13.3 Notice of cessation shall be twenty-eight clear days to all members.

13.4 Notice of cessation shall be lodged with the Council of the Chartered Society of

Physiotherapy

14 Alteration of the constitution:

14.1 Any amendments to this constitution shall be submitted in writing to the Secretary 3 months prior to the AGM for circulation to the membership.

September 2006 AGM