Constitution Of Al-Kindi
Constitution Of Al-Kindi Society for Engineers
Last Modifications: AGM 2010
Article 1: Title: Al-Kindi Society of Engineers
Article 2: General:
1- Al-Kindi Society for Engineers (hereinafter called the Society) is a professional engineering representative body based in the UK, established to foster the technical interests of engineers and associated qualified professionals, and promotes scientific interest within the community.
2- The Society is open to all, with a special focus on the Iraqi community in the UK.
3- The Society’s Headquarters shall be based in London; Branches of the Society may be established in other areas when approved by the AGM.
4- The Society will normally conduct its affairs using the English and Arabic languages.
Article 3: Aims and Objectives:
1. To raise awareness of the community to the role of engineers in the society.
2. To promote a high standard of active participation in the forefront of technology and state of the art research.
3. To bring together talents and expertise in the field of Engineering and other associated disciplines.
4. To exchange ideas and information and forge close contacts and co-ordination with other technical organisations.
5. To provide technical advisory service and guidance to the community at large on pertinent engineering issues.
6. To facilitate employment opportunities, training and education in the engineering industry.
Article 4: Activities:
1. To organise regular seminars on various engineering topics.
2. To publish scientific papers periodicals, circulars, or other literary works.
3. To make available information on employment opportunities and education.
4. To hold meetings and encourage correspondence to facilitate the exchange of ideas and information.
5. To organise visits to sites of scientific interests.
6. To communicate and co-operate with other organisations to promote the objectives of the Society.
7. To affiliate to international professional bodies.
Article 5: Membership:
Membership of the Society shall be open to all engineers and persons with scientific interest, subject to the payment of subscriptions as laid down in Article 12. Two full members of the society shall sponsor each application for membership. Applications may be made to the Society’s Headquarters or any of the established Branches.
1. Full Membership (with voting rights):Holders of degree, diploma or equivalent qualification in engineering or associated discipline.Honorary life membership may be granted to persons who have performed a special service to the Society, and to distinguished engineers in terms of their qualification, experience and achievements. TheExecutive Committee shall make recommendation to an AGM for approval.
2. Associate Membership (entitled to the privileges of full membership except they may not vote or serve as Officers of the Society)Associate membership may be granted to persons who have an interest in science and technology.Student Membership granted to persons who are enrolled in full time or part time course leading to engineering or associated scientific qualification.
Article 6: Organisation Structure:
Article 7: General Meetings
(a) Annual General Meeting, hereinafter called AGM.
1. The AGM shall consist of all registered Full Members of the Society present at the meeting.
2. The AGM is the highest decision making authority in the Society.
3. Each year, the AGM shall elect the Chairman and the Executive Committee of the Society to hold office for one year.
4. Nominees for the presidency of the Society must have a minimum of two years membership in the Society.
5. The AGM shall approve the Annual Executive Committee report.
6. The AGM is empowered to call for a motion of no confidence in the Executive Committee.
7. The AGM is empowered to change any article in the constitution by a majority vote of two thirds.
8. The AGM reserves the right to refuse a new application for membership.
9. The quorum of the AGM shall be twenty-five full members or 50% of the fully paid members for the current year. If this quorum is not satisfied, then the Executive Committee shall call for another meeting with a quorum of fifteen full members within one month. If the latter quorum is not satisfied, then a third meeting shall be called by the Executive Committee with the same quorum of fifteen and so on.
10. Decisions of the AGM are taken by a simple majority, unless otherwise stated in this constitution.
(b) Extra Ordinary Meeting: hereinafter called EOM.
1. The EOM can be called by the Executive Committee or by the request of at least one third of the full members to discuss exceptional subjects related to the affairs of the society.
2. The quorum of EOM shall be one third of the full members of the society.
3. An EOM shall assume all powers of AGM except the right to change the constitution.
(c) Branches Annual General Meeting, hereinafter called BAGM.Branches shall hold independent BAGM to elect the Branch’s Administrative Committee, Approve their Annual Report and amend the Branch’s rules. The BAGM have no power to amend the Society’s Constitution, but all members have the right to attend the Society’s AGM, participate in discussions and voting.
Article 8: Executive Committee, hereinafter called EC:
1-The chairman shall be the elected Chairman of the society and shall represent the Society externally on professional matters.
2-All posts of the EC shall be elected by a simple majority of its members.
3-The EC shall be responsible for running the affairs of the Society to achieve its aims and objectives.
Branch Representatives can attend meetings of the EC.
4-The EC is empowered to appoint other members of the Society in order to replace any resigned elected members.
5-The EC shall submit its annual report to the AGM. The report shall include details on financial matters, membership matters, public relation, publications, activities another relevant matters.
6-The EC shall consist nine members:
Chairman:The Chairman shall manage the EC affairs, responsible for chairing all meetings and exercising casting vote whenever necessary.
Deputy Chair:Responsible for the Branches coordination, represent and carry out the Chairman’s duties when requested. In the event of resignation of the Chairman, stands for the Presidency of the Society for the remainder of the EC term of office.
Secretary:Responsible for day to day running of the EC, organising and maintaining EC meetings, co-ordinating activities of the EC, dealing with external correspondence and taking minutes of EC meetings.
Finance:Responsible for all financial matters related to the Society including book keeping of income, expenditures and bank account.
Membership:Responsible for administrating membership records, promoting new applications and keeping/updating records and mailing list of members and non-members contacts.
Public Relations:Responsible for promoting the society externally, co-ordination with similar societies, working towards recognition or affiliation to professional engineering societies, fund-raising and approach to organisations for potential grants.
Publishing:Responsible for the production of the society’s Newsletter and other publications.
Activities:Responsible for co-ordination of all activities of the Society such as seminars, technical/social meetings, trips and other functions.
Training & Support:To help and advice members in their quest for Jobs or studies.
Article 9: Specialist Interest Groups:
1-The following Specialist Interest Groups shall be formed within the Society:
i.Mechanical and Production engineering.
ii.Electrical engineering and Computing.
iii.Civil and Structural engineering.
iv.Chemical and Petroleum engineering.
v. Architecture and Town Planning.
2-The EC may form a specialist group with a minimum of three members.
3- Each Specialist Group shall appoint a co-ordinator to liase their activities.
4- The Specialist Interest Groups shall organise their own activities through the co-ordinator and may produce technical/research papers to be published by the society.
Article 10: Technical Referees Council, hereinafter:
1. The Technical Referees Council shall be appointed by the EC and consist of a minimum of three full members who satisfy one of the following requirements:
i.PhD qualification with a minimum of two years post PhD experience.
ii.Has held a position of technical authority in an established company for a minimum of five years.
2. The Technical Referees Council shall act as a referee for any publication, or any technical assessment required from the Society.
Members of the Technical Referees Council shall deal in disciplines within their area of speciality.
Article 11: The Society’s Branches:
1-The AGM shall approve the establishment of a Branch in accordance to the Society’s constitution, on the recommendation of the EC.
2-The Administrative committee of the Branches (minimum three members) may draw up own rules in line with the Constitution and approval of the BAGM, hold local activities or participate in any of the activities of other centres of the Society.
3-The Society shall undertake to furnish the Branch with all necessary information and the Society’s publications and afford the Branch with the services of the Society’s EC.
4-To facilitate the Branch’s activities and needs, the Branch’s Administrative Committee shall maintain 75% of the subscription fees of Members and Associate Members who reside within the area of the branch.
Article 12: Rules of Conduct:
All classes of members shall at all times so order their conduct as to uphold the dignity and reputation of the Society and discharge their professional responsibility with integrity. If any member shall be found by an AGM or EOM to have committed improper conduct, then the society reserves the right to take an appropriate disciplinary action against the said member.
Article 13: Subscription Fees:
Members shall be required to pay an annual Subscription Fee payable on the first of January of each year to the Society’s Headquarters or to an established Branch as follows:
1-Full Membership fees are £30 pa for employed members, £15 pa for the Unemployed.
Honorary Members are non-fee paying but with all the rights of fee-paying full Members.
2-Associate Members are required to pay an annual subscription fee of £15 pa.
Student Members are not required to pay an annual subscription fee.
