1

Origin, Name and Character
The Dollar Academy Parents’ Association was founded on the 30th August 1960 at a meeting in Dollar of parents of Dollar Academy pupils and it is an association of parents of present pupils of Dollar Academy.

2

Aim and Objective
The Association exists to represent and act for the parents’ collectively and to protect their collective interests in any matters pertaining to Dollar Academy and the Dollar Academy Trust.  It specifically does not take up individual parents’ cases or grievances unless they are deemed to affect the interest of parents collectively.  It specifically does not intervene between parent or pupil on the one hand and Rector and Teacher on the other.

3

Membership
Any parent or guardian whose child is a pupil of Dollar Academy is eligible to be a member.  Membership is confirmed by an indication of the person concerned to the Honorary Secretary of their desire to be a member and the payment of the current fee (if any).

All former full members become special members.  Special members are eligible for membership of the Dollar Academy Parents’ Association Swimming Club.

4

Funds
There is a present no membership subscription but one may be instituted by vote at an Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting.

Funds maybe raised by special appeals at the discretion of the committee.

Funds are in the keeping of the Honorary Treasurer who must account to every regular committee meeting and to the Annual General Meeting and the accounts must be audited annually, the Honorary Auditor reporting to the Annual General Meeting.

Funds other than petty cash must be kept in a bank account from which withdrawals maybe made on the signature of the Chairman, Hon. Secretary or Hon. Treasurer.

Donations are accepted on the understanding that they will be applied to cover the expenses of the Association or for such legitimate purposes as the committee may decide.

5

Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting is the supreme authority of the association.  It meets in Dollar on a date selected by the committee between August 30th and December 31st.  One calendar month’s notice of the date, time and place of the Annual General Meeting must be given by advertisement or circular to members.

6

Special General Meeting
Special General Meetings for fixed and limited agenda maybe convened by the committee and must be convened by the committee if 100 members write to the secretary requesting such a meeting for a specific purpose also stated.   One week’s notice must be given by circular or advertisement to members.

7

Committee
The committee shall be 12 Association members as defined in 3 above and shall comprise the, Chairman, Hon Secretary, Hon Treasurer, and 9 ordinary members.

i

The committee shall conduct the business of the Association during the session between Annual General Meetings.

ii

The office bearers shall be elected by the outgoing committee but all other vacancies on committee shall be filled by ballot and election at the Annual General Meeting.  Nominations for office or ordinary membership must be submitted in writing to the Hon Secretary at least 14 days prior to the AGM and must be proposed and seconded by Association members.

iii

All Association members are eligible for nomination and election as Ordinary members of the committee.  Once elected, ordinary membership will continue for a maximum period of 3 sessions.  Having served as an ordinary member for a minimum of 1 session, committee members maybe elected to serve as office bearers for a new period of 3 sessions.

iv

Committee members who do not attend at least two thirds of all committee meetings in a session without a reason acceptable to the committee will be deemed to have retired at the next AGM.

v

Members of the Association may offer themselves for re-election to the committee as an ordinary member or as Secretary or as Treasurer or as Deputy as required.  Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, membership of the committee in any capacity shall cease at the AGM following the loss of Association membership under Section 3 above.

vi

Vacancies on committee occurring during one session may be filled by co-option of Association members but to continue as a committee member the co-optee must be duly elected at the next AGM.

vii

At the discretion of the committee one representative of each club affiliated to the Association may be co-opted as an ordinary member to serve for the current session even if the co-optee has been disqualified under Section 3 above.

viii

The eligibility of a person to serve as Parents’ Association Governor shall be a minimum of one year as a present or previous committee member.  The person acting as Parents’ Association Governor shall be a parent and a committee member and shall be elected by the committee to serve for a period of up to 5 years.

8

Annual General Meeting Business
The agenda drawn up by the committee is circulated with a notice of the meeting.  Items for the agenda maybe submitted by the members, in writing, to the Hon Secretary up to 14 days before the AGM.  Other matters can be raised at the end of the meeting.
Voting at the AGM and at any Special General Meeting is by a show of hands, unless a ballot is requested.  Any two members may request a ballot.   The Hon Secretary and Hon Treasurer act as scrutineers unless the AGM decided otherwise for the occasion.

No decision maybe reversed for one year unless the meeting decides by a three-quarters majority at a General Meeting to reverse it.

9

Referendum
The Annual General Meeting or the committee may submit any major issue of policy to the whole membership by referendum.  Papers are circulated by the Hon Secretary and returns scrutinized by him/her and the Hon Treasurer, subject to check by the Honorary Auditor.

10

Winding Up
The Association may be dissolved only by referendum of the whole membership; three-quarters of the membership must vote in favour.

11

Amendment : Annual General Meeting 1996
Any question not settled by the Constitution is to be settled by the Committee, subject to endorsement by the Annual General Meeting.  This Constitution may be amended by a three-quarters vote at the Annual General Meeting on a motion, of which due notice has been given in writing.

12

Amendment : Annual General Meeting 2000
Section VII, v.

29 November 2006 – copied into Word document and QAed for originality.