Constitution of Stay-At- Home Parents Association Ireland
Enacted Date: 01/10/2016
Preamble
A Facebook group was set up in October 2015 to discuss starting an association to give voice to stay-at-home parents in Ireland. The first version of the constitution shall be deemed to be enacted by a two-thirds majority of the voting membership.
1. Philosophy
1.1 The association’s intended purpose is to give stay-at- home parents visibility before the media, national policy makers and the government and give input on issues which directly impact on the future viability of staying at home with one’s children, such as economic issues.
1.2 The association is for parents who want to care for their own children by staying at home during at least part of their childhoods and who believe that this is in the best interests of their children. This does not in any way mean that we do not respect the right of other families to make different choices.
1.3 It is open to people of all religions and none, accepting of all family structures and parents of all genders.
1.4 This association is not affiliated with any religious or political group.
2. Committee
2.1 The committee shall be made up of 5 members elected by the members
2.2 All decision-making shall take place online
2.3 Committee members shall agree to be bound by the philosophy and the constitution of the organisation
2.4 Committee members shall treat each other with respect
2.5 Committee members shall act as representatives of the membership as a whole rather than on their own behalf when using the name of Stay-At- Home Parents Association Ireland
2.6 Committee members shall seek the views of members on ‘major’ policy decisions by way of a vote of the membership
2.7 Day-to- day decisions, such as press releases, design of website and so on to be made within the committee
2.8 Only committee members or those members agreed upon by the committee may speak on behalf of the association
2.9 Any committee member may call for a vote of committee members on an issue that has been raised
2.10 The committee shall attempt to make decisions by consensus in the first instance and where this is not successful, by majority vote
2.11 Any member of the organisation can be asked to contribute to the workload, however decisions regarding wording of statements must be agreed upon by the committee as a whole
2.12 Attempts should be made so that more than one committee member is visible before the media
3. Remit of Stay-At- Home Parents Ireland Association
3.1 Due to time/financial constraints the following shall apply:
3.1.1 Communications are to be made online and in person only
3.1.2 There will be no association bank account
3.1.3 The emphasis in the initial stages is on public awareness and lobbying of politicians regarding the right to stay at home and to be treated equitably by the State
3.1.4 The association itself does not give advice on becoming a stay-at- home parent, although members may share knowledge with each other
4. Selection of committee members
4.1 An election shall be held online not more than 18 months following the election of the out-going committee
4.2 Members of the association shall put themselves forward for election and be seconded by another member
4.3 Should a member resign or be removed that position will be advertised and voted on by the overall membership
4.4 Committee members can be removed by a simple majority of the committee
4.5 Committee members can be removed by a vote organised by members and a committee member shall be deemed to be removed by two-thirds majority of the voting members
4.6 Changes to the constitution can be put forward by any member
4.7 An election or vote of the membership must be advertised a week in advance of the election or vote
4.8 All elections and votes shall be organised by the committee save those referred to in 4.5
4.9 Members who are putting themselves forward for election to the committee may make a short statement about themselves, however nothing in this statement can be construed as excluding them from their duties under the constitution
4.10 Those putting themselves forward for election must declare membership of any other organisation that speaks publicly on any issues that can be construed as affecting stay-at- home parents
4.11 Members shall be added to the voting form in the order in which they put themselves forward and the first five to reach a two thirds majority of those placing ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ votes for them shall be deemed to be elected
5. Membership
5.1 No financial contribution shall be requested of members
5.2 Members of the Facebook group ‘Stay-At- Home Parents Association Ireland Policy Group’ shall be deemed to be members of the association until such time as the committee has made a decision regarding how members shall be admitted to the association
5.3 Members can be removed from the association by the committee