The inaugural AGM took place on 8th March, 2009 in Camphill Dunshane. A draft Constitution of the objectives of the Association was outlined and subsequently approved. The primary objectives were:

1. To provide a representative Forum for family, guardians and friends
2. of people with special needs to discuss all matters of mutual concern.
3. To promote communication and dialogue.
4. To support the Council and local committees in maintaining the ethos and high standards which have traditionally prevailed.
5. To lobby the appropriate bodies and agencies for benefit and improvement of our communities and for the future of people with special needs.
6. To assist the Council and local comities with PR and fundraising.
7. To promote friendship between people with special needs, co-workers, families, friends and advocates.
8. To promote an understanding of Camphill by arranging conferences, talks and supporting Open Days
9. To support each other in times of needs

The well attended day was taken up with interesting talks and presentations from Micha on the Policy Document, Mark Dwan and Deirdre Carroll from Inclusion Ireland. In the afternoon several workshops took place on challenging behaviour, sexuality/relationships, and making a will. There was a lot of positive feedback from the day.

The following people were elected at the meeting to act as officials of the Association for a 2 year period.

Chairman Acting Treasurer: John Hughes
Vice-Chairperson: Maeve Liffey
Secretary: Caroline McCann
PRO/Representative on the Council: Michael Hilary

The date for 2010 AGM is Sunday 25th April, 2010 in Camphill Dunshane and if you wish to contact the Association,
email camphillffa@ireland.com or write to
Camphill Family and Friends Association, Greenacres, 1a Farmhill, Goatstown Dublin 14.

Camphill Family & Friends Association, c/o 1A Farmhill, Goatstown, Dublin 14
DRAFT CONSTITUTION

A DESIGNATION
The official name of the Association will be Camphill Family & Friends Association, c/o 1A Farmhill, Goatstown, Dublin 14 (to be agreed)

B OBJECTIVES
The primary objectives of the Association are:-
To provide a representative forum for Family, Guardians, Friends and Advocates, of people with special needs, living in Camphill Communities in the Republic of Ireland to discuss all matters of mutual concern.

To promote communication and dialogue between Family, Guardians, Friends, Advocates and Communities, of people with special needs, living in Camphill Communities in the Republic of Ireland.
To support the Council and Local Committees and members of the Camphill Communities in the Republic of Ireland in maintaining the ethos and high standards which have traditionally prevailed.
To lobby the appropriate Bodies and Agencies for the benefit and improvement of our communities and for the future of people with special needs, living in Camphill communities in the Republic of Ireland.
To assist the Council & Local Communities with PR and Fundraising, working together with the PR and Fundraising Committee.
To promote friendship between people with special needs, co-workers, Families, Guardians, Friends and Advocates.
To promote an understanding of Camphill by arranging Conferences, talks and supporting Open Days.
To support each other in times of need.

C MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the Association is open to all Family, Guardians, Friends and Advocates of people with special needs in the Camphill Communities of the Republic of Ireland. Each member will register prior to the Annual General Meeting.

D COMMITTEE

1. Membership
   Any member can nominate either themselves or another. All nominations are received at the Annual General Meeting and confirmed by consensus or failing that by ballot at the Annual General Meeting.
   
   The elected members committee of the Association shall consist of a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 25 plus 3 ex officio (Camphill co-workers as nominated by the Camphill Neighbourhood meeting):
   
2. Officers
   The officers of the Association shall be honorary and as follows:-
   (a) Chairperson
   (b) Vice Chairperson
   (c) Secretary
   (d) Treasurer
   (e) PRO / Communications Officer
   
   
3. Tenure of Office
   Officers of the Association shall hold office for two consecutive years, after which they may offer themselves for re-election.
   
   
4. Vacation of Office
   Any committee member of the Association, who fails, without reasonable cause, to attend three consecutive meetings of the Association, shall be deemed to have vacated his/her office unless the committee shall decide otherwise.
   
   Any casual vacancy on the Committee shall be filled by co-option at the next Committee Meeting.
   
   
5. Duties of Officers
   
   The Chairperson shall chair all general and Special Meetings of the Association. In his/her absence the chair shall be taken by the Vice-Chairperson, or the meeting shall elect its own Chairperson who will be responsible for preservation of order, encourage full discussion on points raised.
   
   The Secretary shall undertake the conduct of all correspondence, summon meetings, keep an accurate written record of all proceedings of such meetings, and produce the record for adoption, by the members and signature of the Chairperson at the next meeting to which the record refers. Such records will be available for inspection by any member of the Association.He/she will carry out such other secretarial duties as may be allocated to him/her from time to time.
   
   The Treasurer shall keep an accurate record of all monies received and expended and shall lodge on behalf of the Association, in a bank account approved by the Association. Cheques drawn on the account must be signed either by the Chairperson or the Secretary.
   
   The Treasurer shall arrange that the accounts of the Association, made up to the 31 October each year, shall be audited by the Honorary Auditor at least seven days prior to the next annual meeting of the Association subsequent to that date. He/she shall also arrange that such accounts and a balance sheet duly certified shall be presented at that meeting.
   
   The PRO / Communications Officer To handle all external public relations, to communicate the activities and decisions of the Association to the Family, Guardians, Friends and Advocates.To promote publically the Aims and Objectives of the Association. All such statements and promotions shall have the prior agreement of the elected Committee.
   
   
6. Committee Meetings
   
   The Committee shall normally meet at least five times during the year but may, at its discretion, meet more often for the purpose of transacting its business. If at one committee meting there is no representative from the Camphill Neighbourhood Association the committee shall request the Neighbourhood to nominate a new Ex officio member and remove one of the other members.
   
   
7. Quorum
   
   Minimum of 5 of the committee plus one which must include 2 officers shall form a quorum at ordinary meetings of the Committee.

E ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

1. Business
A General Meeting of the Association shall be held not later than the end of the month of November each year. The following business shall be transacted at the Annual General Meeting.

• (a) Chairperson's address
• (b) Secretary's Report
• (c) Treasurer's Report
• (d) General Business

2. Notice
A minimum of 14 days notice of the holding of the Annual General Meeting shall be given by the Secretary to the Officers and members of the Association and to all Parents, Guardians, Family and Friends of people with special need in Camphill Communities in the Republic of Ireland.

3. Voting
Each registered member present and entitled to vote at an Annual General, Special, or Ordinary Meeting, or a meeting of the Committee of the Association shall have one (1) vote. In case of equality in voting the Chairman shall have a casting vote. At the Annual General Meeting all voting in elections for the Committee shall be ordinary ballot. At other meetings voting shall be by ordinary ballot unless the members present and entitled to vote decide otherwise, when any other appropriate method may be adopted.

4. Motions
Motions may be put forward by any member once it is sent in seven (7) days before AGM.

5. Auditing of Accounts
The accounts of the Association shall be, audited by the Honorary Auditor annually for presentation at the Annual General Meeting.

E EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
Extraordinary Meetings of the Association may be called on receipt of a request for the same followed by thirty signatures of members, the written request being given to the Secretary along with the motions to be discussed. EGM may also be called by the Committee once approved by the Majority.

G RULES

1. Implementation
This Constitution and Rules become operative with effect from 8 March 2009.

2. Alteration
The Rules of the Association shall not be altered in any way except at an Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting convened for the purpose. Such amendments must be carried by a majority of two-thirds of the voting membership.