Constitution
1. Name:
The name of the Co-Federation is The Aromatherapy Council of Ireland (ACI).
2. The Councils founding member Professional Bodies are CTha, the IFPA and the IMTA.
- Each of these Professional Bodies will elect two voting members to the committee each year.
- Any changes in the representatives, the Professional Body must notify the ACI in writing and in advance of the change and a handover period of 2 months is required.
3. Aims
- To develop a register of qualified Professional Aromatherapists practising in Ireland.
- To achieve self regulation and professional status for Aromatherapy in Ireland.
- To promote this register through G.P.s and private healthcare providers and members of the public.
- To promote the benefits of Aromatherapy to the general public.
- To establish and monitor best practise of aromatherapy in order to safeguard the general public and the therapist.
- To eventually include all Aromatherapists practising in Ireland
- To eventually include all professional bodies and training organisations representing Aromatherapists in Ireland.
- To establish links with similar professional bodies throughout the world.
4. ACI Management
4.1 ACI will be administered by a committee which includes:
- Chairperson
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Public Relations Officer
- Members of Committee – minimum 3
4.2 Committee Meetings
Council Meetings
One person from each professional body must attend all meetings.
Each Professional Body has one vote irrespective of their membership numbers and irrespective of the number of members attending.
Motions for council meetings must be submitted 7 working days in advance to the secretary. Motions can be added to any other business (AOB) on the day of a council meeting, but may not be attended to until other council business is complete. Decisions on motions made at AOB and not submitted 7 working days in advance to the secretary as stated may not be voted on as Council members may need time to investigate motions
A committee member will stand in on the day if someone is unable to attend.
In the event of non-attendance, the committee member (not attending) will inform the Secretary in advance of the meeting and update him/her of the status of any tasks in his/her remit.
The Secretary will designate any of these tasks, if necessary, to another committee member for further action.
Each post will be held by a representative of each professional body CThA, the IFPA and or the IMTA for one year only and the post will then be transferred to a member of a different organisation for the following year.
This is over a 3 year cycle, at which time the structure will be reviewed by the council members
Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting will be held annually on the 1st Friday of October
5. Legal status
The co- federation is a non corporate association.
6. New Member Bodies
6.1 When a new Professional Body joins, it is a stipulation that the two named representatives must attend the first 6 meetings, and thereafter one can attend each meeting. New professional bodies have immediate voting rights.
6.2 The criteria for accepting new member bodies to be finalised by the council
7. Membership
7.1 Membership Categories
- I - Aesthetic Aromatherapy
- II - Holistic Aromatherapy
- III - Clinical Aromatherapy
- IV - Aromatic Medicine
7.2 Membership Structure
Membership of ACI is restricted to Professional Aromatherapists holding Full Membership of an ACI accredited Professional Body.
7.3 Minimum member age is 18 with no upper limit
8. Finance
8.1 Treasurer to look after funds.
8.2 All expenditure must be authorised by the committee.
Two signatories are registered with the bank with only one signature required on each cheque, The Treasures and one other committee member, except in the event the amount is over €300 when the signature of both authorised members are required. The Bank to be informed of this in writing by the secretary)
8.3 Sources of income are:
- Annual levies from professional bodies
- Annual subscription fees from members
9. Levies and Subscriptions
9.1 Professional Body levies will be the same for all member bodies.
9.2 Membership subscription will be €30 per member annually. Reviewed yearly at AGM
Membership Levies due on the 1st October
Registration forms will be sent out 1 month before due date i.e. (last week of September reminders will be sent out 1 month after expiry i.e. first week December
Names will be removed from the register without further contact on 10th January if there has been no contact from the member. If member wishes to rejoin they pay the renewal membership for that year in full
10. Discipline of Council Members
If a Professional Body is not represented for at least 3 consecutive Committee meetings the Council will write to the relevant Professional Body to notify them. The Council will require the professional body to request the member to attend or a new representative be nominated.
11. Constitution
11.1 The Constitution to be reviewed annually at AGM
11.2 Any amendments or alterations to the Constitution, Code of Ethics may only be attended to at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) or at an Emergency General Meeting (EGM).
11.3 Any motion for consideration at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) or Emergency General Meeting (EGM) must be submitted to the Secretary (3) three weeks prior to such meetings. The secretary will circulate, in writing, the proposed motions too all members of the ACI (2) two weeks before the date of the meeting
