Constitution

1. Name
1.1 The name of the organisation is "The International Child and Youth Care Network".
1.2 Its shortened name will be CYC-NET (hereinafter referred to as CYC-NET or "the organisation". Other names for sub-programmes may be decided on from time to time, for example, "CYC-ONLINE" for the association's on-line magazine.
1.3 CYC-NET is a corporate body which exists in its own right, separately from its members and irrespective of changes in membership or office bearers. 
 
2. Objectives
2.1. The organisation's main objectives are (primarily through the internet and electronic media) to promote and facilitate reading, learning, information sharing, discussion, networking, support and accountable practice amongst all who work with children, youth and families in difficulty.
2.2. The organisation's secondary objectives will be

• to enter into affiliations on a non-denominational and non-partisan basis with any organisations with similar aims and which seek or offer co-operation. Affiliates may include child and youth care agencies and programmes, institutes, universities or colleges, professional associations, libraries, journals, publications, conferences or other bodies. Such affiliations are always entered into in the context of the Code of Ethics of the profession.

• to explore alternative methods of promoting its objectives, attempting wherever possible to include all child and youth care organisations and people, even those who do not yet have access to the internet.
  to offer services to other organisations by sharing, with or without charge at its discretion, the expertise and resources which CYC-NET has developed in the course of its work.

3. Income and property
3.1 The organisation will keep a register of everything it owns.
3.2 The organisation may not give any of its money or property to its members or office bearers, except when it pays for work that a member or office bearer has done for the organisation. Such payment shall be a reasonable amount in relation to the work done.
3.3 A member of the organisation can only get money back from the organisation for authorised expenses that she or he has paid for or on behalf of the organisation.
3.4 Members or office bearers of the organisation do not have rights over things that belong to the organisation.
 
4. Membership
CYC-NET's membership is not limited by national boundaries and may include people and organisations who are interested or involved at any level of the child and youth care field, including practitioners, supervisors and administrators; teachers and students; policy-makers, advocates and lobbyists; editors, writers and readers. The following categories of membership are provided for:
4.1 Ordinary Membership is voluntary and open to any interested person or organisation upon request or on completion of a standard entry form. There is no charge or fee for ordinary membership and ordinary members do not exercise a vote at the organisation's meetings.
4.2 Associate Membership (for individuals) or Collegiate Membership (for organisations) is open to those who pay a subscription to CYC-NET according to a scale of fees laid down by the Board of Governors from time to time. Collegiate and Associate Members have the right to propose motions and to participate in and vote at meetings of the organisation and to receive the Annual Report and Financial Accounts of CYC-NET.
4.3. The Founding Editors (see Clause 5.1) are Thom Garfat and Brian Gannon.
 
5. Management
Because of the international and internet-based nature of CYC-NET, management is vested in two bodies: an international Board of Governors and an executive committee located conveniently to the current executive offices of the Association.
5.1 An international Board of not fewer than seven nor more than twelve Governors is responsible for the management of CYC-NET within the scope of this Constitution. The initial Board of Governors is invited by the founding editors, but subsequent vacancies shall be filled by election at the Annual General Meeting or other General Meeting called for that purpose.
On acceptance of their appointment by at least seven members of the Board of Governors this Constitution shall be deemed to have been adopted, ratified and confirmed.
5.2 The powers and responsibilities of the Governors shall include:

• To arrange the geographic location of the organisation's offices as and when necessary, appropriate to the location of the current executive editor(s). To approve an annual budget as submitted by the Editors.
• To approve the scale of fees payable by Associate and Collegial members.
• To approve whatever staffing design is appropriate for CYC-NET, including the appointment of Editors who will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the organisation's work and who will oversee the content and dissemination of CYC-NET's media.
• To recommend to the Editors any actions or programmes which they feel will contribute to or enhance CYC-NET's services.
• To receive an Annual Report compiled by the Editors together with the audited Financial Statement of the organisation.

5.3 Governors will serve for one year, but may stand for re-election so long as they are nominated and accept nomination.
5.4 In the event of a vacancy occurring on the Board between Annual General Meetings, the remaining Governors may fill the vacancy by co-option.
5.5 An Executive Committee consisting of the Editors, the Financial Officer and one further member shall be appointed and authorised by the Board to carry out day-to-day the administrative functions of CYC-NET within the policy and budget .
5.7 All members of the organisation shall abide by decisions of the Board of Governors.
 
6. Powers of the organisation
The organisation shall have the power and authority to undertake whatever lawful activities it considers necessary to achieve the objectives of the organisation.
6.1 The organisation has the power and authority to raise funds or to invite and to receive contributions, and to buy, hire or exchange any property that it needs to achieve its objectives.
6.3 The organisation has the right to make by-laws for proper management, including procedure for application, approval and termination of membership.
6.4. The organisation may sue and be sued in its own name. Members or office bearers shall not be personally liable for any loss suffered by any person as a result of any act or omission in good faith while performing functions for or on behalf of the organisaton.
6.5. The organisation may open and operate banking accounts in its name.
 
7. Meetings and procedures of the Board
7.1 The Board must hold at least two ordinary meetings each year. Meetings of the Board may be held and resolutions passed by any of e-mail, facsimile, internet or digital conferencing.
7.2 At its first meeting after the Annual General Meeting or whenever appropriate, the Board shall elect a Chairperson from amongst its own members. If the chairperson cannot attend a meeting, then those present will elect another Board member to chair that meeting. If voting on any issue is equal, the Chairperson of a meeting will have a second or a deciding vote.
The chairperson, or any three members of the committee, may call a special meeting. 21 days' notice of the proposed meeting shall be given together with details of the matter(s) to be discussed at the meeting.
7.3 A quorum at a meeting of The Board of Governors shall be at least half of the members. A quorum at any General or Special Meeting of the organisation shall be at least half of the Board of Governors and at least twenty Associate or Collegiate members
7.4 Minutes of all meetings must be kept safely and always be on hand, either physically or electronically, for members to consult.
 
8. Annual general meeting
The annual general meeting must be held once every year as soon as possible after the end of the organisation's financial year. At least 14 days' notice of such meeting shall be given by placing same on the internet at the web site of the organisation.
The following business should be handled:
8.1 The minutes of the previous meeting should be confirmed.
8.2 Reports of the Chairperson, the Editors and the Treasurer should be presented.
8.3 Other motions submitted by members should be considered.
8.4 Office bearers should be elected.
8.5 A Financial Officer should be appointed
 
9. Finance
9. 1 A Financial Officer (located conveniently to the executive offices of the organisation) shall be appointed at the annual general meeting.
9.2 The Financial Officer' s job is to control the finances of the organisation. The Financial Officer shall arrange for all funds to be deposited into a bank account in the name of the organisation and shall keep proper records of all the finances.
9.3 Whenever funds are taken out of the bank account, any TWO of the Financial Officer, an Editor and a member of the Executive committee must sign the withdrawal or cheque.
9.4 The financial year of the organisation ends on 31 March.
9.5 The organisation's accounting records and reports must be prepared and handed to the Director of Nonprofit Organisations within six months after the financial year end.
9.6 If the organisation has funds that can be invested, the funds may only be invested with registered financial institutions. These institutions are listed in Section 1 of the Financial Institutions (Investment of Funds) Act, 1984. Alternatively the organisation can get securities that are listed on a licensed stock exchange as set out in the Stock Exchange Control Act, 1985.
 
10. Changes to the constitution
10. 1 Any changes to this Constitution shall be approved by a two-thirds majority of those voting, the required 14 days' notice having been given, either at the annual general meeting or a special general meeting called for the purpose.
10.4 No amendment may be made which would have the effect of causing the organisation cease to exist except as provided for under Clause 11.
 
11. Dissolution/Winding-up
11.1 The organisation may close down if at least two-thirds of the members voting at a meeting convened for the purpose of considering such a matter are in favour. In the event of the dissolution of the organisation, any assets remaining after the satisfaction of all it debts shall not be paid to its members or officers but distributed as determined by the Board of Governors to any similar non-profit organisation or organisations whose aims include the advancement of the field of child and youth care work.
 
12. Adoption of the constitution
This constitution was approved and accepted on 12 December 2000.