British Acupuncture and Holistic Medicine Association
Constitution
adopted on 31 of May 2016
1. Name
1.1 The name of the organisation is British Acupuncture and Holistic Medicine Association referred to from herein as the BAHMA.
1.2 British Acupuncture and Holistic Medicine Association is an educational and nonprofit organisation.
1.3 British Acupuncture and Holistic Medicine Association is an unincorporated association
2. Aims
2.1 The role of the BAHMA is to set up a Members representative association to protect its members and the public interest by promoting and safeguarding high professional standards by upholding the values of effectiveness, inclusiveness, accountability and transparency in all aspects of its work.
2.1 BAHMA is committed to ensuring all patients receive the highest standard of professional care during their acupuncture / holistic treatment.
2.2 To establish and maintain high standards of training and education for the Acupuncture and Holistic Medicine professions.
2.3 To advocate and promote education and training in the area of Acupuncture and Holistic Health.
2.4 To promote research in Acupuncture and Holistic Medicine
2.5 To compile a register of the names and relevant details of all individuals holding membership of the BAHMA
2.6 To assist the membership in licensure, regulation, and health care issues as appropriate to local needs.
2.7 To collaborate with other organisations on issues and activities that are in accord with our goals.
2.8 To generate cooperation and build a sense of community among acupuncturists and other Holistic Medicine professionals.
2.9 To share information within the community of Acupuncture and Holistic medicine practitioners, other medical professionals and the community at large.
2.10 To enhance people’s awareness and to provide the knowledge of healthy living approaches and services available to the general public.
2.11 To promote and assist activities that nurture the health of our community, our nation and the world.
3. Powers
In furtherance of the aims, but not otherwise, the organisation shall have the following powers:
3.1 Power to raise funds and to invite and receive contributions, provided that in raising funds the organisation shall not undertake any substantial trading activities and shall conform to any relevant requirements of the law.
3.2 Power to do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the achievement of the aims.
4. General structure
The structure of the association shall consist of:
4.1 The MEMBERS – who have the right to attend the annual general meeting (and any special general meeting) and have important powers under the constitution; in particular, the members elect people to serve on the management committee and take decisions in relation to changes to the constitution itself.
4.2 The MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE – who hold regular meetings during the period between annual general meetings, and generally control and supervise the activities of the organisation; in particular, the management committee is responsible for monitoring the financial position of the association.
5. Qualifications for membership
5.1 Membership shall be open to any licensed qualified practitioner, who practices Acupuncture or Holistic Medicine and is interested in promoting Acupuncture, Holistic Medicine and healthy living irrespective of age, gender, race, political or religious believes.
5.2 Any practitioner who wishes to become a member must sign, and lodge with the organisation, a written application for membership.
5.2 Members shall pay an annual membership fee of such sum and on such due date as may be determined by general vote at the Annual General Meeting, and applied at the next renewal date. Where necessity shall arise, said fee may be varied by subsequent resolution of the Association which shall require a simple majority vote.
5.3 All members of the BAHMA are required to provide evidence (genuine copies of the relevant documents) of their professional qualification. The qualification must be verified by the appointed member of the Management Committee.
5.4 All members of the BAHMA are required to abide by The Code of Professional Conduct (see Appendix 1) and the Code of Safe Practice (see Appendix 2, for acupuncturists only) as set by the Management committee.
5.5 All members of the BAHMA are required to hold a professional indemnity insurance in order to be submitted by the register.
5.6 An employee of the organisation shall be eligible for membership.
6. Professional Codes
6.1 The Code of Professional Conduct sets out the high standards of personal and professional conduct required of BAHMA members
6.2 Our Code of Professional Conduct governs ethical and professional behaviour, while the Code of Safe Practice sets benchmark standards for best practice for Acupuncture and Holistic Medicine practitioners. All BAHMA members are bound by the Code of Professional Conduct and acupuncturists are bound by both Code of Professional Conduct and the Code of Safe Practice.
6.3 All the members must sign, and lodge with the above mentioned Codes.
6.4 All members are accountable to the BAHMA for their professional behaviour and the codes are rigorously enforced. If members break the BAHMA rules they can be removed or suspended from the BAHMA register.
6.5 Although we are currently a voluntary self-regulating body, our reputation as the body for acupuncturists and Holistic Medicine professions in the UK means any sanctions we impose are taken seriously.
7. General meetings (meetings of members)
7.1 The management committee shall convene an annual general meeting in each year (but excluding the year in which the association is formed); not more than 18 months shall elapse between one annual general meeting and the next.
7.2 At least 30 clear days’ notice of every general meeting shall be given to all the members of the association, and to all the members of the management committee; the notice must indicate the general nature of any business to be dealt with at the meeting.
7.3 No business shall be dealt with at any general meeting unless a quorum is present; the quorum for a general meeting shall be 5 members, present in person.
7.4 Every member shall have one vote, which (whether on a show of hands or on a secret ballot) must be given personally.
7.5 If there is an equal number of votes for and against any resolution, the chairperson of the meeting shall be entitled to a casting vote.
8. Termination of membership
8.1 Termination of membership shall arise under the following conditions:
a) Upon receipt by the BAHMA of written notice of the intent to withdraw from membership.
b) If the member becomes in default of payment of the annual subscription for a period of 28 days from the due date and the society having given notice by means of recorded delivery letter to the member’s last known address of their intent to terminate the Member’s membership if payment is not made.
c) The formal withdrawing of membership from an organisation, for whatever reason, shall be a matter for the full council and notice of a resolution to effect same shall be given to all members four weeks prior to the date of an BAHMA meeting at which it is proposed to effect it.
8.2 Maximum number of management committee members
8.3 The maximum number of members of the management committee shall be 5.
9 Disciplinary procedures
9.1 In the event that the Management Committee considers that a member Association or lay member may be in breach of one or more of its obligations as a member of the BAHMA it shall inform said member in writing of the nature of the alleged breach and shall require said member to respond within 28 days.
9.2 If the response is unsatisfactory, the BAHMA shall be empowered to commence disciplinary proceedings against said member as removal or suspension from the BAHMA register.
9.3 In the event that there is no response, the BAHMA shall be empowered to commence disciplinary proceedings against said member as removal or suspension from the BAHMA register.
10. Eligibility
10.1 A person shall not be eligible for election/appointment to the management committee unless he/she is a member of the association.
11 Election
11.1 At each annual general meeting, the members may elect any member to be a member of the management committee.
11.2 The management committee may at any time appoint any member to be a member of the management committee.
12 Office bearers
12.1 The management committee members shall elect from among themselves a chair, a treasurer and a secretary, and such other office bearers (if any) as they consider appropriate.
12.2 All of the office bearers shall cease to hold office at the conclusion of each annual general meeting, but shall then be eligible for re-election.
13. Accounting and auditing
13.1 The BAHMA shall keep a proper record of all financial, legal and other matters appertaining to the operation of the association and shall appoint auditors to examine and report annually upon the financial records of the BAHMA for presentation to the Members at the Annual General Meeting.
13.2 Records of income and expenditure will be maintained by the Treasurer and a financial statement given at each meeting.
13.3 Signatures to the account will be the officers of the organisation. Each cheque will require one signature.
13.4 All money raised by the Association will be spent solely on the objects laid out above.
14. Alterations to the constitution
14.1 The constitution may be altered by a resolution passed by not less than two-thirds of those present and voting at a general meeting, providing due notice of the meeting, and of the resolution.
15. Dissolution
15.1 The organisation may be dissolve at any time if agreed by two-thirds of those members present and voting at any General Meeting. In the event of dissolution, any assets remaining after all debts have been paid shall be given to another group with similar aims.
15.2 Any assets remaining on dissolution of the BAHMA after satisfying outstanding debts and liabilities may be transferred to some other non-profit making organisation(s) as agreed by the BAHMA having similar objectives or concerns, and once those objectives have been met, at the Dissolution Meeting.
15.3 If no such resolution is made at the General Meeting, upon dissolution the assets shell be distributed back to the Full Members pro-rata to their subscription.
15.4 Upon dissolution, outstanding debts become the liability of the Full Members pro-rata to their subscription.