The Constitution and Rules of Lanarkshire Driver Trainers Association

1       Aims:

1.1      Continuous Professional Development

1.1.1        The association aims to provide a continuous flow of information to its members to ensure their continuous professional development in the content of their tuition, their use of teaching strategies and business practices.

1.2      Consultation

1.2.1        The association aims to maintain continuous communication with the Driving Standards Agency and the Minister for Transport either directly or through its affiliation to the Driving Instructors Scottish Council

1.3      Liaison

1.3.1        The association aims to maintain continuous communication with other bodies active in road safety.

2       Rules

2.1      Amendments to the Constitution

2.1.1        The rules of the association may be amended or added to at an annual general meeting or at a special general meeting. (See par 2.3)

2.2      Chairman's Casting Vote

2.2.1        On all occasions calling for a poll of members, the chairman shall have the prerogative of exercising his right to a casting vote.

2.3      Annual General Meeting

2.3.1        The annual general meeting shall be held during the first meeting of each calendar year unless there are exceptional circumstances.

2.4      Regular General Meetings

2.4.1        The association should meet at least four times each year for regular meetings of which at least fourteen days notice should be given.

2.5      Special General Meetings

2.5.1        A minimum of fourteen days notice shall be necessary to convene a special general meeting.

2.5.2        A quorum for a special general meeting shall be twelve members.

2.6      Dissolution of the Association

2.6.1        The decision to dissolve the association may be made only at an annual general meeting or a special general meeting where the quorum is met.

2.6.2        Where the quorum is not satisfied at meeting called for the purpose of deciding the dissolution of the association, a second meeting must be called within 14 days whereupon those attending may decide the on dissolution and dispersal of remaining funds.

3       Membership

3.1      Eligibility

3.1.1        All Approved Driving Instructors shall be eligible to apply for membership.

3.1.2        All Trainee Driving Instructors shall be eligible to apply for membership.

3.1.3        Membership applications are subject to the approval of sitting members.

3.1.4        The association reserves the right to refuse or to withdraw membership.

3.2      Conditions of Membership

3.2.1        Membership is conditional upon the payment of the prescribed fee.

3.2.2        Members must hold a valid certificate of registration as an instructor or a trainee instructor.

3.2.3        Members are bound by the Constitution and Rules.

3.3      Refusal or Withdrawal of Membership

3.3.1        Membership may be refused or withdrawn where any conditions laid down in par. 3.2 above.

3.3.2        Membership may be refused or withdrawn where a sitting member raises an objection.

3.3.3        In all cases, the decision to refuse or withdraw membership must be upheld at a General Meeting.

3.4      Membership Fees

3.4.1        Membership fees shall fall due for payment annually on January 1st.

3.4.2        Non-payment of membership fees shall be grounds for withdrawal of membership.

3.4.3        The level of the membership fee shall be determined at annual the Annual General Meeting.

3.4.4        Members may pay fees by either cash or cheque or Direct Debit.

3.5      Honorary and Associate Membership

3.5.1        Honorary memberships may be conferred at the discretion of sitting members at a General Meeting.

3.5.2        Associate membership may be allowed even where the conditions laid down in par. 3.2 above are not met where this would be in the members’ interest.

3.5.3        Neither Honorary members nor Associate members shall not have voting rights nor shall they be liable for membership fees.

4       Administration

4.1      Elected Office Bearers

4.1.1        There shall be an administrative, non-executive committee consisting of a Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer.

4.1.2        The association may from time to time appoint members to other posts to assist in the administration of training, social activities, maintenance of the web site and other day to day affairs.

4.1.3        All posts shall be vacated annually.

4.1.4        Sitting members may be nominated for re-election without limit of times.

4.2      Expenses and Payment

4.2.1        Office bearers shall not be entitled to any payment other than the reimbursement of out of pocket expenses.

5       Finance

5.1      Banking

5.1.1        The funds of the association shall be held by the Royal Bank of Scotland, Wishaw.

5.1.2        Statements of account shall be delivered to the Treasurer.

5.1.3        Cheques and other authorities shall require the signature of two elected office bearers.

5.2      Reporting

5.2.1        The Treasurer shall deliver to members a report of the financial state of the association at each meeting.

5.2.2        The Treasurer shall deliver to the annual general meeting or to a special general meeting when requested a full balance sheet for the accounts.

5.3      Dissolution of the Association

5.3.1        In the event of the dissolution of the association, an annual general meeting or a special general meeting of members shall determine the dispersal of the funds remaining after the payment of outstanding liabilities. ( See par 2.5 above)