GUY’S HOSPITAL NURSES’ LEAGUE CONSTITUTION 

1.Title:      

The League shall be called the Guy’s Hospital Nurses’ League.

2.Aims:      

The aims of the League shall be:

i.                    To promote social and professional interests between past and present nurses.

ii.                  To publish a Register of Members and an annual Journal.

iii.                To provide support and assistance to members in need.

iv.                To provide financial assistance for nurses wishing to further their professional education through the Sir Cosmo and Lady Mabel Bonsor Scholarship Fund and the Dorothy Holland Educational Grant.

3.   Membership:

There shall be three categories:

i.                    Full membership, available to:

a.      All Guy’s trained nurses, including those who trained at the Guy’s and Lewisham Training School.

b.     Nurses who trained elsewhere who have completed one year within the Guy’s and St.Thomas’ Hospital Trust.

ii.                  Free membership is conferred upon all members on reaching their sixty-fifth birthday.

iii.                Honorary membership, accorded to such persons connected with or having been connected with Guy’s, as may be invited by the Council.

4. Subscriptions:

i.                    The annual subscription for membership shall be decided by the Council and published in the League Journal.

ii.                  Members whose subscription is in arrears and who have been duly notified thereof shall cease to be members but are welcome to rejoin at any time.

5. Privileges of Membership:

Subject to Council approval, every member:

i.                    Is eligible for the support and assistance set out in paragraph 2: ‘Aims of the League’.

ii.                  Will receive a copy of the League Journal, and Register.

iii.                Will be notified of social functions arranged by the Council.

6. Annual General Meeting:

This shall usually take place in May and the details and agenda will be published in the Journal.

The meeting will be asked to approve an audited statement of the accounts.

7. Sub-committees and Special Representatives of the League:

i.                    Sub-committees of the League will be set up to reflect the activities of the League as set out in paragraph 2: ‘Aims of the League’. Some sub-committees will be permanent, but the number and constitution of sub-committees will vary according to the duties that each is required at any particular time in the life of the League.

ii.                  Each sub-committee will be led by a Special Representative, who will also be the Secretary of the sub-committee, and he/she will be approved by Council. At least one Honorary Officer must be included in each sub-committee. A sub-committee may not be required to support every activity of the League and the appointment of a Special Representative with sole responsibility may, therefore, be approved instead.

iii.                Special Representatives will be responsible for:

a.      Attending Council meetings and maintaining channels of communication by requesting tabled agenda time for reporting back.

b.     Forming the sub-committee (if required) and organising meetings as appropriate.

c.     Ensuring that the purpose of the sub-committee is fully expedited.

8. Officers of the League:

i.                    These shall be:

The President        The Honorary Treasurer

The Chairman       The Honorary Assistant  Treasurer

The Vice Chairman      The Honorary Secretary     

The Honorary Assistant Secretary

ii.                  Method of Election and Terms of Service:

a.      The President shall be elected for a period of three years. ## Names proposed by Council will be published in the Journal of the year prior to the commencement of The President’s term of office. A postal vote will then take place from the General Membership to be completed by the end of April of the same year. The name of the successful candidate will be announced at the AGM in May of that year. The elected candidate will serve as President Elect for three years prior to taking up the office of President.

b.     The Council is empowered to nominate Honorary Members. Voting will take place annually at the October meeting.

c.     At its first meeting after the Annual General Meeting, the Council shall appoint from among its members the following officers, being full members of the League, unless otherwise stated, for voting at the October meeting, with terms of office as stated:

A Vice Chairman

An Honorary Treasurer

An Honorary Secretary

An Honorary Assistant Treasurer

An Honorary Assistant Secretary

All the above to serve for five years and eligible for re-election for a period of one further term of office.

9. The Council:

i.The affairs of the League shall be under the control of a Council consisting of the following:

The Chairman                          The President

The Vice Chairman                  The Vice Presidents

The Honorary Treasurer          Privileged Members

The Honorary Secretary           

The Honorary Assistant Treasurer

The Honorary Assistant Secretary

The Special Representative for each sub-committee.

Three Honorary Members **

Twelve representatives of Past and/or Present Nursing Staff **

** Elected by Council to serve for three years.

ii.        Any vacancy occasioned by the resignation or death of a member, including co-opted members, may be filled by a nominee of the Council to serve for the remainder of the term concerned.

iii.      The names of the members of the Council shall be published annually in the League Journal.

iv.       The Council shall meet once in every three months and at such other times as may be considered necessary by the Honorary Secretary or by two Members of the Council. Meetings shall be summoned with not less than seven days’ notice, the notice to include the proposed Agenda. A quorum shall be considered to be one third of the Council.

v.        At the meeting preceding the Annual General Meeting, the Council shall consider the audited statement of income and expenditure prepared by the Honorary Treasurer in readiness for submission of the approved accounts to the full membership of the Annual General Meeting.

vi.       The League Constitution should be reviewed on a five-yearly basis or more frequently if required.

vii.      While maintaining control of the funds and property of the League and responsibility for the form, content and issue of the Register and power to make or modify the rules of the League, the Council may look for advice on matters of detail, particularly such as relate to property and finance, to an Executive Committee.

viii.      Privileged Membership of Council is a privilege bestowed upon an individual who has made an exceptional contribution to the work of the Council over and above the requirements of the role/office held.

ix.       Method of election and terms of service:

a.Nominations may be put forward by any League member to an Officer of the League and must be carried by a majority vote at the Officers’ meeting in order to be taken forward to Council. The Chairman has the casting vote.

b.Nominations must be discussed at an Officers’ meeting, in the absence of the nominee, prior to the April Council meeting where formal election will take place. Membership will commence in July of the same year.

c.Nominees must only be approached following the decision made at the Officers’ meeting and prior to the April Council meeting.

d.A brief citation about the nominee must be provided to support the nomination. Names of successful nominees will be announced at the May AGM following election in April.

e.Privileged members of Council may attend Council meetings and hold voting rights.

10. The Executive Committee:

i.                    This shall comprise:

The President

The Chairman

The Vice Chairman

The Honorary Treasurer

The Honorary Secretary

The Honorary Assistant Treasurer

The Honorary Assistant Secretary

ii.                  The Executive Committee shall meet as often as is necessary on notice from the Honorary Secretary and will report back to the next meeting of the Council. Three members shall constitute a quorum for meetings.

11. Amendment to the Rules:

These rules may be added to, repealed or amended by the Council of the League by resolution requiring the agreement of two thirds of those present and voting.

# There will be no President Elect from 2006. The President has been elected until the end of 2010.

## The Chairman will now remain in office until the end of 2010.

At the April 2007 Council meeting it was unanimously agreed to allow Council members, at the end of their statutory three year term, to remain on Council until the end of 2010, without being nominated or taking a break of one year.

The Constitution was amended by Council on 25th April 2007.