L'Association du Français Appliqué - Constitution en anglais - Voir constitution en français

1. Name: Association pour le Français Appliqué- Applied French Association.

2. Definition: 'Applied French' means French for specific purposes, or French applied to areas such as business, tourism, science and technology and intercultural studies.

3. Aims:

3.1 To promote the teaching of Applied French in Ireland through the organisation of events and activities for teachers or learners of Applied French.
3.2 To provide a forum for teachers of Applied French and to facilitate networking among them.
3.3 To support the teaching of Applied French through the organisation of:
3.3.1 in-service activities
3.3.2 the provision of information and documentation on current Applied French issues
3.3.3 the availability of in-service grants
3.3.4 events for students of Applied French
3.4 To establish contacts with organisations, associations, institutions or other interested persons on matters relevant to Applied French in Ireland.

4. Membership: There shall be two categories of membership:

4.1. Full membership: Open to:

a. Applied French teachers and lecturers
b. Applied French organisers or administrators

4.2. Associate membership: Open to:

a. Final year students in Applied French
b. Researchers in Applied French
c. French language assistants
d. Student-teachers of Applied French
e. Friends of Applied French, both institutions and individuals.

4.3. Full members may participate in all association activities. They may nominate, stand for and vote in association elections.
Associate members may participate in association activities. Such members may not nominate, stand for, or vote in association elections.
4.4. Membership to the association shall be promoted among teachers and trainers in a broad spectrum of sectors: universities, institutes of technology, other third-level colleges, PLCs, French language institutes, adult education and vocational training centres.
4.5. Membership annual subscription charges shall be proposed by the executive committee and approved by the membership at an AGM.
4.6. Membership of the association is subject to approval by the executive committee.
4.7. Membership can be suspended or revoked by the executive committee in exceptional circumstances where a
member is causing grave damage to the association's interest. In such circumstances, the following procedures are required:

a. The executive committee shall serve written notice by registered mail on the member, stating the alleged misbehaviour and informing the member that they have 7 days in which to provide a written statement outlining the reasons why the suspension should not take place.
b. If the member fails to provide satisfactory reasons, the Executive shall revoke membership in writing.
c. The member may request, in writing, that his/her case be brought before the members at an EGM, in which case members present would vote on the matter according to normal procedures.

5. Executive committee

5.1.There shall be an executive committee of the association.
5.2. The executive committee shall number 6, although a minimum of 4 is acceptable under exceptional circumstances.
5.3. The executive shall include a chairperson, a secretary, a treasurer and, preferably, 3 representatives of the education sectors not already represented by the officers.
5.4. The executive committee shall hold office for 2 years. Members of the executive committee shall be elected every 2 years at an annual general meeting.
5.5. Members of the executive committee may not serve for more than 2 consecutive terms at a time.
5.6. Decisions within the committee shall be taken by consensus or, failing this, by a majority of those present.The necessary quorum shall be 3. In the event of a tie, the chairperson shall have the casting vote.
5.7. Committee meetings shall not be held without prior notice given by the secretary or person nominated by the secretary. Subject to committee decision, notice may be given by telephone, e-mail, fax or post. Committee meetings shall not take place without a minimum of 48 hours prior notice of the meeting and of the agenda. Minutes of the decisions taken at each meeting shall be recorded.

6. Role and responsibilities of the executive committee

6.1. The executive committee shall:

a. Promote the aims of the association
b. Promote membership
c. Administer association funds
d. Represent the association
e. Call AGMs and EGMs
f. Organise elections
g. Appoint sub-committees as and when deemed necessary
h. Approve special interest groups of the association membership as and when required

7. Elections to the executive committee

7.1. Nomination for election to the executive committee must be received by the secretary at least 2 weeks before the AGM at which elections are held. Where necessary, nominations can be accepted at the AGM.
7.2. The executive committee shall hold internal elections for the following positions : Chairperson, secretary, treasurer.
7.3. Should the executive committee fall below a membership of 4, the committee is empowered to co-opt up to 3 members, pending a majority decision and a quorum of 3.

8. Annual General Meetings

8.1. Notification of AGM shall be a minimum of 4 weeks prior to the date of the AGM.
8.2. A general meeting of the membership shall be held annually to consider the following business:

a. Chairperson's report
b. Secretary's report
c. Treasurer's report
d. Matters of interest to the general membership

8.3. Decision making at the AGM shall be by simple majority of those present, by show of hands or, if the chairperson deems it necessary, by secret ballot.

9. Extraordinary General Meetings

9.1. Matters of extraordinary interest to members may be dealt with at an EGM. An EGM must be proposed by at least 15% of the full paid up membership of the association, or by the executive committee.
9.2. Decision making at the EGM shall be by simple majority of those present

10. Changes to the Constitution

10.1. Changes to the rules of the association can only be made at an AGM or EGM.
10.2. Resolutions proposing such changes shall be served on the association secretary at least 3 weeks prior to the AGM or EGM being held in order for the secretary to circularise the membership about these at least 10 days before the AGM or EGM being held
10.3. Resolutions shall be proposed and seconded by paid up full members.
10.4. Changes shall be made when the resolutions obtain a majority of votes of those present at the AGM or EGM.

11. Payments

11.1. Payments from the association's bank account(s) shall require signatures from both the chairperson and the treasurer.

12. Termination of activities

12.1. The association shall cease to exist only where 80% of paid up members present at an AGM or EGM support a resolution to that effect and all the association's financial liabilities have been satisfied.
12.2. Any remaining sums shall be reimbursed to their donors, otherwise in equal measure to the association members