IDNMSA Constitution

The Association shall be called “Irish Diabetes Nurse and Midwife Specialist Association”, (hereinafter referred to as “The Association”).

There shall be three categories of members:

1 Full membership

The Diabetes Nurse must work full time in a Diabetes Service (Hospital/Community/GP Practice).
The annual fee for full membership is 25 euro.

2 Associate membership

The Diabetes Nurse must work a minimum of 30 hours per month exclusively in a Diabetes Service (Hospital/Community/GP Practice).
The minimum time requirement of 30 hours needs to be verified by your manager.
The associated Member can attend the AGM but is not eligible to vote.
The annual fee for Associate Membership is 15 euro.

3 Honorary membership

Honorary membership may be awarded to certain individuals at the discretion of the committee and its members.
Honorary membership will cease on the retirement of the individual from their employment.
Please note all members who are presently employed by a commercial body will no longer be permitted to attend the AGM as from 2019.

To provide a forum for Nurse and Midwifery Specialists who are involved in the long term care of people who have diabetes.
To organise educational meetings and courses for members.
To promote communication between the Association, local, national, and international groups involved in diabetes education and research.
To keep members of the Association informed of current trends in education care and research.

Full members hold individual voting rights and are entitled to one vote each.
Associate members or members employed by a commercial body shall not be eligible to vote.

The annual subscription fee for the Association shall be agreed at the Annual General Meeting.
Each member and associate member can pay by bank transfer or at the AGM. Payment of this fee should be received before the 31st August for the forthcoming 12months.
Failure to pay this subscription will result in the member's name being deleted from the current membership list which is used for contacting persons for forthcoming events. These members will receive notification by post or email prior to the cessation of membership.
Arrears must be paid when renewing membership

A member shall cease to be a member of the Association in the event that:

He/she resigns from membership, notice of resignation which he/she must first have submitted to the secretary in writing or email.
He/she is one year in arrears of Annual subscription.

The affairs of the organisation shall be managed by a Committee of 8 Committee members:
- Chairperson
- Vice-chairperson
- Joint Secretaries
- Treasurer
- Assistant Treasurer
- Two Officers
A quorum for a committee meeting shall be three, one of which must be an
- Officer of the Committee.
Committee nominations can be submitted to the association by post or email prior to the AGM.
Officers of the Committee shall serve for a term of 3 years. Officers may be re-elected for a second term. The Chairperson for the Association shall be elected by the Executive Committee from one of the existing elected members.
The Committee may co-opt any member for the Association to fill a vacancy and they shall hold office until the Annual General Meeting and shall be eligible for re-election.
The Committee shall have the power to set up sub-committees, as it deems necessary. The officers and members of these sub-committees shall be appointed at the discretion of the Committee.
The Committee or its sub-committee may co-opt a person who need not be a member of the Association to attend certain meetings and to give expert advice.
Associate members shall not be eligible to serve on the Executive Committee or put forward proposals.
A Committee member is permitted to stay on the Executive Committee for a fourth year if no new member has been nominated and the existing member is in agreement to stay a further 12 months.

The Association shall hold at least one Annual General Meeting each year at which each member shall receive 21 days notice.
The location of the Annual General Meeting will be rotated annually throughout the country.
Unpaid members will not be eligible for admission to the Annual General Meeting.
- The Annual Statement of Accounts shall be presented at the Annual General Meeting.
A special General Meeting may be requested by a member of the Association. This request must be in writing and signed by at least 10 full members.
Proposals for Amendments to the Constitution to be included in the Agenda of the Annual General Meeting and must be received by the Secretary 21 days before the Annual General Meeting.
Election of Officers to the Committee will be held by email prior to the Annual General Meeting.
For a member to be eligible for election he/she must fulfil the following criteria:
1. Be a full member
2. Be proposed by a full member of the Association
3. Be present at the Annual General Meeting.
Minutes of each Committee Meeting shall be signed by the chairperson.

The Committee shall assume a managerial role in the administration of the central funds of the Association.
The Committee shall maintain on behalf of the Association Current and Deposit Accounts.
All the Bank Accounts of the Association shall be maintained in the names of the two treasurers of the committee nominated from time to time by the committee.
All account holders shall have the power to sign cheques.
All cheques drawn shall be signed by two of the Account Holders nominated by the Committee.
The two treasurers shall be appointed to manage the financial affairs of the Committee.
The treasurers shall keep proper accounts of the finances of the Association.
The accounts will be reviewed and distributed to each member prior to the Annual General Meeting.

IDNMSA members applying for funding from the Bursary will only be considered if they are paid members for a minimum period of 12 months.
Applications for funding should be processed by the Committee using the ‘Criteria for Funding and Categories for Funding’ guidelines. These guidelines should be reviewed yearly.
The IDNMSA member must have attended the AGM 1 time in the past 3 years

The Association may be dissolved by a special resolution passed at two successive General Meetings.
The Association may be dissolved by a two-thirds majority of the members voting at the Annual General Meeting. The Association Committee shall be responsible for the disposal of any surplus funds and the winding-up of the Association affairs.

(Updated Aug 2020)