United Kingdom Organisation
A United Kingdom Organisation of the World Council of Enterostomal Therapists shall be established with the title of the “WORLD COUNCIL OF ENTEROSTOMAL THERAPISTS – AN ASSOCIATION OF NURSES – UNITED KINGDOM ORGANISATION” (herein called the World Council U.K. or W.C.E.T. UK)
The objects of the World Council UK shall be to promote the art and science of stoma care nursing (and related conditions) and to improve facilities and opportunities for nurses and others engaged in such care to further their education and skills in the profession of stoma therapy nursing.
In furtherance of the above object but not further or otherwise the World Council UK shall have the following powers:
(a) For the benefit of the public to maintain the standards of those concerned with the care of people with stomas, draining wounds, fistulae and problems, potential or actual tissue trauma.
(b) Bring together in conference representatives of voluntary organisations, Government departments, statutory authorities and individuals.
(c) Promote and carry out or assist in promoting and carrying out research, surveys and investigations and publish the useful results thereof.
(d) Collect and disseminate information on all matters affecting the said objectives and exchange such information with other bodies having similar objectives whether in this country or overseas.
(e) Cause to be written and printed or otherwise reproduced and circulated, gratuitously or otherwise, such papers, books, periodicals, pamphlets or other documents as shall further the said objectives.
(f) Do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the attainment of the said objectives.
(a) A FULL MEMBER shall be a licensed health care professional who works or has an interest in stoma, wound or continence care, or accepted as a full member as of 14th August 1980. A member will have the privilege of making motions, voting, holding an Executive Board position or being an international delegate and shall have all other privileges of membership.
(b) An ASSOCIATE MEMBER shall be an individual who supports the mission and objectives of WCET, but doesn’t meet membership criteria. An associate is required to pay dues and will have all the privileges of membership except those of making motions, voting, holding an Executive Board position or being an International Delegate.
(c) An HONORARY MEMBER shall be any person recommended by the Executive of the World Council UK and approved by the membership, who has shown distinction and eminence in his/her contributions to Stoma Therapy.
An Honorary Member shall not be required to pay dues and shall have all privileges of membership except those of making motions, voting, holding office and wearing the membership badge
(d) A LIFE MEMBER shall be a Full Member (an E.T. Nurse) recommended by the honorary officers of the World Council UK and approved by the membership, who has shown distinction and eminence in Stoma Therapy.
A Life Member shall not be required to pay dues and shall have all the privileges of membership.
Life members shall not exceed 5 in number at any one time.
The World Council year shall begin on the first day of January in each year and shall end on the 31st of December in the same year. An annual subscription shall be paid by each member to the World Council by 31st December of the preceding year.
The amount of subscription shall be determined by the membership in a general meeting.
Members are requested to pay via credit card on the main WCET Website www.wcetn.org and make an additional payment to join the UK organisation of WCET.
A schedule of quarterly pro-rata UK membership fee payment, based on the annual UK membership fee, will be available throughout the year for new and renewing members. The pro-rata fee payment schedule incurs mandatory payment of the membership fee for the subsequent year.
A meeting of the World Council U.K. shall be held at least once in every year. Normally this shall be associated with a conference. The time and place of meetings shall be determined by the honorary officers of the World Council U.K., having taken cognisance of the views of the membership. The honorary officers of the World Council U.K. shall be the usual media of notification of the meetings.
The ordinary business at the meeting shall include:
(a) Receipt of the Minutes of the previous meeting and any extraordinary meeting held since the previous meeting.
(b) Receipt of a Report from the officers.
(c) Receipt of the Accounts of the Council.
(d) Election of Officers, if applicable.
(e) Consideration of other business.
Extraordinary Meeting:
An Extraordinary Meeting may be called by the officers or the Chairperson/International Delegate of the World Council U.K. upon receipt of a written request from at least 1/5th of the members.
Notice of such meeting will be given through the Secretariat at least 6 months in advance.
The Chairperson/International Delegate or, in his/her absence, a nominated member of the Executive chosen by the Chairperson shall take the Chair at the meeting.
Except insofar as stated in the Constitution, voting shall be conducted by ballot.
The eligible members registered on the World Council UK data base, shall be sent ballot papers by postal services at least 6 weeks prior to the AGM. These ballot papers can be returned to the secretary by post, up to 2 weeks prior to the AGM, or may be returned in person at the World Council UK conference prior to the AGM.
The proposal will also be posted electronically at this time.
A period of one (1) month will be allowed for postal voting.
Each Full or Life Member shall be entitled to cast one (1) vote.
The members will be notified of the results at the Annual General Meeting and via the Web Site.
In the case of an equality of votes, the Chairperson shall have the casting vote.
Proposals for substantial changes to the Constitution shall have to be notified to the members through the Secretary, in writing, 21 days before the relevant meeting by which time the voting will have taken place by ballot.
(a) Officers
Officers shall hold to their duty in good faith.
The World Council U.K. shall elect biennially from amongst its Full Members a Chairperson/International Delegate, a Treasurer, a Recording Secretary, a Public Relations Officer and an Education officer. To hold an office, a person must be an active Full Member in good standing for at least 2 years prior to the election and have consented to serve in writing.
Each officer shall be elected for a term of 4 years. No officer shall be elected to the same office consecutively. Officers shall be eligible for re-election to the same office after a 2-year period has elapsed.
Any vacancy occurring amongst the officers, due to resignation or death or the ineligibility of a member to complete his/her term of office, or due to no valid nomination being received at the time of election, or due to the election of an existing acting Officer to a different position within the Executive, shall be filled by the Chairperson in consultation with the Honorary Officers. Any person thus appointed shall serve only as a caretaker for the remainder of the term of office of the person whose vacancy he/she has filled. This will not count as part of the statutory terms of office as stated in the third paragraph of “officers”.
Nomination for office shall be through the Chairperson. In submitting a nomination, the member shall ensure that the agreement of the nominee has been obtained and that he/she is eligible for nomination.
Voting will take place by ballot paper prior to the General Meeting of the World Council U.K. on the basis of 1 vote per Full or Life Member. The person with the majority of votes is elected.
The Officers shall decide the dates by which nominations will be required.
(b) Powers of Officers
The Officers shall be empowered to manage and control the affairs of the Council.
The Officers shall meet as and when required, one meeting to take place at the same time as the General Meeting of the World Council U.K.
The Chairperson shall take the Chair at all meetings of the Officers. Any Officer may initiate a meeting through the Secretary who shall ensure that notice of all meetings be sent to every officer, stating the purpose for which the meeting is being called. As much notice as possible shall be given of meetings which are to be held. Three Officers shall form a quorum and no action shall be taken unless the quorum is unanimous.
The Officers shall report to the World Council U.K. on all major matters considered and on action(s) taken. The Officers may set up or recommend the establishment of standing committees, ad hoc committees or working parties, as the need arises. These committees may comprise Full and Associate Members. Any such committee shall fully and promptly report its findings to the Officers and to the World Council U.K. as appropriate.
(c) Removal of Officers
Any Officer may be removed from office by a resolution approved by 2/3rds of the Officers. Written charges against that Officer should be filed with the Secretary.
The members of the World Council U.K. shall invite every four years a Full Member of their organisation to be an International Delegate/Chairperson to represent the World Council U.K. on the World Council Board of the World Council of Enterostomal Therapists. As the International Delegate/Chairperson is required to represent the U.K. at international meetings, total financial support for this is to be provided from World Council U.K. funds.
Both the outgoing and incoming International Delegate/Chairperson should attend the Bi-ennial Congress. Both should receive full funding from World Council UK.
The International Delegate shall be the liaison between the Officers and members of the World Council U.K. and the World Council of Enterostomal Therapists.
In the event of an International Delegate being unable to continue holding the position, the members within his/her country will arrange for the vacancy to be filled.
International positions:
Any member appointed to an international position within the W.C.E.T. shall receive some financial support for this provided by World Council U.K. funds.
The financial year of the World Council UK shall be from the first (1st) day of April through to the thirty first (31st) day of March the following year.
In line with International Constitution, new amendments will be adopted by World Council U.K. as follows: Alteration(s) to the Constitution must receive the assent of 2/3rds of the members voting at an Annual General Meeting or at an Extraordinary Meeting. A resolution for the alteration(s) of the Constitution must be received by the Secretary of the Association at least 21 days before the meeting at which the resolution is to be brought forward.
At least 14 days notice of such a meeting must be given by the Secretary to the membership and must include notice of the alteration(s) proposed.
No alteration to Clause 2 (objectives), Clause 12 (dissolution) or this Clause (10) shall take effect until approval in writing has been obtained from Charity Commissioners or other Authority having charitable jurisdiction. No alteration shall be made which would have the effect of causing the Association to cease being a charity in law.
The Association may be dissolved by a resolution passed by a 2/3rd majority of those voting at a special General Meeting, convened for this purpose, and of which 21 days notice shall have been given to the members.
Such resolution may give instructions for the disposal of any assets held by or in the name of the Association. If any property remains after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, such property shall not be paid to or distributed amongst the members of the Association but shall be given or transferred to some other charitable institutions having similar objectives to some or all of the objectives of the Association, as the Association may determine, and if effect cannot be given to this provision then to some other charitable purpose.
This Constitution shall be reviewed at least every 2 years.
October 2009