1. NAME

The name of the Organisation shall be Bi Irish (hereinafter called ‘the Organisation’). The Organisation shall consist of a Committee of three Officers and three Directors, and the Members. The Officers will be the Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer.

2. MAIN OBJECTIVES

A. WELCOME, SUPPORT AND RESPECT INDIVIDUALS

The Organisation will welcome all self-identified bisexuals, and people who associate with the concept of bisexuality, and will strive to provide support for them. It will respect the individual. It will be founded on equality and shall be non-party in politics, non-sectarian in religion, non-racist and non-sexist.

B. EDUCATE, VALIDATE AND EXPLORE SEXUALITY

The Organisation will aim to help people understand and accept varying sexual identities. It will recognise bisexuality as a valid sexuality, and aim to promote understanding of this and other sexual identities. It will acknowledge sexuality as a fluid entity and encourage the exploration and questioning of gender boundaries.

C. CREATE BISEXUAL SPACE AND SUPPORT WITHIN COMMUNITY

The Organisation aims to create physical, emotional, intellectual, and social space. It looks for support within the wider gay/lesbian/ transgender/bisexual/queer/intersex community.

D. RECOGNISE DIVERSITY

The Organisation recognises diversity. It honours all sexual identities and all forms of adult, consensual, non-exploitative sexuality. It challenges issues relating to sex, body, gender and other relevant issues.

3. SUBSIDIARY OBJECTIVES

A. INFORMATION

The Organisation will assemble information on health issues, events, books, articles and resources within the gay/lesbian/ transgender/bisexual/queer/intersex community.

B. NETWORK

The Organisation will network with other groups within the community.

C. SUB-GROUPS

The Organisation will set up Sub-groups based on specific interests.

4. MEMBERSHIP

A. The Organisation may, after consideration, admit as Members any persons who are interested in the objectives of, and who may be beneficial to, the Organisation.

B. Each Member shall pay a minimum annual subscription to be decided at the Annual General Meeting. If a subscription is required.

C. The membership of any Member shall cease upon the secretary of the Organisation receiving written notice of his or her intention to resign or upon the passing of a resolution by the Members terminating his or her membership at a General Meeting.

D. The Committee shall have the power to expel any Member who offends against the rules of the Organisation. The Member will be given seven days notice to attend a meeting of the Committee, at which he/she cannot be expelled unless two thirds of the Committee attend, and unless a majority of the Committee vote in favour of his/her expulsion. He/she has an opportunity to answer complaints against him/her.

5. PRESIDENTS AND VICE-PRESIDENTS

Such suitable persons as the organisation may from time to time decide, shall be invited to become President or Vice-President.

6. ADMINISTRATION

A. MANAGEMENT

Management of the Organisation shall be vested in the Committee which shall comprise a Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer, who shall be the Office Bearers, and other Members as shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting, provided that the total number shall not exceed fifteen. Each elected Member will retire annually, on retiring, Members shall be eligible for re-election for a maximum of five consecutive years.

B. VACANCIES AND CO-OPTING

If vacancies occur on the Committee, they may be filled at an election at a General Meeting of the Organisation. The Committee shall have the power to appoint Sub-Committees to whom they delegate such duties as they think fit, and co-opt existing Members if they deem it necessary. The Officers shall be ex-officio members of all Sub-Committees. The Committee shall meet separately as necessary. Three members shall be a quorum for the Committee meeting.

C. GENERAL MEETINGS

i. The Annual General Meeting of the Organisation shall be held not later than three calendar months after the end of the financial year. At this meeting, business to be transacted shall include the adoption of a report and financial statement, election of the Officers and Committee and the appointment of auditors.
ii. Other General Meetings of the Organisation shall be held as the Committee may determine.
iii. An Extraordinary General Meeting shall be convened by the Secretary on receipt of a written request containing particulars of the business to be discussed, signed by at least seven other Members and submitted with a period of 28 days notice. No other business than that specified in the notice shall be dealt with at an Extraordinary General Meeting.
iv. A quorum of a General Meeting shall be four subscribing Members, two of them shall be members of the Committee.
v. All elections shall be by secret ballot, using proportional representation with single transferable vote. No person shall be eligible for election who is not a Member of the Organisation.

D. PROCEDURE

i. All questions arising at a meeting shall be decided by a simple majority of those Members present and entitled to vote. In the case of an equality of votes the Chairperson shall have a second or casting vote.
ii. Minute books will be kept by the Organisation and the Secretary shall enter therein a record of all proceedings and resolutions of the relevant meetings.

7. FINANCE (INCOME & PROPERTY)

The income and property of the Organisation, whencesoever derived, shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the Main Objectives of the Organisation as set forth in this Constitution. No portion thereof shall be paid or transformed directly or indirectly by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise howsoever by way of profit, to the Members of the Organisation. Provided that nothing herein shall prevent the payment, in good faith, of reasonable and proper remuneration to any officer or servant of the Organisation, nor prevent the payment of interest at a rate not exceeding five percent per annum on money lent or reasonable and proper rent for premises demised or let by any Member to the Organisation. No member of the Management Committee of the Organisation shall be appointed to any salaried office of the Organisation or any office of the Organisation paid by fees and that no remuneration or other benefit in money or moneys worth shall be given by the Organisation to any member of such Committee, except repayment of out-of-pocket expenses and interest at the rate aforesaid on money lent or reasonable and proper rent for premises demised or let to the Organisation.
Apart from any earnings generated by the Committee itself, the financial resources should be provided by grants, or donations which might be received. The Committee can, when required, seek loans, investments, bank overdraft facilities, and other financial assistance for the benefit of the Committee and its projects.

8. KEEPING OF ACCOUNTS

Annual audited accounts shall be kept and made available to the Revenue Commissioners on request.

9. ALTERATION OF THE CONSTITUTION

The provisions of the Constitution may be altered only by a resolution at a General Meeting which has received proper notice of intention by make such alteration, by a majority of those present and voting as laid down in No. 6, C, v. No such alteration may be made unless the same shall have been previously approved in writing by the Revenue Commissioners.

10. DISSOLUTION

If the Organisation should at any time decide by two thirds majority vote of the Committee that the Organisation shall be dissolved, a special meeting shall be called to review the decision so made. If at such a meeting it is decided by a simple majority of those present, then the Organisation shall therein dissolve.

If upon the dissolution of the Organisation there remains, after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities, any property whatsoever, the same shall not be paid to or distributed among the Members of the Organisation, but shall be given or transferred to some other charitable institution or institutions, having Main Objectives similar to those of the Organisation. The institution or institutions shall prohibit the distribution of the Organisation’s or their income and property among its or their Members to an extent at least as great as is imposed on the Organisation under or by virtue of the Clause hereof. Such institution or institutions will be determined by the Members of the Organisation at or before the time of dissolution, and if and so far as effect cannot be given to such provisions, then to some charitable objective.

This Constitution, barring minor revisions agreed upon by a majority of the Committee, was adopted as the Constitution of Bi Irish in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003. Recent changes for 2004 in Bold & Blue.