Irish Soccer Referees Society Branch �
Rules 2006.
Name and Jurisdiction
The name shall be The Irish Soccer Referees Society � Branch, here in after
called �The Branch�.
No article shall act in violation of any member�s constitutional rights.
The Jurisdiction of the branch shall be that allocated in the constitution of
the I.S.R.S.
Objects
The objects of the branch shall be those enshrined in the constitution of the
I.S R.S.
Membership
The branch secretary shall maintain a register of all members.
A member( subject to the rules of the branch ) is an individual who has paid
there membership fee in full to the branch or granted honorary life membership
by the branch, honorary members would be exempt from paying membership fees;
committee members are also exempt from paying membership fees.
Full voting rights would attach to honorary life members once such members
fulfilled the
Requirements as exist for full members.
Associate members my attend branch meetings but are not entitled to vote.
Membership of the branch imposes the following obligations on members.
To attend all branch meetings as well as all other meetings that he/she may be
required to attend including the AGM.
A member who fails to attend a meeting whatever the reason shall be given an
opportunity to write an explanation to the branch secretary before the next
meeting.
Failure to attend meetings without an acceptable written explanation to the
branch secretary will result in that member being written to/fined/or suspended
from the branch.
Any member who is written to /fined, cautioned and / or suspended by the Branch
Committee shall be notified in writing by registered post within fourteen days
by the Hon. Secretary.
The member shall have the right to appeal in writing to the executive committee
of the I.S.R.S. within fourteen days of the receipt of suspension.
His / Her branch secretary shall be notified also of his / her intentions within
fourteen days appeals to be sent by registered post only. In the event of an
appeal, the member shall continue his / her duties, until his / her appeal is
heard.
To pay membership fees on each year amount shall be decided by the branch
committee.
To uphold the good name of the branch on and off the field of play.
To ensure when officiating with other referees that they are members and if they
are not, to refuse to officiate with them.
Failure to pay full membership by the will result in exclusion from the
membership list, which is published annually in April All members must be
registered with the F.A.I. Any person wishing to join the Cork Branch shall be
eligible for registration, subject to his / her application being accepted by
the branch committee and having and must have completed 12 months probationary
period.
Application to rejoin the branch by former members shall be considered by the
committee on revision of his / her previous record.
If after 12 months probationary period members� standards of refereeing and / or
behaviour are not up to the required level, the branch committee shall have the
power to cancel his / her membership subject to Rule 13 and 14.
Annual General Meeting
The branch committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting to be held
before 31st May each year.
Accidental omission to give notice to, or the non-receipt of such notice by any
member shall not invalidate the election or any motion passed at the Annual
General Meeting.
The following shall be the Agenda for the Annual General Meeting
To read any apologies received.
To approve and sign the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting and any
Special General Meetings in the intervening period.
To receive the Chairman�s address.
To receive the Secretary�s address.
To receive the Treasurer�s report.
Any other business.
To elect the Chairman for the ensuing year.
To elect the Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.
To elect the Secretary for the ensuing year.
To elect the Treasurer for the ensuing year.
To elect the assistant Secretary for the ensuing year.
To elect the Assistant Treasurer for the ensuing year.
To elect not more than one ordinary member to serve on committee for ensuing
year.
To elect the required number of delegates to council every three years
(Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer are automatically elected by virtue of their
office).
To decide on any motions duly submitted according to rule
All voting at the A.G.M. shall be by secret ballot and the result decided by
simple majority. If more than two candidates go for the same position than the
system of proportional representation is used.
To be eligible for election to the branch committee a candidate must have at
least two years continuous membership of the branch immediately preceding the
election, attend at least 75% of branch meetings and must not hold any position
(paid or unpaid) in the Football Association of Ireland or any of it�s
affiliated bodies except where representing the Society and with the prior
permission of the Branch committee.
Candidates may be nominated and seconded in their absence only when their
written permission is presented to the Annual General Meeting.
Notices of motion (rule change) duly proposed and seconded by fully qualified
members, must be in the hands of the Secretary at least fourteen days prior to
the Annual General Meeting.
All motions require a simple majority of total votes cast at the Annual General
Meeting, failing which there are lost.
Where a vote is required at the Annual General Meeting it may be either by
secret ballot, or a show of hands and the result decided by simple majority.
(Not for the election of officers.)
Tally Clerks (if necessary) shall be appointed by the Chairman at the start of
the voting and shall retain that function for the remainder of the voting.
The quorum for the Annual General Meeting is 50% plus one, including four
committee members in attendance before it is valid.
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting duly signed and adopted at the following
Annual General Meeting shall be kept by the Secretary.
Any vacancy or vacancies which may arise between AGMs shall be filled in an
election at the next ordinary branch meeting.
The committee shall be vested with all powers to take decisions, as they deem
necessary for the proper functioning of the branch.
The committee shall have the power to invite persons other than those elected to
assist in their work if this is thought desirable, however, such persons may not
hold office or be entitled to vote.
The committee shall have the power to set-up sub-committees as they see fit.
Decisions of sub-committees must be communicated to the branch committee for
ratification before any action is taken.
Finances
The branch shall raise funds by whatever legal means are decided by the
committee.
Audited accounts may be presented each year to the Annual General Meeting.
A Branch Account (current and / or deposit) shall be maintained in a branch of a
recognised banking institution and the signature of the treasurer and any other
officer shall be required on all cheques and withdrawal slips.
At no time shall the account be overdrawn.
Administration and technical equipment purchased by the Cork Branch shall remain
the property of the branch.
The Cork Branch will not be liable for any expenses incurred by clubs, where a
member of the branch fails to fulfil a match fixture.
Where a member is negligent in not fulfilling a match fixture, he/she alone will
be answerable to the league in question, should the league so desire.
The Financial Year shall run from AGM to AGM.
All branch committee members serve in an honorary capacity. They are entitled to
reimbursement for any legitimate and reasonable expenses incurred while acting
on behalf of the branch.
Special General Meeting
On the demand in writing signed by at least 30% of the members or by order of
the branch committee, a special general meeting shall be held.
Not less than one weeks notice shall be given for such a special general meeting
and not more than four weeks may elapse before such a meeting is held in the
case of a demand for such a special general meeting being received by the
Secretary.
The Quorum for the special general meeting shall be 50% plus one, including four
committee members before it is valid.
To discuss and decide on the matter for which the special general meeting has
been called.
There shall be no further business discussed at the special general meeting.
Meetings.
In all cases where voting arises the Chairman shall vote only in the event of a
tied result. Under no circumstances shall the Chairman be entitled to two votes.
The branch rules may be amended or added to only by simple majority of those at
the Annual General Meeting or a special general meeting called for that purpose
It may be ether by secret ballot or a show of hands.
The Quorum for committee meetings shall be four officers.
In the absence of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman shall undertake the duties of
the Chairman.
Any letter, request or communication to be sent by the branch secretary to a
member will be addressed to the last known address of that member.
No member of the branch may take legal action against the branch on any issue
relating to the application of the branch rules or other matters until all the
possibilities of sports Jurisdiction within the Football Association of Ireland
have been exhausted.
Insurance including where appropriate must cover all members of the branch.
Members shall adhere to the F.A.I. rules relating to Referees in the
Constitution of the Society and to the rules and instructions of their branch.
No member will give interviews or opinions on decisions, games. Or other
referees to the press, TV. Or radio all questions should go through the P.R.O.
of the branch.
The Quorum for branch meetings shall be 4 officers and 20 members.
Any member who is called before the committee may bring a Branch colleague with
them to the meeting.