MEMBERSHIP
a) A member of the Hospitalité is a person who accepts the objects of the Hospitalité, is at least 18 years of age, has served as a Hospitalier on the Archdiocesan Pilgrimage, and has been enrolled.
A person shall not be accepted for enrolment as a member nor, prior to or following enrolment, be allowed to work with the Hospitalité during or outside an annual pilgrimage in any capacity which involves any contact with children or vulnerable adults, without first undertaking to abide by the Hospitalité ‘Procedures for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults’, and having undergone clearance in accordance with these procedures.
b) Each member is expected to pay annual subscriptions for the forthcoming year on or before 31st August. Should the member not pay the required subscription within 12 months of the due date, they will ease to be regarded as a voting member of the Hospitalité.
c) The Council reserves the right to withhold or with draw membership only in circumstances where the person has failed to be cleared under the protection of vulnerable persons rules, or has not paid the required subscription.
DUTIES OF MEMBERSHIP
a) To assist, as far as possible, in attaining the objectives of the Hospitalité as they relate to the annual Liverpool Archdiocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes.
b) To strive to spread devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes by prayer, the recitation of the act of Consecration and other means.
c) To attend, wherever possible, religious services and retreats organised by the Hospitalité whilst in Lourdes and at other times of the year.
ADMINISTRATION
a) The Hospitalité shall be administered by an Executive Council. The Council is empowered to act in furtherance of the objects of the Hospitalité, and to co-ordinate its activities. The Council shall consist of the following:
- A President – elected at the Annual General Meeting for a period of three years.
- A Secretary – elected at the Annual General Meeting for as period of two years.
- A Membership Registrar – elected at the Annual General meeting for a period of two years.
- A Treasurer – elected at the Annual General Meeting for a period of two years.
- Six other members who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting for a period of two years.
b) All Officers and Council members shall be eligible for re-election at the end of their period of office.
c) The Executive Council shall be augmented by the addition of three ex-officio members, being those persons who for the time being hold the following positions:
i) Chaplain to the Hospitalité – appointed by the Archbishop.
ii) Chief Medical Officer ) appointed by the Executive of the
iii) Chief Nursing Officer ) Pilgrimage Association
d) Each of the elected members shall have the power to vote on all agenda issues. However, the three ex-officio members shall be in an advisory capacity and, as such, shall not have any voting powers.
e) The Executive Council shall fill any vacancies and shall be empowered to invite other members as deemed necessary or deal with any urgent matters which arise. These invited members are to act in an advisory capacity and have no voting rights on the Executive Council.
f) A General Meeting of the Hospitalité shall be held annually, when an Audited Statement of Accounts shall be presented for approval, and elections take place. Twenty-one days notice will be given for such a meeting. The number of days notice to be given for an AGM or EGM shall be clear working days, due allowance being given for Bank Holidays. Extraordinary meetings may be called as and when necessary, for which fourteen days notice shall be given.
g) Elections to the Executive Council will take place using the following procedure:
- Nominations, indicating the name of the proposer and seconder, together with the consent of the candidate, shall be accepted by the Secretary up to seven days prior to the Annual General Meeting.
- Voting will take place at the AGM by the use of ballot papers distributed to members attending the AGM. Proxy votes, properly completed and certified by an absent member, will be counted.
- Each member will be eligible for one vote for each ffice on the Executive.
- In the election for council members each member will be eligible for one vote.
- In the event of insufficient members being elected, subsequent ballots will take place, but no new nominations will be accepted.
- The Chaplain shall act as Returning Officer for the election, declaring the result as soon as possible.
h) The Executive Council shall meet within one month following the AGM and at least six times during the year. Seven members shall form a quorum.
FINANCE
a) An annual subscription shall be payable by all members. The amount of this subscription shall be determined by the Executive Council, and shall be subject to approval by the Hospitalité AGM.
b) All monies shall be banked in the name of the Hospitalité. The Executive Council shall specify the names of those members empowered to sign cheques and financial instruments.
c) The funds of the Hospitalité shall be used in furtherance of the objects of the Hospitalité, and the Executive Council shall at all times be responsible for these funds to the Trustees of the Liverpool Archdiocesan Pilgrimage Association.
d) The Executive Treasurer shall maintain a Sick Fund Account, separate from other general funds, into which monies donated and raised for the purposes are received, and from which expenses for the aid and comfort of sick pilgrims shall be met.
RELIGIOUS & SOCIAL EVENTS
a) The Executive Council shall arrange for Masses to be offered annually for existing members in May, and for deceased members on or near the 8th December, at which the Act of Consecration shall be recited.
b) The Executive Council shall arrange other religious activities on behalf of members, such as retreats, and other services as appropriate both prior to, during and following the annual pilgrimage, and at other times during the year.
c) The Executive Council shall be responsible for arranging, on behalf of members, social events for the purpose of raising funds in accordance with Section 2c.
d) These events shall be arranged at times which give maximum opportunity for members to attend by giving due and fair consideration to the situation of all the members.
RECOGNITION OF SERVICE
The Executive Council shall recognise commitment to service on pilgrimage.
CONSTITUTION
No change may be made to any part of this Constitution without the approval of a General Meeting of the members of the Hospitalité, due notice having been given to the Secretary prior to the meeting.
DISSOLUTION
In the event of the dissolution of the Hospitalité, the funds and assets shall revert to the Trustees of the Liverpool Archdiocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage Association, orits successor.
This Constitution was passed at an extraordinary General Meeting of the Hospitalité on Sunday 14th April 2002. |
