Cork Humanists Constitution
1 The name of the organisation is the Cork Humanists.
2 The objectives of the Cork Humanists shall be:
2.1 To provide a community for all non-religious people living in Cork and its hinterland including but not exclusively Atheists, Agnostics, Skeptics, Humanists, Freethinkers, non-theists, or as yet uncategorised non-believers. Membership of the Cork Humanists is not limited to those who choose to adopt the label of Humanist and is open to all non-believers regardless of label.
2.2 To strive to develop a community that values and promotes a freethinking life unencumbered by the biases of tradition, dogma, and authority, and that encourages people to live a reason and evidence-based life characterized by close fellowship, ethical contemplation, critical thinking, community service, and the appreciation of scientific knowledge and understanding of the universe and our place in it.
2.3 To strive to develop a community that values compassion and respect, both amongst its philosophically diverse membership, and also between its membership and theists.
2.4 To provide social events where meaningful relationships can be fostered amongst members of the Cork Humanists.
2.5 To provide a space for members to learn from each other, share their experiences and engage in personal development.
2.6 To strive to develop a community that values outreach, volunteerism and community service.
2.7 To provide an organised, coherent representative body for non-religious people living in Cork and its hinterland, bringing to the fore issues of concern to its membership, and raising awareness of non-religious worldviews by open discussion of matters relating to the prevalence and impacts on such persons of religious doctrine; the social position of the non-religious, and issues of particular interest to such persons which may periodically arise.
2.8 To equip members of the Cork Humanists with sound information on the practicalities of living a life free from organized faith in contemporary Irish society and to provide them with peer support and educational opportunities. Cork Humanists is mindful and respectful of the inalienable right of the individual to personal beliefs, and will do nothing whatsoever to compromise this right.
3 Cork Humanists shall not discriminate in its actions against any person on the basis of gender, age, sexual orientation, religious views, ethnicity, social status, political views, or any other grounds.
4 Attendees shall be considered members of the society – and so have the right to vote at elections – if they have registered with the Secretary of the Cork Humanists and attended at least three meetings for the year proceeding the AGM/EGM.
5 The affairs of the Cork Humanists shall be under the control of a Committee which shall include the Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and the Public Relations Officer. The Chairperson shall be entitled to make rulings and to take steps towards the proper conduct of meetings. Decisions shall be made on a democratic basis. In the event of an even vote the Chairperson will have the casting vote.
6 The Committee shall meet at least once every two weeks during term. A quorum shall be one half plus one of the full committee.
7 An Extraordinary General Meeting shall be called by the Honorary Secretary at the request of the Committee, or of one-sixth of the members of the Cork Humanists. Requests must be submitted either by email or letter.
8 The Constitution may be changed either at a Annual General Meeting (AGM) or Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) and a two-thirds majority vote is required to do so.
9 The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Cork Humanists - advertised at least twenty-five days in advance - held annually during the month of September. The Agenda shall include Minutes, Chairperson's Report, Secretary's Report, Financial Report, and the election of Officers and Committee.
9.1 The AGM shall be held for the purpose of electing officers to the Committee of the Cork Humanists, reporting on work done by the out-going committee, and for the passing of motions.
9.2 The Secretary shall act as Convenor of Elections for all elections held by the Cork Humanists. Where the Secretary is unable to so act, the responsibility of the role of Convenor of Elections will fall to the Treasurer.
9.3 The Convenor of Elections shall be responsible for giving adequate notice of all elections, accepting, verifying and collating all nominations, practical operation of all elections and overseeing the counting of all votes.
9.4 All members shall be eligible to run for election, if they have verifiably attended at least three meetings of the Cork Humanists. Nominations must be submitted at least twenty-one days in advance of the date of the AGM or EGM. Nominees must be members (as defined under article 4) and be nominated by two other members.
9.5 Each of the committee positions shall be elected at the AGM (or E.G.M.) by a first past the post election system. In each race there shall be a RON (Re-open nominations) candidate.
2 The objectives of the Cork Humanists shall be:
2.1 To provide a community for all non-religious people living in Cork and its hinterland including but not exclusively Atheists, Agnostics, Skeptics, Humanists, Freethinkers, non-theists, or as yet uncategorised non-believers. Membership of the Cork Humanists is not limited to those who choose to adopt the label of Humanist and is open to all non-believers regardless of label.
2.2 To strive to develop a community that values and promotes a freethinking life unencumbered by the biases of tradition, dogma, and authority, and that encourages people to live a reason and evidence-based life characterized by close fellowship, ethical contemplation, critical thinking, community service, and the appreciation of scientific knowledge and understanding of the universe and our place in it.
2.3 To strive to develop a community that values compassion and respect, both amongst its philosophically diverse membership, and also between its membership and theists.
2.4 To provide social events where meaningful relationships can be fostered amongst members of the Cork Humanists.
2.5 To provide a space for members to learn from each other, share their experiences and engage in personal development.
2.6 To strive to develop a community that values outreach, volunteerism and community service.
2.7 To provide an organised, coherent representative body for non-religious people living in Cork and its hinterland, bringing to the fore issues of concern to its membership, and raising awareness of non-religious worldviews by open discussion of matters relating to the prevalence and impacts on such persons of religious doctrine; the social position of the non-religious, and issues of particular interest to such persons which may periodically arise.
2.8 To equip members of the Cork Humanists with sound information on the practicalities of living a life free from organized faith in contemporary Irish society and to provide them with peer support and educational opportunities. Cork Humanists is mindful and respectful of the inalienable right of the individual to personal beliefs, and will do nothing whatsoever to compromise this right.
3 Cork Humanists shall not discriminate in its actions against any person on the basis of gender, age, sexual orientation, religious views, ethnicity, social status, political views, or any other grounds.
4 Attendees shall be considered members of the society – and so have the right to vote at elections – if they have registered with the Secretary of the Cork Humanists and attended at least three meetings for the year proceeding the AGM/EGM.
5 The affairs of the Cork Humanists shall be under the control of a Committee which shall include the Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and the Public Relations Officer. The Chairperson shall be entitled to make rulings and to take steps towards the proper conduct of meetings. Decisions shall be made on a democratic basis. In the event of an even vote the Chairperson will have the casting vote.
6 The Committee shall meet at least once every two weeks during term. A quorum shall be one half plus one of the full committee.
7 An Extraordinary General Meeting shall be called by the Honorary Secretary at the request of the Committee, or of one-sixth of the members of the Cork Humanists. Requests must be submitted either by email or letter.
8 The Constitution may be changed either at a Annual General Meeting (AGM) or Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) and a two-thirds majority vote is required to do so.
9 The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Cork Humanists - advertised at least twenty-five days in advance - held annually during the month of September. The Agenda shall include Minutes, Chairperson's Report, Secretary's Report, Financial Report, and the election of Officers and Committee.
9.1 The AGM shall be held for the purpose of electing officers to the Committee of the Cork Humanists, reporting on work done by the out-going committee, and for the passing of motions.
9.2 The Secretary shall act as Convenor of Elections for all elections held by the Cork Humanists. Where the Secretary is unable to so act, the responsibility of the role of Convenor of Elections will fall to the Treasurer.
9.3 The Convenor of Elections shall be responsible for giving adequate notice of all elections, accepting, verifying and collating all nominations, practical operation of all elections and overseeing the counting of all votes.
9.4 All members shall be eligible to run for election, if they have verifiably attended at least three meetings of the Cork Humanists. Nominations must be submitted at least twenty-one days in advance of the date of the AGM or EGM. Nominees must be members (as defined under article 4) and be nominated by two other members.
9.5 Each of the committee positions shall be elected at the AGM (or E.G.M.) by a first past the post election system. In each race there shall be a RON (Re-open nominations) candidate.
