BBA: The British Burn Association

BBA Constitution

Amended Constitution 2004
(Original Constitution 1969)

1. Name

1.1 The Association shall be a British Isles (United Kingdom, Eire and Channel Islands) non-profit making   society to be known as the British Burn Association and registered in the United Kingdom as a Charity   (no.260167).

2. Aims

2.1 The Association is established to promote for the benefit of the public study into burn prevention, burn   treatment and burn care and in particular:
  I. To disseminate knowledge and to stimulate prevention in the field of burns
  II. To promote education in all aspects of burn care including first aid active wound management nursing     and therapy.
  III. To promote and support research into scientific clinical and social aspects of burn injury and arrange for     the results of the research to be published.
 
2.2 The Executive Committee may establish formal mechanisms for information exchange with such other   bodies or societies including health service and governmental agencies as are deemed to share common   cause with the Association or where such liaison is likely to lead to more effective pursuit of the aims of the   Association.

3. Funds

3.1 The funds of the Association shall be managed as follows: -
  3.1.1. The funds of the Association shall be derived from subscriptions donations grants and contracts and     shall be applied solely towards the aims of the Association as set forth in Clause 2.
  3.1.2. The funds of the Association shall be in the hands of the Secretary-Treasurer and administered by     him/her.
  3.1.3. The annual accounts of the Association shall be subject to independent audit as and when required     to accord with all relevant statutory provisions from time to time enacted, and shall be provided to the Charity     Commission regularly as required by them.

4. Membership

4.1 Membership of the Association shall consist as follows:

4.1.1 Professional members Health care professionals (including Medical, Nursing, Allied Health     Professionals, and scientific investigators) and non-medical workers actively engaged by reason of their     employment in some aspect of the care of the burnt patient. Professional members are entitled to receive all     mailings notices and other information issues from time to time by the Association have access to the     website and have full voting rights (general entitlements) and may be nominated to sit on the Executive     Committee.

4.1.2 Overseas members Persons who would be eligible for professional membership but who reside and     work overseas for more than fifty percent of the year. Members in this category are entitled to all general     entitlements and may vote on Association matters at the Annual General Meeting but may not be nominated     for election to the Executive Committee.

4.1.3 Honorary members Honorary membership of the Association may be awarded by the Executive Committee of the association to persons who:
 
  i. have demonstrated outstanding service to burned patients in accordance with the aims of the Association.  Nominations may be made for this membership category by at least two members of the Association. Names may be forwarded to the Executive committee which will then present its decision for ratification by the Annual General Meeting.
  ii. have by invitation given the annual Wallace Memorial Lecture. Members in this category will no longer be       required to pay a subscription but are entitled to all general entitlements and may vote on Association       matters but may not to be nominated for election to the Executive Committee.
 
4.1.4 Associate members - The Association recognises the large amount of work done on behalf of burn     survivors and in the work of burn prevention by other charities and philanthropic groups. Associate     membership is therefore open to such at the discretion of the Executive Committee. Associate members     are entitled to all general entitlements but may not vote on formal Association business or be elected onto     the Executive Committee. Associate members may be invited to serve in a voluntary capacity on Association     sub-committees where their particular experience may be of value and may be co-opted onto the Executive
    Committee on a similar basis but may not vote in either capacity.

5. Annual Subscriptions and Entitlements

5.1 The Annual Subscription for each membership category shall be as decided from time to time by the   General Meeting and shall be payable on or before the thirty-first of December in every year in advance for the   ensuing year.

5.2 A discount of 10% will be available to professional members if 20 or more individuals entitled to   professional membership working in the same burn care service elect to pay subscriptions collectively in the   form of a Group Membership. One member of the Group shall be identified to collect subscriptions from the   group convey the same in timely manner to the Treasurer and ensure that the list of members subscribing   through the Group and held by the Executive is annually reviewed and kept up to date.

6. General Meetings

6.1 A General Meeting (AGM) of the Association shall be held annually. The AGM shall be open to Members   (Professional Overseas Honorary and Associate) of the Association and its functions shall be:

    •To receive and approve the reports of the Executive Committee
    •To appoint or ratify as appropriate the Officers and Members of the Executive Committee
    •To fix the rate of the annual subscription
    •To conduct any other business as proposed by the Executive Committee or by members eligible to vote.

6.2 Only those members eligible to vote will be permitted to do so in respect of Association business at the   AGM. Voting will be by a show of hands unless otherwise decided by the meeting. Controversial business for   discussion at the General Meeting especially if related to the Constitution must be submitted to the Executive   Committee at least two months before to allow circulation to all entitled members.

6.3 All business arising at meetings of the Association except as otherwise provided for in the Constitution   shall be decided by a simple majority of those voting the Chairman having both a deliberative and casting   vote.

7. Executive Committee

7.1 The Executive Committee shall be elected by the Association from its professional membership at the   General Meeting shall consist of nine members and shall have power to co-opt additional members to   ensure equitable representation of the main professional groups involved in burn care.

7.2 The Committee shall have as its main charge the application of the Aims of the Association by all means   possible and legitimate. The Committee shall cause to be arranged an Annual Scientific Meeting including an   AGM and other elements as from time to time agreed by the AGM as essential components.

7.3 The Chairman is empowered to call the Executive Committee together at any time as necessary giving   minimum notice of six weeks. Executive Committee meetings shall be held at least twice a year the frequency   to be determined by the Executive according to the nature and urgency of business. A quorum shall consist of   the Chairman or Vice-Chairman and four other voting members.

7.4 The Officers shall constitute a sub-committee for the conduct of urgent business, which shall be reported   to the next meeting of the Executive Committee for confirmation. Minutes of all meetings shall be circulated to   Executive Committee members at least two weeks prior to the next meeting.

7.5 Members of the Executive Committee including Officers shall attend at least two thirds of formal Executive   meetings over a two year period. This condition may be waived in exceptional circumstances at the discretion   of the Executive. If this condition is not met the member shall be removed from the Executive Committee and   the general Membership entitled to vote invited to elect a replacement member at the earliest opportunity.

8. Officers of the Association

8.1 Chairman

8.1.1. The Chairman of the Association shall serve for a term of two years only and shall be eligible for     election having previously served one term as Secretary-Treasurer or Deputy Chairman. S/he shall normally     chair all the Executive meetings and the AGM and other formal business meetings of the Association not     delegated to a sub-committee. S/he is charged with ensuring that the profile of the association both     professionally and politically is maintained and may act on behalf of the Association directly or by delegation     in raising awareness of burn injury its prevention treatment and rehabilitation and to represent the     Association at a national and international level. S/he shall present an Annual Report to the Membership at     the AGM

8.2 Deputy Chairman

8.2.1 The Deputy Chairman of the Association shall serve for a term of two years and shall deputise for the     Chairman in all his/her roles as and when the Chairman is unable for anyreason to fulfil the same and shall     by all reasonable means assist and support the Chairman and the Secretary-Treasurer.

8.3 Secretary-Treasurer

8.3.1. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be responsible to the Executive Committee for the conduct of the day to     day business of the Association and shall be accountable to the Executive Committee in all matters of     finance for the Association. S/he shall maintain a bank account in the name of the British Burn Association     and shall administer its resources on behalf of the Association. The Secretary-Treasurer shall receive     membership application forms and all dues and donations and maintain an up-to-date register of     membership in all categories. S/he shall present an Annual report to the Membership at the AGM.

8.4 The Officers shall be empowered to employ secretarial and any other form of help as required subject to   prior approval by the Executive Committee.

9. Election of Executive Committee and Officers

9.1 Nominations for election to the Executive Committee must be supported by two professional members of   the Association and submitted to the Secretary-Treasurer by the appointed closing date. Association   members entitled to vote shall be afforded this opportunity in such manner as determined from time to time   by a two-thirds majority of those present at the AGM when the matter is discussed.
  9.2 Executive Committee members shall be elected for a period of three years in the first instance and shall   be eligible for re-election for one further three year term. However they shall not thereafter be eligible for   further immediate re-election except as set out in clause

9.4 below. After a period of three years from leaving   the Executive Committee the member shall again become eligible for nomination for election to the Executive   in the manner and for the terms set out in this paragraph.

9.3 Officers of the Association are elected to serve for a period of two years in the first instance. All Officers   shall be nominated by the Executive Committee and the nominations shall then be placed before the AGM for   ratification. Members of the Executive Committee may hold no more than two Officer posts consecutively.  Persons returning to the Executive after having previously served as an Officer may not again be elected to an   Officer role.

9.4 Executive Committee members shall become eligible for nomination to an Officer role after one year of   service to the Executive. Once elected as an Officer the member shall remain eligible to serve a full two year   term in that Office AND be (re-)elected to one full term in that or a different Office even if such election would   cause the time as an Executive member to exceedtwo full terms or six years PROVIDED THAT the   consecutive period served as an Executive Committee member does not exceed a maximum of eight years.

9.5 If an Officer’s term of office is terminated by decision of the Executive or the Officer stands down before the   term of office is complete, the Executive Committee shall nominate another member to fulfil the remainder of   that term of office. At the discretion of the Executive the nomination may be put to the membership for   ratification at the earliest opportunity.

10. Expenses incurred on Association business

10.1 All Officers and Executive Committee members shall be eligible for reimbursement of reasonable   expenses incurred while fulfilling Executive Committee responsibilities provided that such reimbursement is   supported by receipts and subject to audit from time to time as necessary.

10.2 Reimbursement of expenses incurred by general members on official Association business shall   likewise be approved subject to prior confirmation by the Executive that such expenses shall be eligible for   reimbursement. This clause includes but is not exclusive to members of Association sub-committees.

11. Conferences and Meetings

11.1 The Executive Committee shall be empowered to endorse or cause to be organised such conferences   seminars or other meetings as may be considered appropriate in pursuance of the aims of the Association.  The Executive may delegate any part of or the entire organisation of such activities to an organising committee   or other body whether established for that purpose or pre-existing.

11.2 The financial management of and accountability for any meeting endorsed or organised under the   auspices of the Association shall be EITHER delegated fully to the organisers at no risk to the Association OR   retained and managed in full by the Association. The detail of the financial arrangements shall in either case   be subject to formal approval by the Executive. The programme and content of the meeting shall be subject to   formal approval by the Executive in pursuance of the aims of the Association.

12. Sub-committees

12.1 The Executive Committee shall have power to establish set terms of reference for and appoint members   to sub-committees and working groups for specific tasks and considerations in furtherance of its aims and   objectives.

13. Amendments to the Constitution

13.1 No new clause shall be added or any existing clause repealed or altered except by Resolution of the   General Meeting at which the majority for change shall be not less than two-thirds of those voting. No   amendment shall be made to the Constitution of the Association which will affect its charitable status.

14. Dissolution and Liquidation

14.1 Events leading to the dissolution of the Association will be under the control of the Executive Committee   but there must be a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of the Executive Committee. Voting by   proxy in this event is permissible.

14.2 In the event of dissolution of the Association any surplus assets shall not be paid to or distributed   among members of the Association but shall be given or transferred to a charity or other not-for-profit   organisation active in the field of burn prevention and/or care and/or rehabilitation and having aims in   harmony with those of the Association. The organisation to which donation or transfer shall be made shall be   as agreed by those taking the decision that dissolution is necessary.

The original Constitution was adopted as the Constitution of the British Burn Association at a Public Meeting duly convened on the thirty-first day of October, one thousand, nine-hundred and sixty-nine at Queen Mary’s Hospital, Roehampton, London S.W.15.

This amended Constitution was adopted as the Constitution of the British Burn Association by a more than two-thirds majority of those present and eligible to vote at an Annual General Meeting of the Association duly convened in accordance with the original Constitution on the thirtieth day of April two thousand and four at the Manchester Conference Centre.