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British Pharmaceutical Students Association

BPSA constitution The British Pharmaceutical Students Association is proposing to adopt an amended version of its constitution at its annual conference in April. The new constitution reads (changes in italic):

“1. Definition

The British Pharmaceutical Students' Association (herein after referred to as the Association) is a section of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (herein after referred to as the Society), established within Section V of the Society's Bylaws.

2. Objects

The Objects of the Association shall be to represent and promote the interests and welfare of members of the Association generally and in relation to the study and practice of the profession of pharmacy, acting in accordance with the Bylaws of the Society.

3. The Executive

3.1 The members of the Association shall at its Annual Conference elect an Executive and that Executive shall administer the affairs of the Association.

3.2 The Executive shall be constituted of the following members: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary General, Public Relations Officer, Membership Secretary, Student Exchange Officer, Graduate Officer, Future Pharmacist Editor, Sports Officer, four Area Co-ordinators and two conference organisers.

3.3 The Executive shall hold office from the 1st July until the 30th June in each year.

3.4 The Executive shall meet at least six times annually in addition to any meeting it may hold at the Annual Conference of the Association.

3.5 The quorum for any meeting of the Executive shall be four members of the Executive.

3.6 Meetings of the Executive shall be chaired by the President of the Association, or in his absence the Vice-President. In the absence of both the President and the Vice-President the Executive shall elect a Chairman.

3.7 At meetings of the Executive, the Chairman of the meeting shall have a casting vote, but otherwise shall not vote.

3.8 The Executive shall act at all times within the Objects of the Association. In cases of urgency, decisions on matters falling within the Objects may be taken by the President.

3.9 The Executive shall hold two meetings each year with representatives of the Council of the Society, and at least one informal meeting with senior staff of the Society.

3.10 The Executive shall operate in accordance with the Regulations of the Association which may be amended by ordinary resolution of the Annual Conference or National Representatives' Meeting.

3.11 The Executive may at its discretion employ any person necessary in order to ensure the proper running of the Association and may pay proper fees and charges in respect of any work performed by such person acting on behalf of the Association.

4. Membership

4.1 Membership of the Association shall be open to all students as defined in the Society's Bylaws Section I, on payment of the prescribed fee.

4.2 Associate membership of the Association:

4.2.1 is defined as students not encompassed by the Society's Byelaws Section 1, who may be permitted to speak but shall have no right to vote at meetings.

4.2.2 shall be granted at the discretion of the Executive.

4.2.3 shall be eligble for events and services at the discretion of the Executive.

4.3 The Association may by ordinary resolution at the meeting held at the Annual Conference of the Association, agree to admit as members, pharmacists for a period ending on the first anniversary of their initial registration with the Society.

4.4 The Executive may recommend to the meeting held at the Annual Conference of the Association that a person be made an Honorary Life Member of the Association in recognition of outstanding service to the Association and if confirmed by the meeting that person shall become an Honorary Life Member of the Association.

4.5 Honorary Life Members of the Association shall have a right to attend meetings of the Association and may be permitted to speak at meetings, but shall have no right to vote.

5. Powers

5.1 The Association shall have the power, within the Objects of the Association to:

5.1.1 Organise such social and educational events as, in the opinion of the Executive, should be held;

5.1.2 Seek sponsorship for any events or activities as may be required, subject to paragraph 5.2 below;

5.1.3 Pay all Association expenses out of the funds of the Association in accordance with the regulations;

5.1.4 Buy, lease or sell any goods or things of any description which in the opinion of the Executive, are required for the day-to-day running of the Association;

5.1.5 Invest funds of the Association in investment accounts of banks or building societies providing that no such investment may be made other than with the consent of the Treasurer for the time being of the Association;

5.1.6 Exercise discipline over members of the Association in accordance with the Regulations;

5.1.7 Become a member of any body representing the interests of students of pharmacy internationally and to pay the appropriate subscription charges;

5.1.8 On occasion to subscribe or contribute any charitable or benevolent fund, the support of which will be in the opinion of the Executive assist them to further the Objects of the Association, provided that the total sum subscribed shall not in anyone year, unless approved by Annual Conference, exceed £150.00;

5.1.9 Enter into, vary, carry out or cancel any contracts or agreements where so to do will further the Objects of the Association, and provided that the Executive so decides, to take or defend any legal proceedings arising therefrom.

5.2 Provided that no funds shall be sought or accepted from, and no activity shall be entered into, with any body whose objects are, in the opinion of the Council of the Society, inimical to the interests of the profession as a whole; provided also that where any sponsorship or support is to be sought from organisations under sub paragraph 5.1.2, the Secretary and Registrar of the Society is informed in writing not less than fourteen days before any formal arrangement is made, in order that he can advise the Association whether there is any objection to the sponsorship or support proposed.

6. Finance

6.1 The Treasurer of the Association shall keep accounts of income and expenditure of the Association for a period of not less than seven years, in a form acceptable to the Society.

6.2 The Treasurer shall, thirty days before the Annual Conference of the Association, submit to the Society's Director of Finance, copies of the accounts of the Association for the previous accounting year. The Director of Finance shall arrange for such accounts to be audited.

6.3 The accounts of the Association shall be placed before the Annual Conference of the Association.

6.4 Funds of the Association shall be placed in an account or accounts of banks or building societies acceptable to the Society's Director of Finance, opened in the name of the Association.

6.5 The Treasurer of the Association shall have access to and control over any bank or building society account of the Association.

6.6 Funds of the Association may be used for any purpose falling within the powers of the Association, including reimbursement of expenses properly incurred by members of the Executive in connection with their functions as such, in accordance with the Regulations.

6.7 The Treasurer of the Association shall be responsible for the accounting to the Executive of the moneys of the Association.

6.8 An Honorary Treasurer is to be proposed, who shall be an HLM, and is nominated by the President and Treasurer. He shall hold office until such a time comes were he is unable to do so, in which case a new Honorary Treasurer is appointed.

7. Association

7.1 The Association shall hold a conference each year, and such other conferences as the Executive shall determine.

7.2 The Annual Conference shall:

7.2.1 Elect an Executive for the following year;

7.2.2 Consider the accounts of the Association for the preceding year;

7.2.3 Conduct any other business of the Association.

7.3 The quorum at the meetings of the Association shall be twenty members of the Association and four members of the Executive.

7.4 Voting at any conference shall be by a simple majority of those present and voting. No postal or proxy vote is permitted.

7.5 Not less than fourteen days notice shall be given to the members of the date and place of the Annual Conference and any other conference of the Association. The period of notice shall exclude periods when the schools of pharmacy are on vacation.

8. Constitution

8.1 Amendments to the Constitution may be accepted by a two-thirds majority of members present and voting at a conference.

8.2 Any proposal to amend the Constitution to be considered at a conference, shall be the subject of written notification to the representative at each school of pharmacy and of a notice in The Pharmaceutical Journal; such notification to be given at least fourteen days before the conference.

8.3 The Executive shall inform the Secretary and Registrar of any proposal for amendment to the Constitution adopted by a conference of the Association and, if accepted by the Council of the Society, the amendment shall come into force on a date agreed by the Council and the Executive.”

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