| ARTICLE 7 - ELECTION OF OFFICERS |
| An honorary President shall be nominated each year by the elected Executive Committee. The nomination shall require the endorsement of the AGM. The honorary President of IBP shall not be a proprietor, partner, director or full time employee of a public relations company/consultancy, or employed full time in a press or PR role within a construction-related organisation. All officers shall retire annually, but shall be eligible for re-election. A retiring Chairman/woman shall be an ex-officio member of the committee for the year following his/her retirement from the Chair. On notice of the AGM being given to members, the Secretary shall invite nominations for the offices of Secretary and Treasurer and/or Bookkeeper (see Article 5) and shall indicate the names of any officers not willing to stand for re-election. The Chairman/woman will be elected by the Executive Committee at its first meeting following an AGM. Nominations for officers and Executive Committee are required to reach the Secretary not later than fourteen days before the AGM and the Secretary shall cause such nominations to be listed showing names of those nominated, together with proposer and seconder and the nominee's agreement to stand in each case. This list shall be notified to all members of the organisation attending the AGM. |
| ARTICLE 8 - ELECTION OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE |
| Nominations for membership of the Executive Committee may also be made at the AGM, provided that the same procedures allowed for in postal nominations are followed. Provision for constituted nominations at the AGM will be an item on the Agenda. If there be more nominations than vacancies on the Executive Committee, those with the most votes shall be deemed elected. |
| ARTICLE 9 - VOTING |
| The method of voting at AGMs, EGMs and ordinary meetings shall be by a show of hands, unless the Chairman/woman of the meeting orders a ballot. No member shall exercise a vote unless his subscription has been paid at the latest at the AGM/EGM. The Chairman/woman of the AGM/EGM may suspend technical procedures when it is agreed by a majority vote of those in attendance that to suspend would be beneficial to the aims of the Association. |
| ARTICLE 10 - ELIGIBILITY FOR OFFICE |
| Only members whose subscription has been paid at least twenty-one days before an AGM or EGM shall be eligible for office, or for service on the Executive Committee. At least half of the Executive Committee shall be journalist members as opposed to press and public relations members. |
| ARTICLE 11 - SUBSCRIPTIONS |
| The Association's financial year runs from 1 January to 31 December. The annual subscription shall be fixed from time to time by the AGM on the recommendation of the Executive Committee. The annual subscription shall be payable on 1 December each year. Members in arrears on 31 March in any one year will cease to be members. Members accepted into membership after 1 June shall pay half the annual subscription for that year. Attendance fees received for financing of ordinary meetings shall be determined by the Executive Committee as necessary and shall be payable by all those members and/or guests attending. Members shall be responsible for the payment of their guests. |
| ARTICLE 12 - PRESS CARD |
| Members shall receive a Membership/Press card which remains the property of the Association and shall be surrendered on cessation of membership. |
| ARTICLE 13 - CONDUCT AT MEETINGS |
| Unless expressly stated to the contrary, speakers' remarks at ordinary meetings are 'on the record'. |
| ARTICLE 14 - DISCIPLINARY MEASURES |
| The Executive Committee shall be empowered to reprimand a member of the Association or to terminate the membership of a member of the Association whose conduct, in the opinion of the Executive Committee, is detrimental to the interests of the Association or of the profession or is incompatible therewith. In such cases, the member shall be given an opportunity to appear before the Executive Committee to explain his/her conduct. At least six members of the Executive Committee must vote in favour of his/her being reprimanded or termination of membership. At least seven days clear notice in writing shall be given to the member being summoned before the Executive Committee. A member expelled may, within fourteen days from the day on which the notification of such expulsion has reached him/her, appeal to the President of the Association. The appeal shall be made in writing, setting out the grounds of his/her appeal, and shall be signed by the appealing member and addressed to the Secretary of the Association who shall forward it to the President. The President shall consult with the Executive Committee and any other members whom he/she sees fit in considering the appeal. He/she will then reach a decision which shall be final. |
| ARTICLE 15 - DISPUTES |
| Any disputes as to interpretation of these Articles shall be referred to the Executive Committee whose decision shall be final and binding. |
| ARTICLE 16 - CHANGE OF ARTICLES |
| Any proposals to change or add to these articles shall be notified to the Secretary who will include such proposals on the agenda of the next available meeting of the Executive Committee. If such proposed change or addition to the articles is approved by the Executive Committee, it shall be notified to members with the agenda of the next AGM and shall be an item of 'special resolution' thereon. |
| ARTICLE 17 - WINDING UP |
| If, by consent of its members, the Association is wound up, any available funds shall be used to defray outstanding debts and any balance thereafter shall be disposed of as the Executive Committee may decide. |
| ALL PREVIOUS ARTICLES ARE RESCINDED. |