Constitution of the Bermuda Pharmaceutical Association

 

Article I

 

TitleThe Bermuda Pharmaceutical Association

 

Article II

 

Object:The objectives of the Association shall be:

1. To improve the standard of pharmaceutical and related services in Bermuda

2. To foster good relations between members of the pharmaceutical profession in Bermuda

3. To establish and maintain the highest possible standard of ethics and conduct in pharmacy in Bermuda

4. To assist in improving the professional knowledge and skill of its members

5. To exert such influence as it considers appropriate for the benefit of the people of Bermuda in matters relating to health and welfare

6. To represent and further the interests of the pharmaceutical profession in all its spheres of activity

7. To foster good relations with other medical and allied health professional bodies in Bermuda

 

Article III

 

Membership

1. The membership shall consist of active members, overseas members, honorary members and technician members. (“members” within the meaning of the Pharmacy and Poisons Act 1979)

1. Active

Members shall be those members who:

• Hold a recognized pharmaceutical qualification

• Have successfully completed the requirements for pharmaceutical registration with the Pharmacy Council

• Currently reside in Bermuda

2. Overseas:

Members shall be those members who:

• Hold a recognized pharmaceutical qualification

• Have successfully completed the requirements for pharmaceutical registration with the Pharmacy Council

• Do not currently reside in Bermuda

 

3. Honorary

Members shall be:

• Pre-eminent members of the pharmaceutical profession who reside in Bermuda may be elected Honorary Members of the Association by the members at a General Meeting following proposals (nominations) by the Executive Committee

• Honorary members shall not be required to pay membership dues

4. Technician

Members shall be:

• Employed as a technician in a pharmacy in Bermuda

 

2. The Executive Committee of the Association is empowered, except as provided elsewhere in this constitution, to decide all questions relating to eligibility and admissibility to membership in the Association.

3. Prospective members of the Association must apply by registering on the website, www.bpa.bm The application will be activated by the Secretary upon the receipt of dues for the current year.

 

Article IV

 

Membership in the Association may be terminated in any of the following ways:

1. By resignation

2. By default in payment of membership dues to a limit of three (3) months after the due date (with suitable reminders)

3. When a member no longer fulfils the requirements for membership

4. By expulsion, as provided for below, on the decision of the Executive Committee, on the grounds that the conduct of the member is detrimental to the interests of the Association of the pharmaceutical profession in Bermuda, or is calculated to bring the profession into disrepute, or that the member has willfully and persistently refused to comply with the Constitution of the Association

The power of expulsion may only be exercised after giving notice of not less than fourteen (14) days to the member concerned specifying the time and place of an enquiry at which the Executive Committee shall be effective only if carried by the unanimous vote of the Executive Committee.

 

Article V

 

The Executive Committee

1. The Association shall be regulated by an Executive Committee to be elected at the Annual General Meeting from amongst members of the Association. A term length will be two (2) years. Only Overseas members will be excluded from nomination.

The Executive Committee shall consist of:

• The President

• The Past President (so long as he/she is will to serve)

• The Secretary

• The Treasurer

• Two members-at-large

• A third member-at-large shall be elected if the Past President decides to step down

A quorum for all meetings of the Executive Committee shall be four (4)

 

2. The Executive Committee shall meet regularly or whenever considered necessary and its principal functions shall be:

1. The management of the day to day affairs of the Association

2. The approval of new members of the Association

3. The filling of casual vacancies on the Executive Committee

4. Acting as the mediator in ethical problems involving members of the Association

5. The keeping of financial records and furnishing an Annual Report thereon to the members at a General meeting, and

6. The appointment of one of their number to act as Public Relations Officer for the duration of the term of office of the Executive Committee

7. The President shall be empowered to appoint such standing or special committees as the Executive Committee shall from time to time approve.

 

Article VII

 

Officers of the Association

1. The Officers of the Association shall be:

• The President

• The Secretary

• The Treasurer and

• The Past President (so long as he/she is willing to serve)

Officers of the Association may not be Overseas members

2. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and of the Executive Committee

Unless otherwise provided, he/she shall be the spokesman for the Association.

He/she shall automatically be a member of the Pharmacy Council during his/her term of office

At any meeting at which he/she is Chairman the President shall have the right to a second vote in the event of an equality of votes

The President shall be entitled to hold office for not more than two (2) consecutive terms

3. The Past President or any other Executive Committee designated by the President shall, in the absence of the President, assume his/her functions as provided in their constitution, and shall otherwise perform such duties as may from time to time be assigned to him/her by the President

4. The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping a true record of decisions reached at meetings of the Executive Committee and of any General Meetings of the Association.

5. The Treasurer shall be responsible for keeping all financial records of the Association, and for all matters of administration and finance.

 

Article VII

 

General Meeting

1. An Annual General Meeting shall be held once in a calendar year at which the Annual Report of the affairs and financial condition of the Association as at 31st of December is presented. Election of officers, members of the Executive Committee shall occur every year however, only three positions will come up for election in rotation.

The date and time of the Annual General Meeting may be determined by the Executive Committee provided that no more than fifteen (15) months shall elapse between the dates on which such meetings are held.

At least four (4) weeks written notice of the time, date and place of the Annual General Meeting shall be given to each member of the Association.

Nominations may be made prior to the meeting and shall bear the names and signatures of the proposer, the seconder and the nominee.

2. All elections shall be made by secret ballot and shall require a simple majority of the votes cast.

3. A quorum for any General Meeting of the Association shall be one quarter (1/4) of the active membership. A vote by proxy will be allowed is a written submission is made to the Executive Committee prior to the meeting. This will be granted if the member can provide evidence that they are unable to attend the meeting due to work commitments or travel.

4. Special General Meetings of the Association shall be held whenever requested by the President or by at least nine (9) active members of the Association. The purpose of the Special Meeting must be announced when the meeting is requested.

5. Overseas members will not be permitted to vote in General Meetings.

 

Article VIII

 

Membership Dues

The fees for membership in the Association shall be:

Active$120

Overseas$60

Technician$60

The fees shall become payable on the first day of January in each year, the fiscal year of the Association being from 1st of January until 31st December each year.

Pharmacists who join the Association after 30th June will only have to pay one half (1/2) the dues for that year. Any other funds required by the Association shall be raised in such a manner as may be approved by the Association at a General Meeting or by the Executive Committee.

 

Article IX

 

Amendments

This constitution may be amended only at an Annual or Special General Meeting, at which the quorum shall be twelve (12) members of the Association

The amendments shall be carried by at least a two thirds (2/3) majority of the votes cast.

The amendment shall be set out in detail in the notice calling the Special Meeting or in the Agenda distributed prior to the Annual General Meeting

 

Article X

 

As laid down in the Pharmacy and Poisons Act, 1979 (part II, 4, (1)(c)), there shall be four (4) Pharmacist members of the Pharmacy Council. These shall be “four members elected by registered pharmacists from among themselves”.

As per article VII part 2 of this Constitution, one of these positions will be filled by the President.

Three members will be elected from the active membership with the provision that all three members may not be employed by the same commercial organization