aYs Constitution

CONSTITUTION

OF THE

ASSOCIATION FOR YOGA STUDIES
(aYs)

JULY 2007

CONSTITUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR YOGA STUDIES (aYs)
1. RULES AND OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSOCIATION
1.1 Name
The Association shall be known as the Association for Yoga Studies, or aYs.

1.2 Objectives of the Association
a) To enable people to study, practise and teach Yoga inspired by the teachings of Krishnamacharya, his son TKV Desikachar and the students of Desikachar.
b) To promote viniyoga: the application of appropriate tools to suit the context.
c) To promote and regulate the professional activities of its teachers.

It will carry out these objectives by
1 disseminating knowledge about Yoga, its standards of practice, and practitioners recognized by the Association.
2 acting as a centre and stimulus for people undertaking research about Yoga.
3 running study and training courses to promote the above.
4 developing the Association as a professional, responsible, ethical body and ensuring that it is seen as such by other branches of complementary health and the general public.
5 setting out the standards of competence and suitability for the admission of applicants to Teacher Membership.
6 establishing and upholding the Members’ Code of Ethics.
7 encouraging professional and social interaction among the Members and Members.
8 receiving, holding and using subscriptions, donations, benefactions or other property for the promotion of the objects of the Association.
9 doing all such other things that are conducive to attaining the objects for which the Association was formed.

1.3 Categories of Membership
a) Members of the Association. Any person or organisation wishing to support the Association may elect to pay an annual subscription and receive any newsletters, information, etc. published by the Association. Members must undertake not to describe themselves as Qualified aYs Practitioners.
b) Student membership shall be open to those undertaking a course of Teacher Training with a recognized School of Yoga accepted by the Association. Students have no right to use their membership to describe themselves as being fully qualified to practise professionally as a Registered aYs Practitioner.
c) Teacher Membership shall be available to graduates who have undertaken a course of Teacher Training which is recognized by aYs, provided they apply within two years of receiving their Diploma. It shall be granted at the discretion of the Council, whose decision shall be final. Teacher Membership, carrying the designatory letters Reg aYs, designates a Registered aYs Practitioner. In exceptional circumstances an applicant may be granted Membership without the above procedure. This applicant must be able to pass the assessment of the Council, as being of a standard no lower than that required to graduate from an aYs recognized training programme.

Teacher Members should normally undertake at least two days’ Continuing Professional Development each year, which shall be arranged or approved by the Association. Failure to attend without good cause will result in lapse of membership. This will be at the discretion of the Council.

1.4 Subscriptions
Each member shall pay an annual subscription. The amount for each category of membership shall be decided annually by the Association. Failure to pay will result in lapse of membership. Reinstatement will be at the discretion of the Council.

1.5 Code of Ethics
Members shall at all times conduct their professional lives with propriety and dignity. Members shall agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the British Wheel of Yoga code of ethics. Any complaints received will be investigated in accordance with the British Wheel of Yoga Complaints procedure.

1.6 Register of Qualified Practitioners
The Association shall publish on the website a list of its Teacher Members. This list shall be updated regularly.

2. RULES FOR ADMINISTRATION OF THE ASSOCIATION

2.1. The Council of the Association
a) The affairs of the Association shall be managed by a Council drawn from all categories of membership and shall not exceed twelve or be fewer than six elected members. The number of Members and Student Members serving on the council shall not exceed 40% of the full number. It will be chaired by the Director. There shall also be a Treasurer, Secretary to the Council and Registrar.
b) Meetings of the Council shall be held from time to time as necessary, and notice giving agenda, date, time and venue shall be sent to all Council members at least seven days before such meetings. The attendance of 4 Council members shall constitute a quorum.
c) The Council shall have power to appoint such sub-committees as it considers necessary and may delegate any of its powers to such sub-committees, but the sub-committees will always be answerable to the Council.
d) The Council shall have power to decide on any question not provided for in the Rules and Objects of the Association, but its decision shall be subject to confirmation at the next Annual General Meeting.
e) Any Council member who fails to attend three successive Council Meetings shall be removed from the Council, unless an acceptable reason for absence is given.
f) A resolution put to the vote at meetings of the Council shall be decided by a show of hands, and in the event of a tie, the Chairman shall have a casting vote.
The declaration by the Chairman of the result of the voting shall be accepted as final by all parties.
g) The Council shall have the power to pay for such help as may be necessary for the efficient running of the Association, by allocating tasks on a freelance basis.
h) Any member of the Association may request a copy of the minutes of meetings of the Council.

2.2 Elections
a) The election of the Director and Council members shall take place at the Annual General Meeting of the Association. All Members, Student Members and Teacher Members are eligible to stand for election to the Council and all have one vote each. Any casual vacancy may be filled by a Member, Student Member or Teacher Member of the Association being co-opted onto the Council to serve until the next Annual General Meeting.

2.3 Accounts and Funds of the Association
a) The Council shall ensure that proper books relating to the accounts of the Association are kept by the Treasurer. A Revenue Account and Balance Sheet made up to 30th April, independently examined, shall be presented to the Annual General Meeting each year. The books shall be open for inspection by any member on reasonable request.
b) The funds of the Association shall be used only in accordance with the Rules and Objects of the Association and for the general administration and operation of the Association.
c) The funds of the Association shall be kept at one of the major clearing banks or building societies.
d) At the discretion of the Council, the Association may pay all legitimate expenses incurred by its officers or Council members in the execution of their duties.

2.4 Annual General Meeting
a) The Annual General Meeting of the Association shall take place during July, or such other near date as the Council may arrange to coincide with a seminar. Notice of the Annual General Meeting, giving the agenda, date, time and venue, shall be sent to all members at least four weeks prior to the meeting. The date shall ideally have been decided at the preceding AGM.
b) The Director, or in the absence of the Director, another office bearer, shall preside at the Annual General Meeting.
c) All categories of members may attend the Annual General Meeting. All categories of members are entitled to speak and vote at the Annual General Meeting.
d) The attendance at the Annual General Meeting of 20 of the members entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum.
e) If there is an equal number of votes for and against any resolution, the chairperson of any meeting will have a deliberate, as well as an additional, casting vote.
f) A resolution put to the vote at a general meeting shall be decided on a show of hands unless a secret ballot is demanded by the chairperson (or by at least two members present in person at the meeting); a secret ballot may be demanded either before the show of hands takes place, or immediately after the result of the show of hands is declared. If a secret ballot is demanded, it shall be taken at the meeting and shall be conducted in such a manner as the chairperson may direct; the result of the ballot shall be declared at the meeting at which the ballot was demanded.

2.5 Extraordinary General Meeting
An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called by a minimum of 50% of members entitled to vote who give notice to the Secretary to the Council, in writing, of the resolution that they wish to put before the meeting. Such a meeting must be arranged within 28 days of the receipt of the resolution by the Secretary to the Council. Notice of the Extraordinary General Meeting giving a copy of the resolution, date, time and venue shall be sent to all Full, Associate and Student members at least seven days before the meeting.

2.6 Amendments to the Constitution
The Constitution of the Association is subject to amendment, alteration or repeal at any General Meeting of the Association by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, or in Council by those members elected to it and subject to ratification at the next Annual General Meeting.

2.7 Dissolution
If the Council by a majority vote decide at any time that it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the Association, it shall call a meeting of all members of the Association, of which not less than 21 days’ written notice (stating the terms of resolution to be proposed thereat) shall have been given. If such decision shall be confirmed by a majority of those present and voting at the meeting, the Council shall have the power to dispose of any assets held by or in the name of the Association. Any assets remaining after the satisfaction of any proper debts and liabilities shall be passed to another charitable organisation with aims the same as, or similar to, the Association.

For the avoidance of doubt, no part of the income or property of the Association shall (otherwise than in pursuance of the Association’s objectives) be paid or transferred (directly or indirectly) to the members, either in the course of the association’s existence or on dissolution.

Approved by AGM, Sunday 15th July 2007