Article 1: Name of The Society The name of the society shall be "N.I.H.E.D. Gaming Society" or "S.T.O.C.S." hereafter referred to as "The Society" Article 2: Aims and Objectives The society shall work to promote games as demanded by the membership, which shall include: role-playing games, card games, strategy and board games. The aims and objectives of the society shall be as follows: a) To encourage gaming in the university, and to provide an opportunity for as many people as possible to enjoy gaming. b) To provide a selection of gaming materials for use by members. c) To organise an annual convention in D.C.U. Article 3: Members Membership of the society shall be open to all staff and students of D.C.U. Membership shall be obtained by paying the appropriate fee and signing the membership roll. At the discretion of the committee, former students and staff of DCU may be granted associate membership. Such a person will have the right to attend meetings of the society and shall pay an appropriate fee. Associate membership may only be granted to a person who would not be eligible for membership under section 1 of this article. a)The use of the word 'member' in this document does not refer to associate members. Article 4: Committee The society shall have an elected governing committee. The committee shall run the Society in accordance with the aims and objectives of the Society, its constitution and on behalf of the members. Committee decisions shall be decided by majority voting. A quorum shall be (3) committee members. The committee shall consist of five members: a) Chairperson b) Secretary c) Treasurer d) Public Relations Officer e) Trips and Events Officer The committee members shall be elected at an Annual General Meeting. The term of office of these elected Officers shall be one year. Duties of the committee: a) The Chairperson shall be chief officer of the society, whose functions include: i) Chairing all meetings ii) Officiating at meetings of the society iii) Co-ordinating the activities of the society b) The Secretary's functions shall include: i) To deal with all correspodence and records ii) To notify members of meeting times, etc. c) The Treasurer's functions shall include: ` i) To administer the funds and assets of the society ii) To maintain accounts and budgets d) The Public Relations Officer's functions shall include: i) To inform members of events and activities of the society ii) To promote the society iii) To organise recruitment e) The Trips and Events Officer's duties shall include: i) To co-ordinate the organisation of regular gaming events. ii) To ensure that a suitable location and any other requirements for such events are available. iii) To organise trips to conventions All committee members must be members of the society. Article 5: Meetings There shall be an Annual General Meeting (A.G.M.) held each year. a) The A.G.M. shall take place in March or April at a date set by the outgoing committee. i) In the event that the committee fails to announce an A.G.M. the membership shall be empowered to call one. ii) Persons wishing to seek election to a committee position should make themselves known, two academic days prior to an election for such a position. b) Elections for the offices of the committee shall take place at the A.G.M. i) Should a vacancy arise on the committee during the year the committee has the right to fill the vacancy for an interim period of up to 2 academic weeks until an E.G.M. is held. c) A quorum at this meeting shall be: ten percent of the ordinary membership and at least one committee member, OR: thirty percent of ordinary membership. d) The business of the A.G.M. shall also include an annual report given by the outgoing Chairperson and Treasurer. An Extraordinary General Meeting (E.G.M.) shall be convened if 20% of the membership or three committee members request one in writing, or within two academic weeks of any committee position becoming vacant. Notice of all meetings shall be given to membership at least six academic days prior to the date of the meeting. a) A written submission by 40% of the membership that the notice given was inadequate shall be deemed sufficient to make such a meeting invalid. In the event of the non-presence of the chairperson of the society a resolution may be proposed as the the first item on the agenda to appoint a temporary chairperson for the meeting. a) Such a chairperson need not be a member of the committee At a general meeting of the society any member of the society may propose a resolution relating to the business of the society. Such a vote may put a standing order into place, so long as such an order does not contradict this constition. All resolutions shall be passed by a vote of members. All resolutions must gain the support of the majority of members present in order to be declared to have been to have passed by the chairperson. Votes will be by show of hands, unless unless two members request a secret ballot. All votes shall be by proportional representation by sigle transferrable vote where applicable. In the event of a tie the desicion shall be made by means of a roll or seven twelve sided dice by each side, in accordance with the aims of this society. the side rolling the lowest total shall be deemed to have won the vote. i) In the event of non-availability of such dice, or of a tie in the rolling of such dice a game of paper-scissors-stone may be deemed sufficient to break the tie. Article 6: Dismissal of Committee Members No member of the committee shall be dismissed from office unless: a) Notice of resolution to seek such dismissal, signed by at least 20% of the members of the society is received an academic week prior to the general meeting at which such resolution shall be debated. b) The resolution shall be passed by a majority voting at the meeting. Article 7: General There shall be a president of the society who shall be a full staff member in compliance with the regulations set down by the Societies and Publications Committee (S.P.C.) of D.C.U. The membership fee shall be in compliance with the conditinos set by the S.P.C. All committee positions shall be honorary. This constitution may be changed by the membership on the condition that: a) Such a proposal is made in writing and signed by at least 3 committee members, or 10% of the membership b) Notice of a proposal to seek an amendment to this constitution shall be given to members at least an academic week prior to the meeting at which such a proposal would be considered. c) Such a proposal must reach the approval of more than 50% of members present at such a meeting. Each member shall be entitled to receive a copy of this constitution on demand. a) Unless deemed impossible by circumstances beyond the control of the committee a current copy of this constitution shall be made available on the internet. b) It is the duty of the committee to ensure that the membership knows of this constitution and particulars of this paragraph.