Code of Ethics
Constituation and by-laws
Name and object
SECTION 1
NAME
This organisation shall be known as the European Branch of the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators and is hereinafter referred to as the European Branch.
The name of the Association shall not be used publicly by any member other than by the use of the membership card for identification purposes, without the express written permission of the Executive Board. This shall not restrict the officers, agents or appointees of the Association from using the Association name to carry on the duties of their office. No officers or members of the Association may act in the name of the Association to endorse any product or service, nor shall the Association’s seal or logo be used in any advertisement of any product or service without prior written approval of the Executive Board.
All members of the European Branch must be members of the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators.
OBJECT
The objectives and purpose of the European Branch shall be:
(a) To unite for mutual benefit those public officials and private persons who are eligible for membership as specified under Article 2
(b) To provide for the exchange of technical information and developments
(c) To cooperate with all law enforcement agencies, individuals, agencies or associations who are engaged in the prevention, detection and suppression of vehicle theft and its kindred crimes.
(d) To encourage high professional standards of conduct among members and other vehicle theft investigators and to continually strive to eliminate all factors which interfere with the administration of justice.
(e) To support and not supersede the use of the International Constitution and By- Laws with the understanding that the basis of the authority of this constitution is the IAATI Constitution and By-Laws which will at all times be adhered to.
AREA
The European Branch shall include all continental European countries for purposes of rebate from IAATI.
Membership may be accepted from any other country subject to the approval of the Association’s Executive Board
ARTICLE 2
Membership
SECTION 1
ACTIVE MEMBER
Any representative of a duly authorised Law Enforcement Agency, administrators and agents employed full time in a Vehicle Registration Function or a Governmental Vehicle Regulatory Function, administrators and employees of any Insurance Crime Prevention Panel, and similar organisations and any person retired from one of the foregoing Agencies. Providing that the person who possesses the aforementioned qualifications is aged 18 years or over.
Membership shall be granted at the discretion of both the European Branch and the Executive Board of IAATI. Applications for persons who are refused membership shall be returned to that person with a letter of explanation.
SECTION 2
AFFILIATE MEMBER
Any representative of any company, business organisation or philanthropic endeavour known or believed to be beneficial to the best interests and objectives of the Association to include representatives of the Motor Manufacturers, the Vehicle Industry and Security Associations and who contributes an annual sum not less than that of an active membership fee and is not less than 18 years of age, is eligible for membership as an Associate Member. Associate Members shall have the privileges of an active member except holding the position of President or Vice-President.
Membership shall be granted at the discretion of both the European Branch and the Executive Board of I.A.A.T.I. Applications for persons who are refused membership shall be returned to that person applying with a letter of explanation.
MEMBERSHIP
Within the European Branch an active or affiliate member shall be the same as a member within the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators.
LIFE MEMBERSHIP
The European Branch may confer life membership upon any member who has rendered distinctive service to the Branch and its purposes. Nominations for life membership shall be made by the Executive Board at any Annual General Meeting (AGM) and approved by a majority vote of the members present at the AGM. All past Presidents shall become life members at the conclusion of their term of office as President. Any life member shall have all the privileges of an active member but without payment of annual dues.
TERMINATION
Membership in the Association shall be terminated by (1) voluntary withdrawal or (2) when a member is in arrears with dues or other obligations to the Association or (3) by a two thirds (2/3rds) majority vote of the Executive Board when the Board in its discretion determines that a member has exhibited conduct inconsistent with the objectives or qualifications of the Association. The Executive Board may also place on probation, censure or suspend the membership of any member but only then after a two thirds (2/3rds) majority vote of the Executive Board.
The Branch President shall appoint a three member committee to initiate such reviews of investigation, except in the cases of termination by voluntary withdrawal or for non payment of dues, in which case Article 5, Section 4, shall apply.
Application for active or affiliate membership shall be made to the Executive Director of the European Branch with recommendations by a current member in good standing, to include life members and Past Presidents.
ARTICLE 3
Elections, terms and offices
SECTION 1
OFFICERS
The officers of the European Branch shall be a President, First Vice President and Second Vice President, an Executive Director and a Treasurer.
EXECUTIVE BOARD
The Executive Board of the European Branch shall be composed of the officers, the elected Directors, those Past Presidents who have been in attendance at three (3) of the last five- (5) annual Executive Board meetings. The Branch President shall be the chairman.
The maximum of officers in the Executive Board shall be limited to a maximum of three (3) persons per country (Past Presidents not included).
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Executive Board on an annual basis shall appoint the Executive Director.
DIRECTORS
A minimum of four and a maximum of eight shall be elected by the membership to represent the European Branch. Their divergent geographical locations shall be a consideration for their nomination. Two of the elected Directors may be Affiliate members.
TERMS OF OFFICE
The officers of the European Branch shall hold office from the time of their election until the election of their respective successor. Nothing in this Constitution shall require the European Branch to elevate any officer to the next highest office during any election.
An elected President may succeed himself one time.
ELECTION
The Officers and Directors shall be elected by a majority vote of the members at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) except that the appointment of the Executive Director shall be governed by Section 3. The elections will be by postal vote. Nominations for positions on the Executive Board must be received by letter, fax or e-mail to the Executive Director, within 40 days after an election is called. Nominations for election will be only accepted from active members and from affiliate members and who have been members of the European Branch for a minimum period of two (2) years.
SECTIONS 7
VACANCIES
In the event of a vacancy occurring among the Officers or Directors between Annual General Meetings, the vacancy or vacancies may be filled by appointment by the President with the concurrence of the Executive Board. The Officer or Director appointed shall hold office only until the next Annual General Meeting.
ARTICLE 4
Government
SECTION 1
EXECUTIVE BOARD
The government of the European Branch shall be vested in the Executive Board. The members of the Executive Board at any properly called meeting shall constitute a quorum of the Executive Board. Each member of the Executive Board shall be entitled to one vote on any question coming before the Board. No proxy votes are permitted. A simple majority vote of those Executive Board members responding to a question before the Board shall determine the question. Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern all votes.
DUTIES AND POWERS
The Executive Board shall have full power to initiate and transact all business necessary for the existance of the European Branch and the observance of its purposes.
STANDARD OPERATING PORCEDURES MANUAL
There shall be a Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Manual to describe the operating procedures of the European Branch, including responsibilities of elected and appointed Officers, the Annual General Meeting and its activities and any other item deemed appropriate. The Standard Operating Procedures Manual may be amended by a majority vote of the Executive Board. The contents of the Operating Standard Procedures Manual shall be binding on all members and persons affected.
PRESIDENT
The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the European Branch. It shall be his responsibility to supervise and co-ordinate the activities of the European Branch and to preside at meetings of the European Branch and the Executive Board. He shall appoint appropriate individuals or committees for the conduct and activities of the European Branch and shall require reports from each, as he deems fit.
The President, through regular communication with the Executive Board of the European Branch, shall assure himself that the responsibilities of members of the Executive Board are being properly fulfilled. The President shall represent the Branch on the IAATI Board.
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
In the absence of the President, the First Vice President shall be the Chief Executive Officer and shall act as such. The First Vice President shall act as Chairman of the Finance Committee and the Resolutions Committee.
SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
In the absence of the President and the First Vice President, the Second Vice President shall be the Chief Executive Officer and shall act as such. The Second Vice President shall act as the Chairman of the Education and Training Committee.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Executive Director shall keep the records and minutes of the European Branch, and shall maintain the roll of members, the Constitution and the Standard Operating Procedures Manual, and all other documents or items of value entrusted to him. It shall be the Executive Director’s duty to receive and ackknowledge all communications of the European Branch addressed to him, or that may be submitted to him by the Officers or Executive Board of the European Branch and to perform such duties as are assigned by the President. The Executive Director shall furnish a bond to the European Branch in the form and amount as designated by the Executive Board, the cost of which is to be paid by the European Branch.
TREASURER
The Treasurer shall be the custodian of the funds of the European Branch, and shall disburse such funds by cheque as authorised and in a manner approved by the Executive Board for the purposes which promote the welfare and objectives of the European Branch of IAATI. He shall render a complete summary of all income, disbursement and balances whenever requested by the Executive Board and to the members at each Annual General Meeting. A written copy of this report shall be made available to any member upon request. The Treasurer shall furnish a bond to the European Branch in the form and amount as designated by the Executive Board, the cost of which is to be paid by the European Branch.
DIRECTORS
A minimum of four (4) and a maximum of eight (8) Directors shall assist the Executive Board and its Committees in the purposes of the European Branch.
EDITOR
The Editor will be responsible for the publication of a magazine, liaising with the printers and selling advertising space. The Editor will vet any advertisements prior to inclusion in the magazine and reject unsuitable material.
REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES
The President may appoint Regional Representatives who shall assist in the functioning of the European Branch in their assigned regions.
MEETINGS
The Executive Board may meet at any time or place upon the reasonable call of the President or at request of five (5) members of the Executive Board. Committees may meet upon the call of the Committee Chairman, at a time and place designated by the Committee Chairman, and in concurrence with the President.
GENERAL VOTING
In any issue before the European Branch, only current members, which includes Life Members and Past Presidents, in good standing may vote and only one vote per current member in good standing shall be allowed with no proxie votes permitted.
Postal votes may be organised with the specific authority of the Executive Board.
ARTICLE 5
Finance
FINANCE
The European Branch of the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators shall
constitute and operate as an international organisation (non-profit status).
FUNDS
Any funds paid to the European Branch shall be properly deposited by the Treasurer into the European Branch account.
EXPENDITURES
It shall take the signature of the Treasurer and the approval of an elected Officer to make any expenditure from the account of the European Branch. . All expenditures shall be funded through an Executive Board approved budget. The budget shall be approved by the membership at the Annual General Meeting.
FEES AND DUES
Membership dues shall be the same as IAATI. A small levy may be imposed by the Branch and is separate from any portion of dues specified by IAATI. All dues shall be payable direct to the IAATI Executive Director in advance of January 1st each year or as collected, and as prescribed by the Executive Board of IAATI (except for the European Branch levy, if any, that shall be retained by the United Kingdom Branch Treasurer).
Failure to pay dues within ninety (90) days of the due date shall be a forfeiture of membership. Reinstatement shall occur when the proper dues are paid. There shall be no other fees or dues except as provided by amendment to these articles.
AUDIT
The Accounts will be subject to audit by the Finance Committee and approved by the Annual General Meeting and may also be audited by an independent professional auditor approved by the Annual General Meeting.
ARTICLE 6
Amendments
SECTION 1
REQUIREMENTS
This Constitution and By-Laws may be amended at any Annual General Meeting of the European Branch by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members present, provided :
(a) the proposed amendment is disseminated to the general membership through normal written communications i.e. the European Magazine at least thirty (30) days prior to the Annual General Meeting. All proposed Constitution and By-Laws changes will be received by the Constitution and By-Laws Committee prior to the printing in the European Magazine. The Constitution and By-Laws Committee will make a recommendation to the IAATI International Executive Board and the general membership on proposed changes.
(b) The proposed amendment is presented in a form consistent with, and without conflict to the remainder of the existing Constitution and By-Laws of the European Branch and IAATI Constitution.
(c) The passed amendment is approved by the IAATI Executive Board.
ARTICLE 7
SECTION 1
In event of the dissolution of the European Branch, whether voluntary or involuntary, no member shall be entitled to any share in the distribution or division of its remaining property or its assets, and the balance of all money and other property received by the European Branch from any source, after payment of all debts and obligations of the European Branch, shall be transferred to the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators, Executive Office in the USA. The International Board may further appoint a receiver to provide for any distribution or division.