Constitution

louth | miscellaneous | press release Monday February 07, 2005 10:37 by Sean Crudden - Greenore/Cooley Fisherman's Association sean.crudden at iol dot ie Jenkinstown, Dundalk, Co Louth. 087 9739945

Preparing a Constitution for your Local Area Forum

There is an area forum in every corner of Ireland. Readers of indymedia in Louth and further afield might like to contribute their opinions and comments on a draft constitution for the North Louth Area Forum which was drawn up last night by two members of Greenore/Cooley Fisherman's Association. A process like this might inspire creativity in other parts of Ireland and abroad as well as here in County Louth.

King John's Castle, Carlingford. Seat of the Norman rulers of North Louth.

Constitution of The North Louth Area Forum

The name of the organisation shall be "The North Louth Area Forum."

The objectives of the forum shall be:-

· to develop the community and voluntary sector so that it may have a clear sense of itself as a sector that is equal to and can work confidently with other sectors

· to have the work of the sector clearly acknowledged

· to develop a strong collective voice in the north Louth area

· to encourage co-operation, solidarity and mutual support within the community

· to identify issues of collective concern and to work to influence policy locally

· to support the individual members of the North Louth Area Forum so that they can develop their capacity and do the work of the forum more effectively.

1. Membership of the Forum shall be open to all community and voluntary groups in the local electoral areas of Dundalk/Carlingford and Dundalk South. Each group shall be entitled to one representative in the forum.

2. The forum commits itself to the active promotion of the principles of equality, justice and fairness.

3. Members shall work in a way that shall promote solidarity, mutual support and co-operation within the forum.

4. The interests of minorities shall be upheld within the forum.

5. The forum shall promote the participation of every member on an equal basis irrespective of class, income, creed, disability, sexual orientation or ethnic origin.

6. The work of the forum shall be conducted in an open and transparent manner.

7. The forum shall send representatives to the County Community Forum. Each such representative shall lose representative status by failing to attend three consecutive meetings of the area forum without stated reason.

8. The business of the forum shall be conducted by the members. A chairperson, vice-chairperson and other members shall be elected annually to facilitate this purpose. Those selected in this way shall comprise the committee.

9. One or more persons shall be appointed by Louth County Council to assist the work of the forum.

Draft 7 February 2005
Prepared by Archbishop Michael Desmond Hynes PhD OMA and Sean Crudden