PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CATHOLIC
  YOUTH OFFICERS  
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Constitution

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CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

  1. TITLE
  2. AIMS
  3. OBJECTIVES
  4. MEMBERSHIP
  5. MEMBERSHIP FEES
  6. CONFERENCES
  7. STEERING GROUP
  8. VOTING
  9. OFFICERS OF PACYO
  10. JOB DESCRIPTIONS
  11. OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES OF PACYO MEMBER
INTRODUCTION

The Constitution of the Professional Association of Catholic Youth Officers (PACYO) indicates the formal structure of PACYO, and will be of use to members of PACYO and others involved in youth work, inside and outside of the Catholic Church. PACYO was established in the early 1980's and is itself a constituent body of Catholic Youth Services (CYS, the agency of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, responsible for youth work.) PACYO is an organisation comprised of people involved in youth work in its many forms on behalf of the Catholic Church in England and Wales.

Anyone seeking further information about PACYO should contact:

The Chair of PACYO
c/o Catholic Youth Services
39 Eccleston Square
London SW1V 1BX		 Tel:
Fax:		 0207 7901 4870
0207 7901 4873

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1. TITLE

The group name is PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CATHOLIC YOUTH OFFICERS, hereinafter known as PACYO.

2. AIMS

PACYO exists to support the members of the association and to promote effective youth work within the Catholic Church in England and Wales.

3. OBJECTIVES

  1. To address issues related to young people, youth work and the church by providing a forum for discussion, reflection and debate.
  2. To be a platform from which appropriate statements on young people, youth work and the Church may be made to CYS, the Bishops’ Conference and other groups.
  3. To seek to respond to the different needs of members by offering support and encouragement.

4. MEMBERSHIP

Membership is open to people who meet one or more of the following criteria:  

  1. Those appointed by their Bishops to have an overall responsibility for youth work in the Diocese.

  2. Diocesan Youth Officers;

  3. Full-time Youth Officers with responsibility for more than one deanery and/or appointed by the Diocese;

  4. Full-time Deanery Workers;

  5. Other members appointed by the Diocesan Team;

  6. Heads of National Catholic Youth Organisations;

  7. Full-time Regional or Diocesan workers of National Catholic Youth Organisations;

  8. Those with a full-time youth work brief with National Catholic Organisations;  

  9. Directors and those will full-time management responsibilities in Catholic Residential Centres, Diocesan or otherwise;

  10. Officers of Catholic Youth Services (CYS) :

  11. Youth Workers in Scotland who meet any of the above criteria are eligible for membership at the discretion of the Steering Group.

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5. MEMBERSHIP FEES
 

Membership fees will run from September to August, and will be as agreed by the membership at the Spring conference each year. Where more than one person from the Diocese or Organisation is a member of PACYO, the first person should pay full rate, and all subsequent members an agreed lower rate.

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6. CONFERENCES

Conferences are to be held at least twice a year, normally in Spring and Autumn, at times and venues that recognise the various needs of the membership. The Spring meeting will be the Annual General Meeting of PACYO. Extra meetings can be called at the request of a minimum of 25% of the membership, or where there is unanimous agreement of the Steering Group.

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7. THE STEERING GROUP
A group of people that oversee the administrative business of PACYO and prepares Conferences on its behalf.  It is made up of seven members: the Chair, the Vice-Chair, the Treasurer, the secretary and representatives of the Northern, Southern and Midland regional meetings.  The Steering Group shall have the authority, on behalf of PACYO, to co-opt as non-voting members such persons as in their opinion are able to render special service or will benefit from membership.   All applications for membership should be made to the Chair or the Steering Group, who should consider and decide on each application on behalf of the membership.

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8. VOTING

Each person who is a paid up member of PACYO is entitled to one vote at conferences. A quorum of 25% of total membership is necessary for voting to be valid. Voting will normally be on a show of hands, except in the case of elections of Officers and where considered appropriate by the Chair.

Decisions will be carried with a simple majority, and should be recorded with votes for, against and abstentions. In cases where there is a tie, the Chair should have a second casting vote.

Nominations for the Officers post should be made to Steering Group in advance of conferences or during conferences up until a time to be decreed by the Steering Group. Where more than two candidates stand for election for any office, the person receiving the least number of votes should be eliminated and another vote taken. This to be done until there is a simple majority for one candidate.

8.1. VOTING BY POST
Voting by post will only be considered for the election of Chair, Vice-Chair and Treasurer. Where nominations are known in advance of the conference, members may send a post ballot to both the Chair and Vice-Chair in a sealed envelope, marked with the appropriate election. These should be opened at the election itself.

8.2. VOTING BY PROXY
There will be no voting by proxy.

8.3. TELLERS
Two tellers should be elected on the day of elections of officers or where there is a secret ballot. They are allowed to vote. They should count all votes in private, and inform the Chair of all votes recorded. The Chair should inform the members directly of the result.

8.4. VOTING ON THE CONSTITUTION
When voting on constitutional amendments, there must be a quorum and a 75% or more majority in favour of change. The proposed amendment must appear on the agenda, with a proposer and seconder, unless accepted by the Steering Group.

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9. OFFICERS OF PACYO

The Officers of PACYO are: The Chair, the Vice-Chair, the Treasurer and the Secretary.   They form the Steering Group of PACYO along with a member from the Northern, Midland and Southern Regional groups.   The Steering Group takes on responsibility for the administrative business of PACYO and the preparation of conferences.

9.1. ELECTION OF OFFICERS :

Elections of Officers should normally take place at the spring conference and should be for a term of two years.   Where possible the Chair and Vice-chair should not be elected the same year.   Officers may be re-elected for successive terms of office, up to three terms.

9.2. TERMS OF OFFICE :

A newly elected Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer or Secretary should take up office at the end of the conference at which elected and should serve for two years as from that time.

Should the Chair become vacant for any reasons, the Vice-Chair should take over until the next conference when an election should take place.   The new Chair completes the term of office remaining and is then eligible for re-election.

The Officers of PACYO are: the Chair, the Vice-Chair and the Treasurer. They form the Steering Group of PACYO along with a member from the Northern, Midland and Southern Regional groups. The Steering Group takes on responsibility for the administrative business of PACYO and the preparation of conferences.

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10. OFFICERS OF PACYO - JOB DESCRIPTIONS  

THE CHAIR :

  • Co-ordination of the programme for conference in conjunction with the   Steering Group;

  • Member and Chair of Steering Group

  • Chair of PACYO conferences;

  • Liaison with CYS, CYP and CYPF, as appropriate, on behalf of PACYO;

  • Liaison with PACYO representatives on CYS Executive;

  • Dealing with PACYO correspondence

  • Disseminates relevant information to PACYO membership.

THE VICE-CHAIR:

  • Assists the Chair in the responsibilities listed above

  • Member of Steering Group.

THE TREASURER:

  • Administration of membership requests, conference timetables, bookings and  finances

  • Keeping of accurate accounts

  • Producing accounts for Conference and audit

  • Member of Steering Group.

THE SECRETARY

  • Take minutes at Steering Group Meetings and mail them to members

  • Take minutes at Conference and forward them to Chair

REGIONAL MEMBERS :p>

  • Represent the views of the regional meetings regarding PACYO

  • Co-ordinate PACYO business to be addressed at regional meetings;

  • Assist with the preparations for and running of Conferences, as appropriate.

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11. OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PACYO MEMBERS

PACYO is a constituent body of   CYS and has particular responsibilities from this.   Members may be elected or delegated to represent PACYO in a variety of ways.   These include:

  CYS EXECUTIVE - Two members to attend four meetings a year.

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PACYO is a constituent body of Catholic Youth Services
Catholic Youth Services is a Registered Charity: 305981