McGarvey Septs of Ulster

The McGarvey Septs of Ulster

    Articles of Management

Contents

Articles of Association.........................................................................................

Article 1- Name of Society .................................................................................

Article 2 – Aims of Society ..................................................................................

Article 3 – Executive Council and Officers ............................................................

Article 4 – Election of Officers..............................................................................

Article 5 – Membership .....................................................................................

Article 6 – Elections of Officers & Annual Meetings ...............................................

Article 7 – Voting ..............................................................................................

Article 8 – Honorary Members & Awards ............................................................

Article 9 - Liability ...........................................................................................

Article 10 – Funding, Income and Property..........................................................

McGarvey (McGarvey Septs of Ulster) is an ancient Irish Sept organised in modern times as a perpetual hereditary society of people bearing the same surname, or having descended from an Irish ancestor with that surname, or any of the variant spellings of the name McGarvey and Garvey who are descended from Mac Gairbhith, O'Gairbhith or Gairbhith. The Society is a non-profit organization, open to any and all individuals as set out in these Articles of Association, without regard to, race, colour, creed, religious affiliation, age or gender.
 

Article 1- Name of Society

The name of this Society shall be The McGarvey Septs of Ulster, and shall include all surnames descended from Mac Gairbhith and O'Gairbhith.

Article 2 – Aims of Society

The aim of the Society is:

1. to promote and foster all the interests of the McGarvey Septs of Ulster in Ireland, Canada, and all other countries.

2. to promote and foster kinship, friendship and camaraderie amongst all of the name and their descendants.

3. to establish and maintain an Executive Secretary Office, as a central point for communications for all members throughout the world.

4. To create communications amongst members by collecting, distributing, and publishing information about all aspects of the Septs.

5. To research and maintain an archive of materials relating to the McGarvey Septs of Ulster and their ancestors for the use of Sept members, including conducting, promoting or assisting research work into McGarvey/Garvey Sept history.

6. To develop and maintain a library and database for the use of the Septs members in tracing their ancestry and family history.

7. to identify, mark, and preserve the historical and archaeological sites, treasures, and events relating to the Septs, including graves, castles, ancient sites and residences of ancestors.

8. To bring members together at periodic gatherings.

9. To publish periodic newsletters, books, and other pertinent literature and create communication with the public, industry and governments, to inform and educate the same about the history, culture and traditions of the McGarvey Septs of Ulster.

Article 3 – Executive Council and Officers

The Society shall be administered by the Árd Comhairle or Executive Council made up of the following officers:

Taoiseach (Honorary Chieftain), or Ceann Fine (Head of Family) whose duties shall be those normally associated with the rank of Chairperson and who serves as the Chief Presiding Officer at meetings of the Executive Council and Sept Gatherings. 

The Officers of the Society are the Executive Council and should be elected from the membership.

Tanast or Tánaiste, the Deputy to the Taoiseach or Ceann Fine.

Ard-Rúnaí (General Secretary) the General Secretary shall be responsible for the keeping of Septs membership records, notifying the membership and recording minutes of all meetings. The Executive Secretary’s office shall be the communication and coordination centre for the Septs, shall prepare and present a summary of Clan activities at the Annual Meeting.

Cisteoir (Treasurer) the Treasurer shall be responsible for the collection, distribution and accounting of the Septs funds and shall prepare and present a full account summary at the Annual Meeting.

Oifigeach Caidrimh Phoiblí (Public Relations Officer) the P.R.O. shall prepare or assist in the preparation and distribution of media notices and releases, as directed by the Executive Council.

Ollamh Seanchais (Chief Historian) the Sept Historian shall be responsible for the research and preservation of the Sept History.

Ollamh Ginealais (Chief Genealogist) the Clan Genealogists shall be responsible for the creation and maintenance of Family History records and assist members in tracing their ancestry.

Ollamh Comhalta (Fellow) From time to time the Executive Council may award to worthy individuals the honorary position of Ollamh Comhalta or Fellow. These individuals shall be allowed to act in an advisory role and be voting members of the Executive Council.

The Executive Council will seek to identify suitable individuals who will establish and co-ordinate the membership of the Society in countries outside of Ireland and Canada where the McGarveys and Garveys have settled. This membership may be organised into a national Chapter and will use this constitution as the model for their organisation while always under the direction of the Executive Council of the Society.

Each National Chapter will elect a Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary, and two members at large.  

Each national Chapter will have the right to elect one representative to the Executive Council of the McGarvey Septs of Ulster.

When specific roles and officers as are needed from time to time the Ceann Fine or Taoiseach may appoint members to these positions to carry out the tasks required. The matter will then be brought to the next executive meeting for ratification. 

Article 4 – Election of Officers

All registered members are invited to nominate persons for the Executive Council only registered members may vote in election. Term of Office may be for a minimum of one year or a maximum of three years.

Article 5 – Membership

Membership in the Sept shall be open to all individuals who agree to abide by the Articles of Association.

Membership is defined as an individual member over the age of 18 years. Such a membership shall have one vote. 

 All members will have full rights and Privileges. Spouses of members can obtain membership with in the Sept.

All members of good standing may seek election to the Executive Council.

Their will be a $20.00 Cdn annual membership fee. Members with the McGarvey or Garvey surname and descendents thereof, are already members by right of heritage. Individuals that do not have the McGarvey or Garvey surname are allowed to be voting members up to the grandparent ancestor.

Any one that would like to join the McGarvey Septs of Ulster with an ancestral relationship beyond the grandparent relationship can be an associate member.

Associate members have all rights and privileges of regular members except that they do not have voting privileges, nor can they serve on the Executive Council. The Executive Council can assign Associate members specific duties from time to time. Associate membership fees are $20.00 Cdn/year.

Article 6 – Elections of Officers& Annual Meetings

All meetings will be established by the Executive Council.

All Executive Officers and Council (except Ollamh Comhalta) shall be elected at the Annual Meeting.

All registered members may seek nomination to Executive Council and nomination must reach General

Secretary at least 30 days prior to the Annual Meeting to enable postal or proxy votes to be requested.
Only registered members may vote.

All nominations, motions, resolutions, referenda and/or other business to be acted upon, must be submitted to the General Secretary at least 30 days prior to the Annual Meeting, to be prepared in an agenda.

Any item of business submitted must include name and signature of a registered member.

Any proposed changes to the Articles of Management of the McGarvey Septs of Ulster must be submitted for consideration and can only be

voted on at the Annual Meeting.

Executive Council meetings may be held at other times at the direction of The Honorary Chieftain or his or her delegate.

Article 7 – Voting

All registered members are entitled to vote on all items of business brought before the annual meeting

and all matters submitted to the membership for vote by postal ballot.

Postal and proxy votes will be accepted if submitted in writing 14 days prior to meeting.

Voting for the Officers of Executive Council will be by postal ballot of all registered members.

All motions, resolutions, referenda and/or other items of business properly submitted for the agenda will

require a simple majority vote to pass.

Voting may be by a show of hands or in the case of elections to Executive Council by a secret ballot at

the direction of the Executive Council.

Article 8 – Honorary Members & Awards

There are those individuals who by their actions, labours or deeds, contribute to the advancement of the goals of the Septs or family name.

The Sept may acknowledge such persons by conferring upon them such honours as Council deems fitting i.e. Ollamh Comhalta (Fellows) or Meritorious Service Certificate.

Article 9 - Liability

It is expressly agreed and understood that all Officers and members working for and assisting the Sept in achieving it’s goals and purposes, will make personal decisions and judgements that may, in hindsight, be detrimental to the interests of the Sept or individual members. It is a specific condition of membership that no member at any time, or for any reason whatsoever, shall hold any appointed or elected office of the Sept, member of any committee, or volunteer assisting the Sept, liable for any good faith action taken, except where:

• Such action involved the commitment of a crime.

• Where such action was taken to expressly cause damage to the reputation or property of the Sept or its members.

• Where an individual having custody of the property of the Sept fails to deliver such property when directed by the Executive Committee.

Article 10 – Funding, Income and Property

All property, purchased, produced, or gifted shall be the property of the Septs Society. In the event the

Society ceases to exist, all funds, property, and assets will be assigned, at the discretion of the Executive Council, to The McGarvey Septs of Ulster for the promotion and advancement of goals of the said organization.

The income and property of the body shall be applied solely towards the promotion of its main objects as set forth in this Constitution. No portion of the body's income and property shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise howsoever by way of profit to members of the body.

 No Officer shall be appointed to any office of the body paid by salary or fees, or receive any remuneration or other benefit in money or money's worth from the body. However, nothing shall prevent any payment in good faith by the body of:

• reasonable and proper remuneration to any member or servant of the body (not being an

Officer) for any services rendered to the body;

• interest at a rate not exceeding 5% per annum on money lent by Officers or other members of the body to the body;

• reasonable and proper rent for premises demised and let by any member of the body (including
any Officer) to the body;

• reasonable and proper out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any Officer in connection with their attendance to any matter affecting the body

• fees, remuneration or other benefit in money or money's worth to any Company of which an Officer may be a member holding not more than one hundredth part of the issued capital of such Company

Borrowing and Refunding Money: The body shall be empowered to borrow or refund money in order to further its main objects.

Additions, alterations or amendments: No additions, alterations or amendments shall be made to or in the provisions of the Constitution for the time being in force unless the same shall have previously been submitted to and approved in writing by the Revenue Commissioners.

Winding-up: If upon the winding-up or dissolution of the body there remains, after satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities, any property whatsoever; it shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the body. Instead, such property shall be given or transferred to some other charitable institution or institutions having main objects similar to the main objects of the body.

The institution or institutions to which the property is to be given or transferred shall prohibit the distribution of its or their income and property among its or their members to an extent as least as great as is imposed on the body under or by virtue of Clause 5 hereof.

Members of the body shall select the relevant institution or institutions at or before the time of dissolution, and if and so far as effect cannot be given to such provisions, then the property shall be given or transferred to some charitable object.

Keeping of Accounts: Annual accounts shall be kept and made available to the Revenue Commissioners upon request.

Signed by: _____________________________________________________General Secretary

Date_____________________

Approved by: ___________________________________ The McGarvey Septs of Ulster Ceann Fine.
Date__________________________________________ .

Acknowledgement: I would like to thank Dr. James O’Higgins-Norman for his help in preparing the Articles of Management for the McGarvey Septs of Ulster.

November 21^st, 2009. 

Jamie McGarvey.