International Federation of Parks and Recreation Administration
Formed 1957
Europe Constitution – Amended September 2008*

* (Amendments in line with amendments to World Constitution ratified by World General Assembly in Christchurch September 2008)

1. GENERAL

1. The name of the Organisation shall be ‘The International Federation of Parks and Recreation Administration - Europe’ (abbreviated form, IFPRA Europe/Ifpra Europe).

2. Ifpra Europe is a non-governmental, no-profit distributing Organisation.

3. The language of Ifpra Europe shall be English.

4. Financial transactions of Ifpra Europe shall be recorded in Sterling.

2. OBJECTIVES

The objectives for which Ifpra Europe has been established are:

1. To provide European Forum for Persons, Organisations and Public Authorities associated with the provision and management  of parks, recreation, conservation, ecology and allied fields, and to promote international and national cooperation in the advancement of parks, recreation, culture and leisure provision for the enjoyment and benefit of the community.

3. GOVERNANCE

1. An Ifpra Europe General Assembly to which all members shall be admitted will be held in association with each of the Ifpra Europe and Ifpra World Congresses.

2. An Ifpra Europe Commission, to which duly elected Ifpra World Commissioners representing countries within the Ifpra Europe Region shall be admitted, shall be held in association with related Europe Congresses and World Congresses.  Alternatively, Ifpra Europe may hold an additional meeting and the Annual Meeting in a year where there is not a related Europe Congress or World Congress in a location that is convenient for the Region.

3. Ifpra Europe shall be governed according to an Ifpra Europe Constitution, which should reflect the provisions within the World Constitution. Should any ambiguity arise between the Ifpra Europe and the Ifpra World Constitution the Ifpra World Constitution shall prevail.

4. Voting at all meetings within the governance of Ifpra Europe shall be determined by a show of hands unless otherwise determined by the Chair of the meeting.

4. IFPRA EUROPE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1. Notice of meetings of the Ifpra Europe General Assembly, of Agenda items and related Papers, shall be published in Ifpra World, or sent electronically, no less than 21 days prior to the date of a meeting to all qualifying Members.

2. Members wishing to add items to the Agenda of a meeting of the Ifpra Europe General Assembly must provide the Ifpra Europe Secretary with details and a Report for circulation to Members at least 30 days prior to the meeting.

3. A quorum for an Ifpra Europe General Assembly to conduct business shall be fifteen Members of Ifpra Europe that have paid the current Membership Fee.

4. Members of Ifpra Europe may register a postal vote on any Agenda Item with the Ifpra Europe Secretary up to 14 days prior to the meeting of the Ifpra Europe Commission

Functions of the Ifpra Europe General Assembly:

The Ifpra Europe General Assembly shall

5. Be Chaired by the Chair Ifpra Europe, if he/she is not present, then the Chair Elect, if he/she is not present then the Immediate Past Chair, if he/she is not present then the Members present shall elect a Chairperson.

6. Elect the Chair Elect, who shall be a serving Europe Commissioner or a co-opted commissioner.

7. Approve the work programme and budgets for the three years following a meeting of the Europe General Assembly.

8. Receive and approve the Annual Final Accounts of the Ifpra Europe Region.

9. Recommend to the Ifpra World General Assembly the creation of all new country Ifpra Europe Commission Posts, and where deemed appropriate by a majority of those attending the meeting of the Regional Assembly, the deletion of any Europe Commission post.

10. Recommend to the Ifpra World General Assembly the content of the Ifpra Europe Constitution.

11. The Ifpra Europe General Assembly shall approve amendments to the Europe Constitution, each amendment requiring 75% of the Members present to vote in favour of the amendment.  Any approved amendments to be recommended to the Ifpra World General Assembly.

12. Members to be advised of changes to the Ifpra Europe Constitution by post, fax, or electronically, within four months of the date of change.

13. Recommend the dissolution of Ifpra Europe to the Ifpra World General Assembly.

5. THE IFPRA EUROPE COMMISSION

The Ifpra Europe Commission shall meet in conjunction with every World and Europe Congress.

1. The Ifpra Europe Commission shall comprise of the Ifpra World Commissioners representing the countries deemed by the Ifpra World General Assembly to be in the Ifpra Europe Region and who have paid the current Membership Fee.

2. The full Term of Office of Commissioners shall be three years, commencing the day before the meeting of the World Commission following their election, and shall end the day before the meeting of the World Commission in the third year after their election.  Commissioners elected to fill a vacant Commissioner Post shall commence as a Commissioner immediately upon the announcement of their election and shall serve for the remainder of the vacant Term.

3. Notice of a meeting of the Ifpra Europe Commission shall be sent by mail, or sent electronically, to Ifpra Europe Commissioners not less than 21 days before the meeting of the Ifpra Europe Commission. 

4. A quorum necessary to enable the Ifpra Europe Commission to conduct business shall be seven Ifpra Europe Commissioners.

5. Appoint co-opted members for specific functions. Co-opted members shall be limited to a maximum of three individuals who shall have paid the current Membership Fee and are co-opted by a majority of World Commissioners attending the meeting of the World Commission when individual co-options are proposed.

6. Co-opted Members shall be deemed as active co-opted Commissioners from the point of their co-option within a meeting of the World Commission.  The Term of Office of a Co-opted Member shall end on the day that the Term of Office that Commissioners elected by the Members ends.

7. Co-opted Members shall not be entitled to vote on Agenda Items at meetings of the Europe Commission.

8. Any Members wishing to add an item to the Agenda of the Ifpra Europe Commission Meeting must supply the Ifpra Europe Secretary with full details and a Report for circulation no less than 30 days prior to the meeting.

9. The Ifpra Europe Commission shall be chaired by the Chair of Ifpra Europe; if he/she is not present, then the Chair Elect, if he/she is not present then the Immediate Past Chair, if he/she is not present then the Ifpra Europe Commissioners present shall elect a Chairperson.

10. Members of the Ifpra Europe Commission may register a postal vote on any Agenda Item with the Europe Secretary up to 14 days prior to the meeting of the Ifpra Europe Commission.

Functions of the Europe Commission:

The Ifpra Europe Commission shall:

11. Elect the Ifpra Europe Chair Elect, who shall be elected from amongst the serving Members of the Ifpra Europe Commission.

12. Appoint an Ifpra Europe Secretary, who shall be responsible for the day to day administration of the Region and for submitting records to the Chief Executive as requested by the Chief Executive.

13. Recommend the venue and fee of Ifpra Europe Congresses to the Ifpra World Commission.

14. Recommend to the Ifpra Europe General Assembly the Ifpra Europe Final Accounts.  

15. Be responsible for the generation of membership of Ifpra Europe.

16. Create Working Groups to further specific issues, appoint a Chair of each Working Group who shall make a Progress Report to each meeting of the Ifpra Europe Commission, and shall appoint all other Members of each Working Group created.

17. Delegate any appropriate functions to the Ifpra Europe Secretary.

18. Promote the objectives of Ifpra.

6. OFFICERS

Officers of Ifpra Europe shall be:

1. Chair Ifpra Europe for a term of Office of three years.

2. Ifpra Europe Chair Elect, who after a Term of Office of three years shall succeed the Ifpra Europe Chair.

7. IFPRA EUROPE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

1. The Executive Committee shall consist of:

1. Chair of Ifpra Europe
2. Chair Elect of Ifpra Europe
3. A maximum of three Vice Chairs, who shall be serving Commissioners, to be appointed by the Chair to have t he responsibility of progressing issues as identified by the Chair
4. The Vice Chair Ifpra Europe Congress

2. Notice of a meeting of the Executive Committee, together with related Agenda Papers shall be posted, or sent electronically, to members of the Executive Committee not less than 20 days prior to the date of the meeting.

3. A quorum necessary to enable the Executive Committee to conduct business shall be a majority of the serving members of the Committee

4. Members of the Executive Committee may register a postal vote with the Secretary Ifpra Europe on any Agenda item up to ten days prior to the date of the meeting

5. The Executive Committee shall meet at least once a year in conjunction with Ifpra Europe Congresses or Meetings, or at any other time as requested by the Chair or two current members of the Committee.

Functions of the Ifpra Europe Executive Committee

The Executive Committee shall:

6. Take decisions on urgent matters between meetings of the Ifpra Europe Commission.  Decisions made are to be reported to the next meeting of the Ifpra Europe Commission.

7. Act on behalf of the Ifpra Europe Commission in circumstances approved by the Chair

8. Oversee the actions of the Ifpra Europe Secretary

8. IFPRA EUROPE SECRETARY

Functions of the Ifpra Europe Secretary

The Ifpra Europe Secretary shall:

1. Be responsible for the administration of Ifpra Europe within the framework determined by the Ifpra Europe General Assembly and the Ifpra Europe Commission.

2. Maintain appropriate financial records, prepare budgets and Final Accounts.

3. Act on behalf of Ifpra Europe in all matters delegated to the Ifpra Europe Secretary.

4. Attend all meetings of the Ifpra Europe General Assembly, Ifpra Europe Commission and Ifpra Europe Executive Committee.

5. Oversee and advise on Ifpra Europe Congresses

6. Arrange for minutes to be taken of all meetings of the Ifpra Europe General Assembly and Ifpra Europe Commission.

9. DISSOLUTION

Should the Ifpra Europe Region be dissolved, any residual funds shall pass to the World body.

18th September 2008