RULES AND CONSTITUTION OF THE GLASGOW AND WEST OF SCOTLAND GROUP OF THE GUILD OF HEALTHCARE PHARMACISTS

1. NAME
The name of the Group shall be "The Glasgow and West of Scotland Group", hereafter referred to as "The Group".
2. OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the Group shall be:
i) To improve the economic and social well-being of the members, to enhance their status and to watch over, promote and protect their interests.
ii) To promote by all possible means the contribution of hospital pharmacists to the development of pharmaceutical services.
iii) To promote by all possible means the contribution of hospital pharmacists to patient care.
iv) To contribute to the development of pharmaceutical education both at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
v) To contribute to discussions on health care issues of the day.
vi) To develop working relationships with other pharmaceutical organisations.
vii) To promote the objectives of the Manufacturing, Science and Finance Union (MSF) and to undertake any activity authorised by Guild Council in pursuance of the interests of the membership.
3. QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the Group shall be open to all classes of member of the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists Section of MSF whose registered address and/or place of employment falls within the geographical boundaries of the Glasgow and the West of Scotland Group.
4. CLASSES OF MEMBERSHIP
i) Full members

 Full members shall be pharmacists employed by a UK Health Authority, Health Board, NHS Trust, Family Health Services Authority or similar institution; or pre-registration pharmaceutical students undergoing a period of practical training in accordance with the regulations of the RPSGB or PSNI at a hospital, health centre, or similar.
ii) Retired members

Retired members shall be members aged 55 or over and with not less than five years consecutive full membership of the Guild Section who on retiring from active employment wish to continue in membership as retired members.
iii) Affiliate/International members

 Affiliate members shall be:
Former members who no longer hold a permanent appointment at a hospital or similar institution.
or
Undergraduate pharmaceutical students in the UK.
International members shall be:
pharmacists employed in a hospital, health centre or similar institution outside Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands.
5. Retired members may attend all meetings of the Group and shall have voting rights in such meetings, and in elections to the Council and postal ballots subject to Rule 30.
6. Affiliate members may attend all meetings of the Group but shall not have voting rights in such meetings, elections to the Council or postal ballots.
7. No business shall be conducted at a Group meeting unless the meeting is quorate. The quorum for a meeting of the Group is 4 members.
8. The business of the Group shall be conducted by a Group Committee in association with the Scotland West District Member of Guild Council. The Committee shall consist of Members elected in accordance with Rules 10, 11, 12, and 15. The Group Committee shall meet not less than twice a year, 4 members forming a quorum.
9. The Group Committee is responsible for ensuring that each NHS Trust, Health Authority or Health Board within the geographical confines of the Group and employing members of the Guild, should have its own representative accredited by MSF. The Accredited Representative shall be elected each year by the members he or she is to represent on the Group Committee. The number and location of Accredited Representatives shall be determined by the Group Committee. Requests for additional Accredited Representatives require not less than 5 members and must meet with the approval of the Group Committee. The Group Secretary shall be responsible for notifying the local MSF Regional Officer and the Guild Section General Secretary of the name and workplace of each of the Accredited Representatives.
10. Any full member can stand for election as an Accredited Representative provided he or she is employed by the employing authority he or she is to represent on the Group Committee. A secret ballot of the members to be represented shall be carried out at a local level by a member acceptable to both, or all, candidates. In the event of a tie between candidates, straws shall be drawn to decide the successful candidate. Only full members are allowed to vote in the election of Accredited Representatives.
11. The Group Committee shall consist of the elected Accredited Representatives representing members within the Group. The term of office of Accredited Representatives shall be one year. Election of Accredited Representatives should be carried out before the Annual General Meeting of the Group, and the result reported to the Meeting. Accredited Representatives shall retire at the time of the Annual General Meeting, and their places taken by newly elected members, who shall take office on that day. Retiring members of the Group Committee are eligible for re-election.
12. Any member may nominate any other full member for election as Accredited Representative, Committee Member, or Office Bearer in the Group.
13. The Group Committee shall have power to co-opt no more than three additional members who shall hold office until the next Annual General meeting.
14. The District Member representing the Group on Guild Council, and any National Members of Guild Council who are members of the Group, shall be ex-officio members of the Group Committee.
15. The Group members at the Annual General Meeting shall elect a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Publicity Officer, together with such other Officers as the Group Committee deems necessary. These Officers shall take office from the close of that meeting. The term of office shall be until the next AGM and Officers or Committee Members may stand for re-election. In the event of an Officer resigning or being unable for any cause to continue in office the Group Committee may immediately appoint from its own members an Officer to fill the vacancy. The Group Committee may at any time remove from office an Officer by resolution of the majority of members present and voting at a meeting of the Group Committee. In this case, a notice, accompanied by a statement of the business to be transacted, shall be sent to each Group Committee Member not less than 21 days before the date of meeting at which 10 members shall form a quorum.
16. Any member may nominate any other member for election as a Group Officer or Committee Member.

Nominations may be received and seconded at the Annual General Meeting or be received by the Group Secretary in writing before the AGM.

Written nominations must be signed by one nominator and be accompanied by a statement by the nominee expressing willingness to serve if elected.

All Group Members may vote for candidates nominated for election as a Group Officer or Committee Member.
17. Two Group Members who do not hold Group Office shall be elected as auditors at the Annual General Meeting. The auditors shall audit the Group Accounts at least once a year and report to the next AGM.
18. The Chairman shall preside at all Group and Committee meetings or, in his absence, the Vice-Chairman or a Committee Member nominated to preside at that meeting.
19. The Group Secretary shall be responsible for the general administration of the Group and the recording of Group and Committee proceedings, although this may be delegated to a Minutes Secretary.
20. Any casual vacancy occurring in the Group Committee may be filled by co-option. Any member so co-opted shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting.
21. The Group Committee may appoint from its members an Executive Committee which shall be empowered to act at any time on behalf of the Group Committee.
22. The Group Committee may from time to time appoint such other Committees as it deems desirable and shall have power to modify or dissolve any Committee. The Group Committee may appoint such persons as it deems desirable to serve on any Committee (except as provided in Rule 15).
23. The Annual General Meeting of the Group shall be held during the months of March or April each year or at such a date as the Committee may direct. The Group Secretary shall ensure that a notice, accompanied by a statement of the business to be transacted, reaches each Accredited Representative not less than 21 days before the date of the Annual General Meeting. Accredited Representatives shall ensure that each member receives copies of same not less than 14 days before the date of the Annual General Meeting, at which 10 members shall form a quorum.
The business to be transacted shall be as follows:
i) Presentation of the annual reports of the Officers.
ii) Presentation of annual report of the District Member.
iii) Presentation of report on Group Delegates Meeting.
iv) Election of Group Officers and/or Committee Members.
v) Election of Auditors.
vi) Declaration of results of Accredited Representative.
vii) Presentation of audited accounts of the Group.
viii) Discussion and voting upon motions submitted by the Committee.
ix) Discussion and voting upon motions or business which may have been notified to the Group Secretary not less than 28 days before the date of the meeting.
24. A Special General Meeting shall be convened at the request of the Chairman, the Group Committee, or at least 20 members of the Group. The Group Secretary shall ensure that a notice, accompanied by a statement of the business to be transacted, reaches each Accredited Representative not less than 21 days before the date of the Special General Meeting. Accredited Representatives shall ensure that each member receives copies of same not less than 14 days before the date of the Special General Meeting, at which 20 members shall form a quorum.
25. At any time before dissolution or adjournment of a General Meeting, any 20 members of the Group may, in writing, demand a postal ballot on any motion on the agenda of the meeting. Such postal ballots shall be conducted as prescribed in the national rules, and the result, as determined by the Group Committee, shall be deemed to be the decisions of the meeting at which the postal ballot was demanded.
26. The general business of the Group shall be transacted at meetings held on dates decided by the Group Committee. The Group Secretary shall send a notice, accompanied by a statement of the business to be transacted, to each Accredited Representative not less than 21 days before the date of the meeting. Accredited Representatives shall ensure that each member receives copies of same not less than 14 days before the date of the meeting, at which 4 members shall form a quorum.
The business to be transacted shall include:
i) Formulation, discussion and voting on any Group motions for forwarding to the GHP Annual Group Delegates Meeting.
ii) Proposal of any amendments to motions received from GHP Head Office for the GHP Annual Group Delegates Meeting.
iii) Election of Group delegates to the GHP Annual Group Delegates Meeting.
iv) Voting on motions and amendments on the final order paper for the GHP Annual Group Delegates Meeting.
27. Any member wishing to propose a Group motion to the GHP Annual Group Delegates Meeting should put the motion to a meeting of the Group identified for the purpose and previously notified to members by the Group Secretary in accordance with Rule 26. If the motion is carried at the Group meeting on voting, it shall be sent to GHP Head Office before the notified closing date for submission of motions.
28. The Group Committee shall prescribe Standing Orders for regulating procedure at meetings of the Group, its Group Committee and other Committees, and for defining the duties of its Officers, and may from time to time modify or suspend such Standing Orders.
29. There shall be no smoking at local meetings of the Group.
30. No alteration of the Constitution or Rules shall be made except at a General Meeting, due notice of the proposed alteration having been given. Any such alteration shall be accepted if approved by a majority of members at the General Meeting. The alteration shall not become operative until three months after the date of the meeting at which the alteration was approved, subject to acceptance by Guild Council.
31. The above rules shall be read in conjunction with the Rules and Constitution of the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists Section of the Manufacturing, Science and Finance Union (MSF).

Passed by Annual General Meeting 1.4.99