1. Name

The name of this organisation shall be the »Iaido Association of Ireland« (hereafter referred to as 'I.A.I.' or 'the Association').

2. Objectives

2.1 To develop and encourage the art of Iaido throughout Ireland.

2.2 To promote the spirit and practice of Iaido by means of traditional classes, seminars and gradings.

2.3 To liaise with organisations and practitioners of Iaido and associated martial arts at home and abroad in a spirit of mutual co-operation for the benefit of Budo in Ireland.

3. Membership

3.1 Membership and training shall be made available to anyone interested in furthering the objectives of the organisation and abiding by its' rules and regulations established in this Constitution and conditions of membership accommodating insofar as possible physical limitations, and without regard to gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or political affiliation.

3.2 Membership subsists for the duration of the calendar year beginning on January 1st and shall be granted upon payment of the appropriate annual subscription. This subscription, in all categories of membership, shall be determined annually by the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and shall be used by the Board to facilitate the achievement of the Objectives as listed in this constitution. Subscription fees may also differ within each category of membership, where the Board sees fit. Membership shall be made available in the following categories:

3.3 Categories of Membership:
(a) Ordinary - open to all who wish to train in Iaido, and promote the objectives of the organisation.
(b) Student - open to person in full-time education.
(c) Associate - Membership available to persons interested in joining the I.A.I. but not training e.g. overseas members.
(d) Honorary - may be awarded at the discretion of the members of the Board of the Association

3.4 Membership subscriptions are due not later than 31st January each year.

3.5 First membership subscriptions are applied according to the date of the joining as follows:

Join Date % of Subscription

Jan. - Mar. 100%
Apr. - Jun. 75%
Jul. - Sep. 50%
Oct. - Dec. 25%

3.6 Membership entitles the new member to Insurance cover at all I.A.I. affiliated Dojos and events.

4. General Meetings

4.1 There shall be an Annual General Meeting held each calendar year. The gap between Annual General Meetings shall be no less than nine months and no more than fifteen months.

4.2. The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be:
(a) Confirmation of the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting
(b) Report of the President
(c) Presentation of the Accounts and report of the Treasurer
(d) Motions and Amendments
(e) Election of Officers and Board members.

4.3 An Extraordinary General Meeting shall be convened if requested in writing by 10 per cent of the voting membership or by request of the Board. No business shall be transacted at the Meeting other than that specified in the notice for the meeting.

4.4 Notice of any General Meeting shall be given to all members at least fourteen days in advance of said Meeting.

4.5 Motions for discussion at the AGM must be proposed at least seven days in advance for inclusion in the Agenda. The Agenda shall be circulated by the Secretary a minimum of three days in advance of the Meeting. Email is sufficient.

4.6 Election of Officers and Committee members shall be conducted in the following order: President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Nominations may be proposed by any member and must be seconded by any other member. Unopposed nominees are deemed elected without contest.

4.7 General Meetings shall be open to all members. No quorum for any General Meeting is set.

5. Voting

5.1 Those entitled to vote at general meetings shall be:
(a) All Ordinary Members
(b) All Student Members
(c) All Honorary Members

5.2 A Returning Officer shall be appointed by the Board prior to the General Meeting and will be responsible for the conduct of all votes during the meeting. The person appointed shall not be eligible to stand for any position.

5.3 Each person will have one vote. There shall be no voting by proxy or postal voting.

5.4 Votes shall be determined by simple majority except where defined under the terms of this Constitution.

6. The Board

6.1. The business of the Association between AGMs shall be governed by the Board of the Association.

6.2. The Board shall be composed of :
(a) The President or Kaicho
(b) The Secretary
(c) The Treasurer

6.3 All members of the Board shall be elected at the AGM and shall hold office until the following AGM.

6.4 Vacancies in the membership of the Board arising from resignation will be filled as appropriate by the Board.

6.5. If a General Meeting passes a valid motion calling for the resignation of any Board member, they shall be deemed to have resigned.

6.6 Board Meetings shall be convened on the request of the President, or any other member. The President shall chair all Meetings, or shall delegate the chair to another member in the event of unavoidable absence.

6.7 Quorum for a Board meeting shall be two.

6.8 The President shall have the casting vote where necessary.

6.9 Ordinary members of the I.A.I. may attend Board meetings at the invitation of the Board but will have no voting powers at the meeting.

7. Officers

7.1 The duties of the President are
(a) To chair and convene meetings of the Board, the Technical Board and the AGM.
(b) To endure that the business of the Association is run fairly and in accordance with the constitution.
(c) To prepare the Agenda for Board, Technical Board and General Meetings.
(d) To respond appropriately to communications from other bodies, both international and domestic.

7.2 The duties of the Secretary are
(a) To record minutes of all Meetings of the Association and its Board.
(b) To keep all records, other than financial, of the Association.
(c) To give due notice of all Meetings of the Association and its Board.

7.3 The duties of the Treasurer are
(a) To record all paid membership.
(b) To ensure proper maintenance of the Association’s accounts.
(c) To record all transactions in sufficient detail to prepare accounts for auditing.
(d) To provide a full financial report including income and expenditure accounts which shall be made available for inspection by all members no less than one week in advance of the AGM.
(e) Oversight of all Association bank accounts and chequebooks.

8. Technical Board

8.1 All Instructors of the Association will be invited to join the Technical Board.

8.2 The Technical Board will advise the Board of the Association on aspects of Iaido such as teachings, training, seminars, philosophy, tradition etc.

8.3 The Technical Board will provide a forum for the interchange of ideas and support between Instructors of the Association.

8.4 The Technical Board will meet at least once a year. Notice of any Meeting of the Technical Board shall be given to all members at least fourteen days in advance of said Meeting. Email is sufficient.

9. Insurance

9.1 Membership of the I.A.I. automatically confers insurance cover for the member at all I.A.I. affiliated Dojos and official I.A.I. events.

9.2 Persons who are not a member of I.A.I. may not have insurance cover, and may not therefore be permitted to practice or train in I.A.I. affiliated Dojos.

9.3 For the purpose of 9.1 above, the Board of the Association shall maintain an accurate membership register with full details of all members of the Association, and shall ensure the same complies fully with the terms and conditions of the Insurance Certificate of the Association.

9.4 Only persons listed as Instructors on the Insurance Certificate has held by the President may be permitted to hold classes; any other persons are not insured as instructors and are not permitted to teach.

9.5 Members of the Association will at all times have their membership certificates in their possession when travelling to and from training venues and events. Members will produce and/or surrender their membership certificate to a member of the Board of the Association if required to do so.

10. Rules

10.1 The Association will not prescribe precise rules for conduct and etiquette for affiliated Dojos or groups. However, the wearing of the sword is a tremendous privilege, and with that honour comes great responsibility. Iaidoka are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that demonstrates respect for their martial tradition, for their instructors, and consideration for their fellow students. Any persons failing to conduct themselves in such a manner may be expelled from the Association and forfeit their subscription fee.

10.2 Members must at all times observe and adhere to directions and safety procedures as laid down by their Instructors, and by the safety statement/protocol of the respective venues in which they are training.

10.3 Failure to observe safety directions may result in the Member's expulsion from class, at the discretion of their Instructor. In extreme cases, this may also lead to that Member's expulsion from the Association and forfeit their subscription fee, at the discretion of the Board.

10.4 Any Member who engages in any form of activity which may adversely affect the good name and/or reputation of the Association may be expelled from the Association and forfeit their subscription fee, at the discretion of the Board.

10.5 The I.A.I. shall be a non-profit organisation; officers of the Association shall not receive, appropriate, borrow or loan funds from the Association for personal use of themselves or any other person, and shall be accountable to the Association for all funds held in their possession or at their behest for any length of time.

10.6 Any surplus funds held by the Association shall be used to cover expenses such as administrative costs, seminars, insurance payments, or equipment for the Association. This list is not exhaustive. Decisions of the spending of surplus funds shall be made by the Board.

11. Affiliated Dojos

11.1 All Iaido Dojos or groups can become affiliated Dojos with the I.A.I.

11.2 A Dojo will be accepted into the organisation on request of its Iaido instructor or Dojo head/official and as per the decision of the Board of the Association. The official affiliation announcement will be made by the President of the Association after having added the Dojo or group to the list of venues and having officially registered the venue according to the rules of the Insurance Certificate.

11.3 Only affiliated Dojos listed as venues on the Insurance Certificate as held by the President are permitted to hold classes; any other Dojos are not insured.

12. Class Fees

12.1 Class Fees at all affiliated Dojos are set at the discretion of the relevant instructor. The Board will recommend a minimum and maximum fee but no Dojo is under the obligation to adhere to these recommendations.

12.2 The Association has no involvement or role in the establishment, collection, or administration of fees, costs or subscriptions for constituent or affiliated groups, clubs or Dojos within the I.A.I. structure.

13. Amendments To The Constitution

13.1 The articles of this Constitution may not be amended except by a motion duly proposed and seconded at an Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting. Such a motion shall require a two-thirds majority of voting members present for passage.