Dated: 22 September 2009

1. Name
2. Patrons
3. Objects
4. Rules and code of practice
5. Council
6. Board of assessors
7. Complaints investigation panel
8. Membership
9. Disqualification from membership
10. General meeting
11. Alteration of the constitution or rules and dissolution of the Association

1. Admission
2. Membership entitlements

Code of Practice

Rules of the Board of Assessors

Complaints Investigation Procedure

CONSTITUTION OF APGI

1 NAME

The name of the Association will be the Association of Professional Genealogists in Ireland, hereinafter referred to as 'APGI'. It may be rendered in the Irish language as Cumann na nGinealeolaithe Gairmiúla in Éirinn, or in the Ulster-Scots dialect as Tha Complutherin O Darg-Airtit Yins at Screenges Intae Kynn Athort Airlann.

2 PATRONS

The members at general meeting may nominate a suitable person or persons to act as Patron(s) of APGI. Following a majority decision the Council will invite the nominee(s) to adopt the role.

3 OBJECTS

1. to protect and sustain high standards of conduct and proficiency among Irish professional genealogists.
   
2. to associate and co-operate with other organisations, within or outside Ireland, whose objects are compatible with those of APGI.
3. to promote the study of Irish genealogy.

4 RULES AND CODE OF PRACTICE

All Members and Associate Members of APGI will adhere to the Rules and Code of Practice adopted by APGI.

5 COUNCIL

1. Composition: The Council will consist of not less than six members, to include a President, Vice-President, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer. The President will when possible take the Chair at all general meetings and will have a casting vote.
2. Election: The Council and its officers will be elected at the Annual General Meeting or at an extraordinary general meeting called for that purpose. Each Council member will serve for one year and will be eligible for re-election. Officers will serve for one year and will be eligible for re-election up to a maximum of three consecutive years. Nominations for all posts may be sent in writing to the Hon. Secretary not less than seven days before the general meeting or may be made at the meeting.
3. Meetings: The Council will meet as often as it considers necessary, but it will meet at least quarterly. Three members present will constitute a quorum. Decisions will be by majority vote. The Council may co-opt members to assist in its work.

6 BOARD OF ASSESSORS

1. Composition: The Board of Assessors will consist of not less than three and not more than ten individuals who will not be current members of APGI.
2. Appointment: Nominations to the Board may be made by the existing Assessors or by the Council or by individual Members and will be ratified by the members at general meeting.
3. Assessing of applicants will be in accordance with the 'Rules of the Board of Assessors'.

7 COMPLAINTS INVESTIGATION PANEL

1. Composition: The Panel will consist of not less than two and not more than four individuals who will not be current members of APGI.
2. Appointment: Nominations to the Panel will be made by the Council and will be ratified by the members at general meeting.

8 MEMBERSHIP

9 DISQUALIFICATION FROM MEMBERSHIP

1. Complete Disqualification: A Member or Associate Member will cease to have any connection with APGI if:
   1. he/she submits a letter of resignation to the Council.
   2. a majority of Members attending a general meeting vote for his/her expulsion following on the recommendation of the Complaints Investigation Panel.
2. Disqualification From Full Membership: a Member who ceases to practice as a professional genealogist in Ireland or who takes up employment so as to contravene SECTION 8 of the Constitution will automatically cease to be a Full Member and will not be entitled to renew his/her membership until he/she has again met all the requirements of SECTION 8 of the Constitution. He/she will, however, be entitled to remain an Associate Member for a period of no more than five years without resuming full membership.
3. Termination of Associate Membership: An Associate Member will cease to have any connection with APGI if he/she fails to resume full membership within a period of five years. This will not preclude him/her from applying for re-admission to membership.

10 GENERAL MEETING

1. Calling of Meetings: The Council will direct the Hon. Secretary to call at least one meeting in every calendar year as the Annual General Meeting. In addition, the Hon. Secretary will on the request in writing of not less than twenty-five per cent of the Members call a general meeting to transact such business as may be specified in the request. Meetings will be called on twenty-one days notice and all notices will be accompanied by an agenda.
   
   
2. Conducting Meetings: Meetings will be presided over by the President or in his/her absence by the Vice-President or by such member of the Council as may be selected for such purpose by the Council. Business will be transacted by a majority vote and in the case of an equality of votes the President will have a casting vote. No voting by proxy will be allowed.

11 ALTERATION OF THE CONSTITUTION OR RULES AND DISSOLUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION

This Constitution or the Rules may be altered or APGI dissolved by a resolution passed by seventy-five per cent of the Members present at a general meeting called for such purpose. Members will be notified of any proposed change in the Constitution or the Rules not less than twenty-eight days preceding the meeting at which such change is to be resolved.

RULES OF APGI

1 ADMISSION TO MEMBERSHIP

1. To gain admission to membership of APGI a professional genealogist who meets the requirements for eligibility in SECTION 8A of the Constitution must submit a sample of work which should be a copy of a report already submitted to a client and completed no more than two years before the date of application. It should be a typescript report on research conducted over a period of between seven and ten hours (exclusive of report preparation time). It must be accompanied by:
   1. a completed application form.
   2. a non-refundable application fee, as set at each Annual General Meeting.
   3. a brief description of the initial information supplied by the client.
   4. an indication of the length of the search.
   5. reproductions of the relevant photocopies or other documentation, if any, submitted to the client with the original letter.
   6. a letter from the applicant stating that the sample of work submitted is an accurate copy of the original report issued the client and giving permission for the secretary of APGI to contact the client directly should the need arise.
   7. a letter from the applicant's client giving permission for a copy of the original report to be submitted to the Board of Assessors.
2. TThe sample of work, as defined in SECTION A above, must be examined by at least three members of the Board of Assessors, whose decision is final. If and when the application is approved by them the applicant is deemed to be eligible for membership of APGI. The Council may then approve the admission of the applicant. On payment of the annual membership fee the applicant is deemed to be a Full Member of APGI and may renew membership annually unless disqualified from doing so under SECTION 9 of the Constitution.
3. The annual membership fee will be decided at each Annual General Meeting.

2 MEMBERSHIP ENTITLEMENTS

1. Associate Membership: An Associate Member will be entitled to attend general meetings of APGI but not to vote or to serve on the Council. He/she will not be entitled to advertise his/her association with APGI.
2. Full Membership: A Full Member will be entitled to:
   1. attend and vote at general meetings of APGI and will be eligible for election to the Council.
   2. use or display the initials 'M.A.P.G.I.' to signify that he/she is a 'Member of the Association of Professional Genealogists in Ireland' and to advertise his/her membership.
   3. have his/her name, address and areas of research included in the membership list to be issued by APGI.
3. Fellowship: A Member or Associate Member conferred with the Fellowship of APGI will be entitled to:
   1. the privileges accorded to Full Members in sub-sections (i) and (iii) of Rule 2B, without the necessity of paying the annual membership fee.
   2. use or display the initials 'F.A.P.G.I.' to signify that he/she is a 'Fellow of the Association of Professional Genealogists in Ireland' and to advertise his/her membership.

CODE OF PRACTICE

1. The Genealogist must at all times uphold the integrity and reputation of the Association and not act in a manner in any way contrary to its interests.
2. In advertising or dealing with the public, the Genealogist should not:
   1. issue exaggerated, misleading or false information regarding the prospects of successful research.
   2. knowingly publish as fact any false information or unproven statement, nor be party to such an action by others.
3. When engaged by a client, the Genealogist should not:
   1. knowingly and unnecessarily duplicate work already carried out.
   2. divulge any information concerning the client or the client's affairs, without prior consent.
   3. publish the results of research for which a client has paid, without prior consent.
4. While engaged in research, the Genealogist should not:
   1. unnecessarily duplicate work already carried out by the Genealogist or the client.
   2. misquote any document.
   3. cite questionable sources as being authoritative.
   4. examine a secondary source when it is possible and practical to examine the original.
5. In reporting to the client, the Genealogist should:
   1. compile a report as coherent and lucid as the material allows.
   2. distinguish clearly between what is proven and what the Genealogist believes to be possible or probable.
   3. explain, if unable to resolve the client's research requests, the reasons why.
   4. offer candid advice concerning further research possibilities.
   5. give a full list of sources consulted, indicating the relevant repositories.
   6. not withhold or conceal material or information relevant to the client's request.
6. With regard to other Members, and bona fide genealogists outside the Association, the Genealogist should not knowingly injure, or attempt to injure, the professional reputation, prospects or practice of another.
7. The Genealogist must not claim by statement or implication the work of another.
8. The Genealogist should declare any personal or financial interest which might compromise impartiality towards a client.

RULES OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS

1. The occupancy of the chair of the Board of Assessors is at the discretion of the Council. The term of office is at the Council's pleasure.
2. The identity of all applicants should be known only to the Assessors, and the Secretary and Treasurer of APGI.
3. The final decision on an applicant rests with the chair-holder of the Board of Assessors.
4. The chair-holder of the Board of Assessors need not be actively involved in the assessment of all applications. This rule does not affect the chair-holder's prerogative in SECTION 3 of the Rules of the Board of Assessors.
5. The chair-holder of the Board of Assessors shall choose at least three Board members to assess each application, (pursuant to SECTION 1B of the Rules of APGI).
6. The identity of any assessor who acts in any and all applications assessed on or after the ninth of December 1999 should be known only to the members of the Board of Assessors and the Secretary of APGI.

COMPLAINTS INVESTIGATION PROCEDURE

A complaint made to the Honorary Secretary against a member of APGI will be dealt with initially by the Honorary Secretary jointly with the President. Only if the matter cannot be resolved amicably by these officers, in consultation with the complainant and the member in question, will it be referred to the Complaints Investigation Panel.

The occupancy of the chair of the Complaints Investigation Panel is at the discretion of the Council. The term of office is at the Council's pleasure.

The chair-holder of the Complaints Investigation Panel will choose two panel members to investigate each case.

The chair-holder need not be actively involved in the investigation of all complaints, but the final decision on each complaint rests with the chair-holder.

(Incorporating the amendments made on 7 December 1993, 13 December 1995, 9 December 1999, 2 June 2004, 1 December 2005, 22 September 2009 & June 28 2010)