Dear Louth / Meath Branch Member,
Thank you to those members who were able to meet via zoom last April 6th to discuss the Louth / Meath branch going forward.
Louth / Meath branch regrettably disbanded in 2021. Therefore, funds in the branch account were frozen. When a branch disbands, members are afforded the opportunity to amalgamate with another branch of their choice or become National members.
There are currently 43 members in the Louth / Meath branch of IGPNEA but you do not have a branch committee.
A minimum of two positions are required to form a committee. A treasurer is required and at least one other member who may take the role of branch Chair/Secretary/NEC Rep. Some branches have joint chairs and share the duties. The introduction of the Centralised Branch Bank account has greatly reduced the workload of the treasurer.
The online offering of education via National webinars has greatly reduced the workload of the chair. Some branches no longer organise any branch educational meetings, preferring instead to engage at national level for their education. Some branches continue to hold face to face meetings. Most branches do a mixture of both. Attendance at National educational webinars count towards the Articles requirement on provision of meetings.
By not having a branch committee your branch is missing out on having its voice heard at National level via the quarterly NEC REPs meetings, now held online via zoom.
By not having a branch committee you do not have access to funds in the Louth / Meath branch account. These funds have been frozen in the hopes that you will reform the branch within the two years. If the branch is not reformed, those monies are transferred into the National account (see Article 11.4.4). €2,114.97 is currently held in the Louth / Meath account. Branch portion of fees of €1,075 would be transferred to the account this year if the branch reforms.
Members can apply to their local branch for education bursary as well as applying to the national educational bursary fund for courses that they undertake to further their GPN learning.
Branches can pay up to 100% of delegate conference early bird fee.
I am setting up a Louth / Meath WhatsApp group to better disseminate information to you and your branch colleagues. When a committee is formed, I can be removed from the group.
I am writing to invite you to vote via secret, electronic ballot on reforming the Louth / Meath branch. The poll will be hosted on the Association website from Tuesday 18th April, and you will be sent a link to access it. The ballot will remain open for 7 days from posting, closing at 5pm on Tuesday 25th April. Each member will have one vote only and a quorum of 23 members (50% + 1) will be required to have a valid result.
I sincerely hope that the branch does reform. I am available to help in any way that you require.
Kind regards Mary Jordan National Chairperson Irish General Practice Nurses Educational Association (IGPNEA) Formerly IPNA
