The World
Federation of
Hypnotherapists

This revised Constitution was drawn up by the democratically elected officers of the Federation in November 1996, approved by the elected Executive Director (outgoing) and counter approved by the elected Executive Director (incoming) for and with the the approval of the Membership. This revised Constitution superseded the Constitutions of the twin bodies and became operative as of 1st January 1997.

ITEMS.

1. All persons who are Members of the Federation, and who become Members of the Federation swear, (will swear) to recognise this Constitution as it is written, and at all times to safeguard the Constitution totally in the spirit of its composition.

2. "The Federation" will be the twin bodies of 'The World Federation of Hypnotherapists', and 'The British Association of Therapeutical Hypnotherapists'.

3. The affairs and the business of the Federation will at all times be conducted in accordance with this Constitution.

4. The elected Executive Director will be deemed to be the guardian of this Constitution, and he/she will have the primary duty to the Membership at large, to ensure that at all times the Constitution is upheld by all.

5. The Federation will be a totally democratic body in every fashion. It will be managed, organised, and administered on a "One member, one vote" basis in an honest and open manner.

6. The Federation will be a non profit making body. At all times the funds of the Federation will remain the property of the Membership at large. No Executive Director, or Management Committee member shall make private and personal gain from offices they hold on behalf of the Membership.

7. The Federation will be run and managed by the four elected Committee Members.
Their titles will be:-

                        CHAIR PERSON
                        VICE CHAIRPERSON
                        SECRETARY
                        TREASURER

In addition the elected Executive Director shall have a seat on the Committee throughout the term of his/her office.
Thus the Management Committee will constitute a total of five persons.

8. At all Committee meetings recognised by this Constitution a quorum of four persons must be present. For a committee meeting to be recognised by this Constitution the Chair must be taken by the Chairperson or by the Vice Chairperson. In the event of the Chairperson being unable to attend a meeting and nominating the Vice Chairperson to take the Chair, a letter of such authority must be written to the Executive Director by the Chair. No meeting, however convened that does not have either the Chair or Vice Chair present will be recognised.

9. At all Committee meetings whomsoever has the Chair will hold a casting vote on any matter upon which there is no majority.

10. Elections for the posts of Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer will be held every two years. Elections will be held in the month of November, and newly elected Committee Members will assume their duties on the 1st day of January in the year following the elections. Elections are for a term of two years in office.

11. Every member of the Federation has the right to stand for the posts of Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, or Treasurer at every election.
Subject to the following criteria:-

                         A person standing for any office must be a member "in good standing"
                         i.e. fully paid up on subscriptions, with no disciplinary record etc.
                         He/she must have been a member of the Federation for four years.
                         He/she must have practised the profession of hypnotherapy for four years.
                         He/she must swear to uphold this Constitution.

12. Elections for all posts (save that of Executive) will be held in the November of 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, and every two years thereafter.

13. In the June of election years, any member who wishes to stand for any post save that of Executive, must write to the Executive and indicate that he/she wishes to stand for election to a particular post. The Executive will then direct the Secretary to enter the members name on the ballot papers to be sent to the Membership at large in the first week of the coming November. Every member wishing to stand for a post must write a brief manifesto by the September preceding the November ballot. Such manifesto of not less than 500 nor more than 700 words must be sent to the Secretary.

It will be the duty of the Secretary to publish a booklet containing all the manifesto's of candidates and to post this booklet to every member with that Members ballot paper. Thus prior to casting their individual votes, all members may read the manifesto's of all candidates standing for office. The Secretary shall be responsible tc ensure that all candidates conform with item 11 above.

14. At election times, every member will receive one ballot paper. That paper must be headed with the members name. The Secretary will have a register upon which is the number of the ballot slip sent to each member. The ballot slips will be numbered from 1 to whatever number comprises the full membership register.

On his/her ballot paper the individual member will indicate which candidate the member wishes to vote for, for each of the four posts. This will be done by the member ticking the box alongside the favoured candidates name. Each member may only vote for one candidate for each of the four posts available. A member standing for Committee may vote for his/her self, but for only one office.

It is a condition of membership of the Federation that every member votes at every election. Each member must sign his/her ballot paper when votes have been cast, and return the ballot paper to the Secretary by 1st November.

It is the duty of the Secretary, before the count of ballot papers, to ensure every member has had a ballot paper and returned such duly signed. It is the further duty of the Secretary to ensure that any member who has not returned a signed voting paper a week prior to the count is contacted by telephone to ensure the member in question did receive a ballot paper. Any member who receives a ballot paper but does not return it by the designated date prior to a ballot will be cautioned in writing by the Executive and will be subject to the disciplinary procedures of the Committee.

The aim is to totally ensure each member has a vote at each election for each post.

15. All ballot papers will be handed by the Secretary to the Executive Director by the 10th day of November, and he/she will count and declare the votes for each candidate. The Executive will then in writing confirm to each candidate who has stood for election the result of the ballot for each Committee post. The result of all the ballots will be published and will be posted to each and every member of the Federation. Further, at the three meetings following the declared votes all the ballot papers used in the ballot, and the secretarial register will be "on display" to all members. Everything must be done to satisfy the entire Membership that the elections were totally democratic in the extreme, open and fair, and that the results of all elections may be verified totally.

16. Any person who at any time endeavours to manipulate or 'rig' a vote at any election, will be deemed to have offended this Constitution and will be subjected to a disciplinary procedure which may result in the offending persons name being struck from the register of members.

17. Once elected to the post of Executive Director (Guardian of the Constitution) a person will serve in that office until his/her 65th Birthday when retirement is compulsory, or until the Executive resigns the post, in writing, to the Chairperson of the day. Three months prior to the retirement of an outgoing Executive a ballot will be organised by the elected Secretary to establish the will of the Membership as to who shall be the new "incoming" Executive.
Every member shall have the right to stand for the post of Executive subject to the following criteria:-

                         He/she must have been a member of the Federation for 10 years.
                         He/she must have served the Membership in a Committee post for at
                         least one two year term, at any time.
                         He/she must be a member "in good standing".
                         He/she must be aged 45 years or more at the time of election.
                         He/she must swear an oath before a solicitor to be the Guardian of this
                         Constitution and at all times to uphold the Constitution totally.
                         The Executive is the Memberships guarantee that the Federation is always in
                         every way secure for its members.

18. The conduct of the election for the post of a new Executive will be in accordance with the procedures of election for Committee posts. See items above. The Membership should realise that the Executive post is the most senior and important post in the Federation, and that whoever holds the post of Executive (an elected democratic office) is the safeguard of each and every member to ensure the Federation is a properly run democratic non profit making body.

19. The Federation will be run and managed by the five person Management Committee. The Management Committee will set all fees, and oversee the course whereby members of the public join the Federation. The Committee shall be responsible for the smooth running and administration of the Federation.

20. From the four elected persons on the Management Committee (not the Executive) the Chairperson at any time may call upon two of his/her colleagues to sit with the Chair upon a three person Disciplinary Committee. The Disciplinary Committee shall deal with all matters of concern regarding the behaviour of individual members. The Disciplinary Committee shall hold the right, by majority vote, to caution, fine, or expel any member who has offended the rules of the Federation. The findings of the Disciplinary Committee will always be final and without appeal.

21. Any changes to the published Rules of the Federation may only be made at an A.G.M. To change a Rule 75% of the Membership must approve. Prior to an A.G.M. every member must be notified of any proposed Rule changes. "Absent" Members at the A.G.M. may vote, in writing, by Proxy.

22. If it comes to the attention of the Secretary that a member has behaved in an unprofessional or unethical fashion, dishonestly, or not in the best interests of the Federation/Profession, the Secretary shall convene a disciplinary meeting. The offending member will be given two weeks notice of such a meeting and asked to attend. A member who is called before a disciplinary meeting may be represented by a fellow member of his/her choosing, if that is his/her wish. At the disciplinary meeting the charge will be put to the member verbally. The member shall have full right to reply, and state his/her case to the Committee who will, with care, take all factors into account. The Committee will have the right to question the member most fully. At the meeting (with the member absent from the room for 30 minutes) the Committee will form a conclusion of the matter in hand. They will then inform the member of their findings. Minutes of the meeting will be kept, and all proceedings will be recorded on tape, including the findings of the Committee.

23. No meeting of the Management Committee, or the Disciplinary Committee will be recognised unless proper minutes are kept at the time of such meeting, and thereafter are kept. All minutes of all meetings will be retained in the Federation files for a minimum period of 10 years.

24. The elected Executive Director shall at all times interest him/her self into the running and administration of the Federation. He/she will be deemed "senior" in status to the elected Management Committee. Should it come to the attention of the Executive that a member of the elected Management Committee is behaving improperly in anyway in conflict of the interests of the members (eg. the Treasurer misusing funds,whatever), the Executive shall have the power to remove the Committee Member in question, by writing, from office. In such an event the Executive must notify each member of the Federation and give in writing an explanation for his/her action. This imposes upon each elected Management Committee Member a discipline to function correctly at all times.

25. An Executive Director may be impeached for misconduct by the wish of the elected Committee (majority vote). If an Executive Director is impeached he/she may be removed from office in writing by the Chair subject to the following conditions:

                a. The Chair must, with the authority of the majority of his Committee duly inform in writing every
                member of the cause of the impeachment that is intended. Any case against the Executive                 Director must be set out clearly for members. The Executive may then write to each member
                setting out his/her position on the matter in hand.

                b. After a period of one calendar month, following the correspondence from the Chair and the                 Executive Director, each member will be sent a voting paper with the question "Do you wish the                 Executive to be impeached?" There will be on the paper two boxes marked 'YES' or 'NO'

                c. All such papers will be returned to the Secretary.

                d. Providing 75% of the Membership or more have voted "YES" on their papers, then the elected                 Committee will hold a vote. If this vote is in a majority vote for impeachment then the Executive                 will stand down.

                e. An Executive Director may not be removed from office on the votes of the Membership alone,
                nor the Committee alone.
                This imposes upon the Executive Director a discipline to function correctly at all times.

26. The 5 person Management Committee shall appoint from the Membership, as they see fit the following posts:-

                         LIBRARIAN
                         EDITOR OF PUBLICATIONS
                         PUBLICITY OFFICER
                         SOCIAL SECRETARY

Such offices are by invitation only, and give members the chance to serve their colleagues in various capacities. Those members who accept such posts may sit in on Committee meetings, but not have a vote.

27. The Chair will instruct the appointed Librarian, Publicity Officer, Editor of Publications and the Social Secretary upon their duties, and he/she will oversee the posts in the best interests of the Membership at large. It is the responsibility of the Chair to ensure each 'Department' of the Federation is functioning smoothly at all times.

28. The Federation will hold two meetings each year to which the entire Membership will be invited. There will be an A.G.M. in the spring of each year, and the meeting will be held at a convenient Midlands hotel, ensuring the Membership in the United Kingdom have easiest access. The A.G.M. will be held over a weekend, Saturday and Sunday. In the morning of the Saturday there will be a closed Committee Meeting. In the afternoon of the Saturday there will be the General Meeting of all members. The Saturday evening will be concerned with a social function after dinner, dance, cabaret, whatever. The Social Secretary will arrange for the Sunday, workshops, seminars, lectures, practical matters, for the Membership to take part in and enjoy. The cost of the A.G.M. weekend will be borne by the cost of tickets for attendance, meals, accommodation for the night etc. The Committee of the day may choose to subsidise the weekend by paying fees to lecturers etc.

The second meeting will be of one full day in the autumn of each year. Again the meeting will be held at a Midlands hotel. There will be a General Committee Meeting in the morning which all members may attend to observe their elected officers at work. This 'open' Committee Meeting will allow members to propose Rule changes, make personal observations to the Committee, ask questions, whatever. In the afternoon of the Sunday the Committee will provide talks, lectures, whatever for the interest of members attending in the main, but may be subsidised with the Committee's approval.

29. At the spring A.G.M. each of the elected Committee Members, and the appointed persons to other offices will account verbally to the Membership of their individual stewardships during the past twelve months. In particular the elected Treasurer will provide each member with a balance sheet, clearly showing all members the Federations income and expenditure over the past year, and the 'reserve' funds of the Federation. Should any member be dissatisfied with the balance sheet he/she (the member) shall have the right to call upon the Chairperson to have the Treasurers books of accounts audited by an outside qualified accountant. It is essential at all times that the entire Membership are fully aware of how their funds are used and accumulated.

30. It is beholden upon the Executive, the Management Committee Officers, the appointed Officers and the Membership generally in the exercise of their various positions, responsibilities, to act in a relaxed and friendly fashion, on Christian name terms, as befits an organisation of caring and professional therapists.

31. There shall be in the Federation only two types of Membership. A person may be a Member of the Federation, or a Fellow of the Federation. A Fellowship will only be given, by right, to any member who has served at least a two year term on the elected Management Committee. A Fellowship is a just reward for service given to colleagues.

32. The Executive Director, and the elected Management Committee shall give their time free to the Federation. However each year they may present to the Treasurer an account of their 'in office' expenses for the past twelve months. Such expenses to include matters such as postage costs, telephone charges, travel to and from meetings, meals at meetings and other fair and reasonable items. No person should be personally out of pocket for his/her endeavours on behalf of the Membership. The Treasurer will check all expense claims to satisfy himself/herself they are fair and reasonable before paying such claims. The Chairperson will check the Treasurers expenses.

33. Members of the general public may join the Federation as members only after having passed the entrance examination course decided upon by the full elected Committee (including the Executive Director). The Federation course will be advertised as the Committee deems appropriate.

34. The Committee will appoint a person to be known as the Faculty Officer. This member may be a member of the General Membership or a Committee Member. The Faculty Officer shall at all times be answerable to the Chair and the Committee generally. Any course used by the Federation for teaching purposes will be the copyright of the Federation, save for those parts of the course contributed by individual members who with the Federation maintain their 'Own Work' copyright. An appointed Faculty Officer shall serve in periods of five year terms. His/her work will be reviewed every five years.

35. Training Courses used by the Faculty Officer to train New Members, must be approved by the Executive Director and the Committee. These will be the only courses that gain the Federation Diploma and Membership. No other courses other than the 'official' courses will be recognised by the Federation.

36. In order that the courses offered by the Federation are seen to be of the very highest quality, there may be many contributors to the courses the Faculty Officer administers. By example a member may be asked to spend a whole day lecturing to a group of students. Another member may be asked to record an audiotape with a talk lecture thereon. Another member may contribute his/her book to the courses etc. Where a member is used by the Faculty Officer on the Federation courses whether in person, by written material or by recorded voice, then that member will be entitled to remuneration and expenses. By simple example. The Faculty Officer may request member 'A' to spend a day in Leicester lecturing to a group of twelve students, teaching them hypnotic techniques, holding a 'Question and Answer' session etc. as part of the Federation courses. Member 'A' may live in Manchester and thus have a long return drive to Leicester and back. He will be paid his full travel expenses. If member 'A' takes lunch at the hotel that too will be paid for. Finally member 'A' will be paid a days lecture fee to be decided by the Faculty Officer. The 'expenses and fee' paid to member 'A' will not be taken from Federation funds, but paid from the students fees by the Faculty Officer.

37. It will be the duty of the Faculty Officer to advertise all courses, decide upon the cost of the courses, calculate students fees, and budget the courses relative to income. Whilst the courses are 'non profit making' it is expected of the Faculty Officer, that from each course, after all expenses, there is a small sum (10%) of each fee paid into Federation funds to the benefit of all members.

38. Because of the large time commitments of the Faculty Officer, as well as the items mentioned above, he/she will be allowed to deduct from all course fees a reasonable hourly rate for himself/herself, or whatever figure the Committee approve of. It would be hoped the Faculty Officer would ensure all students obtain excellent value for money re training, tuition, lectures etc. The general guideline therefore is that the Faculty Officer so prices the Federation course as to pay for all the course material used, to pay for other members talks/lectures etc., to pay tapes used on the course and royalties thereon, to pay for course books, to allow himself/herself a reasonable hourly rate for his/her time and retain 10% of the course fees to be paid in to the Treasurer. The Faculty Officer shall each year account to the Committee generally for his/her course and monies he/she has handled for the Treasurer. Whilst each Faculty Officer shall be well rewarded for his/her time the post will not be regarded as a source of easy income.

39. By majority vote the Committee may remove one Faculty Officer and appoint another.

40. Any matters not covered in this Constitution shall be decided by the majority wish of the five persons (all voting) of the Management Committee.

41. This Constitution shall, in the main, remain as it is written as the bedrock of the Federation ensuring always the Federation belongs totally to it's members as a non profit making, totally open democratic body.
However changes may be made to this Constitution from time to time, providing always the following:-

                a. The elected Executive Director agrees to such changes.
                b. The majority of the Management Committee agree to such changes.
                c. Proposed changes are put to the Membership in referendum form, and 75% of the Membership or
                    more agree to such changes.

42. Every member of the Federation shall hold a copy of this Constitution which sets out their individual benefits and privileges.

43. It will be the aim of the Federation, under the direction of the full Management Committee and the Executive Director, to appoint in other countries representatives who will have the British course translated into other languages. Such representatives will run Membership in their own countries of domicile, under the guidance of the British Committee of the day. In 1996 the process of overseas development has just begun, and those amendments to this Constitution necessary to accommodate overseas students and members will be 'written into' this Constitution subject to section 41.                                                               

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