IAU Constitution

I am posting the published International Association of Ultrarunners Consitution in this site. This will be the basis of PAU's Constitution. Please read and post your comments. The following document was downloaded from the IAU Website.

IAU CONSTITUTION

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

RULE 1 Definitions
RULE 2 The International Asociation of Ultrarunners
RULE 3 Objects
RULE 4 Membership
RULE 5 Executive Council
RULE 6 Congress
RULE 7 Elections
RULE 8 Committees and Commissions
RULE 9 Arbitration
RULE 10 Languages
RULE 11 Suspensions
RULE 12 Changes to Constitution.


RULE 1 - DEFINITIONS

IAU
International Association of Ultrarunners

IAAF
International Association of Athletics Federations

IAU Member
An IAAF Member affiliated to the IAU
A National Utrarunning Association affiliated to the IAU that does not have the IAAF Member as the IAU Member

IAU Associate Member
A National Ultrarunning Association affiliated to the IAU that does have the IAAF Member as the IAU Member

IAU Individual Member
Individuals contributing to the aims of the IAU and accepted by the IAU as Individual Members

IAAF Member
Any National Governing Body affiliated to the IAAF

Ultradistance events
Road races, trail races or track running events either indoors or outdoors, beyond the distance of the Marathon; the standard distance recognised by the IAAF is the 100kms on road; the other standard distances and events recognised by IAU (on road and track) are 50kms, 6 hours, 100 miles, 24 hours, 48 hours, 6 days and 1000 miles, as well as the 100km on the track.

Absolute majority
An absolute majority is half the votes cast plus 1.

Special Majority
A two-thirds of the votes of those Members present voting at a Congress, such two-thirds to represent at least one half of the total voting power of all Members of the IAU

RULE 2- THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ULTRARUNNERS

2.1
The IAU works under the Patronage of the IAAF and is dedicated to developing ultradistance running internationally within IAAF Rules & Regulations

2.2
The IAU shall be a non-profit organisation.

2.3.
The IAU shall strive to ensure that no racial, religious, political or other kind of discrimination be allowed in Ultrarunning and take all practicable measures to stop such discrimination.

2.4
The IAU shall comprise:
a. as IAU Members, the IAAF members which apply to be IAU Members
b. as IAU Members, the National Ultrarunning Associations of IAAF Member countries that do not have the IAAF Member as the IAU Member.
Membership is obtained by application.
c. as IAU Associate Member, the National Ultrarunning Associations of IAAF Member countries that do have IAAF Members as the IAU Member and individual race organisations.
Membership is obtained by application
d. as IAU Individual Members, those individuals contributing to the aims of the IAU who apply for membership and who are accepted by the IAU as Individual Members

2.5
A Bureau shall be established at 17 Rue Princess Florestine, 9800,Monaco,to carry out the administration of the IAU in accordance with the decisions of Congress and Executive Council. The location may be changed by a specific decision of the Executive Council.


RULE 3- OBJECTS

The objects of the IAU shall be

3.1
To establish friendly and loyal co-operation between all Members, athletes, clubs and organisers for the benefit of ultradistance running throughout the world.

3.2
To compile rules, regulations and guidelines governing ultradistance international competitions

3.3
To approve the date, the venue and conditions for the annual 100km World Cup under the Patronage of the IAAF.

3.4
To decide the creation of other major IAU (MIAUC) competitions and approve their dates, venues and conditions.

3.5
To frame regulations for the establishment of World Best Performances and to ratify these performances

3.6
To promote and develop ultradistance running in each Continent by encouraging specific activities in each of the IAAF Continental Areas: Africa, Asia, Europe, North and Central America and Caribbean, Oceania and South America.

3.7
To assist with the international development of ultradistance running by providing technical advice, other information and assistance when requested

3.8
To produce such publications as the Ultra Marathon Race Handbook, Newsletter, International Fixture List and Championship Regulations

RULE 4 - MEMBERSHIP

4.1.
The IAAF Member in any country shall be eligible and take precedence for IAU Membership; OR
the National Ultrarunning Asociation recognised by the IAAF Member and authorised by the IAAF Member to be the IAU Member;

There can be only one IAU Member per country

4.2
Application for IAU Membership by an IAAF Member has to be renewed every 4 years and for voting purposes at least 120 days before an Ordinary Congress is scheduled.

4.3
Any abbreviation used for the names of IAAF Members must be in conformity with the IAAF abbreviations

4.4
National Ultrarunning Associations which have an IAAF Member as the IAU Member shall be eligible for IAU Associate Membership and Application has to be renewed every 4 years. They will not have a vote.

4.5
Individuals involved in the sport and contributing to the aims of the IAU shall be considered for IAU Individual Membership. They will not have a vote.

4.6
The IAU Bureau shall establish a list of members and an electoral list will also be prepared.

4.7
There shall be an annual fee for each Member affiliated to the IAU and this shall become due by the dateof the next MIAUC in that financial year. The amount to be decided by Council. For 2007 the fee will be 150 euro.


RULE 5- EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

5.1
The Executive Council is responsible for the administration of the IAU and carrying out decisions made by the Congress

5.2

The Executive Council shall consist of
(a) 7 members elected by Congress as follows

1. A President
2. A Vice President/Treasurer
3. A General Secretary
4 4 other members

At its first meeting of a new term of office, the Council shall nominate Council members ( but not any of the members 1-3) to the following positions:-

Director of Competition
Director of Organisation
Director of Development and Marketing
Director of Communication


(b) A maximum of six Area Group Representatives to be elected by Area Members (one from each of the Areas as defined by the IAAF, some of which can be combined) if the Area Group has four or more countries represented. .

(c) One IAAF representative, appointed by the IAAF.

5.3
The seven members of the Executive Council shall be elected for a period of four years and may stand for re-election after they confirmed themselves they would stand for re-election by writing to the IAU General Secretary at least 2 weeks prior to the Congress.

5.4
The Executive Council shall meet at least once a year. The President, or the Vice President in his absence, will preside at all meetings of the Executive Council.

5.5
The President and each other member of the Executive Council shall have a vote. The President, in the case of a tie in the voting, shall have a second or casting vote.

5.6
The Executive Council's duties and authorities shall include the following:
(a) to supervise all aspects of the preparation of the Ordinary Congresses
(b) to submit to each Congress a report, together with audited sheets for the preceding period, and a budget for the succeeding year
(c) to summon an extraordinary Congress to deal with any special case of great importance requiring an urgent decision
(d) to establish, approve, reject or amend regulations for World Best Performances and to maintain a register of such.
(e) to establish Commissions (e.g. Women, Veterans, Race Directors...) for each of which the Executive Council will define the duties, the period of their activities and their composition.
(f) to accept applications for membership subject to approval by the following Congress.

5.7
If during the first two years of the term of office, a vacancy arise in the Executive Council for an individual member, A substitute can be coopted by the Executive Office and the office confirmed at the next Congress for the residuary period.

5.8 Finance

(a) the Finances shall be conducted in a prudent manner which will assure the continuation of IAU activities and programmes.
(b) every four years the Executive Council will appoint the Vice President/ Treasurer as responsible for financial matters. The Treasurer will report every year to the Executive Council and once every four years to the Congress
(c) an annual budget (accompanied by a financial forecast for the four year cycle), shall be drawn up for approval by the Executive Council

RULE 6 - CONGRESS

6.1
The Congress of the IAU shall consist of the Executive Council Members, not more than three delegates from each IAU Member, or IAAF Member and the Chairpersons of the IAU Committees and Commissions..

6.2
An Ordinary Congress shall be convened every two years. The date and venues of this Congress shall be confirmed at the preceding meeting of the Congress, if known. One Congress taking place every four years will deal with Elections and the at each Congress constitutional amendments may be considered.

6.3
Invitations to attend the Congress will be sent to the Members 90 days before the date of the Congress by the IAU Bureau. The invitation will show a Preliminary Agenda which will be amended should members wish items to be added.

6.4
The final Agenda will be completed 30 days before the date of the Congress. It shall include at least the following items:

- Opening by the President
- Appointment of scrutineers
- Report by the Executive Council
- Financial report
- Proposals of the Members
- Proposals of the Executive Council

6.5
An Extraordinary Congress may be convened by the Executive Council and shall be so convened, if not less than half of the IAU members give notice in writing to the IAU Bureau stating that they desire such a meeting and the reasons therefore. The Executive Council shall summon an Extraordinary Congress to be held within three months from receipt of the aforementioned notice.

6.6
Only Members applying to join the IAU more than 120 days before the date of Congress may take part in any meeting of the Congress.

6.7
An IAU Member may have no more than three delegates present at the Congress, only one of whom may record votes. The IAU Members must certify the names of the delegate (s) to the IAU Bureau representative prior to the commencement of the Congress meeting.

6.8
A delegate may only represent one member

6.9
Immediately after the number of Members present has been confirmed, the first voting strength shall be announced, and the appointment of scrutineers nominated by the Executive Council from the delegates at the Congress shall be approved.

6.10
On the recommendations of the Executive Council and in recognition of valued services given to the IAU, Congress shall be entitled to elect Honorary Life Presidents, Honorary Life Vice Presidents and Honorary Life Personal Members , without voting powers.

In addition, the Congress on the recommendation of the Executive Council may grant the following awards:
a. IAU Veteran Diploma for long and meritous service to the cause of International ultradistance running within IAU activities
b. IAU Diploma of Merit for meritous service in the cause of ultradistance running within IAAF Area Groups to be proposed by Area Groups
c. Admittance to the IAU Hall of Fame for exceptional, meritous performances of outstanding athletes and other persons within the IAU activities.

6.11
Only Congress may decide upon the dissolving of the IAU, if the item has been placed on the agenda in due time. If IAU is dissolved, the Congress will decide on the allocation of it's financial means -for example, for the promotion of ultrarunning world-wide.

RULE 7 ELECTIONS

7.1
All nominations for any Executive Council Committee and Commission positions shall have been submitted to the IAU General Secretary at least 60 days prior to the date of the Congress

7.2
Nominations for any Executive Council ,Committee and Commission positions must be made by the candidate's IAU Member respecting the prescriptions of the Rule 6.6
Nominations for Committee and Commission positions can also made by any Member of the IAU Executive Council.

7.3
A candidate can be nominated for several positions but elected to only one.

7.4
No election shall take effect until the conclusion of the Congress Congress or the end of the IAU 100km World Cup.

7.5
The elections shall be held in the following order:
(a) Executive Council
- President
- Vice President
- General Secretary
- 4 other members
- Area Group Representatives

(b) IAU Committees
- Technical Committee max 12 members
- Records Committee max 12 members

(c) Commissions
- Track Commission max 12 members
- Trail Commission max 12 members

(d) IAU Arbitration Panel: one Chairman and 4 members

7.6
For all elections a simple majority is required

7.7
In the case of a tie, a second ballot , involving the two or more persons concerned will take place. If there is a further tie the IAU Executive Council will decide.

RULE 8 – COMMITTEES and COMMISSIONS

8.1
All Committees shall be elected for a period of four years and may stand for re-election after they confirmed themselves they would stand for re-election by writing to the IAU General Secretary at least 2 weeks prior to the Congress.

8.2
The IAU President shall be an ex-officio member of all Committees and Commissions.

8.3
The Technical Committee will be chaired by the IAU Director of Competitions

8.4
The Records Committee will be chaired by the IAU Vice President

Rule 9 - ARBITRATION

9.1
In the event of a dispute arising between Members, or between a Member and the IAU (Executive Council or Congress) and such dispute not being resolved to the satisfaction of both parties, then the matter may be referred to the Arbitration Panel by the Executive Council. The Executive Council must certify that special circumstances exist in justifying an arbitration.

9.2
Any decision made by the Arbitration Panel shall be considered final by all parties.

9.3
The IAU Arbitration procedure will follow the IAU Arbitration Guidelines (see Annex ).

9.4
The members of the Arbitration Panel cannot be Executive Council Members or Members of any IAU Committee or Commission.

9.5
The Chairman shall be suitably qualified for the position

RULE 10- LANGUAGES

10.1
At all Congress Meetings each member may speak in his or her own language but has to arrange for the translation of the address into English.

10.2
The rules, minutes and other communications will be expressed in English only.

10.3
Unless otherwise provided for, all legal matters with third parties shall be negotiated in English.

RULE 11 - SUSPENSIONS

11.1
The Executive Council shall have the power to suspend a Member or an Affiliated Association until the next meeting of Congress or for any shorter period if, in the opinion of the Executive Council, the IAU is better able to achieve any of it's objects by the suspension of this member

11.2
A member has the right of appeal against Suspension as defined under 9.1 and this must be lodged with the IAU Bureau within one month following receipt of the notice of suspension.

RULE 12- CHANGES TO CONSTITUTION.

12.1
A proposal to amend the Constitution, unless this is proposed by Executive Council, must be submitted to the IAU Bureau by a Member at least 60 days prior to the Congress at which it is to be considered.

12.2
All proposals, including those proposed by Council, shall be sent by the IAU Bureau to members at least 30 days before the Congress.

12.3
To be accepted any such proposals must obtain two-thirds of the votes cast.

Role of PAU In Sports Development & Excellence

Just like in other National Sports Federations in the country, the following are the aims and role of the Philippine Association of Ultrarunners (PAU) as the National Sports Federation for Ultrarunning Events in the Country covering Running Events More Than the Marathon Distance, Ultra-Mountain Trail Runs; Multi-Day Stage Events, and Endurance Running Events (6-12-24-48-Hour Events):

1) To recruit athletes and to organize group of teams or clubs or other sports organizations which are capable of providing training and regular sports activities in ultrarunning.

2) To maintain a list of ultrarunners and their respective performance in every ultrarunning event.

3) To organize and promote local, regional, national, and international competition events on ultrarunning.

4) To take charge of the preparation, selection, and entry of athletes for international competitions that are held under the authority of the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU).

5) To propose to PATAFA and the POC, athletes that it consider prepared and eligible to represent the country in regional, continental, and Olympic multi-sports competitions recognized by the International Olympic Committee.

6) To provide technical assistance for the the implementation of organizational programs to develop grassroots, educational, or fun sports in ultrarunning.

7) To facilitate the formation of leagues or events circuits that are run by affiliated organizations in ultrarunning events.

8) To act as the overall supervisor in the conduct of ultrarunning events in the country. It will control the schedules of ultrarunning events.

9) To approve the accreditation of race organizers and sponsors of ultrarunning events in the country.

10) To maintain a membership system among the ultrarunners and ultrarunning clubs/groups/associations.

"If You Can't Change The System, Create One"

The Birth of the Philippine Association of Ultrarunners (PAU); Our National Sports Federation On Ultrarunning

Since I started this blogsite two years ago, I was wondering what PATAFA had been doing about the sports on running, most especially on road racing. It took me some time to observe and ask people who are connected with our Athletics Sports Federation on what could PATAFA do in order to have a “control and supervision” on the conduct of road races in the country. It was during the past two years that there were so many complaints from the runners about how road races were being conducted month after month with the same complaints.

Last year, I had the opportunity to pay a courtesy call to the President of PATAFA, Mr Go Teng Kok, who had been in this position for the past 18 years. I briefed him on my observations on the conduct of road races in the country and told him that PATAFA should come into the picture as Road Racing is one of the principal components of the Athletics Sports Federation. He did not forget our conversation.

On January of this year, Mr Go Teng Kok invited me to attend the Elections of Officers of the PATAFA. I was an observer of that elections but I was frustrated on how the process of elections was done. It was not an election but it was a simple designation of officers. Mr Go Teng Kok easily got the President’s position and he will be in that position up to the end of 2012. However, it was on that “designation” day that I was designated as the Director For Road Races which, in addition to my duties, has now the power to vote for the next group of officers for PATAFA after the 2012 London Olympics. Will it take me to wait this long to become the President of PATAFA?

I am not proud of being designated as the PATAFA’s Director For Road Races because I don’t have any powers to command & decide as I could only recommend to the President of the things that I would observe in the conduct of the road races. And my duty ends there! Through this blog I was able to observe and took note of the good and bad points of the different road races in Metro Manila. However, there should be stricter measures to follow so that PATAFA’s influence be felt in road races.

In the course of preparing for the conduct of the 1st Bataan Death March 102K Ultramarathon Race (BDM 102), I discovered that there is such an international sports federation on ultrarunning called the “International Association of Ultrarunners” (IAU) which is under the IAAF and I conceived a plan and course of action to undertake to come up with a National Sports Federation for the country in the Sports of Ultrarunning or Ultramarathon. This plan was laid and put to action after the conduct of the 1st BDM 102 last April of this year.

I created the Philippine Association of Ultrarunners, Inc (PAU) with some of the Finishers of the 1st BDM 102 and have this registered at the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) and it was approved on May 18 of this year. Immediately, I sent a letter of application for membership to the IAU through the Asian Representative of the IAU’s Executive Council in the person of Mr Lee Yongsik of South Korea and he provided me with the procedure to follow and requirements to produce in order that the bid for membership of PAU will be elevated to the Executive Council of the IAU for Approval. Mr Lee gave me a positive note and encouragement that the Philippines will be the 6th country in ASIA to be a member federation in the IAU.

I have to get an endorsement and accreditation from PATAFA and fill-up some forms from the Executive Council of the IAU and they were sent to the IAU immediately. No less than the President of the IAU who was sending me things that need to be submitted for the country to be represented to the international body. PATAFA and I even wrote some letters to the Executive Director of IAAF, Mr Peter Weize to show that PAU is an accredited organization under the PATAFA.

After deliberations, I finally received a letter from the Executive Director of IAU, Hilary Walker, that the Philippines through the Philippine Association of Ultrarunners (PAU) is now a voting member for the election of the incoming Asian Representative for the Executive Council of IAU and my vote should reach their Headquarters not later than November 22! In the said letter, I was informed that I should check on the latest E-publications of the IAU on its website on the announcement that the Philippines bid for membership to the IAU was accepted and approved. It showed that our membership to the IAU was approved last July this year and published in their October’s E-Publications (Welcome Members), the Philippines/PAU is the 47th member-federation/nation of the IAU and the 6th Asian member! As of the present, there are only 48 member-federations/nations of the IAU.

Ms Walker’s letter also gave me an advance information that the IAU will be sending a formal invitation for the Philippines/PAU to send our best ultrarunners to the 1st IAU Asian 100K Championship which will be held on March 2010. The place of competition might be in Japan or South Korea.

Since I created the Philippine Association of Ultrarunners (PAU), I am automatically designating myself as the President of this Sports Federation for Ultrarunning for the country. Are there any objections? I hope the sports of ultrarunning/ultramarathon will be developed and enhanced among the members of the running community through this Federation with the end-view of sending our best ultrarunners to international competitions sponsored and sanctioned by the International Association of Ultrarunners. With the plan to introduce the 50K or 100K Ultramarathon Race as “demonstration sports” in the 2012 London Olympic Games, I can positively say that the Philippines would be able to produce its Olympic Athletes to compete in this event in the next Olympic Games and later to the 2016 Rio De Janeiro’s Olympic Games.

There is no need to become the President of PATAFA afterall!!! However, in the end, I still need the support and unity of the runners for us to give pride to our country to be among the world’s best in ultrarunning/ultramarathon, if not, the best!

Now, for starters, I need somebody to design the Official Logo of the PAU. Whoever will submit the selected one, he/she will be awarded a 5-Year Free Membership to PAU. (Note: Please send your entries at my e-mail address at jovie75@hotmail.com)

PAU’s blogsite is at www.philippineassociationofultrarunners.blogspot.com

Everything Starts With An "Idea"

Through the Internet, I was able to discover that there is such thing as an International Sports Federation called, the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU). And after browsing on the different links and pages, I was able to find out that this is a governing body of all ultramarathon events, endurance running events, and multi-day stage running event for the whole world.

I found later that the Philippines is not represented in this international governing body for ultrarunners and I started to make a research on the possibility of coming up with a national association for ultrarunners in the country. I found out that our neigboring countries like, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Nepal, Japan, and South Korea had been an active member of this international sports body.

After successfully promoting and conducting the first Bataan Death March 102K Ultramarathon Race last April 5, 2009 with eight (8) foreigners and a total of 82 participants which resulted in the finish of sixty-three (63) runners, I deemed it proper to officially organize and lay the foundation of the Philippine Association of Ultrarunners (PAU). The finishers of this ultramarathon event in the Philippines were invited to be the initial members of this Association.

With such an "idea" to give promotion, development and direction to our ultrarunners, this Association will greatly enhance the awareness of such sports discipline to everybody.