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P. 26
NEWS ACTIVE RETIREMENT IRELAND
STRUCTURE OF THE ORGANISATION activities that older people can engage in within the
Active Retirement Network Ireland is a limited compa- local ARA and how important healthy active ageing is.
ny. Its membership comprises one nominated delegate Regional AGMs are held once a year - either February or
from each of the over 550 Active Retirement Associa- March. Regional committees are elected each year by
tions in Active Retirement Ireland. This structure means the delegates present. Development Officers and their
that the organisation is controlled by the membership, outreach teams support both both regional and local.
rather than by a head office that makes decisions on Active Retirement Ireland is a voluntary organisation.
behalf of the 24,500 members. There are some paid staff members in the Central
Each local ARA has a Chair, a Treasurer, and a Secretary. Support Office in Dublin who support the membership
Most also have a Public Relations Officer on their and advocate on their behalf, but the ethos of “older
committee, and they can appoint any number of people doing things for themselves, by themselves” is what
subcommittees, depending on the size of the ARA and drives the organisation. Without volunteers putting
the interests of the members. For example, a lot of clubs themselves forward at local, regional or national level,
play bowls and many of these appoint a we wouldn’t have the Active Retirement Ireland we
subcommittee to manage all of the bowls-related know and love.
activities. Other groups have a subcommittee in charge Every year we also look forward to the annual Trade and
of outings and holidays. Tourism Show and our Bowls Competition. Marigold
These roles are voluntary and are voted in every year at Health and Wellness Days are also organised in each
the local AGM. Active Retirement Ireland recommends region and held once a year. Such events are also a great
that members only hold an office for a maximum of opportunity to showcase the work of your local ARA as
three years, and that they only sit on a committee for older people have an opportunity to find out what is
six consecutive years. This helps keep newer members going on in their region.
interested in the running of the Active Retirement Like all the Development Officers, we are available and
Association. people can phone or email us. We’ll visit an ARA
Each ARA chooses 2 delegates to represent them at anywhere in our regions. Our role is to take on things
regional level and one voting delegate to attend the that need doing rather than let people worry about it.
National AGM in April of every year. The delegates elect
the National President and the officers and members Get involved, make a suggestion!
of the board of Active Retirement Ireland. Each officer
and member of the board has to resign every year and
may stand for re-election, subject to a maximum of six
consecutive years on the board.
ARI has divided the country into 9 regions. Each region
has a Volunteer Committee who organise regional
events which support the networking of ARAs . These
events also create a space to highlight the range of
26 Active Retirement Ireland www.activeirl.ie
STRUCTURE OF THE ORGANISATION activities that older people can engage in within the
Active Retirement Network Ireland is a limited compa- local ARA and how important healthy active ageing is.
ny. Its membership comprises one nominated delegate Regional AGMs are held once a year - either February or
from each of the over 550 Active Retirement Associa- March. Regional committees are elected each year by
tions in Active Retirement Ireland. This structure means the delegates present. Development Officers and their
that the organisation is controlled by the membership, outreach teams support both both regional and local.
rather than by a head office that makes decisions on Active Retirement Ireland is a voluntary organisation.
behalf of the 24,500 members. There are some paid staff members in the Central
Each local ARA has a Chair, a Treasurer, and a Secretary. Support Office in Dublin who support the membership
Most also have a Public Relations Officer on their and advocate on their behalf, but the ethos of “older
committee, and they can appoint any number of people doing things for themselves, by themselves” is what
subcommittees, depending on the size of the ARA and drives the organisation. Without volunteers putting
the interests of the members. For example, a lot of clubs themselves forward at local, regional or national level,
play bowls and many of these appoint a we wouldn’t have the Active Retirement Ireland we
subcommittee to manage all of the bowls-related know and love.
activities. Other groups have a subcommittee in charge Every year we also look forward to the annual Trade and
of outings and holidays. Tourism Show and our Bowls Competition. Marigold
These roles are voluntary and are voted in every year at Health and Wellness Days are also organised in each
the local AGM. Active Retirement Ireland recommends region and held once a year. Such events are also a great
that members only hold an office for a maximum of opportunity to showcase the work of your local ARA as
three years, and that they only sit on a committee for older people have an opportunity to find out what is
six consecutive years. This helps keep newer members going on in their region.
interested in the running of the Active Retirement Like all the Development Officers, we are available and
Association. people can phone or email us. We’ll visit an ARA
Each ARA chooses 2 delegates to represent them at anywhere in our regions. Our role is to take on things
regional level and one voting delegate to attend the that need doing rather than let people worry about it.
National AGM in April of every year. The delegates elect
the National President and the officers and members Get involved, make a suggestion!
of the board of Active Retirement Ireland. Each officer
and member of the board has to resign every year and
may stand for re-election, subject to a maximum of six
consecutive years on the board.
ARI has divided the country into 9 regions. Each region
has a Volunteer Committee who organise regional
events which support the networking of ARAs . These
events also create a space to highlight the range of
26 Active Retirement Ireland www.activeirl.ie
