Adelaide Zebra Finch Society Incorporated
(Incorporated 1989)
CONSTITUTION
OBJECTS
1. To promote, encourage and stimulate interest in the Zebra Finch.
2. The arranging of exhibitions, lectures and discussion on the best means to
achieve object 1.
3. The promotion of hygienic keeping, scientific feeding and breeding of the
Zebra Finch in the best and most natural conditions possible.
4. The cultivation of affiliations and friendly relations with societies and
clubs having similar objects in any part of the world.
RULES
1. The name of the incorporated society shall be the ADELAIDE ZEBRA FINCH
SOCIETY INCORPORATED (Incorporated 1989), referred to herein as “The Society”.
2. In these rules, unless the contrary intention appears:-
“Committee” means the Committee of management of the Society.
“Meeting” means a general meeting of Members of the Society convened in
accordance with these rules.
“Member” means a Member of the Society.
“The Act” means the Association’s Incorporation Act (AIA) 1985, or any other
relevant Act, and any amendments thereto.
3. Only the Zebra Finch shall come within the scope of the Society’s activities.
4. To accept donations and grants for the purpose of the Society in connection
with the activities of the Society.
5. To solicit donations, gifts and bequests to the Society from Members of the
public for the promotion of the objects of the Society.
6. The income and the property of the Society, from whatever source derived,
shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objects of the Society as
set forth in these rules and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred
directly or indirectly by way of dividend, bonus, profit or otherwise, to any
person who at any time is or has been, a Member of the Society, or to any person
claiming through any Member, provided that nothing herein contained shall
prevent the payment in good faith of remuneration to any officers or servants of
the Society or to any Member of the Society or other person, in return for any
services rendered to the Society or shall prevent the payment of money lawfully
due to any Member of the Society.
7. The Society shall consist of a Patron(s), Life, Ordinary and Honorary
Members.
8. A Patron(s) shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting. The Patron(s)
term of office shall commence from the Annual General Meeting.
9. Every application for membership shall be in writing and submitted with the
appropriate fees. Such application shall come before the next Committee meeting
and the applicant shall be awarded membership only on a resolution of that
meeting. In the event of an application being rejected, all fees shall be
refunded in full.
10. There are several categories of membership of the Society. The categories
are as follows:-
(a) Single membership.
(b) Family membership – where members of the family live at the same address.
(c) Junior membership – any person up to the age of sixteen (16) at the
beginning of the Society’s financial year who is not covered by any of the
foregoing.
(d) Life membership – may be granted by resolution of a General Meeting in
recognition of services to the Society. A nomination for life membership shall
be submitted in writing to the Committee, who may recommend that the nomination
be submitted to the next General Meeting of the Society. Life Members shall be
exempt from payment of annual subscriptions, but shall be entitled to all rights
and privileges of an ordinary Member. Life Members shall not be entitled to
attend Committee Meetings unless an Office-bearer of the Society, except at the
joint invitation of the President, Secretary and Treasurer.
(e) The Committee shall have the power to grant honorary membership to any
person or persons as they shall deem fit.
11. Any applicant for membership who has been convicted in a court of law on any
charge laid under the National Parks and Wildlife Act, or any other relevant
Act, or amendments thereto, may not be accepted for membership. Such applicant
shall have the right of appeal, but the decision of the Committee shall be
final.
12. Cancellation of membership shall be considered if a Member is convicted in a
court of law of any charge laid under the provisions of the National Parks and
Wildlife Act, or any other relevant Act, or any amendments thereto. In each
instance, a decision in regard to cancellation of membership shall be made in
accordance with the nature of the offence. Such Member shall have the right of
appeal, but the decision of the Committee shall be final.
13. Any Member who acts in a disorderly manner, or who by their actions acts in
a manner detrimental to the interests of the Society or Members of the Society,
may be reprimanded, suspended or expelled from the Society. However, no such
action shall be taken without such Member being given the opportunity to appear
before a General Meeting of the Society to explain their conduct; and then only
by resolution of Members carried by two-thirds majority of financial Members
exercising the right to vote.
14. Any Member whose subscription is three (3) months in arrears shall
automatically cease to be a Member of the Society, but may be re-instated on
application to the committee after payment of arrears. Un-financial Members
shall not be eligible to vote on matters requiring resolution by Members, and
shall not receive the Society’s newsletter.
15. Any Member resigning from the Society or ceasing to be a Member thereof,
from any cause whatsoever, shall not be entitled to, nor have any claim upon the
property of the Society or any part thereof.
16. Subscriptions shall become due and payable on January 1st of each year.
Members joining before the October General Meeting shall pay the full year’s
subscription. Members joining at, or after the October General Meeting shall pay
the full year’s subscription, but will however remain current for twelve (12)
months from the following January 1st.
17. The subscription fees for each category of membership, shall be set by the
Members at the Annual General Meeting. Notification of these fees shall be
published in the Society’s next newsletter.
18. The affairs of the Society shall be managed and controlled by a Committee
which in addition to any powers conferred by these rules, may exercise all such
powers and do all such things as are within the objects of the Society, and are
not by these rules required to be done by the Society in the general Meeting.
Matters requiring immediate attention may be dealt with by the President,
Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and one (1) Committee Member.
19. The Committee shall be comprised of a President, one (1) Vice-President,
Secretary and Treasurer and three (3) or more Committee Members, all of whom
shall be financial Members of the Society.
20. The Committee shall be elected by ballot, to be taken at the Annual General
Meeting, which shall be held in February of each year. For the purpose of
commencement of this system in the first year, the following committee positions
will fall vacant after one (1) year:-
President, Treasurer and half (˝) the Committee Members.
The Committee shall hold office, subject to these rules, until the election of
the Committee of retiring Members at the next Annual General Meeting.
21. Nominations for office-bearers shall be submitted in writing, signed by the
nominator and endorsed by the nominee, and lodged with the Secretary by the 31st
day of January. Retiring Committee Members can stand for re-election.
22. The Committee shall appoint an Auditor(s) and such other officers as may be
required.
23. The Auditor(s) shall hold office subject to these rules, until the next
Annual General Meeting.
24. The Auditor(s) shall have the power at any time, to examine the minute
books, bank passbooks, records of investments, account books, accounts, vouchers
or goods held by the Society and report thereon to the committee. The Auditor(s)
shall audit the annual financial statements and certify them to be correct or
otherwise prior to presentation to an Annual General Meeting.
25. The Auditor(s) shall not hold any other office.
26. In the case of an insufficiency of nominees for election at the Annual
General Meeting, or in the case of a vacancy occurring in any office, the
Committee shall have the power to fill such vacancy/vacancies for the remainder
of the Society’s year.
27. In the event of any office-bearer or Committee Member being absent from
three (3) consecutive meetings of the Committee, without leave of absence being
applied for and granted by the Committee, they shall automatically cease to be a
Member of the Committee.
28. Any office-bearer or Committee Member, who acts in a disorderly manner or in
any manner detrimental to the interest of the Members of the Society, may be
suspended from the Committee by a two-thirds majority vote of the Committee.
However, no such action shall be taken without such office-bearer or Committee
Member being given the opportunity to explain their conduct.
29. The Committee shall meet as often as they deem it expedient, at such time
and place as may be arranged by the Committee.
30. A special Meeting of the Committee may be summoned at any time by the
Secretary, or on the request of the President, a Vice-President, Treasurer or
any two Members of the Committee.
31. A Quorum for any Meeting of the Committee shall be five (5).
32. The President shall be Chairperson, or in the absence of the President, the
Committee shall appoint a Chairperson from amongst their number. The Chairperson
shall have a casting vote as well as a deliberate vote.
33. The Secretary shall be the Society’s official Public Officer, and as such,
shall hold the Society’s Common Seal. He/she shall summon all Meetings as
provided for in the rules, keep a record of proceedings of the Society and be
responsible for all papers and correspondence except those relating to finance
and membership records.
34. The Treasurer shall collect and give receipts for all funds, and shall bank
or invest – as directed by the Society – all such funds not immediately
required, to the credit of the Society. The Treasurer shall keep a record of all
receipts and disbursements made on behalf of the Society and shall submit a
financial report for consideration at each normal Committee Meeting. The
Treasurer shall maintain or cause to be maintained, a roll of Members and report
to the Committee any Member in arrear of payment of subscription.
35. The Secretary shall submit his/her Annual Report, covering the Society’s
activities during the previous year; the Treasurer shall present the financial
report and audited financial statements for the year ended the previous January
31st at the Annual General Meeting.
36. A General Meeting of the Society shall be held at such time and place as may
be arranged by the Committee.
37. Ten (10) Members shall form a quorum at any General Meeting. If within
thirty (30) minutes of the time appointed for such meeting a quorum is not
available, the Meeting shall stand adjourned to a time and place appointed by
the Committee.
38. Legal ownership of the property of the Society shall be vested in the
President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer in trust, but the Committee
shall have full control over the property of the Society.
39. If on dissolution of the Society there remain after the satisfaction of all
debts and liabilities, any assets whatsoever, the same shall be paid and
distributed amongst Clubs with similar objects.
40. All successful applicants for membership shall receive a copy of these
Objects and Rules.
41. Notice in writing shall be given to the Secretary of any proposed amendment,
repeal or addition to these Objects and Rules. Members shall be notified of the
convening of any Meeting at which a resolution to alter these Objects and Rules
shall be put, by one (1) month’s notice in writing.
42. These Objects and Rules shall only be added to, altered or rescinded by
resolution of Members passed at an Annual General Meeting carried by a
two-thirds majority of financial Members exercising the right to vote.
