THE BREVET CLUB (CANTERBURY) INCORPORATED

24 June 2025
CLUB CONSTITUTION AND RULES

Constitution – The Brevet Club (Canterbury) Incorporated (219631)

OPERATIVE PROVISIONS

1.           Creation of the Society and adoption of this constitution                                                

              The Society was incorporated at Christchurch on 21st October 1952.

1.1       This constitution was adopted by way of amendment on 24th June 2025, to replace the                Society’s previous constitution.

2.           Definitions                                                                                                                                       

2.1        In this constitution:
              (a)     Act means the Incorporated Societies Act 2022 from the date of its                                                   commencement but pending that date means the Incorporated Societies Act 1908                         and any regulations made under those statutes.
              (b)     Annual general meeting has the meaning given in cl 25.
              (c)      Arm’s-length terms means terms between the club and an officer or a member                            in relation to a transaction that:
                        (i)     would be reasonable in the circumstances if the parties were connected or                                      related only by the transaction in question, each acting independently, and                                      each acting in its own best interests; or
                        (ii)    are less favourable to the officer or member than the terms referred to in 
                                cl 2.1(c) (i); and
                        (iii)   do not include any share of a gain, profit, or surplus, percentage of revenue,                                  or other reward in connection with any gain, profit, surplus, or revenue of                                        the Club.
               (d)     Club means the incorporated club with the name specified in cl 3.1 and                                           governed by this constitution;
               (e)     Committee means the officers of the Club acting as a board in accordance with                             this constitution.
               (f)      General meeting means either an annual general meeting or a special general                               meeting, as the case may be.
               (g)      Interests Register means the register of officer interests maintained by the                                   Committee pursuant to cl 16.1 of this constitution.
               (h)     Member means an individual or entity that has become a member of the Club,                               paid any subscriptions due and whose membership has not been terminated, in                           accordance with this constitution.
               (i)       Notice means any notice sent by post, courier or email to the most recent                                       physical, postal or email address of the intended recipient that is known to the                               sender of the notice or, in the case of notices to the Club, to the Club’s registered                           office.
               (j)      Objectives means the objectives of the Club provided for in cl 4 of this                                            constitution.
               (k)     Officer means an officer of the Club appointed pursuant to cl 11 of this                                            constitution.
               (l)      President means the individual appointed as the Club’s President pursuant to 
                        cl 11.1 whose duties include those provided for in cl 12.
              (m)    Secretary means the individual appointed as the Club’s Secretary pursuant to cl                            11.1 whose duties include those provided for in cl 13.
               (n)     Special general meeting has the meaning given in cl 24.2.
               (o)     Treasurer means the individual appointed as the Club’s Treasurer pursuant to 
                         cl 11.1 whose duties include those provided for in cl 14.
               (p)     Vice-President means the individual appointed as the Club’s Vice-President                                    pursuant to cl 11.1 whose duties include those provided for in cl 12.

3.           Name                                                                                                                                                 

3.1       The name of the Society is The Brevet Club (Canterbury) Incorporated. (“the Club”)

4.           Objects                                                                                                                                             

4.1        Subject to cl 4.2, the objects of the Club are:
               (a)     To promote and maintain fellowship and esprit de corps among persons who are                           or who have been qualified to wear a brevet in the service of their country.
               (b)     To keep all such persons in touch with one another and with matters of                                            aeronautical interest including financial encouragement to young persons in                                  furtherance of their aeronautical ambitions.
               (c)      Maintain clubrooms for the use of members of the Club and to arrange regular                              functions of a social nature.
               (d)      To affiliate at the discretion of the Club in general meeting with any other Brevet                            Club, or with any other Club(s) which under another name have similar                                            objectives and policy, where it is considered in the best interest of all concerned                            to affiliate.
               (e)      To invest surplus Club funds in authorised accounts as the Executive Committee                            may decide.
               (f)        To do any such things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the                                  above objects.

4.2        Notwithstanding cl 4.1:
               (a)      the Objects cannot include furthering or attaining any objects outside New                                     Zealand; and
              (b)       no member of the Club may derive any personal pecuniary gain from                                               membership of the Club.

5.           Powers                                                                                                                                              

5.1        Except as restricted by this constitution, the Club has full capacity, rights, powers and                   privileges to carry on or undertake any activity, do any act, or enter any transaction                       required to further or promote the Objects including, without limitation, to:
               (a)     make regulations or bylaws to advance the attainment of any of the Objects;
               (b)     do any act or thing incidental or conductive to the attainment of the Objects;
               (c)      use such of its funds to pay the costs and expenses of furthering or carrying out                             the Objects;
               (d)     employ one or more individuals on such terms approved by the Committee                                     (subject to cl 5.4);
               (e)      purchase, lease, hire or otherwise acquire, exchange and sell, lease or otherwise                           dispose of property, rights or privileges; and
               (f)       invest in any investment in which a trustee might invest (subject to Trusts Act                                 2019 s 30).

5.2        Notwithstanding cl 5.1, the Club cannot borrow or raise money (or provide any                               security to borrow or raise money) unless the incurring of the debt is approved by an                   ordinary resolution at a general meeting.

5.3        Regardless of any other provision in this constitution, the Club must not do anything:
               (a)     other than to further the Objects; or
               (b)     for the personal or individual financial gain of any member (except as provided                               for in cl 5.4).

5.4        The Club may provide financial benefits to a member or officer, or any associated                         person but only on arm’s length terms and any payments made in respect of such                         transactions must be limited to:
               (a)     a fair and reasonable reward for services performed;
               (b)     reimbursement of expenses properly incurred;
               (c)     usual professional, business or trade charges; and/or
               (d)     interest at no more than current commercial rates.

6.            Membership                                                                                                                                   

6.1         The classes of membership and the method by which members are admitted to                             different classes of membership are:
               (a)     Individual member: An Individual Member is an individual admitted to                                           membership under clause 7 and who has not ceased to be a Member under any                           other clause.
               (b)     Life member: A Life Member is a person honoured for meritorious services to                               the Club after recommendation by the Committee. A Member may be elected as                           a Life Member at any General Meeting of the Club and thereafter shall be                                         entitled to all the privileges of membership without paying the Subscription. A                               register of such Life Members shall be kept by the secretary. 
               (c)      Honorary member: An Honorary Member is a person whom the Committee                                  shall elect by virtue of their rank, status or outstanding contribution to the                                      objectives of the Club. They may not vote, do not have speaking rights, may not                              hold office and do not qualify for the benefits of the Brevet Club. They are                                        entitled to attend all of the Club functions and activities. They are not charged a                            membership fee and no subsidy is paid to the Brevet Club. Membership of this                              class is to be reviewed bi-annually by the committee. 
                (d)      Members of an existing class of membership which predates the Constitution                                 will, subject to cl 6.1 (c) above, and at the discretion of the Committee, continue                             to hold that class of membership.
 
6.2          Every member must advise the Secretary of any change of the member’s contact                           details.

6.3          The Secretary must keep a register of members recording:
               (a)     the name of each member; 
               (b)     the last known contact details of each member; 
               (c)     the date on which each person became a member; and
               (d)     all other information prescribed by the Act (if any).

6.4         The Secretary must update its register of members as soon as practicable after                               becoming aware of changes to the information recorded on the register.

6.5         All members (including members of the Committee) must promote the interests and                     the objects of the Society and must do nothing to bring the Society into disrepute.

6.6         Copies of this constitution must be provided to any member on request

7.           Admission of members                                                                                                                

7.1         Membership of the Club shall be restricted to those persons who are qualified to wear                 a brevet in any of the Forces of the British Commonwealth of Nations, persons of                           countries allied thereto at the close of the 1939 –1945 World War.

7.2          Applicants for membership shall produce evidence of their service or authority to                         wear a brevet.

7.3          Applicants for membership as Individual Members must complete any application                         form provided by the Committee and supply such information as may be required by                   the Committee.

7.4          Membership application forms must provide a mechanism for the applicant for                             membership to confirm their consent to become a member of the Club, which may                       include:
               (a)     a requirement for the applicant to sign the application form; or
               (b)     a requirement for the applicant to confirm by electronic means their consent to                             become a member of the Club. 

7.5          Membership applications must be approved by the Committee who may interview an                   applicant Individual Member.

7.6          The Committee has discretion whether or not to admit a membership applicant to                        membership and must advise the applicant of its decision within a reasonable time of                  the application being provided to the Secretary. 

8.            Subscriptions and levies                                                                                                             

8.1          The annual subscription payable for membership for the following financial year must                  be set by resolution at each annual general meeting.

8.2          If no resolution changing subscription amounts is passed at an annual general                               meeting, the subscription amounts in place at the commencement of that annual                         general meeting will continue to apply.

8.3         A Joining Fee may be charged in addition to the annual subscription in the year that a                   member first joins the Club. The amount of any such Joining Fee shall be as                                     recommended from time-to-time by the Committee for approval.

8.4         The Committee may by resolution impose a levy or levies on members in different                         classes of membership in any financial year up to a maximum totalling 50 per cent of                   the annual subscription for that year for each class of member.

8.5         No Club member reaching the age of 90 years by 31 March of the current calendar                         year shall be required to pay an annual subscription to retain membership of the Club.

8.6          The Club Committee shall have the authority to reduce or waive a member’s                                   subscription at their discretion.

8.7         Any member failing to pay the annual subscription (or any instalment acceptable to                       the Committee) or any levy within one calendar month of the due date will have their                   membership suspended and (without being released from the obligation of payment)                   will have no membership rights and will not be entitled to participate in any Club                           activity until all the arrears are paid. If such arrears are not paid within six months of                     the date the subscription or levy became due or such later date as the Committee may                 determine, the member’s membership will end and the member must cease to hold                     themself out as a member of the Society, and must return to the Club all material                         produced by the Club (including any membership certificate, handbooks and manuals)                 requested by the Committee.

9.           Cessation of membership                                                                                                           

9.1         Any Member may resign from that Member’s class of membership by notice to the                        Secretary and the following terms will then apply:
               (a)     the resignation will take effect from the date of the resignation notice;
               (b)     the Member resigning remains liable to pay all subscriptions, levies and any                                    other fees to the end of that financial year; 
               (c)     the resigning Member must cease to hold themself out as a member of the Club                            from the date of resignation.
 
9.2         The Committee may give a Member notice suspending or terminating that member’s                     membership if that Member:
               (a)     is deemed by the Committee to have willfully infringed any of the terms of the                                constitution of the Club, or for any act of misconduct in or outside the Club,                                    which is liable to, or in the opinion of the Committee, or does in fact, bring the                                Club or its Members into disrepute; or
               (b)     is convicted of a category 2, 3 or 4 offence under the Criminal Procedure Act                                  2011 or an offence for which a convicted person may be imprisoned.

9.3          Any Member who is to be suspended or expelled must be notified in writing at their                      last known email address of the allegations against them and the date the Committee                  intends to consider the same at least fourteen (14) days before such date.

9.4          Such Member, together with their legal adviser or support person, shall be entitled to                    be present and be heard and to answer any allegations and to put forward any                              answer and/or defence or explanation either orally or in writing at such time before                      the Committee gives a decision.

9.5          When a Member’s membership is terminated under cl 9.2:
               (a)     the termination will take effect from the date specified in the termination notice                            including the Committee’s reasons for its decision;
               (b)     the Member remains liable to pay all subscriptions, levies and any other fees to                             the end of that financial year; and
               (c)      the Member must cease to hold themself out as a Member of the Club and must                           return to the Club all material as requested by the Committee from the date of                               the termination notice.

10.         Re-admission of former members                                                                                            

10.1       Any former member may apply for re-admission in the manner prescribed for new                       applicants and may be re-admitted by decision of the Committee.

10.2       However, if a former member’s membership was terminated under cl 9.2 the applicant                 must not be re-admitted by the Committee without the prior approval of a general                       meeting.

11.         The Committee

11.1       The Committee has all the powers necessary for managing, directing and supervising                   the management, operation and affairs of the Society, subject to the terms of this                         constitution.

11.2       The Committee shall consist of the following officers:
               (a)     President;
               (b)     Immediate past President;
               (c)     Vice-President;
               (d)     Secretary;
               (e)     Treasurer; and
               (f)      Between three and five other Committee members.

11.3       The officers must be elected annually as follows:
               (a)     written nominations for appointment as an officer, signed by the nominator and                             seconder, and accompanied by the written consent of each nominee, must be                               received by the Secretary not less than 7 clear days before the date of the annual                           general meeting;
               (b)     If there should be fewer than the required nominations for the Committee in                                   accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Rule, the Committee may then                             make further nominations to bring the total to the number required.
               (c)      at the annual general meeting, the Secretary must provide a voting paper listing                             all nominees and such information (not exceeding one side of an A4 sheet of                                   paper) as may be supplied to the Secretary by or on behalf of each nominee in                               support of their nomination;
               (d)     votes must be cast in such manner as the Chair of the annual general meeting                               determines;
               (e)      two Members (who are not nominees) designated by the Chair of the annual                                   general meeting must act as scrutineers for the counting of the votes and                                       destruction of any voting papers; and
               (f)      in the event of any vote being tied the tie must be resolved by the other                                           members of the incoming Committee.

11.4       To qualify for appointment as an officer, a nominee must satisfy the qualifications for                   appointment as an officer of a Club in Incorporated Societies Act 2022, s 47.

11.5        All officers must be members of the Club. 

11.6        If, between annual general meetings, a vacancy arises in the position of President,                        Vice-President, Secretary or Treasurer that vacancy or those vacancies must be filled                    from the Committee.

11.7        No officer may serve more than 5 consecutive terms in the roles of president, vice                          president, secretary, or treasurer, however, if there are no nominations for a                                  particular role, the Committee may agree to extend the period of service with an                            annual  review.

11.8        The officers appointed subsequently pursuant to cl 11.7:
                (a)     will hold office until the end of the first annual general meeting after their                                         appointment; but
                (b)     they may seek re-appointment at that annual general meeting; subject to the                                 provisions of cl 11.8.

11.9        Any officer may be removed as an officer by a resolution of a special general meeting                    of which prior notice was given in the notice of meeting and which is passed by a two-                  thirds majority, provided that a quorum is present.

12.         President and Vice-President                                                                                                    

The Committee is responsible for generally overseeing and directing the affairs and business of the Club, under the leadership of the President (and, in the absence of the President, the Vice-President).

13.         Secretary                                                                                                                                         

13.1       The Secretary must record the minutes of all general meetings and Committee                               meetings, and all such minutes when confirmed by the next such meeting and signed                   by the chairperson of that meeting will be prima facie evidence that that meeting was                   duly called and will be deemed to be a true and correct record of what occurred at                       that meeting.

13.2       The Secretary must hold the Club's records, documents, and books.

13.3       The Secretary must deal with and answer correspondence and perform such other                       duties as directed by the Committee.

13.4       The Committee may in its discretion suspend or remove the Secretary from office.

13.5       The Secretary must keep a membership register of Members recording their names                     and contact details, the dates each member became a Member and all other                                   information required by the Incorporated Societies Act 2022.
 
13.6       Unless an alternative “contact person” is appointed by the Committee (for the                                 purposes of the Incorporated Societies Act 2022), the Secretary will be the Club’s                           “contact person”. 

14.          Treasurer                                                                                                                                        

14.1       The Treasurer must:
               (a)     prepare or have prepared financial statements that comply with the Act;
               (b)     provide a true record of the Club’s financial position and a report on the Club’s                               financial position to each Committee meeting and present annual financial                                     statements (meeting the requirements of the Act) to the Annual General Meeting                           together with a budget for the next financial year.
               (c)      ensure that copies of the Club’s financial statements are registered with the                                   Registrar of Incorporated Societies within 6 months after the balance date of the                           Society.

15.         Finances                                                                                                                                           

15.1       The Committee must maintain bank accounts in the name of the Club, and all                                 financial transactions must be approved and released by the Treasurer and one                             member of the Committee.
 
15.2       All money received on account of the Club must be banked within five working days of                 receipt.

15.3       The Club's financial year commences on 1 April of each year and ends on 31 March in                   the following year.

15.4       The annual general meeting each year may appoint an auditor to audit the annual                         accounts of the Club and provide a certificate of correctness of the same. Any such                       auditor must be a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and                   not a member of the Club, and if any such auditor is unable to act the Committee                         must appoint a replacement auditor.

16.          Disclosure of officer interests                                                                                                   

16.1       The Committee must maintain a register in which officer’s interests are recorded.

16.2        An officer who is interested in a matter relating to the Club (as defined in s 62 of the                     Act) must disclose details of the nature and extent of the interest (including any                             monetary value of the interest if it can be quantified):
               (a)     to the Committee; and
               (b)     in the Interests Register.

16.3       Disclosure under cl 16.2 must be made as soon as practicable after the officer                                 becomes aware that they are interested in the matter.

17.         Officer ceasing to hold office                                                                                                     

17.1       A person ceases to be an officer if the person:
               (a)     resigns in accordance with cl 17.2; or
               (b)     is removed from office in accordance with cl 11.10; or
               (c)     becomes disqualified from being an officer under Incorporated Societies Act                                  2022, s 47(3); or
               (d)     dies; or
               (e)     otherwise vacates office in accordance with this constitution.

17.2       An officer may resign by giving notice of resignation to the Secretary and the President                 and the notice of resignation will take effect when it is received by the Secretary and                     the President or at any later time specified in the notice.

17.3       Each officer must, within one calendar month of submitting a resignation or ceasing to                 hold office, deliver to that officer's successor or the Secretary all books, papers and                       other property of the Club possessed by such former officer.

17.4       Despite vacating office as an officer, a person who has held office as an officer                               remains liable for acts and omissions and decisions made while that person was an                       officer.

18.         Management by the Committee and subcommittees                                                        

18.1       From the end of each annual general meeting until the end of the next, the Club must                   be administered, managed and controlled by the Committee.

18.2       Subject to this constitution and the resolution of any general meeting, the Committee                   may exercise all the Club's powers, other than those required by statute or by this                         constitution to be exercised by the Club in general meeting.

18.3       The Committee must meet at such times and places and in such manner (including by                   telephone or video conference) as it may determine and otherwise where and as                           convened by the President or Secretary, but such meetings shall be no less than 6                         times per calendar year. 

18.4       All Committee meetings must be chaired by the President, or in the President's                               absence by the Vice-President, or in the absence of both of them by another officer                       elected for the purpose by the meeting, and any such chair has a deliberative and                         casting vote.

18.5       The Committee may co-opt any person to the Committee for a specific purpose, or for                 a limited period, or generally until the next annual general meeting.

18.6       The quorum for Committee meetings is at least half the number of the officers.

18.7       Only officers elected or appointed under cl 11 who are present in person or by                               telephone or video link may be counted in the quorum and entitled to vote at a                             meeting of the Committee.

18.8       The Committee may appoint subcommittees consisting of such persons and for such                   purposes as it thinks fit. Unless otherwise resolved by the Committee:
               (a)     the quorum of every subcommittee is half the members of the subcommittee;
               (b)     no subcommittee may co-opt additional members;
               (c)     no subcommittee may commit the Club to any financial expenditure without                                   express authority; and
               (d)     no subcommittee may delegate any of its powers.

18.9       The Committee and any subcommittee may act by:
               (a)     a written resolution (which may be in physical or electronic form); or
               (b)     a resolution approved verbally in the course of a meeting, telephone conference                           call or video conference;
               approved by not less than a simple majority of the officers or members of the                                 subcommittee (as the case may be).

18.10     The Committee from time to time may make and amend regulations, bylaws and                           policies for the conduct and control of Club’s activities, but no such regulations, bylaws                 and policies can be inconsistent with this constitution or the Act. This constitution, and                 such regulations, bylaws and policies, must be available at all reasonable times for                       inspection by members, and copies must be provided (at cost, if required by the                             Committee) to any member on request.

18.11.    Other than as prescribed by the Act or this constitution, the Committee may 
               regulate its proceedings as it thinks fit.

18.12.    Members of the Committee and of subcommittees are entitled to be reimbursed by                     the Club for any reasonable actual expenses incurred by them on behalf of the Club as                 approved by resolution of the Committee.

18.13     Subject to the Act, this constitution and the resolutions of general meetings, the                             decisions of the Committee on the interpretation of this constitution and all matters                     dealt with by the Committee in accordance with this constitution shall be final and                         binding on all members.

19.          Indemnity for committee                                                                                                           

19.1        No officer will be liable for the acts or defaults of any other officer or any loss                                 occasioned by those acts or defaults, unless occasioned by their dishonesty, wilful                         misconduct or gross negligence.

19.2       The officers must be indemnified by the Club for all liabilities and costs incurred by                       them in the proper performance of their functions and duties, other than as a result of                 their dishonesty, wilful misconduct or gross negligence.

20.         Registered office                                                                                                                           
 
20.1       The registered office of the Society will be at such place as the Committee from time to                 time determines.

21.         Execution of documents                                                                                                              

21.1       Documents must be executed for the Club under a resolution of the Committee:
               (a)     the document shall be signed by the President or Vice-President and another                                officer signing on behalf of the Club.

22.         Amending the constitution                                                                                                        

22.1       This constitution may be amended or replaced by resolution of any general meeting                     passed by a two-thirds majority of those members present and entitled to vote,                             provided that no amendment may be made which would disqualify the Club from                         maintaining its registration as a Club under the Act.

22.2       Any proposed motion to amend or replace this constitution must be signed by at least                 2 members and given in writing to the Secretary at least 14 clear days before the                           general meeting at which the motion is to be considered, accompanied by a written                    explanation of the reasons for the proposal.

22.3       At least 7 clear days before the general meeting at which any such proposal is to be                       considered, the Secretary must give notice (in accordance with this constitution) to                       members of the proposed motion, of the reasons for the proposal and of any                                 recommendations from the Committee in respect of that notice.

22.4       Subject to cl 22.1, the Committee may amend this constitution if the amendment:
               (a)     has no more than a minor effect; or
               (b)     corrects errors or makes similar technical alterations.

22.5        An amendment made pursuant to cl 22.4 is only valid if the Committee sends notice                     of the amendment to every member of the Club stating:
               (a)   the text of the amendment; and
               (b)   the right of the member to object to the amendment; and
               the Committee receives no objection from any member within 20 working days                             after the date on which the notice was sent.

23.         Dispute Resolution                                                                                                                        

23.1       If any dispute arises between:
               (a)     two or more Members; or
               (b)     one or more officers and the Club; or
               (c)     one or more Members or officers and the Club; and the dispute relates to an                                  allegation that:
                        (i)        a Member or an officer has engaged in misconduct; or
                        (ii)       a Member or an officer has breached, or is likely to breach, a duty under                                         this constitution or the Act;
                        (iii)      the Club has breached, or is likely to breach, a duty under this constitution                                     or the Act; or
                         (iv)     a Member’s rights or interests as a Member have been damaged or                                                   Members’ rights or interests generally have been damaged;
               then any party involved with the dispute may make a complaint to the Board and the                   procedures contained in the Incorporated Societies Act 2022, sch 2, cls 2 to 8                                 (inclusive) shall be deemed to be included in this constitution and shall apply to the                       resolution of the dispute.
 
23.2       The Committee shall be responsible for managing the dispute resolution process                           provided that:
               (a)     If the complaint relates to one or more officers, that officer or those officers                                    must be excluded from the Committee’s management of the dispute resolution                              process and decision making; 
               (b)     If the complaint is made by one or more officers, that officer or those officers                                must be excluded from the Committee’s management of the dispute resolution                              process and decision making; and
               (c)     If the Committee is unable to proceed because it will not have a quorum of                                      officers to conduct the dispute resolution process as a consequence of cl 23.2(a),                          the Committee must appoint an individual who is not a member to manage the                              dispute resolution process and make a decision about the complaint.
               After completing the dispute resolution processes provided for in cl 23.1, the                                 Committee or the independent person appointed pursuant to cl 23.2(b), (the decision                   maker) may:
               (d)     Make a finding considered by the decision maker to be fair and consistent with                               the evidence provided by the dispute resolution process;
               (e).     In the case of a complaint against a Member, suspend the member’s                                                 membership for a defined period or terminate the member’s membership; or
               (f)      In the case of a complaint against an officer, remove the officer from their role as                          an officer (and, if the officer is also a member, the penalties in cl 23.2(e) could                                also be applied).

24.         General meetings                                                                                                                          

24.1       The Club’s annual general meeting must be held not later than 30 June annually.

24.2       Special general meetings may be called by the Committee or by written request to the                 Secretary signed by not less than ten of the Individual and Life Members.

24.3       At least 14 clear days before any general meeting, the Secretary must post to all                             Members notice of the business to be conducted at the meeting.

24.4       Any irregularity in the manner of calling a general meeting is waived if all the Members                 entitled to attend and vote at the meeting attend the meeting without protest as to                       the irregularity, or if all such Members agree to the waiver but in any event the failure                   for any reason of any Member to receive notice of a general meeting does not                               invalidate the meeting or its proceedings.

24.5       General meetings may be attended by all Members of whatever class of membership,                   but only Individual and Life Members are entitled to stand for office, speak and vote.

24.6       An Individual or Life Member is entitled to vote by written proxy in favour of another                     Member present at the meeting, but no other proxy voting is permitted.

24.7       The quorum for general meetings is 25 percent of Members entitled to vote pursuant                   to cl 24.6 present in person, by electronic means or by proxy. If, at the appointed                           meeting time, the quorum is not reached, the meeting shall be adjourned until the                       same day two weeks later. The meeting must be held at the same time and place. The                 re-convened meeting shall proceed with the number of Members present at that time                 constituting a quorum. 

24.8       All general meetings must be chaired by the President or, in the President's absence,                     by the Vice-President or, in the absence of both of them, by some other officer elected                 for the purpose by the Members at the general meeting, and any such chair has a                         deliberative and casting vote.

24.9       Voting at general meetings must be exercised as follows:
               (a)     voting must be by voices, by show of hands or, on demand of the chairperson or                           of any Member present, by secret ballot, and on each case each Member entitled                           to vote is entitled to one vote;
               (b)     unless otherwise required by this constitution, all questions must be determined                           by a simple majority of those present and entitled to vote;
               (c)     to determine any issue already lawfully before a general meeting (including any                              election or amendment to this constitution) the meeting may resolve to hold a                                postal ballot in accordance with the following process:
                        (i)        only Members with voting rights may vote in any postal ballot;
                        (ii)       the resolution to hold a postal ballot must set a closing date and time for                                         ballots to be received by the Secretary, but the closing date must be no                                             earlier than a fortnight after the date ballot papers are sent out to                                                     Members (excluding the date of posting);
                        (iii)      in respect of any motion to amend this constitution by postal ballot, the                                           motion must be accompanied by reasons and recommendations from the                                       Committee, and such motion must be passed by a two-thirds majority of                                          those voting;
                        (iv)      voting in a postal ballot may be by ballots returned to the Secretary by                                              mail, delivery, facsimile or email or other electronic means;
                        (v)        the Secretary must declare the result of the postal ballot; and 
                          


(vi)     the result of any postal ballot will be as effective and binding on Members                                      as a resolution passed at a general meeting.

24.10     A resolution passed by the required majority at any general meeting or by postal ballot                 binds all Members, irrespective of whether they were present at the general meeting                   where the resolution was adopted or whether they voted.

24.11     The Secretary must keep minutes of each general meeting. If the Secretary is not                           present at a general meeting, the President must appoint another officer to keep                           minutes of the meeting.

25.         Annual general meeting                                                                                                              

25.1       The notice (Notice) for an annual general meeting must include:
               (a)     an annual report from the President reporting on the operations and affairs of                              the Club during the most recently completed accounting period;
               (b)     a opy of the financial statements for the Club for that period;
               (c)     notice of any disclosures made to the Interests Register since the immediately                                preceding annual general meeting;
               (d)     a list of and information about nominees for officer appointments;
               (e)     a resolution for appointment of an auditor;
               (f)      notice of proposed changes to subscriptions for members (if any);
               (g)     notice of any motions and the Committee’s recommendations.

25.2       The business of the annual general meeting is:
               (a)     approving the minutes of the previous annual general meeting;
               (b)     approving the President’s annual report provided with the Notice;
               (c)     approving the financial statements provided with the Notice;
               (d)     election of officers;
               (e)     voting on subscription amount changes for the next financial year (if any);
               (f)      confirmation of the Patron; and
               (g)     voting on any motions referred to in the Notice.
 
25.3       Any member wishing to give notice of any motion for consideration at the annual                           general meeting must forward written notice of the motion to the Secretary not less                     than 28 clear days before the date of the meeting. The Committee may consider all                       such notices of motion and provide recommendations to Members in respect of those                 notices.

26.         Written resolution in lieu of general meeting                                                                      

26.1       A written resolution is as valid as if it had been passed at a general meeting if it is                           approved by no less than two thirds of the number of members who are entitled to                       vote.

26.2.      A written resolution may consist of one or more documents in similar form (including                   letters, electronic mail, or other similar means of communication) each approved by or                on behalf of one or more of the members who are entitled to vote.

26.3       For the purposes of cl 26.2, a Member may give their approval by:
               (a)     signing the resolution; or
               (b)     giving their approval to the resolution by email or any other electronic means                                approved by the Committee.

27.         Winding up                                                                                                                                      

27.1       The Club may be wound up voluntarily if the Club at a General Meeting of members                      passes a resolution requiring the Club to be wound up, and such resolution is                                confirmed at a subsequent General Meeting called together for that purpose and held                  not earlier than thirty days after the date on which the resolution to be confirmed was                  passed. If in the event of such winding up there remains after the satisfaction of all                        debits, any funds, these shall be distributed to a charitable organisation with similar                      objects and if there be no such organisation then the funds shall be distributed                              amongst such entities as may be determined by a vote receiving two thirds of the                          majority of Individual and Life members and carried out by either a postal vote or                          electronic means.

27.2       The Club may be put into liquidation if the Club, at a general meeting of its Members,                   passes a resolution appointing a liquidator and nominating a not-for-profit entity                           (pursuant to clause 27.3 below) with purposes similar to the Objectives to receive the                   Club’s surplus assets,[ if any], and the resolution is confirmed at a subsequent                               general meeting called together for that purpose and held not earlier than 30 days                       after the date on which the resolution to be confirmed was passed.

27.3       The Club must be placed into liquidation (using the process specified in the previous                     clause) if the Club does not have the minimum number of Members required to 
               operate as a valid club under the Act in which case the resolution required pursuant to                 cl 27.1 shall be deemed to be valid if signed by all of the remaining members.





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