Constitution - (2006) Draft
1. Name
The name of the association will be "Victorian Taxi Drivers´ Association."(hereinafter called "the association").
2. Definitions
(1)In these rules, unless the contrary intention appears.
"Act" means the Associations Incorporation Act 1981;
"committee" means the committee of management of the Association;
"financial year" means the year ending on the 30th June;
"general Meeting" means a general meeting of members convened in accordance with rule 12
"member" means a member of the Association;
"ordinary member of the committee" mean a member of the committee who is not an officer of the Association under rule 21;
"regulation" means regulations under the act;
"relevant documents" has the same meaning as the act;
"objects" means the statement of purpose.
(2) In these rules, a reference to the Secretary of an Association is a reference--
(a) if a person hold office under these Rules as Secretary of the Association-- to that person, and
(b) in any other case, to the public officer of the Association.
3. Alteration of the rules
These Rules and the statement of purposes of the Association must not be altered except in accordance with the Act.
4. Statement of purpose
(1)To foster good fellowship among taxi drivers and to advance the mutual interests of taxi drivers.
(2) To provide a forum in which the views of taxi drivers can be aired.
(3)To represent taxi drivers and their interests in dealings with governments,public authorities,other organisations and the community in general.
(4)To sponsor,promote and conduct services and systems for taxi drivers that improve working conditions,remuneration,safety and professionalism within the industry.
(5)To sponsor,promote and conduct all that is necessary to elevate the esteem of taxi driving and respect for the taxi driver.
(6)Non Profit Clause;
The income and property of the Association whencesoever derived will be applied solely towards the promotion of the purpose of the Association and no portion thereof will be paid or transfered directly or indirectly by way of dividend bonus or otherwise or howsoever by way of profit to the members of the Association provided that nothing herein will prevent the payment in good faith of remuneration to any officer or servant of the Association or to any member of the Association in return for any services actually rendered to the Association or any proper rent for premises let by any member to the Association.
(7)Powers
(a) to carry out all or any of the objects of the Association;
(b) to employ the funds of the Association in such a manner as may from time to time be deemed expedient and to draw make accept endorse and issue bills of exchange and other negotiable or transferable instruments;
(c) to enter any arrangement for amalgamation, joint working or co-operation with any association,society, person or body of persons, whether incorporated or not, having objects or carrying on work similar to the objects or work of the Association;
(d) to purchase, take on lease or exchange, hire or otherwise acquire any real or personal property which the Association may think necessary or convenient for the purposes of the Association;
(e) to consider, maintain and alter any buildings or work necessary or convenient for the purposes of the Association;
(f) to invest and deal with the money of the Association not immediately required in such a manner as may from time to time be thought fit;
(g) to produce, publish and distribute such books, newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, periodicals or other publications as may be thought fit;
(h) to receive and accept donations, subscriptions and bequests of money or other property;
(i) to borrow, or raise or secure the payment of money in such a manner as the Association may think fit and secure the same or the repayment or performance of any debt, liability, contract, guarantee or other engagement incurred or be entered into by the Association in any way;
(j) to engage and dismiss all paid officers and servants of the Association and to fix their remuneration and conditions of employment;
(k) to appoint and remove a trustee or trustees of any property held or to be held on behalf of the Association;
(l) to do all such things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the objects or the exercise of the powers of the Association;
and the welfare of Taxi drivers;
(n) to join with or assist any other organisations, corporation or individual in promoting any of the purposes of the Association;
(o) to implement programs or measures considered necessary to improve the membership base and financial viability of the Association.
5. Membership, entry fees and subscription
(1) A person who applies and is approved for membership as provided in these Rules is eligible to be a member of the Association on payment of the entrance fee and annual subscription payable under these Rules.
(2) A person who is not a member of the Association at the time of the incorporation of the Association (or who was a member at the time but has ceased to be a member) must not be admitted to membership unless-
(a) he or she applies for membership in accordance with sub-rule (3), and
(b) the admission as a member is approved by the committee.
(3) An application of a person for membership of the Association must-
(a) be made in writing in the form set out on Appendix 1; and
(b) be lodged with the secretary of the Association; and
(c) hold a current taxi drivers certificate in the state of Victoria.
(4) As soon as practicable after the receipt of an application, the Secretary must refer the application to the committee.
(5) The committee must determine whether to approve or reject the application.
(6) If the committee approves an application for membership, the secretary must as soon as practicable-
(a) notify the applicant in writing of the approval for membership; and
(b) request payment within 28 days after receipt of the notification for the sum payable under these Rules as the entrance fee and the first year´s annual subscription.
(7) The Secretary must, within 28 days after receipt of the amounts referred to in sub-rule (6) enter the applicant´s name in the register of members.
(8) An applicant for membership becomes a member and is entitled to exercise the rights of membership when his or her name is entered in the register of members.
(9) If the committee rejects an application, the committee must, as soon as practicable, notify the applicant in writing that the application has been rejected.
(10) A right, privilege, or obligation of a person by reason of membership of the Association
(a) is not capable of being transfered or transmitted to another person; and
(b) terminates upon the cessation of membership whether by death or resignation or otherwise.
(11) At each Annual General Meeting the Association will determine the membership fee and annual subscription by each ordinary member for the next succeeding membership year.
(12) The membership year will commence on the 1 July and end on the 30 June of the following year.
(13) The annual subscription is payable in advance on or before 1 July in each year.
6. Register of members
(1) The secretary must keep and maintain a register of members containing-
(a) the name and address of each member; and
(b) the date on which each member´s name was entered in the register.
(2) The register is available for inspection free of charge by any member upon request.
(3) A member may make a copy of entries in the register.
7. Ceasing membership
(1) A member of the Association who has paid all moneys due and payable by a member of the Association may resign form the Association by giving one month´s notice in writing to the Secretary of his or her intention to resign.
(2) After the expiry of the period referred to in sub-rule (1)-
(a) a member ceases to be a member; and
(b) the secretary must record in the register of members the date on which the member ceased to be a member.
8. Discipline, suspension and expulsion of members
(1) Subject to these rules, if the committee is of the opinion that a member has refused or neglected to comply with these rules, or has been guilty of conduct unbecoming a member or prejudicial to the interests of the Association, the committee may by resolution-
(a) suspend that member from membership of the Association for a specified period; or
(b) expel that member from the Association.
(2) A resolution of the committee under sub-rule (1) does not take place unless-
(a) at a meeting held in accordance with sub-rule (3), the committee confirms the resolution;and
(b) if the member exercises the right of appeal to the Association under this rule, the Association confirms the resolution in accordance with this rule.
(3) A meeting of the committee to confirm or revoke a resolution passed under sub-rule (1) must be held not earlier than 14 days, and not later than 28 days, after notice has been given to the member in accordance with sub-rule (4).
(4) For the purposes of giving notice in accordance with sub-rule (3), the secretary must, as soon as practicable, cause to be given to the member written notice-
(a) setting out the resolution of the committee and the grounds on which it is based; and
(b) stating that the member,or his or her representative, may address the committee at a meeting to be held not earlier than 14 days, and not later than 28 days after notice has been given to that member; and
(c) stating the date, place and time of that meeting; and
(d) informing the member that he or she may do one or both of the following-
(i) attend that meeting;
(ii) give to the committee before the date of that meeting a written statement seeking the revocation of the resolution;
(e) informing the member that, if at that meeting, the committee confirms the resolution, he or she, not later than 48 hours after that meeting, give the Secretary a notice to the effect that he or she wishes to appeal to the Association in general meeting against the resolution.
(5)At a meeting of the committee to confirm or revoke a resolution passed under sub-rule(1),the committee must-
(a) give the member,or his or her representative, an opportunity to be heard; and
(b) give due consideration to any written statement submitted by the member; and
(c) determine by resolution whether to confirm or to revoke the resolution.
(6) If at the meeting of the committee,the committee confirms the resolution, the member may, not later than 48 hours after that meeting, give the secretary a notice to the effect that he or she wishes to appeal to the Association in general meeting against the resolution.
(7) If the secretary receives notice under sub-rule (6),he or she must notify the committee and the committee must convene a general meeting of the Association to be held within 21 days after the date on which the secretary received the notice.
(8) At a general meeting of the Association convened under sub-rule (7)-
(a) no business other than the question of the appeal may be conducted; and
(b) the committee may place before the meeting details of the grounds for the resolution and the reasons for passing of the resolution; and
(c) the member, or his or her representative, must be given an opportunity to be heard; and
(d) the members present must vote by secret ballot on the question whether the resolution should be confirmed or revoked.
(9) A resolution is confirmed if, at the general meeting, not less than two-thirds of the members vote in person in favour of the resolution. In any other case, the resolution is revoked.
9. Disputes and mediation
(1) the grievance procedure set out in this rule applies to disputes under these rules between-
(a) a member and another member; or
(b) a member and the Association
(2) The parties to the dispute must meet and discuss the matter in dispute, and, if possible resolve the dispute within 14 days after the dispute comes to the attention of all the parties.
(3) If the parties are unable to resolve the dispute at the meeting, or if a party fails to attend that meeting, then the parties must, within 10 days, hold a meeting in the presence of a mediator.
(4) The mediator must be -
(a) a person chosen by agreement between the parties; or
(b) in the absence of agreement-
(i) in the case of a dispute between a member and another member, a person appointed by the committee of the Association; or
(ii) in the case of a dispute between a member and the Association, a person who is a mediator appointed or employed by the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria. ( department of Justice)
(5) A member of the Association can be a mediator.
(6) The mediator cannot be a member who is party to the dispute.
(7) The parties to the dispute must, in good faith, attempt to settle the dispute by mediation.
(8) The mediator, in conducting the mediation, must-
(a) give parties to the mediation process every opportunity to be heard; and
(b) allow due consideration by all parties of any written statement submitted by any party; and
(c) ensure that natural justice is accorded to the parties to the dispute throughout the mediation process.
(9) The mediator must not determine the dispute.
(10) If the mediation process does not result in the dispute being resolved, the parties may seek to resolve the dispute in accordance with the Act or otherwise at law.
10. Annual general meetings
(1) The committee may determine the date, time and place of the annual general meeting of the Association.
(2) The notice convening the annual general meeting must specify that the meeting is an annual general meeting.
(3) The ordinary business of the annual general meeting shall be;
(a) to confirm the minutes of the previous annual general meeting and of any general meeting held since that meeting; and
(b) to receive from the committee reports upon the transactions of the Association during the last proceeding financial year; and
(c) to elect officers of the Association and the ordinary members of the committee; and
(d) to determine the membership fee and annual subscription by each ordinary member for the next succeeding membership year.
(e) to receive and consider the statement submitted by the Association in accordance with section 30(3) of the Act.
(4) The annual general meeting may conduct any special business of which notice has been given in accordance with these rules.
11. Special general meetings
(1) In addition to the general meeting, any other general meeting may be held in the same year.
(2) All general meetings other than the annual general meeting are special meetings.
(3) The committee may, whenever it thinks fit, convene a special general meeting of the Association.
(4) If, but for this sub-rule, more than 15 months would elapse between annual general meetings, the committee must convene a special general meeting before the expiration of that period.
(5) The committee must, on the request in writing of members representing not less than 5 per cent of the total number of members, convene a special general meeting of the Association.
(6) The request for a special general meeting must-
(a) state the objects of the meeting; and
(b) be signed by the members requesting the meeting; and
(c) be sent to the address of the secretary.
(7) If the committee does not cause a special general meeting to be held within one month after the date on which the request is sent to the address of the secretary, the members making the request, or any of them, may convene a special general meeting to be held not later than 3 months after that date.
(8) If a special general meeting is convened by members in accordance with this rule, it must be convened in the same manner so far as possible as a meeting convened by the committee and all reasonable expenses incurred in convening the special general meeting must be refunded by the Association.
11Special business
All business that is conducted in a special general meeting and all business that is conducted at the annual general meeting, except for business conducted under the rules as ordinary business of the annual general meeting, is deemed special business.
12. Notice of general meetings
(1) The secretary of the Association,at least 14 days, or if a special resolution has been proposed at least 21 days, before the date fixed for holding a general meeting of the Association, must cause to be be sent to each member of the Association, a notice stating the place, date and time of the meeting and the nature of the business to be conducted at the meeting.
(2) Notice may be sent --
(a) by prepaid post to the address appearing in the register of members; or
(b) if the member requests, by facsimile transmission or electronic transmission.
(3) No business other than that set out in the notice convening the meeting may be conducted at the meeting
(4) A member intending to bring any business before a meeting may notify in writing, or by electronic transmission, the secretary of that business,who must include that business in the notice calling the next general meeting.
13. Quorum at general meetings
(1) No item of business may be conducted at a general meeting unless a quorum of members entitled under these rules to vote is present at the time when the meeting is considering that item.
(2) Five members personally present (being members entitled under these rules to vote at a general meeting) constitute a quorum for the conduct of the business of a general meeting.
(3) If, within half an hour after the appointed time for the commencement of a general meeting a quorum is not present-
(i) in the case of a meeting convened upon the request of members-- the meeting must be dissolved; and
(ii) in any other case-- the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and (unless another place is specified by the chairperson at the time of the adjournment or by written notice to members given before the day to which the meeting is adjourned) at the same place.
(4) If at the adjourned meeting the quorum is not present within half an hour after the time appointed for the commencement of the meeting, the members personally present (being not less than 3) shall be a quorum.
14. Presiding at the general meetings
(1) The President, or in the Presidents absence, the Vice-President, shall preside as Chairperson at each general meeting of the Association.
(2) If the President and the Vice-President are absent from a general meeting, or are unable to preside, the members present must select one of their number to preside as Chairperson.
15. Adjournment of meetings
(1) The person presiding may, with the consent of a majority of members present at the meeting, adjourn the meeting from time to time and place to place.
(2) No business may be conducted at an adjourned meeting other than the unfinished business form the meeting that was adjourned.
(3) If a meeting is adjourned for 14 days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting must be given in accordance with rule 12. (4) Except as provided in sub-rule (3), it is not necessary to give notice of an adjournment or of the business to be conducted at an adjourned meeting.
16. Voting at general meetings
(1) upon any question arising at a general meeting of the Association, a member has one vote only.
(2) All votes must be given personally.
(3) in the case of an equality of voting on a question, the Chairperson of the meeting is entitled to exercise a second or casting vote.
(4) A member is not entitled to vote at a general meeting unless all moneys due and payable by the member to the Association have been paid, other than the amount of the annual subscription payable in respect to the current financial year.
17. Poll at general meetings
(1) If at a meeting a poll on any question is demanded by not less than 3 members, it must be taken at that meeting in such manner as the Chairperson may direct and the resolution of the poll shall be deemed to be a resolution of the meeting on that question.
(2) A poll that is demanded on the election of a Chairperson or on a question of an adjournment must be taken immediately and a poll that is demanded on any other question must be taken at such time before the close of the meeting as the Chairperson may direct.
18. Manner of determining whether resolution carried
If a question arising at a general meeting of the Association is determined on a show of hands-
(a) a declaration by the Chairperson that a resolution has been-
(i) carried; or
(ii) carried unanimously; or
(iii) carried by a particular majority; or
(iv) lost; and
(b) an entry to that effect in the minute book of the Association-- is evidence of the fact, without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of, or against, that resolution
19. Proxies
Proxies will not be permitted at any general meeting.
20. Committee of management
(1) The affairs of the Association shall be managed by the committee of management.
(2) The committee--
(a) shall control and manage the business and affairs of the Association; and
(b) may, subject to these rules, the Act and the Regulations, exercise all such powers and functions as may be exercised by the Association other than those powers and functions that are required by these Rules to be exercised by general meetings of the members of the members of the Association; and
(c) subject to these Rules, the Act and the Regulations, has power to perform all such acts and things as appear to the committee to be essential for the the proper management of the business and affairs of the Association.
(3) Subject to section 23 of the Act, the committee shall consist of--
(a) the officers of the Association; and
(b) two ordinary members--
each of whom shall be elected at the annual general meeting of the Association in each year.
21. Office holders
(1) The officers of the Association shall be--
(a) a President;
(b) a Vice-President;
(c) a Treasurer; and
(d) a Secretary.
(2) The provision of rule 23, so far as they are applicable and with the necessary modifications, apply to and in relation to the election of persons to any of the offices referred to in sub-rule (1)
(3) Each officer of the Association shall hold office until the annual general meeting next after the date of his or her election but is eligible for re-election.
(4) In the event of a casual vacancy in any office referred to in sub-rule (1), the committee may appoint one of its members to the vacant office and the member appointed may continue in office up to and including the conclusion of the annual general meeting next following the date of the appointment .
22. Ordinary members of the committee
(1) subject to these rules, each ordinary member of the committee shall hold office until the annual meeting next after the date of the election but is eligible for re-election.
(2) In the event of a casual vacancy occurring in the office of an ordinary member of the committee, the committee may appoint a member of the Association to fill the vacancy and the member appointed shall hold office, subject to these Rules, until the conclusion of the annual general meeting next following the date of the appointment.
23. Election of officers and ordinary committee members
(1) Nominations of candidates for election as officers of the Association or as ordinary members of the committee must be-
(a) made in writing, signed by two members of the Association and accompanied by the written consent of the candidate (which may be endorsed on the form of nomination); and
(b) delivered to the Secretary of the Association not less than 7 days before the date fixed or the holding of the annual general meeting.
(2) A candidate may only be nominated for one office, or as an ordinary member of the committee, prior to the annual general meeting.
(3) If insufficient nominations are recieved to fill all vacancies on the committee, the candidates nominated shall be deemed to be elected and further nominations may be recieved at the annual general meeting.
(4) If the number of nominations recieved is equal to the number of vacancies to be filled, the persons nominated shall be deemed to be elected.
(5) If the number of nominations exceeds the number of vacancies to be filled, a ballot must be held.
(6) The ballot for the election of officers and ordinary members of the committee must be conducted at the annual general meeting in such a manner as the committee may direct.
24. Vacancies
The office of an officer of the Association, or of an ordinary member of the committee, becomes vacant if the officer or member--
(a) ceases to be a member of the Association; or
(b) becomes an insolvent under administration within the meaning of the corporations Law; or
(c) resigns from office by notice in writing given to the Secretary.
25. Meetings of the committee
(1) The committee must meet at least 3 times in each year at such place and times as the committee may determine.
(2) written notice must be given to members of the the committee of any special meeting specifying the general nature of the business to be conducted and no other business may be conducted at such a meeting.
26. Quorum for committee meetings
(1) Any 4 members of the committee constitute a quorum for the conduct of a business of a meeting of the committee.
(2) No business may be conducted unless a quorum is present.
(3) If within half an hour of the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present-
(i) in the case of a special meeting--the meeting lapses;
(ii) in any other case--the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same place and same time and day in the following week
(4) The committee may act notwithstanding any vacancy on the committee.
28. Presiding at committee meetings
At meetings of the committee-
(a) the President or, in the President´s absence, the Vice-President presides; or
(b) if the President and the Vice-President are absent, or are unable to preside, the members present must choose one of their number to preside.
29. Voting at committee meetings
(1) Questions arising at a meeting of the committee, or at a meeting of any sub-committee appointed by the committee, shall be determined on a show of hands or´ if a member requests, by a poll taken in such manner as the person st that may determine.
(2) Each member present at a meeting of the committee, or at a meeting of any sub-committee appointed by the committee (including the person presiding at the meeting), is entitled to one vote and, in the event of an equality of votes on any question, the person presiding may exercise a second or casting vote.
30. Removal of a committee member
(1) The Association in general meeting may, by resolution, remove any member of the committee before the expiration of the member´s term of office and appoint another member in his or her place to hold office until the expiration of the term of the first-mentioned member.
(2) A member who is the subject of a proposed resolution referred to in sub-rule (1) may make representations in writing to the Secretary or President of the Association (not exceeding a reasonable length) and may request that the representations be provided to the members of the Association.
(3) The Secretary or the President may give a copy of the representations to each member of the Association or, if they are not given, the member may require that they be read out at the meeting.
31. Minutes of meetings
The secretary of the Association must keep minutes of the resolutions and proceedings of each general meeting, and each committee meeting, together with a record of the names of persons present at committee meetings.
32. Funds
(1) The treasurer of the Association must-
(a) collect and receive all moneys due to the Association and make all payments authorised by the Association; and
(b) keep correct accounts and books showing the financial affairs of the Association with full details of all receipts and expenditure connected with the activities of the Association
(2) All cheques, drafts, bills of exchange, promissory notes and other negotiable instruments must be signed by two members of the committee.
(3) The funds of the Association shall be derived from entrance fees, annual subscriptions, donations and such sources as the committee determines.
33. Seal
(1) The common seal of the Association must be kept in the custody of the Secretary.
(2) The common seal must not be affixed to any instrument except by the authority of the committee and the affixing of the common seal must be attested by the signatures either of two members of the committee or, of one member of the committee and of the public officer of the Association.
34. Notice to members
Except for the requirement in rule 12, any notice that is required to be given to a member, by on behalf of the Association, under these Rules may be given by-
(a) delivering the notice to the member personally; or
(b) sending it by prepaid post addressed to the member at that member´s address shown in the register of members; or
(c) facsimile transmission, if the member has requested that the notice be given to him or her in this manner; or
(d) electronic transmission,if the member has requested that the notice be given to him or her in this manner.
35. Winding up
In the event of the winding up or the cancellation of the incorporation of the Association, the assets of the Association must be disposed of in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
36. Custody and inspection of books and records
(1) Except as otherwise provided in these Rules, the secretary must keep in his or her custody or under his or her control all books, documents and securities of the Association.
(2) All accounts,books, securities and other relevant documents of the Association must be available for inspection free of charge by any member upon request.
(3) A member may make a copy of any accounts, books, securities and other relevant documents of the Association.