BFNC Rules Of Association

BAIRNSDALE FOOTBALL NETBALL CLUB INC

RULES

PART 1—PRELIMINARY

1 Name

The name of the incorporated association is "Bairnsdale Football Netball Club Incorporated".

2 Purposes

The purposes of the association are—

(1) To promote the games of Australian Rules Football and Netball in East Gippsland and the broader community

(2) To provide a safe, supportive and community based environment that encourages skill development, fitness, fair play and teamwork

(3) To establish an administration committed to implementing best practice in all areas of governance.

(4) To continue to develop infrastructure and facilities to be used in aiding the association achieving its purposes, and for the use of the broader community.

(5) To encourage its members to strive for improvement and success both on the playing field and in their personal development.

3 Financial year

The financial year of the Association is each period of 12 months ending on 30 September

4 Definitions

In these Rules—

absolute majority, of the Committee, means a majority of the committee members currently holding office and entitled to vote at the time (as distinct from a majority of committee members present at a committee meeting);

associate member means a member referred to in rule 14(1);

Chairperson, of a general meeting or committee meeting, means the person chairing the meeting as required under rule 46;

Committee means the Committee having management of the business of the Association;

committee meeting means a meeting of the Committee held in accordance with these Rules;

committee member means a member of the Committee elected or appointed under Division 3 of Part 5;

disciplinary appeal meeting means a meeting of the members of the Association convened under rule 23(3);

disciplinary meeting means a meeting of the Committee convened for the purposes of rule 22;

disciplinary subcommittee means the subcommittee appointed under rule 20;

financial year means the 12 month period specified in rule 3;

general meeting means a general meeting of the members of the Association convened in accordance with Part 4 and includes an annual general meeting, a special general meeting and a disciplinary appeal meeting;

member means a member of the Association;

member entitled to vote means a member who under rule 13(2) is entitled to vote at a general meeting;

special resolution means a resolution that requires not less than three-quarters of the members voting at a general meeting, whether in person or by proxy, to vote in favour of the resolution;

the Act means the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 and includes any regulations made under that Act;

the Registrar means the Registrar of Incorporated Associations.

PART 2—POWERS OF ASSOCIATION

5 Powers of Association

(1) Subject to the Act, the Association has power to do all things incidental or conducive to achieve its purposes.

(2) Without limiting subrule (1), the Association may—

(a) acquire, hold and dispose of real or personal property;

(b) open and operate accounts with financial institutions;

(c) invest its money in any security in which trust monies may lawfully be invested;

(d) raise and borrow money on any terms and in any manner as it thinks fit;

(e) secure the repayment of money raised or borrowed, or the payment of a debt or liability;

(f) appoint agents to transact business on its behalf;

(g) enter into any other contract it considers necessary or desirable.

(3) The Association may only exercise its powers and use its income and assets (including any surplus) for its purposes.

6 Not for profit organisation

(1) The Association must not distribute any surplus, income or assets directly or indirectly to its members.

(2) Subrule (1) does not prevent the Association from paying a member—

(a) reimbursement for expenses properly incurred by the member; or

(b) for goods or services provided by the member—

if this is done in good faith on terms no more favourable than if the member was not a member.

PART 3—MEMBERS, DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES AND GRIEVANCES

Division 1—Membership

7 Minimum number of members

The Association must have at least 5 members.

8 Who is eligible to be a member

(1) Any person who supports the purposes of the Association is eligible for membership.

(2) There shall be the following categories of membership in the Association:

(a) ORDINARY MEMBER being any person who does not qualify as a member under any other category in this sub-clause.

(b) JUNIOR MEMBER being any person who represents the Association in any of its junior (Under 18 or lower age group) football or netball sides, or any person under the age of 18 and still attending primary or secondary school.

(c) HONORARY MEMBER being any person appointed in accordance with Rule 80 hereof

(d) HONORARY LIFE MEMBER being any person appointed in accordance with Rule 81 hereof

9 Application for membership

(1) To apply to become a member of the Association, a person must submit a written application to a committee member stating that the person—

(a) wishes to become a member of the Association; and

(b) supports the purposes of the Association; and

(c) agrees to comply with these Rules.

(2) The application—

(a) must be signed by the applicant; and

(b) may be accompanied by the joining fee.

10 Consideration of application

(1) As soon as practicable after an application for membership is received, the Committee must decide by resolution whether to accept or reject the application.

(2) The Committee must notify the applicant in writing of its decision as soon as practicable after the decision is made.

(3) If the Committee rejects the application, it must return any money accompanying the application to the applicant.

(4) No reason need be given for the rejection of an application.

11 New membership

(1) If an application for membership is approved by the Committee—

(a) the resolution to accept the membership must be recorded in the minutes of the committee meeting; and

(b) the Secretary must, as soon as practicable, enter the name and address of the new member, and the date of becoming a member, in the register of members.

(2) A person becomes a member of the Association and, subject to rule 13(2), is entitled to exercise his or her rights of membership from the date, whichever is the later, on which—

(a) the Committee approves the person's membership; or

(b) the person pays the joining fee.

12 Annual subscription and fee on joining

(1) As soon as possible following the Annual General Meeting, the Committee shall determine—

(a) the amount of the annual subscription for the following financial year; and

(b) the date for payment of the annual subscription.

(2) The Committee may determine that a lower annual subscription is payable by associate members.

(3) The full annual fee due in the year of joining shall be paid be paid by any new member regardless of the date on which the member is admitted

(4) The rights of a member (including the right to vote) who has not paid the annual subscription by the due date are suspended until the subscription is paid.

13 General rights of members

(1) A member of the Association who is entitled to vote has the right—

(a) to receive notice of general meetings and of proposed special resolutions in the manner and time prescribed by these Rules; and

(b) to submit items of business for consideration at a general meeting; and

(c) to attend and be heard at general meetings; and

(d) to vote at a general meeting; and

(e) to have access to the minutes of general meetings and other documents of the Association as provided under rule 75; and

(f) to inspect the register of members.

(2) A member is entitled to vote if—

(a) the member is a member other than an associate member; and

(b) more than 10 business days have passed since he or she became a member of the Association; and

(c) the member's membership rights are not suspended for any reason.

14 Associate members

(1) Associate members of the Association include—

(a) any Junior member; and

(b) an Honorary Member appointed pursuant to Rule 80

(2) An associate member must not vote but may have other rights as determined by the Committee or by resolution at a general meeting.

15 Rights not transferable

The rights of a member are not transferable and end when membership ceases.

16 Ceasing membership

(1) The membership of a person ceases on resignation, expulsion or death.

(2) If a person ceases to be a member of the Association, the Secretary must, as soon as practicable, enter the date the person ceased to be a member in the register of members.

17 Resigning as a member

(1) A member may resign by notice in writing given to the Association.

(2) A member is taken to have resigned if—

(a) the member's annual subscription is more than 12 months in arrears; or

(b) where no annual subscription is payable—

(i) the Secretary has made a written request to the member to confirm that he or she wishes to remain a member; and

(ii) the member has not, within 3 months after receiving that request, confirmed in writing that he or she wishes to remain a member.

18 Register of members

(1) The Secretary must keep and maintain a register of members that includes—

(a) for each current member—

(i) the member's name;

(ii) the address for notice last given by the member;

(iii) the date of becoming a member;

(iv) if the member is an associate member, a note to that effect;

(v) any other information determined by the Committee; and

(b) for each former member, the date of ceasing to be a member.

(2) Any member may, at a reasonable time and free of charge, inspect the register of members.

Division 2—Disciplinary action

19 Grounds for taking disciplinary action

The Association may take disciplinary action against a member in accordance with this Division if it is determined that the member—

(a) has failed to comply with these Rules; or

(b) refuses to support the purposes of the Association; or

(c) has engaged in conduct prejudicial to the Association.

20 Disciplinary subcommittee

(1) If the Committee is satisfied that there are sufficient grounds for taking disciplinary action against a member, the Committee must appoint a disciplinary subcommittee to hear the matter and determine what action, if any, to take against the member.

(2) The members of the disciplinary subcommittee—

(a) may be Committee members, members of the Association or anyone else; but

(b) must not be biased against, or in favour of, the member concerned.

21 Notice to member

(1) Before disciplinary action is taken against a member, the Secretary must give written notice to the member—

(a) stating that the Association proposes to take disciplinary action against the member; and

(b) stating the grounds for the proposed disciplinary action; and

(c) specifying the date, place and time of the meeting at which the disciplinary subcommittee intends to consider the disciplinary action (the disciplinary meeting); and

(d) advising the member that he or she may do one or both of the following—

(i) attend the disciplinary meeting and address the disciplinary subcommittee at that meeting;

(ii) give a written statement to the disciplinary subcommittee at any time before the disciplinary meeting; and

(e) setting out the member's appeal rights under rule 23.

(2) The notice must be given no earlier than 28 days, and no later than 14 days, before the disciplinary meeting is held.

22 Decision of subcommittee

(1) At the disciplinary meeting, the disciplinary subcommittee must—

(a) give the member an opportunity to be heard; and

(b) consider any written statement submitted by the member.

(2) After complying with subrule (1), the disciplinary subcommittee may—

(a) take no further action against the member; or

(b) subject to subrule (3)—

(i) reprimand the member; or

(ii) suspend the membership rights of the member for a specified period; or

(iii) expel the member from the Association.

(3) The disciplinary subcommittee may not fine the member.

(4) The suspension of membership rights or the expulsion of a member by the disciplinary subcommittee under this rule takes effect immediately after the vote is passed.

23 Appeal rights

(1) A person whose membership rights have been suspended or who has been expelled from the Association under rule 22 may give notice to the effect that he or she wishes to appeal against the suspension or expulsion.

(2) The notice must be in writing and given—

(a) to the disciplinary subcommittee immediately after the vote to suspend or expel the person is taken; or

(b) to the Secretary not later than 48 hours after the vote.

(3) If a person has given notice under subrule (2), a disciplinary appeal meeting must be convened by the Committee as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 21 days, after the notice is received.

(4) Notice of the disciplinary appeal meeting must be given to each member of the Association who is entitled to vote as soon as practicable and must—

(a) specify the date, time and place of the meeting; and

(b) state—

(i) the name of the person against whom the disciplinary action has been taken; and

(ii) the grounds for taking that action; and

(iii) that at the disciplinary appeal meeting the members present must vote on whether the decision to suspend or expel the person should be upheld or revoked.

24 Conduct of disciplinary appeal meeting

(1) At a disciplinary appeal meeting—

(a) no business other than the question of the appeal may be conducted; and

(b) the Committee must state the grounds for suspending or expelling the member and the reasons for taking that action; and

(c) the person whose membership has been suspended or who has been expelled must be given an opportunity to be heard.

(2) After complying with subrule (1), the members present and entitled to vote at the meeting must vote by secret ballot on the question of whether the decision to suspend or expel the person should be upheld or revoked.

(3) A member may not vote by proxy at the meeting.

(4) The decision is upheld if not less than three quarters of the members voting at the meeting vote in favour of the decision.

Division 3—Grievance procedure

25 Application

(1) The grievance procedure set out in this Division applies to disputes under these Rules between—

(a) a member and another member;

(b) a member and the Committee;

(c) a member and the Association.

(2) A member must not initiate a grievance procedure in relation to a matter that is the subject of a disciplinary procedure until the disciplinary procedure has been completed.

26 Parties must attempt to resolve the dispute

The parties to a dispute must attempt to resolve the dispute between themselves within 14 days of the dispute coming to the attention of each party.

27 Appointment of mediator

(1) If the parties to a dispute are unable to resolve the dispute between themselves within the time required by rule 26, the parties must within 10 days—

(a) notify the Committee of the dispute; and

(b) agree to or request the appointment of a mediator; and

(c) attempt in good faith to settle the dispute by mediation.

(2) The mediator must be—

(a) a person chosen by agreement between the parties; or

(b) in the absence of agreement—

(i) if the dispute is between a member and another member - a person appointed by the Committee; or

(ii) if the dispute is between a member and the Committee or the Association – a person appointed or employed by the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria.

(3) A mediator appointed by the Committee may be a member or former member of the Association but in any case must not be a person who—

(a) has a personal interest in the dispute; or

(b) is biased in favour of or against any party.

28 Mediation process

(1) The mediator to the dispute, in conducting the mediation, must—

(a) give each party 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 throughout the mediation process.

(2) The mediator must not determine the dispute.

29 Failure to resolve dispute by mediation

If the mediation process does not resolve the dispute, the parties may seek to resolve the dispute in accordance with the Act or otherwise at law.

PART 4—GENERAL MEETINGS OF THE ASSOCIATION

30 Annual general meetings

(1) The Committee must convene an annual general meeting of the Association to be held in the month of October in each year.

(2) Despite subrule (1), the Association may hold its first annual general meeting at any time within 18 months after its incorporation.

(3) Subject to subrule (1) the Committee may determine the date, time and place of the annual general meeting.

(4) The ordinary business of the annual general meeting is as follows—

(a) to confirm the minutes of the previous annual general meeting and of any special general meeting held since then;

(b) to receive and consider—

(i) the annual report of the Committee on the activities of the Association during the preceding financial year; and

(ii) the financial statements of the Association for the preceding financial year submitted by the Committee in accordance with Part 7 of the Act;

(c) to elect the members of the Committee;

(d) to confirm or vary the amounts (if any) of the annual subscription and joining fee.

(5) The annual general meeting may also conduct any other business of which notice has been given in accordance with these Rules.

31 Special general meetings

(1) Any general meeting of the Association, other than an annual general meeting or a disciplinary appeal meeting, is a special general meeting.

(2) The Committee may convene a special general meeting whenever it thinks fit.

(3) No business other than that set out in the notice under rule 33 may be conducted at the meeting.

32 Special general meeting held at request of members

(1) The Committee must convene a special general meeting if a request to do so is made in accordance with subrule (2) by at least 10% of the total number of members.

(2) A request for a special general meeting must—

(a) be in writing; and

(b) state the business to be considered at the meeting and any resolutions to be proposed; and

(c) include the names and signatures of the members requesting the meeting; and

(d) be given to the Secretary.

(3) If the Committee does not convene a special general meeting within one month after the date on which the request is made, the members making the request (or any of them) may convene the special general meeting.

(4) A special general meeting convened by members under subrule (3)—

(a) must be held within 3 months after the date on which the original request was made; and

(b) may only consider the business stated in that request.

(5) The Association must reimburse all reasonable expenses incurred by the members convening a special general meeting under subrule (3).

33 Notice of general meetings

(1) The Secretary (or, in the case of a special general meeting convened under rule 32(3), the members convening the meeting) must give to each member of the Association—

(a) at least 21 days' notice of a general meeting if a special resolution is to be proposed at the meeting; or

(b) at least 14 days' notice of a general meeting in any other case.

(2) The notice must—

(a) specify the date, time and place of the meeting; and

(b) indicate the general nature of each item of business to be considered at the meeting; and

(c) if a special resolution is to be proposed—

(i) state in full the proposed resolution; and

(ii) state the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution; and

(d) comply with rule 34(5).

(3) This rule does not apply to a disciplinary appeal meeting.

34 Proxies

(1) A member may appoint another member as his or her proxy to vote and speak on his or her behalf at a general meeting other than at a disciplinary appeal meeting.

(2) The appointment of a proxy must be in writing and signed by the member making the appointment.

(3) In the case of a Special Resolution proposed in accordance with Rule 33(1)(a) the member appointing the proxy must give specific directions as to how the proxy is to vote on his or her behalf. In any other case the member appointing the proxy may provide specific instructions, or if no instructions are given the proxy may vote on behalf of the member in any matter as he or she sees fit.

(4) If the Committee has not approved a form for the appointment of a proxy, the member may use any other form that clearly identifies the person appointed as the member's proxy and that has been signed by the member.

(5) Notice of a general meeting given to a member under rule 33 must—

(a) state that the member may appoint another member as a proxy for the meeting; and

(b) include a copy of any form that the Committee has approved for the appointment of a proxy.

(6) A form appointing a proxy must be given to the Chairperson of the meeting before or at the commencement of the meeting.

(7) A form appointing a proxy sent by post or electronically is of no effect unless it is received by the Association no later than 24 hours before the commencement of the meeting.

35 Use of technology

(1) A member not physically present at a general meeting may be permitted to participate in the meeting by the use of technology that allows that member and the members present at the meeting to clearly and simultaneously communicate with each other.

(2) For the purposes of this Part, a member participating in a general meeting as permitted under subrule (1) is taken to be present at the meeting and, if the member votes at the meeting, is taken to have voted in person.

36 Quorum at general meetings

(1) No business may be conducted at a general meeting unless a quorum of members is present.

(2) The quorum for a general meeting is the presence (physically, by proxy or as allowed under rule 35) of 20 of the members entitled to vote.

(3) If a quorum is not present within 30 minutes after the notified commencement time of a general meeting—

(a) in the case of a meeting convened by, or at the request of, members under rule 32—the meeting must be dissolved;

(b) in any other case—

(i) the meeting must be adjourned to a date not more than 21 days after the adjournment; and

(ii) notice of the date, time and place to which the meeting is adjourned must be given at the meeting and confirmed by written notice given to all members as soon as practicable after the meeting.

(4) If a quorum is not present within 30 minutes after the time to which a general meeting has been adjourned under subrule (3)(b), the members present at the meeting (if not fewer than 10) may proceed with the business of the meeting as if a quorum were present.

37 Adjournment of general meeting

(1) The Chairperson of a general meeting at which a quorum is present may, with the consent of a majority of members present at the meeting, adjourn the meeting to another time at the same place or at another place.

(2) Without limiting subrule (1), a meeting may be adjourned—

(a) if there is insufficient time to deal with the business at hand; or

(b) to give the members more time to consider an item of business.

(3) No business may be conducted on the resumption of an adjourned meeting other than the business that remained unfinished when the meeting was adjourned.

(4) Notice of the adjournment of a meeting under this rule is not required unless the meeting is adjourned for 14 days or more, in which case notice of the meeting must be given in accordance with rule 33.

38 Voting at general meeting

(1) On any question arising at a general meeting—

(a) subject to subrule (3), each member who is entitled to vote has one vote; and

(b) members may vote personally or by proxy; and

(c) except in the case of a special resolution, the question must be decided on a majority of votes.

(2) If votes are divided equally on a question, the Chairperson of the meeting has a second or casting vote.

(3) If the question is whether or not to confirm the minutes of a previous meeting, only members who were present at that meeting may vote.

(4) This rule does not apply to a vote at a disciplinary appeal meeting conducted under rule 24.

39 Special resolutions

A special resolution is passed if not less than three quarters of the members voting at a general meeting (whether in person or by proxy) vote in favour of the resolution.

40 Determining whether resolution carried

(1) Subject to subsection (2), the Chairperson of a general meeting may, on the basis of a show of hands, declare that a resolution has been—

(a) carried; or

(b) carried unanimously; or

(c) carried by a particular majority; or

(d) lost—

and an entry to that effect in the minutes of the meeting is conclusive proof of that fact.

(2) If a poll (where votes are cast in writing) is demanded by five or more members on any question—

(a) the poll must be taken at the meeting in the manner determined by the Chairperson of the meeting; and

(b) the Chairperson must declare the result of the resolution on the basis of the poll.

(3) A poll demanded on the election of the Chairperson or on a question of an adjournment must be taken immediately.

(4) A poll demanded on any other question must be taken before the close of the meeting at a time determined by the Chairperson.

41 Minutes of general meeting

(1) The Committee must ensure that minutes are taken and kept of each general meeting.

(2) The minutes must record the business considered at the meeting, any resolution on which a vote is taken and the result of the vote.

(3) In addition, the minutes of each annual general meeting must include—

(a) the names of the members attending the meeting; and

(b) proxy forms given to the Chairperson of the meeting under rule 34(6); and

(c) the financial statements submitted to the members in accordance with rule 30(4)(b)(ii); and

(d) the certificate signed by two committee members certifying that the financial statements give a true and fair view of the financial position and performance of the Association; and

(e) any audited accounts and auditor's report or report of a review accompanying the financial statements that are required under the Act.

PART 5—COMMITTEE

Division 1—Powers of Committee

42 Role and powers

(1) The business of the Association must be managed by or under the direction of a Committee.

(2) The Committee may exercise all the powers of the Association except those powers that these Rules or the Act require to be exercised by general meetings of the members of the Association.

(3) The Committee may—

(a) appoint and remove staff;

(b) establish subcommittees consisting of members with terms of reference it considers appropriate.

43 Delegation

(1) The Committee may delegate to a member of the Committee, a subcommittee or staff, any of its powers and functions other than—

(a) this power of delegation; or

(b) a duty imposed on the Committee by the Act or any other law.

(2) The delegation must be in writing and may be subject to the conditions and limitations the Committee considers appropriate.

(3) The Committee may, in writing, revoke a delegation wholly or in part.

Division 2—Composition of Committee and duties of members

44 Composition of Committee

The Committee consists of—

(a) a President; and

(b) three Vice-Presidents; and

(c) a Secretary; and

(d) a Treasurer; and

(e) a Finance Director: and

ordinary members elected under rule 53.

45 General Duties

(1) As soon as practicable after being elected or appointed to the Committee, each committee member must become familiar with these Rules and the Act.

(2) The Committee is collectively responsible for ensuring that the Association complies with the Act and that individual members of the Committee comply with these Rules.

(3) Committee members must exercise their powers and discharge their duties with reasonable care and diligence.

(4) Committee members must exercise their powers and discharge their duties—

(a) in good faith in the best interests of the Association; and

(b) for a proper purpose.

(5) Committee members and former committee members must not make improper use of—

(a) their position; or

(b) information acquired by virtue of holding their position—

so as to gain an advantage for themselves or any other person or to cause detriment to the Association.

(6) In addition to any duties imposed by these Rules, a committee member must perform any other duties imposed from time to time by resolution at a general meeting.

46 President and Vice-President

(1) Subject to subrule (2), the President or, in the President's absence, any of the three Vice-Presidents is the Chairperson for any general meetings and for any committee meetings.

(2) If the President and all three Vice-Presidents are absent, or are unable to preside, the Chairperson of the meeting must be—

(a) in the case of a general meeting—a member elected by the other members present; or

(b) in the case of a committee meeting—a committee member elected by the other committee members present.

47 Secretary

(1) The Secretary must perform any duty or function required under the Act to be performed by the secretary of an incorporated association.

(2) The Secretary must—

(a) maintain the register of members in accordance with rule 18; and

(b) keep custody of the common seal (if any) of the Association and, except for the financial records referred to in rule 70(3), all books, documents and securities of the Association in accordance with rules 72 and 75; and

(c) subject to the Act and these Rules, provide members with access to the register of members, the minutes of general meetings and other books and documents; and

(d) perform any other duty or function imposed on the Secretary by these Rules.

(3) The Secretary must give to the Registrar notice of his or her appointment within 14 days after the appointment.

48 Treasurer

(1) The Treasurer must—

(a) receive all moneys paid to or received by the Association and issue receipts for those moneys in the name of the Association; and

(b) ensure that all moneys received are paid into the account of the Association within 5 working days after receipt; and

(c) make any payments authorised by the Committee or by a general meeting of the Association from the Association's funds; and

(d) ensure cheques are signed by at least 2 committee members.

(2) The Treasurer must—

(a) ensure that the financial records of the Association are kept in accordance with the Act; and

(b) coordinate the preparation of the financial statements of the Association and their certification by the Committee prior to their submission to the annual general meeting of the Association.

(3) The Treasurer must ensure that at least one other committee member has access to the accounts and financial records of the Association.

Division 3—Election of Committee members and tenure of office

49 Who is eligible to be a Committee member

A member is eligible to be elected or appointed as a committee member if the member—

(a) is 18 years or over; and

(b) is entitled to vote at a general meeting.

50 Positions to be declared vacant

(1) This rule applies to—

(a) the first annual general meeting of the Association after its incorporation; or

(b) any subsequent annual general meeting of the Association, after the annual report and financial statements of the Association have been received.

(2) The Chairperson of the meeting must declare all positions on the Committee vacant and hold elections for those positions in accordance with rules 51 to 54.

51 Nominations

(1) Prior to the election of each position, the Chairperson of the meeting must call for nominations to fill that position.

(2) An eligible member of the Association may—

(a) nominate himself or herself; or

(b) with the member's consent, be nominated by another member.

(3) A member who is nominated for a position and fails to be elected to that position may be nominated for any other position for which an election is yet to be held.

52 Election of President etc.

(1) At the annual general meeting, separate elections must be held for each of the following positions -

(a) President

(b) 3 x Vice Presidents

(c) Treasurer

(d) Secretary

(e) Finance Director

(2)If only one member is nominated for a position, the Chairperson of the meeting must declare the member elected to that position.

(3) If more than one member is nominated, a ballot must be held in accordance with rule 54.

(4) On his or her election, the new President may take over as Chairperson of the meeting.

53 Election of ordinary members

(1) The annual general meeting must by resolution elect not less than 5 and not more than 9 ordinary members of the Committee it wishes to hold office for the next year.

(2) A single election may be held to fill all of those positions.

(3) If the number of members nominated for the position of ordinary committee member is less than or equal to the number to be elected, the Chairperson of the meeting must declare each of those members to be elected to the position.

(4) If the number of members nominated exceeds the number to be elected, a ballot must be held in accordance with rule 54.

54 Ballot

(1) If a ballot is required for the election for a position, the Chairperson of the meeting must appoint a member to act as returning officer to conduct the ballot.

(2) The returning officer must not be a member nominated for the position.

(3) Before the ballot is taken, each candidate may make a short speech in support of his or her election.

(4) The election must be by secret ballot.

(5) The returning officer must give a blank piece of paper to—

(a) each member present in person; and

(b) each proxy appointed by a member.

(6) If the ballot is for a single position, the voter must write on the ballot paper the name of the candidate for whom they wish to vote.

(7) If the ballot is for more than one position—

(a) the voter must write on the ballot paper the name of each candidate for whom they wish to vote;

(b) the voter must not write the names of more candidates than the number to be elected.

(8) Ballot papers that do not comply with subrule (7)(b) are not to be counted.

(9) Each ballot paper on which the name of a candidate has been written counts as one vote for that candidate.

(10) The returning officer must declare elected the candidate or, in the case of an election for more than one position, the candidates who received the most votes.

(11) If the returning officer is unable to declare the result of an election under subrule (10) because 2 or more candidates received the same number of votes, the returning officer must—

(a) conduct a further election for the position in accordance with subrules (4) to (10) to decide which of those candidates is to be elected; or

(b) with the agreement of those candidates, decide by lot which of them is to be elected.

55 Term of office

(1) Subject to subrule (3) and rule 56, a committee member holds office until the positions of the Committee are declared vacant at the next annual general meeting.

(2) A committee member may be re-elected.

(3) A general meeting of the Association may—

(a) by special resolution remove a committee member from office; and

(b) elect an eligible member of the Association to fill the vacant position in accordance with this Division.

(4) A member who is the subject of a proposed special resolution under subrule (3)(a) 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.

(5) The Secretary or the President may give a copy of the representations to each member of the Association or, if they are not so given, the member may require that they be read out at the meeting at which the special resolution is to be proposed.

56 Vacation of office

(1) A committee member may resign from the Committee by written notice addressed to the Committee.

(2) A person ceases to be a committee member if he or she—

(a) ceases to be a member of the Association; or

(b) fails to attend 3 consecutive committee meetings (other than special or urgent committee meetings) without leave of absence under rule 67; or

(c) otherwise ceases to be a committee member by operation of section 78 of the Act.

57 Filling casual vacancies

(1) The Committee may appoint an eligible member of the Association to fill a position on the Committee that—

(a) has become vacant under rule 56; or

(b) was not filled by election at the last annual general meeting.

(2) If the position of Secretary becomes vacant, the Committee must appoint a member to the position within 14 days after the vacancy arises.

(3) Rule 55 applies to any committee member appointed by the Committee under subrule (1) or (2).

(4) The Committee may continue to act despite any vacancy in its membership.

Division 4—Meetings of Committee

58 Meetings of Committee

(1) The Committee must meet at least 6 times in each year at the dates, times and places determined by the Committee.

(2) The date, time and place of the first committee meeting must be determined by the members of the Committee as soon as practicable after the annual general meeting of the Association at which the members of the Committee were elected.

(3) Special committee meetings may be convened by the President or by any 4 members of the Committee.

59 Notice of meetings

(1) Notice of each committee meeting must be given to each committee member no later than 3 days before the date of the meeting.

(2) Notice may be given of more than one committee meeting at the same time.

(3) The notice must state the date, time and place of the meeting.

(4) If a special committee meeting is convened, the notice must include the general nature of the business to be conducted.

(5) The only business that may be conducted at the meeting is the business for which the meeting is convened.

60 Urgent meetings

(1) In cases of urgency, a meeting can be held without notice being given in accordance with rule 59 provided that as much notice as practicable is given to each committee member by the quickest means practicable.

(2) Any resolution made at the meeting must be passed by an absolute majority of the Committee.

(3) The only business that may be conducted at an urgent meeting is the business for which the meeting is convened.

61 Procedure and order of business

(1) The procedure to be followed at a meeting of a Committee must be determined from time to time by the Committee.

(2) The order of business may be determined by the members present at the meeting.

62 Use of technology

(1) A committee member who is not physically present at a committee meeting may participate in the meeting by the use of technology that allows that committee member and the committee members present at the meeting to clearly and simultaneously communicate with each other.

(2) For the purposes of this Part, a committee member participating in a committee meeting as permitted under subrule (1) is taken to be present at the meeting and, if the member votes at the meeting, is taken to have voted in person.

63 Quorum

(1) No business may be conducted at a Committee meeting unless a quorum is present.

(2) The quorum for a committee meeting is the presence (in person or as allowed under rule 62) of no less than 6 of the committee members holding office.

(3) If a quorum is not present within 30 minutes after the notified commencement time of a committee meeting—

(a) in the case of a special meeting—the meeting lapses;

(b) in any other case—the meeting must be adjourned to a date no later than 14 days after the adjournment and notice of the time, date and place to which the meeting is adjourned must be given in accordance with rule 59.

64 Voting

(1) On any question arising at a committee meeting, each committee member present at the meeting has one vote.

(2) A motion is carried if a majority of committee members present at the meeting vote in favour of the motion.

(3) Subrule (2) does not apply to any motion or question which is required by these Rules to be passed by an absolute majority of the Committee.

(4) If votes are divided equally on a question, the Chairperson of the meeting has a second or casting vote.

(5) Voting by proxy is not permitted.

65 Conflict of interest

(1) A committee member who has a material personal interest in a matter being considered at a committee meeting must disclose the nature and extent of that interest to the Committee.

(2) The member—

(a) must not be present while the matter is being considered at the meeting; and

(b) must not vote on the matter.

(3) This rule does not apply to a material personal interest—

(a) that exists only because the member belongs to a class of persons for whose benefit the Association is established; or

(b) that the member has in common with all, or a substantial proportion of, the members of the Association.

66 Minutes of meeting

(1) The Committee must ensure that minutes are taken and kept of each committee meeting.

(2) The minutes must record the following—

(a) the names of the members in attendance at the meeting;

(b) the business considered at the meeting;

(c) any resolution on which a vote is taken and the result of the vote;

(d) any material personal interest disclosed under rule 65.

67 Leave of absence

(1) The Committee may grant a committee member leave of absence from committee meetings for a period not exceeding 3 months.

(2) The Committee must not grant leave of absence retrospectively unless it is satisfied that it was not feasible for the committee member to seek the leave in advance.

PART 6—FINANCIAL MATTERS

68 Source of funds

The funds of the Association may be derived from joining fees, annual subscriptions, donations, fund-raising activities, grants, interest and any other sources approved by the Committee.

69 Management of funds

(1) The Association must open an account with a financial institution from which all expenditure of the Association is made and into which all of the Association's revenue is deposited.

(2) Subject to any restrictions imposed by a general meeting of the Association, the Committee may approve expenditure on behalf of the Association.

(3) The Committee may authorise the Treasurer to expend funds on behalf of the Association (including by electronic funds transfer) up to a specified limit without requiring approval from the Committee for each item on which the funds are expended.

(4) All cheques, drafts, bills of exchange, promissory notes and other negotiable instruments must be signed by 2 committee members.

(5) All funds of the Association must be deposited into the financial account of the Association no later than 5 working days after receipt.

(6) With the approval of the Committee, the Treasurer may maintain a cash float provided that all money paid from or paid into the float is accurately recorded at the time of the transaction.

70 Financial records

(1) The Association must keep financial records that—

(a) correctly record and explain its transactions, financial position and performance; and

(b) enable financial statements to be prepared as required by the Act.

(2) The Association must retain the financial records for 7 years after the transactions covered by the records are completed.

(3) The Treasurer must keep in his or her custody, or under his or her control—

(a) the financial records for the current financial year; and

(b) any other financial records as authorised by the Committee.

71 Financial statements

(1) For each financial year, the Committee must ensure that the requirements under the Act relating to the financial statements of the Association are met.

(2) Without limiting subrule (1), those requirements include—

(a) the preparation of the financial statements;

(b) if required, the review or auditing of the financial statements;

(c) the certification of the financial statements by the Committee;

(d) the submission of the financial statements to the annual general meeting of the Association;

(e) the lodgement with the Registrar of the financial statements and accompanying reports, certificates, statements and fee.

PART 7—GENERAL MATTERS

72 Common seal

(1) The Association may have a common seal.

(2) If the Association has a common seal—

(a) the name of the Association must appear in legible characters on the common seal;

(b) a document may only be sealed with the common seal by the authority of the Committee and the sealing must be witnessed by the signatures of two committee members;

(c) the common seal must be kept in the custody of the Secretary.

73 Registered address

The registered address of the Association is—

(a) the address determined from time to time by resolution of the Committee; or

(b) if the Committee has not determined an address to be the registered address—the postal address of the Secretary.

74 Notice requirements

(1) Any notice required to be given to a member or a committee member under these Rules may be given—

(a) by handing the notice to the member personally; or

(b) by sending it by post to the member at the address recorded for the member on the register of members; or

(c) by email or facsimile transmission.

(2) Subrule (1) does not apply to notice given under rule 60.

(3) Any notice required to be given to the Association or the Committee may be given—

(a) by handing the notice to a member of the Committee; or

(b) by sending the notice by post to the registered address; or

(c) by leaving the notice at the registered address; or

(d) if the Committee determines that it is appropriate in the circumstances—

(i) by email to the email address of the Association or the Secretary; or

(ii) by facsimile transmission to the facsimile number of the Association.

75 Custody and inspection of books and records

(1) Members may on request inspect free of charge—

(a) the register of members;

(b) the minutes of general meetings;

(c) subject to subrule (2), the financial records, books, securities and any other relevant document of the Association, including minutes of Committee meetings.

(2) The Committee may refuse to permit a member to inspect records of the Association that relate to confidential, personal, employment, commercial or legal matters or where to do so may be prejudicial to the interests of the Association.

(3) The Committee must on request make copies of these rules available to members and applicants for membership free of charge.

(4) Subject to subrule (2), a member may make a copy of any of the other records of the Association referred to in this rule and the Association may charge a reasonable fee for provision of a copy of such a record.

(5) For purposes of this rule—

relevant documents means the records and other documents, however compiled, recorded or stored, that relate to the incorporation and management of the Association and includes the following—

(a) its membership records;

(b) its financial statements;

(c) its financial records;

(d) records and documents relating to transactions, dealings, business or property of the Association.

76 Winding up and cancellation

(1) The Association may be wound up voluntarily by special resolution.

(2) In the event of the winding up or the cancellation of the incorporation of the Association, the surplus assets of the Association must not be distributed to any members or former members of the Association.

(3) Subject to the Act and any court order made under section 133 of the Act, the surplus assets must be given to a body that has similar purposes to the Association and which is not carried on for the profit or gain of its individual members.

(4) The body to which the surplus assets are to be given must be decided by special resolution.

77 Alteration of Rules

These Rules may only be altered by special resolution of a general meeting of the Association.

78 Motto

The motto of the association shall be “SAUVITOR IN MODO FORTITER IN RE” (Gentle in manner, Firm in Deed). The colours of the association shall be red and blue and white, and the football and netball uniforms shall consist of a combination of any or all of those colours. Such uniform shall be worn by all teams of the association subject to the rules and directions of the leagues with which the association affiliates

79 Liquor Licensing

No allowance shall be paid to any officer or servant of the associationby way of commission or allowance from the receipts of the association from the sale and disposal of liquor.
A visitor to the association must not be supplied with liquor in the association premises unless that visitor is a guest in the company of a member of the association.
A person shall not be admitted as an honorary member of the association or be exempted from the obligation to pay the annual subscription for membership except in accordance with rule 4 hereof.

80 Honorary Members

(1) The Committee may by a simple majority vote appoint a person as an Honorary member (for no more than one year) of the association in recognition of services rendered in promoting the interests and purposes of the association.

(2) A registered member of a visiting club or association against which the association is competing, or a member of an Umpires Association officiating on the day of such competition shall be considered to be an Honorary Member of the association for the day only on which that person attends for such competition.

81 Life Membership

(1) The election of a life member is recognition by the Bairnsdale Football Netball Club of long and outstanding service by a member to the club.

(2) The Committee may (but is not obliged to) award no more than two (2) Life Memberships in any one year

(3) Life membership may be awarded to a financial member whose contribution to the club:-

(a) has resulted in the club being substantially, demonstrably and positively changed by that contribution; and/or,

(b) has required substantial, commendable and regular personal input; and,

(c) has required ongoing commitment over a significant period of time; and,

(d) has exemplified and continues to exemplify club values.

(4) A financial member may nominate another financial member for Life Membership

(5) Any such application must be in writing, signed by the proposer and seconded by two other financial members.

(6) The application must contain information in support, including length of service, nature of service, and any other relevant details.

(7) For an application to be considered in the current season, it must be lodged with the Secretary or General Manager no later than 31st August in that season.

(8) In considering the application the Committee shall have regard to (but shall not be bound by) the following:-

(a) Length of service

(b) Nature of service (e.g. - Player, Coach, Administrator, other)

(c) Whether or not service is in a voluntary capacity.

(d) Whether such service exemplifies club values.

(e) Demonstrable ongoing support for the club in furthering its Purposes.

(9) Approval for Life Membership shall be decided by an absolute majority (as defined in Rule 4) of the Committee.

(10) Any person elected to life membership shall be exempt from payment of any further membership subscription but shall nevertheless be entitled to all the privileges and benefits and be subject to the same liabilities and duties as an ordinary member.

(11) Retraction of a Life Membership award may occur where the recipient has conducted him/ herself in a manner that reflects directly and adversely on the image or activities of the club. This provision will only be exercised in exceptional circumstances and will require the support of no less than 75% of the members of the Committee of Management to take effect. As part of the deliberations, the life member in question shall be given an opportunity to present their case to the Committee for retention of their Life Membership status.

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