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The executive of AABS proposes the following amended constitution for consideration by members prior to the General Meeting to be held in Perth in April 2001. Attention should be paid to sections 1-3, where alterations to the existing constitution (in bold) now reflect the membership of AABS more accurately, clarify the term of office of the executive committee, and place the conducting of business on a more formal footing. The clauses inserted at sections 7-8 clarify the financial position of the Assocation with regard to its non-profit status under GST.
Any queries or suggestions for further amendment should be addressed to the President, John Melville-Jones (jrmelvil@cyllene.uwa.edu.au) by no later than 1 March 2001.
The Australian Association
for Byzantine Studies
Draft Revised Constitution
(10.10.00)
1. Membership shall be open to all involved in teaching or research or with an interest in Byzantine and related studies in Australia.
2. The Association shall meet at least once in every four years to deal with business as required, to elect its executive committee for the next four years, to consider desirable new activities, cooperative projects, bibliographical and visual resources, general policy and similar matters, and to hear accounts of recent work undertaken in the field.
3.a. There shall be an executive committee consisting of a President, Secretary and Treasurer, and at least three and no more than six members elected at a meeting of the Association.
b. The term of office shall be four years.
c. The President, Secretary and Treasurer shall be eligible for election to the same office for no more than two consecutive terms.
d. A majority of this executive committee at the time of election shall not be formed from any one Australian city.
e. In the event of the resignation of a member of the executive committee between meetings of the Association, the executive shall be empowered to coopt a replacement, subject to ratification of that appointment at the next general meeting of the Association.
f. The executive committee shall be empowered to conduct the business of the Association between general meetings and required to report to such meetings.
g. The executive committee shall tender a report in writing at least once a year to all members of the Association, and a copy of its minutes to all members of the executive committee.
h. A quorum for a general meeting of the Association shall consist of ten members.
i. A quorum for a meeting of the executive committee shall consist of four members, including at least one of the three office-bearers.
4. The Association shall form as a sub-committee of the Australian National Committee for Byzantine Studies, to be constituted and administered as follows:
a. The membership shall be synonymous with that of the executive committee of the Association.
b. A meeting of this sub-committee must be called if requested in writing by any three members of the sub-committee. The time, place and agenda of the meeting must be circulated a reasonable time in advance. Minutes must be circulated to all members of the sub-committee. A quorum for a meeting of this sub-committee shall consist of at least three members, including at least one of the three office-bearers.
c. The duties of the sub-committee shall include liaison with the International Byzantine Association and the appointment of representatives to the International Byzantine Committee.
5. Each member of the Association shall pay an annual subscription as may from time to time be determined by the Association.
6. The Association shall accept financial responsibility for membership of the International Byzantine Association.
7. The assets and income of the Association shall be applied solely in accordance with the objects of the Association and no portion shall be distributed directly or indirectly to members of the Association except as bona fide compensation for services rendered or expenses incurred on behalf of the Association.
8. In the event of the Association being dissolved, the amount that remains after such dissolution and the satisfaction of all debst and liabilities shall be transferred to any organisation that is carried on to represent the interests of persons who teach, research or have an interest in Byzantine studies in Australia and is not carried on for the profit or gain of its individual members.
9. The constitution may not be altered except at a general meeting of the Association. Adequate advance notice should be given by the proposer of the amendment to the executive committee, and by the executive committee to all members.
