The Constitution of Action for Children and Youth Aotearoa (Incorporated)
(as amended at the Annual General Meeting of 24 September 2015)
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1. Name
The name of the society will be Action for Children and Youth Aotearoa (Incorporated). 2. Aims and Objects Action for Children and Youth Aotearoa (Incorporated) seeks to promote respect for children and youth and their rights. In order to do this it will:
3. Membership Any child, youth, adult, family, non-governmental organisation or group, who supports the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, supports Te Tiriti O Waitangi, and supports the aims, objects and values of Action for Children and Youth Aotearoa (Incorporated), is entitled to become a member. Each member shall have one vote. Members must complete a membership application and pay the membership subscription as set at the General Meeting, and will become a member seven days after lodging the application and membership subscription with the Secretary. Membership shall continue until the member gives written notice of resignation to the Secretary, fails to pay the membership subscription within one month of a request to pay any membership subscription then due, or is removed by the Steering Committee. A member may be removed by the Steering Committee only after having been given two weeks’ written notice of the reasons for removal and been given the opportunity within the two week period to make written representations to the Steering Committee. 4. Organisation and Officers The actions and processes of Action for Children and Youth Aotearoa (Incorporated) will respect the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and Te Tiriti O Waitangi. A Steering Committee together with its elected officers will manage the affairs of Action for Children and Youth Aotearoa (Incorporated). The Steering Committee and Officers will be elected at an Annual General Meeting. Meetings Annual General Meetings These will be held each year within 3 months of the end of each financial year. Members will be given at least three weeks’ written notice of Annual General Meetings. The quorum for an Annual General Meeting will be eleven members attending. Special General Meetings These may be held for urgent or important business that cannot wait for the next Annual General Meeting. Special General Meetings may be called by
The quorum for a Special General meeting will be eleven members attending. If the Special General Meeting is being held at the request of twelve or more members, then the quorum will include at least six of those who have made the request. Ordinary Meetings These will be open to all members. The quorum for Ordinary Meetings will be seven members. Voting Annual General Meetings, Special General Meetings, and Ordinary Meetings will reach decisions by consensus, but failing consensus by a vote of those present. Postal voting and Proxy voting will be allowed. Proxy voting (where a member can vote on behald of another member) shall be in writing and signed by the member who cannot attend. Other voting at Meetings will be by voice or a show of hands. |
The Steering Committee This will consist of a Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and three or more Steering Committee members. The Chairperson will
The Secretary will
Steering Committee Meetings The Steering Committee
The Steering Committee may co-opt members, establish sub-committees and working groups, and may establish branches of six or more members to further the aims and objects. 5. Funds and Contracts The income and assets of Action for Children and Youth Aotearoa (Incorporated) are to be used solely to further its aims and objects. Action for Children and Youth Aotearoa (Incorporated) may
The financial year will be 1 July to 30 June. No income or assets are to be paid or transferred to any member, employee or officer, except as payment of reasonable expenses or reasonable remuneration for services, and as authorised by the Committee. Cheques and withdrawals shall require the signature of two members of the Steering Committee. Withdrawals from any of the society's bank accounts (electronic and cheques) shall require the authorisation of the Treasurer and one other member of the Steering Committee. Three members of the Steering Committee shall be authorised as signatories to operate the society's bank accounts electronically. any instructions to the bank must be authorised by at least two of such members. Common Seal The Steering Committee will authorise use of the Common Seal of Action for Children and Youth Aotearoa (Incorporated). When the Common Seal is used, two members of the Committee shall sign it. 6. Alterations to the Constitution A two-thirds majority at an Annual or Special General Meeting may make alterations to the Constitution. Members shall receive at least three weeks written notice of proposed changes. No alterations or additions shall be made which are in conflict with the aims and objects of Action for Children and Youth Aotearoa (Incorporated) or its charitable nature. 7. Winding-up Action for Children and Youth Aotearoa (Incorporated) may be wound up if two thirds of the members voting at an Annual or Special General Meeting pass a resolution to wind up, and if this is confirmed by two thirds of the members voting at a second Special General Meeting held one to three months later. On winding up, any surplus assets will be distributed to other charitable organisations within Aotearoa New Zealand with similar aims and objects, as decided at the second Special General Meeting. Click to download PDF |
