 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| WomenSport International Bylaws | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(for printable version - click here) 1. APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP Section1: The categories of
membership are active, associate and organizational membership. Section 2: Alterations to categories
of membership and related fees may be varied from time to time,
as determined at annual general or special meetings. Section 3: Applications for
membership shall be on the form prescribed and entitled "Application
for Membership". Applications for renewal of membership shall
be submitted by each applicant and shall be accompanied by the payment
of the membership fee. These applications shall be sent to the WSI
Treasurer. Section 4: If an application
is approved, the Secretary shall inform the applicant that she has
been admitted to membership of WSI and added to the WSI database.
Cases in which qualifications are in doubt shall be referred to
the Chair of the Membership Committee. Section 5: When an application is rejected, the President shall inform the applicant of such rejection. ARTICLE 2 2. MEMBERSHIP FEES Section 2: Such fees shall be payable for membership to the Treasurer of WSI for the period of the financial year as defined herein and shall become delinquent if unpaid within 2 months. However, the Advisory Board shall have the power to implement alternative schedules if it so decides. A member who is deliquent in her dues thereby loses all privileges of WSI. A member whose dues are deliquent by more than six months may be dropped from the database of WSI by action of the Advisory Board and the President shall notify such member of this action by the Board. Section 3: Any member of WSI dropped from membership because of delinquency may be reinstated upon the filing of a new membership application together with the current fees. ARTICLE 3 3. SUSPENSION AND CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP Section1: Failure by a member to pay the membership fee within six months of the due date in accordance with Article 2, Section 2, shall entail automatic suspension of the member in default. Membership shall be conferred upon compliance with the requirements for payment and the suspension will therefore be set aside in accordance with Article 2, Section 3. Section 2: Any violation by a member of the Constitution of WSI or of any orders made in conformity therewith shall render such member liable to suspension from WSI by the Advisory Board until the next meeting of WSI at which the member may be liable for expulsion. Section 3: Any member of WSI, may be, on the motion of the Advisory Board, liable for expulsion for any violation of the Constitution of WSI or of any order made in conformity therewith or conduct not in the interests of WSI and promotion of its objectives. Section 4: Expulsion of a member shall be decided by WSI at a Special or Annual Meeting and shall require in the case of any catagory of member, a majority vote of the members present at such meeting which shall have a quorum. Section 5: At such meeting of WSI the subject of the motion to be expelled shall be given the right to address the meeting. The Advisory Board, through the auspices of the Executive Director, shall ensure that such member has been given notice of the proposed motion for expulsion and a short statement of reasons therefore at least one month prior to the meeting so scheduled. ARTICLE 4 4. PROCEDURE AT MEETINGS Section 1: All meetings shall
be conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order. Section 2: To facilitate the
conduct of its business WSI may by resolution, adjourn, vary procedure,
or otherwise regulate any of its meetings or proceedings as it so
determines provided such variations are not inconsistent with these
articles. Section 3: Minutes of all meetings
shall be taken and recorded in a Minute Book in which all resolutions
and motions shall be recorded. A copy of the minutes of each meeting
shall be forwarded to all members who attended the meeting and to
other members upon request within 30 days of the date of the meetings.
The Minutes of each meeting produced in writing ARTICLE 5 5. ELECTION PROCEDURES. Section 1: The following positions
will be subject to election, for 3-year terms, by members at an
annual meeting as provided by this Constitution: President, Vice
President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Advisory Board Members. Section 2: The election of all
officers shall be on a triannual rotation basis with the President,
Secretary and four Advisory Board members standing for office at
one election and the Vice President, Treasurer and remaining four
Advisory Board members standing at the next election period. (This
rotation shall be inaugurated as follows: Vice President, Treasurer
and four Advisory Board members drawn by lot will stand for election
in 2000 and for regular election in 2003; the President, Secretary
and remaining Advisory Board members will stand for election in
2002 and for regular election in 2005.) Section 3: Where such elections
to any office provided for by this Constitution are to be held,
the President shall call for nominations in the WSI Newsletter for
the office(s) to be filled in the year in which such offices fall
due for election. Section 4: The nomination form
and vitae will be sent to the chair of the Nominating Committee.
The Nominating Committee will select, in a democratic and deliberative
manner, two highly qualified candidates for each position taking
into consideration the WSI leadership needs, as defined by the Advisory
Board at the meeting preceding the election. Section 5: Ballots will be mailed
in a timely fashion to all active members and the representative
of organisational members and must be returned to a person designated
by the Executive Committee by a specified date. Officers will begin
their term on July 1st of the year of the election. Section 6: Should any vacancy
occur amongst office bearers or should WSI declare any office vacant
an election for such vacancy shall be held at the next annual election
in accordance with the Bye Laws, Article 5, and the President shall
call for nominations to fill such vacancy to close not less than
6 weeks prior to the date of such balloting.The person elected to
fill the vacancy shall hold office for the balance of the term of
office of such person’s predecessor. Section 7: Elections shall be
conducted by preferential ballot and decided by a simple majority.
In the event of a tie vote, the Executive Committee shall determine
the outcome. Section 8: Elected office bearers
shall be elected by mail ballot as their offices fall vacant. A
retiring office bearer shall be eligible for re-election subject
to any specific prohibitions contained within. Section 7: Members of the Advisory
Board shall be eligible for election for 3 years and for re-election
for a period of 3 years. The term begins on July 1st of the election
year and ends on June 30th of the triannual period. ARTICLE 6 6. MAIL VOTES Section 1. Subject to the Constitution
a resolution shall be submitted to a mail vote when directed by
the Advisory Board. Section 2: Where a vote by mail
is directed, the President shall dispatch to each member a clear
statement of the question to be voted upon with a request that such
member shall send her vote thereon to the President and such request
shall state the date upon which the voting shall close which shall
not be less than 21 days after dispatch of the resoluttion to be
voted upon. In the case where the Advisory Board deems it necessary
that a vote shall be taken by facsimile rather than by mail and
the vote shall close within the period specified on the fax, the
date of dispatch shall be the date printed by the receiver’s
fax machine at its head. The President may, at any time when sufficient
votes have been received either to carry or to reject a mail or
facsimile vote, annouce the result of same and the result as announced
shall be decisive. Section 3: The President shall
inform the members of the outcome of the vote within 14 days of
the closing date for receipt of votes in accordance with Article
6, Section 2. Section 4: In the event of an
equal number of votes for and against being recorded, the vote shall
be lost. Section 5: A vote upon any resolution so taken by post shall be valid and binding in all respects as if the same had been taken in due manner at a duly convened meeting of WSI and shall be recorded in the Minutes. ARTICLE 7 7. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL Section1: The Secretary General
shall be appointed by the Advisory Board, acting upon the recommendations
of the Executive Committee. Section 2: The Secretary General
is the principal officer with respect to WSI business outside of
the infrastructure of WSI itself. The Secretary General receives
copies of all reports, policy work, major correspondence of all
structures of WSI so she is fully cognizant of WSI operation. She,
in turn, channels the progress and results of her work to appropriate
structures in order to maximise effective operation. Section 3: The Secretary General
shall be responsible to the Advisory Board and shall be delegated
the authority, along with the President and Treasurer, to affix
her signature and the Common Seal in accordance with Article 19,
Section 1 in the name of WSI on all legal papers, resolutions, minutes,
tax returns and other legal documents relating to the business of
WSI with the approval of the Advisory Board or the Executive Committee. Section 4: In the event of a vacancy occurring in this office, the members of the Advisory Board shall appoint a replacement until such time as an appointment is made pursuant to Article 10 of this Constitution. ARTICLE 8 8. DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT Section 1: The President of
WSI shall be elected by WSI for a term of 3 years. Section 2: The President shall
assume office in accordance with Article 5, Section 2 of these Bye
Laws. The President is the lead officer of WSI in regard to matters
internal to WSI and any formal action taken by the WSI or its officers. Section 3: In the event of a
vacancy occuring in the office of President the members of the Advisory
Board shall elect a member as Chair until such times as elections
are held pursuant to this Constitution. Section 4: The President shall
be the authorized representative of WSI in regard to legal matters
unless the Advisory Board otherwise determines. Section 5: The President shall have the power to authorize expenditure on behalf of WSI with the approval of the Executive Committeee. Regular financial statements will be circulated to the Advisory Board. ARTICLE 9 9. DUTIES OF THE PAST PRESIDENT Section1: The Past president
shall take up her role on the Executive Committee on stepping down
as President. She shall cease her role as Past President when her
immediate sucessor steps down. Section 2: The Past President
shall ensure a smooth hand over of business to her successor and
shall advise her on any outstanding matters that need attention. Section 3: The Past President shall act in an advisory and support capacity to the new President and, in so doing, shall be especially mindful of the history and origins of the organisation. ARTICLE 10 10. DUTIES OF THE VICE PRESIDENT Section 1: The Vice President
of WSI shall be elected for a term of 3 years. The Vice President
shall assume office in accordance with Article 5 of the Bye Laws.
The Vice President is charged with the responsibility to coordinate
the work of the committees and task forces of WSI. Section 2: In the event of a vacancy in the office of President, or a temporary incapacity of the President to serve, the Vice President will fulfill the duties of President. The Advisory Board shall elect one of the remaining members to fill the role of Vice President until such time as elections are held pursant to this Constitution. ARTICLE 11 11. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY Section 1: The Secretary of
WSI shall be elected for a term of 3 years. The Secretary shall
assume office in accordance with Article 5 of these Bye Laws. Section 2: The Secretary shall
have charge of all papers, archives, records and property of WSI.
She shall present a report of the transaction of the Advisory Board
and of the Executive Committee to WSI at the annual meeting. She
shall keep a database of members of WSI together with such data
as may be of interest to WSI. Section 3: The Secretary shall have charge of the Advsirory Board correspondence in consultation with the President, and make a report thereof to the Advisory Board. She shall issue all notices of meetings and notifications of acceptance of membership. She shall notify members in writing of their appointment to committees and of their election to office. ARTICLE 12 12. DUTIES OF THE TREASURER Section 1: The Treasurer of
WSI shall be elected for a term of 3 years. She shall assume office
in accordance with Article 5 of these Bye Laws. Section 2: The duties of the
Treasurer shall include; keeping accurate records of all financial
transactions, arranging for the opening and conduct of a bank account,
or bank acounts, to be opened and maintained in the name of WSI,
to arrange check signatories who shall number no fewer than three
(the Secretary General, President and Treasurer), to present a balance
sheet at every Advisory Board Meeting and at any other meeting of
WSI, to prepare the annual budget for WSI and to report generally
on the financial management and position of WSI. Section 3: The Treasurer shall
collect and receive all fees and assessments and all other monies
belonging to WSI. She shall be accountable therefore to the Advisory
Board, at such times as it may designate. She shall keep proper
books, records, and accounts which shall at all times be open for
examination by the Advisory Board or its representatives. She shall
deposit the funds of WSI in such depositories as shall be designated
by the Advisory Board, and shall maintain such deposits in the name
of WSI. Section 4: No unbudgetted monies shall be drawn from the treasury except for such purposes as shall have been approved by WSI at an annual meeting or shall have been authorized by the Executive Committee to provide for the proper conduct of the business and furtherance of the objectives and purposes of WSI. ARTICLE 13 13. SEPARATION OF POWERS BETWEEN THE
ADVISORY BOARD AND THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Section 1: Board Members shall
assume office in accordance with Article 5 in the Bye Laws. Section 2: The duties of the
Advisory Board shall include consideration of all matters relevant
to the smooth government and best interests of WSI and the assumption
of responsibility for certain delegated tasks such as attending
functions, the drafting of reports and the like. Section 3: The routine administrative and corporative functions as prescribed by the Advisory Board and/or the membership at the annual meeting shall be implemented by the Executive Committee. ARTICLE 14 Section 1: WSI shall appoint
a registered public auditor whose duty it shall be to audit the
books and accounts every third year and whose remuneration shall
be publicly agreed. The Auditor shall not be a member of WSI. Section 2: A copy of the annual financial statements certified to be correct by the Auditor, shall be made available upon request. ARTICLE 15 15. DUTIES OF THE SOLICITOR Section 1: WSI may appoint, from time to time, and as is necessary, a solicitor to act for and on behalf of WSI. The remuneration of the solicitor shall be mutually agreed. The solicitor may be a member of WSI.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|