Constitution
1) The name of the society shall be the Australasian Evolution Society
Objects
2) The society shall promote the scientific study of evolution.
3) The Society shall provide opportunities for discussion and the dissemination of information among its Members by an appropriate means, including meetings and publications.
4) The Society shall take an active interest in the teaching of evolution in the wider community.
Membership
5) Professional scientists and scientifically-interested amateurs, who are engaged in evolutionary research may be admitted to Membership of the Society, at the discretion of the Council. The candidate shall furnish to the Secretary details of name, address, work, and interests for inclusion in the List of Members.
6) Each Member is responsible for notifying the Secretary of their registered address, and of any changes, to which formal notices required under these laws may be sent.
7) Membership shall not be considered effective until the first subscription has been paid.
8) No Member shall be at liberty to withdraw from the Society without previously giving notice in writing to the Secretary of their intention to withdraw, and returning all property of the Society in their possession. Members will be considered liable for the payment of all subscriptions due from them up to the date at which they give written notice of their intention to withdraw from the Society.
9) If in the opinion of the Council the conduct of any Member of the Society, or any act done by him or her, be injurious to the interests of the Society, the Council may call on such Member to show cause why he or she should not be expelled from the Society; and unless within one calendar month he shall show such cause to the satisfaction of the Council, the Council may direct that his name be erased from the List of Members, and he shall thereupon cease to be a Member of the Society.
Honorary Membership
10) The Council may invite as an Honorary Member any professional scientist or any scientifically-interested amateur.
11) Honorary Members shall not be required to pay entrance fee or subscription.
12) The annual subscription shall be fixed by the Council.
13) The financial year will commence on 1st January. Members elected between 30th June and 31th December shall, upon payment of the first annual subscription, be credited with payment of the annual subscription for the following financial year, unless they wish to receive publications for the current year.
14) Subscriptions shall be due on the first day of the financial year, and no member shall be entitled to the privileges of Membership until the subscription for the year is paid.
15) If the annual subscription of a Member is twelve (12) months in arrears, the Council may, after due notification to such Member, remove his or her name from the List of Members, but after payment of all arrears may reinstate the name of a Member removed under this rule.
Management
16) The Management of the Society shall be vested in the Council which shall consist of the office-bearers of the Society, one Ordinary Member, one Public Officer, and one Newsletter Editor.
17) The following shall be considered office-bearers:
- President
- Vice-President
- Treasurer
- Secretary
18) The President or the Vice-President shall act as Convenor at Council meetings, but in their absence a Convenor may be elected by Members present. An absent Member of the Council may nominate an Ordinary Member of the society to act as his proxy at a meeting of the Council. All Council decisions shall be by simple majority of its Members expressed verbally or by post. The Convenor shall have a casting vote. In case of doubt as to the interpretation and application of any regulations, the Convenor is authorized to give a ruling.
Election of Council
19) Office-bearers, and members of Council shall be appointed annually at the Annual General Meeting. All office-bearers may be re-elected, but the President, the Vice-President and the Ordinary Member may not remain in office for more than three consecutive years.
20) Nominations to the Council must be received by the Secretary no less than 21 days prior to the Annual General Meeting of each year. Nominees must be proposed and seconded by financial Members who must obtain written consent from the candidate to accept nomination. If more than one nomination is received for any one vacancy, a vote shall be taken at the Annual General Meeting.
21) The Council may fill any vacancy which may occur during the year for the unexpired portion of the year.
Duties of Council
22) The President, or in his or her absence the Vice-President, shall act as Convenor at all business meetings of the Society. The President may appoint any Member of the Council to carry out the duties of the Convenor in the absence of the President or Vice-President. If no Member of the Council has been appointed a meeting may elect a Convenor from among the Members present.
23) The Secretary shall keep all records of the Society and shall be responsible for their correctness; and shall keep minutes of all business and Council meetings.
24) The Treasurer shall keep all funds and monies and shall disburse them on behalf of the Society; and shall be responsible for their correctness. He or she shall not keep more than forty dollars ($40) in the form of cash and shall deposit any money in excess of this amount in the Society’s bank account.
26) The Newsletter Editor shall collect material for, edit and issue publications of the Society.
27) The Public Officer shall manage the society web site.
28) The Council shall appoint annually an official auditor to audit the yearly accounts of the Society.
29) The Secretary and the Treasurer shall prepare and the Council shall approve reports on the Society’s activities in each year. These reports may be presented at an appropriate General Meeting, and abstracts shall be circulated to all Members.
Property
30) There shall not be more than three Trustees of the Society. The Trustees shall be the President, the Vice-President and the Treasurer.
31) The property of the Society (other than the funds and monies referred to in clause 24 hereof) shall be vested in the Trustees to be dealt with by them as the Council shall from time to time direct (of which direction an entry in the minute book shall be conclusive evidence).
32) The Trustees shall be indemnified against risk and expense arising out of the Society’s property.
Committees
33) The Council may appoint such Committees as it considers necessary for carrying on the work of the Society; and shall have the power to co-opt Members or non-Members of the Society to serve on such Committees.
34) No Committee shall act without the consent of the Council of the Society
Meetings
35) The President may call meetings of the Council or business may be conducted electronically or by post. At a Council meeting three shall form a quorum, but decisions must be referred to other Members electronically or by post.
36) The Council of the Society will call General Meetings (scientific and business) as convenient. There shall be an Annual General Meeting each year at a time to be determined by the Council, at which a report of the year’s activities and a balance sheet for the preceding year shall be presented.
37) Special General Meetings to discuss business may be called at the discretion of the Council, and must be called by the President, or in his absence the Vice-President on application of not less than ten Members. At least one month’s notice must be given, and Members unable to attend may express view by proxy or by post. Owing to the impracticality of obtaining a fully representative attendance, such a Special General Meeting is empowered only to make recommendations which Council may refer to a postal vote.
Postal Vote
38) When a postal vote is called for, the Secretary must notify Members of the closing date in sufficient time to allow for a reply to be received from the registered addresses of Members. Decisions of a postal vote shall be by simple majority of the votes cast. For the purpose of such a postal vote, thirty percent of Members shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a Quorum, decisions will be deferred to a Special General Meeting or the next Annual Meeting.
General
39) No new law, or alteration or repeal of an existing law, shall be made except at the Annual General Meeting or by postal vote as stipulated in clause 37 hereof.
40) A resolution to repeal, alter or add to any existing rule must be approved by not less than two thirds of the members voting.
41) In the event of any question or matter arising out of any point which is not expressly provided for under these laws, the Council may act as seems to be best for the interests of the Society.
42) The common seal shall have the name of the Society inscribed on it, and shall be kept by the Public Officer of the Society. The Public Officer shall be appointed by the membership at the annual general meeting.
43) The Council shall have the power to use the seal in the execution of any power to use the seal in the execution of any powers vested in it or otherwise in relation to the affairs or business of the Society. The seal shall not be used except by the authority of the Council. The Public Officer (or in his absence the President) and one other member of Council shall sign every instrument to which the seal is affixed.
44) In July of each year or at such other times as may be necessary, the Council shall appoint an auditor willing to act and who is not a member, nor the public officer of the association to audit the financial statements of the society.