The SGM was held on the 15th Mar.
This was to review a number of draft constitutional changes to meet the 2022 Incorporated Societies Act. The first order was to confirm that we could continue with the meeting, even though there was a shortened notification time frame. This was agreed to by all that attended and the meeting continued.
Each of the draft changes were discussed and agreed too. They were:
- Section 3: Objects to include two statements showing the objects of the Association.
- Section 8: Minimum Number and Classes of Members. This was changed from five to three classes of members:
Full Membership
Life Membership
Overseas Membership
- Section 9: Becoming a member section changed to being an online form, naming of who will hold the full membership.
- Section 10 Disclosures and Limitations section also required the authorised person who will hold the full membership
- Section 13: Ceasing to be a Member provided more clarity around cancellation of a membership by the Executive
- Section 17: Voting, clarifying that there is only one vote per full membership. This hasn't changed, just clarified further.
- Section 26: Qualifications section was reduced to prevent duplication from the Incorp Societies Act. If there is any doubt about a person being an Executive, the Incoporated Societies Act Section 47 should be referred to.
- Section 34: Register of Members section has identified the use of electronic capturing of membership information and that the the voting member is the Full Member, or a person nominated by the full member
The new constitution is located in the footer of every page on the website.
The changes were all agreed to before moving onto the request of members to increase the membership fee from $175 (excluding GST) and the Research and Development Fee from $50 to $100 (excluding GST). The total new membership being $300 (excluding GST). All members attending agreed to the increase of fees as fees had not been increased since 2011.