CONSTITUTION OF
THE KUNUNURRA HISTORICAL SOCIETY (INCORPORATED).
[Archives Master Copy (Constitution) as amended 2·05·1994 and 16·08·1995 and this version dated 22·2·1996 - Two versions of the KHS constitution as PDFs are provided for download at the end of the page. - PDF File 1. "Constitution of the Kununurra Historical Society (Inc.) [1996] OCRd - No Scanned Pages.pdf" (213kb) and - PDF File 2. - "1996-KHS-Constitution-Scanned with OCRd Text at END.pdf" (2700kb - 2.7 MB)]
Proposed Constitution Changes 2014
There is a great need for some changes to our constitution to bring it up-to-date for the 21st century. We invite members and others with current constitution experience to view the 2014 proposed changes from this separate page. Please feel free to email any comments or any proposed amendments you may suggest from there. - All below is the existing constitution as it is.
About the Constitution Text
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- [In past days I have scanned and saved TIF archive images and jpg working copies then used the TIF images with OCR (Optical Character Recognition) software, which converts the images of text (scanned document pages) to this text file. At the time I used some free command line software called Tesseract that worked well.
Installed this OCR software and all of the above mentioned image and
text files onto the KHS PC. - AB 23 VI 2009 – Now in
2014 we are using different OCR software and methods, most OCR work
being carried out using Irfanview (The world's number one, free
imaging software) with the Kadmos OCR PlugIn for IrfanView
(Downloaded separately to IrfanView and Irfanview PlugIns). I have
now added all text into this Open Office – Open Document Text file
(.odt) – Added heading levels and an automated table of contents at end, and will export as a PDF for download from the KHS website. – AB 20 Feb. 2014]
1.
NAME.
- The name of the Association shall be; "The Kununurra
Historical Society (Incorporated)", hereinafter referred to as
"The Society".
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2.
OBJECTIVES.
- 2.1. To encourage research into the study of and recording of
Western Australian History in general and of Kununurra and the Ord
River Irrigation Area in particular.
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- 2.2. To collect, classify and preserve records and objects
relating to the history of Western Australia in general and the
Kununurra and Ord River Irrigation Area in particular.
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- 2.3. To publish articles and selected records in special
bulletins or in an approved journal of The Society or by any other
method approved by members.
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- 2.4. To interchange information among members of The Society and
the general public by lectures, reading, discussions and exhibitions
of historical material.
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- 2.5. To promote public interest in, and support for, the
preservation of historical relics including buildings and sites.
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- 2.6. To establish and maintain libraries, reading rooms and
historical museums.
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- 2.7. To encourage interaction between the members of The Society
and members of other Societies.
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- 2.8. To promote social gatherings of members, particularly
excursions to historical sites.
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- 2.9. To co-operate with any other bodies having similar aims.
Contents - KHS Constitution
3.
POWERS.
- 3.1. To amalgamate, co-operate and affiliate with any other
association, society or body having objectives wholly or in part
similar to those of The Society.
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- 3.2. To assist or subscribe to any charitable, educational or
public purpose as determined by the committee.
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- 3.3. To acquire by way of purchase, lease, exchange, hire or by
way of loan or otherwise, any real or personal property.
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- 3.4. To sell, lease, hire, mortgage, charge, lend with or
without security, surrender or otherwise dispose of or deal with all
or any part of the assets or properties real or personal of The
Society and to borrow money upon such terms as the committee may
think proper for the purposes of The Society and to grant security
therefore and to liquidate, redeem or discharge any
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obligations undertaken.
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- 3.5. To invest and deal with the money of The Society not
immediately required in such manner as may be permitted by law for
the investment of trust funds.
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- 3.6. To make, draw and accept, endorse, discount, execute issue
promissory notes, bills of exchange, bills of lading and other
negotiable or transferable instruments.
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- 3.7. To consider and advise members on any question of policy or
professional usage which may be referred to it, and to be a forum
where questions and/or disputes may be settled through discussion,
arbitration and negotiation upon request of members, apart from
purely domestic matters.
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- 3.8. On request to enter on behalf of the members into any
arrangements that may seem conducive to the interest of members,
with any authority government, municipal shire or other.
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- 3.9. To do all such things as are incidental or conducive to the
attainment of the objectives and exercise of the powers of The
Society.
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Contents - KHS Constitution
4.
INCOME AND PROPERTY.
- 4.1. The income and property of The Society, howsoever derived,
shall be applied solely to the promotion of the objectives and no
part thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by
way of dividend bonus or otherwise by way of pecuniary profit to the
members provided that remuneration may be paid in good faith to
officers and servants of The Society or other persons in return for
services actually rendered to The Society.
Contents - KHS Constitution
5.
MEMBERS.
5.1.
Honorary Life Members.
- 5.1.1. The Committee may recommend any person for Honorary Life
Membership in consideration of special services rendered to The
Society. The Committee's recommendation for Life Membership shall be
brought before a General Meeting. The person nominated, his or her
spouse or children shall absent themselves from the General Meeting
whilst the nomination is being discussed and voting is taking place.
A person shall be appointed if two thirds majority of members
present and voting by
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secret ballot approve the nomination A person shall not be appointed
at an adjourned General Meeting unless a quorum is present.
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- 5.1.2. Only one Honorary Life Membership shall be considered in
any one financial year.
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- 5.1.3. Honorary Life Members shall have all the rights and
privileges of a Member and shall be exempt from payment of
membership fees.
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- 5.1.4. Life Membership may be purchased for a fee to be ten (10)
times that of an annual membership.
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Contents - KHS Constitution
5.2.
ORDINARY MEMBERS.
- 5.2.1. The approval of the Committee shall be required for the
admission of all persons of sixteen years or over, applying for
membership.
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- 5.2.2. The admission of a new member shall not take eifect until
such person has paid the first years subscription or proportion as
determined by the Committee.
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- 5.2.3. The names of all new members shall be announced at the
following General Meeting.
Contents - KHS Constitution
5.3.
PENSIONER MEMBERS.
Being
retired persons in receipt of the Department of Social Security
Health Benefit Card.
- 5.3.1. The annual subscription for Pensioner Members shall be
fifty percent of the Ordinary Member's subscription.
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- 5.3.2. The approval of the Committee shall be required for the
admission of an approved pensioner applying for membership.
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- 5.3.3. The admission of a Pensioner Member shall not take effect
until such person has paid the first year's subscription or
proportion as determined by the Committee.
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- 5.3.4. The names of all new Pensioner Members shall be announced
at the following General Meeting.
Contents - KHS Constitution
5.4.
JUNIOR MEMBERS
Being
persons under the age of sixteen years.
- 5.4.1. The approval of the Committee shall he required for all
persons applying for Junior Membership.
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- 5.4.2. The annual subscription for a Junior Member shall be
fifty percent of the Ordinary Member.
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- 5.4.3. The admission of a Junior Member shall not take effect
until such person has paid the first year‘s subscription or
proportion as determined by the Committee.
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- 5.4.4. The names of the new Junior Members shall be announced at
the following General Meeting.
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Contents - KHS Constitution
6.
CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP.
- 6.1. A member may cease to be a member by submitting a written
resignation to The Society's Secretary.
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- 6.2. A member will cease to be a member if membership
subscriptions are not paid within three calendar months of the due
date, however, membership may be reinstated, at the discretion of
the Committee, if the subscriptions are paid within a time
considered to be reasonable for the circumstance.
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Contents - KHS Constitution
6.3.
Expulsion of Members
- 6.3.1 The Society shall have the power to suspend or expel any
member who commits any breach of any rule of The Society, or commits
any act detrimental to The Society, provided that such expelled
member shall have the right of appeal against such expulsion.
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- 6.3.2. An appeal against expulsion shall be presented, by the
appellant, at a Special General Meeting convened to hear and
consider the appeal.
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- 6.3.3 The Special General Meeting convened for an appeal against
expulsion shall make a determination which will be conclusive.
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Contents - KHS Constitution
7.
SUBSCRIPTIONS.
- 7.1. Member's subscriptions shall be determined by the Committee
and approved at the Annual General Meeting.
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- 7.2. Annual subscriptions shall fall due and payable within 30
days of the Annual General Meeting.
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Contents - KHS Constitution
8.
PATRON.
- 8.1. The Society may elect a Patron who shall retain the
position at the pleasure of The Society or until he or she elects to
resign.
- 8.2. During the term of office the Patron will have all of the
privileges of Honorary Life Membership.
- 8.3. The Patron may also be appointed as the Trustee at the
discretion of The Society.
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Contents - KHS Constitution
9.
TRUSTEE.
- 9.1. The Society may elect a Trustee who shall retain the
position at the pleasure of The Society or until he or she elects to
resign or according to any relevant act of Parliament.
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- 9.2. During the term of office the Trustee will have all of the
privileges of an Honorary Life Member.
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- 9.3. The Trustee may also be appointed as a Patron at the
discretion of The Society.
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Contents - KHS Constitution
10.
MEETINGS.
- 10.1. Committee Meetings. The Committee shall meet once in each
calendar month, to carry out the business of The Society, except
during the months of December and January unless the Committee
decides otherwise.
Contents - KHS Constitution
10.2.
Annual General Meeting.
- 10.2.1. The Annual General Meeting will be held in March each
year.
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- 10.2.2. For the election of office bearers at the Annual General
Meeting, the President shall appoint, as presiding officer, an
independent person or a member who is neither nominated for election
nor a current executive office bearer.
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- 10.2.3. The order of business at the Annual General Meeting
shall be:
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Minutes.
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Presentation of:
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President's Annual Report
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Treasurer's Financial Report
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Archive Officer's Report.
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Committee Reports
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Election of Office Bearers
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The election of a Patron (Optional)
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The election of a Trustee (Recommended, Optional)
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The appointment of an Auditor
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Correspondence
General Business
- 10.2.4. At least fourteen (14) days before the Annual General
Meeting the Secretary may elect to;
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(i) Send a notice of meeting to each financial member.
- or
- (ii) Publish a notice of meeting in the local newspaper. Any
accidental omission to give notice under choice (i) will not
invalidate the meeting.
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- 10.2.5. In the event of a quorum not being present thirty
minutes after the advertised starting time, the Annual Meeting shall
be adjourned to a date to be fixed by the President within thirty
days thereafter and to be held whether a quorum is present or not.
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Contents - KHS Constitution
10.3.
Special General Meeting.
A
Special General Meeting will be convened under the following
circumstances:
- 10.3.1. Upon receipt by The Society of a petition signed by the
lesser number (10) or 50% of the current financial members of The
Society.
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- 10.3.2. Whenever, in the opinion of a majority of members of the
Committee, such a meeting is deemed necessary.
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- 10.3.3. When requested by a member under the provision of
Section 6.
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- 10.3.4. Upon receipt of the relevant petition, opinion or
request, the Secretary will convene a Special General Meeting within
twenty eight (28) days of the relevant Petition, opinion or request.
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- 10.3.5. Notice of the Special General Meeting will be given in
accordance with Section
- 10.3.6. No business except the business stated in the form of
notice convening the meeting shall be transacted at any special
General Meeting.
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Contents - KHS Constitution
11.
QUORUM.
- 11.1. The quorum for attendance at Committee Meetings shall be
five financial members, two of whom must be elected officers of the
executive.
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- 11.2. The quorum for Annual General Meetings and Special General
Meetings shall be ten (10) financial members or two thirds of The
Society’s financial members whichever is the lesser.
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Contents - KHS Constitution
12.
VOTING.
- 12.1. Only financial members, except Junior Members, shall be
entitled to vote at all meetings of The Society.
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- 12.2. The Chairperson shall have the right of a deliberative
vote as a member of The Society. In the event of equal votes being
cast, on any motion, the Chairperson shall also have the right of a
casting vote.
Contents - KHS Constitution
13.1. [?]
MANAGEMENT.
- The society shall be managed by elected officers and committee
members. The Officers will be:
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President
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Secretary
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Treasurer
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Archives Officer
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The Committee Members will be all of those financial members of The
Society who attend Committee Meetings.
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Contents - KHS Constitution
14.
DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE.
- 14.1. The President shall preside at all meetings attended.
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- 14.2. The Vice President shall preside in the absence of the
President from the meeting. In the event of both the President and
the Vice President being absent, the Committee shall nominate one of
its members to preside at the meeting.
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- 14.3. The Secretary shall take minutes of all General and
Committee Meetings and record them in the Minute Book.
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- 14.4. The Treasurer shall:
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- 14.4.1. Give receipts for all monies received.
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- 14.4.2. Bank all monies received in the name of The Society, as
soon as practicable after receipt.
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- 14.4.3. Pay all claims against The Society only after they have
been duly passed for payment by the Committee. Payment shall be by
cheque which shall be signed by any two of the following persons:
President, Vice President, Secretary or Treasurer.
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- 14.4.4. Keep correct amount of monies received & dispersed
and present a Financial Statement at each meeting.
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- 14.4.5. Submit an Annual Financial Statement and Balance Sheet
together with Books of Account to the Auditor appointed by the
Committee not less than 30 days prior to the Annual General Meeting.
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- 14.4.6. Present the Audited Financial Statement of Balance Sheet
to the Annual General Meeting.
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- 14.4.7. Keep a register of members which shall be available for
inspection at any time.
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- 14.5. The Archives Officer shall:
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- 14.5.1. Keep records of all goods, equipment, documents and
records whilst being responsible for their safe keeping and
maintenance.
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- 14.5.2. Submit reports on maintenance requirements and any other
matters which are deemed necessary to the Committee and Annual
General Meeting.
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14.6. Comments on the public record shall be made only by President,
Secretary or persons authorised by the President.
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- 14.7. Committee Powers. In addition to the exercise of any of
the foregoing general powers of the Society, the committee has the
power to:
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- 14.7.1. Cause to become vacant the position of any Office Bearer
absent from three consecutive Committee meetings without apology or
leave of absence.
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- 14.7.2. Appoint sub-committees for such purposes as it shall
think fit and may delegate any of its powers of duties to such
sub-committees.
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Contents - KHS Constitution
15.
GENERAL.
- 15.1. The financial year of the Society shall be January 01 to
December 31.
- 15.2. An Auditor shall be appointed each year to audit the books
of account of The Society. The Auditor may be a member of The
Society but no person shall be eligible as an Auditor who is
interested otherwise than as a member in any transaction of The
Society.
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- 15.3. The Constitution of The Society shall be available to
every member of The Society upon demand.
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- 15.4. Should any dispute arise as to the interpretation of The
Society's Constitution or the sense or intention thereof or should
the ruling of the President in regard to the interpretation of any
part of the Constitution be dissented from, such dispute or
objection should be referred to an independent responsible person
chosen by the committee to arbitrate such disputes. This person
could be the Trustee if thought appropriate. If an appointment is
not made then legal advice should be sought.
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Contents - KHS Constitution
16.
COMMON SEAL
- The Common Seal of The Society should be engraved with the name
of The Society and shall be kept in the care of the President. The
seal shall not be used or affixed to any deed or other document
except with the authority of the committee. Every instrument to
which the Seal is affixed shall be signed by two Officers of The
Society.
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Contents - KHS Constitution
17.
ALTERATION TO CONSTITUTION.
- No new clause shall be added nor shall any of the clauses
contained herein be amended, altered or rescinded unless with the consent of a majority of three quarters
of the members present at an Annual General Meeting or Special
General Meeting called for that purpose. The Secretary shall give
notice of such proposed amendment together with the notice of
meeting referred to in section 10.2.4.
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Contents - KHS Constitution
18.
DISSOLUTION OF THE SOCIETY
- 18.1. The Society may be wound up by resolution of a Special
General Meeting. The notice of meeting must state the purpose of the
meeting and to be effective must be agreed to by three quarters
majority of the members voting on the resolution.
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- 18.2. Upon the dissolution of The Society, after the
satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, money and property
accrued shall not be paid or distributed amongst the members of The
Society.
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- 18.3. If on the winding up of the Association, any property of
the Association remains after satisfaction of the debts and
liabilities of the Association and the costs, charges and expenses
of that winding up, that property shall be distributed -
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- (a) to another incorporated association having objects similar
to those of the Association; or
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- (b) for charitable purposes, which incorporated association or
purposes, as the case requires shall be determined by resolution of
the members when authorising and directing the Committee under
section 33(3) of the Act to prepare a distribution plan for the
distribution of the surplus property of the Association.
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- Signed: [Judith M. Withers] President.
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Name: Judith May Withers
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Address: 478 Jabiru Road, Kununurra WA 6743
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- Signature: [W.R. Withers] Secretary.
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Name: William Robert Withers
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Address: 478 Jabiru Road, Kununurra WA 6743
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- Witness Signature: [M.Lawson]
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Name: Margaret A. Lawson
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Address: 2/1847 Lemonwood Way, Kununurra WA 6743
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Date: 22nd February 1996
Common Seal
..................................................................................... [END - KHS Constitution]
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