AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATION OF OBSTETRICAL AND GYNAECOLOGICAL ULTRASONOLOGISTS CONSTITUTION
1. NAME: The name of the organisation is The Australian Association of Obstetrical and Gynaecological Ultrasonologists.
2. ADDRESS:
C/ Dr D. Wass
Frank Rundle House
Royal Hospital for Women
PADDINGTON NSW 2021
3. OBJECTIVES:
3.1 The primary objective is to promote and improve the standards of obstetrical and gynaecological ultrasound in the community.
3.2 To promote postgraduate, undergraduate and community education in the area of obstetrical and gynaecological ultrasound.
3.3 To promote research into obstetrical and gynaecological ultrasound.
3.4 To advise upon and assist in the training and teaching of those wishing to specialise in obstetrical and gynaecological ultrasound.
3.5 To promote and safeguard the professional interests of Obstetrical and Gynaecological Ultrasound and to this end to maintain and improve the conditions of Obstetrical and Gynaecological Ultrasonologists in carrying out their duties to the community.
3.6 To undertake other such activities as would support the achievement of the stated objectives.
4. MEMBERSHIP OF THE ASSOCIATION:
The classes of membership of the Association shall consist of:
a. Ordinary Member
b. Other classes as defined by the Executive Committee and approved formally at an Annual General Meeting of the members.
The rights and privileges of every member shall be personal to himself and shall not be transferred or transmitted by his own act or by operation of law.
4.1 ORDINARY MEMBER:
The Association may admit as an Ordinary Member any person who is a registered specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the Commonwealth of Australia or New Zealand and holds the FRANZCOG or its equivalent. In addition he/she must hold a further postgraduate degree or certificate in diagnostic ultrasound such as, the DDU of the Australian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine or the COGU or CMFM of the RANZCOG or other degree considered acceptable to the Membership Committee.
In this document where he/his is written, she/hers also is understood.
4.2 ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP:
Any person not qualifying for ordinary or Emeritus membership may submit his qualifications to the Membership Committee for consideration. Such members may pay a fee as determined but will not be entitled to vote.
4.3 PROPOSALS FOR MEMBERSHIP:
Proposals should be forwarded with supporting documents to the Secretary. They will be considered at the next Membership Committee Meeting.
4.4 CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP:
If the subscription of a member remains unpaid in two consecutive years the member shall ipso facto forfeit that member’s membership provided that the Membership Committee may if it thinks fit reinstate the member on payment of arrears.
A member may at any time, by giving notice in writing to the Secretary, resign his membership of the Association but shall continue to be liable for any subscription and all arrears due and unpaid at the date of resignation and for all other monies due by him to the Association.
Any member shall ipso facto cease to be a member of the Association if he:
a. If found guilty of infamous conduct in a professional respect;
b. If found guilty of an indictable offence;
c. Resigns his membership by notice in writing; or
d. Has failed for two consecutive years to pay any monies including (without limitation) subscription monies due by him to the Association.
e. Be absent from three consecutive AGM’s provided that the Membership Committee may, in its absolute discretion, waive the operation of this provision in any case where it thinks fit.
Any person who ceases to be a member of the Association shall thereupon forfeit all rights and privileges which he may as a member enjoy and shall have no rights in orclaim upon the Association for the property or funds of the Association except as a creditor thereof.
5. SUBSCRIPTION:
5.1 The annual subscription payable by ordinary members of the Association shall be such sum as the Association in general meetings shall from time to time by resolution (passed by not less than one-half of the members present and entitled to vote) prescribe.
5.2 All annual subscriptions shall become due and payable on the last day of June in each year.
5.3 In this Constitution “year” is a period commencing on the 1st of July and ending on the next succeeding 30th of June provided that the period from the adoption of this Constitution to the next succeeding July shall be a year.
6. EXECUTIVE:
6.1 The Executive shall consist of not less than three nor more than five persons and no more than two from any one state. The Executive shall elect a Chairman and a Secretary/Treasurer.
6.2 The Executive shall be elected every three years at the Annual General Meeting by resolution as referred to in rule 5.
6.3 The Executive shall be entitled to fill a casual vacancy.
6.4 No member of the Executive shall serve longer than one three-year term in the same post consecutively and may serve no longer than nine consecutive years as a member of the Executive.
6.5 The Executive shall have the general control of the affairs and the direction of the Association.
6.6 The Executive shall furnish a general report on the state and activities of the Association at the Annual General Meeting.
7. CHAIRMAN:
7.1 The Chairman shall take the chair at all meetings of the Executive and at annual and other meetings of the Association.
7.2 The Chairman shall have an ordinary vote and whenever numbers are tied a casting vote also.
7.3 In his absence an acting Chairman may be appointed by the Ordinary Members present.
8. HONORARY SECRETARY/TREASURER:
The Honorary Secretary/Treasurer shall be responsible for preparation of an Annual Financial Statement to be presented to the Annual General Meeting.
All cheques shall be signed as determined by the Executive.
The Secretary/Treasurer shall be responsible for summoning all meetings and shall ensure that all proceedings thereof are recorded in a minute book.
9. OTHER COMMITTEES:
a. Membership Committee
The Membership Committee shall comprise five members of the Association no more than two from any one State, one of whom shall be the Chairman of the Association. The other four members shall be elected by the Ordinary Membership at the Annual General Meeting by resolution referred to in clause 5. These four members are elected for four year terms and are not eligible for re-election within two years of completion of a term of office.
The Membership Committee shall be responsible for reviewing proposals for membership and will recommend to the Association those persons who qualify for membership.
b. Programme and Social Committee
This committee shall comprise at least two members of the Association with the power to co-opt. These members shall be appointed by the Executive Committee on a yearly basis.
10. MEETINGS:
The Annual General Meeting shall be held at such place and time as the Executive Committee may decide. All General Meetings other than the Annual General Meeting shall be called Special Meetings.
The Executive may arrange a Special Meeting whenever it thinks fit and shall do so whenever required by requisition signed by not less than one-fourth of the Ordinary Members of the Association. Any such requisition shall specify the objects of the meeting required and the meeting shall be convened for the purpose specified in the requisition. Thirty days clear notice of all General Meetings specifying the place, day and hour of the meeting and the general nature of such business shall be given to all members of the Association and such notice shall be sent by post or otherwise served as hereinafter provided.
The accidental omission to give notice of any General Meeting to or the non-receipt of any such notice by any of the members shall not invalidate any resolution passed at any such meeting.
Procedures at the Annual General Meetings.
The Business to be transacted at the Annual General Meetings shall be:
a.To consider the annual report of the chairman and other committees.
b. To consider the financial statement.
c. To consider any regulations made by the Executive Committee during the period since the previous Annual General Meeting.
d. To elect members of the Executive; and other committees.
e. To transact any other business appropriate to an Annual General Meeting.
No business shall be transacted at any General Meeting unless a quorum of members is present within 30 minutes of the time appointed for the meeting. Four members shall constitute a quorum for all purposes.
If within 30 minutes from the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting is convened upon a requisition of members shall be dissolved.
11. VOTING:
At any General Meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands but the Chairman or at least four members present may require a secret ballot.
A declaration by the chairman that a resolution has been carried or carried unanimously or by a particular majority or lost and an entry to that effect in the minute book shall be conclusive evidence of the fact without proof of the number or proportion of the votes for or against such resolution provided that the number or proportion of votes recorded for or against such resolution shall be recorded if requested by any member present.
An Ordinary Member may vote and shall have one vote. Any Ordinary Member shall be entitled to appoint any other member to vote for or against a resolution at any General Meeting. Any such appointment shall be made by notice in writing signed by the Ordinary Member appointed and given personally or by post to the Secretary/Treasurer.
12. ALTERATION OF CONSTITUTION:
Any section of the constitution may be rescinded or altered by a two-thirds majority of members voting at a General Meeting of the Association duly summoned to consider a proposed alteration. A proposed resolution to alter the constitution shall be set out in the notice convening the meeting.
13. AFFILIATION:
The Association may affiliate with such Societies or Organisations as may be deemed appropriate by the Ordinary Members.
14. INCOME AND PROPERTY OF THE ASSOCIATION:
The income and property of the Association from whatever source derived shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objectives of the Association as set forth in these Rules, and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend or bonus or otherwise by way of profit to persons who at any time are or who have been members of the Association, or to any person claiming through any of them; provided that nothing herein shall prevent the payment in good faith or remuneration to any officers or servants or the Association, or to any member of the Association or other person, in return for any services actually rendered to the Association.
15. DISSOLUTION:
The Association can only be dissolved by a two-thirds majority vote of the members in favour of such action.
The assets after settling all outstanding debts shall be given to a body in this country with similar aims and ideals approved by the Executive of the Association.