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Catalysis Society of Australia Constitution

 

  1. The name shall be "The Catalysis Society of Australia" hereinafter referred to as "The Society".

 

  1. The aims of the Society are, for the benefit of the public, to advance the knowledge and application of catalysis in Australia.
    Its principle mission is to further education in the study of catalysis, including the technology and application thereof in the areas of chemistry, biochemistry, physics, chemical and biochemical engineering and related branches of science and engineering.
    In addition, it undertakes to aid in research and in the publication of relevant results of such research.
    Furthermore, it shall convene at regular intervals (e.g. every 2 years) an Australian Catalysis Symposium.

    In furtherance of the above-mentioned aims but not further or otherwise the Society shall have the following powers:-

    (a) to arrange meetings at regular intervals of members and other interested parties for the general dissemination and critical discussion of matters pertaining to the Society's aims;
    (b) to encourage industrial, governmental and academic support of catalysis research;
    (c) to liaise with, co-operate with and give general support to other relevant charitable organizations;
    (d) to raise funds provided that no form of permanent trading is undertaken;
    (e) to do all such other lawful things as are necessary in furtherance of the aims or any one of them;
    (f) to arrange that all meetings be held in Australia;

 

  1. The Officers of The Society shall be elected. Said Officers shall be a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer.  The President shall hold office for 3 years and the other officers for 3 years. The office bearers may be re-elected no more than twice in succession.

 

  1. (a) The Society shall also elect a Committee consisting of the Officers of The Society, and between 2 and 6 other elected members, depending on the number of Society members (i.e. less than 100 members 2 elected committee members, and one additional committee member for every hundred extra society members - up to a total of 6 elected committee members). These elected members shall normally hold office for 3 years, unless they are replacing members who have retired or resigned prematurely, in which case their tenure shall be for the residual term. No elected committee member can be elected more than twice in succession.
    (b)  Nominations of candidates for the Committee, together with the names of a proposer and seconder, must be received by the Secretary in writing (email acceptable) not later than 14 days before the election Nominees, proposers and seconders must all be current members of The Society.

 

  1. Should the society start to collect total sums per annum of above $10,000 the AGM shall also elect two Auditors who shall not be committee members.

 

  1. The Committee shall have the power to co-opt members as it thinks fit, but no co-opted member shall have the right to vote. The Committee shall have the power to appoint temporary Officers in the event of an Officer being unable to continue his Office. The quorum for a committee meeting shall be 3 elected Members or Officers.

 

  1. Membership of The Society shall be open to any person wishing to advance The Society's objectives.

 

  1. The Committee shall decide on membership dues, subject to the confirmation by the membership, and on the method of collecting these dues.

 

  1. The fiscal year of The Society shall end on June 30th. The Treasurer shall be required to present a general account of the income and expenditure of The Society to the AGM.

 

  1. No compensation shall be paid to any Officer or Committee Member, for services rendered to The Society, except for reasonable expenses incurred in their duties as specifically pre-authorized by the Committee on a case-by-case basis.

 

  1. The quorum of any meeting, whose members have been properly notified by the Secretary of The Society, is those members present.

 

  1. Each proposed change in the constitution shall be notified to the Secretary in writing at least one month prior to a society meeting. The Secretary shall notify members of the proposed change(s) at least two weeks prior to the society meeting. The proposed change must have the support, in writing email acceptable), of at least three members.
    No amendment shall be made to the aims (clause 2), this clause, or the dissolution provisions (clause 13), and no amendments shall be made to the remaining provisions which would cause The Society to cease to be a charity in law.

 

  1. The Society shall be dissolved if a petition is approved by a simple majority of the quorum at an Annual General Meeting.
    In the event of dissolution The Society's surplus funds, property and assets (if any) shall not be distributable amongst the membership but shall be donated to such recognized charitable Australian Scientific Society or societies as shall be decided by the Committee.