Constitution & Rules

As amended on 30th September 2005

1. NAME

This Association shall be called the Orford/Triabunna Region Chamber of Commerce.

2. OBJECTIVES
2.1 Main Objective
The main objective of the Chamber is to promote the development of the Orford/Triabunna area.

2.2 Other Objectives

  1. To promote trading, commercial, shipping and manufacturing interests in Tasmania and elsewhere and take all measure deemed necessary to protect and advance the same.
  2. To collect and disseminate information of interest to persons engaged in trade, commerce and industry.
  3. To use every means within its power for the removal and redress of grievances.
  4. To watch over and protect the general interests of commerce.
  5. To take appropriate action upon any Commonwealth or State legislative measures directly or indirectly affecting the general interests of commerce and to communicate with any authorities or individuals thereon.
  6. To establish and maintain a code of practice whereby the transaction of business relating to trade, commerce and industrial matters may be simplified and facilitated.
  7. To undertake by arbitration or otherwise the settlement of disputes arising out of trade, commerce or industry.
  8. To record any decisions by arbitration for the future help and guidance of others.
  9. To amalgamate or cooperate with any institutions, societies or associations having objectives altogether or in part similar to those of this Chamber.
  10. To do all such lawful things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objectives or any one of them.

3. PARTY POLITICS
Questions of party politics are as a general principle to be excluded from its deliberations, but where legislation affecting commercial or industrial interests is proposed by any Government, local authority, corporation or promoter, the Chamber, after due consideration, is free to adopt whatever attitude it determines to be in the best interest of commerce.

4. AUTONOMY
Not withstanding any amalgamation or co-operation provided for elsewhere in these rules, the Chamber shall remain autonomous and shall hold its main objective to prevail where conflict of objectives may occur.

5. MEMBERSHIP
All persons, firms, companies or organizations directly interested in the commerce or trade of Tasmania, based within and directly interested in the development of the Orford/Triabunna Region, who shall be duly nominated and elected and shall pay their subscription as herein after provided and any Honorary and Life Members herein after constituted may be members of the Chamber.

6. SERVING ON COMMITTEES
Not more than two members of any firm or organization shall be eligible to serve on the same Committee in any capacity.  But should a member of Chamber, being either a principal or Executive Officer of the firm, company or organization he/she represents be unable to attend any general or sectional meetings he/she may nominate another principal or Executive Officer of the same firm, company or organisation to act as his/her deputy at such meetings called during his/her period of absence.  But such nomination must be presented for confirmation or rejection at the meeting attended by the Deputy.

7. PROPOSING CANDIDATES FOR MEMBERSHIP
Every candidate for membership shall be proposed by one member and seconded by another and the candidate shall be voted for by the Executive Committee at its next meeting, when a majority of votes shall decide the election.  Honorary and Life Members may be elected at the discretion of the Chamber.

8. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than three months after the end of the financial year.

The ordinary business of the Annual General meeting is to be as follows:

  1. To confirm the minutes of the last preceding annual general meeting and of any general meeting held since that meeting;
  2. to receive from the committee, auditor and servants of the Association reports on the transactions of the Association during the last preceding financial year and adopt the Annual Financial Accounts;
  3. to elect the officers of the Association and the ordinary committee members;
  4. to appoint the auditor and determine his or her remuneration;
  5. to determine the remuneration of servants of the Association;
  6. to receive any general business on notice from members, which has been notified in response to the Notice of Meeting and received in writing up to 24 hours prior to the posted starting time of the meeting.

9. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION
The annual subscriptions shall be set each year at the Annual General Meeting.  In the case of a firm, company or organization having two or more representatives as members, the annual subscription for each after the first shall also be set each year at the Annual General Meeting.
All subscriptions shall be due and payable within thirty days following the Annual General Meeting of the Chamber.
Any member admitted to the Chamber after six months has elapsed from the date of the preceding Annual General Meeting shall be required to pay one half of the Annual Subscription as determined at the aforementioned Annual General Meeting. This subscription shall cover the period until the next following Annual General Meeting and shall be payable on admission to membership.

10. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer, Executive Officer (Orford) and Executive Officer (Triabunna), all of whom shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Chamber and shall retire annually, but shall be eligible for re-election. The Executive shall act in emergencies and report to the next meeting of the Chamber.

11. AUDITOR
An Auditor shall be appointed at the Annual each year.

11a Winding Up

If the Association is wound up -

  1. every member of the Association; and
  2. every person who, within the period of 12 months immediately preceding the commencement of the winding up, was a member of the Association is liable to contribute
  3. to the assets of the Association for payment of the debts or liabilities of the Association; and
  4. for the costs, charges and expenses of the winding up; and
  5. for the adjustment of the rights of the contributories among themselves.

11b Members Liability

Any liability under sub-rule 11(a) is not to exceed $1.00.

12. ELECTION OF OFFICE BEARERS
All Officers:  President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Executive Officer-Orford, Executive Officer-Triabunna, and Auditor shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting with the Executive having the right to fill extraordinary vacancies and reporting such an appointment to the next General Meeting of the Chamber.

13. SUB-COMMITTEES
The Executive Committee may appoint sub-Committees from members of the Chamber to deal with any business referred to them.

14. MEETINGS OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee shall meet as it may decide at such hours as it may fix, for the purpose of transacting business and reports of the Committee may, at its discretion, be published in the Press. Minutes of the Executive Committee's proceedings shall be open to the inspection of the members.

15. CHAIRMAN AND QUORUM
The President, or in his absence the Vice-President shall be ex-officio Chairman of all meetings. In the absence of both the President and Vice-President the Executive Committee shall elect a chairman. Three members of the Committee shall form a quorum.

16. GENERAL MEETINGS
General Meetings of the Chamber shall be called from time to time when the Executive Committee may think necessary, but at least once in every quarter. It shall be within the power of the President, acting for him/herself upon the written request of any three members of the Chamber, to call a Special General Meeting, of which, and of the subject of subjects to be considered, at least three days notice shall be given by circular or advertisement. At any general' meeting "of the Chamber five members shall constitute a quorum, and provided that thirty minutes past the time of the meeting  a quorum not be present, the meeting shall be re-convened one week after the original date, at the same time and in the same place.

17. VOTING
All questions whether brought before general meeting or Executive Committee of the Chamber, except as otherwise herein provided, shall be decided by votes of a majority of the members present.  The Chairman shall have a deliberative vote only.  If the voting be equal, the motion shall be declared lost.  Except as other wise herein provided no member shall be entitled to vote by proxy.

18. ANNUAL REPORT
An annual report and audited financial statement of the affairs of the Chamber shall be prepared and submitted to the Annual General Meeting of the Chamber.

19. DISQUALIFICATION OF MEMBERS
Bankruptcy or non-attendance for four consecutive meetings (unless by leave of absence) of a member of the Executive Committee, ex officio or otherwise, shall disqualify him/her from acting thereon.


20. SUBSCRIPTION IN ARREARS
Any member whose subscription is in arrears after thirty days from the date of the Annual General Meeting shall be advised by letter, and if the subscription is in arrears after sixty days following the date of the Annual General Meeting shall be deemed to have resigned from the Chamber.
A member whose subscription is in arrears shall not be entitled to vote at any meeting of the Chamber.

21. EXPULSION OF MEMBERS
The Chamber reserves to itself the right to expel any member by the votes of not less than three-fourths of the members present at a special general meeting convened by the Executive Committee for the purpose of taking into consideration the question of such member's expulsion.

22. ALTERATION OF CONSTITUTION AND RULES
These rules shall not be altered except by the sanction of an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting convened for that purpose. Copies of the proposed alteration or alterations shall be circulated among members at least seven days before such meeting. A motion for the alteration of any rule or rules shall not be carried unless not fewer than three-fourths of the members present and voting thereon shall vote in favour.