UNE Life - UNE INDIGENOUS STUDENTS ASSOCIATION CONSTITUTION

Indigenous Students Association

The ISA strives to comply with their Constitution. Please find a copy of the ISA Constitution below.

UNE INDIGENOUS STUDENTS ASSOCIATION CONSTITUTION

1. NAME

1.1. The name of the Association shall be the UNE Indigenous Students Association
(Hereinafter referred to as ‘the Association’)

2. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

2.1. The Association acknowledges the Anaiwan People, the traditional owners of the land on which the Association regularly meets and performs activities upon. Thus, paying respect to their Elders past, present and future.
2.2. The Association, in acknowledging the Anaiwan People believes it is vital to maintain and preserve the land on which we gather for future generations of students who desire to seek higher education.

3. AIMS

3.1. The Association is not-for-profit; meaning: the assets and income of the Association shall be applied solely in furtherance of the aims of the Association and no portion shall be distributed directly or indirectly to the members of the Association except as bona fide compensation expenses incurred on behalf of the Association
3.2. The aims of the Association shall be to:

3.2.1. The Association is run by the student body with the aim of giving Aboriginal and Torre Strait Islander students a voice and support. This is achieved by building and maintaining a sense of community on campus as well as off campus.

3.3. The Association will undertake the following activities to achieve its aims:

3.3.1. The Association will undertake any activity which meets the above aim as required.

4. MEMBERSHIP

4.1. Student Membership
Students who identifies as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent and are currently enrolled to study at the University of New England shall be eligible for Student Membership of the Association. Any Student Member shall hold one vote at all meetings and elections of the Association at which they are present.
4.2. Associate Membership
Associate Members are not eligible to hold Executive positions, vote in elections or vote at meetings of the Association. An Associate Member is defined as an Indigenous person who is not a student of UNE and or a Non- Indigenous person who is a student at UNE. This category is reserved for individuals who support the Association.
4.3. The Association may levy fees on members. The amount of such fees shall not be excessive.
4.4. In becoming a Member of the Association, the member gives consent for the publication and distribution of photos unless otherwise stated.

5. THE EXECUTIVE

5.1. The Association shall have an Executive consisting of:

5.1.1. President (Required)
5.1.2. Vice President (Required)
5.1.3. Secretary (Required)
5.1.4. Treasurer (Required)
5.1.5. Social Co-ordinator

5.2. Executive shall have power to manage the Association in accordance with this Constitution.

5.3. Attendance of Executive Members at Student and General Meetings is obligatory. Any Executive Member who does not attend three consecutive meetings without leave can be dismissed from the Executive by a two-thirds majority vote of those Student Members in attendance at an Ordinary Meeting.

6. DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE MEMBERS

6.1. The President shall:

6.1.1. Plan the Association’s activities in consultation with the Executive.
6.1.2. Liaise with the Executive and any Committees formed by the Association.
6.1.3. Ensure an adequate handover, including any documents and materials, to the following Executive.
6.1.4. Hold regular meetings and maintain a satisfactory relationship with the Oorala Centre.
6.1.5. Engage with all stakeholders within the local community and UNE community.

6.2. The Vice-President(s) shall:

6.2.1. Deputise for the President.
6.2.2. Fulfil the role of President when required.
6.2.3. Assist with all activities of the Association.
6.3. The Treasurer shall:
6.3.1. Maintain the Association’s finances in accordance with the UNE Clubs and Societies Handbook
6.3.2. Present to the Annual General Meeting of the Association, a report detailing the financial activity and status of the Association.
6.3.3. Ensure an adequate handover, including any documents and materials, to the following Executive.

6.4. The Secretary shall:

6.4.1. Conduct the correspondence of the Association.
6.4.2. Book meeting rooms for the Association.
6.4.3. Keep minutes of the proceedings of all Association meetings.
6.4.4. Maintain the records and documents of the Association.
6.4.5. Maintain a list of current Members of the Association.

6.5. Social Coordinator:

6.5.1. Conduct all marketing activities.
6.5.2. Assist with all activities of the Association.
6.5.3. Coordinate with stakeholders where necessary.

7. ORDINARY MEETINGS

7.1. Ordinary Meetings shall be called by any member of the Executive forthwith upon receipt of the written application of at least twenty percent (20%) of the Student Members of the Association.
7.2. At least three (3) clear days notice of the time and place of an Ordinary Meeting shall be given by a mail-out to all Members (a mail-out is understood to include communication by e-mail or social media), as well as other reasonable attempts to communicate to the Membership.
7.3. The President shall chair Ordinary Meetings. In the absence of the President, another Executive Member shall chair the Meeting.
7.4. Quorum at Ordinary Meetings shall be five (5) Student Members if the Association’s current membership is no greater than seventy (70) Student Members, or ten (10) Student Members if the Association’s membership is greater than seventy (70) Student Members. Quorum must include not less than three (3) Executive Members.
7.5. The agenda for an Ordinary Meeting shall include:

7.5.1. Apologies and leaves of absence
7.5.2. Minutes of the previous meeting
7.5.3. Correspondence
7.5.4. Reports of Executive Members
7.5.5. General Business

7.6. An Ordinary Meeting of the Association has power to carry motions relating to the affairs of the Association by a simple majority vote of those members present and voting, including:

7.7. Giving direction to the Executive
7.8. Determining the use of the finances and other assets of the Association
7.9. Instituting Committees for any purpose of the Association and co-opting Association members onto any Committee
7.10. Dismissing Executive Members under 5.2 of the Constitution
7.11. Executive Members may be dismissed from their position through a vote of no confidence held in a meeting called by Members.

8. GENERAL MEETINGS

8.1. The Association shall hold General Meetings as required during a teaching period that is appropriate to the Association’s Membership.

8.2. The Secretary may at any time, for any worthy purpose, call a General Meeting, and shall do so forthwith upon receipt of the written application of twenty percent (20%) of Student Members of the Association stating the purposes for which the meeting is called. The business debated at a General Meeting shall be confined to the purposes named in the notice.

8.3. Except as provided in Clause 8, the Secretary shall give at least seven (7) clear days notice of the time and place of a General Meeting through a mail-out to all Members (a mail-out is understood to include communication by e-mail), as well as other reasonable attempts to communicate to the Membership.

8.4. The agenda for a General Meeting shall include:

8.4.1. Opening and welcome
8.4.2. Apologies and leaves of absence
8.4.3. Minutes of the previous meeting
8.4.4. Business arising from the minutes
8.4.5. Correspondence
8.4.6. Motions on notice
8.4.7. Reports of Executive Members.
8.4.8. Other reports
8.4.9. General business
8.4.10. Date of the next meeting

8.5. A General Meeting of the Association has the same powers as an Ordinary Meeting, and may also carry the following motions on notice relating to the affairs of the Association by a two-thirds majority vote of those members present and voting:

8.5.1. Filling vacancies on the Executive
8.5.2. Repealing motions and the effect of motions carried at an Ordinary Meeting
8.5.3. Amending the Constitution
8.5.4. Dismissing Executive Members for reasons other than that in 4.3 of the Constitution, provided that the Executive Member is given reasonable right of reply
8.5.5. Dissolving the Association.

8.6. No item of business is to be transacted at a General Meeting unless a quorum of members entitled under this constitution to vote, is present during the time the meeting is considering that item.

9. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

9.1. The Club shall hold an Annual General Meeting annually in the month of August
9.2. The Annual General Meeting shall be convened for the following purposes:

9.2.1. To receive a report and statement of accounts for the preceding financial period
9.2.2. To elect an Executive for the ensuing term
9.2.3. To transact any other business, notice of which shall be duly submitted to the Secretary

9.3. The Secretary shall give at least seven (7) clear days’ notice of the time and place of the Annual General Meeting through a mail-out to all Members (a mail-out is understood to include communication by e-mail), as well as other reasonable attempts to communicate to the Membership.
9.4. The Annual General Meeting shall be chaired by the President or an Executive Member not standing for election to any position.
9.5. The agenda for the Annual General Meeting shall include:

9.5.1. Opening and welcome
9.5.2. Apologies and leaves of absence
9.5.3. Minutes of the previous meeting
9.5.4. Business arising from the minutes
9.5.5. Correspondence
9.5.6. Motions on notice
9.5.7. Annual Reports
9.5.7.1. President
9.5.7.2. Treasurer
9.5.7.3. Secretary
9.5.7.4. Other Executive Members
9.5.8. Election of the Executive
9.5.9. General business

9.6. No item of business is to be transacted at a General Meeting unless a quorum of members entitled under this constitution to vote, is present during the time the meeting is considering that item.

10. ELECTIONS

10.1. The Executive shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.
10.2. Only Student Members shall be eligible to be candidates for election or to vote in the election.
10.3. The term of the Executive shall commence immediately following the close of the Annual Election Meeting and conclude at the close of the Annual Election Meeting in the following year.
10.4. The Secretary shall give at least seven (7) clear days’ notice of the time and place of the annual elections through a mail-out to all Members (a mail-out is understood to include communication by e-mail or social media), as well as other reasonable attempts to communicate to the Membership. The notice shall state:

10.4.1. The day on which nominations open, which day shall be at least seven (7) clear days before the day of the elections;
10.4.2. The day and time on which nominations close, which shall be no later than the time of the meeting at which the elections are to occur;
10.4.3. The time, date and venue of the election;
10.4.4. That only Student Members shall be eligible to be candidates for election or to vote.

10.5. In order to stand for election, nominees must accept nomination.
10.6. Before an election the Executive shall nominate a suitable person, not being a candidate for election, to act as Returning Officer. The Returning Officer shall be charged with the conduct of the election, and may appoint suitable persons, not being candidates for election, as Deputy Returning Officers.
10.7. The Board of Directors of UNE Life shall serve as Electoral Arbiter and shall receive any appeals against the decisions of the Returning Officer.
10.8. Voting shall be by secret ballot, and shall be First Past the Post.
10.9. The General Body of the Association may, in a General Meeting, elect any Student Member of the Association to fill any casual vacancy that may occur in the Executive. (A casual vacancy occurs when an Executive Member is dismissed from the Executive or resigns before the term of office has expired.)

11. ALTERATION TO THE CONSTITUTION

11.1. This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority of those Student Members in attendance at any General Meeting, provided that:

11.1.1. Written notice of proposed changes has been given to the Secretary not less than seven (7) clear days before such a meeting,
11.1.2. Said changes do not contravene UNE Club Regulations or the University of New England as they relate to students,
11.1.3. The Secretary has given at least seven (7) clear days’ notice of those proposed changes to all Members through a mail-out to all Members (a mail-out is understood to include communication by e-mail or social media), as well as other reasonable attempts to communicate to the Membership.
11.1.4. A copy of the amended constitution, and minutes of the meeting at which the amendments were made, are presented to UNE Life Communications and Student Engagement Office of The University of New England within fourteen (14) days of the meeting,
11.1.5. UNE Life, Communications and Student Engagement Office receive the amendments, and the Board of UNE Life ratifies them.

11.2. Constitutional amendments do not become effective until approved by the Board of UNE Life.

12. ASSETS AND FINANCES

12.1. All property of the Association shall be vested in the Executive, and shall be dealt with in such manner as directed by the Club in an Ordinary Meeting.
12.2. The Association shall maintain a bank account.
12.3. The Association bank account should have a branch located in the city of Armidale, NSW, Australia.
12.4. All payments of the Association shall be by Electronic Funds Transfer or cheque, signed by at least two members of the Executive, one of whom must be the Treasurer.
12.5. The finances of the Association shall be maintained in accordance with the UNE Club Handbook for Treasurers submitted for review to UNE Life Communications and Student Engagement prior to October 31 of each year.
12.6. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Constitution, all assets and funds of the Association shall be used solely to further the Objects of the Association and no portion of those funds shall be paid or distributed to members of the Club except as compensation for out-of-pocket expenses.

13. DISSOLUTION

13.1. The Association may be dissolved by resolution of a two-thirds majority vote of those members present and voting at a General Meeting. If on the dissolution there remain any monies or property, they shall be held in trust with UNE Life for a period of two (2) years, after which time the funds will be reallocated to other student services within the University.
13.2 The Secretary shall give at least fourteen (14) clear days notice of the time and place of such a General Meeting through appropriate forms of communication, if possible, the Club notice board and, if possible, by a mail-out to all members. (A mail-out is understood to include communication by e-mail.)

14. INACTIVITY

14.1. The Association shall be deemed inactive after any continuous 18-month period in which the Association does not hold any events or engage in financial activity. If upon inactivity there remains any monies or properties, they shall be held in trust with UNE Life for a period of two (2) years, and will be returned to the Association should it reform. After two (2) years, funds will be reallocated to other student services within the University.

15. RECOGNITION

15.1. The Association shall comply with all requirements of UNE Club Regulations and The University of New England for recognition as a registered Club of The University of New England.

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